Last week I received a call from a colleague who runs a computer forensics company. It was a real fire drill.  A client of theirs, hundreds of miles away,  which shall remain un-named, had to fire their IT Director on the spot due to some disturbing allegations.

On that very day, we needed to lock down their network and secure their data.  We changed passwords,  blocked access, discovered and patched holes that could allow this person or others back into the systems if they decided to delete data or do anything else to compromise the company’s assets.

In this episode, Dave tackles hosted phone systems, how they work, and how they are different from the telecom setup you most likely have today. He explains what a hosted phone system can do for your small business in terms even the uninitiated can understand and helps you make an informed judgment as to whether they are a good fit for you. In 10 minutes, learn enough to be dangerous about a technology that has been radically changing telecom and how it can be put to use for your small business. Enjoy. 

In this episode of the Dumb It Down for me Dave (DIDD) series, Dave brings down to earth the basics of cloud computing, how it works, why you should care, and what it can do for your small business. With the penetration of cloud computing increasing expontentially in the small to midsize business space, this Skyrope TV slot provides a timely introduction in less than 10 minutes to a crucial topic for the SMB owner or manager. Enjoy.

If you run a small business or buy technology for one and have not been in a cave for the past couple of years, chances are you have heard of cloud computing. Very briefly, cloud computing means technology sold as a remote subscription service accessed over the Internet. You do not have to own hardware or software or employ tech staff. You do not have to keep up with new versions or compatibility, or amortize assets. You pay as you go, and pay as you grow.

So the exuberance is understandable. But should you transition everything you have to the cloud next year? No — not even if you have the money and a competent small business IT provider — and you have already adopted managed services and enjoy the benefits. Because the rarely mentioned problem of bandwidth latency promises to cramp your style on the cloud.