Blogs & Techie Tips



  • Cisco vs. HP Networking Equipment: Which is Right for You?

    To stay competitive with the future of technology, many companies are turning to Software-Defined Data Centers (SDDC). The right software can put businesses on the cutting edge of technology and enable them to handle the demands of a growing business more effectively than their competition. Read More

  • HP vs. Dell: Which is the Right Server for You

    To stay competitive with the future of technology, many companies are turning to Software-Defined Data Centers (SDDC). The right software can put businesses on the cutting edge of technology and enable them to handle the demands of a growing business more effectively than their competition. Read More

  • Why Hardware Matters in a Software-Defined Data Center

    To stay competitive with the future of technology, many companies are turning to Software-Defined Data Centers (SDDC). The right software can put businesses on the cutting edge of technology and enable them to handle the demands of a growing business more effectively than their competition. Read More

  • What Are the Benefits of Office 365? [Infographic]

    Microsoft Office 365’s many features and tools are particularly useful for small- to mid-sized businesses. Offering access to an enterprise-level platform at an affordable price, it continues transforming the workplace with new, better tools. Here’s a look at seven benefits of Office 365. Read More

  • The Synology Advantage: Value Series and Plus Series

    ​Network Attached Storage, or NAS, used to be the kind of equipment only large enterprises could use. However, with the rise in data as an asset, most businesses need to invest in the right storage solution. Read More

  • Essential Tools to Achieve Productivity in Your Small Business

    Productivity tools help you to get the most out of your day and life. Thanks to the newest technology, it's easier than ever to streamline your projects, communication and experience to get more done. Read More

  • Introducing Security Policy Advisor - A New Service to Manage Your Office 365 Security Policies

    When workers used only in-house technology to get their jobs done, it was relatively simple for companies to secure their IT infrastructure. Now that the average employee uses 2.3 devices to access company applications and data, effective cybersecurity is much more difficult to achieve. Read More

  • The Benefits of SharePoint for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses

    Small and medium-sized businesses should be armed with the same tools as their large enterprise counterparts in their pursuit of market share. In recent years, the barrier to entry for many leading software offerings has come down. Read More

  • Cisco Security: Which Product is Right for My Small Business?

    As a small business owner, choosing the right security system is an important decision. Learn more about the Cisco security options that are right for you. Read More

  • Top 5 Office 365 Collaboration Tools for Home and Business

    When deciding on collaborative tools for your home and business, Microsoft Office 365 streamlines the decision-making process by offering a suite of tools. Learn more about which products are right for you. Read More

  • 8 Things to Consider When Comparing Refurbished and New Equipment

    Information Technology is assuming increasingly larger proportions of companies’ budgets. When looking for ways to improve the bottom line, businesses of all sizes naturally explore how they can shave some spend from this swelling category. Read More

  • Microsoft Exchange vs. Outlook: Which One Is Right for My Small Business?

    Despite the rising popularity of messaging apps and business communication platforms like Slack, email still remains the most popular way to communicate. In the U.S. alone,95% of businesses use email as their primary form of internal communication and the use of email is expected to grow by 2 to 3% every year. Read More

  • HPE Flash Storage Review: MSA 2050 and 2052

    Most small- and medium-sized businesses face the same challenge as enterprises: how to find the right storage architecture that will grow with the company, be flexible enough for future workloads and is able to maximize productivity for the entire operation. Read More

  • The Benefit of Software-Defined Storage for SMBs

    Until about five years ago, SMBs were perpetually behind their larger enterprise peers technologically. Without multi-million-dollar IT budgets, they too often were unable to afford the latest and greatest IT products. Luckily, that financial barrier to entry was blown wide open thanks to the proliferation of virtualization technologies. Read More

  • Tips for Migrating to a Tier 4 Data Center

    Reliable and safe data are not only crucial for building client trust but are the very livelihood of your business. Tier 4 data centers are the best options for businesses that rely on their data to function.​ Read More

  • Dell PowerEdge R630 vs HP ProLiant DL360 Gen9: Which One is Right For You? [Infographic]

    As a business owner, you’re looking for servers that are small but mighty — and both Dell PowerEdge R630 and HP ProLiant DL360 Gen9 fit that bill. Read More

  • Grow Your SMB with Tools from Microsoft Office 365

    Being a small business owner often means spending so much time dealing with day-to-day situations that it can be hard to find time to plan for your company’s growth. Having access to the right tools can make all the difference in how well you’re able to improve your processes and save time. Read More

  • The Best Data Storage for Small Businesses

    Given the massive amount of data that small businesses have to manage daily, a reliable form of data storage is critical to operations. The need for managing and storing information has become integral to business success. Read More

  • Top 5 Features in Windows Server 2019

    The launch of Windows Server 2019 late last year marked the arrival of some great new features that updated Windows Server 2016. It corrected flaws in the previous system to show a tremendous advancement in its features in just three years. Read More

  • Hyper-V vs. VMware vSphere: Which Solution is Right for You?

    As virtualization becomes commonplace in businesses of all sizes, IT decision-makers in small and medium operations must embrace this trend to increase savings and stay competitive. Selecting the hypervisor solution that’s right for your business will make operations more efficient, improve IT productivity and increase your savings when it comes to hardware. Read More

  • 6 Common Virtualization Mistakes on Servers

    Server virtualization is an increasingly popular practice for businesses of all sizes. Although it has been around for quite some time, it’s something that many companies are just now discovering. It allows an organization to consolidate multiple operating systems on a single server, which has a number of benefits. Read More

  • Benefits of Plug and Play Email Servers

    Email has become the most widely used form of technology-based communication in the modern business world, and even as new communication tools are developed, email remains essential. Read More

  • Opportunities to Reduce IT Infrastructure Costs

    Finding the right server doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and there are several ways to make that purchase pay for itself. Let’s look at five ways you can reduce IT infrastructure costs. Read More

  • Windows 7 Support Ends on January 14th, 2020: Are You Ready?

    When Microsoft rolled out Windows 7 on Oct. 22, 2009, it committed to providing 10 years of product support. Now, as it hits that 10-year mark, users of Windows 7 need to focus on upgrading their software to newer products that will have the ongoing support and technical assistance they need. Read More

  • Do You Know What Flash Can Do For Your Business?

    Storing information — and finding a way to share it with others only when needed — has been a challenge for humans since the beginning of time. Read More

  • Keep Your Data Safe This World Backup Day

    While it’s no secret that protecting data in the business world is crucial, many people are still practicing risky behavior when it comes to backing up even their most important information. That’s why, each year, World Backup Day, which is on March 31 in 2019, brings attention to the issue of lost data. Read More

  • Synology's Top Selling Products

    Storage needs vary with the size and needs of each company, and for many home users and small businesses, Network Attached Storage (NAS) is your best option. Connected storage is more versatile than other forms of storage, and NAS is easier to use, more accessible and costs less than other storage. Read More

  • Finding the Perfect SQL Hardware Configuration

    For system developers and database administrators, ensuring the performance of the SQL server is critical to the company’s overall mission. The SQL server plays perhaps the most important server role for a business, since it stores all the critical data for operations. When performance of these servers is compromised, so are your overall business operations. Read More

  • Making the Case for Cisco Meraki Implementation

    As a booming accounts payable technology and audit firm, FlexTecs was facing the growing pains that come with rapid transitions. Because they’re an international company, it was important for them to have a single cloud-managed network. Read More

  • 3 Reasons You Need to Update Your IT Infrastructure

    If updating your IT infrastructure is on your business’s to-do list for the new year, you’re in good company. According to the 2019 State of IT report, 82% of businesses are expanding their budgets in 2019 to allow them to update their infrastructures. Read More

  • Tower v Rackmount Servers: Which One Is Right for You?

    Every buying decision you make for your small business is tailored to fit your individual needs, as well as your particular services and work environment. Choosing the right server is no different, which is why there’s no single (or simple) answer to the question of which server is right for you. Read More

  • How Are SMBs Spending Their IT Budgets in 2019?

    Each year, IT continues taking a larger piece of the operational pie. According to the 2019 State of IT annual report from Spiceworks, IT budgets for all types of businesses have shown consistent annual growth, and that trend will continue in 2019. Read More

  • Make the Most of Your Section 179 Deduction

    Business owners wanting to maximize their tax deductions can benefit from looking into the recent changes to the Section 179 Deduction. Although this part of the IRS tax code has been in play since 1958, what’s included and allowed under that code has changed over time. Read More

  • Video Surveillance for Local Governments

    Video has become so ubiquitous in today’s world that it sometimes seems our every move is monitored by one camera or another. Now that cameras are no longer a novelty, we’ve become accustomed to seeing them and, in many ways, depend upon their existence. Read More

  • 2019 Best Selling Laptop Predictions

    With so many options available, finding the best laptop can be a daunting task. Whether you need a rugged, lightweight model that’s perfect for business travels or a larger-screened workhorse for presentations on the go, there’s one that fits your needs. But where do you begin sorting through your many choices? Read More

  • Head-to-Head: Dell vs. HP vs. Microsoft Laptop Comparison

    Laptops have become an essential tool for everyone, from busy students to on-the-go executives. Let’s compare the features and benefits of three of the best laptop computer brands on the market to make the purchasing process easier: Dell, HP and Microsoft. Read More

  • 5 Storage and Server Trends to Watch for in 2019

    As business decision makers look toward the new year, they’re determining ways to implement new software and hardware, ensure greater security and invest in the future of their IT. Here’s a look at five server and storage trends that will play a key role in business in 2019. Read More

  • How Penetration Testing Can Help Secure Your Company’s Infrastructure

    For any IT manager, the security of the infrastructure is top priority. Vulnerabilities in a system can leave it open to an attack that results in lost time, money and data. When organizations aren’t proactive in identifying and resolving vulnerabilities, it leaves the network open to cyberattacks. Read More

  • Disaster Recovery As A Service: What You Need To Know

    No business ever hopes for a disaster, but that doesn't mean you shouldn’t anticipate one. In today’s world, downtime and disasters can strike at any time and have serious repercussions. Read More

  • 7 Tips to Better Budget Your IT Department

    As the IT department continues changing, it may become increasingly difficult for businesses to create an annual budget for it, but it’s an important way to set goals, manage costs and keep you on track over the coming year. Read More

  • Six Reasons Refurbished Hardware Is Better

    When it’s time to upgrade your IT equipment, buying refurbished can save you money while at the same time allowing you to get more features for the price. Read More

  • Is Tape Dead? Tape Storage in Modern Backup

    Rumors of the death of tape storage have circulated for more than 30 years in favor of hard drive media storage and now cloud storage. However, close to 30% of businesses still rely on some form of tape storage as a part of their backup strategies. Read More

  • Microsoft Office 365 Security Best Practices

    When it comes to data security in the cloud, the customer must be able to trust that the service provider is constantly maintaining and improving compliance. They must be able to keep technologies up to date in order to detect and ward off new threats that are constantly being developed. As companies migrate to Office 365. Read More

  • Virtualization with Synology

    Virtualization is a big part of any companies IT infrastructure, and it is only become more and more prominent. While server virtualization is the main type talked about there are other types of virtualization that could be beneficial for companies to consider. Read More

  • The Best Hard Drives for NAS Systems

    With NAS systems you can use any hard drive and brand you want but not every drive is going to perform the same. Most ordinary hard drives are not built to handle the tough workloads of a NAS system. Read More

  • Become Your Own Network Admin

    Maybe you’re needing to set up your first network or add a second office to your business. There are a lot of factors that go into both of these things. Read More

  • Setting Up a Multi-Site Network With Meraki

    Connecting multiple locations, or branches, to your network can seem intimidating and difficult. However, it doesn’t have to be. Meraki makes it very simple to set up and maintain site-to-site VPNs, saving you time and money. Read More

  • Where to Start When Building a Network

    Your networking is the foundation of your office. It’s how all of your computers, servers, and devices talk to each other. It’s critical that the foundation of your network is well-thought-out and we're here to help you do that. Read More

  • Understanding RAID: The Uses, Pros and Cons of Each Level

    One of the primary considerations when setting up a server is the storage capacity, and for operations that need greater protection or performance, RAID is often seen as the best answer. While simpler operations often do well with single disks, as storage needs grow you may want to consider how RAID configurations could benefit you. Read More

  • The Basics of Network Attached Storage

    Data storage is something that should be top of mind for all companies. Depending on the companies size the data storage needs can differ dramatically. Read More

  • Step-By-Step Office 365 Planning

    With so much content in today’s business world, deciding what should stay and what should go can be tricky indeed. If you are migrating your content to Office 365, it’s particularly important that you take time to plan what needs to be done and what content is going to be migrated. Read More

  • Understanding Office 365 Mailbox Types — and When to Use Them

    Understanding the different types of Office 365 mailboxes, and knowing which situations they are best suited for, could keep you from paying unnecessary licensing fees or from setting up a mailbox that doesn’t meet your needs. Read More

  • Office 365 License Comparison: Which License Is Right for You?

    Making the choice to migrate to Office 365 is a big decision in itself, with many considerations such as what content will be part of that migration and where your content will now live. But before migrating to the cloud, you must choose the Office 365 license that is right for your business. Read More

  • Modular Storage Product Comparison: Dell MD 1200 Series Vs. MD3200 Series

    When it comes to your data storage, you want it to be simple, safe and available when you need it. Dell’s PowerVault MD Family is a line of data storage and backup products designed with the intention of simplifying the IT architecture. Read More

  • What Is Networking?

    Networking can seem very complicated and overwhelming, especially if you’re not a network admin. We understand that and are here to help you get more comfortable with all things networking. Read More

  • Five Key Trends in IT Consulting

    The consulting industry as a whole is evolving, expanding and changing. As our world becomes increasingly more connected and technology continues to disrupt the business world, even the definition of “consulting” is becoming broader. Read More

  • Four Steps to Take Before Migrating to the Cloud

    While there are many reasons to move to the cloud, including cost savings, increased flexibility and fewer maintenance concerns, it isn’t as simple as, say, switching out your antivirus providers. Read More

  • What Is Software as a Service (SaaS) and What Are Its Benefits?

    If your company hasn’t migrated to using SaaS, chances are good that you’re considering it. Here’s a look at how it works and what it can do for you. Read More

  • Comparing Top-of-the-Line Servers: HP ProLiant DL360 Gen9 vs. DL380 Gen9

    The right server can transform the way your small business operates, and there are several things to take into consideration when buying a new server — or upgrading your current configuration. Read More

  • Product Review: Synology for Network Storage

    Today’s small businesses have many different options for network storage solutions; sometimes it might seem as if there are almost too many options and the choices can start to become overwhelming. But Synology has built its reputation (and its entire business) by offering storage systems make your choices easier. Read More

  • Top Tips for Backing Up Your Business’s Data

    Backing up data is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your business. Losing data also means a loss of time and money — and it could cost you, your customers or even your business. Read More

  • Product Review: Unitrends Backup Software

    The right backup solution for your business is the one that works in whatever environment — or mix of environments — your data is stored in. Here’s a look at the family of Unitrends solutions and what each one has to offer. Read More

  • Aventis Systems Launches New Site To Enhance User Experience

    AventisSystems.com recently received a fresh new look! We're really excited about this new website for a number of reasons, and not just because it looks so nice. Let's deep dive into the new enhancements to our website... Read More

  • Standard vs. Enterprise: Comparing Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Licenses

    Understanding the differences in editions of Microsoft SQL Server licenses can help you determine which one offers the best solution for your business. Read More

  • Best Practices to Look for in a Managed Services Provider (MSP)

    While it’s important to find an MSP that can provide the specialties and services that fit your company’s needs, it’s also crucial to know that your MSP is following best practices. Read More

  • The 3-2-1 Data Backup Method Explained

    In today’s world, losing data is one of the biggest threats every business faces. Data is an asset that, unlike computer equipment or even the office space you rent or own, can’t simply be replaced in the event of a disaster. Read More

  • What Is a CAL, and How Many Do I Need?

    For any business with networked workstations, network server software is required to perform certain tasks such as file sharing, collaborating, printing and more. Accessing this server software requires users to have a license, which is where things can get really complicated...Read More

  • The Ins and Outs of APC Hardware

    As your company’s trusted IT administrator, it is ultimately your responsibility to build and maintain an IT infrastructure that is 100% reliable. Everyone is looking to you to recommend high-quality hardware and components to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly in both the short and long term...Read More

  • Server Buyer’s Guide: Key Features to Consider Before You Buy

    Choosing a server for your small business is a big decision. Servers support multiple users within your organization and are designed to run multi-user applications such as email, printers, shared files and databases...Read More

  • How to Convince Your CEO It’s Time to Standardize Software

    You have a lot on your plate. It doesn’t help when employees are using old, outdated desktops with different software — typically at or past end of life — and applications on each device. The wasted time managing the individual licenses, support patches and updates, along with the compatibility issues, takes its toll on productivity...Read More

  • How to Find and Implement the Best Server Solution for Your Business

    Finding and implementing the right dedicated server for your business can be a complicated, expensive and extremely time-consuming process. One of the best ways to make your next server purchase and implementation simpler and faster is to skip the guesswork and go with a turnkey solution...Read More

  • Should You Partner With an MSP?

    As IT departments in small and mid-sized businesses are being asked to do more and more with limited resources, many are partnering with managed service providers — or MSPs — to help them manage their technology infrastructures more efficiently...Read More

  • Four Ways to Involve Users in Securing Your Network

    To effectively secure your network, everyone in the company — not just the IT team — has to work together to prevent a breach. IT can install the best security firewall, but users also play an important role with the types of passwords they create and the emails they open on a daily basis...Read More

  • The Best Laptops for Working on the Go

    With today’s high-speed internet, file sharing, conferencing applications, time-tracking software and other cloud-based solutions, it has become easier than ever for employees to effectively telecommute from home or while on the go, whether it’s during the workday or on weekends and evenings...Read More

  • HP Server Showdown: Gen9 vs. Gen8 Servers

    HP Enterprise ProLiant Servers are some of the most popular servers in the world. Their reliability and capabilities make them a perfect fit for all types of small and mid-sized businesses. But there are a lot of generations, configurations and options to consider....Read More

  • The Top Three Benefits of Having One Provider for All Onsite Support

    One of the biggest headaches for IT departments in small and mid-sized businesses is emergency onsite support for equipment and hardware. Support is often mission critical and almost always purchased from multiple vendors...Read More

  • How to Perform an IT Risk Assessment for Your Small Business

    Building, managing, administering, configuring and maintaining IT infrastructure for a small business is a big job. Keeping everything up and running efficiently with as little downtime as possible is of paramount importance...Read More

  • Five Ways to Spend Your Remaining IT Budget Wisely

    It’s December — the final quarter of most fiscal years. Have you thought about how you’re going to spend what’s left of your annual IT budget? Unspent budget dollars at the end of the year can be lost easily...Read More

  • How to License Your SQL Server Software for Less

    As the manager of a company’s mission-critical data, it’s your job to build and maintain enterprise data in a way that is secure, easy to manage and beneficial to the overall business. At the same time, IT budgets continue to shrink, and you are constantly asked to do more with less...Read More

  • What Are the Benefits of Microsoft Office 365?

    Microsoft Office 365 enables small and mid-sized businesses to increase performance, collaboration and efficiency at an enterprise level — and all at an affordable price...Read More

  • Dell vs. HP: Choosing the Right Networking Solution for You

    Choosing the right networking solution for your business is a complex decision. The first step in deciphering the differences in Dell vs. HP networking is to understand the different layers in a network and how they operate...Read More

  • How Do I Know If I Need Managed IT Services?

    Have you considered managed IT services? Outsourcing something as important as IT can be a scary thought — but outsourcing IT isn’t your typical outsourcing arrangement....Read More

  • The Dell PowerEdge R630 vs. R730 — Which Is Right For You?

    Are you considering one of Dell’s new 13th-generation PowerEdge rack servers? These high-performing servers include extensive memory capacity and are ideal for large virtual infrastructure and data-intensive workloads...Read More

  • Which Workstation Works for You? T7810, T7610 vs. T5600

    Dell Precision workstations are among the highest performing workstations in the world, and they are fully customizable. Powerful enough to run all your professional applications...Read More

  • Finding the Right Automated Cloud Backup Solution

    When it comes to your business, data is everything. Today’s companies have more data than ever. Effectively, securely managing and protecting it is one of an IT department’s most important jobs...Read More

  • The Benefits of Dell EqualLogic SAN Storage

    The Dell EqualLogic line of iSCSI storage area networks (SAN storage) arrays gives businesses the ability to do more with less...Read More

  • Benefits of TIPS Contract for Public Education and Government

    National purchasing cooperatives provide a way for education and government entities to receive better deals on goods and services from leading vendors. .. Read More

  • Seven Benefits of a Strong MSP Partnership

    IT can be a real headache. Keeping up with the latest and greatest technologies, while ensuring your network is secure, is a big task for any internal IT department — especially those in small to mid-sized businesses with limited resources... Read More

  • Product Review: Cisco Meraki Switches for SMBs

    Cisco Meraki cloud-managed switches are the next generation of network switching for small to mid-sized businesses. And you can believe the industry hype... Read More

  • The Basics of Microsoft Licensing for Your Business

    Confused about choosing the right Microsoft operating system or software licensing option for your business? You're not alone. Microsoft licensing is a complex topic, and deciphering which option is the best deal can be a real challenge, even for the most seasoned IT professionals... Read More

  • Product Review: The Dell PowerEdge R720xd

    The Dell PowerEdge R720xd rack server is designed with the small to mid-size business owner in mind. This powerful, award-winning two-socket 2U rack server has ultra-dense internal storage... Read More

  • Mid-Year Review: The Best Antivirus Protection of 2017

    As the constant and serious threat of viruses, malware, spyware and ransomware continues to grow, it becomes more and more important for businesses and IT professionals to invest in a strong defense to protect critical information and assets... Read More

  • The Best Free Veeam Tools for Powerful Data Protection

    Ransomware is becoming more and more advanced, making it even easier for hackers to stage cyberattacks that encrypt files and force victims to pay big bucks for decryption keys... Read More

  • How Virtualization Makes Hardware Support More Important Than Ever

    Hardware virtualization has become very popular in many IT organizations. Not only is virtualization of all — or at least some — of your infrastructure more cost-effective for your business, it's also much more efficient... Read More

  • Product Review: Microsoft Touchscreen Laptops

    Microsoft Surface products are a great choice for anyone looking for a thin, powerful Windows laptop or hybrid tablet/laptop with state-of-the-art touchscreen capabilities. These products offer the power of Intel Core processors, up to 1TB of storage capability and up to 16GB of memory, so they can serve as replacements for high-end laptops... Read More

  • Making the Complex Simple With Aventis Systems' VPS

    For organizations that simply can't afford to be down, a virtual private server (VPS) not only provides peace of mind, it can be a real lifesaver... Read More

  • Five Key Benefits of Aventis Systems' Partnership With Bitdefender

    Small and mid-sized businesses aren't immune to cyber threats. Though they need the same security monitoring and management as larger enterprise companies, SMBs often lack the budget and IT resources to manage a first-class security platform... Read More

  • Where to Invest Your Federal Agency IT Dollars Before the End of the Fiscal Year

    As the end of the federal fiscal year approaches, it's important for agencies to invest their remaining IT budgets wisely before September 30. As you determine what to do with those remaining dollars, consider these key tips on where to spend—and perhaps more importantly, where to save—before budgets reset on October 1... Read More

  • Education Reinvented: All-in-Ones Are a Key Investment in Schools

    As schools continue to introduce more and more technology into the classroom, All-in-One PCs are gaining in popularity. An All-in-One (AiO) PC is a self-contained desktop computer and monitor built into one sleek design. Without all of the cords and cables required by a traditional PC (AiOs have built-in speakers, wireless keyboards and mice), AiOs take up less space and... Read More

  • Four IT Certifications That Are Really Worth It

    Certifications are a hot topic in the IT industry, but they aren't easy to get. Attaining top-tier certifications can be time-consuming and expensive, leaving many wondering if they are really worth it... Read More

  • VMware vSphere: Licensing, Pricing and Packaging

    In today's increasingly complex business environment—complete with growing IT security threats and the need to support multiple new and existing applications—most companies have already made the move to some form of server virtualization... Read More

  • Where to Start With Storage: Understanding SAN, NAS and DAS

    In the past, storage solutions were fairly simple. If you had a PC, direct storage was likely already built into your machine. But today's enterprise storage options have become significantly more complex... Read More

  • Product Review: The HP ProLiant ML30 Gen9 Tower Server

    The HP ProLiant ML30 Gen9 Tower Server was designed with the SMB market in mind. This compact, affordable server is powerful enough to support your business today and flexible enough to easily scale as your company's needs change... Read More

  • Slaying Your IT Dragons With a Spare Kit and Onsite Support

    In our industry, few things are more terrifying than system failures and the associated downtime. According to an IDC survey, infrastructure failures cost Fortune 1000 companies an average of $100,000 per hour. That number jumps to $500,000 to $1 million per hour for critical application failures... Read More

  • Product Review: The Dell PowerEdge R630

    Aventis Systems top-selling product, the Dell PowerEdge R630, is a dual-socket 1U rackmount server with a compact design that belies its expansive capabilities... Read More

  • The Value of Big Data in Higher Education

    For years, the corporate world has been analyzing, sharing and leveraging the power of big data. From predicting consumer behaviors to targeting buyers and improving customer experience, companies are using a robust analytical understanding of consumers to better meet their needs... Read More

  • Take Your IT to the Next Level (Without Breaking the Bank)

    IT infrastructure and equipment is an expensive, yet critical, operational component of any organization. Balancing strict IT budgets with the need to keep up with increasing performance demands is especially difficult for small and mid-sized organizations... Read More

  • 4 Ways to Maximize Operational Efficiencies in Your IT Environment

    In the IT world, we like the latest gadget, the newest service and the coolest hack. The time required to make sure we’re getting the most out of what we already have isn’t always the most exciting part of our job... Read More

  • The Value of a Complete IT Solution

    When it comes to IT solutions, your options are nearly as numerous as the digits in pi. New vendors and products enter the market daily, and navigating the ever-expanding marketplace can be challenging. What brands of servers and... Read More

  • NAND Flash Storage: The Basics

    Flash storage is on the rise and with it new innovations. One of the biggest being the development of the world’s first 512 Gb 64-layer 3D NAND chip by Western Digital. This development really packs a punch in terms of higher storage capacity in smaller form factors...Read More

  • Should Your Government Agency Use a Hybrid Cloud?

    Cloud computing has come a long way since J.C.R. Licklider introduced the concept of an “intergalactic computer network” in 1969. Licklider imagined that one day, everyone would be interconnected through a universally accessible data network, a concept very similar to what we call “cloud computing” today... Read More

  • What’s Your Backup Plan? Best Practices for Data Backup

    As the folks at World Backup Day put it, “Don’t be an April Fool. Backup your files on March 31.” They estimate that over 30% of people have never backed up their data, which is pretty scary when you think about how much of our lives — calendars, photos, documents, movies, and more — now lives in the digital realm... Read More

  • Should Your SMB Use Virtualization Containers or VMs?

    Since the advent of affordable virtualization technology and cloud computing services over a decade ago, IT departments large and small have embraced virtual machines (VMs) as a way to lower costs and increase efficiencies... Read More

  • 7 Tips to Manage Conflict from a Position of Leadership

    Conflict in the workplace is inevitable, and it is often difficult for executives to determine the best way to manage conflict from a leadership position. Read on to learn seven essential tips for CEOs to manage conflict... Read More

  • The Lowdown on HP Care Packs

    Many IT pros have experienced a headache, or two, or more due to HP care packs and changes to them over the past year or so. Read on to learn more about HP care packs and how you can find some headache relief... Read More

  • 4 Reasons Why SMBs Need Remote Desktop Services

    When it comes to infrastructure management, it is common for small-to-midsize businesses and organizations to wonder if solutions suited for large enterprises will also suit their unique needs. In this blog article we address how the Windows Server role called remote desktop services, or RDS, is suitable and very beneficial to SMBs... Read More

  • 3 Ways Symantec Endpoint Protection 14 Takes Security to the Next Level

    Network security concerns continue to grow as zero-day threats become more commonplace. Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) provides superior protection, high performance, and an orchestrated response to take endpoint security to the next level for businesses and provide resource relief to IT managers... Read More

  • How McAfee Antivirus Plus Leads the Way for Consumer Security

    Finding the right antivirus software for your needs can be a challenge,especially when it comes to tablets and mobile devices. Intel Security, powered by McAfee, understands these issues and has developed a product line to meet those needs. The backbone of this product line is McAfee Antivirus Plus... Read More

  • The Essential SMB Technology Gift Guide for the 2017 Holiday Season

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