April  2008
In this issue

√  SharePoint Webinar
 
System i
√  Disaster Recovery
√  Mailbag Question
√  Employee Spotlight

 

Mailbag
Question

Question from our website:

My son is graduating from GRCC with an associate in networking. I want to get him an IT industry-related magazine subscription. What would you recommend?

Joyce D.
Cedar Springs, Mich

Hi Joyce,
Congratulations to your graduate! We funneled your question onto our Network Services Team Leader Dave Stutzman. He suggests PC World Magazine for someone just starting their career and Network World for someone with a bit more experience. You can also sign up for free online magazines with PCWeek.

If you have an IT question, submit it HERE

 

Quote of the Month

The reason a dog has so many friends is  that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

-Anonymous

 

Just for Laughs


 

i3 Business Solutions
945 Forest Hill Ave SE
Suite B
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
 616-719-4100

www.i3businesssolutions.com
 

 

Webinar

Thursday, May 15, 2008
2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Using Microsoft Sharepoint to Make Your Office Environment More Productive

Tom Haadsma will explain the fundamentals of Microsoft SharePoint and demonstrate how the product can be used to enhance business productivity.

Register now!

Muddling Through Your E-mail Inbox
Dreading your e-mail inbox? Although e-mail is regarded as a necessary communication tool of the twenty first century, it can become a productivity drain instead of a productivity gain. Here are some tips from Kaitlin Duck Sherwood to prevent too much of a good thing.

Tips for Overcoming Email Overload
by Kaitlin Duck Sherwood

  • Recognize that your inbox is your to-do list. Think of it as such and treat it as such.
  • Get spam out of your inbox. There are many good anti-spam software packages out there now. Your company should have one. If you don't - get one.

Read more tips


Got Spam?
   

The greatest threat of computer system virus today is not from chain emails sent by your third cousin’s best friend from high school. It is from spam. That unwanted email that eats up your productivity as well as clogs up your internet pipe and slows down your system.

i3's E-mail Threat Protection is a managed email security service that blocks unwanted email outside the corporate network and lets you choose who you receive emails from. i3's E-mail Threat Protection and Spam Prevention increases your business productivity by allowing you to:

  • Spend less time reading and processing unwanted spam
  • Avoid email disruptions such as blacklisting
  • Assure delivery and protect user's primary address
  • Provide extraordinary inbox protection
  • Choose an option to include email archiving services

Remember: Legitimate contacts never knowingly share your email address with spammers, and spammers only share your address with other spammers, never with legitimate contacts.

An i3 representative is available to answer questions you may have regarding E-mail Threat Protection/Spam Prevention as well as other ReliabiliTy services. We are dedicated to accelerating your business results and improving your business productivity. Give us a call.


System i Morphs Into Power and 'i'

Note: On April 2, IBM announced the new Power 6 platform that will run i5/OS, Linux or AIX replacing System i and p with a single platform. This article written by Chris Maxcer at SystemiNetwork is from the System i perspective.

In a bold consolidation move, IBM has removed and replaced the identity of the System i by turning it into an "i" operating system that runs on IBM's hottest POWER6-based hardware. Gone is the old identity of the integrated system, and along with it, presumably, the associations of a legacy system. The company has replaced System i and System p with a new line of unified servers with simplified pricing. The line is now officially IBM Power Systems, known as the IBM Power platform, with hardware server models branded with Power, as in, the Power 520, which will run AIX, Linux, or i5/OS. And i5/OS, by the way, really is simply "i." IBM is essentially shedding the old, keeping the best, and embracing the new.

The plan to mainstream i5/OS is well under way.  Read more


Affordable Tapeless Remote Backup and Disaster Recovery is Here!

Still backing up by tape? Most companies have backup and disaster recovery (BDR) plans. Most prudent companies, however, realize the term 'disaster' includes more than virus attacks, network failures, and hacker threats. How long would your business be down in the event of a power outage, flood, fire or other natural disaster if you are still storing your backups on your premises? How fast could you be up and running with complete data restored?

i3 Business Solutions can provide you with easy, daily Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) and store your critical data remotely to protect your company from down time due to natural and manmade disasters.

What i3 Business Solutions Remote Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) can do for you:

  • Allow you to concentrate on your core business, not IT backup
  • Daily, painless, remote information backup keeps your business up and running
  • Store your encrypted data in two geographically different locations to protect you from natural and manmade disasters
  • Completely restore your data in the event of system failure
  • Provide BDR at an affordable price for small to medium companies

“Two years ago, an affordable tapeless solution was not available for small and medium sized businesses. The solution we have provides more value for backup and disaster recovery than any solution out there.” Dave Stuzman Network Services Team Leader for i3.

If you are looking for an affordable, reliable backup and disaster recovery solution, give Dave a call at 616-719-4114.

Need assistance?  Call i3 Customer Support Center at 616.726.6400
or 877.721.6400, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. business days.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Anne Pynnonen

Anne Pynnonen joined i3 Business Solutions in February of this year providing sales and marketing support for i3’s managed services.

Anne has over 7 years in automotive manufacturing experience and has worked primarily in tool and die manufacturing and project management and planning in the East side of the state. She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Born in the Detroit area, Anne moved to Grand Rapids 14 years ago with her husband Ed and spends much time trying to convince her extended family to move to West Michigan.

Anne has three children and enjoys reading, walking her dog and vacationing with her family in Northern Michigan.


Sabrina Emmorey

Sabrina Emmorey comes to i3 with over 10 years of sales and marketing experience in the healthcare and pharmacy industries. She has worked with physicians in the pharmacy business as well as marketing physicians to physicians.

Most recently, she participated in a study working with patients that suffered from diabetic neuropathy on a natural supplement created by two physicians here in town.

Sabrina is a sales representative for i3 specializing in providing IT solutions for medical practices.

This includes providing electronic medical records, data back up and disaster recovery, website development and maintenance, and offsite system maintenance and monitoring

A native of California, Sabrina is still making friends with Michigan winters. She is an avid exercise enthusiast and enjoys running and indoor cycling. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Sabrina is married to husband Greg and has two children. Sabrina attended Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music and Cornerstone University. Please join us in welcoming Sabrina to i3.

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