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

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Thursday, March 3, 2011

Microsoft issued the Advance Notification for March 2011 and today… The full version of the Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for March 2011 can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms11-mar.mspx.

The advanced notification will be replaced with the March bulletin summary on March 8, 2011.

On the Critical list are updates for remote code execution that affects: XP SP3, XP Professional x64 SP2, Vista SP1 & SP2, Vista x64 SP1 & SP2, Windows 7 for 32/64bit & SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64 & SP1.

So basically, a little something for all current Microsoft Windows systems. Watch for these updates on “Patch Tuesday”…

Before our Linux and Macintosh friends begin gloating, there may be something for them too if they are using Mozilla Firefox as their browser.

Mozilla released a Firefox update this week that addressed 11 vulnerabilities which could have allowed an attacker to execute code and install software without user interaction beyond the scope of browsing.

If you are using Firefox, be sure to update to 3.6.14 to insure your security.

Should you require assistance with these or any other computer security or service issues in Greenville / Upstate SC, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

Homeland Secure IT Alert

I believe when it comes to data, MORE IS BETTER! Yeah, so call me a hoarder, it’s okay. I have plenty of room and hard drives are cheap!

Case in point…  Yesterday I received a call from the IT administrator for a corporation based out of MA about a router that was down. When I arrived, I found an old Cisco 2500 router that would not boot up. Sure, you can replace a nonoperational router, but what about that configuration? You see, when an IT service dude or dudette walks into a business in this kind of mess and no records are available, you are left with a bunch of question marks…

What is the WAN IP? What is the WAN gateway? What’s the netmask? What’s the LAN information? Are there VPNs? Where do they point to? What about access in from the outside world to internal resources, what goes where?

You can get some of this information by calling the internet service provider, you can get some by checking a desktop for where it might already be pointing for it’s gateway, but some of it is a certain blank without having notes.

One thing better in this situation is having a backup of the running configuration from the router.  Guess what? The IT administrator at the main office has the foresight to save a copy 4 or 5 years ago, and he was able to provide that information to me, allowing for a very rapid replacement of the equipment and a reconfig!

The moral of this story is – hang on to those old emails, keep those old configs, even if they are 4 years old.

Hard drives to store data on are inexpensive, the cost to recreate the data is NOT when you consider the downtime, the service charges for a technician to sit on hold to find out simple information, etc.

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Homeland Secure IT provides computer, server & network sales, service & support to Greenville / Upstate SC businesses and individuals. Call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

Our friend Jon Evans (@BigJonEvans) from www.4head4rent.com spent some time with another of our great friends and business partners, Brent Amyette with ShredDisk Onsite Hard Drive Shredding (@ShredDisk) yesterday…

In their live web stream, they discussed the benefits of using ShredDisk Onsite Hard Drive Shredding, and how traditional means of erasing a hard drive before donating the computer and drive to charity or even selling it are ineffective in protecting your data. The only 100% effective way to protect your data is to destroy the drive!

ShredDisk does just that by pulverizing the drive into “data confetti” and providing you with a certificate of destruction if required. ShredDisk will do this at YOUR location so the drive/s never leave your sight.

It doesn’t matter if you have a Microsoft Windows machine, Windows Server, Mac OSX, Linux or any other hard drive! ShredDisk even destroys mobile phones, smart phones, drives from multi-function machines such as copiers, flash media, and entire notebook computers!

Here’s a demonstration of The Shredder in action:

Homeland Secure IT is proud to partner with ShredDisk to offer their data destruction services for our computer service clients in the Greenville and Upstate SC area…  Call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

For those interested,  @BigJonEvans rents his body out (okay, just his forehead) for advertising purposes… Check out his website or follow him on Twitter or Facebook (John Evans).

I am hearing that many people are opting to not install Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 which was released back in February 22, 2011.

The reasoning is that it is a large download (750MB or 1GB depending on whether you need 32bit or 64bit versions), a long install process, and there are no enhanced features.

So what does the Service Pack provide? A compilation of security patches and non-security related fixes which have already been addressed and released via Windows Update. So basically, if you have kept up to date with updates as they have been released, SP1 is not going to give you additional security.

SP1 would certainly be handy for those installing a new version of the operating system, especially computer repair and computer service techs who generally have to install a slew of updates after a fresh install. With the release of SP1, a fresh install, followed by SP1 and a few other patches, brings the computer fully up to date. The SP1 install can be downloaded and stored on a DVD for later install, or optionally it could be slip streamed into a full install for computer techs who do LOTS of installs of the OS.

There are two enhancements that are included in the Service Pack, and that is an updated Remote Desktop client that functions with RemoteFX, a new technology that is included in the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, released in concert with Windows 7 SP1… Dynamic Memory was also implemented into the Service Pack, which allows virtual machine memory to be adjusted in real-time.

If you would like more information about Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, or if you require computer service or repair for your Microsoft Windows based workstation or server, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com – We are your Greenville / Upstate Microsoft Small Business Specialists!

LG-Ericsson LIP-8050V IP Phone

Homeland Secure IT, LLC has become an LG-Ericsson Elite Partner in order to provide Greenville & the Upstate the entire line of data and telephony products that the manufacturer has to offer!

LG-Ericsson’s product lineup include their Hybrid VoIP phone systems, IP phones, switching technology from unmanaged to managed and stackable, routers, wireless routers and other data products.

These are perfectly suited to our primary clients, the Small & Medium Business market!

More information will be forthcoming as our relationship develops further…  If you would like more information about the LG-Ericsson product line, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Thursday, February 23, 2011

Microsoft has released Security Advisory 967940, titled “Update for Windows Autorun”, and it covers an issue that has long plagued Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. When you insert a USB flash drive, or USB hard drive, Windows has attempted to treat them like CD/DVD material and perform an autorun on it. While most IT professionals and tech savvy individuals have disabled that feature, and anti-virus developers such as Trend Micro have provided an option to disable that function, as gaping hole has been there for everyone else.

How has it affected people? Many ways, from a person inserting their USB flash drive from home into a business computer and the autorun functionality automatically installing the malware that was on the home system directly onto a network computer, creating a huge network security issue, down to malicious people dropping a flash drive containing malicious software on it in the parking lot of a large company they wanted access to. This resulted in workers at said company picking up the flash drive and inserting it into a computer on the corporate network in an attempt to see what was on it or find the owner to return it, and unknowingly permit software that would allow remote access to the network.

So, finally, after years of this, Microsoft has addressed it!

Microsoft has also published MS10-077, a revision to a bulletin posted in 2010 for a change to the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 update package. And MS10-070, which is yet another revision to .NET Framework 4.0. These are labeled “Critical” and “Important”, respectively.

Keep your systems up to date, and be sure you have current anti-virus… We recommend and sell Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security and Titanium. In Greenville / Upstate, SC please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information…

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Put this date on your calendar now: March 18, 2011 @ 7pm

You don’t want to be anywhere other than downtown Greenville at that time. This is the one year anniversary of Google On Main, (#GoogleOnMain / #WeAreFeelingLucky)  which made national news, and it is being organized by the same people who arranged that incredible event which changed Greenville forever!

How do you get involved? First, visit this website http://www.xperiencegreenville.org/

You need to reserve your spot, which costs a few bucks, but guarantees you will get the materials you need, such as an LED glowstick and 3D glasses.

Please tell your friends and follow the action on Twitter and when you post about it, include the #XperienceGVL hashtag.

This is a family friendly event. Though it sounds like a rave, the environment will be safe and secure!

See you there!!!!!!!!!!

So now that we are reaching the end of the IPv4 addresses, what’s next?

You don’t have to sit back and wait for your ISP to provide you with IPv6, you can play with IPv6 today using a “Tunnel Broker”.

How does that work? Hurricane Electric is one example of a tunnel broker who allows you to use IPv6 via tunneling through the traditional IPv4 network from an IPv6 configured host or router to one of the Hurricane Electric IPv6 tunnel routers.

What do you need? A IPv6 capable router/firewall or IPv6 capable host. That’s it.

What if your router doesn’t support IPv6? It may be flashable to run one of the Open Source offerings such as OpenWRT or DD-WRT , or you could invest less than 100 dollars and purchase a compatible device.

You’ve got the hardware, now what? Go to the Hurricane Electric site or another Tunnel Broker, create your tunnel and you should be able to get it going in a short period of time.

Next point some hosts from your domain to your new IPv6 IPs and give it a try!  Now you’re ready for World IPv6 day!

While this is fun and gives you an opportunity to work with the “new” technology, I would not recommend this as your long term solution, nor would I recommend it for a corporate or even business network solution.

If you have a Greenville / Upstate business that you need to prepare for an IPv6 deployment, please contact us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com – We can help pave the way to a smooth transition.

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Thursday, February 17, 2011

I’m posting this verbatim from the WatchGuard security blog…

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Yesterday, a gray hat going by the alias Cupidon-3005 posted details about a zero day Windows SMB vulnerability that could potentially allow attackers to gain control of fully patched Windows Server 2003 and XP computers. Microsoft is currently investigating this surprise release, but hasn’t had time to post an early Security Advisory about the issue yet, let alone deliver a patch.

Specifically, the vulnerability involves a buffer overflow flaw within the SMB component’s mrxsmb.sys file. By sending a specially crafted browser election request packet containing an overly long server name, an attacker could exploit this flaw to either crash your computer, or execute code on it, potentially gaining complete control of your PC.

Since Microsoft just learned of this flaw on the 15th, they haven’t had time to release a patch yet. However, your WatchGuard firewall can help. By default, our appliances block SMB and broadcast traffic (the exploit leverages broadcast requests), which prevents Internet-based attackers from leveraging this flaw against you (assuming you haven’t opened SMB ports, which you should never do). That said, worms quite regularly rely on SMB vulnerabilities to help them automatically spread within networks, once they infect the first victim. So in general, I consider SMB vulnerabilities high risk. I’ll continue to monitor Microsoft’s investigation into this flaw, and will post updates when they release any workaround or patch. – Corey Nachreiner, CISSP

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Homeland Secure IT is a Greenville / Upstate SC reseller and partner with WatchGuard – If you would like more information about their security appliances, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

Homeland Secure IT Alert