IT on Sonia Cuff

Why the I.T. guy hates the Cloud

Mon, 30 May 2016 04:51:11 +0000

For small businesses, Cloud solutions seem to deliver innovation, productivity and profitability with ease.

You don�t have to sit around and wait for the �I.T. guy� to install something on a server, then install something else on your computer. It�s all enabled by just signing up to a service in your web browser and entering your credit card number. The secure access, reliability and backups are all handled behind the scenes.

Calling all SMB Innovators � Where are you?

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 05:10:09 +0000

Warning: This is an opinion piece and quite honestly, a rant. You have been warned.

Our business has been supporting the technology needs of SMBs for 12 years now, after we stepped out of the corporate world. The early years were comparatively easy � a business wanted I.T. support, we�d upgrade a server or two to newer software and bigger hardware and the addition of remote monitoring and management tools consolidated our efforts across our customer base. Nothing really extraordinary there.

The problem with Partners

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 05:38:08 +0000

As a �partner� in the �channel� (just imagine the air quotes), I�m going to�stand on my soapbox and have a little chat about the role that we play in making software & hardware companies successful. Yeah, that totally sounded conceited, but follow along with me here.

There are so many facets to this chat that this post won�t be published in its original form. It�s going to take time to organise these thoughts into a logical sequence that flows, because the partner relationship is not a simple conversation.

Outlook 2013 changes account from Office 365 to old on premise Exchange server

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 05:55:46 +0000

When you have a problem once and you can reset everything, it?s annoying. But usually it?s quicker than getting to the root cause of exactly why it happened. When the same problem occurs a month later, it?s time to find the root cause.In this case, my Outlook 2013 randomly decides to stop connecting to Office 365 and changes my?email account settings back to our old,?defunct?Exchange server. The telltale sign is when Outlook refuses to connect and repeatedly prompts for my user credentials (yes I did type in my password correctly). The only way to fix it seems to be to set up a new Outlook profile and reconnect to Office 365. Talk about?frustrating. We?d done all the necessary steps during the migration (including adding the correct autodiscover dns records) and had run happily for months before this issue appeared. And lucky me, it was only happening on my computer.

An Office 2013 product fails to install after removal of Click to Run

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 05:57:02 +0000

The Click to Run software manages the streaming of the installation of some Office products and a virtualised environment to enable different versions to run side by side on a Windows computer. If this software gets its �knickers in a knot� (technical term), you might come across some issues with your next Office software installation. Don�t remove this component if you think you�ll only ever use msi based retail CD installations.

So you have a new Windows 8 PC ? now what?

Sun, 28 Dec 2014 06:00:09 +0000

A salesperson has guided you through the purchase of a new PC (desktop or laptop) and it?s now sitting in a box in your home. Assuming you can see the little symbols showing where to plug in the keyboard and mouse (which in reality are usually all just USB these days anyway), you should be good to just plug everything in and go, right?

Ah, well, almost.

Chances are that most PCs you?ll drag home from a retail store?have a manufacturers release of Windows 8 installed on them. Unfortunately, there are usually a ton of updates that have been released by Microsoft since that PC has its software installed ? the most important being the immensely helpful upgrade to Windows 8.1

How SMB IT service providers view the Cloud

Mon, 20 Oct 2014 06:04:13 +0000

It�s not news that IT is an ever-changing industry. The skills that I learnt when I first started are now mostly irrelevant. I say �mostly� because some of the fundamentals of disks, files, networks etc still hold true (once we�d migrated off token ring anyway). And I still use the command prompt to search for files. But when I started, there was no Cloud, no social media, no phishing, no virtualization, no sector based backups and no ADSL. File storage was done on a Novell Netware server or three, with a bank of dial-in modems for remote access.

A looong weekend

Sun, 05 Oct 2014 06:06:50 +0000

Monday in Queensland is a public holiday to observe�labour day, which is quite apt because yes, I�m working. Now before you�pity me that I don�t�get three whole days off (in a row!), I�m not that concerned actually.

Long weekends are the perfect structure for me. I�ve had time to spend with friends and family, time to catch up on housework and time to work while clients are away and I can�control their computers whenever suits, without interrupting them. It�s also the last weekend before school recommences for the kids so add in polishing shoes & gathering all required school items prior to the first morning back.

TitStare � Why women don�t feel comfortable in the tech industry.

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 06:28:57 +0000

It�s not like me to rush out a blog post. I don�t leap to my keyboard everytime something in the media has people crying out against it. But today I just felt so compelled to write about TitStare.

At TechCrunch�s �Disrupt� event in San Fransisco, audience members were presented with the TitStare app by two guys from Sydney, and another app called Circle Shake by a guy in Adelaide where he pretends to jerk off. Part of that audience was a 9 year old girl. Part of that audience was female. Part of that audience was self-respecting men who couldn�t believe what they were seeing. And yeah, it was a little bit funny, but totally inappropriate for a professional industry event.

To the cloud .. or not? (A personal account)

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:32:26 +0000

This isn�t intended as a comprehensive argument on how to evaluate if Cloud Computing is right for you or not. �I�ve written it to show where we use Cloud Computing in our own business, and where we don�t. �As most of my readers aren�t IT Providers, you may find something relevant in this, or you may not. �But I�m a firm believer in recommending the best solution to a client for their individual needs, so our own decision on Cloud Computing has been based on our current business needs.

BigPond ADSL ? Your ADSL Service Cancellation Notice email

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:50:09 +0000

Disturbing email doing the rounds over the long Easter weekend in Australia, pretending to be from BigPond. I?m blogging about this in the hope that you?ll find this entry?if you receive that email and Google it first.? It?s a scam, and a very clever one.

First the details: sender address?ebilling@bt.com?(that?s your first alarm bell-bt.com is not a bigpond or telstra domain name)

Subject: Your ADSL Service Cancellation Notice?(second alarm bell ? I am not and have never been a BigPond ADSL customer)

Technology considerations for your new startup business

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:34:54 +0000

If you�re thinking about starting a business (congratulations!!), then technology might be the very last consideration on your mind.� With a long list of tasks in front of you (like getting a logo and stationery designed, finding an office, and working out your marketing plan), you may just requisition your home computer to start running your new business.��Let�s�look at some of your very first technology decisions.

New computer or your home PC?�� For a while, your home computer may be adequate to handle the necessities of your business.� However, if your computer time is conflicting with the children�s need to surf the internet for their homework, it may be time to consider a dedicated business computer.� Study any system specifications carefully and check the manufacturer�s websites.� Many �cheap� retail deals are superseded models, cannot be upgraded easily or may not connect to a bigger computer network, which will all be important as you grow.� Also, talk to your accountant about any tax benefits that may be gained from leasing instead of purchasing your IT assets.

What are we selling?

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:31:11 +0000

I�ve picked up a great book called �Stop bitching, start pitching� by Marty Kellard & Ian Elliot.� It�s forced me to really stop and think about how we pitch our managed service product, B.E.S.T.� They claim it�s not enough to have the best solution and the best sales message for it.� Instead you really have to do your homework and analyse the wants & needs (written and unwritten) of your customer and the key decision makers and influencers, then ensure that you are addressing those.� Especially for new business, a customer needs to be able to picture you working with them to solve their business problems, and taking it much further than just replacing the current IT guy that they are unhappy with.

Managed services?

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:36:53 +0000

There�s a new phrase slowly rumbling through the computer support industry in Australia � managed services.� It�s being helped along by companies like Kaseya, who are trying to convince every one-man-band computer guy that they can earn truckloads by using the Kaseya product.� Problem is, your technology tool of choice is only one small piece of the puzzle to make you a successful managed service provider (MSP).� So, we now have another �book & webinar� spawning industry, trying to each people the secrets of being an MSP, structuring contracts, pitching to customers etc etc.