We are that good!

06/13/2012

 
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Great feedback from a client is always appreciated.   This particular unsolicited remark from the Ruben Law Firm was so glowing, we just had to share it:

"I just wanted to let you know Jeff did an amazing job in switching us over to our new server... he has been very diligent, determined and successful in keeping us up and running with no interruptions whatsoever.  He is an excellent addition to your team.  We are very fortunate to have the best IT company in the SF financial district handling our crucial technology needs!"


Best regards,


Deneen M. Consagra
Senior Paralegal and Office Manager
The Ruben Law Firm

 

Tips on Moving an Office

06/04/2012

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This is a synopsis.   For the full white paper, please visit our White Papers Section.  If you would like an electronic copy, please email us.
Maintaining Your Productivity and Sanity During an Office Move 
Tips to Keep IT working When Moving Offices

 Moving an office is often a complicated and daunting activity. How does a firm keep the emails flowing, the website running, and communication lines open with customers and clients even while your computers sit on the moving truck lift gate? A thoughtful and organized process can help.

#1: Pull Together a Good Team

Long before the move happens, you must assemble a good team. On that team should be the manager of the tenant improvements (often the landlord’s builder), your move manager (usually the office manager), your IT manager and the space planner.

The team should meet periodically during early planning stages, and then weekly as the deadline nears.   While space-planners and construction people are accustomed to coordinating their efforts, finding an IT lead familiar with the build out and move process can be harder.  Having an experienced IT manager is essential if the move manager is inexperienced, as is often the case. 

#2: Create a Schedule

It is important to realize that an office move is a sequenced undertaking with multiple dependencies.   Many tasks need to be completed well ahead of the move to allow for proper preparation. Such sequencing is the stock and trade of builders,  so it is usually the builder that keeps the master schedule and controls how the move is sequenced. Also, moves of any complexity will require commencement on a Friday evening and carry over into weekend hours. 

#3: Outline All IT Tasks

The IT manager has many front loaded activities that must be integrated into the builder’s schedule so that the move can progress smoothly. These activities include preparations for:

  • Internet and Voice Service
  • Cabling
  • Server Room
  • Minimize Email Downtime
  • Maintain Website Presence
  • DNS Transfer
Summary

Moving an office is a complicated undertaking that needs a coordinated multidisciplinary approach.  If a team of experienced experts is assembled to work through all the issues, chances are good that your move will go smoothly. But while space planners and builders are well versed in this type of planning and cooperation, IT managers and in-house Move/Office Managers are less commonly qualified.   And though using an inexperienced in-house office manager might be unavoidable, a properly experienced IT professional can and should be brought in to help manage the process and ensure that the move goes smoothly. The right people can make the difference between a severe business disruption and continuous operations, and most businesses can’t afford to lose productivity during an office move.

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For SaneBox Users - when service stops working

06/01/2012

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Some of our clients have been trying a cool email filtering service called SaneBox.com.   It helps prioritize your email and filters it according to priorities which you train it to observe.   It doesn't require any difficult installation and integrates with Outlook.  They offer a free trial as well.   After a short period of successful useage, some find the service stops working.  If you contact SaneBox and they tell you that your Exchange server is issuing Error 500 messages, then the problem most likely lies with your Exchange server.   In our experience the following instructions solved the problem.   Please ask your IT administrator to review the procedure.   For a fee we can also help out if necessary,

1. Open IIS Manager 2. Navigate to Websites -> right click on "Default web site" and click on properties.
3. On the web site tab click on advanced
4. Under "Multiple identities for this website" click on the default entry and click on edit
5.Make the following changes - IP address: (All Unssigned), TCP port:80, Host Header Value: "Blank"
6. click ok and restart IIS Admin Service
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Dell Purchases Sonicwall

05/10/2012

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Dell has acquired Sonicwall.  Many of you already know that Solnicwall makes Firewalls, and if you are a Fido client, chances are you have a Sonicwall device that we have installed to protect your network.  We find it validating  that Dell identified Sonicwall as a good fit for their product line, a synergy we have been implementing for more than 10 years.  We can expect this acquisition to improve the Sonicwall product line, make it easier to keep the security subscriptions updated, and find interesting ways of integrating the management of firewalls with the management of computers and servers.   We'll keep you posted as Dell works to integrate the Sonicwall products into their business.
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Fido Welcomes Jeff Kraemer.

05/03/2012

 
We are very pleased to welcome Jeff Kraemer as a new Systems Engineer at Fido Systems. Jeff will be a regular part of our Help Desk and will be supporting all of our clients on their day-to-day needs. Jeff has been a life-long computer enthusiast and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Network and Communications Management. Some of his more interesting pursuits have included designing a 15 acre WiFi deployment, building a Linux-based CRM database, and managing a server cluster capable of supporting over 500 thin-client virtual machines. Most recently, Jeff was working at UEI Stockton supporting over 180 users. When he’s not at Fido providing excellent client service, Jeff enjoys competing in SCCA autocross events and delving into theoretical physics. We are very excited to have Jeff on the Fido Team.
 

Our Inaugural Quarterly Newsletter

04/06/2012

 
Fido Newsletter
Volume 1
April 2012

Welcome!
Since this is Fido Systems’ inaugural newsletter, I wanted to take a moment to introduce this new communication to you. We’ll be sending quarterly newsletters to keep our clients and partners in the loop on the latest technology developments, business IT planning strategies and other information that we think will help you in your business. I’d welcome your feedback if you have topics you’d like to see us address in future newsletters or comments on any of the articles we present. Thanks for your support!
Warm Regards,
Dan

Disaster and Backup Planning: Are You Ready?
How many times in the last few weeks have you fretted over backing up you data?  If you haven’t thought about it at all, you are ignoring a critical piece of running your business. Losing your work product is more than just a major bummer. If a small business loses critical files it can mean the end. In fact, 7 of 10 small firms that experience a major data loss go out of business within a year.
So, everyone backs up their data, right?  Unfortunately, 96% of all business workstations are not backed up, and 25% of all PC users suffer data loss each year.  Not all backup solutions are created equal, and even when businesses have a well maintained backup solution in place, it may be useless in the face of a disaster. A well designed data backup strategy is essential for any business, and is just as critical as revenue forecasting and other strategic initiatives. Planning for disasters and developing a proper data backup strategy can make or break your business. 
Read the full article 
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iPad Winner Claims His Prize
Congratulations to James Koehn of Citrix Systems who was the lucky winner of our recent drawing for a new iPad! We are fortunate to have so many dedicated clients and partners, and will continue to welcome your referrals. Stay tuned for more contests coming soon, and a heartfelt thank you to all of you who referred new business to us.  
See the official drawing
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Fido is Hiring
We are always looking for great people to add to our staff, and we currently have an opening for a position on our IT Help Desk. Please spread the word and let us know if you know of someone wonderful who would be a good fit. The complete job posting can be found here: 
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Brown Bag Lunches
Need help starting a strategic IT question? Have a topic that you’d like your IT team to learn more about? Want to add value to your firm’s clients by bringing them information on the latest technology trends? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Fido Systems would love to help. Please contact us to learn about some of our brown bag lunch topics and seminars.
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Copyright © 2012 Fido Systems All rights reserved.
Fido Systems 220 MONTGOMERY ST STE 1092 San Francisco, Ca 94104

 

Post Title.

02/14/2012

 
We've overhauled our website.   We hope you enjoy the new look and the new features.   Come back often, as we will be continuing to expand our content.   Thanks.
 

Fido's name change

11/17/2011

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We changed our name.  Formerly Bay Office Computing, we are now Fido Systems.   Why Fido?  What does it mean?  You could say it means we like dogs.  But more specifically, we like the metaphor: We are loyal. We always catch the stick. And we won't slobber all over you. We'll give you the straight dope. We won't baffle you with techno-babble. And we won't sell you things you don't need. 

We want to earn your trust through continuous good deeds, great support, honest advise, deep knowledge, and competent execution.  That is our mission, and now our brand better reflects it.
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