Because you rely on technology, now more than ever, to run your business, you deserve the most efficient business possible. A computer network outage can be devastating and result in lost productivity, lost opportunities and even lost clients. You need a reliable technology partner to keep your business safe, secure and running 24 x 7, 365 days per year.
What to look for in a professional Computer Networking Company
- A Fixed-Fee Plan – If your business computer networking services company charges by the hour, they have a blank check to spend your money. The more hours they bill, the more money they make.
- A Proactive Approach – A computer network outage can be devastating and result in lost productivity, lost opportunities and even lost clients. It’s crucial to have a company that’s proactive, not reactive, to prevent system downtime.
- Experience – When working with technology companies, it’s important to choose a company that has years of experience and a broad range of knowledge. Purchase based on certifications their team has, not by what they say they can do. Often technical people know the buzz words but can’t really do the work. And you can’t judge the work they do! Since you’re hiring a professional department to service and support your business as well as helping you manage the productivity of your employees, experience is one of the keys to success.
Tags: Business Computer Network, Fixed Fee Computer Networking Service, Managed IT Services, Michigan Outsource IT Company, ZenaCare, ZenaComp
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British Poet, John Donne once wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.” The thought behind it rings true for any good business and the support they have surrounding them.
Being a Microsoft Certified Gold partner, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, ZenaComp helps our computer networking services and software development clients achieve success from day-to-day operations to outstanding awards and achievements. Here are just a few:
- A customer recently sent us a note after we deployed her new Smart Phone, “You rock – Thank you– I will be a real geeky person all weekend with this enabled – good thing it is going to rain so I have a chance to play with it!”
- Helping a business function flawlessly is a daily customer service initiative. A client emailed us, “Thank You for the assistance in solving this issue. ZenaComp’s technical support to our problems has been excellent. Thanks again.”
- Non-profit, The Heath and Warmth Fund (THAW) program partners DTE Energy, MCAAA (Michigan Community Action Agency Association) and Clear Results were very impressed with the quick turnaround time for ZenaComp to have the THAW web-based system ready within a short time frame for all partners to move the program forward. MCAAA spoke before the MPSC (Michigan Public Service Commission) recognizing THAW and Zenacomp’s swift efforts made to reconfigure their database to accommodate this new pilot program initiative and because this kind of service has never been done in the State of Michigan.
- ZenaComp developed a custom, credit card application for Utley Brothers’ e-commerce site resulting in a 47% increase of revenue at a 2009 international convention. Read More
- We also developed a custom, on-line recertification program for the Michigan State Assessors Board and the Michigan Assessors Association. Because of this successful collaboration, The State Assessors Board presented Matt Raftary, CMAE3, with a Certificate of Appreciation for his efforts to launch this first ever web-based offering by the SAB and for positively contributing to the assessing profession.
Any successful business has other successful businesses as strategic partners. Who is on your continent helping your business succeed?
ZenaComp is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan and is widely recognized as a top Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. ZenaComp provides website development, content management systems, business computer network security and managed services for businesses, website hosting, technology audits and assessments, and custom software development. For more information or immediate assistance, please contact us via phone at 888-559-7576 or through our website.
Tags: Business Computer Network, Custom Software Develop, Fixed Fee Computer Networking Service, Managed IT Services
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To some, information technology changes way too fast and before they know it, the terminology has far surpassed the technology needed. To help you stay informed and educated let’s first discuss what a terminal server is. A terminal server is a hardware device (server) that provides terminals (PCs, printers, and other devices) with a common connection point to a local or wide area network. A terminal server can be located on-site (DMZ – Demilitarized Zone) or off-site (Datacenter). See the image below and click on it for a larger view.
Now that you know what a terminal server is, when is it time for your organization to purchase one? Ask yourself the following:
- “I need to provide access to remote workers.”
- “I need to securely access information while I’m at home.”
- “I need to enable work-from-home.”
- “I need to make application deployment easier.”
- “I need to make desktop image management easier.”
- “I need to make branch office IT easier.”
- “I want to start deploying new desktop applications but don’t have the budget for new desktop hardware.”
- “I’m not going to renew my software maintenance because I can’t deploy the new things that we already own.”
- “I spend all my time keeping what I already have running. I don’t have the ability to deploy new applications.”
- “Cost of providing access to my applications is too much.”
- “Cost of managing my key applications is too much.”
- “I need remote access to this WAN-unfriendly application.”
- “My applications perform poorly across the branch network/VPN/Internet.”
- “I need to consolidate my Windows 2003 servers.”
- “I don’t want data on the PC or laptop.”
- “I need to provide access to remote workers.”
- “I need to securely access information while I’m at home.”
- “I need to enable work-from-home.
- “I need to make application deployment easier.”
- “I need to make desktop image management easier.”
- “I need to make branch office IT easier.”
- “I want to start deploying new desktop applications but don’t have the budget for new desktop hardware.
- “I’m not going to renew my software maintenance because I can’t deploy the new things that we already own.”
- “I spend all my time keeping what I already have running. I don’t have the ability to deploy new applications.”
- “Cost of providing access to my applications is too much.”
- “Cost of managing my key applications is too much.”
- “I need remote access to this WAN-unfriendly application.”
- “My applications perform poorly across the branch network/VPN/Internet.”
- “I need to consolidate my Windows 2003 servers.”
- “I don’t want data on the PC or laptop.”
Tags: Business Computer Network, Fixed Fee Computer Networking Service, Managed IT Services, Terminal Server
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Providing Enterprise IT deployment requires a solid, stable structure around our client’s needs and assets. This not only includes servicing the infrastructure to install and maintain technology, but enterprise deployment also includes the back office to get that done.
As ZenaComp’s client base grows, our personnel must grow along with it to provide consistent customer service best practices. ZenaComp has hired:
- Networking Services Manager – Kevin Kelly
Our customers deserve a technical back office as part of the ZenaComp team. Kevin has the responsibility to manage the delivery of all networking services projects and customer support requests including the management and scheduling of technicians, setting priorities, determination of timeline, adherence to budget and managing client expectations.
- Networking Services Coordinator – Kristi Kline
As we grow, our customer service is continually re-evaluated. With now over 1,000 assets to manage for our customers, it is imperative we have quality assurance.
Kristi has the responsibility of assisting the Networking Services Manager, receiving and entering customer service requests into ZenaComp’s ticketing system, preparing project checklists, inventory tracking and ordering and receiving client equipment. When a customer or a ZenaComp technician needs asset information, we can provide accountability of all technology.
Our pledge to keep our customers fully informed with no surprises is more completely supported with these vital roles. We welcome Kevin and Kristi to the ZenaComp team.
ZenaComp is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan and is widely recognized as a top Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. ZenaComp provides website development, content management systems, business computer network security and managed services for businesses, website hosting, technology audits and assessments, and custom software development. For more information or immediate assistance, please contact us via phone at 888-559-7576 or through our website.
Tags: join our team, new hires, technology customer service
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ZenaComp Incorporated, a full-service Microsoft Gold Certified technology partner, recently added Aerodynamics Inc. (ADI) of Waterford, Michigan to its list of satisfied, managed technology clients. Mark Lichtman, ZenaComp President, made the announcement.
ADI chose ZenaComp to manage the information technology of their team which consists of 245+ aviation professionals, operating out of seven satellite bases in six states. “Our strategic technology plan involved finding a team of experts to handle our technology needs versus the knowledge of a single IT employee,” stated Richard Appleman, Chief Financial Operator, ADI.
ZenaCare
ZenaComp won this new business based on the benefits of its managed technology services called ZenaCaresm. With ZenaCaresm, clients receive much more than just monitoring and preventative maintenance. In addition to daily and monthly managed services, ADI is now getting CIO strategic planning, has moved from workstations to a predominantly thin client environment and recently consolidated servers for ease of maintenance and reduction in ongoing costs.
ZenaComp’s fixed-fee approach offers a higher level of support. Lichtman said, “Our solution and services allows us to partner with companies looking for ways to save money but not sacrifice IT support. We have 24/7 monitoring and support and companies, like ADI, see no increase in costs and receive the benefits of a complete, knowledgeable and experienced IT team.”
About ADI
Aerodynamics Inc. (ADI) began operations in 1959 at the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford, Michigan. It provides a full range of services for business aviation, such as corporate shuttles, aircraft management, charter, sales, maintenance, avionics, ground support and interior refurbishment. Flight operations include more than 40 flights per day, carrying 200,000 passengers per year, serving several Fortune 100 companies as well as small business owners and entrepreneurs. More news and information is available at www.flyadi.com.
Tags: Business Computer Network, Fixed Fee Computer Networking Service, Managed IT Services
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If you were building a custom home, you wouldn’t want the carpenters to start putting up walls before you have seen and approved the architectural drawings (i.e. blueprint). Can you imagine the cost and time to move a wall if it didn’t meet your liking?
However, many custom software developers do exactly this. They meet with prospective clients about their software projects and then immediately start “writing code” before the client has a chance to review and approve the solution. ZenaComp understands the importance of providing you “the blueprint” before it starts building your custom software.
The following are the five phases of a custom software development project:
- The Wish List is like the “Wish List” for your Custom Home
You have may have many ideas about your custom software, the business objectives it is trying to support and the technology that you have seen. By interviewing your key staff and then analyzing your objectives, challenges, current systems and applications, ZenaComp gives you options and creates a sensible, phased-approach for custom software development.
- Specifications Development/Graphic Design is like “The Blueprint” for your Custom Home
ZenaComp “brings your solution to life” with “page visuals” (i.e. wireframes) that exactly depict how your software solution will look. Getting your solution right in this step is more efficient and less costly than making changes after development has started.
- Software Development & Quality Assurance is like “Construction and Finish Work” for your Custom Home
Our experienced technology team builds your solution including graphic design, web page creation, database development, application development and quality assurance.
- Client Review Period is like a “Walkthrough” of your Custom Home
Prior to the final release of your solution, we make it available to you. Now both of our organizations can find any imperfections that may exist so they can be corrected quickly.
- Launch & 45 Day Support is like “Receiving the Keys to your New Home with a Home Warranty”
Your solution is now “live.” There is a 45 day review period that allows your organization to use your new custom software solution within the production environment. ZenaComp addresses in-scope issues appropriately without you incurring additional fees.
At the heart of ZenaComp’s success in developing custom software is that it takes the time and effort to create the page visuals/wireframes (i.e. blueprint). After all, as the cliché indicates, a picture is worth a 1000 words.
Tags: Custom Software Develop, website, Wireframe
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ZenaComp Receives Thank You from Orion/Oxford Boys and Girls Club
In an effort to give back to the community where we work and live, ZenaComp is pleased to support the Orion/Oxford Club of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan. We hope our sponsorship will help, in some small way, give youth in our community a safe and positive environment to learn and live.
Tags: Boys & Girls Club, Charity, Community
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DotNetNuke Websites from ZenaComp
ZenaComp designs and develops high-quality, updatable business websites using Microsoft .NET Nuke technology. ZenaComp has used .NET Nuke technology to build websites for businesses in the real estate, healthcare, mechanical trades, technology, and marketing industries. In addition to developing these websites, ZenaComp also provides secure hosting, email, and computer network support to these organizations.
DotNetNuke (.NET Nuke) is a content management system that allows non-technical users to create and edit content, and add custom features to personalize the site look and feel. The software can be further expanded with the use of third-party modules and custom tailored layouts and designs.
Business owners are turning to web technology like .Net Nuke Websites from ZenaComp because they do not have time to manage all the critical aspects that go into launching a professional business website, such as:
- How to design a professional looking website for my business?
- How scalable is the investment and technology for when my business grows?
- Is there a large “Out of Pocket” expense to begin the process?
- What are the features or options I can have with my website?
- Do I have to register my own domain name?
- Who will securely host my website and email?
- Will I receive advanced visitor reporting tools with my website?
- Will someone be available if I need ongoing assistance, and what does that agreement look like?
- Will I be able to update the website content myself?
Happy .NET Nuke Website Owners
Key Website Features and Functionality
When businesses invest in a DotNetNuke Website they are able to provide an engaging experience for their website visitors through a library of customized modules offered by ZenaComp. Modules are updatable and can be added or removed at will by the Website administrator. This allows for real flexibility on behalf of the business to be able to communicate their key messages in a variety of ways. For example, here are just some of the modules available:
- Blog
- Website Search Feature
- Forum
- Events
- Document Listings
- Private Account Login
- Online Help System
- News Feeds
And much more (read on)
ZenaComp is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan and is widely recognized as a top Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. ZenaComp provides website development, content management systems, business computer network security and managed services for businesses, website hosting, technology audits and assessments, and custom software development. For more information or immediate assistance, please contact us via phone at 888-559-7576 or through our website.
Tags: .NET Nuke, Dot Net Nuke, dotnetnuke, website
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ZenaComp Incorporated, a full-service Microsoft Gold Certified technology partner, is seeing an increasing number of businesses that need custom software applications and ZenaComp is delivering. Mark Lichtman, ZenaComp President, made the announcement.
Customers are looking to redevelop legacy applications originally written in Foxpro or MS Access or to develop new software to support their current business strategies. Custom software solutions will meet all of their business needs while “off the shelf” software will not. Realizing this growing trend, Lichtman stated, “Businesses have complex requirements and decision makers are realizing the importance of new technology, including web-based solutions, to give them the functionality they want and need to maintain their competitive advantage.”
For example, ZenaComp recently created a web based application that interfaces with Integrated Security Corp’s (ISC) hardware controllers to monitor and report breaches in security around fence lines for jails, nuclear power plants and airports. ISC is now able to provide their clients with a more professional, state-of-the-art security solution which opens up more potential business opportunities.
Bernie Malkowski, Project Manager at Integrated Security Corp said, “We conducted a thorough search for a development team with a history of quality, timing, delivery and support. From application architecture to application deployment, we found that in ZenaComp.”
ZenaComp is also converting the Cryo-Monitor software from Custom Biogenics from an older technology to Microsoft .NET. Custom Biogenics manufactures and sells state of the art cryopreservation freezers. The new software solution will monitor the communication from the controllers attached to the isothermal tanks including volume and temperature and record this periodic data for reporting purposes. The system will also send alerts depending on set up/thresholds determined by the client and will support both old and new controllers that the client utilizes.
ZenaComp is the exclusive provider of ZenaCareSM: Critical Software Solutions. ZenaCareCSS is a fixed-fee, proven process to streamline operational systems and reduce transaction costs for its customers.
About ZenaComp
Since 1989, ZenaComp Incorporated, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, has managed computer networks and developed database software for unique business processes. For more information visit www.zenacomp.com or call 248.536.3000.
Tags: Custom Software Develop, Web Application Development
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Password security for both personal computers and business computer networks is becoming increasingly important to the proper functioning of any business regardless of its size. Because password and information security plays such a vital role in the development and execution of Business Continuity Plans, Computer Network Security Audits, and Loss Prevention Practices; organizations should take the appropriate measures to integrate a workable action plan into all aspects of their operations.
When asked to consider the top threats to the security and harmony of any business, most decision makers may first think about building security or the physical security of the employees. However, the top threat to the sustainability of any business is the loss of critical information such as: financials, client data, sales data, trade secrets, product research data, internal reports or memos, internal emails, and much more.
Let’s look at some examples of how poor password security can harm your organization and possibly the personnel within it. Poor password security may lead to:
- The theft of vital company and personal information.
- Someone gaining access to personal email accounts or social network accounts to take on the persona of the account holder.
- The republishing of your passwords on other websites, blogs, and social networks for other users to view and possible use.
- Identity theft.
- Increased computer network support costs.
- Increased computer hardware and security costs.
- Increased threat of client lawsuits because of stolen data.
- Potential loss of clientele because of stolen data.
- Potential reputation issues for the organization.
- Increased legal expenditure to develop proper information security policies and measures.
Here are some simple, but effective ways to begin to achieve password and information security within your organization:
- Take it seriously and be organized.
- When giving responsibility to individuals within an organization to name their own passwords and login sets encourage longer more advanced passwords.
- Never email highly sensitive organizational or individual passwords to groups of users.
- Never use the exact same password for everything. Changing up numbers, names, symbols, and word order makes a huge difference.
- Do not use any personal home addresses, house numbers, street names, birthdays, personal names, or common names that can easily be guessed.
- When an individual within the organization is terminated their passwords that provide access to any company system should be changed immediately.
- Create a digital vault for organizational and individual passwords and provide access to a small team of trusted personnel.
- Create an offline non-digital resource such as a Password Diary.
- Rotate or change passwords every 6-12 months for individual and organizational systems.
- Consider engaging in a Cyber Liability Policy or add additional coverage to existing E&O Policies.
- Invest in proper computer network security and management to fend off potential attacks and threats.
Check your password strength through Microsoft Online Safety.
ZenaComp is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan and is widely recognized as a top Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. ZenaComp provides business computer network security and managed services for businesses, website development, website hosting, technology audits and assessments, and custom software development. For more information or immediate assistance, please contact us at 888-559-7576 or Request Assistance Here.
Tags: Password Security
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