The team of professionals at the IT support Miami-based company, Telx Computers, can help provide businesses with the needed security programs that will best protect their valuable business information. Firewalls, antivirus programs, and antispyware software are three essential ways in which businesses can protect their network servers from malicious attacks.

FIREWALLS

One of the first steps that can be taken is to install an effective firewall. An Internet firewall is a security program that is designed to hinder the intrusion of any unwanted programs or data. Firewalls also inspect incoming connections for known attack methods and prevent these attacks from impacting internal network devices. They are designed to shut off access to operating systems or to other computers that are connected to a business’s network. They will automatically refuse and decrypt the unwanted information through the network, helping to save data from the hands of hackers.

Firewalls are highly valued by businesses for their ability to keep private information secure. Identity theft is a growing crime; firewalls are a good defense against online predators. Personal electronic information can also be kept private. Not only is privacy important for a competitive perspective, but also to maintain good business. Businesses have a duty to provide their customers with online business transactions that are as safe and as private as possible.

ANTIVIRUS PROGRAMS

Viruses, worms, and Trojans are programs created by hackers that use the Internet to infect vulnerable computers and networks. Viruses and worms can replicate themselves from computer to computer in order to travel through a network, while Trojans enter a computer by hiding inside an otherwise legitimate program, such as a screen saver. Destructive viruses, worms, and Trojans can erase information from a hard disk or completely disable a computer. Others may not cause as much direct damage, but can still worsen a computer’s performance and stability.

Antivirus programs scan e-mails and other files on a computer for these malicious viruses, worms, and Trojans. If one is found, the antivirus program will either isolate it or destroy it entirely before files are damaged or the computer is corrupted. It is important to make sure to keep an antivirus program up to date. When the program is updated, it adds new viruses to its list of things to check for, helping to better protect computers from attacks.

ANTISPYWARE

Spyware is software that can display advertisements, collect information, or change settings on a computer, generally without obtaining consent. Spyware can install unwanted toolbars, links, or favorites in a web browser, change a default homepage, or display pop-up ads frequently. Some spyware software doesn’t do anything visible; instead, it secretly travels through a server system collecting information. Most spyware is installed through free software that is downloaded. Antispyware programs help to protect computers from these unwanted programs.

Using these security programs and the IT services offered by the computer support Miami company Telx Computers is one of the most effective things a business can do to protect its valuable information.

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1. Before the Switch

Become familiar with OS X and Mac in general before making the move.

If you have an Apple Store nearby, then it is easiest to stop by and ask the Geniuses any questions you may have. Be thorough, and take your time; they are used to questions. It is better to slowly transition to OS X and become familiar with the operating system, then to try to switch when you are busy.

2. Know Your Applications

Unless you’re going to be running Windows or a parallel processor on your Mac, remember that Windows apps will not work on a Mac. Products like Adobe Creative Cloud allow you to switch between Windows and Mac as part of your license. However, most applications do not possess this feature, making a possible added cost to users.

3. Data Migration

Data Migration is one of the most important processes to do correctly when switching operating systems.

Apple has comprehensive documentation on how to do this. It is best to read this before your begin to move your data. Or, just get an Apple Retail Store to do it for you.

4. Accessories

There are a nearly endless supply of Apple products to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites

5. Learn Some Shortcuts

Shortcuts = keyboard shortcuts. Here are some of the most popular:

• Command – C – Copy
• Command – V – Paste
• Command – A – Select All
• Command – W – Close Window
• Command – Q – Quit app

6. Right-Clicking on Mac

Right-clicking on a Mac can lead you nowhere if you have not enabled ‘Secondary Click’ through System Preferences. If you have a Magic Mouse then go to System Preferences > Mouse and enable Secondary Click

7. Running Windows on Your New Mac

With the latest software, it is now possible to run Windows on your Mac. You have these options:

• Use the built-in Boot Camp tool
• Use a third-party tool such as Parallels desktop

Whichever tool you choose, you will still need a valid copy of Windows, and unless you have a spare full retail copy, you’ll need to buy a new one.

8. Backing up your Data

Although Macs are reliable, they are not invincible. Make sure to have a duplicate of your data.

Here are a few ways to secure your data:

• Use an off-site backup service such as CrashPlan or Backblaze
• Back up to a local disk – connected to the Mac on the netwok – using Time Machine
• Use a third-party tool such as Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper! Backups to external hard drives.

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That’s not to say that the traditional laptop will leave the scene – but the iPad Pro proves that the Surface has a definitive place in today’s market.

Although the iPad Pro’s apps will not be the same as those you can get on a laptop, Apple says you can do the same type of things, just with a different interface:

• The bulk of the Pro’s announcement was devoted to productivity, image manipulation and video editing, not games, movies and reading. Apple even brought Microsoft itself onstage to demo Office.
• Performance numbers were compared against laptops and desktops, not other tablets.
• Though Apple specified touch was the primary way of interacting with the iPad, the stylus and keyboard were shown off to suggest desktop-like accuracy and precision.
• iOS 9 introduces features you’d expect from a desktop, like multi-window support and other multi-tasking improvements. These features apply to the iPad Air as well, but Apple clearly had the Pro in mind when designing them.
• When was the last time you even considered editing three 4k videos simultaneously? Who cares – Apple made sure you knew that with the iPad Pro, you can.

Although, it may be easy to make fun of Apple for essentially copying Microsoft, ultimately, the competition between the two tech giants will level the playing field for other entrants and better hardware for users.

The iPad Pro is Apple’s concession to Microsoft’s Surface. Nevertheless, Apple’s debut into functional tablets will better tablets for all users.

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“There’s a new dawn at Microsoft,” said Allison Dew, Dell’s marketing chief (and a former Microsoft employee). “What we’ve seen in terms of development and cooperation with Microsoft this time around is unlike what we’ve seen in past years.”

“We’re more excited about this launch than we have been in a really long time,” said Dew. “I’ve been through amazing Windows launches and some that weren’t quite as amazing. This has the feel of something amazing.”

Nonetheless, it is important to set aside some time for the upgrade process itself. Not all pre-Windows 10 applications will work on the new operating system, so it important to check with compatibility with Windows 10 before installation. Additionally, you will need the following performance specifications in order to run Windows 10:

• OS: Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update
• Processor: 1GHz or faster
• RAM: 2GB RAM for a laptop or tablet or 8GB RAM for a PC
• Hard drive space: 16GB for a 32-bit system or 20GB for a 64-bit system
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
• Display: 1024 x 600 resolution

According to Microsoft’s site, Windows 10 is available in multiple configurations. If you’re upgrading from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, or Home, you’ll be upgraded to Windows 10 Home. Systems with Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate will be upgraded to Windows 10 Home. And if you upgrade from Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro for Students, you’ll be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. Microsoft further clarifies the different versions:

1. Home includes what Microsoft calls the “core experiences” – or the bare essentials of the operating system, including the Start Menu; Windows Defender and Windows firewall; digital assistant Cortana; fingerprint, facial and iris recognition; virtual desktops; and the new Edge browser.
2. Pro includes everything in the Home version, with more advanced features, such as Bitlocker encryption, Domain Join, Group Policy Management and Remote Desktop.
3. Enterprise is the most complete version of Windows, and includes everything in the Home and Pro versions, plus additional features such as Windows To Go Creator (which lets you create a USB drive with Windows on it), AppLocker (which creates rules that allow or deny applications from running) and security tools such as Enterprise Data Protection.
4. Education is the same as the Enterprise edition except that it doesn’t have a feature called Long-Term Branching Service, which controls the way in which Windows versions are delivered to users.

Is your business using the latest technology? Telx Computers can assist you in migrating and updating your network, and provide handy technology tips and other useful information. Click here to learn more about our services.

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Edge is much faster than Internet Explorer, as the application has been streamlined for optimal responsivity. Edge comes with Windows 10 installed. Microsoft is determined to inspire confidence in its lackluster operating systems with the newest rendition. The days of unwanted task bars and constantly changing home screens are history. Microsoft assures users that sites that are optimized for Safari or Chrome will be compatible with Edge.

Open Edge, and you are greeted with a welcome page that asks, “where to next?” above a combined search and address bar. Below that are links to favorite websites, followed with a customized news and information feed, that can display personalized news articles, sports scores, and weather information based on your preferences.

Contact us to find out how your systems can be protected from online opportunists or for more IT support information .

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With mandatory updates, Microsoft hopes to make the platform more secure, “The license terms for Windows 10 require Automatic Updates be enabled as a part of keeping our customers secure and delivering Windows as a service.” Some organizations will be provided wiggle room around this verdict, such as enterprise companies that need more control in this arena.

The benefits of mandatory updates include not only security best practices but extend to performance enhancements for the popular operating system. Now users will not have to worry whether new updates will impede functionality to their systems or pre-existing applications.

The most recent Windows 10 licensing agreement, from build 10420, states the following:

“Updates. The software periodically checks for system and app updates, and downloads and installs them for you. You may obtain updates only from Microsoft or authorized sources, and Microsoft may need to update your system to provide you with those updates. By accepting this agreement, you agree to receive these types of automatic updates without any additional notice.”

Windows hopes that such a move will prevent migration nightmares like what happened with the Windows version 8.x, where several users stayed with the old version of the software despite the new edition, Windows 8.1, being offered for free.

By making automatic updates mandatory, Windows hopes to keep a more efficient platform, with fewer processing glitches or security issues. Some speculate that windows software will automatically update when new versions are released.

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The main philosophy for Microsoft Windows 10 is to have one unified operating system that can run on any device. Not only will your devices seamlessly communicate with each other, but they will all look alike for one user experience.

Getting Started

Microsoft seems to have taken the hint, scaling back their massive redesign released in Windows 8. All previews show the familiar home screen, with the Start menu in the bottom corner (where it belongs), and the familiar scrollable nested folders. Next to these, a more palatable touchscreen enabled Live Tile display. The menu is fully customizable and can be resized to be as large or small as needed. If you are a fan of the start screen (and I’m told they do exist), you can set that as your preference as well. No judgement.

What’s New in Windows 10?

Refreshing Design

Windows 10 looks a lot like Windows 7, with some small design changes like a shadow around the window frames and new animations when you resize, open and close windows.

Improved Multitasking

You can create multiple “virtual” desktops and run programs on each one. When you snap something to one side, it prompts you to snap something else into the other half of the screen. You can snap up to 4 apps on the same screen.

Photo Credit: Windows Blog[/caption]

Possibly for those less tech savvy consumers, Windows has introduced the Home folder. This features recent and most commonly used folders and documents for easy access.

Command Prompt

Ok so this may not interest you as much, but… drumroll, please… copy/paste! Yes, you can copy paste in command mode, in addition to being able to resize the window, set transparency, and use keyboard shortcuts to select and define text.

 Major Features of Microsoft Windows 10

Cortana

“Hey Cortana”

Just like Windows Phone, you can type to Cortana to ask it to remind you to do things, or to search for content locally in apps or on the web. Rather than creating a separate app for Cortana on the desktop, Microsoft will essentially replace and complement the existing search experience that’s available in Windows 8.

Photo Credit: endgadget.com[/caption]

Continuum

Designed for tablet/PC combinatons like the Surface Pro 3, Continuum can automatically switch from desktop to a touch optimized tablet mode when it sense that the keyboard and mouse have been disconnected. The allows the user to easily transfer between modes when they need.

“Spartan”

While not included in the technical preview, Microsoft’s new browser (codename: Project Spartan) will be included in Windows 10 alongside Internet Explorer. The browser will have many features that make it similar to Google Chrome and Firefox, such as the ability to add extensions.

Did Someone Say, FREE?

That’s right, we said FREE. As in Windows is offering free upgrades to Windows 7 and 8 users, with only some fine print attached:

“It is our intent that most of these devices will qualify, but some hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary by device. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows Update enabled. ISP fees may apply. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update required. Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise outside of this offer. We will be sharing more information and additional offer terms in coming months.”

Technical Preview

Do you want to be part of next Windows? The tech preview is for PC experts who are comfortable with unfinished programs. Windows Corporate Vice President Joe Belfiore recommends that you install this on a secondary PC, so that nothing happens to your important files.

Download Windows 10 Technical Preview ISO

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If you are running XP on any of its versions you will notice a pop-up message as soon as you start the computer. This message is being pushed by Microsoft and it signals the end of life of the product.

We urge you to contact Telx so we can suggest an update plan to Windows 7 and make sure all your workstations are XP free.

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Microsoft Exchange is specially designed and developed to simplify corporate communications needs. It provides messaging as well as collaborative services to enhance the overall communication experience. Telx Computers is a computer support Miami company that uses a full-featured Hosted Exchange e-mail service that includes additional value-added services to secure and backup e-mail data and enable a business to collaborate Hosted Exchange.

From a strategic aspect, e-mail is a utility on par with having a dedicated phone number. Carrying the burden of deploying and managing this non-revenue generating system takes time and resources away from more strategic objectives. In order to deliver e-mail more efficiently and reliably, businesses should consider using Exchange through a hosted IT service provider. Hosted Exchange delivers big benefits around the organization but is even more beneficial for a business’s IT team.

Along with cost savings comes predictable, per-mailbox pricing that mitigates cost spikes for expanding systems to accommodate business growth, implementing upgrades, or extra measures needed to stay up and running instead of suffering downtime.

On top of savings of about three days of downtime per year, businesses also benefit from avoiding the disruption to companywide productivity that comes with unplanned downtime. The reliability benefit extends to the ability to go through other problems such as power outages without worrying about losing access to e-mail.

At Telx Computers, there is a team of e-mail experts behind a business’s messaging system to handle the admin tasks, spam/virus protection, backups, mobile and remote access, upgrades, and patches. That gives a business’s internal IT team more time to do the strategic work that generates revenue instead of dealing with the constant maintenance of the servers.

A migration to Exchange that could take months on-premises between procuring hardware, obtaining licenses, and setting up user accounts can be completed in a matter of days by an Exchange hosting provider. The e-mail data migration may mean moving from a completely different e-mail system. By guiding business through migration, the risk of data loss or extended downtime is mitigated. The computer IT support team at Telx Computers also has the experience to help proactively identify potential migration problems in advance of the switch to ensure clean, usable data in the new system.

Hosted Exchange is a business-grade e-mail solution. A hosting provider’s reputation is built on keeping e-mails secure and private. As a result, Hosted Exchange keeps a company’s data free from hackers and protects it with enterprise-grade spam and virus protection. Other security measures include data centers with video surveillance capabilities, multi-factor authentication, tracking and monitoring tools, and other capabilities to protect customer data. Hosting providers are able to consistently monitor e-mail to identify issues and react to threats before the business is impacted.

Hosting takes the hassle out of e-mail delivery. In a hosted system, it takes just a few clicks to add or reduce capacity. With the Hosted Exchange services offered by Miami IT services provider Telx Computers, businesses will receive improvements in productivity with powerful e-mail, calendar and online collaboration tools including information sharing among corporate colleagues.

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Turning off startup programs:

For turning off some of the unwanted programs that pop up as soon as you start the computer the below mentioned simple procedure can be followed which will avoid the unnecessary popping up of programs and will also increase the speed of the computer and also restrain your access to those programs. The steps are:

• Go to the “START” button and click on “RUN” option. After this type “misconfig” in the window that appears in front of you.As soon as you press enter another window appears.

• In the second screen click on “startup” button, and then disable or uncheck the program that you wish not to appear when you start with your windows.

• After this the system will be required to be restarted and you will notice that the unwanted programs that were appearing earlier are not popping up again.

Clean up:

A tip that is most commonly adopted and is suggested is to clean up the unwanted files from the computer. The best tool that can be downloaded for free through the internet is CCleaner. Other than cleaning up the system and increasing the boot time it also helps by making the system more secure.

Once you have downloaded the software you just need to follow the below mentioned steps:

• For this go to the “RUN” option and type ccleaner.exe. In the second screen that appears just click OK and it deletes all the unwanted files from the system.

• It mainly clears Temporary files, history, cookies, Auto complete form history, download history, Recycle Bin, Temporary files and Log files from internet explorer, Firefox, chrome, opera, safari, and windows.

Performing Disk cleanup:

Disk cleanup is a program that is present in most of the operating system. We just need to follow some easy step to get it into use so as to improve the boot time of a system. For performing this operation follow the following mentioned steps:

• Go to the “START” then to “programs” followed by clicking on “accessories” >> “system tool” and finally on the disk cleanup icon that appears.

• After this the system automatically starts the cleanup procedure. At the start of the procedure a screen appears that show the locations from where the extra files will be removed.

• If you want the clean up for some selected location just uncheck the block corresponding to the section you don’t want to have clean up for.

This procedure will definitely not provide you with a completely new system but will definitely reduce some of your seconds that were consumed by it at the time of startup.

Removal of programs:

Another method that is suggested most commonly to enhance the boot up is: removal of the unwanted programs from the computer. Some time while installing some software we accidentally install some of the unwanted programs or we install some program that are no longer in our use. Uninstallation of such kind of program boosts the startup of the computer. Let has the look at the step followed to remove the unwanted program from the system.

• Start by clicking on “control panel” option that appears after you click on the “start” option. In the control panel window you can locate a program named “Add/remove programs”.

• As you will click on the “Add/remove programs” you will get a list of the programs that are present in your system.

• From this list one can easily detect the programs that will not be needed by them and what are just occupying memory.

• To remove the unwanted programs just go the particular program and click on “remove”. By this the selected program gets uninstalled from the system.

Above mentioned steps as some of the most commonly adopted ones to increase the boot time of system.

If by doing these still your computer does not start quickly that means there is some other problem for which you can always call computer repair technician from an IT company who can fix and address all issues so that you can have a fast and a efficient system as it was before.

Contact Top Managed Service provider, Telx Computers for more information on this.

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