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Get
Back In the Driver's Seat
Do you remember when owning a car used to be
simple? 20 years ago we felt competent enough to do a lot more with our cars
than just fill them up with gas. It wasn't even uncommon for the average guy to
carry out some solid repairs without ever calling a mechanic. Today, it is rare
to see anyone opening the hood at all. The complexity of automotive technology
has grown so much that it is now easier and more cost effective to just let
experts handle it and focus on enjoying the drive.
Business computing is heading in the same
direction.
The convergence of
information and communications is leading to the demand for
availability “any time, any place, any where”. At the same time the
competitive nature of almost every modern market is being
transformed by escalating demand and unrelenting margin pressure.
Add to this the increasing complexity and variety of computing
technologies, and the task of successfully managing the information
infrastructure can prove to be almost overwhelming, particularly for
the small business owner.
As businesses tighten their belts and shed
functions that aren't directly related to the core business, the demand for the
outsourcing of key technological services continues to increase. Managed
services used to be the domain of only the largest of enterprises, however, the
ever increasing rate of technological innovation and product complexity is now
driving companies of reducing sizes to seek out service providers that can meet
their technological needs.
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NOC-NOC, Who’s there?
The ARRC Technology NOC Team
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Our Network Operations
Center, or NOC (pronounced “knock”), holds the team of
highly-skilled technicians ARRC Technology employs to remotely
monitor, manage and troubleshoot problems on client networks. The
NOC offers many services to ARRC clients by utilizing sophisticated
network management monitoring and analysis tools. Just a few
services our clients enjoy include: configuration, repair and change
management, network security and troubleshooting, performance and
policy monitoring, reporting, quality assurance, scheduling and
advanced documentation. |
Many of these services
were formally completed onsite at the client locations. Investing in
the sophisticated and secure tools to create a NOC allows ARRC
Technology to save time and increase efficiency to the repairs
needed by our clients. “The NOC team addresses client issues fast,
provides the repairs quickly, and monitors and corrects any small
problems before they cause major network interruptions for our
client,” said John Bair, NOC Director.
Typical daily NOC
processes for ARRC’s CharTec clients include:
Remotely
troubleshooting all network and system related problems
Providing quality technical support for network users
Ensuring continuous operation of servers and services
Constant monitoring of operations on all backbone links and network
devices
Opening tickets to track and document resolution of problems
Our NOC’s goal is to
improve our clients’ network and IT infrastructure integrity. Though
you may not see these technicians, they are the support behind your
network. |
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Virtualization Overview
by Jane Cage, COO, HTS
 We
live in a world that constantly forces us to “do more with
less”. Employees are expected to be more efficient.
Multi-function devices are becoming the standard on many
desktops. We multi-task by answering email, talking on the phone
and reviewing a spreadsheet – all at the same time.
Read More
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Leveraging Technology
Mitigates Risks,
Controls Costs and Helps Meet Demands of Growing
Businesses
By Richard J. Reiffer,
Trivalent Group
 As a small business
expands, the need to manage this growth with updated technology
should rate high on a company’s list of priorities. Should an
organization experience rapid growth in a short period of time and
fail to advance its technology to meet these new demands, the
business owner may face significant challenges in the future,
including loss of revenues, waning market share and adverse customer
perceptions.
Incorporating the
following tips into the company business plan will help ensure a
smooth transition.
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Making Telecommuting
Work for your Business
By Monte Enbysk
Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center
Telecommuting
has gotten a bad rap. Some say that employees can't be serious about
their careers if they'd rather work from home. Others insist that
work groups fall apart if team members aren't physically in the
office.
But the bad rap may not
hold: The International Telework Association & Council (ITAC)
reports that the number of workers who telecommute at least some of
the time (the preferred term today for many is the less-U.S.-centric
"telework") tops 23 million, a number that continues to grow.
While telecommuting is
not for everyone, there is no question in my mind that in today's
Internet Age, most workers expect to be able to do it at least part
of each week or month. So, as a small-business owner who seeks to
recruit and retain good employees, you'd do well to be flexible
enough to allow telecommuting whenever possible.
Even if you prefer your
staffers not do it full-time, it should be an option for
circumstances such as these:
• An employee with a
minor illness, such as a cold, would be better off working at home.
• A deadline is pressing and the employee can be more productive
working at home.
• Weather, traffic conditions or personal appointments make it smart
for an employee to work at home for a day or more.
• An employee with a disability is better served by being able to
work from home.
You'll find advocacy
groups such as the International Telework Association & Council (www.telecommute.org)
pointing out these benefits: reduced absenteeism, increased
productivity, better work/life balance, potential savings in
real-estate costs, and reduced costs for recruiting and retaining
workers. I would argue that the last benefit is the most critical --
workers today want this option and the empowerment that goes with
it.
Read More
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ARRC Technology NOC Team