If asset management was fun, everyone would be doing it. Managing inventories or counting stock on shelves is not that exciting. Neither is keeping track of your computer systems, software licenses and any other asset found on your computer network.

We all know that it is important, especially tracking software compliances; but it never makes it to the top of the priority list. Software compliance rapidly becomes important when your business is threatened with a software audit. It happens to organizations large and small.

Why is it so important to make sure your IT assets are managed?

Many businesses throughout the GTA over spend on software. They may have too many Windows licenses, or they may have the wrong type of licensing. Microsoft is one company that offers many licensing types to meet the needs of the organization. Depending on your budget, needs and size, Microsoft may have a better licensing model available.

Before investing in new software or that specialized business application, having an up to date hardware inventory will let you know if you have the right systems to run the application. When Windows Small Business Server 2008 was released, many small businesses were not aware of the need for new 64-bit server hardware, adding extra expenses to their server project.

Dynamix Solutions can help with making sure your software licenses are in order and you have an up to date hardware inventory. In most occasions when you come on board as a client and subscribe to our managed IT services plans, an audit and inventory are automatically done in most cases.

If we can help, don’t hesitate to contact us.

USB Thumb Drives or USB Memory Sticks are everywhere throughout the GTA.  The use of USB devices is on the rise as businesses in Markham look at new ways to share information and make a quick and easy backup. They are inexpensive and very convenient.

Did you know that our USB Memory Sticks pose a serious risk to your business? USB Thumb Drives can hold several GB of information, maybe all of your company sales information. What would happen if a thumb drives is lost or even stolen? Unless your thumb drive uses encryption, the data stored on the drive is open for anyone to see and use.

Your iPhone or BlackBerry is more than a phone!  Keep in mind, an iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry and other devices you plug into a computer and have storage built into the device have the potential to store your business information.

Microsoft makes it easy to keep your thumb drive information secure. The Windows Encrypting File System (EFS) provides an easy way for any computer user to encrypt the contents of their thumb drive. Keeping your business information safe and secure.

Windows Encrypting File System is a feature found in Windows 7.  EFS provides a computer user the ability to store information on a hard disk or thumb drive securely.  EFS Encryption is the strongest protection Windows provides and found in most versions of Windows 7. EFS is not fully supported on the Windows 7 Starter Edition, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium (Read Microsoft article on how to use EFS at home below).

Encryption is as easy as selecting a check box in the file or folder properties.  If you ever change your mind about encryption, just uncheck the check box.

Read more from Microsoft on the Encrypting File System.

There is more to making sure your business data is secure than just checking a box in Windows.  Your business needs a removable media use policy and Dynamix can help you.  It is a must in business today to make sure that all records are safe from unauthorized viewing.  Just look at WikiLeaks and the challenges that arose from unsecured information.

Dynamix recommends that all Markham business owners and IT Managers start a USB thumb drive policy ensuring that all your employees understand the risks associated with using these portable storage devices.  If your business needs help with understand the risks with USB thumb drives give our team at Dynamix a call.

To learn more about how to set up your thumb drive to use Windows EFS follow the steps that Experts Exchange’s Dan Rollins wrote on setting up encryption using Windows EFS and your thumb drive.  Read the article here – http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/A_1297-Encrypt-your-Thumb-Drive-at-Work-and-Use-it-at-Home-PART-ONE.html?cid=2632

What is Malware?

Malware is short for malicious software. Many times it is software designed to secretly run on your computer and attempt to steal information, send out spam emails and even in some instances run processes on your computer system and send the result back to another server somewhere online. Malware is hostile, intrusive and a risk to many corporations throughout the Toronto area.

What can you do to prevent malware from infecting your business computer network?

• Perimeter security – business today must invest in a corporate grade firewall solution to protect their business networks from unauthorized access.  This includes spam, malware, virus, spyware and any other form of unwanted access in the corporate network.  There are many great business firewalls available today.  Our team specializes in many leading security solutions including Cisco, Checkpoint and Symantec.
• Desktop security – Simply running antivirus software on your computer is not enough.  Today, business requires a robust desktop security solution which does more than alert you when a virus hits your computer.  We need to make sure that potential security gaps and systems are updated when security patches are available.    Through our managed IT services solution, we will make sure your business systems have the right level of support.  Keeping your network safe and secure.
• Education – Educating computer users is the most important piece.  Technology can fail from time to time, especially in the first few hours of a serious virus or malware outbreak.  Your staff  must be able to spot the signs of malicious software.  Emails that simply don’t look right, Instant Messaging requests that are out of the ordinary and social media services do pose a risk to corporate security systems.  We must educate computer users to spot the potential security risks.

Malicious software protection is “table-stakes” security.  It is a must have for any business in the GTA.  Dynamix helps with making sure corporate business networks are protected by ensuring the right IT security solutions are in place.  We will make sure your systems are managed through our business IT services programs.

We look forward to helping you and feel free to contact us if your business needs only the best Toronto business computer support.  We are reachable at 416.657.2449.

Dynamix Solutions specializes in Microsoft, Symantec, McAfee, Cisco and a number of leading IT security solutions for small business through to enterprise corporations.