InfoBusiness 2.0

Application Server

Server software that manages one or more software applications in a way that makes them available over a network, usually to a Web server. When server software is utilized to manage other software packages, it enables more efficient use of memory, database access, and other resources than if each of the managed packages responded directly to requests.

 

Bandwidth

The volume of data that can be sent through a connection. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second (bps). A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast modem can move about 57,000 bps. Full-motion, full-screen video would require roughly 10,000,000 bps, depending on compression.

 

Blog

A blog is a journal that is posted on the Web. The activity of updating a blog is called “blogging”, and someone who keeps a blog is known as a “blogger.” Blogs are typically updated daily, with software that allows people with little or no technical background to maintain the content.

Blog entries are almost always arranged in chronological order, with the most recent additions featured most prominently. It is also common for blogs to be available as RSS feeds.

 

Broadband

Refers to Internet connections that offer much greater bandwidth than modems. There is no specific definition of the speed of a broadband connection, but in general, any Internet connection using DSL or Cable TV may be considered a broadband connection.

 

Browser

Web client software that is used to view various Web sites and other Internet resources.

 

Client

A software program that is used to contact and obtain data from server software on another computer, often across a great distance. Each client is designed to work with one or more types of server programs, and each server program requires a specific type of client. A Web browser is an example of a specific type of client.

 

Download

The transfer of data (usually a file) from another computer to the computer you are using. The opposite of upload.

 

Electronic Mail (Email)

Messages, usually text, that are sent from one person to another via computer. Email can also be sent automatically to a large number of addresses.

 

Ethernet

A very common method for connecting computers within a LAN. There is more than one type of Ethernet connection. Since 2001, the standard has been “100-BaseT”, which can handle up to 100,000,000 bits-per-second, and can be used with almost any kind of computer.

 

Firewall

A combination of hardware and software that separates a network into two or more parts for security purposes.

 

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

A very common method of moving files between two Internet sites.  With FTP, users log in from one Internet site to another for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files.

 

There are many Internet sites that have established publicly-accessible repositories of material that can be obtained by logging in using the account name “anonymous”.  These sites are called “anonymous FTP servers”.

 

FTP was invented and in wide use long before the advent of the World Wide Web.  It was initially used via a text-only interface.

 

Gateway

The technical meaning is a hardware or software set-up that translates between two dissimilar protocols.  For example, America Online (AOL) has a gateway that translates between its internal, proprietary email format and Internet email format. Another, broader meaning is to describe any mechanism that provides access to another system.  For example, AOL might be called a gateway to the Internet.

 

Local Area Network (LAN)

A computer network limited to the immediate area, usually the same building or floor of a building.

 

Linux

A widely-used, open source, Unix-like operating system. Linux was first released by its inventor, Linus Torvalds, in 1991. There are versions of Linux available for almost every type of computer hardware, from desktop machines to IBM mainframes. The inner workings of Linux are open and available for anyone to examine and change, as long as they make their changes available to the public. As a result, thousands of people have worked on various aspects of Linux, and have adapted it for a wide variety of purposes, from servers to TV-recording boxes.

 

Maillist (or Mailing List)

A system (usually automated) that allows people to send an email to one address.  The message is then dynamically copied and sent to all other subscribers on the maillist. Maillists enable people with many different kinds of email access to participate in discussions together.

 

Network

Any time you connect two or more computers together for the purpose of sharing resources, you have a computer network. Connect two or more networks together, and you have an Internet.

 

Open Source Software

Open source refers to software in which the underlying programming code is available to users so they can read it, make changes to it, and build new versions of it. There are many types of open source software with different license terms, under which modified copies of the source code may (or must be) redistributed.

 

Proxy Server

A proxy server is commonly established within a LAN, and sits between a client and the “real” server that the client is trying to use. Clients are sometimes configured to use a proxy server, usually an HTTP server. The client makes a request from the proxy server.  The proxy server then transfers the request to the “real” server, and passes the result back to the client. The proxy server will sometimes store results, and pass a stored result back instead of generating a new one (to reduce network resource consumption).

 

Search Engine

A system (usually Web-based) for searching the information available on the Internet.  Some search engines work by automatically searching the contents of other systems, and creating a database of the results. Other search engines contain only material manually approved for inclusion in the database.  And, some search engines combine the two approaches.

 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

The practice of designing Web pages so they rank as high as possible in the results from search engines.

There is “good” SEO and “bad” SEO. With good SEO, the Web page and its meta tags are constructed so they clearly describe its subject and contain truly useful content.  It also involves arranging for other Web sites to link to the page. Bad SEO is when Webmasters attempt to deceive people into believing the page is more relevant than it truly is by adding inaccurate meta tags and other elements.

 

Server

A computer or software package that provides a specific service to client software running on other computers. The term can refer to a particular piece of software, such as a WWW server, or to the machine on which the software is running.  For example, “Our mail server is down today, that’s why email isn’t coming in.”

 

A single server machine can (and often does) have several different server software packages running on it.  As a result, it provides many different services to clients on the network.

 

Spam (or Spamming)

An inappropriate attempt to use a mailing list, USENET, or other networked communications facility as if it were a broadcast medium.  When people “spam”, they send the same message to a large number of people who don’t want to receive it. The term probably comes from a famous Monty Python skit which features the word spam repeated over and over. The term may also come from someone’s unfavorable perception of the processed meat product with the same name (Spam^® is a registered trademark of Hormel Corporation).

 

Spyware

A somewhat vague term referring to software that is secretly installed on a user’s computer to monitor use of that computer in some way without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Most spyware tries to get the user to view advertisements and/or particular Web pages. Some spyware sends information about the user to another machine over the Internet.

Spyware is usually installed without a user’s knowledge as part of the installation process of another software package, most commonly music sharing software obtained via download.

 

Terminal

A device that allows you to send commands to a computer in another location. At a minimum, this usually means a keyboard, a display screen, and some simple circuitry. Terminal software is typically used on a personal computer – the software pretends to be (emulates) a physical terminal and allows the user to type and send commands to a remote computer.

 

Terminal Server

A special-purpose computer that has multiple modem ports on one side, and a connection to a LAN or host machine on the other. The terminal server answers calls, and passes the connections on to the appropriate node.

 

Trojan

A computer program that either hides inside another program, or masquerades as something it is not in order to trick potential users into running it. For example, a program that appears to be a game or image, but is really designed to perform some other function.  The term “Trojan Horse” comes from a mythical ruse of war used by the Greeks sometime between 1500 and 1200 B.C.

 

A Trojan may spread by sending copies of itself from the host computer to other computers.  But unlike a virus, it will (usually) not infect other programs.

 

Unix

A computer operating system (the basic software that runs on a computer, underneath word processors, spreadsheets, and other applications). Unix is designed to be used by many people at the same time, and has TCP/IP built-in. It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.

 

Apple Computers’ Macintosh operating system, as of version 10 (Mac OS X), is based on Unix.

 

Upload

The transfer of data (usually a file) from the computer you are using to another computer. The opposite of download.

 

Virus

A chunk of programming code that makes copies of itself without any conscious human intervention. Some viruses do more than simply spread.  They might display messages, install other software or files, delete software or files, etc.

 

Typically, viruses replicate themselves by attaching to programs and, in some cases, files.  For example, Microsoft Word and Excel allow the inclusion of sub-programs called “macros” in files.  These macros can, occasionally, be a breeding ground for viruses.

 

Voice over IP (VoIP)

A specification and various technologies used to allow telephone calls to be made over IP networks, primarily the Internet.

Just as modems allow computers to connect to the Internet over regular telephone lines, VoIP technology allows humans to talk over Internet connections.

The cost of VoIP calls are usually much lower than traditional telephone calls. Because IP networks are packet-switched, they allow connections to be handled in various ways, so network resources are used more efficiently.   

 

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Usually refers to a network in which some components are connected using the public Internet.  But the data sent across the Internet is encrypted, so the entire network is “virtually” private.

 

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Any Internet or network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus.

 

Wi-Fi

A popular term for a form of wireless data communication.  A Wi-Fi is basically a type of wireless network.

 

Worm

A worm is a virus that does not infect other programs. It makes copies of itself, and infects additional computers (often by making use of network connections), but does not attach itself to additional programs.  However, a worm might alter, install, or destroy files and programs.

 

 

This glossary was compiled using Matisse’s Glossary of Internet Terms.

This book was written as a means of providing business owners with valuable insight into strategic technology planning.  I hope the tips and techniques outlined in the previous chapters will enable you to leverage new and emerging advances in technology to put your organization on the path to success.  With right technologies in place, you can streamline your mission-critical operations, improve productivity, optimize resource utilization, reduce costs, and boost revenues and profitability. 

Special Report:

Money-Saving Secrets Your Computer Consultant Doesn’t Want You To Know

 

 

 

This Free Business Advisory Report Will Show You How To Avoid Hiring The Wrong Computer Consultant, Shave Thousands of Dollars Off Your Computer Support Bill, and Make Smart Decisions About The Technology That Runs Your Company

 

Read this guide and you’ll discover:

 

ü  7 critical things you should know, research, or ask before signing any contract or inviting a consultant to work on your network.

ü  The one type of consulting contract you NEVER want to sign.

ü  The single best way to avoid misunderstandings that delay your project, frustrate you, and add to the overall costs.

ü  A little-known way to save thousands of dollars in ongoing support costs.

ü  Surefire ways to know if the consultant you are hiring is competent AND honest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:

 

Finding an honest and capable computer consultant is a lot like finding an honest mechanic; they both operate in fields where the technician can easily rip-off a client because they play on their customer’s lack of technical knowledge. The problem is that you won’t know you’ve hired the wrong consultant until you are halfway into your project and have already invested a considerable amount of time and money.

 

 Sometimes it’s not even that obvious. A consultant may look like they are doing a good job, but unless you are technically savvy yourself, you simply have no way of knowing if they have over-billed you or recommended technology that you could have lived without just to pad the bill a little.

 

On the flip side, a good computer consultant will save your company a considerable amount of time, money, and frustration while increasing office productivity, lowering overall operation costs, improve customer service, and helping you avoid devastating data losses and viruses.

 

That is why I’ve decided to write this paper.

As a small business owner and consultant myself, I want to arm other business owners with a few good pointers to help them avoid getting the short end of the stick when outsourcing any IT project or support.

After all, your computer network is the nerve center of your business. It largely affects productivity, security, and even the competitive advantage of your organization. One bad decision can severely cripple an organization through lost productivity, data, or excessive costs.

Below are 7 critical things you should know, research, or ask before signing any contract or inviting a consultant to work on your network. By practicing or being aware of these 7 simple tips, you can:

·         Begin saving your organization a considerable amount of money.

·         Avoid making a bad decision by hiring the wrong consultant or firm.

·         Save yourself hours of frustration and time that come with making a bad decision.

 

#1: Ask computer consultant to let you or your staff to get involved with the project so you can learn to be more self-sufficient and shave off billable hours.

 

One of the easiest ways to save money on technical support is by learning how to handle the many basic, routine computer support problems that arise in-house. That is why you want to be involved with any project being rolled out.

 

Many consultants or firms will want to keep you in the dark because the less you know, the more billable hours they can rack up on mundane tasks that could be handled in-house.  We don’t think this is correct, and that’s why we always try and involve our clients.

 

Let me illustrate this point with a story: One client of ours needed to upgrade their network of 50 workstations to Windows XP. After installing and setting up the server, we needed to go through an upgrade on every PC.  Instead of having us configure every machine, we suggested that our consultant teach their own employees how to do it.

 

By doing this, we saved this client over $10,000 in billable hours, taught their own internal employees how to support the machines for free, and made their IT manager a hero.

We have been able to save several of our clients a considerable amount of money by teaching them how to solve and fix problems while we do it. Unless you just don’t want to get involved, we highly recommend this as a way to save a considerable amount of money on tech support.

 

#2: Always ask for fixed pricing.

This is one area where I see a lot of companies getting burned. When most consulting companies quote a project, they give you an estimated cost for completion with an hourly rate added in for “unexpected events” that may arise during the project. This is often called “time and materials”. Be very careful about signing these contracts.

A good consultant should be experienced enough to have thoroughly investigated your situation and thought through problems and issues that may arise before issuing a proposal. Adding on a clause where they can charge you for extra hours is a safety net for them. If their consultant screws up, takes longer than they should, or if they overlooked something when quoting the job, YOU end up paying the price. Next thing you know you’re well into the project and the bill ends up being twice as much as you expected.

 

#3: Make sure whoever you hire is certified or endorsed by the software vendor you are using.

If you are upgrading or installing new software, it’s always a good idea to work with a consultant or company that is certified or authorized by that vendor to support their software. This is a good idea for two main reasons:

1.      Certified consultants and companies are required to uphold higher standards in service and support than their non-certified counterparts because they are regulated by the vendors. You may be able to find a good, non-certified consultant, but you are gambling.

2.      Certified vendors usually have more in-depth knowledge about the products they support because they are required to (by the vendor), and because they work with it frequently.

However, a vendor’s seal of approval doesn’t excuse you from doing any of the necessary background checks on their consultants. 

Check the level of expertise and experience with the consultants that will be working on your project. Don’t assume that your tech support company will be providing you with top-notch consultants.

Find out exactly which individual consultants will be put on your project, and check their backgrounds, experience, and certification. If at all possible, get assurance in writing that at least one senior level consultant will be a key player in your project. This up-front homework will help you avoid making a bad (and expensive decision) when hiring a computer consultant or firm.

 

#4: Ask to speak to a few of their recent clients who have had similar problems or projects.

This seems obvious, but a lot of companies skip over this step.  Ideally, you want to speak to other clients who had a similar project or problem, but this isn’t always possible since every company’s network and computing needs are different.  You do want to speak to a few recent clients to find out:

• Did they deliver on what they promised?
• Were they responsive and easy to get hold of in times of emergency?
• Did they bill accurately?
• Did they stay within the projected budget?
• Would you use them again? Why or why not?

You might also ask if there were any problems that arose and how the consultant handled them. Not every project goes perfectly; that is why it’s important to find out how the consultant handles problems before you hire them. If your consultant seems hesitant to provide you with references, take that as a red flag.

 

#5: Make sure you’re completely clear on your end before signing any contract or spending a dime.

A lot of businesses are reluctant to outline a complete high-tech project because they lack confidence in the area of technology, but we can’t stress the importance of this enough.

Don’t be afraid to ask your consultant to explain the project in simple terms that are clear to you. Ask questions like, “Tell me why this is absolutely necessary?” or, “What does that mean exactly?”, or “Explain to me exactly how this will work, once it is done, on a user level.”

A good consultant will welcome these questions and be more than happy to answer them because it will eliminate a lot of disappointment and frustration for both of you. Doing this will help you avoid expensive misunderstandings that can pop up in the middle of a project and put you well over budget.

 

#6: Get everything in writing.

Once you are clear on the end result you want and how it is going to happen, get everything in writing to avoid confusion and disappointment further down the road. If your consultant feels that some goals are unachievable, then it is their responsibility to tell you so up-front. By getting them to put everything in writing you can hold them accountable for the promises they make and responsible for outcomes not achieved.

Here are the main details you want to agree to in writing:

• Confirm payment terms. This includes up-front deposits, fee structure, and payments on completion of project. Most consultants work with an up-front down payment, then percentages of the total cost to be paid as phases of the project are completed.
• Deliverables. What do you expect to be able to do when the project is done? How should the work flow? What does it look like? Don’t assume anything; if you expect it to happen, get it in writing as specifically as possible.
• Work schedule and pace. Make sure you outline a date for completion as well as the phases of delivery.

Again, any professional, experienced computer consultant will be more than happy to outline these items in writing prior to a project. If they hesitate or make excuses, it is a sign they are not confident in their ability to deliver on their promises.

 

#7: Do business with “one-man-bands” carefully.

One big mistake we see a lot of business owners make is hiring a very small one-man -band consulting firm, or relying on someone who is supporting your network on the side (moonlighting). By doing this they think they are saving a lot of money because these individuals typically charge less than established computer networking firms.

The challenge comes when they can’t respond to your emergencies or complete your projects on time because they have too many clients. Or, they simply go out of business because they can’t make enough money leaving you high and dry.

Basically, as with all things in life, you get what you pay for. If you have mission-critical applications and data that must be protected and working 24/7, then it makes sense to hire a well-established firm with a good track record and enough technicians on staff to quickly respond to any technical emergencies that arise.