SMB Technologist
Experienced IT pros address the particulartechnical challenges faced by IT pros working for small and medium businesses.
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Using an emergency virtual machine on a disk-based backup system
When a server problem required a complete machine restore, the first stage was to run an emergency copy of the server on a local disk-based backup system. Mark Pimperton describes what happened.
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PernixData FVP general availability announcement
You can increase the performance of your VMware storage solutions with PernixData FVP. General availability of FVP will be announced August 6, 2013.
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Tips on choosing a cloud backup provider for your SMB
These are seven factors your small or medium business should consider when selecting a cloud backup provider.
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Six points in the SMB IT value proposition
When you're talking to an IT pro about working for your small or midsize businesses, remember to highlight these advantages to being at a smaller shop.
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Ubuntu Unity empowers small businesses with powerful searching and easy configuration
If your small business is worrying about transitioning from Windows 7 to Windows 8, Jack Wallen proposes going with a completely different option: Ubuntu Unity.
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Basic tips for using Cisco UCS C-Series servers with VMware vSphere
VMware vExpert Lauren Malhoit gives pointers about four areas involved when configuring Cisco UCS C-Series server with VMware vSphere.
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Four open source SMB-centric human resource management systems
We help reduce the stress of the human resource management solution selection process by narrowing your choices down to these four open source small business-friendly options.
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Try Collabsuite, an open source alternative to Microsoft Exchange
When you choose Collabsuite over Microsoft Exchange for your small business, you'll save money and wind up with a much more flexible environment.
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Getting started with ObjectRocket Database-as-a-Service
Learn how to set up an ObjectRocket account and then how to get started with a small implementation of the Database-as-a-Service.
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Free CRM small business tools that boost efficiency
Many CRM tools are way above the budget of most SMBs. These four solutions are at a price point your small business is sure to like -- free.
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Cisco Live 2013 highlights: Cisco ONE, UCS Director, UCS Central, and more
TechRepublic contributing writer Lauren Malhoit reports on notable product announcements, official sessions, and her experiences at Cisco Live 2013 in Orlando.
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Fixing a PCI DSS scan failure on the SonicWALL IPSec VPN, part two
An IPSec VPN using pre-shared secret for authentication will fail PCI DSS security scans. Here's how to switch to using certificates on the router and the VPN client to pass the scan.
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How to use the Cisco UCS emulator
Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS) emulator allows people who don't have UCS to play with it. Here's what you need to know about this handy tool.
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Entice your employees to collaborate with eXo
The eXo tool's social networking look and feel might encourage employees to use it for collaboration.
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Fixing a PCI DSS scan failure on the SonicWALL IPSec VPN, part one
An IPSec VPN using pre-shared secret for authentication will fail PCI DSS security scans. Here's how to switch to using certificates on the router and the VPN client to pass the scan.
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Setting Up Cisco ASA 5510 firewall, Part 1
Lauren Malhoit describes how to change our Juniper firewalls for a couple of Cisco ASAs.
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PCI DSS compliance -- what does it look like for a small business?
Mark Pimperton describes the technical and policy changes made by one UK SMB to comply with the credit card security standard.
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Changing the culture at my new company
Meg Greene starts a new series on her efforts at defining an internal communication strategy and rolling out various solutions at an Internet-challenged company.
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Designing for collaboration in an established culture
Meg Greene continues her series on introducing tech into an SMB not exactly welcoming the changes.
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Using Shares to create accessible folder structures in Visual SourceSafe
Daryl Lucas explains how to use VSS Shares to ensure that everyone can find—and work on—their files, not just the person who set it up.
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Setting up Cisco ASA 5510 firewall, part 2
In the second installment of her series on setting up a Cisco ASA firewall, Lauren Malhoit runs through setting up management access and then setting up a cluster with two ASAs.
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Installing Site Recovery Manager 5.0 with EMC MirrorView
Here's how to get SRM 5.0 working with MirrorView via EMC VNX SRA and a new plug-in.
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VMware vSphere 5: Storage DRS
Lauren Malhoit talks about some vSphere 5 features that can help admins manage their storage more efficiently, and maybe even optimize performance at the same time.
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How to keep your website up to date on a small budget
In this day and age where a website is the main source of information for customers about a business, you cannot afford to leave it to chance.
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Getting organized for communication improvements
Introducing specific communication improvement plans to a company requires educating co-workers and leaders about the appropriateness of each type of communication solution they might hear about.
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Use EminentWare to update third-party software
EminentWare works with Microsoft Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and/or System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).
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Anti-virus to web filtering: A glance into a small company's IT system toolbox
Mark Pimperton describes the favored system tools used by a small UK manufacturer and why they might warrant a place in your toolbox.
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Preparing a training curriculum
Meg Greene talks about some of the reader responses to her efforts to modernize her company and then walks through the efforts to write a training curriculum.
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Setting up a Cisco ASA 5510 firewall, part 3
Lauren Malhoit ties up the series on setting up a Cisco ASA 5510 firewall.
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A simple framework for SMB IT risk management
Don't wait for something to go wrong before you start classifying, assessing and mitigating the risks to your IT systems.