Role of IT Support Services

IT support Services companies ensure to keep business data safe while maintaining network security, server upgrades and migrations, email management services and disaster recovery solutions. Such qualified and experienced technicians help you to run your business smoothly. Therefore, there is high need to have a contract with an IT support service company as well as recommended.

It is the responsibility of the IT support provider to ensure the effortless running of all computer systems and entire network.

• Install and configure operating systems as per the agreed standards.
• Give assistance in maintenance and compilation of all significant software and hardware.
• In server failure condition, IT support services provides the facility for disaster recovery solutions for your data as well as server upgrade and if needed migrate to other improved systems.
• Provide secure backup services with complete email management, even remotely.
• Provide repair services and troubleshooting for small and large businesses and always help you get access to the newest technology.
• Find solutions to all those problems that can hinder the smooth working of an organization or business.
• Provide proactive network installation for your network support requirements and a complete range of support packages and systems.
• Most IT support firms offer phone and online support and no need to wait for an engineer to come out to your office.
• Network support services include data security that helps you to detect promptly any computer virus and hacker threats.
• Ensure that all the software and the help desk systems are being kept up-to-date.

Source: Ezinearticles

Dell Offers SMBs Managed IT Services

Computer maker Dell announced the availability of ProManage-Managed Services, which the company said was “built from the ground up” for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs). The Web-based service actively monitors and manages IT networks and helps prevents system issues before they occur. Service packages start at $9 per month with no long-term contract required.

ProManage-Managed Services offers three levels of service; alerts, which provides round-the-clock remote monitoring that checks the health of networks, servers, PCs and applications, including non-Dell systems; resolution, monitoring with remote issue resolution for all monitored hardware, applications, anti-virus software, and Windows Services, and Management, which couples alerts and resolution with end-user support, increased security functions, asset tracking and assessment services.

All three levels of service are monitored 24/7. When an event takes place, Dell’s Network Operating Center alerts customers or their solution provider, while the Service Desk can fix the issues remotely. Additionally, each business is assigned a local field force that can be onsite quickly to resolve problems, perform assessments and help plan future growth prospects.

The expansion of the program to more than 5,500 U.S. towns and cities follows two successful pilot tests in Dallas and New York City, where Dell said it helped one customer, Euless, Texas-based TheAttorneyStore, (now GetLegal.com) increase staff productivity by as much as 60 percent.

Source: eweek.com/c/a/Midmarket/Dell-Offers-SMBs-Managed-IT-Services--347762/

Patches to Repair Excel Hole

Microsoft on Thursday said next week's Patch Tuesday would include eight patches, five of them critical, including one addressing a vulnerability in Excel.

the fact that both that Excel vulnerability and the Excel patch slated for Tuesday affect Microsoft Office 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007, as well as Microsoft Office 2004 and 2008 for the Mac, it could be the same weakness.

Security firm Symantec said in February that it had discovered malicious files in the wild in Japan that attempt to exploit the Excel Unspecified Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. The attack requires a computer user to open an attachment sent via e-mail that has a maliciously crafted Excel document.

Also on Tuesday, Microsoft will provide updates addressing critical remote code execution vulnerability in Internet Explorer, Windows, and Office, and less severe vulnerabilities in Windows and Microsoft's Forefront Edge Security.

Affected software includes IE 7, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Server 2003, and Server 2008, according to Microsoft's advance-notification bulletin, released on the Thursday before every Patch Tuesday, which is the second Tuesday of the month.

Source: news.cnet.com

Server 2008 R2 set to launch With Windows 7

Microsoft hinted that Windows Server 2008 R2 will be ready to launch alongside Windows 7 later end of this year.

It is already decided that windows server 2008 R2 will released alongside Windows 7 but date is not decided yet. The synchronization of the Server 2008 launch now looks almost certain to be one of those.

Launching the two products simultaneously makes sense, not least because several of the business features in Windows 7 are dependent on a Server 2008 R2 infrastructure.

New additions such as Direct Access (a no-fuss alternative to VPN access to company networks) and Branch Cache (a feature that stores copies of files on local PCs and servers, reducing the amount of time it takes satellite offices to download files) are both only available to companies running Server 2008 R2.

Source: pcpro.co.uk

How to Save Your Computer Against Conficker Virus

Conficker, also known as Downadup or Kido, is the latest super virus to spread around the Internet and has security experts in a panic. When last we checked, about a week ago, Conficker had already spread to 9 million PCs, with little sign of slowing. Now it has infected at least 10 million PCs and experts believe there may be up to 350 million vulnerable computers out there.

The worm isn't just exploiting a networking hole, however; it features a sophisticated method of cracking administrator passwords, making it difficult to remove, and also copies itself to USB drives so that it can spread even when the online flaw is plugged.

But there are easy ways to figure out whether a computer has the Conficker worm. There are also free tools to get rid of it.

Among other things, the worm blocks PCs from accessing the antivirus vendors' and Microsoft's Web sites. That keeps its PC victims from getting updates about the worm and downloading removal tools.

If you can surf the Internet freely except for sites owned by Microsoft or antivirus vendors, that's a good sign your computer is infected.

Here are some suggestions for getting rid of the Conflicker worm:

Computer users should apply the Microsoft patch and update their antivirus and other security software.

Panda also has released a free "vaccine tool" for blocking viruses that spread through USB drives.

Use Microsoft Conficker removal tool.