Marari News

February 2nd, 2009

The Top Three Challenges Clients Face

Why do I need that?


Clients know they need computers and...

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Microsoft Small Business Specialist

 
 

Marari Network News

February 2nd, 2009

The Top Three Challenges Clients Face

Why do I need that?


Clients know they need computers and networks in their businesses. The problem is that they are experts in their fields, not technology. When making a technology decision in business there are a lot of variables to consider such as:

  • What kind of system(s) does the business need?

  • Who will be the primary user(s) and how will they use the system?

  • How is the business data being handled?

  • What are the security risks and what are the areas of biggest exposure?


These clients need an expert who will consult with them, listen to their needs, and propose the solution that best fits their business.


Where is that thingamajig?


Clients have a mess of technology that other IT people tell them they need without really understanding their environment. The "technosprawl" has invaded workspaces and has had a negative impact on productivity.


Understanding the environment and all the pieces that make up the network is critical. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to get familiar with all the nuances of heterogeneous environments, but, that familiarity is crucial in being able to manage existing infrastructure and in being able to recommend the right solutions when needs arise.


Why doesn't this work?


If you let your lawn go for any length of time without doing regular maintenance (i.e. weeding, mowing, fertiziling, watering, etc.) it either grows out of control or dies... or a combination of both.


A network is very much the same. If you let it go without maintenance for too long, you leave the door open for other problems. Servers and workstations need to have monthly patches applied or risk being compromised by the latest security threats and vulnerabilities. Antivirus quarantines need to be checked to see if there are any patterns or infections that have not been removed. Malware needs to be detected and removed so that the "bad guys" can't steal information and identities. Data needs to be backed up in case of accidental or malicious deletion. OId users need to have their access removed to maintain proper network security... the list goes on.


How does Marari Network Solutions address these challenges?


Knowledge and Research


It's one thing to have over 25 years of practical hardware, software and network experience, but continuous learning is crucial in the IT industry because it is incredibly dynamic. Imagine a doctor that graduated from medical school 25 years ago and went into practice but never kept up to date on new procedures and diagnosis. Imagine the accountant who has been applying tax laws that were applicable 25 years ago but hasn't kept up to date on any of the changes since that time. How effective would they be?


Every Friday afternoon is my "learning time" unless a client call comes in. When I'm at home in the evenings and/or on the weekends (when I'm not working), I'm often reading about new technologies or working with a new piece of software to better understand it so that when a client says "I need to do ", I can expertly assess their needs and recommend the right solution.


People Discovery


Generally, asking people what they do and how they do it, what their challenges are, and how they'd rather be doing it, are great places to start. Dr. Stephen Covey preaches about shifting your point of view to that of the person you are talking with so that you can better understand their needs. "Seek first to understand, then to be understood."


Once I understand what a client wants, it's easier to make the adjustments and recommendations to address those needs.


Network Management


Network management is understanding the environment, the people and the risks, and then doing regularly scheduled maintenance to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. Additionally, I employ a number of remote tools to minimize response time and work time disruption.


What kinds of networks have I looked after?


Here's a small small snapshot of a few of experiences:

  • Small business with multiple locations networked together over a virtual private network (VPN)

  • Medium sized business with several industry-specific applications

  • School division with 17 schools and an administrative office all tied in together through a Wide Area Network (WAN)

  • Head office with several satellite locations and/or mobile users using terminal services

  • Small business with a single server and few PC's in a simple file-sharing network


You can feel confident in contacting Marari Network Solutions for your business technology needs. Our tag line is "Relax, we're on IT" and I very much take that to heart.


Cheers!

Ari Novikoff, MCP

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