What Is A Server Maintenance Plan And Why Is It Important?

Server maintenance is the process of keeping the server updated and running to ensure that the organization's computer network is operating smoothly. The network administrator usually does this, and it is crucial to the performance of the business. Without a proper IT service plan, the application software will never run as it is expected. In severe cases, the network can even experience partial or total failure leading to severe losses to your business.

Server is the term used to describe a box that holds the computer's processor, memory and hard drive. It is built to provide maximum computing power while utilizing minimum space. Organizations install multiple servers together to increase the processing power available to support several databases, systems and applications.

Proper server maintenance requires the network administrator to conduct regular preventive maintenance. This involves a review of the server's performance and any potential security risks as well as backup protocols on a regular basis. As part of preventive maintenance, the administrator should ensure that the inbuilt system monitoring utilities are appropriately installed and configured.

So, why is server maintenance important?

In order to keep the business' computer network in optimal and reliable condition, you need to have regular server updates, installation of patches and diagnostics; in other words, you need a sound server maintenance plan. With this, your business' precious hardware and software will have a greater chance of serving you for a long time. While you may have an idea of what should go into the plan, you are better off getting server experts to perform the required maintenance.

While server maintenance plans vary from one business to the other, it is universally essential to have a plan that is specifically designed to ensure continued optimization of your server and computer network. Through regular data backup, patch installation for updates and bugs, and running the diagnostics, your business' server will be kept at peak performance, hence minimizing any risks for errors and system failures. With a maintenance plan that takes into consideration the unique objectives and demands of your business, your server will continue to be reliable and efficient enabling you to run an effective and secure business.

The most important part of a successful and effective maintenance plan is to design one that is right for you and your business since every organization has its unique goals and server needs. Alongside creating a specified plan; it is also important to consider how often you want to perform server maintenance. With a solid plan, you will also have a sensible timetable for implementation thus avoiding prolonged downtimes to your business.

The importance of server maintenance cannot be overemphasized, as without it your business cannot reach the zenith of success. But, server maintenance can be very costly if you want to keep a system administrator within your business premises. However, you can cut down on this cost by contracting a network support company to do the job for you. Through outsourced IT support, you can have experts monitoring your servers round the clock thus keeping your business operations at its peak throughout the year.

The articles I provide can be viewed in their natural blog setting here: http://blog.etech7.com/blog

View the original article here

Why It Is Important to Have an Integrated Point of Sale System

Can you run a decent sized business out of a shoebox? Many successful retailers do and will continue to do so in the future. But I believe as time goes on and our world becomes more automated and the consumer demands more and more customization and convenience: it will be more and more difficult.

The young people of today have been weaned on technology and are used to just pressing a button. I am becoming very guilty of this! If I can't purchase something instantaneously or have to wait for something I don't really need I have walked away or abandoned the sale entirely. Lines anywhere make me dizzy and I think twice about waiting.

Now if people are waiting because they can't live without what they are selling fine; but, if it is because the retailer is still using a cash register, the price is missing, the customer wants another and they don't know if they have it in inventory or they don't take credit cards (this still exists) that is a different story. The list could go on and on.

Now let's imagine a world where everything works together: inventory tracking, customer marketing, sales tracking, accounting.

Our case study: is a 2 store women's clothing retailer in a small bustling city (pop. 50,000) in the northeast. The stores depend on local traffic as well as seasonal tourists. They cater to the 35+ women, but also to the tourists with certain novelty items.

They use QuickBooks Point of Sale this way:
• Inventory: they order inventory for each store by preparing purchase orders and email or fax to their suppliers. When the order comes in: depending on the store the merchandise is received in to the software. At that point a bill can be created for the supplier (more about this later). The retailer now knows at a glance how much inventory they have in each store and can transfer between stores, etc. Very flexible. They can also take special orders.

• Sales: A new customer comes in and they love the merchandise! Retailer can input contact info about this new customer into the system and send specials, discounts, events, etc. (with permission). If they see an item but don't see size, the retailer now has that information at their fingertips. They can get it from the other store or have it shipped directly to customer. They also have the ability to open preferred client accounts and offer layaways.

• Reporting: On the dashboard is up to the minute sales information and this retailer really likes comparing their sales to a year ago by day, month, quarter, and year. They immediately know what their best and worst sellers are and what time of day it was sold.

• QuickBooks Point of Sale allows owners to setup each employee to track their time and add security rights as needed. Preferences can be set so that they have to login after every sale or not. Now because the system is password protected, you know who sold/returned what.

• And here is the best part: Their point of sale system is setup to integrate with their Financial Accounting software. At the end of the day, second store z's-out and sends sales, inventory vouchers, etc. to the main store; the main store receives in the information and then does its own end of day: z-ing out, etc. But the main store is integrated with their Financial Software and it sends all the accounting over to QuickBooks Financial: which includes sales, money received by category, vendor bills, inventory adjustments, etc. This brings the retailer into the 21st century

Margaret L Crosby, EA of Pace Consulting Beverly MA Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor can assist you in solving your business issues.
call 781-738-1669 or go to http://www.paceltd.com/ for your free report.

View the original article here

Why Clean Windows Are Important

There are various reasons why a home or business owner finds it important to have clean windows. Aside from the obvious, which is to add and introduce appeal to your family member, friend, neighbor or consumer to your establishment, it is a sanitary approach to letting your friend or customer know you care about the way you conduct your home or business.

For restaurants alone, clean windows can upgrade your sanitation score on average up to 20% from an 80-100% or from a C-A rating depending on how your local health and sanitation department provides its evaluations and scores.

So it isn't just about appeal, but rather a very important minor detail that is often overlooked when it comes to letting your customers know your business is a safe and clean establishment.

As for your home, the reasons are equally as important. While you are not graded or obligated to keep your windows clean, your friends and neighbors as well as family members will notice the difference. It still falls under the "we care about how you feel when you enter our home or establishment" category.

And while the effort can be great in order to maintain your windows yourself, hiring a professional in the window cleaning business can make your life simpler and easier to keep up with.

The fees for these services are typically very reasonable and will save you time in the long run.

Before hiring a window cleaning company it is important to ask questions before you purchase or acquire the services from a business.

The following are simple yet great starting points and questions to ask:

What are your window cleaning methods?How long will it take?Are screens included?Are sills cleaned and included in the service?How do you prevent drips and streaking?How do you prevent seepage to our floors and furniture?What are the solutions or products used to clean our windows?Are the products or solutions used to clean our windows safe for children, pets, plants and furnishings?How often do you recommend having our windows cleaned?Do you have references?

These are just but a few questions you can ask that will start you in the right direction.

Hopefully, by the time you've gone through these series of questions you will have a pretty good idea of the level of expertise your window cleaner has and know whether they are right for the job.

Michael A. Medina, owns Windows With a View, that provides window cleaning, Raleigh, Apex, Holly Springs, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro, to name just a few cities he serves in North Carolina. Contact him now to find out about how you can save 20% off for Spring Cleaning your windows - (919)239-0858.

View the original article here