MDL Technology LLC Blog

We're Downtown to Delete Downtime

2010-02-18T15:15:00.014-06:00

It's true, we've moved downtime to help delete computer downtime for our clients. So that's why we decided to show off our new digs in Kansas City on Tuesday, February 16th.

We had a great time meeting all our BNI friends during our recent Open House. It was exciting to catch up with everyone and provide tours of our newest location at 1102 Grand. If you didn't get a chance to join us, here's a glimpse into the fun evening. Thanks to everyone that attended.

Video Blog: CRMs Make Running A Business Easier

2010-02-05T14:21:00.007-06:00

Looking for a way to secure winning relationships with your clients? A Customer Relationship Management system can help. Here's how.

Back, Back, Back It Up!

2010-01-12T11:15:00.011-06:00

Awe ... a new year. Time for new resolutions, right? Well if you're a business owner and look to 2010 to be the year where you thrive, having a system that backs up your company's vital information and works in the fashion your operation works is one resolution you can't skimp on this year.

Why is back up important?

Just think about it. You walk into the office, turn on your computer and nothing happens. You try again ... still nothing. Long story short, you computer crashes and all data is gone. It happens all the time and it's just one reason backing up your computer is paramount to the success of your business.

So why is it so important? Seems like a simple question to answer. But many business struggle knowing what kind of backup is needed within their company's operations. Many choices exist including on site back up and off site back up. Now that we're located in the 1102 Grand building, we can offer an even wider range of backup options that are just steps away from our office ... literally!

Why are many businesses choosing off site back up?

In a recent blog post, we chat about the reasons why people are choosing off site back up over on site back up. And, while both are effective ways to conduct business, as organizations are seeing more and more volumes of data, tape back ups just don't provide as much secure storage option as often is needed. Check out this article about 10 Tips to Preventing a Computer Disaster in 2010.

What can an off site back up do to improve my business?
The tape back up systems that companies once used to help safely store important information overnight are now being replaced by an even more secure back up system. Through off site back up, an organization's data is backed up automatically on the server at an interval that meets the business demands. Some organizations choose to have it backed up hourly, while others still stick with once a day back ups. In addition to secure storage, off site back up systems also remove the risk of tapes being lost, stolen or damaged while outside the office or of being left at home when next due for updating. The peace of mind off storage provides business owners is just one reason so many organizations are turning to this solution.

Looking for a off site back up solution?
We are currently helping companies all over Kansas City develop off site back up solutions that fit their needs and solve their massive data storage challenges. See what we can do for you.

To learn more about back up solutions for your organization, give us a call at 816.781.3006 or drop us a line.

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MDL Technology, LLC is a Kansas City-based company that creates computer networking solutions to help make running a business easier. We partner with companies to design, build and install network systems to fit the needs of their organization. Once up and running, we train their associates and keep the network running smoothly to help meet the needs of the company. Our number one goal is to help our clients be successful.

5 Reasons To Upgrade Your PC Today

2009-12-15T13:33:00.008-06:00

As 2010 is fast approaching, now is the perfect time of year to re-evaluate your current computer systems. In a recent newsletter we received from HP, they had a list of things that the new HP PCs with Windows® 7 Professional will bring to the table. And, just in case you haven't made your list for this holiday season, a snappy new HP PC could be your next big tool to getting things in 2010 done, quickly and efficiently.

5 Reasons To Upgrade:
1) Your current computer is just too cumbersome. It doesn't work smart!
With the new HP PCs that have Windows 7 Professional, now you'll have features like Quicklook 3 and Quickweb. These two powerful programs allow you to easily view important information right on your desktop without having to boot up your computer. It makes surfing the Internet an absolute breeze and reduces the time you currently spend opening multiple programs.

2) It takes unnecessary amounts of time trying to complete tasks.
Tired of constantly trying to work faster? Now you can make your PC work even harder! With the new HP desktop, now you have an Intel® CoreTM2 Duo processor & Windows 7 Professional that can run 3 times faster than your old PC while using half the amount of electricity. This comes out to a whopping 68% increase in performance power!

3) Your PC takes a lot of extra power and isn't as cost-effective as you wish.
Say goodbye to computer energy drain! Now the new HP PCs save you money and help to save the environment to boot. Now, up to 55% less energy is required to run this PC powerhouse. That means cost-effective greenness for all involved.

4) Your current downtime is depressing.
Many companies struggle with massive amounts of computer downtime. Besides implementing a Managed Services program, PCs that are three years or older often experience many more downtime triggers. Turn your downtime into up time with a new PC that maximizes your productivity and profitability.

5) Your computer ROI is non-existent.
With a new HP PC, you can easily improve your "return on technology". In fact, HP will give you over $1,000 in FREE offers with every hardware purchase. What's more, services like HP's Trade-In Program can give you cash back up to $100 when you trade-in and upgrade your notebook.

To learn more about upgrading your current PC, give us a call at 816.781.3006 or drop us a line.

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It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like ... An Office!

2009-12-10T15:05:00.017-06:00

Of course December is the perfect time of year to move!

In case you didn't know, we've moved! The new MDL Technology, LLC offices are now located in the 1102 Grand building at 1102 Grand, Suite 1100 in Kansas City. This building is known as the Midwest Internet Hub & Collocation Facility.

Now we are centrally located meaning we can serve you with even more speed and ease. What's more, by being a part of the 1102 Grand facility, we can be literally steps a way from your server and able to address your needs in a flash.

And the best part? Even though we're still settling in, we're always able to assist you with all your computer network needs. Just give us a call at 816.781.3006.

Stay tuned to our website for more information about your new location and keep up-to-date on all the latest happenings by following us on our various social media sites.

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Will 2010 Bring You More Computer Downtime or Up Time?

2009-12-09T13:55:00.009-06:00

Have you ever stopped to think what would happen to your business if all of your computers suddenly went down? Do you have any idea what the revenue loss would be? How fast could you get the network up and running again? Would you know who to call? These questions and of course, many more, are top-of-mind in many 2010 planning meetings this year when it comes to IT budgeting.

Right now, many companies are now finding they need to implement no-fail solutions into their 2010 business plans and to do that, they need to first survey their IT network's current state-of-affairs. In fact, the topic has become some popular on the Internet, that a downtime calculator has been created to estimate exactly what an unexpected computer downtime emergency could cost individuals and businesses alike. What's more, a small hiccup in your computer network and you could loose mountains of data that's hard to reproduce. There are many things to consider when reducing your 2010 downtime.

Steps to More Computer Up time in 2010

1) Have a Network Audit Performed.

If you have never had your current computer network system audited, you may be placing your company at risk for major computer-related issues. Many businesses who may or may not have an IT department in place, elect to have companies like MDL Technology, LLC, perform a network audit. When they review your computer network system they implement an intensive diagnostic and planning service that checks critical components of your network to ensure that it's running at peak performance and protected from data loss, downtime viruses and even security breaches.

2) Implement a Managed Services Program.

It never fails, you've installed virus software, you've cleaned our your unwanted email and gone as far as to even delete your Internet surfing history, and your computer network still crashes. While all these are important things to implement, they still fall short of the more robust protection a Managed Services program can provide. A Managed Services program monitors a company's network 24/7 and provides software updates, fixes and often times monthly service for a monthly fixed fee. Because of the known cost, many business owners choose to go with a Managed Services program because the don't want the hassle of managing the constant IT needs and being uncertain how much to allot each month for repairs. The program removes that concern.

3) Make Sure You Have Dependable Data Back-up.

When it comes to the data stored on every computer you own or that exists in your business, it's important that it is protected and backed-up daily. If you don't currently have a back-up action plan in place, 2010 is the year to do so. Imagine how costly it can be to pay someone to re key your data, or make an emergency call to a computer network repair person only to be told there's nothing they can do. Back-up is paramount. The best part is, there are many options out there. You can do on site, off-site, online, and even purchase external back-up sources so that your data is secure. Many IT outsource companies provide this for individuals and business owners alike. What's more, the cost of data back-up today is pennies compared to the fortune it might cost tomorrow to retrieve it.

2010 can be the year your business shines. Putting your IT concerns behind you is a great start. The IT professionals at MDL Technology would be happy to provide even more tips on what can help your company run a more protective 2010, give us a call at 816.781.3006 or send us an email at mdryer@mdltechnology.com .

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3 Reasons to Outsource Your Monthly IT Services

2009-11-20T15:36:00.008-06:00

Wouldn't it be a relief to know what next year's IT budget would be?

What if it could be a set rate each month?

Imagine eliminating the time you currently spend interviewing multiple tech candidates to fill an IT department?

Now, you don't have to imagine, it's reality! Many outsourced IT companies are offering Managed Services programs where for one low monthly rate, your company's computer network system can be monitored 24/7, off site and even protected from the latest spam, spyware and viruses.

Here are a few reasons why many companies are signing up for Managed Services programs like those offered from outsourced IT companies including MDL Technology, LLC.

3 reasons to outsource your monthly IT needs.

1) Downtime is minimized.

When your system is monitored 24/7 through a Managed Services program, an outsourced IT department is able to catch glitches before they become an issue for your business. What's more, outsourced IT professionals must stay on top of all the latest software updates, locate and remove compromising computer viruses and reduce common inefficient business processes in order to stay competitive in their industry. This is an added benefit for the company that outsources their IT department as they don't have budget for an IT department's education. And, they have the peace of mind knowing that their computer network system is operating seamlessly, thanks to monthly preventative maintenance.

2) Budgeting is mindless.

Won't your accountant love you knowing that there won't be any "additional" line items to fill in each week or maybe daily? With Managed Service programs, IT departments offer a list of services usually containing, 24/7 computer system monitoring, virus detection and updates, software upgrades and server backup recovery, just to name a few. Most Managed Service programs allow customers to only pay one, monthly rate. Your accountant will be singing your praises.

3) Protection is paramount.

Managed Service programs have many safety measures set in place that keep their customer's networks functioning and help to remove the issue of security breeches. From virus scanning to daily back up and firewall monitoring, outsourced IT professionals stay up-to-date on the latest developments in IT threats and leverage that knowledge to help safety the customers they serve.

So this coming year, make a new resolution and hire an outsourced IT department with a Managed Services Program, you'll reduce the computer crashes and help your IT budget along the way.

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Tech Tips: Organizing

2009-11-06T08:46:00.012-06:00

When it comes to running your computer network effectively, there are many applications, software programs and external devices to make things easier.

Here's a list of some of MDL Technology, LLC's favorites for this week.

1) Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Say goodbye to the stacks of business contacts you've been meaning to call and hello to a nifty system that not only stores your contact's information, it allows you to forecast sales, track the sales your business makes and measure the bustling business activity you create. In fact, it seems to be a pretty popular tool as many of our current customers are asking us to add this to their line of services.

2) Microsoft Office Outlook: You may be familiar with the product, but did you realize there a host of features this product offers? From keeping your information, contacts, email and to yes, even streamlining your calendar, Outlook helps you keep it all in order. In fact, Microsoft Office Outlook offers a glimpse at the 10 Top Benefits of working with Outlook. Check them out and start saving time!

3) Apps, Apps and more Apps: It seems like everywhere you turn Apps are taking the world by storm. But what if you don't currently have a fancy Smartphone to try your hand at simplifying life? Check out this interesting article recently posted on OpenForum, that lists 6 desktop apps that can save you time and make you feel on the cutting edge of organizing.

As always, MDL Technology, LLC strives to help consumers and businesses fine-turn their computer network situations. If you have a question for one of our techs or have a tech tip of your own you wish to share with us, drop us a line.

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Clients, Prospects and Customers ... Oh My!

2009-10-29T13:25:00.007-05:00

In the past few weeks, some business owners have been asking about ways to streamline the way they do business. Many speak about how using various software applications can be confusing and often times, don't integrate the with the systems they already have in place. They want a product that can manage the sales leads that come in, while helping their sales team to stay on top of existing customers and the referrals they provide.

That's why we wanted to offer a little background on an exciting product we help many of our clients implement into their day-to-day business operations. It's called Microsoft Dynamics CRM and what an exciting thing it is doing for our clients!

Three Questions To Consider
1) Does your company already have a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) in place? 2) If so, does it work the way your business operates?
3) Do you find multiple departments needing customer information, but alas, no centralized system exists?

Wouldn't it be great to have a fast, easy and effective way to help drive consistent and measurable leads to you current sales pipeline? Here are a few reasons CRMs are valuable to your business:

Forecast sales, track sales, measure business activity and performance
Provide reporting and analysis tools to give you the precise customer you need to make a quick, sound decision
Easily integrate with your company's existing processes
Simplify data entry allowing more time for driving sales
Provide full sales functionality online or offline through Microsoft Outlook

How Does It Work?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM works with the Microsoft Office System, Microsoft Dynamics Business Management Solutions and other business systems to provide your employees with a complete view of each customer across departments, external data sources and divisions. The best part, you can easily configure the system to work the way your business works and make it even more efficient. See how Microsoft Dynamics CRM helped Sara Lee International.

To learn more about Microsoft Dynamics CRM and how MDL Technology, LLC can get your business set up, give us a call at 816.781.3006 or contact us online.

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It's the Perfect Time of Year for Tricks, Tips & Treats!

2009-10-22T12:17:00.008-05:00

Social Media is taking the business world by storm. Not only is it a great way to learn more about what a business is currently doing, it's also a great place to find educational tools, tricks and information for upcoming company events.

Keeping this in mind, at MDL Technology, LLC, we want to offer even more ways to help others improve their business network needs. We understand how important your time is an that's why we offer you four ways to connect.

If you haven't had a chance to link, friend or follow us, you could be missing out on some of the latest tricks, information on the newest virus updates and tips on how to streamline your network, plus much more. That's why we've joined the social media scene of LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter in an effort to support the customers we serve.

These social media tools, along with our blog help us to supply our customers with the latest MDL Technology, LLC happenings, tech tips, troubleshooting solutions and weekly updates on what's going on in the technology field.

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More Photos ....

2009-10-15T16:12:00.007-05:00

Here are more photos from our event! Thanks making it such a success.

Our Event Was a Success!

2009-10-15T10:24:00.021-05:00

Many of the attendees at last night's Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event were curious about what a computer network provider and a HVAC specialist had in common. We like to say location, but truly we're two area business providers with the same goal, providing the area with quality service.

Last night Mark and Lori Dryer and TJ Bloom of MDL Technology LLC hosted our first Chamber After Hours event at our offices. What a great time we had meeting many with many Chamber members, local business owners and even some of our business neighbors.

The event began with a tour of the MDL Technology LLC offices and then moved into the warehouse where fellow Chamber member Roger Mose of C.M Mose & S ons has an office. Once inside, attendees were greeted with the smell of hot-off-the grill hamburgers. As members mingled, they discovered the many computer network solution services MDL Technology, LLC offers and heard about how C.M. Mose & Sons helps customers keep their heating and cooling systems running efficiently.

During the event, TJ Bloom, Operations Manager at MDL Technology, LLC discussed how the Managed Service program provides business owners with an easy way to monitor their computer systems 24/7. This allows customers of MDL Technology, LLC peace of mind knowing that their networks are being monitored and are constantly being checked to ensure security, higher functionality and dependability.

Thank you to all that attended our event. We had a great time meeting with each of you and hope you stay connected with MDL Technology, LLC for all the latest events.

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How Off-Site Hosting Can Benefit You

2009-10-06T16:56:00.014-05:00

Many customers ask us what hosting off-site can do for their business. The quick response is a lot. But let's take a look at what hosting actually is and discuss the positive things it can do for effectively backing up your business.

What is Off-Site Hosting?

Hosting can refer to a multitude of set-ups and configurations. In it's most basic form, hosting is the back-up of your company's data directly to a sever that is housed in a separate location other than your building. Often times it is a warehouse configuration that houses numerous servers and is climate controlled to ensure safe storage. You can automatically backup your data on an immediate, daily or weekly basis, depending upon your company's needs.

How Does Off-Site Hosting Work?

In the past, backing up data to metallic tape was the standard for keeping your data safe and secure. Today, we rely on encrypting the data, compressing it and then sending that information to an off-site secure data storage center. Once stored at the data center, you can easily access it via the Internet or another secure data resource line. In the event of emergency, hosting can be a lifesaver.

Additionally, you can even have an entire dedicated server at a remote location that you can interact with in real-time. This allows for all of the server space requirements needed for your company's operations, data communications/email, hosting of your company's website and other business practices requiring server space to be contained in one secure space. This also allows your business to free up physical space within your office as all the server equipment is stored, maintained, updated and serviced by IT professionals off-site.

Advantages of Off-Site Hosting

No initial hardware or software costs

Immediate support for hardware problems

Eliminates hardware and software obsolescence

Peace of mind that comes from a secure, environmentally controlled environment

Fast data recovery should you experience a computer emergency

How MDL Technology LLC Hosting Helps Their Clients

MDL Technology, LLC has been providing off-site hosting at all levels since they opened their doors. To offer even more security to our customers, where their off-site hosting needs are concerned, MDL Technology LLC is pleased to announce that we have secured a rack space at 1102 Grand - Kansas City's premier 'Carrier Hotel - Colocation and Internet Hub'. Read more about this new facility. Check out an article about how "1102 Grand Hopes to Plug into Growth".

Do You Find Your Business Challenging?

2009-09-29T15:23:00.008-05:00

On an average day, many clients mention the numerous challenges they face as small- to mid-sized businesses. Often, it's just a passing comment or maybe a story of a few weeks past. What is interesting about these conversations is that implementing a technology strategy can often solve the issue.

Challenge #1: "Our company's network continually goes down when I am out of the office. It's not dependable and is starting to really cut into what was once a profitable bottom line. What can we do?"

Soultion #1: If you're finding that keeping your network running smoothly is a constant burden to your IT department, implementing a managed services program could help your company to reduce costly emergency IT calls. With a managed services program, businesses benefit from 24/7 network monitoring, virus scans and updates, faster performance and often the reduction of computer glitches that can cause extensive downtime for a company. Here's a brief case study on how a Managed Services program, when implemented and outsourced correctly can make a huge difference on the way a company works.

Challenge #2: Staffing our IT department is always a challenge. We want top-notch professionals, but aren't sure where to find them.

Solution #2: Many businesses are looking to outsource their IT departments. Through outsourcing, businesses can bring on highly-qualified IT professionals and benefit from their expertise without worrying about staffing a department. Outsourced IT professionals track their time hourly, so it's easy for business owners to forecast future IT costs and predict end of year costs. What's more, outsourced IT professionals keep up-to-date on the latest technology advances as it gives them a competitive edge.

Challenge #3: We are moving to a new location and have 300 computers that need to move with us. What can we do to keep our IT department of two from working overtime?

Solution #3: When it comes to moving a business' computers, it's more than just a few cable issues here and there. By outsourcing your computer networking IT needs like relocation, a outsourced computer network provider can predict the roadblocks you might face as they come into contact with many of the same issues on a day-to-day basis. If you haven't worked with an outsourced IT department and are facing a relocation, make sure you bring a layout of your new location, mark the locations of outlets, determine the best place for the printers and determine the number of computers to be installed.

Businesses Demanding 24/7 Uptime Find Answer with Managed Services

2009-09-22T10:39:00.012-05:00

A growing number of businesses are looking for effective ways to decrease the amount of computer glitches and downtime experienced in their day-to-day operations. One such way companies like MDL Technology LLC are helping their clients decrease computer downtime is by offering a Managed Service program.

With a Managed Service program, a company can have the power of a full-time, completely trained, IT department at their fingertips, 24/7. What's more, after implementing a Managed Services program most business owners discover that their organization's productivity increases and so does the ability to accurately forecast each month's IT budget, as most Managed Service programs have a monthly agreement rate. But probably the number one reason a company chooses to go with a Managed Service program is to reduce the number of "emergency" computer network repairs and office calls.

If your business is needing a cost-effective way to reduce your IT costs and up your IT functionality, here are a few things to consider.

8 Benefits of Using Managed Services:

• Reduce or eliminate the cost of maintaining an in-house IT department
• Ability to focus on core competencies by leveraging off-site hosting capabilities
• 24/7 network monitoring
• More productive employees, eliminating constant downtime due to a poorly functioning network
• Save money, allowing for reinvestment in new technology
• Conserve your technology budget with monthly preventative network maintenance
• Fast access to technical support, so if you have a question, you'll receive an answer
• A protective defense against deadly computer viruses, hackers, spyware and spam that can compromise your network

4 Ways To Make Office 2007 Work For You

2009-09-15T15:10:00.013-05:00

Let's face it, you're constantly looking for ways to make your business documents look better, while reducing the time it takes to create the item. So whether you battle spacing issues or can't figure out how to import a spreadsheet into your document, we offer up these helpful tips.

Here are four ways you can make Office 2007 work for you, not against you!
Tip #1: When working in MS Word, use tables for your page layouts.
When you work with tables, you have an easy-to-use, simplistic way to organize your content and make a showy piece all at once. From importing graphics like your logo to importing charts to further support your topic, using tables is a time-saving function that many Word users don't utilize. To learn more, check out the 2007 Microsoft Office Tables demo.
Tip #2: For graphic support, leverage Excel and PowerPoint.
If you need a supporting graphic or chart within the Word document you create, using Excel or PowerPoint can be quite helpful. You can draw objects, design easy-to-read charts and create your own unique look with either of these programs. Once designed, you can then import your graphic into your document with the click of your mouse.
Read more about creating effective charts in Excel.
Tip #3: Keep control of your documents by using different views.
Did you know that there are three different views you can use when creating a document? To switch from the current view you use to another layout, go to the View menu or you can go to the File menu and click on Print Preview. Using various views allows you to save time editing your documents. One example is that with the Print Preview you can easily see what your final document should look like, allowing you to click on the magnifier to view and then edit your document.
Tip #4: Make your document expressively you.
Gone are the days of boring, text-only documents. Now you can choose your own color scheme, allowing you to create documents that can be branded to your specific business. You can formate the document's font, utilize line-shading, borders and even choose color fill options. What's more, it's easy to create a color specific piece that works with your business' look. Discover how to change your document's color palette.

MDL Technology, LLC is a Kansas City-based company that creates computer networking solutions to help make running a business easier. We partner with companies to design, build and install network systems to fit the needs of their organization. Once up and running, we train their associates and keep the network running smoothly to help meet the needs of the company. Our number one goal is to help our clients be successful.

3 Ways to Save Some Green by Going Green

2009-09-08T15:51:00.015-05:00

It doesn't take a fortune to save some serious time and expense when it comes to your computer network. In fact, many businesses across the nation are finding ways to incorporate money-saving tactics into their day-to-day office practices by going "greener".

At MDL Technology LLC, we're always keeping our ears open for new ways to help our customers green up their IT practices. Here are 3 tips to save a little green when going green:

Tip #1: Print one less document a day.

Constantly using your printing equipment can be a costly venture not to mention the large amount of paper your business utilizes. Each time you print a document, you increase your end cost by having to pay for the electricity, the ink and the toner to print the document. This extra expense has many companies going paperless and opting not to use their organization's printer as often. If this isn't an option for your business quite yet, try to get everyone in your company to print one less document a day. It can make a huge difference on your bottom line and help the environment to boot.

Tip #2: Recycle old IT equipment properly.

Many businesses are looking for ways to get rid of used computer monitors, printers and hard drives. Often times, your old equipment can be donated to area charities and schools. In fact, one such way MDL Technology LLC recycles used computer equipment for it's clients is by donating used items to the KVC Behavioral Healthcare organization.

In addition to donating your used equipment, we can provide helpful tips on how to properly recycle your computer monitors and printers as most contain hazardous components. See this recent 60 Minutes story "The Wasteland" that documents where computer equipment that has not been recycled properly or donated to a cause actually ends up after a company discards it. You can also stay up-to-date on all the electronics recycling laws. Check out the Electronics Takeback Coalition website for the latest details.

Tip #3: Save some dough with off-site storage.

By storing your company's computer data off-site, you can reduce your energy consumption, cutting your utility bill down to a more affordable rate. Many computer network providers, like MDL Technology LLC, offer customers a variety of storage options that help to free up physical space in your office and on your hard drive, while eliminating the need for expensive cooling equipment. In addition to off-site storage, having your data monitored on a monthly or even quarterly basis by your provider also ensures your data is safe and secure.

We also provide our Managed Service clients with 24/7 monitoring, in addition to providing automated desktop migration. With desktop migration, we can remotely deploy user customization allowing our clients to experience increased productivity and energy conservation through automated machine power with on/off/idle functionality.

Stay tuned to the MDL Technology LLC blog for more IT Green Tips. Let us know what your company is doing to consolidate your corporate footprint, we'd love to hear from you!

Is Your Office ... Paperless? Why It's Easy Being Green.

2009-09-01T17:06:00.009-05:00

If you're like most businesses out there, finding ways to reduce the amount of paper your company stores is a top-of-mind topic. Many of our customers at MDL Technology LLC find themselves pondering ways to reduce, reuse and recharge their business operations with paperless solutions.

One solution we offer our clients is FileHold. This document management software allows our customers to easily and effectively reduce the amount of paper being used. They can also store and access all of their documents from one secure place.

According to Mark Dyer, owner of MDL Technology, his goal is to help customers find a solution that makes running a business not only easier, but also more profitable. In fact, Mark often sits down with his customers taking them through an hour long demonstration that helps business owners identify the areas within their organization that could benefit from a personalized document management system like FileHold.

Benefits of Being a Paperless Office:

Centralized document storage. No matter what important document you need to retrieve, you can locate it quickly without rummaging through numerous file cabinets stuffed with documents.

Document sharing and comparing. Reduce the amount of time it takes to walk to multiple levels of your building with the easy to use document sharing feature of FileHold. Instead of mounds of printed documents to pass around the office, now your team can "share the stack" online.

Easy to use interface. Your associates don't have to be technology savvy to utilize the many impressive features of a document management system. From organizing your documents to sharing your latest changes with the team, FileHold's document management system is easy to use and provides a number of helpful training tools.

Increased productivity. By implementing a document management system, you'll find that not only are you paperless, your office is more efficient. Work smarter, not harder by giving your employees the ability to work on documents across numerous lines of business without skipping a beat.

ROI ROI ROI! Return on investment (ROI) is a very important aspect to any software a company brings on board. With FileHold, your team will operate more efficiently thanks to easy to access documents and condensed work flow.

Keeps clients & vendors happy. With a paperless office, you can offer your customers, vendors, distributors and suppliers access to documents that pertain to their needs without wasting time trying to locate piles of documentation.

Easy to install and deploy. MDL Technology LLC stands ready to help you get started with this easy to use program. No longer do you need to worry about set up and installation. We'll help set FileHold up on your centralized server, allowing your associates to easily begin accessing the software from day one.

Low cost to owners. Everyone loves saving money these days. That's why online software makes sense. Now businesses can purchase minimal licensing agreements and get their associates up and running on vital software upon implementation.

Thinking a document management system might be the next step to your businesses success? Drop Mark or any of his team a line to learn more about a system that can make your paperless office a reality.

The A,B,Cs of how to attack the "Personal Antivirus 2008"

2009-08-25T16:21:00.014-05:00

So you're working away at your computer when suddenly a pop-up error message occurs do you:

A) Disregard the message and keep typing only to be bothered by the message over and over again.

B) Go to your start-up menu and start removing all your programs.

C) Call your area computer network specialist to discover your computer could be infected by the Personal AntiVirus 2008.

If you answered C, you're correct. So what happens if you do in fact think your computer network has been compromised by the Personal AntiVirus 2008? Or if alas, you don't have a computer network specialist at your fingertips?

First off ... What is the "Personal AntiVirus 2008"?

The Personal Virus 2008, is a counterfeit antispyware that can compromise your computer. It usually rears it's ugly head once it gains entry into your system. Once in your system, the Personal Antivirus 2008 normally generates fake and misleading system pop up error messages so end-users will be tricked into purchasing the fake XP Antivirus 2008. To further encourage you to purchase the product, pop-ups sprout up alerting you that you have a ton of infections and numerous problems with your computer and that you should buy their product to fix it. Once purchased, the fake programs usually look like a legitimate program, with a title bar and a splash screen labeling itself “Personal Antivirus 2008” or something else that sounds legitimate. It's easy to see how so many computer users get tricked.

How Can Your Computer Be Cleansed of the Virus?

According to the Network Technicians at MDL Technology LLC, there are many variations of AntiVirus 2008: (including AV XP, AV 2009, etc) to look for currently. All variations can be troublesome to remove if the proper protection was not installed on the computer in the first place. Malwarebytes.org does a good job of removing if the infection has not gotten to deep into the OS, but stronger tactics may need to be used to remove stronger threats.

Important Things To Know Before Purging the Virus

Malwarebytes is very simple to download and run, the problem is much of the time the infection blocks Internet access to either all websites or just certain security related websites that might be used to remove them. Also once installed many of these infections have a list of executable files that they will not allow to run, in an attempt to preserve the infection. In these cases it will be necessary to consult a professional like MDL Technology LLC.

If you decide to run MalwareBytes, it's good to know a couple of things:

1) When and where to allow the malware to make changes within your system?

2) Which files on your system are critical to its functioning? Are these files the ones that are infected?

3) When should you call a professional to help ensure you properly eradicate the virus from your entire network system?

Still have questions? Contact the tech team at MDL Technology LLC today to learn more.

Why Should A Business Owner Outsource Their IT Needs?

2009-08-20T09:43:00.008-05:00

To outsource or not to outsource, that is the question many businesses are currently facing when it comes to satisfying their IT needs. In a recent article in the Kansas City Star, many companies are seeing many advantages to outsourcing. Often times, small to medium-sized businesses choose to outsource their IT department because the want a variable cost model for the company instead of instead of a fixed cost structure that's created when hiring an in-house IT department.

Of course, saving money is one of the major chants most business owners are verbalizing, but are there other advantages to outsourcing your IT department? Can you stay competitive with other companies that have a dedicated IT department on location? As boardrooms across the nation ask begin to ask these questions, here's a list of the top 5 reasons business should consider outsourcing their IT departments.

Top 5 advantages to IT outsourcing

Businesses can focus on running their company, not their IT department. Many business owners find themselves spending numerous hours doing the "housekeeping" that's associated with running a successful operation. What that translates into is the management team can focus on their core competencies and revenue generating activities, while leaving the the management of the IT department to the professionals. By hiring an outside IT consulting group, a CEO can have peace of mind knowing their IT needs are addressed and they don't have to run to the IT department to monitor the companies IT needs. In fact, many IT outsourcing companies are local providers, like MDL Technology LLC of Kansas City . They offer Managed Services programs, allowing business to have their entire networked maintained and monitored so that they can avoid the occasional "downtime" and actually have "uptime" to keep their business running.
Staffing needs are always met. How many times have you heard a business owner worry themselves with how they will staff their IT department? Much of the time a company acquires new business and additional staff must be brought on board to meet the increased workload. Or maybe, a new software program is coming out and the CFO doesn't have time to train his IT staff. By outsourcing their IT department, business owners put their staffing concerns to rest. Outsourced IT consultants understand the importance of staying up-to-date on the latest software releases and are always available when a company may need to beef up their support.
Improved communication and accountability. Think about what it would be like if as a business owner you received a detailed report and update as to how your IT department was running, the updates that needed to be made presented with the cost to make those changes, along with a monthly recap on performance of your network. By outsourcing your IT department, these are some of the daily/monthly items they provide. What's more, since they do this for every client they serve, their presentations are complete and offer a comprehensive view as the the "health" of your network. Again, this is why many business owners elect for the Managed Service programs, usually costing them a monthly fee for 24-hour monitoring of their company's network.
Cost-effective solution. Keeping in mind the economic state of the nation, many business owners elect for IT outsourcing to cut costs and manage their yearly budgeting constraints. What's smart about this approach is the cost of all IT expenditures becomes even more trackable as every hour spent is often tracked by the IT outsourced company. In addition, with an outsourced IT department, time is spent on the items that are needed to maintain a healthy network and not on unnecessary software and hardware upgrades. Plus, the learning curve is curtailed as to be a competitive IT outsourcing company, their employees stay up-to-date on the latest technologies meaning your not paying someone to learn a program.
Technologically advanced professionals. It's also worth noting that bring on an outsourced IT department means you have highly-trained tech professionals at your disposal. As mentioned before, to stay competitive, outsourcing IT departments stay updated on the latest software and technology advances and pass that expertise onto the clients they serve. What's more, most outsourcing companies have strong relationships with other computer-related companies and can often help you find computers, hardware and additional services that they might not be able to provide. They often serve as your technology ambassador to the ever-changing IT world.

So if you're ready to update your computer network and you're looking for an easy, cost-effective solution that saves you time and reduces your stress levels, consider outsourcing your IT department. Many companies are already reaping the rewards, you can too!

"Brace yourself it may be a bumpy ride"

2009-04-02T11:34:00.003-05:00

Each month Mark is going to answer questions regarding IT. He may even answer personal questions if you put him on the spot.
Starting this month the questions with responses will be archived on this blog. So please don't hesitate to post your questions.