SonicWALL promotion allows you to buy one CDP backup appliance and get one free!

We received a promotion announcement today that states SonicWALL has a buy one get one free deal on their CDP backup appliances and thought we would pass this on to you.

If you are looking to purchase a SonicWALL CDP 110 or 210 Backup and Recovery Appliance, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com because this is a great deal for you!

Hurry because there is a small window of opportunity for us to claim this promotion…  This only applies to our Greenville and Upstate business clients.

Homeland Secure IT is a partner and reseller of SonicWALL security and backup appliances. We also offer installation and support!

Greenville & Upstate Computer Repair Nightmares?

Today, while talking with a client, I was reminded how different Homeland Secure IT is from some of the other PC service companies.

This client told me how much money she had spent at one repair facility and her problem was not taken care of at all. She initially took her computer in for a diagnoses of an issue, which she was charged 100 dollars for and told they would credit her 25% of that amount if she proceeded with the computer repairs they quoted at 150 dollars (so now we are talking about $75 + $150). She went for it and a week later had her computer back. Unfortunately, the problem came back quickly.

She lived with the problem for a few days until the computer was no longer functional and took it back to the place that had just charged her $225 plus tax, and sold her an anti-virus program. They cleaned the virus / malware off the computer again, and discounted the new repairs to only $75. ($300 invested in service alone, and a week and a half downtime).

Guess what? The problem came back!!!!  Obviously, the anti-virus program was not working correctly, or there were deeper issues. Again she went to the computer service place and they wanted to wipe and reload the computer, and quoted her $150 to back it up, wipe/reload, update it, install software and restore her data. That’s not too bad, except for the fact she had invested quite a bit of  money already!)

I guess we are a little different here. We don’t charge an evaluation fee at all. If we should happen to miss something and a computer goes out the door only to be reinfected, we would not normally charge additional fees (unless the client insisted on installing Limewire / torrent and other p2p apps, basically opening themselves up to all kinds of computer and network security issues)…

If you suspect you may have a virus, trojan, rootkit, or malware in general on your computer, let us help you – we have fast turn-around, fair prices, and we want you to be totally satisfied! We will go to your Greenville / Upstate business, or you can bring your workstation to us and take advantage of a reduced labor rate! Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server, or even Mac OS-X, we’re here for you.

864.990.4748 or info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

If you have a computer nightmare of your own, we would love to hear it… Click that comments section and tell us all about it!

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Let’s help out WSPA 7’s Amy Wood / @TVAmy by Nominating Her for a Shorty Award! #Greenville #Upstate

Amy Wood, one of our favorite news media personalities has a dream of winning a Shorty Award! You can read more about Amy’s call to action on her blog, The Ribbit.

If you have a twitter account, please take a moment to help out someone who has done a lot for the Upstate and Greenville by heading over to http://shortyawards.com/tvamy be sure you have selected “Journalist” (it should default to that), and vote for TVAmy. You will need to add something behind the “because…” line for your vote to count. If you don’t have a twitter account, now would be a great time to sign up for an account. Your very first tweet could be your nomination of Amy!

With YOUR help, we can have someone from the Upstate win this award! Please share with your friends…

Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Offers Ease of Collaboration & Resource Sharing for Schools & Labs

Windows MultiPoint Server 2011

Windows MultiPoint Server 2011

Microsoft is planning a March release for it’s Windows MultiPoint Server 2011.

Some nifty features are included in this version, such as the ability for a teacher / instructor to view student desktops as thumbnails and to interact with those sessions. Use of thin clients over LAN allows for virtually unlimited distances between stations, connect multiple MultiPoint Servers and manage from MultiPoint Manager console, split screen ability at each user stations allows for use of each station by two people (collaboration and sharing), Active Directory connectivity to your existing domain, and more!

And of course for those of you who purchased MultiPoint Server 2010 with Software Assurance (SA), you can upgrade with no additional charge!

Want to know more about MultiPoint Server 2011? Microsoft has information available HERE.

Some great videos are available on the TechNet SBS blog, one of which follows:

From the looks of it, Windows MultiPoint is growing up and stands to make a real impact in classrooms!

If you would like additional information about the forthcoming releases of Microsoft MultiPoint 2011 Server or Microsoft Small Business Server 2011, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We are a Microsoft Small Business Specialist partner and can help your Greenville / Upstate business determine what is right for you!

Google’s Chrome Browser is Becoming Better for Business all the Time

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Browser Wars!

I normally don’t weigh in on the browser wars, as each browser has its own place. For instance, there simply is no replacement for Microsoft Internet Explorer if you want near 100% compatibility with every site in the world.

Obviously, each alternate browser has a strong point, such as speed, or installation size, or security, but each browser also has downsides that sometimes keep people, especially administrators from adopting something other than IE.

One such downside is that in many cases, for an administrator to deploy an alternative browser such as Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome, they have been forced to install at each machine, and for each user of that machine, or employ little “tricks”. Once installed, they then have an update and management issue where they don’t know why Bob’s browser doesn’t have the same extensions as Mary’s browser without checking it out (remotely or physically visiting the machine generally because it is faster than actually talking to Bob) to resolve the situation.

Recently Google has created a new installer designed for enterprise use. It allows a system administrator to utilize active directory in a Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 corporate domain to push the browser out to PCs (Windows XP Professional, Windows 7 Pro), control which extensions are used, lock down a proxy server, insure all installations are up to date, etc. Policies control many factors (the list can be found here).

If you would like to check out Google Chrome, it can be downloaded from http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?msi=true

Google Chrome may not be able to replace all aspects of IE, however, from the looks of it, it would appear that they are trying.

Should you need more information about the security or features of this browser, or how you can implement it site-wide at your organization, you can call upon us at 864.990.4748 in Greenville / Upstate SC, or email info@homelandsecureit.com

WatchGuard XCS 370 Awarded CRN Product of the Year in Security Appliance Category

WatchGuard XCS 370

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.

Homeland Secure IT now your Greenville / Upstate Cisco SMB Select Partner!

Cisco SMB Select Partner LogoCisco, internationally known for manufacturing cutting edge security, telephony, connectivity, video and storage solutions has bestowed upon Homeland Secure IT, the title of “Cisco SMB Select Partner”, rewarding our competencies, our know-how and the professional manner in which we manage projects.

While we have been able to offer the Cisco product line since we first opened our doors, we can now offer the entire SMB line of products which are designed with the Small and Medium business in mind. The Cisco SMB Select Partner is specially trained and certified to assist businesses with less than 250 users with this line of products designed especially for them!

Some of the products include:

Network video cameras to protect your business from slip, trip & fall type claims, theft, vandalism and even terrorist or violent criminal activities.

NAS or Network Area Storage, which allow centralized storage of your video from cameras, data from users and even backups.

VoIP or Voice over IP phone systems that permit your business to have state of the art features, such as a single number for people to dial that rings your desk phone and cell phone simultaneously, voice mail that goes to your email, automated attendant, etc.

Firewalls and other security products required to protect your internal infrastructure from external intrusion and to keep your business in compliance with regulations, as well as stopping spam and virus at the gateway before it enters your network.

Connectivity devices, like switches (both managed and unmanaged), routers, wireless access points and bridges.

In addition to offering these products, we also offer complete service and support for the entire Cisco SMB line and licensing of SMARTnet, Trend Micro / Cisco Spam & Virus Blocker subscription sales and renewals and more!

If you would like more information about the Cisco SMB offerings, please visit our Cisco Showcase,  email info@homelandsecureit.com or call 864.990.4748. We are proud to be your Cisco SMB Select Partner in Greenville and Upstate SC!

Secure IT Alert: Microsoft January 2011 Patch Tuesday addresses Windows security vulnerabilities

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Homeland Secure IT Alert

Secure IT Alert for Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Yesterday, January 11, 2011 was the first “Patch Tuesday” of the year from Microsoft.

More information can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms11-jan.mspx In short, if you are running a vulnerable version of the Microsoft Windows OS, you will need to apply these patches or risk suffering an exploit. And, as usual, keep your anti-virus up to date. Not running Anti-Virus or using some “free” solution? Call or email about how Trend Micro’s security software can help protect you or your business!

We also offer computer service, repair, and virus cleanup / removal in the Greenville / Upstate, SC area if you require assistance…

Homeland Secure IT Alert Footer

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT will try to open the office tomorrow, January 12 – wish us luck! #snomg

Yep, still nasty out there. I spent 3+ hours with my daughter clearing our driveway though, so at least we can get out (maybe not back in) tomorrow and hope to be at the office by 10AM.

Regardless, we will still be available via phone, email, etc should you need computer or network support.

If you are driving in that mess, please be careful… Greenville and the Upstate of SC is a winter wonderland!  #snomg

Homeland Secure IT Office Closed Today (Jan 10, 2010) due to #snOMG – But we are available via phone/email

#snOMG

#snOMG

Well, I gave it a valiant effort, got the car dug out, even got it down that steep driveway and down the street, but was unable to get out of the neighborhood here in the big town of Easley… Tomorrow may be a better day for driving, but with the school systems already declaring tomorrow another snow day, and the chance of sleet and refreezing, I’m thinking maybe not.

I made an executive decision and decided to close our office today, and more than likely tomorrow out of concern for the safety of our guys. Stay tuned for more information regarding when we will reopen the office.

If you should require computer, server or network support before then, please do not hesitate to call or email, as we can provide many repairs via remote, email or phone support and will do our best to assist you! Voice mails left on our phone system go direct to our respective email addresses.

Enjoy your Greenville / Upstate #snOMG day and be safe out there if you decide to go play!