Alert: Adobe Flash Infection

Please be aware that an Adobe Flash exploit is spreading like wildfire over the Internet today. Already it is known that 20,000 websites are infected. It infects websites that use Flash and when you view those websites it infects your computer too. If the exploit fails to take hold then a denial of service condition will result. Denial of service occurs when your Internet connection gets flooded with junk requests and becomes too busy to respond to legitimate requests.

What do you do? Use the Internet as little as possible for the next several days. In particular avoid websites with fancy photos, moving pictures and games. This will give anti-virus manufacturers, adobe and website owners time to control the infection. As we notice Flash installed on your computers, we will be uninstalled it.

See my previous blog post from March 26th, titled Angry Mob Installs Software on your Network, for my tirade against Adobe, Google and Java for installing software that is not needed, not secure and simply puts you at risk for events like this. If they had not forced this software on unsuspecting computer users, then we would not have this problem today. Yes, I'm angry at Adobe.

Deal on SBS 2008 Upgrade until June 27th

By now everyone has heard us mention the benefits of purchasing Software Assurance. Doing so can save you loads of money and level out your spending on purchases, so you don't have those unexpected peaks. Unfortunately we still only have a handful of you on the program. If you are not yet, then now is the time to join up and save some major dollars on your SBS 2008 upgrade even if you aren't going to actually do the upgrade right away.

Here's why. In my example I'll use a company with 10 people and we'll assume full retail pricing.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $1,899 (U.S.); additional CALs $189 each (U.S.)

So for a 10 person company the cost will be $2844. We also know that the new version will not include ISA, Outlook and Frontpage. It will include a second license of Windows 2008 server, however. So at a minimum you will also need to purchase a firewall. A decent firewall to replace your current one is going to run about $1000. This makes the total cost $3844.

Between now and June 27th, Microsoft has some rebates happening if you buy your upgrade and software assurance now.

The current upgrade would be to SBS 2003 R2, however we would leave this in the box and never install it. The point to purchasing the upgrade is to get into the software assurance program.

Here's how this strategy can save you money:

SBS 2003 R2 with Software Assurance is $2843. With software assurance you will get SBS 2008, plus "make good" software for everything that was lost when you upgraded, 2 free support incidents and any upgrade that come out in the next 3 years. The "make good" software will be ISA (your firewall), Outlook 2007 and Sharepoint Designer.

Already we've saved $1000 by not having to purchase a firewall.

Enter the rebates, if you make this purchase before June 27th, there are a total of $650 in rebates.

The math:

Purchase the upgrade now with software assurance $2843 - no need to purchase a firewall $1000 + rebates $650. Total savings of $1650.

This is the simple view. There are additional benefits that accrue to you as software assurance subscribers that one could argue add to your savings like the 2 support incidents ($245 each), online training opportunities, evaluation software and free upgrades for the next 3 years, but the above is the easiest part to understand. We don't have to upgrade now but it makes sense to make the purchase now and plan to upgrade when the newest version is released late this fall.

Scott will be coming around to talk with each of you about this program. We feel it's that important. I want to make sure that everyone understands the opportunity that exists at this moment to save money. Don't forget the drop dead date of June 27th, that's when the rebates expire and your cost for upgrade goes up by $1650.

If you are ready to buy in now and don't need to sit down with Scott to ask questions and talk it over, then just send us a go email and we'll get your upgrade purchase underway. Remember we're not asking you to do an upgrade right now. Just make the purchase wait for the new version to come out later this year and then we'll talk about when to install, making sure it fits your budget and your business busy season cycle.

No More FTP

I've long tried to get all of our clients to stop using FTP. FTP is one of the oldest protocols still in use on the Internet and it is inherently insecure. When it was invented there were only 13 computers on the Internet and everyone knew each other. Today there are billions and some of those are specifically out there looking for unsecured transmissions to read or worse - alter.

An old virus has been resurrected whose purpose is to quietly go through and change a single number in a random selection of Excel documents. It can do the same with unencrypted files stored on your FTP site.

So take a look at SkyDrive. It's online, free, file storage technology for up to 5GB's of files smaller than 50MB each. If this fits your file sharing needs, then visit here to setup your account.  http://skydrive.live.com

The files are stored encrypted and sent encrypted. You get to specify access to the files by folder, email address and whether they can read or edit the contents of the folder. Edit gives them permission to upload or download the content. Read, let them open the file but not download or edit it.

It is very simple to use. Create a folder. Choose who has access to it. Choose what type of access they will have. (reader or editor) Add files.

When you give a person access to a folder they will automatically receive an email inviting them to start using the folder that you created.

When your customer logs in they will see every folder that you have created but they will only have access to the folder that you gave them permission to use. If you don't want your customers to know who your other customers are, use a customer # for the folder names or some other unique identifier.

SkyDrive is one of the many new applications being developed as part of the Windows Live family. In fact I use Live Writer to post to this blog. As we discover more useful Live applications I'll be sure to let you know about them.

If you'd like help setting up your SkyDrive please contact your technician and they'll help you get started securely.

Support Portal Ticketing System Rolling Out

You may remember that last July we ran a trial with an Internet based ticketing system. We appreciated all of the feedback that we got; it helped a lot and now we're ready to roll it out! We've long had an internal system but there was no public face to it. In the interest of transparency and to save some trees by avoiding putting all of this information on our invoices, we're moving to the new portal. Its address is https://support.harborcomputerservices.net

Over the course of the next couple of weeks we will be contacting you to ask who you would like to have accounts. Each of the people you specify will receive a username and password for the support website and will be able to create tickets. In addition they will receive email from the site each time an update to the ticket is made and when the ticket is closed. We will also be creating tickets for the work that we do in the background to keep your network running smoothly. When you log in you will see all of the tickets for your account.

You will notice at the bottom of the support page tabs for documentation. We will begin to move our documentation of your site into this system as well. This process will not happen until we've moved all of our clients over to the new portal and smoothed out any initial bugs. The website is secured with a security certificate and all data transmission is encrypted. In addition, your company data is segregated in the database and cannot be seen by our other clients.

It is my hope and intention to satisfy the requests we've had for more data on what is being done and better tracking of the status of open issues. It is also my hope and intention to satisfy the requests we've had for less information and fewer confusing details. Some of our clients want to see it all and some want to see none of it. Interestingly it's about 30% show me everything and 70% please stop flooding me with information! With the portal those that want detail can log in and those that don't can just forget they have an account in the portal. Our invoice to you will now just state the total due and the detail will be in the portal for your reference at anytime. For May and June we'll keep the invoicing system unchanged but by July I expect that we'll be ready to make that final change.

Let any of us know if you have questions along the way. We've tried to make the system very simple to use.

Microsoft Announces Pricing for SBS 2008

This morning Microsoft announced the retail price for SBS 2008. SBS 2008 will be released later this year.

• Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $1,089 (U.S.); additional CALs $77 each (U.S.)
• Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $1,899 (U.S.); additional CALs $189 each (U.S.)

By contrast SBS 2003 prices were $599 and $1299.

On the Plus side:

• Client Access Licenses no longer have to be purchased in packages of 5. Rather, you can now purchase exactly how many you need.
• For those that require SQL server, the cals for premium edition can be purchased individually. So if you have a SQL application and 20 users but only 10 need to use the SQL application, then you only need to purchase 10 premium client access licenses.
• Premium edition included a second full server. It also includes SQL Standard edition. This is a very good thing. It means that the SQL application no longer has to run on the SBS server!
• Many of you will not require the premium edition moving forward because you don't need the SQL database server.
• Actual price was lower than full retail and will hopefully continue to be.

On the Minus side:

• SBS no longer includes a firewall. Those customers with Software Assurance on their server will get a new firewall. Those without will have to purchase a separate firewall. (We will have recommendations)

SBS can be licensed for up to 75 users. If you are on the under 15-20 side SBS 2008 will be more expensive. If you are on the upper end, it might actually be less expensive. However the firewall purchase requirement is going to throw a fly in the ointment for everyone.

Limited Availability Today

Just a quick heads up announcement that you may find that we are a bit slow to respond today. We have you covered and we'll get back as quickly as possible, but our staff is going to be a bit scrambled today so you may not be working with your regular technician.

Diana is in Chicago today receiving training on Response Point VOIP phone system. She'll be back at work tomorrow. This will conclude the training on Response Point that we started in November. We've purchased a unit for ourselves and will be installing it in the new office. Look for the next newsletter to tell you more about this inexpensive and powerful phone system specifically designed for small business.

Ted will be off for paternity leave this week. His wife gave birth on Saturday morning to their 3rd son, Grayson. Ted will be checking voicemail and email on occasion but anything important should be directed to Scott, Diana or me.

Scott and Amy are back from New Orleans. We attended an IT Pro conference over the weekend focused on handling the massive change that is underway in the world of IT. Sessions were presented on how we can help you prepare of the rapid and dramatic change that is about to occur and how we have to adjust our business to prepare for those changes as well.

With a little bit of patience we should be able to cover anything that occurs. Fortunately your networks are well taken care of and rarely present us a crisis. You should have all contact information for each of us. If you do not, please let me know and I will send it directly to you.

I'm not the Only Optimist in the Small Business Crowd

This post direct from the Warrillow Group, a small business development firm. While large companies continue to layoff, small business appears to be standing strong in the changing economy.

Do 81% of Small Business Owners Have Their Heads in the Sand?

With most key U.S. economic indicators pointing toward a decline, how are small business owners feeling about the economy and, in particular, the impact to their business in the next six months?

According to a recent Warrillow study, contrary to widespread fears of U.S. economic recession, 62 percent of more than 2000 surveyed small businesses said that six months from now they expect the economy, in general, to be better or the same as it is today. Nearly 81 percent said they expect the volume of goods and services they will sell in the next three to six months to be higher or unchanged when compared to current levels.
So where does this relative economic optimism spring from? It’s certainly not because small business owners have their heads in the sand. Warrillow recently conducted interviews to help identify a national panel of small business owners for its upcoming SMB 360° 7-city tour. The interviews revealed that there are at least four reasons why a significant number of SMBs feel optimistic about their future:
1. Agility & Responsiveness
Small business owners are independent and agile. They can change course quickly to accommodate new sales and marketing tactics or redouble their efforts on key customer acquisition activities:

• “As a property management company, the economy is slightly affecting our current business plan of going after new business. We are no longer marketing to developers. We are now marketing to owners of existing properties.”
  – Property Management Business in Chicago, IL
• “The economy has not had much of an impact on our business yet. We have done a lot of marketing and continue to grow.”
  – Manufacturing Business in Dallas, TX

2. Talent Availability
Many SMBs actively seek to benefit from a deeper pool of talent to help them increase their go-to-market strength:

• “The economy has helped us, better employees are available.”
  – Science & Technology Business in Chicago, IL

3. Industry Predisposition
Some businesses experience a natural increase in demand during an economic slowdown:

• “Business has not been terribly affected – we deal in the conflict industry, so the worst things can actually improve our business.”
  – Legal Services Business in Dallas, TX

4. More Cautious Approach
Some small businesses take a more cautious view of their future plans:

• “We are moving forward with our plans, but we’re being cautious.”
  – Hospitality Business in Palo Alto, CA

When it comes to SMB optimism, it’s not all about looking on the bright side. Small business owners earn their optimism by playing to their strengths and making smart, informed decisions.