Which type of BPM vendor do you prefer?
CFOs are turning to business process management (BPM) tools to ensure their departments are efficient, transparent and compliant.  When it comes to acquiring BPM tools, there are two types of vendors according to Clay Richardson, senior analyst at Forrester Research. “…some vendors provide interfaces to systems of record, such as SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) [...]

Answer Question   |  June 11, 2013  4:19 PM
BPM, Vendor selection

Remote working with high latency & low bandwidth
I own an Internet domain. We complete Property Management tasks for individual Australian Real Estate Agents at our Offshore Office in India. Indian staff remote into the desktop or local server based Property Management Software of the Australian Real Estate Agent clients & complete the tasks directly in their software. Each client is a separate [...]

Answer Question   |  June 3, 2013  12:22 PM
Bandwidth, Citrix XenApp, RDP, Remote access, Remote workers

What are the biggest missed opportunities for SMBs?
During the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2012, Raymond Laracuenta, managing vice president at Gartner, told SearchCIO-Midmarket editor Wendy Schuchart that one of the biggest challenges facing SMBs is their use of technology infrastructure to drive the business. Do you agree with his statement? What are the biggest missed opportunities for SMBs?

Answer Question   |  April 15, 2013  2:16 PM
IT Infrastructure, SMB

What’s your funniest tech support story?
We all know the old story of the tech support guy who was called to help with a broken mouse that the client was using as a foot pedal. But there are plenty of lesser known but equally humorous tales out there. What’s your funniest tech support story? Who knows, you may tell it here [...]

Answer Question   |  January 23, 2013  9:25 PM
Tech support, Technology

Regulations that apply to ILECs
I am researching whether my county can create its own ILEC (Independent Local Exchange Carrier). I am clear on the state laws that apply, but am curious as to what federal regulations apply to ILEC and what steps would need to be taken on the federal level. I know the FCC regulates ILECs, but that [...]

Answer Question   |  December 6, 2012  6:51 PM
ILEC, Regulations

What’s your opinion on the remote worker?
In a recent blog post, MrDenny talked about the pros of working from home including: Fewer distractions, financial benefits and increased productivity. What’s your opinion on the remote worker? Should companies allow more workers to work from home?

Answer Question   |  January 29, 2013  5:47 PM
Productivity, Remote workers

Tech Support: Horror Stories from the Trenches
Going into the IT field, we all had to start somewhere. Helping out at school on the website, fixing a friends computer, joining the schools computer club, but that was before you graduated to the job field. You now have your A+ and you have just been hired as a member of the help desk [...]

Answer Question   |  November 2, 2012  2:39 PM
Customer support, Help Desk, Help desk services, Tech support

Economic Price Adjustments
In performing an EPA, I noticed the same ODCs were included twice in the original award. As we do the adjustment can we calculate everything correctly and not make any EPA adjustments until the adjusted amount is greater than the initial awarded for the option or do we have to accept all the errors and [...]

Answer Question   |  September 26, 2012  12:51 PM
SCA

The Windows 2008 R2/Exchange Server Time changes at Random
When I change the time on our office Windows 2008 R2/Exchange 2010 server to the correct time, the server reverts back to its old time anytime within 24 hours. This old time change is also reflected on our domain computers. What do I need to do to keep this correct time change permanent so that [...]

Answer Question   |  July 31, 2012  1:06 PM
Exchange Server 2010, Time Management, Windows 2008 R2

Bi-Directional Internal and External Collaboration (UC) Solutions
I have spent alot of time researching Collaboration Technologies for my customer – a very large Financial Institution.  I see lots of options but mostly in the ‘Social Networking’ space and for employees to collaborate within the company enterprise. I am seeking a solution that will allow an internal employee to communicate (securely) with an [...]

Answer Question   |  November 29, 2011  12:43 AM
Collaboration software, Unified Communications software, Vendor selection

Microsoft Exchange server and Outlook
I am running a small buisness,i have 20 employees, where 10 works in office space with LAN connection and 10 works remotely. Now my problem is that i need to store all 20 employees database centrally and i need to check what emails are sent and recieved by all employees in microsoft outlook.     [...]

Answer Question   |  March 31, 2012  2:04 AM
Exchange, Exchange database, Outlook, Remote email access, Remote workers

How is my web hosting company’s ftp server setup?
I’m trying to figure out how my web hosting company’s ftp server that allows access to my web site is setup. I have ssh access so I can see some of the system files. I’ll share some of these system files in order to help figure out how there ftp server is setup. bash-3.2$ whoami [...]

Answer Question   |  October 15, 2011  1:15 AM
File permissions, FTP, FTP Server, Web hosting, Web hosting services

Outsourcing a managed secure VPN service
We want to launch an affordable managed secure VPN service for connecting our offices. We are SMB using broadband. We’re looking for a monitored and managed service rather than a DIY approach.

Answer Question   |  May 5, 2011  2:21 PM
Networking, Networking services, Outsourcing services, SMB, VPN, VPN Providers

What are the most suitable CRM solutions for small business?
I am running a small company and before some time I realised that I need CRM software to make everything much easier (this is the first time I am a company owner, so everything is really new to me). I did some research and found the leaders on the market – Sugar CRM, Sales Force, [...]

Answer Question   |  December 14, 2011  6:16 AM
CRM, CRM software, CRM Solution Manager, SMB

What’s the best way to create online network documentation forms that can be filled out while on site with small or medium business?
HI, I have never posted on here before. Please let me know if I have left out info. that helps to answer my question. I am a photographer (trying to be side jobsfoguy that owns an IT  companyHe has asked me to create online forms that he can get to and fill out online and then print off. [...]

Answer Question   |  April 8, 2011  4:40 AM
Inventory Management, Network design, Network documentation, SMB, Troubleshooting documentation

New VPN Configuration & Installation
Where can I get Step by Step instructions to configure and install a VPN between Corporate Network and Remote PC’s or between Remote PC’s?

Answer Question   |  March 4, 2011  9:26 PM
Remote access, Remote PCs, VPN configuration, VPN Creation

Suggestions for cloud governance tools for an SMB’s hybrid cloud?
Looking for suggestions for a hybrid cloud governance, including performance metrics and ballpark cost.

Answer Question   |  December 30, 2011  3:57 PM
Cloud Computing, Cloud Security, Cloud Services, Hybrid clouds, Performance Measurement, Performance metrics, SMB

Staffing Ratio
what is the ideal Agent to Team Leader ratio for a call centre or what is the recommended Agent to Team Leader ratio?

Answer Question   |  August 10, 2011  8:52 PM
Call Center, Call center agents, IT career advice, IT career planning, Staffing

What kind of web server should we get?
I’m working for a company that wants to buy a server to host its website. The company will sell iPhone/iPad apps, and the website is used to provide information.   The website will have the following:  -A forum  -RSS feed  -imbedded youtube videos  The server’s responsibilities are:  -Storing user information (estimated 500 000 users)  -Hosting facebook [...]

Answer Question   |  November 17, 2010  10:08 PM
Server, Server Hardware, Web hosting, Web hosting services

Are certifications becoming a “racket”?
I have a friend with an impressive résumé and various certifications.  But he doesn’t have a job. A+ Cert, CISCO Cert, Oracle Cert… ad nauseum. They cast a fortune.  Is it becoming a cash-cow and a rip-off? What do you think?

Answer Question   |  May 31, 2011  5:57 PM
Certifications, IT certification, Open IT Forum, Training and Certification