As 2012 kicks off, the team at Data Network Group is looking forward to another great year of providing our clients with the very best in IT service and support. We are excited to see what the new year will bring and look forward to working together toward even greater success!

Very soon we will be rolling out our newest service offering called OfficeAloft, a Cloud based productivity solution that will replace your current servers and allow you to work from any device anywhere. Stay tuned for more details!
Be sure to check our website regularly for the latest in technology news and solutions that can take your business to the next level in the coming year. As always, our team of experts will be here to provide all the reliable technology support you need. Here’s to a prosperous 2012!
Cheers!

Written by Steve Maurer, Account Manager for Data Network Group.

Earlier this year Lenovo released a whole line of tablets for both the consumer and business markets.

The consumer IdeaPad Tablet comes in two sizes, a 7 in. tablet called A1 and a 10.1 in. tablet called K1. The A1 runs on the Android 2.3 operating system and the K1 runs on the cutting edge 3.1 Honeycomb platform, which has been optimized for tablets. Both tablets have integrated front and rear webcams, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as full support for 3G connectivity. The A1 has a storage capacity up to 16 GB and the K1 has capacity up to 64 GB of SSD storage. These tablets have been designed for entertainment, they are the first tablets to be certified to deliver Netflix, and they also come with HD graphics and full support for Adobe Flash. “The Lenovo IdeaPad K1 strives to be more than just another Android tablet. From its Honeycomb tweaks to its plethora of preloaded apps…Lenovo puts forth a tablet that stands out in the crowd.” PC World, July 2011.

For the business user Lenovo has released the ThinkPad Tablet. Slash Gear described it this way “The ThinkPad has the body of a tablet but the head for business.” The ThinkPad Tablet sports all the features of the K1 above and more. Some of the other features include an NVidia Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, Mini-HDMI output, Micro-USB sync, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 1,280×800-pixel screen resolution. What puts this tablet ahead of the pack is the use of a high-quality IPS screen with excellent viewing angles and a rated battery life of 8.9 hours. These tablets also come with a stylus pen and slot for storage. The preinstalled Notes Mobile application will let you scribble away and automatically convert your writing into readable digital format that can be saved and emailed. GottaBeMobile said this in October 2011 “Lenovo’s ThinkPad gets closer than most other tablets to being a useful, productive machine as well as a nice portable multimedia and gaming machine. It has the hardware, ports, and feature set to satisfy business users and enough security and control to keep IT managers happy.”

As more and more processing moves to the cloud, tablets will become the tool of choice for mobile users. Even though the ThinkPad Tablet is considered heavy by tablet standards, this robust, portable and user friendly tablet packs a lot of features for portable business or casual usage.

To learn more, check out these links:

http://www.lenovo.com/US/en/
http://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-review-27183350/
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet/4505-3126_7-34848148.html#ixzz1c1HbcGjp

Just this past month, Canon has announced a replacement to its 1D line of professional DSLR camera. The EOS-1D X. It’s boasting an 18 Megapixel sensor, capable of 12-14 Frames per second, as well as full motion video. Price has not been announced yet, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

Still photography technology is a big subscriber in the trickle-down theory. As it evolves, the older professional technology is moved down into consumer level product, and we will continue to see improvement across the entire board. Based on previous Canon lines, it’ll be approximately 5 years before these specifications are going to be pretty close to what’s on the shelves down at Best Buy, so for those of you that are photography buffs, we will keep seeing more and more features down the road arriving in Canon and competitor SLR cameras.

Earlier this year Lenovo released a whole line of tablets for both the consumer and business markets.

The consumer IdeaPad Tablet comes in two sizes, a 7 in. tablet called A1 and a 10.1 in. tablet called K1. The A1 runs on the Android 2.3 operating system and the K1 runs on the cutting edge 3.1 Honeycomb platform, which has been optimized for tablets. Both tablets have integrated front and rear webcams, WiFi and Bluetooth, as well as full support for 3G connectivity. The A1 has a storage capacity up to 16 GB and the K1 has capacity up to 64 GB of SSD storage. These tablets have been designed for entertainment, they are the first tablets to be certified to deliver Netflix, and they also come with HD graphics and full support for Adobe Flash. “The Lenovo IdeaPad K1 strives to be more than just another Android tablet. From its Honeycomb tweaks to its plethora of preloaded apps…Lenovo puts forth a tablet that stands out in the crowd.” PC World, July 2011.

For the business user Lenovo has released the ThinkPad Tablet. Slash Gear described it this way “The ThinkPad has the body of a tablet but the head for business.” The ThinkPad Tablet sports all the features of the K1 above and more. Some of the other features include, an Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, Mini-HDMI output, Micro-USB sync, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 1,280×800-pixel screen resolution. What puts this tablet ahead of the pack is the use of a high-quality IPS screen with excellent viewing angles and a rated battery life of 8.9 hours. These tablets also come with a stylus pen and slot for storage. The preinstalled Notes Mobile application will let you scribble away and automatically convert your writing into readable digital format that can be saved and emailed. GottaBeMobile said this in October 2011 “Lenovo’s ThinkPad gets closer than most other tablets to being a useful, productive machine as well as a nice portable multimedia and gaming machine. It has the hardware, ports, and feature set to satisfy business users and enough security and control to keep IT managers happy.”

As more and more processing moves to the cloud, tablets will become the tool of choice for mobile users. Even though the ThinkPad Tablet is considered heavy by tablet standards, this robust, portable and user friendly tablet packs a lot of features for portable business or casual usage.

To learn more, check out these links:

http://www.lenovo.com/US/en/
http://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-review-27183350/
http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet/4505-3126_7-34848148.html#ixzz1c1HbcGjp

by Lynn Mareth, Vice President at Data Network Group.

For a while I thought I was the only person frustrated by the fact that I had to use Safari or one of the various third party apps such as Friendly, which wasn’t very friendly by the way, to access facebook on my iPad. Well, the frustration is finally over! After many months of rumors and speculation, facebook has finally released their own app for the iPad. The official iPad application is available starting today as a free download from the Apple App Store.

The new app’s interface is supposed to be optimized for the iPad screen and will enhance browsing of photos, which include features like easy pinch to zoom capabilities and swipe to flip through pictures. The app also allows for playing Facebook games in full-screen mode, chatting with friends, watching high-res Facebook videos, and recording HD video for streaming to Airplay devices.

I’m not sure why it took facebook so long to release the app, but I’m excited to download and try it out for myself tonight.

by Michael Perkins, President at Data Network Group

Premise Cloud.  Bring the Benefits of the Cloud into your Office.

Wouldn’t it be great if IT services in your business just “happened”? Similar to electricity, for example, it’s just there and you only pay for what you use each month. What if IT was just there and you only paid for what you used? What if you didn’t have to tie up your capital in software licenses and equipment? What if you didn’t have to personally manage it?

It’s called a Premise Cloud.  Bringing computing resources to your office based on what you need, when you need it.  Pay as you grow.

Acquire Leading, Robust Solutions and Compete More Effectively
Now you can afford the same kinds of full featured services and solutions large companies use which will help you stay competitive and efficient. Streamline your company’s operations with centralized file sharing and printing, e-mail, Internet connectivity, and the ability to create intranets. This helps you and your staff to easily share thoughts, ideas, calendars, and experiences, increasing your ability to seize opportunities. All this runs on an Intel® Xeon® processor-based server for fast and reliable operation.

Gain Flexibility for Your Business
Pay for software on a monthly usage basis. Don’t get stuck with software for which you’ve had to make a huge investment to purchase up-front. Your monthly cost relates to the number of users, offering a predictable, manageable and affordable way to pay for software. You can grow or reduce monthly software costs or even choose different software as business conditions and the number of users change.

Experts Manage Your Solutions
With your IT Services Provider remotely managing the server and solutions which are on-site at your office, you can focus on your business rather than on IT concerns. No more spending time and money setting up new users and acquiring their software licenses or managing hard drives, software updates, security, patch management and installations.

Conserve Capital and Credit Lines by Paying for Solutions Only as Needed
Pay for your server(s) and solutions on a monthly basis. This can save you thousands of dollars in up-front costs and significant hours figuring what solutions fit together, as well as installing and configuring them. Your monthly costs are based on the services you select and you pay via a monthly subscription model. Enjoy broad flexibility in adding or switching software solutions or changing how many users you have. Pay as you go and pay as you grow!

Reduce the Complexity of Licensing
All licenses for the products are included in the ‘per user’ fee, thus eliminating license management responsibilities for your company. The Premise Cloud takes care of the licensing aspect of this solution, thus alleviating you from the burden of costly license management. Your expenses become more predictable so you can forecast your cash flow and get on with doing business as you need to.

How does it work?
A server that is designed especially for growing businesses like yours is situated on-site but managed remotely by your service provider, allowing you to concentrate on your core business, not on IT issues.

Your server could contain the following business applications most organizations need on a daily basis, such as:

• Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 (includes Exchange, SharePoint, etc.) for email, file sharing, and collaboration
• Firewall/Unified Threat Management (UTM)
• Remote Management
• Back-up and Disaster Recovery
• Accounting Software (QuickBooks)
• And more….

Want more information?  Contact one of our relationship managers at sales@dngnet.com.

If you use Window XP, it might just be the time for you to upgrade (or at least start planning to upgrade) as Microsoft has announced plans to pull the plug on Windows XP support in 2014. While that may be a couple of years away, it never hurts to start assessing your options so the eventual move to newer Microsoft OS will be as smooth and efficient as possible.

Part of using any sort of software is the inevitable need to upgrade. Most if not all software needs to either be replaced and upgraded as the demands of the market entail more efficient processing of the various data and information a business handles.

Such is the case with Windows XP. While many continue to use this proven straightforward operating system, Microsoft has decided to stop support by the year 2014. Microsoft further recommends upgrading to its latest OS, Windows 7, in order for users to continue to receive OS support.

While there are some lines of business applications that have not been upgraded to work with Windows 7, most have — and there are alternative approaches. Also, your business needs the security and protection that only a current, up-to-date operating system can provide.

We understand that changing your OS will entail some expense, including new licenses, hardware, and some training. Fortunately, these things are designed to help you operate more efficiently and increase your productivity in the long run. But such change will take time, and if you are interested in starting to plan for an upgrade now, we’ll be happy to sit down with you and develop an upgrade process that meets your specific needs.

by Ryan Tallman, Account Manager for Data Network Group.

Lenovo has recently refreshed several of their key ThinkPad laptop models, including the ‘ultra-light’ X220 and the 14.1″ T420.

The T420 model has become the standard at Data Network Group and is currently used by all of our field technicians. In addition to positive reviews it is also the first laptop to earn UL Environment’s Gold certification for green technology. For those of you looking for an ultra-light business laptop the X220 just might be the best option on the market today.

If you are considering new notebooks for your business check out the links below and please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

• Notebook Review describes ThinkPad X220 as the best 12-inch business notebook they’ve reviewed so far:
  http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6056&review=lenovo+thinkpad+x220
• T420 earns UL Environment’s Gold certification:
  http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/14/lenovo-thinkpad-gets-ul-environment-gold/
• T420 review:
  http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6124&review=lenovo+thinkpad+t420s+user+review

Hackers continue to target online banking transactions as many SMBs do not realize the vulnerabilities in their current arrangements with their bank. Left unaddressed, you run the risk of allowing cyber-criminals to steal tens of thousands of dollars right from under your nose.

In a recent attack, cyber-thieves managed to get away with $63,000 after they exploited vulnerabilities in the online payroll system of a small business with its bank.

First, the crooks managed to infiltrate the company’s system through a piece of malware called the Zeus Trojan. This gave them access to the company’s data, including the password and username used in transacting with the company’s bank. The thieves then created several new ghost employees and created payroll accounts for them, which they sent to the bank and authenticated using the company controller’s username and password. And to cover their tracks, the hackers erased the confirmation emails regarding the transaction.

This incident highlights the need for better security systems in both the business and their bank – as security experts cite online banking transactions as one of the favorite targets of cyber-criminals. Cyber-attacks such as this one exploit weaknesses in many existing systems that rely on very simple and automated authentication procedures to confirm transactions.

A direct threat to your business finances is not something to be taken lightly. You not only need to review your current online banking system, but also the current security protocols you have installed, since hackers and cyber-criminals are constantly updating Trojans and other malware to adapt to changing IT protection systems.

We encourage you to have us take a look at the systems you have in place to determine if you are at risk for attacks like these. Please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to draw up custom security solutions that address your specific needs.

References:
Sold a Lemon in Internet Banking
Cybercrooks Drive Away With $63,000 from Car Dealership

Initiatives such as WebBlaze and BitBlaze from the mind of IT genius Professor Dawn Song are setting the bar high for security, constantly providing solutions developers can use to create better security for their clients.

If you think hackers are the only ones doing their research to release newer and scarier viruses and malware on the web, think again. It is comforting to know that there are also very capable people doing what they can to make the internet a safer place – like Professor Dawn Song, associate professor at the University of California at Berkeley and MacArthur Foundation fellow.

In a nutshell, Professor Song has been looking at different ways to make the internet experience more secure. Her two initiatives – WebBlaze and BitBlaze – are aimed toward developers who want to create better and much more secure programs and applications.

WebBlaze is a compilation of different strategies from Song and other like minds who tackle different problems and solutions in all sorts of platforms, and BitBlaze is an analysis tool for malicious software. While we won’t go into too much detail (it involves very complicated math), the gist is that Song and her colleagues are drawing up some very solid solutions to constantly evolving security issues on the web.

It’s exciting to see developments like these in the security industry. As threats continue to evolve, so does the means through which they are fought. The more we use the internet and the more the online experience becomes integral to the day-to-day operations of businesses big and small, the more important securing your data and information becomes. And because of efforts such as Professor Song’s, we can expect security programs to be much more effective and efficient as time passes.

Know more about BitBlaze and WebBlaze

Learn more about Dawn Song here

If you are looking to assess and beef up your security systems, we’d be happy to sit down with you and take a look at improvements that can make your business and your data much more secure.