The Ekaru Technology Advisor Vol 4-2 February 2004
Welcome to this month's issue! Ekaru's mission is to provide technology information and support to help you manage and grow your business!
New *Critical* Microsoft Security Patch.
Microsoft issued a critical warning this week about a new security problem with its Windows software which could allow hackers to enter systems and cause damage. The fix is a new patch available on the Microsoft web site, www.microsoft.com. If you're managing your own systems, you need to go to the site, then download and install the patch. Give us a call if you have questions or concerns, or need help.
As a general rule, you should periodically check the Microsoft web site for security bulletins. All items are rated from "low" to "critical". Anything marked "critical" should be taken care of immediately.
Technology to Watch: Instant Messaging.
Instant messaging has been around for a while, but it's not just for teenagers anymore! Two important trends are evolving: it's gaining traction in the corporate world with CIOs seriously looking at the technology to roll-out in their organizations, and interoperability is evolving, so that ultimately, you'll be able to chat with anyone, just like the telephone. Think about what would it mean to your business to be able to instantly interact with someone in your office, or a client. For quick communications, it can be a lot more efficient than telephone or email.
The major messaging protocols are: Yahoo Messenger, AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), ICQ (owned by AOL), Odigo, MSN Messenger, and Jabber. Jabber is an open-source protocol, and the goal is to enable inter-operability, just like telephone or email service. There are also several multi-protocol messenger clients, such as Miranda, that can inter-operate with several services
2004 Technology Workshop Series: February 25, 2004:
Unleash your Business with a Great Database!
We are proud to announce that Comcast is sponsoring the 2004 Ekaru Technology Workshop Series. These workshops are designed to help you get more from the technology you already have, and introduce you to the new technologies you need to know about. For more information on the February 25th Workshop, click here.
Technology Tip: Invest in your technology knowledge - schedule a monthly technology hour. Do you have suggestions for future Newsletter topics? Send us an email!. We want to write about what's important to you! Click here to read past issues.
Sincerely,
Introductory Technology Assessment Over 100 local small businesses have chosen Ekaru to manage their computers and networks. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation to get started. We'll visit your office, review your network, and make recommendations. Call us toll-free at 866-463-5278 x9 or email us to schedule a no-obligation assessment. If you know someone who could benefit from this offer, simply forward this email to them.
A good way to increase your technology efficiency is to invest one hour per month to learn a new technology feature - mail merge, database import/export, inserting great graphics into PowerPoint presentations, putting your logo into a Microsoft Word header, customizing a financial report in QuickBooks. Let's face it, when you're in a crunch, you're going to revert to old habits - it's not the time to learn something new. By PROACTIVELY setting aside time to learn a new skill, you'll be prepared to be more productive and SAVE time.
Happy Valentine's Day! Eat Chocolate!
Team Ekaru
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