Small Business Computer Consulting

Microsoft Small Business Server product “Office Live Small Business” was recently reported to be suffering from intermittent email problems according to interviews of users and postings in discussion forums used by more than a million people.

Microsoft confirmed on August 26th that last Friday there was a short email outage that cause some Microsoft Small Business users to permanently lose emails and other important information.

Many business owners use Office Live Small Business to host Web sites and provide email and some were dismayed by the loss of data.  This product used by many that use Microsoft Small Business Server was launched in 2006 and helps users set up their own Web sites, run email and also even run e-commerce stores and Web advertising campaigns.  Some services are free and others require a fee.

The outage is reported to have lasted approximately two hours.  Microsoft has offered to help at least one customer retrieve lost data, but this user reported that the data has not yet been recovered.

This is at least the second outage for Microsoft with its “Live” services, the last one being a much larger outage in February that affected multiple services.

For more information about this Microsoft Small Business Server story, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Many small business computer consultants are realizing the power of adding support contracts to their standard business plan, thanks to the field-tested, PROVEN strategies provided by the Computer Consulting Kit Home Study Course.  Each year, more IT professionals discover how much value commitment to going beyond the break/fix model and moving towards support contracts can add to their companies.  

Here’s what three REAL computer consultants JUST LIKE YOU working in the field had to say about the value of support contracts and how the Computer Consulting Kit Home Study Course helped them grow and get steady, high-paying clients:

"I got at least another $2,000 per month ($24,000 annualized). We used the Computer Consulting Kit’s service agreement for all our customers. This saved us untold hours in trying to put one together ourselves."  

- Peter Till, Huff Technologies, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

"I signed up a multi-location business as a customer using the annual service agreement straight from the Computer Consulting Kit.  This account’s value is over $20,000 annually."

- Blake Heinemann, Small Business Technology Consultants, Wichita, Kansas, USA

And finally, here’s how Sandy Smith of Bangor, Maine got past the cash flow problems, stopped responding to non-committal break/fix customers and finally saw results:

"Before investing in the Computer Consulting Kit, we were totally a break/fix company and were struggling with cash flow constantly. The Computer Consulting Kit created awareness that there is a better way and gave us the tools to implement service agreements with our customers. We earned $75,000 in additional revenue with the ideas in the Computer Consulting Kit."

- Sandy Smith, Fiber-M Technologies, Bangor, Maine

For more information on support contracts and how YOU can get access to the tools of the Computer Consulting Kit Home Study Course, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg

First reported in January, 2008, a bug in the Microsoft Small Business Server home-based product Windows Home Server continues to need patching.  Initially, this particular version had not been mentioned in the reports by Microsoft, who thought that only Microsoft Small Business Server was affected, but soon it became apparent that this product was also at risk.  

While the problems have been patched, Microsoft continues to look at design issues that created this problem in the first place as it prepares to create new products.  According to the notice, supported editions of Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 and Windows Home Server contained the same code as Windows Server 2003, which was the origin of the initial issue with the product.  This code combined with some default settings for Internet Group Management Protocol that are enabled unless settings are changed manually meant the product experienced some problems.  

Those that were taking advantage of the vulnerability could send malicious data packets to Microsoft Small Business Server users who would then be infected with malware or have their systems controlled by an outside user.  

Windows Home Server owners received the patch via update mechanism in January, but Microsoft continues to advise new and old users – even 7 months later – to make sure they are checking their Microsoft Small Business Server regularly for updates.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Many IT consultants have found the field-tested, PROVEN strategies offered by the Computer Consulting Kit to be integral to their business plans.  While the Computer Consulting Kit offers a variety of templates to help you in all stages of relationship-building with clients – from networking in order to make new contacts, to getting prospects and customers to sign on-going support contracts – many have found the lead generation tips, templates and techniques to really make an impact on their businesses, regardless of specialty or niche.

Here’s what two specific Computer Consulting Kit customers had to say about their experiences:

"I only got the Computer Consulting Kit a few weeks ago, but already we’re seeing more leads generated. Before getting the Computer Consulting Kit, I was generating leads using all the wrong methods. But thanks to your Computer Consulting Kit, I’ve begun working on improving my networking skills with immediate results.”

Stephen J. Hall, Your IT Department, Sliema, Malta

"Last year, I successfully met and exceeded my $1,000,000 sales target. From the Computer Consulting Kit, I learned how to keep the lead generation funnel topped up and successfully cultivated the reputation as an expert in my field, which brought a lot of business. I was able to earn $300,000 in revenue from the ideas I learned by using the Computer Consulting Kit."

Yves Ephraim, Pegasus Technologies, Inc., St. John’s, Antigua

To learn more about lead generation and how the Computer Consulting Kit can help you and your IT business, visit the attached link!

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit