Calnet

Unified Communications – Everything At Once

– February 13, 2012Posted in: Cal Net

It wasn’t too long ago that office hallways were filled with people carrying a utility belt that would make Batman jealous. No, the belt didn’t have crime-fighting tools; instead, it usually had some combination of PDA, cell phone (one or two), a pager, and possibly even a small notebook with all possible logins for IM and email accounts — and none of those synced up wirelessly.

If that doesn’t seem like ages ago, it’s because it wasn’t. However, the rapid evolution of smartphones, VoIP, and collaborative sync platforms have changed quickly everything. Technology is consolidating, creating a synced-up world where communication is updating in real time, all streamlined down to a select few devices. That’s the big idea behind unified communications: providing users with a fast and easy way to maintain their data and communication without having to carry a Batman-esque utility belt.

Everything starts with the network platform for communication. Microsoft Lync is one of the leading choices because of its flexibility and compatibility. It’s Microsoft, of course, so it works seamlessly with the complete Office suite. On top of that, Lync allows users to maintain contacts and check availability, sync email, send instant messages, and start conferences (audio/video) for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices. Mobile devices are just the beginning. Lync extends fully out to desktops, creating an all-in-one package that integrates communication, collaboration, and Office applications.

How far out can this extend? VoIP phones are now becoming the norm for many organizations. These devices may look like a standard desk telephone, though they connect through an ethernet cable rather than a standard phone cable. This extended bandwidth opens up many capabilities, including sync with email servers. For example, Cisco’s VoIP phones can integrate with Microsoft Outlook servers so that voice mails are stored both on your phone system AND as an email with an audio file — and when you delete the message on your phone, the email disappears too.

VoIP phones have come quite a ways in just a few years. Polycom’s VVX 1500 media phone set the stage in 2009, bringing together integrated video conferencing and web access through a simple desktop phone. While this may seem like many extra bells and whistles, the goal for all of this is really to streamline communication, giving users the option of going with whatever method is most convenient at the time.

What’s next? The near-future may bring us even further leaps and bounds in the realm of unified communication. In October 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype, the leading video conferencing provider. While no formal plans have been announced, you can bet that Microsoft is hard at work integrating Skype’s proven system with its own Lync system. The results may take communication to the realms once left to the pages of Batman comics and science-fiction.

Tags: Unified Communications

Microsoft SharePoint and Your Workflow

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– February 1, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, Microsoft, Microsoft

The cloud — it’s changing the way we collaborate. Just a few years ago, cloud computing was a buzzword that only tech-heads understood. Today, it’s everywhere, from start-up applications to Google’s plethora of cloud-based technology. The cloud has revolutionized the way we work together. Consider the old days of collaboration — you may have burned photos on to a CD for a coworker or saved a document on a 3.5″ floppy for a late-night work-from-home session. You may have printed out pages, made redlines with an actual red pen, then dropped them off at a desk or used the dreaded copy machine to distribute notes.

That was then. The modern form of collaboration involves the use of cloud computing for anywhere/anytime access, presenting employees with a consolidated space where updates, notes, and file sharing can be done with a few mouse clicks. It’s faster and easier, optimizing workflow efficiency so that the only thing that really matters is communication — not the logistics of communication.

Microsoft’s applications are pretty much the standard in most offices, and SharePoint is Microsoft’s web application platform. Much more than just a content management system or file management system, SharePoint focuses on six different areas:

-Sites: Create intranet or public sites to share and manage online information.

-Communication: Collaborate and communicate through social media features based on specific communities, from teams within an organization to vendor/client groups.

-File management: Centralized storage for media and document files, all accessed through the web for anywhere/anytime usage — including one-touch editing (through Office 2010).

-Data search: Using internal file metadata and external content, find what you need through a comprehensive search that reaches across sites, communities, centralized files, and user profiles.

-Data analysis: SharePoint logs user data, giving critical decision makers key statistics ranging from download numbers to access volume.

-Extensions: By custom coding (using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010), IT teams can extend the functionality of Sharepoint to meet the specific needs of the company, external vendor/client, or internal organization.

How can SharePoint impact your workflow? When fully integrated and adapted by an organization, SharePoint becomes a virtual office hub for all types of data/information exchanges. Here are just a few ways SharePoint can help your organization maximize time and effort:

-Digital asset management: With its centralized file repository, assets (media files, documents, and more) can quickly be shared by team members, eliminating the need to email file attachments or use physical media to get the latest revision.

-Feedback and collaboration: When many people work on the same project, physical media creates a huge barrier in terms of finding the latest revision. Using a centralized system, team members can provide feedback and updates in real time, ensuring that everyone sees the latest revision and is on the same page.

-Making the right decision: SharePoint collects a wide range of data, providing the necessary analytics to view just how data is being used across projects, users, and communities. By understanding how information flows — and where the roadblocks are — managers can quickly determine how best to optimize team structure and workflow.

-New ideas through social networking: Through SharePoint’s communities, members get the latest updates and notifications through social media features, making it easier than ever before to voice an opinion or toss out a new idea — and the more ideas, the greater the innovation.

Anytime/anywhere access generated a tremendous step forward in the evolution of business applications. Microsoft SharePoint is a launching pad for many businesses to enter the cloud revolution, and because it easily integrates with Office, SharePoint is a sensible choice for many IT managers. In the end, of course, it’s not about the software — it’s about the individual users and giving them the best tools to maximize their productivity.

Tags: Cloud services, microsoft, Sharepoint

Virtualization: what you really need to know

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– January 20, 2012Posted in: Cal Net, Virtualization

Virtualization is a tech buzzword that’s gaining momentum, so much so that you’ll even catch it on billboards around Silicon Valley (seriously, drive up Highway 101 and you’ll see it). Technically, virtualization can cover a number of things, all focusing on the ability to create multiple virtual machines within a host machine for the purposes of platform, operating system, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), storage, or resources. In particular, VDI is becoming an increasingly popular way to work, particularly for businesses with constantly traveling employees or 24/7 operations.

In the virtualization market, VMWare has led since its GSX Server hit the market in 2001. Today, VMWare is still the frontrunner and continues to serve most Fortune 500 companies. However, Microsoft and Citrix offer compelling alternatives. And while virtualization is commonly found in today’s IT infrastructures, much of the market hasn’t fully converted yet. What does that mean for the leading virtualization systems? Competition is fierce as the three companies duke it out for virtualization supremacy – but regardless of who comes out on top, the IT administrators wind up with greater options and flexibility; they’re the true winners in this battle.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for virtualization. All three heavy hitters have their pros and cons, and finding the right fit has more to do with individual needs and resources rather than the name on the box. Let’s take a closer look at what VMWare, Microsoft, and Citrix have to offer:

VMWare: VMWare’s vSphere is their flagship platform for cloud infrastructures. Currently at vSphere 5, VMWare’s solution is scalable with dynamic load balances and hot storage/network management without disruption or downtime; it also boasts significant hardware muscles with support for up to 1 TB of RAM and 32 virtual CPUs per virtual machine. vSphere 5′s Auto-Deploy function automatically provisions hosts based on user-defined rules while its High Availability feature provides the industry-standard safety net for downtime.

For VDI purposes, VMWare View 5 offers strong media and graphic support, including support for 3D applications using DirectX. Built for efficiency over both LAN and WAN networks, View 5 also provides strong administrative management while accommodating a high level of user customization — the best of both worlds. VMWare went for exclusivity with View 5, as it does not support Citrix or Microsoft hypervisors.

Microsoft: Virtual Server is Microsoft’s entry into the market, and like all things Microsoft, Virtual Server utilizes a Windows-based infrastructure. That, along with its out-of-the-box functionality, makes it play nice with existing Windows-based hardware. In addition, since Windows is so ingrained with most office machines, this creates an efficient big-picture rollout. With public and private cloud options, a custom solution can be tailored for a streamlined infrastructure, complete with integrated monitoring and management.

Microsoft’s VDI solution is named, quite simply, VDI. Keeping it all in the family, VDI tends to only work with Internet Explorer — other popular browsers are not supported. In addition, its overall feature set isn’t as robust as its competitors. However, because it is a Microsoft product, its support for clients using Windows is rock solid.

Citrix: XenServer is Citrix’s answer to vSphere and Virtual Server. Built on the open-source Xen hypervisor, XenServer uses a combination of paravirtualization and hardware-assisted virtualization for optimized performance. XenServer’s backup-and-recovery functionality dives a little deeper than vSphere with application-level awareness; in addition, Citrix StorageLink provides administrators with array support from major providers (HP, Dell). While XenServer matches many of vSphere’s features, it does require a larger footprint than its competitors.

Its VDI sister is XenDesktop 5.5, which has many similar features to VMWare View 5. One notable standout feature is its ability to stream a virtual desktop (client boots from server-base desktop images). XenDesktop also offers greater flexibility, capable of working with Citrix’s XenServer, VMWare’s vSphere, and Microsoft’s Hyper-V, as well as all major web browsers.

VMWare, Citrix, Microsoft — which one should you use? It’s important to note the price points. Microsoft offers Virtual Server as a free download, which almost makes it a gateway drug to other Microsoft products. Citrix and VMWare have different price points, but the per-license cost for Citrix’s highest-end version is more than VMWare’s.

Ultimately, there’s no easy way to choose; it depends on your needs, budget, and expertise. Of course, we’re here to help. Need some assistance untangling the maze that is virtualization? Contact Cal Net Technology Group, we’d be happy to answer your questions.

PCI DSS: Protecting Credit Card Data

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– January 4, 2012Posted in: Uncategorized

When you enter a credit card number into a website, have you ever considered what happens after you hit the Submit button? Does that data travel in a bulletproof collection of ones and zeroes or is it open to any passing threats? Every day, millions of credit cards are processed through online transactions; hence, the need for data security — and not just encryption, but top-to-bottom security built to an industry standard. That’s where PCI DSS comes in, and if you use a third-party vendor for your payment transactions (or if you process payments yourself) compliance should be on the top of your to-do list.

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. At the turn of the millennium, there were five standards, one from each of the major credit card companies (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and JCB). While the standards were developed by each company, enough overlap existed between the five protocols to create an industry-wide version. In 2004, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) was formed and the first PCI DSS standard released before the end of that year. Today, those same groups oversee the council with additional input from key stakeholders, such as merchants, banks, and security software developers.

Like many IT security standards, PCI DSS offers a multi-faceted approach that involves software, hardware, and logistics. From software design to network architecture to compliance practices and procedures, everything in PCI DSS is designed to keep the end consumer safe. Specific objectives include items such as encrypted transmission of cardholder data across public networks and implementation of appropriate access restrictions to cardholder data. When all of the objectives are combined together, the result is a strong foundation for credit card data safety across transactions.

Credit card companies require PCI DSS for all entities involved with the processing, storing, or transmission of credit card data of their account holders. For most organizations, that means that their payment processing merchant or service provider is the responsible party. Responsible is the key term there, as formal validation isn’t mandatory in all circumstances, and that leaves the entity themselves as the overseer of implementation and maintenance. Outside vendors can assist this process, and the PCI SSC website (www.pcisecuritystandards.org) has guidelines on compliance, along with assistance on getting started.

For many security protocols, the benefits aren’t tangible — it’s only when there’s been a violation that the effects ripple through a company. PCI DSS is the same way. You won’t notice an uptick in speed or customer volume simply by complying to it or using a complying merchant; if PCI DSS compliance is done right, then there will be no data hiccups and things are simply business as usual. What happens if you are NOT compliant? One little problem can quickly unravel into a disaster. A single data breach can lead to exposed data, which in turn tarnishes your reputation with all business partners and can lead to lawsuits, insurance claims, even fines — not to mention the shaken confidence of vendors and customers.

Security and stability — that’s the goal of PCI DSS. And while you may not notice it on the outside, the internal workings of a PCI DSS system do plenty to keep your organization’s engine running smoothly. And that promise, more than anything else, is the best way to provide peace of mind for every customer and vendor you work with.

Five New Personal Cloud Services: In Review

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– December 9, 2011Posted in: Uncategorized

More consumers than ever before are using personal cloud-based services? Many without the knowledge that popular sites like Gmail are such a service. A recent article in Computerworld hoped to better inform consumers about “the latest” in cloud based storage. Here are some helpful nuggets from that article.

Amazon Cloud Drive/Player- is for consumer music storage. Offering “5 GB of free storage” for streaming on “up to eight devices.” A tip if you get music from Amazon, is to use the free storage their currently offering through Amazon Cloud Drive- which temporarily also allows consumers to store “music from other sources.”

Apple iCloud – Touted as one of the “most advanced personal could services out there,” the Apple iCould offers (similar to the Could Dive) 5 GB of storage. For competitive reasons Apple doesn’t count “Apple purchased music, apps, books, and TV shows [or one’s] Photo Stream” into the allotted quota- so you’re free to add as many of those products without eating into your free storage. If that sounds exciting, then you’re really going to be really impressed by iCloud’s extended offerings.

While basic iCloud is “available via the Web on any platform,” it’s recommended that one use Apple’s most up to date operating systems like Lion or Snow Leopard. As “more than just storage and an online music server,” the iCloud “also includes all of Apple’s wireless services,” like email, mobile backup and location data for finding lost or stolen Apple products. And if or when one goes beyond the allotted free storage, the pay-to-play rates are much lower than the Cloud Drive. In comparison, 10 GB of space through Apple costs $20 per year, while Cloud Drive’s cost is determined by month and per GB, at $1/GB/month.

Both of the above services require the web to function while Dropbox, one of the original cloud-based storage services, “doesn’t need a Web browser interface and will run on “almost any PC.” Thought of a primarily a storage device, Dropbox remains a tough competitor and lasting veteran.

Google Music, a true Apple competitor, is current being tested in its beta stage and like iCloud offers music storage. Possible drawbacks are that this service, like the iCloud and Cloud Drive, requires access to the Web- and can only be used on “one PC or device at a time.” As far as the article states, none of the other services reviewed are device specific in this way. An additional disclaimer is that one music purchase music to store here through Google’s new Music Store and via their Google Music Manager service. Overall this particular service requires a lot of Google specific focus, rather than allowing users to pick and choose where they derive content.

Ubuntu One- offers 5MB of free storage and one can stream music with an extra fee. If one needs more than the offered free storage, it will cost $2.99/month or $29.99 for 20 GB for one year.

What most of these services have in common is the free 5MB of storage- a contemporary plus for any music lover and document creator. So, happy storing everyone!

CLICK HERE to read the original article and learn more about five of the newest cloud storage services.

Tags: Apple iCloud, Cloud services, Cloud storage, Dropbox, Google Music, Ubuntu

International Tech Company Fearlessly Goes Email-less

zschuler

– December 1, 2011Posted in: IT Business

According to a recent ABC news article, the international tech company, Alto, has begun to implement a “zero-email policy,” devised to dismantle the company’s use of traditional email. This fact may seem more significant when you hear how large and international their company is- with 42 offices worldwide, 74,000 employees and revenue of $11.5 billion last year, they are no small fry.

The switch came as a result of excessive spam to and from the company’s accounts. And believing their most valuable communications to be internal, they have chosen to engage a Facebook-like platform, as well as Wiki’s, which allow users to contribute various types of content as well as live-edit each other’s work.

Thus far the technique has been popular with employees who have taken up the newly offered alternatives. The company’s new policy means employees will be banned from such normative practices; an action that is only to their benefit, Alto has said. According to CEO Thierry Breton of the French information technology company, “only 10 percent of the 200 messages employees receive per day are useful and 18 percent is spam.” So cutting out this system will lead to not only greater productivity but less waste. In the past, “middle managers spend more than 25 percent of their time searching for information,” a redundancy that will now be corrected.

Alto’s actions certainly raise the question: Do they have the secret to better productivity? And, if a company their size can successfully pull-off such a measure, shouldn’t the rest of us be thinking about which standard tech practices we can innovate for better business practices? Whatever the end result may be, Alto’s fearless endeavor is proving that it’s never too late, or early to re-evaluate “what works,” no matter your company’s size or reach.

CLICK HERE to read more about Alto and their provocative tech decision to go email-less.

Evaluating Your Customer Service Strategy: Naughty? Or Nice?

zschuler

– November 25, 2011Posted in: Technology

As we all gear up for the holidays many of us will be frequenting stores and using services that will either make our lives easier or more…shall we say, difficult? This year, for the second year in a row, the “Consumer Reports has compiled a holiday report card of customer service policies that it deems either “naughty” or “nice.””

As a company that prides itself on lasting quality and service, we wanted to share with you those companies that “stacked up” this year and those that did not. Here a few highlights of interest to the I.T. community:

The “nice” list…

Cablevision Telecommunications companies are a frequent target of consumer displeasure, but this industry giant offers more to subscribers who sign up for its Optimum Triple Play — Internet, phone, and television service. Perks include free movie tickets on Tuesdays and deeply discounted tickets on other days. Plus, customers who sign up for Cablevision’s free Optimum Rewards program get discounted popcorn and soda at participating theaters.

Crutchfield The electronics merchant offers help with installation, setup and troubleshooting around the clock, and technical support at no extra charge, for the life of the gear purchased.

Microsoft If someone buys and installs software on his or her computer, most retailers won’t give a refund, no matter how much the customer hates the product. But consumers dissatisfied with a Microsoft software or hardware purchase from any retailer can send it back to the company within 45 days for a refund and reimbursement of shipping costs up to $7.

And “naughty”…

RadioShack When a Consumer Reports reader shopped for an HDMI audio-video cable, Mr. Marks said, the store price was nearly double the online price. A customer service supervisor said he couldn’t do anything about the discrepancy, and directed the reader to the fine print on RadioShack’s Web site. (The company acknowledges that it sometimes charges different prices for the same item.)

So before you close your doors this season, remember the customer may not always be jolly but they should always to be held in high regard. For in this digital age, positive or negative feedback about your services can make or break a small business, not to mention a large company.

CLICK HERE to read more about this year’s Naughty and Nice companies.

Tags: Customer Service

Cal Net Technology Group is a Proud Sponsor of TEDxIrvine – November 17, 2011

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– November 17, 2011Posted in: Education IT, Technology

This Thursday, TEDxIrvine, an independently organized TED-licensed event created to spark deep discussion and ideas, will take place from 6pm to 9pm at Rancho Las Lomas (19191 Lawrence Canyon, Silverado, CA).

The event features speakers that are well-respected and recognized entrepreneurs, artists and creatives with world-changing ideas worth sharing. This particular event’s theme is Change Agents and as such, each speaker will address their role as Change Agents in a world of “accelerated change driven by economic, social and technological factors.” The founders of the event hope to encourage people to “become the change they seek [by gathering] with peers and [getting] inspired by those who see the world a little bit differently than [the rest of us] do.”

This week’s speakers include:

Sue Enquist - Sue Enquist holds more National Championships (11) than anyone in the history of softball. She is UCLA Softball’s first All-American, National Champion, and Hall of Famer. In 2006, Enquist concluded her storied 27 year career as head coach of the UCLA Bruins with a 887-175-1 (.835) record, making her the winningest softball coach among all active coaches. She is the only person in NCAA Softball history to win a championship as a head coach and a player.

Robert Evans – a native Californian photographer, Robert Evans has achieved enormous success in his field since his studio’s inception in 1994. Robert is most notable for having photographed the weddings of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes as well as Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Shania Twain, and many more. Robert also has photographed personal events for Jim Carrey, Jenny McCarthy, Christina Aguilera.

Jenny Ross – Jenny Ross is gourmet living foods chef and restaurateur, serving as Executive Chef at her flagship restaurant 118 Degrees: Organic. Eats. Drinks. Lounge, in Costa Mesa, CA. Jenny is well known for her balanced dishes that create vibrant health for everyone, from celebrity clientele to diverse customers across the country.

Nithin Jilla – Nithin Jilla, a 20 year-old student at UC Irvine, recently established the first branch of his non-profit, Kenya Dream, a community-based organization dedicated to improving educational facilities in Kenya, thereby enhancing the learning experience one school at a time. As a freshman, Nithin organized a group of 27 individuals and put together one of the largest events at UC Irvine, Ken-Ya Dance, a charity dance showcase that brought together dance crews from UCI, the local community and MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew show.

David Wolf – David Wolf, the owner of Wolf Snap Designs, is a computer engineer with a flair for user interface and an obsession with clean design. A successful tech entrepreneur for 15 years, David has spent the last four years creating custom websites for photographers on some of the top industry platforms.

Luke Mysse – For over fifteen years, Luke Mysse has been operating Crossgrain, a business-minded design firm with a knack for generating revenue for clients. He is a sought after speaker and has traveled the country speaking on a wide range of topics including creativity, branding, planning and life balance.

Cal Net Technology is proud to be a sponsor of TEDxIrvine along with CallFire, talkTECH Communications and Rancho Las Lomas.

CLICK HERE to access the TEDxIrvine site, buy tickets and learn more about future events.

Tags: TEDxIrvine

Cloud Computing Expo: Crown Jewel of the Industry

zschuler

– November 11, 2011Posted in: Technology

This week kicked off the Cloud Computing Expo in Santa Clara, California. The Expo was created based on the assertion that “cloud computing is taking over enterprise I.T.” Over 150 top industry leaders from the Cloud Computing industry gave talks. The Industry is estimated to be worth 120 Billion dollars in the global market- not too shabby.

The term “cloud computing” was coined in 2007 and has risen in popularity quickly in the past few years. Meeting places like the Expo are necessary as the industry and its entrepreneurs move “from theory into practice.” Cloud Computings rise to prominence has caused major industry growth and many entrepreneurs have had to continue the learning process while they grew their business. The conference provides a unique platform for learning as much as networking.

“Through an intensive four-day schedule of keynotes, general and breakout sessions, and our bustling Expo Floor – that attending delegates leave with abundant resources, ideas and examples they can apply immediately to leveraging the Cloud, helping them to maximize performance, minimize cost and improve the scalability of their Enterprise IT endeavors.”

CLICK HERE to visit the Expo site and read hourly updates that were reported live from the event.

Calnet

Unified Communications – Everything At Once

Virtualization: what you really need to know

Unified Communications – Everything At Once

Virtualization: what you really need to know

PCI DSS: Protecting Credit Card Data

International Tech Company Fearlessly Goes Email-less

Evaluating Your Customer Service Strategy: Naughty? Or Nice?

Cal Net Technology Group is a Proud Sponsor of TEDxIrvine – November 17, 2011

Cloud Computing Expo: Crown Jewel of the Industry

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