Quick Way to Access Run in Windows 7

Wish you could access the run command in Windows 7 more easily? Now you can.

Read more.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Lost Your Gadget? These Apps Can Help

Lost phone adsNo need to panic if you lose your cell phone. Just make use of these apps that help secure your gadget from loss or theft. Check out which app supports your gadget.

Technology has become part of mankind’s daily existence. Everywhere you look, somebody is sporting a new gadget or two, and sometimes even more. In fact, many use a cell phone, laptop computer, iPod, and even an iPad as part of their daily routines.

With multiple gadgets being used by a single person, one is bound get misplaced occasionally – or worse, stolen. This can be very annoying and even devastating, especially if the gadget contains sensitive information. Fortunately, with ongoing improvements in technology, manufacturers of many gadgets have also developed apps that can help locate a lost or stolen gadget. (more…)

Pictures from our BBQ Celebration and iPad Giveaway

On Friday, January 28th, the BBQ train pulled into our parking lot and served delicious food for the 130 people who came to celebrate with us. We were celebrating our staff’s great achievement of earning 2 Microsoft Gold competencies! This may sound like a simple task, but Microsoft recently overhauled their Partner Program and made the Gold competencies much more difficult to earn. Our technical and administrative staff had to be re- trained and pass many Microsoft exams to prove that we deserve these honors! It was a team effort and we’re very proud of each member of TeamAccent.

We held a raffle and the 4 winners were Kerry Lewis of US Continental Marketing, Michelle Millwood of South Pacific Financial, Jamie Mazurkiewicz of Pinole Valley Trucking, and Lynda Botsford of Pacific Forge. Each of them received either a Target, iTunes, or Starbucks gift card.

We also held a referral contest and gave away an iPad to the person who gave us the most referrals by the end of the BBQ. Bill Cortus from Thrivent Financial was the winner. He gave us over 250 referrals! Thanks Bill!

6 Tips on How to Print Faster

printer iconTired of slow printing? You can take action speed up the processing time of your printer, as well as the printing speed itself. These tips are easy to accomplish, or require a minimal financial investment. Read more.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Create Small, Easy-to-read URL’s

URLCreate easy-to-read and type Internet addresses from the long addresses often found on popular sites such as Amazon, eBay, and MapQuest by using online services that shrink the address.
Read more.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

How Your Business Will Benefit from Using Electronic Signatures

pen on contract paperTurnaround times are accelerated with the use of electronic signatures because you don’t keep your customers waiting while you search for contracts or forms. Additionally, adding an electronic signature to a document is just like signing on paper. There is no need to change your customers’ habits and they are assured that even with remote handling, all their documents are secure.

Signatures have been the most accepted means of authentication since ancient times. During the Roman Empire, a combination of seals and signatures were recognized as the primary source for document and legal contract authentication. In the 1830s, electronic communications became legally recognized “electronic signatures” when the telegraph and Morse Code were invented. In 1976, Martin Hellman and Whitfield Diffie introduced public key cryptography, wherein cryptographic keys were first distributed over an unprotected public network. The first electronically signed document was an agreement between two nations – a Joint Communique signed by Ireland and the United States in 1998.

What is an electronic signature or e-signature?

There are different definitions for this term, but for the purpose of US law, the US Code defines it as “an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”

Why are businesses using electronic signatures?

  1. Electronic signatures help cut costs.
    Studies show that among US companies alone, 30 billion paper documents are copied or printed every year. The associated cost for each document is estimated to be $6.50. Five hundred documents are signed by the average authorized employee each year, which means that the total annual cost of using paper documents per employee is $3,250.
  2. Electronic signatures are good for the environment.
    The reduction of paper usage will not only cut down operational costs, but will also help save our environment. For every person who uses e signatures, the savings is equal to ¾ of a barrel of oil, ½ of a tree, or 150 pounds of carbon emissions per year.
  3. Electronic signatures help reduce fraud.
    When documents are signed electronically, the integrity of the content is guaranteed. E-signatures also enable real-time verification of the handwritten signature as opposed to a pre-defined biometric profile. Any manipulation within a document that involves an e-signature will automatically result in making the signature invalid.
  4. Electronic signatures help increase customer satisfaction.
    Turnaround times are accelerated with the use of electronic signatures because you don’t keep your customers waiting while you search for contracts or forms. Additionally, adding an electronic signature to a document is just like signing on paper. There is no need to change your customers’ habits, and they are assured that even with remote handling all their documents are secure.
  5. Electronic signatures give entrepreneurs more time to increase sales.
    Because workflow is much faster with the use of electronic signatures, processing times are reduced and sales people and consultants have more time to spend on getting new business. This can significantly increase the company’s revenue.

E-Signatures and Mobile Devices

Many business owners have come to realize the importance of using e-signatures in business. In fact, some businesses have even adapted this signing process for the smaller screens of mobile devices. If the transaction involves straightforward, simple sales contracts, a mobile e-signature is ideal. The customer sees and agrees to what exactly what is being purchased on the spot, and this allows salespeople to work more efficiently. For lengthy documents however, especially those that have several form fields that require considerable interaction with the client, a PC format is more suitable.

How Legitimate are E-Signatures?

As for the legitimacy of e-signatures, you need not worry. In 1999, the European Union passed the EU Directive for Electronic Signatures, and on the 30th of June, 2000, US President Bill Clinton signed into law the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), which signified that all signed electronic contracts and documents are as legally binding as a paper-based contract.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Efficient IT for Less for Your Small Business

organizational meetingBack in the day, only big companies were eligible to use state-of-the-art IT solutions and enjoy 24/7 security. Thanks to Managed Services, superb yet economically priced IT is now readily available to small and medium-sized businesses.

Like a lot of small to medium-sized businesses these days, you perhaps have become greatly reliant on Information Technology (IT). You certainly want your own IT department to offer the functionality and security that huge organizations benefit from. But cost is most likely holding you back—the large amount of money needed to design, install and maintain such a setting is usually too expensive for smaller organizations.

Fortunately, today you can have both the best IT and the most cost-efficient solution—because in Managed Services, they are one and the same.

Managed Services is an IT model that provides IT management and security remotely. Utilizing the latest and most sophisticated technology, we can readily monitor and manage your network, determine possible issues, and solve them before they harm your business.

These are the 2 major advantages:

Superior IT – With Managed Services, you can accomplish the functionality and security that previously was only available to large companies.

Inexpensive Price – Enjoy better IT without costing a fortune. Because of economies of scale, Managed Services enables you to create an infrastructure that delivers essential IT services to staff and clients without having to build or maintain these services internally.

Contact us now to learn how our Managed Services can help improve your IT and save you money.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Send Web Pages Easily to Friends

linkWhen you come across a web page you’d like to share, these simple steps allow you to easily send a link to a friend.
Read more.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Convert Multiple File Formats for Free Online

file iconIf you use Web sites to share your documents, movies, pictures, and music files, you probably know what it means to have to convert files. Good thing there is a Web site that performs file format conversions online. It’s free, helpful, and extremely simple to use.
Read more.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Incidents of Electronic Fraud Now Outnumbering Physical Theft

criminal warning signIncidents especially alarming in many emerging markets.

A poll of over 800 senior executives around the world showed that companies for the first time are losing more from the theft of their electronic assets than from physical assets. This was recently revealed by Kroll, a risk consulting firm.

The incidents were especially alarming in emerging markets such as China, Colombia, and Brazil—where more than 9 out of 10 businesses report victimization. Most susceptible are firms that deal in information, such as businesses in professional services, media, technology, and finance. Often, according to the respondents, the perpetrators are the company’s own employees.

Companies today should closely examine how information is managed within the organization. Appropriate levels of control should be provided, and policies, procedures, and tools need to be implemented to make sure access is carefully controlled and monitored and information is secured.

Are you confident that your firm is safe from attack not only from outside the organization but also from within? If not, contact us today to find out how we can help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.