Windows XP End of Support Countdown Gadget Available from Microsoft Download Center
The end is near!!!! The End of Support (EOS) for Microsoft Windows XP, that is… Microsoft wants you to be aware of this, so they have a gadget you can download and install on your Windows 7 or even Windows Vista machine. (Sorry, if you are running XP, that’s not one of the supported systems [...]
continue readingWhat is your objection to cloud based data backup? Here are some points to consider… #Symantec #Cloud #DisasterReadiness
Homeland Secure IT encourages the use of backup solutions to complete your disaster readiness plan. One of our recommendations is to implement remote, cloud based backup. Even if you have existing onsite backup, it gives you an extra layer of protection. We partner with some of the biggest and most trusted names in offsite, cloud [...]
continue readingThe Global Hard Drive Shortage is Becoming an Issue for Computer Repair / Service Businesses
Yesterday I wrote about the hard drive shortage due to the flooding in Thailand (here)… At the time, we were not actually feeling the affects, however, 24hrs later, we sure are! The same terabyte SATA drives which sold for 60 dollars back on October 3rd, are approaching 140 dollars each today, and many vendors have [...]
continue readingWorld-wide shortage of hard drives coming! Lack of availability will drive costs skyward! #EverybodyPanic
It’s all over the news, Thailand has been affected by flooding in a treacherous monsoon season. Yeah yeah yeah, what does that mean? Unfortunately, it appears that just shy of half of all hard drive parts are manufactured in Thailand, and the flooding has forced closures at those manufacturing facilities. In one article, it states [...]
continue readingWhat does it mean when your ISP changes DNS servers?
I received a phone call from Charter Business earlier today reminding me that they have deployed new DNS servers and that I should adjust my equipment to use them. Fortunately, none of our equipment even looks at name servers other than our own in-house server. But does yours? First, let’s look at what DNS is…. [...]
continue readingSecure IT Alert: iPad 2 w/ IOS 5 security flaw could expose sensitive information
It was brought to my attention a bit ago by a client that the iPad 2 with IOS 5 has a flaw that allows the last screen accessed before the Smart Cover lock was engaged. This is obviously not good for those using the iPad for financial, medical or legal purposes. The work around until [...]
continue readingWatchGuard offers the “Red Instead” campaign for upgrading your unified threat management
Do you have a unified threat management or spam protection device that is not from WatchGuard? If so, and you would like to upgrade to the WatchGuard XTM or XCS series UTMs, then through December 2011 you can take advantage of their offer to allow trade-ins of competitor’s appliances for a three-year XTM Security Bundle [...]
continue readingCisco UC320W Unified Communications System Firmware Update 2.1.2 Released to Correct Configuration Utility Login Issue
If you are attempting to log into the administration and Configuration Utility on your Cisco UC320W and find you get a beautiful blue screen, but it goes no further, then chances are that you have Adobe Flash Player 11 installed and a the UC320W has a firmware revision of 2.1.1 (7) or lower loaded on [...]
continue readingMicrosoft Releases Security Intelligence Report for your reading pleasure… SIRv11
Microsoft has released Volume 11 of their “Microsoft Security Intelligence Report” or SIRv11, which provides “An in-depth perspective on software vulnerabilities and exploits, malicious code threats, and potentially unwanted software in the first half of 2011″. One tidbit of interesting information contained in the report is that in the first half of 2011, less than [...]
continue readingWhich security standards and awareness compliance requirements apply to your organization?
I came across a very handy document from www.securingthehuman.org that explains which security standards and awareness compliance requirements might apply to your organization. It is by no means a complete listing, but gives the one minute run-down of the majority of the biggies…. — Last Updated: 19 July, 2011 1. Executive Summary The purpose of [...]
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