information-technology – Page 2

The Right it Stuff: Finding and Working With the Best Information Technology Services Partner for your Small Business

Ilene Rosoff asked:

Do you often feel stuck in the computer abyss when it comes to managing your company’s needs for web or information technology services? Businesses with fewer than 50 or 60 employees often find themselves struggling to keep pace with their basic web and computer support services and miss out on effective small business IT solutions.

Without the guidance of an information technology services provider, small businesses can end up wasting time and money on computer support services because they aren’t in touch with the best technology tools and practices for small business IT solutions. Even zero-employee companies can benefit immensely from a computer support services partner who shows them how to standardize their practices, save money with the right hardware or software and develop effective websites.

Putting Out Fires – Who Needs Dedicated Computer Support Services Anyway?

The approach often taken by small organizations when it comes to information technology services is one of putting out fires. No one has time to update the website, the network is cobbled together with wiring strung across the floor, and you’re not sure when the last backup really ran. Then, a hard drive starts going click-click. You call that guy you occasionally use for computer support services, “Joe-I-Fix-Anything-PCs,” to get the computer booting. That’s when to your horror you discover that the tape in the drive since last Tuesday wasn’t really backing up and the click-click is the sickening sound of your QuickBooks data being eaten by the dying hard drive.

There is a Better Way: A Solutions Partner for Web and Information Technology Services

It isn’t that “Joe” can’t spot you some quick computer support services and get you up and running again. It’s the point that the “bargain” hard drive failed without warning, your data wasn’t backed up and you didn’t even have a centralized data management practice to begin with. Wouldn’t it have been great to avoid all the headaches by using best-practice guidelines for business management and making informed purchase decisions? That’s where a good small business IT solutions provider comes in, not only to avoid disaster but to save money. For example QuickBooks could be integrated with your shipping and credit card processing which saves three employees 30 hours a week in order fulfillment. Then you might implement a web solution for online orders which integrates with QuickBooks. A good information technology services partner makes computer support services a value proposition.

Small Business IT Solutions – Hiring a Partner

So what’s the best way to find a great web or information technology services partner to work with and then get the most out of that relationship?

1. Look for a company that specializes in small business IT solutions

Computer support services companies that specialize in small business will be more in tune to your particular needs and challenges. They will understand budgetary constraints for computer support services and the need to use resources very efficiently. Because technology developers and manufacturers are now seeing a large and relatively untapped market of small business customers, there are some terrific tools emerging for small organizations. A technology partner focused on small business IT solutions and information technology services will help your company grow and succeed.

2. Do you need a local information technology services partner?

Not necessarily. If the goal here is to find a provider of information technology services to help you manage your website, make purchase decisions and facilitate projects, it doesn’t have to be local. With sophisticated remote tools and web-based collaboration, many problems and projects can be addressed remotely. The key is to find a good fit. For onsite service such as network installation or hardware swaps, a good solutions partner can identify and schedule local computer support services as needed or works with a nationwide network experts for repairs, rollouts or other onsite computer support service. If the company isn’t local, ask what provisions it has in place for onsite service.

3. Personalized computer support services

One of the stigmas attached to the tech industry and a common complaint about providers of computer support services is lack of personalization. A good provider of information technology services wants to get to know you, your processes and your employees. The staff should ask questions about what your company does and who the key contacts are to gain a feel for your organization’s culture. Likewise, access to the provider’s staff and resources is equally important. The relationship is going to be much more effective when that company has a mandate for personalized service and an open door to communications.

4. Due diligence

Think of hiring a solutions partner for information technology services like you would hiring someone for your staff. Look for a company that is seeking a long-term partnership. Ask for references. Then find out how long the company has been in business, who you will have access to for a problem or project and how the provider charges for its computer support services.

5. Cohesive approach and good facilitation

The partner that you select should want to take a cohesive approach to understanding your business or organization and help you come up with a customized plan for your technology and web needs, be it a long-range strategy or a specific project. The difference between “Joe-I-Fix-Anything-PCs” and a provider of complete information technology services and solutions is someone who can do a good discovery about your organization and its goals, facilitate the project and help bring together providers for the components outside their expertise. Also, a one-stop shop can provide you with benefits. Keeping your hardware and software purchases, web and computer support services together can provide you economies of scale combined with the convenience of single point of support and access to someone who knows your business.

How to Get the Most Out of the Relationship

6. Identify key problems, goals and areas to improve efficiency

Once you partner with a provider of information technology services and solutions, the first and most important step is an analysis of problems. The more you can communicate about your company, current practices and areas to improve, the more effective your solutions partner can be in coming up with a computer support services plan designed to keep things running smoothly, maximize your assets and move your organization forward.

7. Set up best practices

Typically the biggest challenge small organizations face in being successful is getting out of their own way, seeing the big picture and making the changes necessary for improvements to happen. A good small business IT solutions partner can help you set up best practices to get most out of your investment in information technology services. However, making sure those practices are implemented and followed rests squarely on your shoulders, not on those of your computer support services provider.

8. Avoid costly mistakes – Don’t make impulse purchases

Whereas large companies tend to have a formal evaluation and approval process in place for making technology purchases, many smaller organizations make impulse purchases. Let the company you’ve hired for information technology services do its job and provide you its expertise on purchases. If the company resells hardware and software at competitive rates, purchasing from it can be worthwhile. You’ll have a single point of purchase for computer support services, and the company can recommend hardware and software from manufacturers it has partnerships with and expertise on as well. All of that translates to added benefit to you.

9. Choose managed information technology services designed for business

Small organizations have a tendency to operate off the cuff, looking for freebies or grabbing cheap services not really designed for business. This approach to information technology services can come back to bite you. If you want to grow your business, approach your needs for computer support services like a bigger organization would. If your IT partner makes recommendations on computer support services that you think you can find cheaper elsewhere, take a hard look at what you are getting and how it can really benefit your business. Once you weigh all the benefits, you may find the value to your business growth and offerings far outweighs the cost.

10. Can I still do it myself?

Working with a good provider of information technology services doesn’t mean you can’t do anything yourself. In fact, a reputable and innovative IT company should educate you on how to better manage your technology needs and investments. There are still a lot of day-to-day tasks you can and should do within your organization, depending on your skill level, time and desire. The point is to keep your computer support services partner in the loop and use their expertise and input on major technology decisions.

Conclusion

So, what’s in it for you? By partnering with a provider of information technology services, you’ll find a more thought out, comprehensive approach to small business IT solutions that can increase efficiency, save you money, generate revenue, and help your business succeed

Not Invented Here is Not an Option for Healthcare Information Technology Companies

Dave Kauppi asked:

As an M & A advisor, we regularly dialogue with the top executives in the industry. We have to chuckle when I reach a decision maker with a large HIT company and he says, “We have a corporate policy that we do not buy companies.” Does this guy read the industry publications? Did he miss the latest HIMSS Conference? Things on the first floor of the San Diego Convention Center were pretty much the same – the usual suspects. The convention, however, had grown to 1100 exhibitors and the overflow required almost the entire second floor.

That was fun. What energy. It kind of reminded me of the old dot com days. Lots of money, talent, ideas, hope, energy, and potential successful businesses. This is the innovation environment in HIT and any large company that feels it can keep pace with this force through internal development efforts alone is headed down the path of extinction.

Almost everyone will agree that information technology will be a primary driver of controlling costs in the healthcare industry. There is, however, a huge paradox in this market. The institutional buyers of that technology are relatively conservative late adapters. This prevents the expected innovation and commercial success that should naturally follow the resources and passion of these HIMSS innovators.

These entrepreneurs respond to a market need and achieve encouraging initial success from the early adopters. They soon hit the wall and are not able to “cross the chasm” from a small group of early adaptors to general market acceptance from the conservative majority. There is little economic value created when good technology is in the control or a failing company and the technology never reaches broad acceptance.

Most of the blockbuster new products are the result of an entrepreneurial effort from an early stage company bootstrapping its growth in a very cost conscious lean environment. Think of some of the new developments from PACS companies. The big companies, with all their seeming advantages have a very high internal cost structure for new product introductions and the losses resulting from those failures are substantial. Don’t get me wrong, there were hundreds of failures from the start-ups as well. However, the failure for the edgy little start-up resulted in losses in the $1 – $5 million range. The same result from an industry giant were often in the $100 million to $250 million range.

For every IDX or eMerge there are literally hundreds of companies that either flame out or never reach a critical mass beyond a loyal early adapter market. It seems like the mentality of these smaller business owners is, using the example of the popular TV show, Deal or No Deal, to hold out for the $1 million briefcase. What about that logical contestant that objectively weighs the facts and the odds and cashes out for $280,000?

As we contemplated the dynamics of this market, we were drawn to a merger and acquisition model that is used in the networking technology market by Cisco Systems. We believe that model could also be applied to great advantage in the Healthcare Information Technology industry. The giant networking company, is a serial acquirer of companies. They do a tremendous amount of R&D and organic product development. They recognize, however, that they cannot possibly capture all the new developments in this rapidly changing field through internal development alone. Cisco seeks out investments in promising, small, technology companies and this approach has been a key element in their market dominance. They bring what we refer to as smart money to the high tech entrepreneur. They purchase a minority stake in the early stage company with a call option on acquiring the remainder at a later date with an agreed-upon valuation multiple. This structure is a brilliantly elegant method to dramatically enhance the risk reward profile of new product introduction. Here is why:

For the Entrepreneur:

1. The involvement of Large HIT Investor – resources, market presence, brand, distribution capability is a self fulfilling prophecy to your product’s success. The halo of the big secure company helps you cross the chasm to the conservative majority institutional customer. 2. For the same level of dilution that an entrepreneur would get from a VC, angel investor or private equity group, the entrepreneur gets the performance leverage of “smart money.” See #1. 3. The entrepreneur gets to grow his business with Large HIT Investor’s support at a far more rapid pace than he could alone. He is more likely to establish the critical mass needed for market leadership within his industry’s brief window of opportunity. 4. He gets an exit strategy with an established valuation metric while the buyer/investor helps him make his exit much more lucrative. 5. As an old Wharton professor used to ask, “What would you rather have, all of a grape or part of a watermelon?” That sums it up pretty well. The involvement of Large HIT Investor gives the product a much better probability of growing significantly. The entrepreneur will own a meaningful portion of a far bigger asset.

For the Large HIT Investor:

1. Create access to a large funnel of developing technology and products. 2. Creates a very nimble, market sensitive, product development or R&D arm. 3. Minor resource allocation to the autonomous operator during his “skunk works” market proving development stage. 4. Diversify their product development portfolio – because this approach provides for a relatively small investment in a greater number of opportunities fueled by the entrepreneurial spirit, they greatly improve the probability of creating a winner. 5. By investing early and getting an equity position in a small company and favorable valuation metrics on the call option, they pay a fraction of the market price to what they would have to pay if they acquired the company once the product had proven successful.

These successful transactions can benefit the small entrepreneurial firm looking for the “smart money” investment with the appropriate growth partner. At the same time benefitting the large industry player looking to enhance their new product strategy with this creative approach. This model has successfully served the technology industry through periods of outstanding growth and market value creation. Many of the same dynamics are present in the Healthcare Information Technology industry and these same transaction structures can be similarly employed to create value.

Information Technology Consulting Solutions

Roberto Luongo asked:

Information technology consulting is a specified field that concentrates on assisting businesses to take the greatest advantage of ongoing technology. By way of IT consulting businesses can meet their business objectives very easily and conveniently. The work of IT consultancy is not limited to assisting but also monitoring proper implementation, deployment, and administering IT systems on behalf of businesses struggling to make their space in global marketplace.

The IT Consulting Industry Can be Given in Main Three Categories as Per the Needs:

1. Professional services firms: These consulting firms maintain large professional employees and provide their specialized services to many global businesses across the world. These firms or companies also command high bill rates. In order to provide the best services and maintain the timeliness, such firms are increasingly sourcing their employees from low-cost nations.

2. Staffing firms: These firms hire experts on a short term basis. Work as a backbone by providing quality workforce for the development of organizations. Such firms charge considerably for providing the right person at the right place.

3. Independent consultants: These consultants work independently to enhance the productivity of an organization and increase the profit of the company. These people are experts and keep a sharp eye on the developments of the information technology and software world to provide the best solutions to meet the emerging challenges. From conceptualization to implementation to the proper functioning to the results, these consultants perform numerous functions.

Information Consulting in India:

India has proved its expertise and worth as the ultimate destination for providing quality solutions for information consultancy. India has produced many capable and talented people, who have changed the world by giving solutions ahead of their time. If you any such requirement, you can browse the internet to see the services of Indian firms and companies to get the best services at the right time within your budget.

Build Versus Buy – A Merger and Acquisition Strategy for Information Technology Companies

Dave Kauppi asked:

As a Merger and Acquisition advisor, we regularly dialogue with the top executives in the information technology industry. We have to chuckle when we reach a decision maker with a large IT company and he says, “We have a corporate policy that we do not buy companies.” Does this guy read the industry publications? Is his company’s development group that good? Does he understand the first mover advantage or window of opportunity?

We have gotten past the dizzying array of Internet product introductions, but the pace of technology introduction has again returned to robust levels. Any large company that feels it can keep pace with this force through internal development efforts alone is headed down the path of extinction.

Almost everyone will agree that information technology will be a primary driver of controlling costs in U.S. industry. Technology is our answer to remaining competitive in this world economy. A great deal of the technology development is coming from small, entrepreneurial, nimble, low overhead companies.

There is, however, a huge paradox in the market. The institutional buyers of technology are relatively conservative late adapters. This prevents the expected innovation and commercial success that should naturally follow the innovation and passion of these small technology innovators.

Don’t get me wrong, there were hundreds of failures from the start-ups as well. However, the failure for the edgy little start-up resulted in losses in the $1 – $5 million range. The same result from an industry giant were often in the $100 million to $250 million range.

For every Yahoo or Ebay there are literally hundreds of companies that either flame out or never reach a critical mass beyond a loyal early adapter market. It seems like the mentality of these smaller business owners is, using the example of the popular TV show, Deal or No Deal, to hold out for the $1 million briefcase. What about that logical contestant that objectively weighs the facts and the odds and cashes out for $280,000?

Cisco seeks out investments in promising, small, technology companies and this approach has been a key element in their market dominance. They bring what we refer to as smart money to the high tech entrepreneur. They purchase a minority stake in the early stage company with a call option on acquiring the remainder at a later date with an agreed-upon valuation multiple. This structure is a brilliantly elegant method to dramatically enhance the risk reward profile of new product introduction. Here is why:

For the Entrepreneur:

1. The involvement of Large IT Investor – resources, market presence, brand, distribution capability is a self fulfilling prophecy to your product’s success. The halo of the big secure company helps you cross the chasm to the conservative majority institutional customer.

2. For the same level of dilution that an entrepreneur would get from a venture capital, angel investor or private equity group, the entrepreneur gets the performance leverage of “smart money.” See #1.

3. The entrepreneur gets to grow his business with Large IT Investor’s support at a far more rapid pace than he could alone. He is more likely to establish the critical mass needed for market leadership within his industry’s brief window of opportunity.

4. He gets an exit strategy with an established valuation metric while the buyer/investor helps him make his exit much more lucrative.

5. As an old Wharton professor used to ask, “What would you rather have, all of a grape or part of a watermelon?” That sums it up pretty well. The involvement of Large IT Investor gives the product a much better probability of growing significantly. The entrepreneur will own a meaningful portion of a far bigger asset.

For the Large IT Investor:

1. Create access to a large funnel of developing technology and products.

2. Creates a very nimble, market sensitive, product development or R&D arm.

3. Minor resource allocation to the autonomous operator during his “skunk works” market proving development stage.

4. Diversify their product development portfolio – because this approach provides for a relatively small investment in a greater number of opportunities fueled by the entrepreneurial spirit, they greatly improve the probability of creating a winner.

5. By investing early and getting an equity position in a small company and favorable valuation metrics on the call option, they pay a fraction of the market price to what they would have to pay if they acquired the company once the product had proven successful.

The New Information Technology Marketplace

Barry Koplowitz asked:

This article is also available as a Podcast on “The RootCause” podcast series available on iTunes.

As our country begins what I can only hope is a new era, I find myself wondering about the future of our industry. Information Technology took a very hard hit in the Dot Bomb Crash of 2000. I was under contract to Lucent Technologies at the time and the impact there was enormous. Jobs were lost by the thousands, and so were retirements. Now, in 2008 and 2009, we see another financial bomb–but we also see a new vision.

In 2000, the world discovered that just being on the Internet did not guarantee success. Prior to that, business was doing well at moving money around, if not actually producing much. The cash had to keep moving or it would settle to the ground and people would notice that there wasn’t that much new money–just the same funds moving in circles–redistributing. Maybe that is what finally happened. Maybe the music stopped and everyone realized that there weren’t enough chairs for everyone–and panicked.

The financial bomb this time is a bit different and as I am not a financial consultant, I will not try to explain it–even if I fully understood it-which I do not. My concern here is the impact of this market on my industry, the Information Technology Industry. This time it seems, we are not dead center on the bull’s eye–instead we are the arrow point. We went through our decimation and many of us retired, retrained in other fields or just gave up. Others stayed on and have continued to grow with the technology. It’s leaner and meaner and there are far fewer of us to do what needs doing. But, it is also the foundation of the new economy to come.

New energy systems and a rewrite of the way that the Health Care Industry does business will be heavily steeped in Information Technology. Our skills are going to be in more and more in demand as companies around the world, and here in the United States, scramble for ways to create a sustainable future for our planet and our respective countries. We will be right in the middle of it. Are you ready for that? Are you really?

One side effect of the trimming down of our industry has been reluctance to invest in upgrades, to improve efficiency of systems and, most importantly, to create. Older equipment and technology are often still in place–in mission critical positions. Products at the end of their support cycles, that are still working, are still in place. After all, why fix what isn’t broken? Money is tight.

Here is why you should fix it while it is still working.

(1) Because it IS still working. Once a component fails, you will end up scrambling to replace it–making bad decisions and building sloppy installations.

(2) Because new software tools, operating system manufacturers, (think patches), and other manufacturers of equipment, do not perform regression testing back to the beginning of time. If your operation system or other software tools are past that magical line in the sand, new-supposedly helpful-patches and upgrades could break your systems in unforeseeable and unsupportable ways.

(3) Because it is not about keeping your position in a company or in a market. It is about creating new technologies, processes and markets. The old ways don’t cut it anymore and whoever creates a solution to a problem, regardless of country or marketplace, will drive the economies of the world–and of their niche in the global marketplace. If your company creates products or provides services, you need to be on the crest of the wave.

President Obama has asked us to be willing to make hard decisions and to work to create the new technologies that will drive the world’s economy. I for one, embrace the call. Let’s stop trying to make our money by moving money from one pocket to another and begin once again to create. You, the people of the Information Technology Industry, are going to be right at the heart of it. Technologists, look for companies that want to be there too. Information Technology Managers, look for people with passion. Let the wonder that first led you to master an aspect of the magic of technology once again inspire you. This is our moment. This is our challenge. It’s time once again to have some fun with this stuff!

Misconceptions About Outsourcing Information Technology Tasks

Mohsin Khan asked:

Like nearly all other industries and practices, IT outsourcing also has had its portion of myths . While these misconceptions haven’t been able to end the flow of outsourcing, they have inflicted some damage to small commercial enterprises that sought to gain from the numerous advantages of subcontracting information technology tasks. In this article, we will view some popular myths and will learn why they are misconceptions merely.

Firstly, people believe outsourcing is doing damage to the local economic system. One can’t deny the diminishing the jobs in the information technology industry, but to state that the gross effect on the economy is damaging won’t be appropriate. If subcontracting your IT projects allows you to trim costs and enjoy more earnings, doesn’t that mean more profit for the shareholders. Then, most of the tech products from fiber optic cables to internet telephony are made up by western states. So it’s rather evident that if IT subcontracting reduces jobs in one sector, it also brings profit to other sectors.

Moreover, some firms hold the misconception that outsourcing to offshore workforce is a shameful act. This, I think, is because of constant propaganda by some media that subcontracting damages economy and is unpatriotic to do. But it’s true that numerous international companies have subcontracted their IT tasks to India and some other Asian countries, as it also allows them to cut managerial burden and target core aims. In fact, the main doctrine behind a business enterprise is to increment earnings and to flourish. IT subcontracting allows US firms to benefit from talented folks living miles apart, so we actually employ some untapped brains that certainly contribute more innovation to the entire world.

Some think that subcontracting can result in high expenses after you count all the intangible costs linked with it. Yet, if you compare the hourly wages of employees in Asian nations like Indonesia, you will realize that there are huge saving potentials. Moreover, having a larger internal workforce means you acquire all the office supplies from chairs to UPS for all of them. So by reducing fixed expenses, subcontracting permits SMEs to control their variable expenditures. So subcontracting is not just for larger corporations and can significantly help smaller businesses looking to launch with low budget.

Finally, a couple misconceptions come up due to incompetent management by firms who go for outsourcing. A lot of us fail to follow best practices when subcontracting out IT tasks and later come up with baseless justifications. Many a times, we hear managers complaining that outsourced workers overlook deadlines. This is usually the result of inappropriate selection. There are lots of providers in our own country who are always late.

Then, several managers face communication problems while dealing with overseas workers. These problems usually arise when you choose outsourcing providers who grab more projects than they can manage. So employ dedicated workers who would work only for you.

Information Technology | Certification Intelligence

Bill Naugle asked:

Information technology news and technical information pertaining to certification intelligence for exam training is the main purpose of this article. Many people do not know the difference between computer training and certification exam training. I would like to inform everyone what the differences are. Computer training is classroom education with scheduled courses or online training about the career field pertaining to information technology. Let me explain! You may want to become a Server Administrator. To begin with you will need some education somewhere in order to be knowledgeable about the subject and maybe acquire a 2 or 4-year degree or receive some online training with a qualified instructor. You may just want to take a few courses and receive a certificate in this field. This would be considered computer training.

Information technology certification intelligence on exam training is what you need in order to be fully prepared to pass your certification exam. After computer training you may have a degree or a certificate but you still do not have a certification that is recognized by Microsoft, CIW and CompTia or any other. If you have computer training that qualifies you to be a Server Administrator then you will want to get certified in Microsoft, CIW or CISCO. Certification exam training concentrates on preparing you to pass your certification exam. An IT Certification exam is unlike any other exam that you have had in college or school. There are two very important things to consider when preparing for a certification exam. They are the proper study technique and having relevant material that pertains to the actual exam that is up to date with the current market.

There are only a handful of places online that offer Certification exam training. The reason I wrote this article is to provide news and information about the best resources on certification exam training. There are many students of information technology that want this information because they are serious about passing their certification exam on the very first try. This article is not about selling but about helping those who are not informed about Certification exam training.

Another purpose of this article is education concerning information technology certification. There are many colleges and online training about information technology that will prepare you for a particular subject or field but there are but a few places where you can find information technology certification intelligence on exam training.

Say you want to become a PC Technician and you study at a college or receive online training so that you are knowledgeable about that field and receive a diploma or certificate in that area but you still are not certified until you take a certification exam. Even after graduation you will need to schedule an IT certification exam with prometric or pearsonvue in order to be certified in the field that you desire.

How many places do you know where you can get training on how to pass your information technology certification exam. Exam training is not the same as computer training. You will need knowledge of how to study for your certification exam and to know the proper study techniques because an IT exam is not the same as the exams in school. You will also need to know where to get updated material about your certification exam because if you are studying material that is outdated then you will not pass your certification exam. Certification exam training is important if you plan on passing your certification exam the first time so you can avoid 2nd and 3rd exam fees.

Some people may already be working on the job in the profession that they desire, such as a Server Administrator, Desktop Support Technician or a PC Repair Technician. They may have had prior training before employment but have never acquired a certification. They probably know their job and are very knowledgeable about their work and field but need a certification because their employer requires it. They do not need any computer training. They only need Certification exam training so they can pass their certification exam. I hope you get the picture now. Looking for a great resource then visit: billnaugle.com

Advice on Outsourcing and Information Technology Benefits

Wayne Hemrick asked:

Hiring an outside independent contractor to manage some aspect of a company’s computer and data systems is called IT “outsourcing.” Boston companies do this in order to help externalize the cost of doing business while internalizing and maximizing profits for shareholders and investors. While outsourcing functions of government such as the maintenance of infrastructure, safety and regulation enforcement and even the military has proven to be an unmitigated disaster for the public, large private companies and their clients and cusomers can actually experience substantial benefits by outsourcing and information technology benefits.

Because of governmental misuse of outsourcing over the past seven years, the term has understandably taken on some strongly negative connotations with the general public, leading to some misconceptions about outsourcing and information technology benefits. The fact is that outsourcing information technology can be an excellent way to streamline your company’s operations and cut business costs. In many cases, when it comes to the technological infrastructure of a business, the most effective way to make efficient use of labor and capital as well as the technology itself is by IT outsourcing.

Boston – based companies often have issues with supervision and control that causes management to be hesitant when it comes to outsourcing information technology. In fact, such often time-consuming management chores can seriously eat into the bottom line; one of the great outsourcing and information technology benefits is that the company will no longer have to spend time and resources in this area any longer; the contractor takes care of all supervision, evaluations and other issues that management generally prefers to have under its control. This is true even when the contractor may have an IT engineer on your company’s property to deal with any potential problems with computers, e-mail systems, Internet connections, data storage, severs and any other issues that may come up.

Another aspect of outsourcing boston information technology to keep in mind is the fact that as contractors, these people do not require that you provide pension contributions, paid vacation and health and dental benefits – meaning greater returns for investors and more that can be paid to your valuable top-level people.

Outsourcing and information technology benefits the shareholders and investors, management and the company as a whole. When you have fewer employees to manage and keep track of, you can turn your attention to the more immediate issues that more directly affect the day-to-day operations of your company. Ease of operation, cutting costs, and increasing profitability are the best reasons for outsourcing boston’s corporate IT systems today.

Cisco Systems, Microsoft, and the Rewarding Trade of Information Technology

Donald Carroll asked:

My name is Donald Carroll. I am the President and Webmaster of Green Planet Fantasy Theater. How did I get here? I have over ten years of work experience in the field of Information Technology (IT). I also have five years of teaching experience as an instructor in both Microsoft and Cisco technologies as well as other networking technologies such as Novell Netware, Unix, and Linux. I am twice certified by Microsoft as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), and twice certified by Cisco Systems as a Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA?

The field of Information Technology has been very good to me and is an excellent trade to get into for those of you looking at entering a career or changing careers. As a former instructor, I can tell you that as a prerequisite you must be at least comfortable with using computers; better if you have a knack for fixing them when they break! Those of you who are very familiar with using, repairing, and even building computers are perfectly cut out for the lucrative field of Information Technology.

The purpose of this article is to help you in getting started on the path towards earning your industry standard certifications in the field of Information Technology while also gaining hands on practical experience with computer networks. I will tell you on the next page exactly what to do if you are interested in entering the field of Information Technology, even if you have no experience whatsoever. In the field of Information Technology, it is often not enough to just earn your certifications as employers generally favor IT professionals with work experience.

I will also share with you more about my own background and how it helped me to enter the field of Information Technology.

In the early 1990’s I was working as an administrative assistant, and as part of my duties I learned how to use a number of different computer programs; common business applications including word editors, spreadsheet programs, and databases. After my stay as an administrative assistant, and while I was seeking new and interesting employment opportunities, I sent away for a PC (Personal Computer) home study course, mostly because it came with a PC! I learned computer hardware, and computer software, including operating systems such as Microsoft DOS and Windows version 3.1. (Learning computer hardware and computer software, including operating systems such as Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista is the first step in training for a career in Information Technology. I will explain more about this on the next page.)

I was also able to connect to the Internet using a modem; at that time, the only real Internet choices there were was “GopherNet”, and the America Online Network. (“GopherNet”, which is still in existence today, allows you to view folders and files on a remote computer, not web pages. The America Online Network has merely changed over the years.) Besides then connecting to a rather bleak Internet, in comparison with today’s Internet, you could connect to what were called “BBS’s”, or electronic bulletin boards. These “sites” allowed you to chat, play online games, and both upload and download content. ( I would have to check to see if any “BBS’s” are still in existence today!)

In 1997 I relocated to the Silicon Valley (San Jose, California), and I began applying around for administrative assistant positions. One recruiter pointed out that I “had a list of computer skills a mile long” between having learned a number of business applications, and having also completed a two year home study course as a PC Specialist. I was offered a high paying short term contract to provide computer support for employees at NEC Computers. I was basically an apprentice to what I would call a “guru” in terms of computer and computer networking skills.

I also entered college again to earn an Associate of Science/Information Systems Degree. After my contract at NEC Computers ended I applied at Honeywell Automated and Industrial Controls, and I accepted a position as a hardware technician. At this point now in my life I was pursuing a second degree in Information Technology, and working in the field of Information Technology, developing on the job skills critical to become a real expert. (At that time, the field of Information Technology was called Management Information Systems (MIS). Later it was changed to Information Specialist (IS), and today it is known as Information Technology (IT)).

That was the beginning for me. I soon continued on to teach networking technologies, and I accepted senior engineering positions with a number of different companies and corporations. I WAS EARNING WAGES and BENEFITS PACKAGES I HAD NEVER DREAMED OF!!! I essentially climbed the ladder from working as a computer hardware technician to working as an instructor, a network engineer, a senior network engineer, and finally as a consultant! Today I work as a contractor and as a webmaster.

If you would like to enter the field of Information Technology yourself PLEASE CONTINUE READING!!! I have myself graduated over four hundred computer networking students, and I can teach you how to learn computer hardware and software, and computer networking. I will tell you what course books to study and how and what certification tests to prepare for.

The field of Information Technology is not about computer programming, or application development; this field is all about the designing, building, maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing both the computers and the computer networks that companies use to store and use their data. In considering computers, there is the computer hardware; the disk drives, cd-rom drives, memory, motherboard, processors, power supplies, mice, keyboards, and other parts and peripherals. There is also the computer software; namely, the operating system, like Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows Vista, and computer applications or programs, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat Reader.

When one or more computers are connected together to form a computer network they are connected using network devices such as hubs, switches, routers, and other network devices. In the field of Information Technology some IT Specialists prefer to work on computer hardware and computer software, and special computers used in a computer network called network servers. Other IT Specialists prefer to work more with network switches, network routers, and other telephone and telecommunications equipment.

If you would prefer to work with networking devices more than with computer hardware, computer software, and servers, you might want to pursue getting certified as a Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA. (The CCNA certification is either one or two exams; you have a choice of taking it as either one or two exams depending upon your preference.) Your duties as a CCNA would revolve more around configuring and troubleshooting network routers and switches, and working with leased line providers and telecommunications equipment. Cisco Systems also offers other more advanced routing certifications beyond the CCNA, namely the Cisco Certified Network Professional, or CCNP, and the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, or CCIE.

If you would prefer to work on computers; installing and fixing computer hardware and computer software, and administering network servers and network databases and applications, you might be interested in pursuing first the A+ certification followed by the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, or MCSE certification. (The A+ certification exam is given as either one or two exams; one exam is based on computer hardware and the other exam covers special software known to IT Specialists as operating systems. The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, or MCSE, is awarded upon the successful completion of seven individual exams.)

Many IT professionals maintain proficiency in computer hardware, software, network servers, and computer networking devices such as routers and switches. Many employers demand that their IT staff be able to help employees with simple computer problems while also being able to solve complex network problems on network routers, switches, and even firewall systems. Many positions in the field of Information Technology require an A+ certification, an MCSE, and a CCNA. Other positions require only one of these certifications, plus or many any of a number of other industry standard certifications.

Unless you decide to pursue the Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA certification, you will probably want to begin learning the ins and outs of a single computer before studying computer networking technologies. You can purchase the textbooks for the A+ certification, the MCSE certification, and the CCNA certification at almost any book retailer.

Focus first on the A+ exam material before proceeding to the MCSE exam material and/or the CCNA exam material – this is best if you are an absolute novice. It is also a good idea to set up a small computer network at home to practice with – hands on experience with these technologies is essential to success! It is also a good idea to attend a technical school to learn the basics of networking technologies, but you can study and become proficient with these technologies on your own just as well.

With your A+ certification behind you, you can work as a PC technician, or even as a Help Desk Specialist (helping employees with their hardware, software, and basic network problems.) While pursuing your MCSE and or CCNA, you can apply for positions as a junior systems administrator, network administrator, and even a junior network engineer.

Study your exam materials, setup your own home network that you can use to practice on, and by all means try to meet people who work as IT Specialists so that you can learn more about working in the field of Information Technology. Maybe you can spend a day at work with them working for free as an apprentice? (Companies usually do not mind extra help for free!)

Create a sharp resume’ listing your certifications and/or technical school degrees, and your work experience…if you do not have any work experience, try to get some working with an IT Specialist. Though certifications are important, most employers prefer work experience. Some job interviews have a required technical interview where you are tested on your fundamental knowledge and your ability to troubleshoot and resolve computer and computer network problems.

Once you have passed you A+ certification exams you can begin applying to work as a computer technician (hardware and/or software technician.) From there you can continue your studies in networking, earn your MCSE and/or CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE, and become a network engineer, a senior network engineer, a contractor, or even work as a consultant.

Good luck to you…if you have any questions about the field of Information Technology please feel free to contact Donald Carroll at Green Planet Fantasy Theater.

(For more great “how to” articles, plus DVD Movies, Music Collections, PC, XBox, Wii, Sony Playstation and Nintendo Games, Software, E-Books, Audio Books, and Adult *** Material FREE, visit Green Planet Fantasy Theater online at http://ww.myplanetfantasy.com.)

Manage Your Business’s Information Technology the Easy Way

Wayne Hemrick asked:

Many businesses on the East Coast decide to go with a Boston it service provider to audit, procure, build, secure and administrate their information technology. For cost efficiency and professional service in dealing with information technology consultant ,boston

companies choose to outsource their IT.

The wedge of your business budget pie taken up by in-house information technology can be substantial. By the time you add up employee salaries and benefits, along with training and the cost of the tools needed for performing the job, many Massachusetts companies find that it makes better financial sense to procure the services of a Boston it provider.

One of the early steps that many organizations take is to hire an information technology consultant. Boston-area businesses benefit from using a consultant to perform a review of the business’s information technology currently being utilized. Also taking into consideration the company’s long-term projections and budget goals, the IT consultant will offer up a plan for making your company’s information technology run smoothly at the best possible cost to you.

Boston it consultants will help you select the hardware and software you need for expedient IT performance. Servers and network hardware are expensive items that are nevertheless necessary for conducting business, so you will want to make sure that the technological items you are buying will actually perform the tasks that you need. Desktop and laptop computers, along with the myriad peripherals that go with them, are vital to the day-to-day operation of your business and will immediately affect your business bottom line. This is why it pays to have expert Boston it consultants, engineers and technicians available to help you sort through the wealth of options to find what will work best for your unique company.

Once you have all of the hardware in place, you will also want to think about network security. For access to engineers and technicians who have been certified with the top technology companies and who provide expertise in information technology ,boston businesses turn to Boston it providers for help with this crucial area. If you operate an online storefront, or simply need to make sure that your business partner’s information will not be compromised, it is imperative to provide a secure platform upon which to conduct business. Boston it services can handle this aspect of your business for you, giving you and your business associates the peace of mind that everyone wants.

Network integration is another topic to discuss with your information technology consultant. Boston IT services can monitor your network round the clock to ensure its stability. This reduces the amount of wasted network down time, saving you money. Boston-based it services can help with every area of your company’s information technology system to make it run effectively.