Trend Micro Titanium 2012

Trend Micro has unveiled their Titanium update for 2012!

Keep your identity, data and social network protected from a new generation of threats. Staying safe online these days is about more than just avoiding malware. You have to protect your device, your privacy, your personal data, your social network, and your family against an army of new threats. Given that abandoning the Internet completely isn’t really an option, how do you accomplish all these goals at once? The new Trend Micro Titanium 2012 is packed with powerful new and enhanced features to help you protect the many aspects of your digital life-and can do it in a way that’s fast, simple, and easy to manage.

Nobody wants security software that hogs disk space, presents constant pop-ups and alerts, or that’s complicated to install—so Titanium 2012 provides automated security with a small footprint that anyone can use. Titanium 2012 offers the strong, fast security that gave Titanium its name—but this new version includes powerful features and enhancements to keep you protected from the next generation of threats:

• New social networking protection
• New easy to customize console
• New fake AV cleaner
• New proactive botnet protection
• New proactive PE virus protection
• New method to detect packer-encrypted malware
• Enhanced virus and spyware detection and cleaning
• Enhanced behavioral monitoring
• Enhanced rootkit detection and removal

The new Titanium 2012 is still powered by the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ infrastructure, our cloud security infrastructure that stops threats in cyberspace or “the cloud.” Smart Protection Network monitors the Internet 24/7, worldwide. It gathers and analyzes threat data, blocking viruses and other malware before they can reach your PC. And because processing is done in the cloud, Titanium 2012 uses less of your PC’s memory and disk space.

If you would like more information about Trend Micro’s Titanium 2012 Maximum Security product or any of the other Trend Micro products, from endpoint to server, from home to enterprise, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com.

We specialize in providing Trend Micro licensing, sales, consultation, installation and support to Greenville / Upstate SC small, medium and enterprise business clients. We offer and recommend Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security as the primary line of defense for small/medium businesses! From one computer to 1000!

Most businesses have a love-hate relationship with their phone systems, often settling for less than everything they need because it is inexpensive, low-maintenance or not too complicated.

We have always wanted the most features that we could get, so a VoIP (Voice over IP) solution was the only way to go! We initially used enterprise class Cisco 7960 VoIP phone sets with an Asterisk based system and a couple phone lines provided by Charter, and a couple provided by Vonage.

We had everything we wanted and needed with that system…

• Automated Attendant
• Voice Mail
• Voice Mail sent to our Email
• Full featured SIP phones with multi-line, displays, etc
• Call tracking, with full logs showing incoming/outgoing call detail
• Music On Hold
• Ability to forward calls to cell phones
• Good audio quality, speaker phone capability

We never really wanted for additional features, but along comes the Cisco UC 320 series which is an ideal fit for many of our own clients. Obviously, we want to provide support to those who may be using this type of system, so we purchased one for ourselves and at the same time purchased a few of the latest SPA 525G2 phones from Cisco and some SPA504s and even the SPA301.

Seeing as how change was coming, we also switched to a SIP trunk with 8 channels (simultaneous lines in use) in addition to the two lines from Charter, so we should not be hurting for available phone lines and nobody should get a busy signal…

The Cisco VoIP solution is very nice for small to medium offices like our own! Out of the box, it supports everything we had before, but here are a few of the details:

• Support for four copper (standard) phone lines from MaBell (or Charter, or a Vonage ATA, etc)
• Support for sending out to analog devices (you can give your FAX  its own extension number for instance or use analog phones)
• Support for using SIP trunks (cheaper than analog lines)
• 24 phone extensions (more on this further down)
• Built-in gigabit switch
• Built-in router
• Built-in 802.11 n/b/g wireless for phones and data
• Music On Hold
• Automated Attendant
• Call logs for external calls
• Supports the full line of Cisco SPA series phones

If you need MORE incoming copper lines, you can add them 4 at a time (up to 12 total) with another device, but you lose an extension for each line you add.

The old 7960G phones rocked for their quality, phone books, and their ability to use external XML scripts to get the weather, etc, but the new phones do not make me miss them at all!

The SPA 525G2 desk sets have too many cool features to list without you getting bored and your eyes glazing over! Here’s a few:

• Color display
  

  Cisco SPA525G2 with 32 button sidecar

• Built-in MP3 player lets you listen to your favorite music directly on your speaker phone (pauses when an incoming call comes in)
• Bluetooth headset support
• Bluetooth linking to your cell/smartphone – Lets you use your smartphone as an additional extension. Answer your cell via your desk phone, place calls on it, even load the cell phone’s directory directly onto your desk phone. Also view the battery charge and signal strength on the SPA 525G2.
• Ability to link up to two 32 button consoles
• Outstanding audio quality on handset and speaker phone
• View Cisco Small Business security cameras on the color display of the SPA 525G2 phone (you can place a camera and a one line phone in your lobby for instance, view who is there, and speak with them)
• Built-in web applications, let you get the current news and weather on your phone’s display

If you are considering a new phone system for your business and you never need more than 12 lines or 24 extensions, then this may be the system for you! In fact, if you did happen to expand past its capabilities, Cisco has a trade-up program to move you to a larger system and you can continue to use the existing phones with it.

We are offering the Cisco UCW320 and the complete line of Cisco Unified Communications systems for Small and Medium Businesses for sale, but also offer consultation, planning, installation and support of these amazing VoIP solutions. In Greenville / Upstate, SC, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

I was at a meeting today in a nicely laid out conference room, and it made me think about how various businesses use video displays.

Beautiful boardrooms have beautiful displays!

Here are a few options for typical boardrooms:

• Whiteboard, permanent screen or wall  for display with a projector on the table, and cables running everywhere (currently how I do it at our office)
• Exposed retractable / drop-down screen mounted on wall with projector hung from ceiling mount and wiring nicely tucked out of sight (How it is done where I was today)
• Hidden retractable / drop-down  screen mounted in ceiling with a hidden projector that drops with the touch of a button
• LCD or Plasma monitor mounted to the wall, cables hidden, electronics in a cabinet
• LCD or Plasma monitor on a kiosk or mobile rack that is self-contained
• LCD or Plasma monitor that retracts into in a credenza type cabinet with all electronics hidden in cabinet

Of course there are lots of other options, but you get the picture.

Since my business is supposed to be “high tech”, does it make sense for me to be using a mobile projector which is pulled out of the bag and put on the table with unsightly cables running everywhere for people to trip over? No it doesn’t. And I am going to do something about that. Coming soon will be option 3 above, a hidden screen and hidden projector.

But what is right for your business? Have you seen the options that are available to you?

Homeland Secure IT is a dealer for Da-Lite and can help you in planning and deploying the perfect solution to your wants and needs! Give us a call for a free consultation here in Greenville / Upstate SC… 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

IPv4 Exhaustion Prediction

We knew the day was coming, and today we learned that it was sooner than later.

IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), the organization that manages IP addresses and domain allocations has assigned two IPv4 address blocks to APNIC (The Asian-Pacific Network Information Centre), which in turn has caused a provision in the IANA rules to go into affect, releasing the last five IPv4 address groups totaling 82.5 million addresses to the regional internet registries.

So that’s it for the total pool of 4.3 billion IP addresses!

Where do we go from here? IPv6 baby! It has been there waiting in the wings for this moment, and now it is time for it to shine. ISPs will be left with no choice but to begin deployment.

What is interesting is that the graph on the left, from the Wikipedia site about “IPv4 Address Exhaustion” was spot on in predicting the end…

It is time (actually past time) to be planning for your own future, meaning, getting your infrastructure ready for the IPv6 deployments that will be coming. You may need some new hardware, and certainly a few configuration changes, but either way, you should be working with your network support professional to ensure you are ready.

If you need assistance in the Greenville or Upstate, SC area, please call upon us. We offer computer, server and network support, service, repair, sales and consultation.  864.990.4748 or info@homelandsecureit.com

All of our partner companies (Cisco, WatchGuard, SonicWall, etc) offer IPv6 ready firewalls, security appliances, routers, and more!

One of our security partners, WatchGuard, was just awarded the CRN’s “Security Appliance Product of the Year” for their XCS 370 series device!

Here’s the press statement:

WatchGuard XCS 370 Security Appliance Wins in CRN’s 2010 Products of the Year

SEATTLE – January 11, 2011. WatchGuard® Technologies, a global leader of business security solutions, today announced that the company won the coveted CRN Everything Channel’s “2010 Products of the Year: Security Appliance” for the WatchGuard XCS 370.

CRN announces its Product of the Year Awards each December and recognized the XCS 370 for 2010 based upon its price, performance and power capabilities. “Many new products were introduced to the channel this year and narrowing our list was not an easy process. We needed to be sure that each product addressed a critical need, added significant value to the end user and made an immediate impact on how solution providers in the channel deliver technology,” said Kelley Damore, VP, Editorial Director, Everything Channel. “The winners are the best of the best and we congratulate them on producing top quality solutions.” Expanded coverage of the 2010 Products of the Year are featured in the December issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.crn.com.

“E-mail and the web are the main vectors for malware and other electronic threats entering enterprise networks today. No company is immune to this problem, but the deployment of combined WAM (web and messaging) security solutions can drastically reduce the volume of these threats,” said Phil Hochmuth, Program Manager for Security Products at IDC. “WatchGuard’s XCS 370 appliance targets the WAM security issue with a balance between price and performance geared towards mid-sized companies.”

“WatchGuard is very excited to receive this accolade from CRN. We believe that the XCS 370 exceeds the SMB customer’s expectations and provides best in class security and data loss prevention in an intuitive, easy to manage appliance,” said Mark Romano, Director of Global Channel and Field Marketing at WatchGuard Technologies and 2010 CRN Channel Chief.

WatchGuard XCS 370: Powerful Messaging Security for SMBs
WatchGuard XCS (Extensible Content Security) solutions, deliver the industry’s most effective defense-in-depth solution for email security, web security and data loss prevention. These easy-to-use, all-in-one solutions offer the most effective defense from email and web-based threats including spam, viruses, malware, URL filtering, blended threats, spyware and network attacks, as well as outbound content control to prevent data loss.

Small to mid-sized businesses do not need to pay high prices for powerful email security. WatchGuard XCS 370 appliances are affordable, complete email security solutions that defend against inbound threats including viruses, spam, blended threats, phishing, spyware and network attacks. The XCS 370 offers:

• Protection from bi-directional threats and content security across email and web, all in a single solution.
• Reputation Enabled Defense, WatchGuard’s innovative cloud/appliance hybrid security service, blocks more than 98% of unwanted and malicious email and web traffic at the connection level for rock-solid security and high performance.
• Powerful anti-spam with multiple layers of inspection and knowledge-based learning of unique messaging environments for more accurate spam detection.
• Deep content inspection and contextual analysis provides defense-in-depth approach for stronger protection from inbound spam, malware, blended threats, and network attacks.
• Zero-hour threat outbreak response closes the window of vulnerability to new threats with fastest response time.
• Attachment control blocks files that are known to be harmful so they never enter your network.
• Patented queue replication ensures zero message loss and continuity of business communications.
• Set-it-and-forget-it administration allows you to apply a single policy for total visibility and control of all email and web traffic without the need for a dedicated, costly management appliance.

More information about WatchGuard XCS solutions is available at www.watchguard.com.

About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
Since 1996, WatchGuard® Technologies, Inc. has been the advanced technology leader of business security solutions, providing mission-critical protection to hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide. The WatchGuard family of wired and wireless unified threat management appliances, messaging, content security and SSL VPN remote access solutions provide extensible network, application and data protection, as well as unparalleled network visibility, management and control. WatchGuard products are backed by WatchGuard LiveSecurity® Service, an innovative support, maintenance, and education program. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle and has offices serving North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visitwww.watchguard.com.

WatchGuard is a registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.

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Should you desire more information about the WatchGuard XCS 370 or other WatchGuard security products, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We offer sales, consultation and support of WatchGuard and other security devices to Greenville and Upstate SC businesses.

Do you have a SIP Voice over IP system in use at your business? Then you may want to take a couple minutes to read this…

It seems that many of these systems are being setup without any consideration for security at all. Leaving the potential for a malicious person to do things such as attack your system by sending a DoS flood to it, or even to make phone calls from your VoIP system! (This is referred to as “Toll Fraud”)

So how do you protect yourself? The best thing to do is to cut off access to your VoIP server via a firewall. If you don’t need access to something, disable it.

Try not to put your VoIP system in the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) that offers no protection.

The most obvious way into your system is via the web configuration, usually on port 80. If that is wide open and default passwords are in use, a person could log into your box, add extensions, voice mail, etc. So be sure to change your default passwords and disable access to the machine from outside, unless you NEED access from outside, and then if that is the case, setup your firewall to allow connections ONLY from specific IP addresses you use.

The standard SIP port of 5060 is another gaping hole. If you must have SIP open to the outside world, consider changing the port from the default to something else so it doesn’t easily show up on the radar of people who might be doing port scans. You could also set your firewall to only allow connections from known outside IP addresses.

Either of those options can help prevent a SIP flood which could make your VoIP system unusable.

The SIP extensions probably have default passwords when you create those, depending upon which VoIP system you are using. Do not be tempted to use easy passwords…

One of the best ways to protect your SIP VoIP system is to use a VPN connection from any location that will be connecting to your main site. Cisco SPA 525g phones have the capability built-in to connect via VPN, making them a great phone to deploy to those who work out of their home.

If you would like further information, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We sell Cisco, Polycom, Digium and other VoIP systems, phones and components, and offer consultation, installation and service in the Greenville / Upstate SC area.

As the end of 2010 draws near, some businesses are planning to refresh and renew tired old hardware such as desktop and notebook computers, as well as servers. Driving the updates are security requirements, new versions of operating systems, company rotation policy, depreciation schedules and more often than not, a need to overcome bottlenecks in performance and insure trouble free operation in the coming year.

Many times a company needs to purchase a new server but liquid capital prohibits them from doing so, and other times, it just makes more sense to purchase based on a lease.

Some benefits to leasing include:

• Fair Market Value or 10% option – This option allows for a customer to have the choice to purchase or return the equipment at the end of the original term AND deduct the payments as a monthly operating expense. Upgrade equipment anytime during the lease with a “Wrap Lease” product or upgrade at the end of the term.
• $1.00 Purchase Option – This option allows a customer to own the equipment at the end of the term for $1.00 and deduct payments over five years on a depreciation schedule or deduct all in one year under IRS Section 179. Upgrade options are still available with this program.
• Equipment Finance Agreement (EFA) – This allows the customer to retain full ownership of the equipment from the inception of the contract. It is tax deductible under a five year depreciation schedule or under IRS Section 179. This product has unique advantages for the customer who will most likely want to exercise and early buyout option.

We are happy to be able to offer leasing terms for larger purchases, so if you have a server refresh in your future, a larger scale deployment of desktop or notebook computers, etc, call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

Dirt Cheap Computers - are they worth what you pay for them?

I’m sure you have heard the old adage “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…”

In the case of computers, servers, firewalls, VoIP equipment, Microsoft, Adobe and other hardware / software, that has always been true.

For example: We have one client who purchased Microsoft Office Professional 2003 a number of years ago on the cheap. I believe they purchased about 20 seats and were presented with an authentic looking disk and the product key from the dealer. They saved a significant amount over purchasing from CDW, Homeland Secure IT, or some other reputable Microsoft dealer. However, flash forward to present day and they are unable to receive support from Microsoft, they are being told the software is counterfeit, and will have to purchase new licensing at a very hefty price.

This is a common story these days. In fact, a quick Google search turned up Microsoft Windows 7 Professional for ~50 dollars. Come on, the cost to any reputable dealer is more than that, how can they SELL it for that? hrmmmmm

To make matters worse, this is happening with hardware all too often. A few months ago, Cisco was experiencing a shortage of ASA 5505 and other products. It was a horrible time for companies who relied on that hardware, so they began looking outside their regular suppliers. What they found were some deals on ASA 5500 products that were not really a “deal”, but they WERE in stock, so they ordered them. These were actually grey market dealers. They had no association with Cisco, and they were not selling new product. Some of the items sold were “new – old” stock (where it had been sitting on the shelves for a while, with older software loaded), some had been obtained from legitimate dealers who went under (at actual dirt cheap prices) by a company that bought all their stock, but the worst of them were actually STOLEN devices and then there were some reports of used or refurbished devices being sold as new.

All of these scenarios had one thing in common – the customer was paying for something they were not getting. Whether it was an actual new product, or a product that could be supported by Cisco SMARTnet support contract. Some customers received “bricks”, ASA firewalls that simply did not work, and the dealer was nowhere to be found when they sought support, and of course, Cisco will not support items which are not legit.

The inspiration for this blog post is that I read an article in a trade journal recently that warned of this type of unscrupulous behavior, and today at a lunch meeting, I was told of something similar happening to someone I know so I thought I would share that with you and maybe save one person from a bad experience.

The moral to the story is – buy quality product from quality vendors. Homeland Secure IT is such a vendor. We offer many products, including Cisco, WatchGuard, SonicWall, Microsoft, Trend Micro, Symantec and others through our partnerships with those manufacturers and though the cost is going to be higher than the “discount” internet price, you can find us, and we stand behind that product and sale 100%! You will never get a black market, gray market, used or refurbished item in place of what you pay for!

Call us today for more information at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com – We offer computer service, support and sales in the Greenville  / Upstate SC area, and national sales.

The time has come for us to say goodbye to Microsoft Windows XP!

All of our computer vendors have been alerting us to the fact that after October 22, 2010 they will no longer be able to provide us with machines that include the downgraded Microsoft Windows XP professional and that Microsoft Windows 7 will be the only option. There are some exceptions, such as storing an image with the PC vendor and providing them with a product key, which they will store and apply to custom ordered machines after 10/22/2010.

I highly recommend you make the move to the new Microsoft Windows 7! Our clients are never disappointed with the performance and reliability of this operating system. Some people have abandoned their alternative OSes (linux and Mac) for the compatibility and features!

If you are still unsure if Windows 7 Pro is for you, please give us a call or email. We offer free computer / server consultation to Greenville & the Upstate of SC. We can also install your software on a Windows 7 machine and insure compatibility without the need for you to switch your infrastructure only to find out it was the wrong thing to do!