Soaring Technology

Technology and Managed Services Blog – A WingSwept Production

Microsoft Outlook Email Tip – 2 Minute Delay

Mar 15

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Technology Tips | No Comments

WingSwept is a local IT consulting company helping small to medium sized businesses leverage technology, minimize downtime, and secure business.  WingSwept has been delivering peace of mind since 1995, and focuses on businesses in Garner, surrounding areas in North Carolina, and provides certain services nationwide.

If you want to be able to hit “send” but have the email stay in your outbox for a time, use the following rule. When it is in your outbox, you are able to re-open it and make changes without using the Recall feature!

 

  1. In Outlook, go to the Tools menu Rules and Alerts
  2. Click on New Rule
  3. Click Start From a Blank Rule
  4. Highlight Check Messages After Sending, then click Next
  5. Do not select any checkboxes showing, then click Next
  6. Answer Yes to dialog box asking if this applies to all messages
  7. Select the last checkbox – Defer delivery by X minutes
  8. Under Step 2 that now shows, click on minutes
  9. Edit number of minutes you would like the delay to last (suggested delay 2 minutes), Click OK and Next
  10. Decide if you want an exception – Some use “Importance” to have emails go immediately  
  11. Name your rule and click Finish! You can now go grab and delete from out Outbox for 2 minutes if you realize you didn’t mean to send a certain email

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Electricity Could Put Your Network and Data in Danger

Feb 25

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Technology Tips | No Comments

It seems pretty ironic, but electricity, the very thing that powers your computer, can actually hurt it more than help it.  WingSwept wanted to let you know that electricity can cause your computer network to go haywire in a couple different ways:

 

First there are transients, also known as surges or spikes in service usually caused by weather, animals, or even damage to a power pole caused by a vehicle accident.  Transients can occur pretty regularly, up to several times per week.  Having a surge protector does not guarantee your computer and data safe, however.  According to experts, surge protectors become burned out after just a few months of fighting off transients.

 

At the opposite end of the transient scale is what’s called a sag.  This is what happens when power drops below normal.  Everyone has witnessed a sag as they may come in the form of flickering lights caused by when some piece of equipment turns on or comes out of power saver mode.  Experts say offices can experience up to 30 sags a day. 

 

Another issue is a blackout.  The definition is just what it sounds like—sudden power loss.  No matter how long a blackout lasts, it can cause major problems for your computer to include not even starting back up again.

 

How do you protect your computers and data?  Get yourself an uninterruptible power supply, or UPS.  These devices can sense electrical problems and adjusts accordingly to maintain normal power.  Make sure to get a UPS that will support your computer.  Contact WingSwept with any questions you have regarding UPS compatibility.

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The Garner Citizen and Community Recognize WingSwept CEO

Feb 17

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Press Releases | 1 Comment

The Garner Citizen recognized Jay Strickland, WingSwept CEO, with a Citizen Choice award.  The article speaks highly of his service and dedication to the community.  When asked how he manages to find any spare time, he gives full credit to the WingSwept staff.

“I believe in the abilities of our staff,” Strickland said. “They are experts in their field and highly trained to do their jobs well. We have open communication in the office and work together to accomplish tasks.”

(and)

“The WingSwept staff is made up of reliable and hardworking people that are well-equipped to keep WingSwept functioning,” he said. “I have found that everything I do myself denies someone else the opportunity to learn, so I spend a lot of time making sure that our folks have the resources to be successful. I am confident in their abilities to take care of our customers without me being directly involved in every project or task, which allows me more time for my family and community involvement.”

Read the article in its entirety: http://www.garnercitizen.com/2010/02/citizen-choice-awards-jay-strickland/

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WingSwept to hold Second Annual Technology Spring Clean Event

Feb 15

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Press Releases | No Comments

GARNER, NC – WingSwept, a locally based full-service information technology firm located in Garner, North Carolina, is organizing its second annual Technology Spring Clean in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.  This year’s event will take place on April 17, 2010 from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM with a rain date of April 24, 2010. The event location is 951 Heather Park Drive, Garner, NC 27529 at the corner of Aversboro Road and Heather Park Drive.   

At last year’s first ever Technology Spring Clean, WingSwept collected and recycled unwanted computer technology items from businesses and citizens that were eager to do some spring cleaning.  Over 5,000 pounds of technology equipment was dropped off as last year’s Technology Spring Clean event and diverted away from landfills.

WingSwept knows how important it is to protect sensitive data when disposing of old computer equipment. To offer peace of mind in knowing your critical information will be secure, all hard drives will be removed from computers and securely shredded prior to recycling.

“Our Technology Spring Clean event was organized to make it easy and worry-free for area businesses and citizens to drop-off and recycle their old technology equipment,” said Jay Strickland, President of WingSwept.  “The community’s enthusiasm and willingness to support the Earth Day cause served as inspiration for us to make the Technology Spring Clean an annual event.”

For more information on WingSwept’s second annual Technology Spring Clean, please go to http://www.wingswept.com/recycle.

ABOUT WINGSWEPT

WingSwept is a full-service information technology consulting company headquartered in Garner, NC.  WingSwept’s services focus on helping client’s leverage technology in the areas of government services, network support, web application development and vertical marketing. The staff of more than 20 serves a diverse set of clients in all 50 states and around the world. For more information on WingSwept’s services, please visit our website at www.wingswept.com.

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WingSwept Continues to Build Sales Team to Meet Growing Demands

Feb 10

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Press Releases | No Comments

GARNER, NC (February 10, 2010) - WingSwept has added Kerri Moltzon and Marc Hall to its team of top-notch sales professionals in its Vertical Markets division.  Repair Shop Websites (RSW) and Body Shop Websites (BSW), both part of the WingSwept’s Vertical Markets division, have experienced exponential growth even in difficult economic times. 

 

RSW and BSW have been integral tools for automotive repair businesses as consumer demands continue to rise.  With RSW and BSW, automotive shop owners are able to reach customers who need their services.

 

Moltzon joined WingSwept with more than 14 years of sales and research experience.  She expresses excitement in finding a growing, progressive company such as WingSwept that provides a challenging, stimulating, and supportive environment for staff.

 

“I am very motivated to be part of the WingSwept team and have the opportunity to help improve shop owner’s businesses,” said Moltzon.  “I was intrigued with the niche market of Repair Shop Websites and Body Shop Websites, and further impressed by their stability in the economy.”

   

Hall joined WingSwept with over 17 years of sales experience.  He combines his sales know-how with his enjoyment of automobiles to assist shop owners in enhancing their businesses. 

 

“I’m excited about providing a solid RSW product to the marketplace,” Hall said.  “The Vertical Markets division has a unique approach to working with repair shops who take complete pride their overall appearance.” 

 

The new members go through extensive training to ensure their preparedness for representing the RSW and BSW products. It is essential for all sales professionals in WingSwept’s Vertical Markets group to understand the automotive industry to maintain the integrity of RSW and BSW products offered to benefit repair shops and their customers.

 

ABOUT WINGSWEPT

 

WingSwept is a full-service information technology consulting company based in Garner, NC. WingSwept’s services focus on areas of government services, network support, web application development and vertical marketing. The staff of more than 20 serves a diverse set of clients in all 50 states and around the world. For more information on WingSwept’s services, please visit our Web site at www.wingswept.com.

 

The vertical market division currently has two brands that offer functional websites, which are search engines, optimized and can be customized for each dealer. WingSwept is experiencing overall growth due to the success of this division. The expansion of one vertical market brand led to development and launching of the other. WingSwept has invested heavily in the resources needed to offer a world-class product.  To learn more about the two brands, go to www.repairshopwebsites.com and www.bodyshopwebsites.com.

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IT Precautions for This Weekend’s Severe Storm

Jan 29

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Technology Tips | No Comments

With the pending storm, this is a good opportunity to remind everyone of some standard IT procedures.  Before leaving the office for the weekend, we advise you power off desktops.  All WingSwept client servers have been given peace of mind with preconfigured with battery backup and automated software to gracefully shut down in the event of a power outage.  This is a good opportunity to review your server setup with your IT service provider.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions/concerns.

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Receive an e-mail from the IRS? If so, delete it!

Jan 27

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Technology Tips | No Comments

WingSwept would like to warn you about the a identity theft scheme that is being accompanied by tax season.  The newest scheme developed by identity thieves is to send an e-mail posing as the IRS.  According to the Trend Micro Consumer Newsletter, there are different versions of scamming e-mails being sent.

One version of the scam IRS messages has victims receiving an e-mail advising they did not report all of their income to the IRS.  The recipient is then asked to download an attachment which the scammer claims is a portion of their most recent tax return.  When the attachment is downloaded, the victim’s computer has acquired a virus.

Another similar scam plays on a victim’s fear of being audited by the IRS.  A bogus information form is sent to the victim by e-mail who is told they must complete and return it.  If the victim does not complete the form, the scammer will then threaten them with levy penalties and interest.

In order to avoid the newest scam this tax season, it is important to remember one thing:  The IRS uses the US Postal Service to contact taxpayers—they never use e-mail.

Read more about the article this blog entry is based on.

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Are you satisfied with the answers to these questions about your tech support?

Jan 25

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Managed Services, Technology Tips | No Comments

In this article by Ray Barber of Kaseya, seven questions are outlined to help you choose a technology partner that will allow you to focus on your business.  The article states that ”you need your IT to work – all the time – and using an outsourced IT service can give small to medium-sized businesses like yours the enterprise-level IT capabilities needed to help achieve business growth, reduce costs and maximize profitability.”

Are you satisfied with the answers to these questions about your tech support?

What level of customer service do they provide you? Can their staff offer expertise? Do they offer fixed monthly pricing? Do they take a proactive approach?

If you aren’t satisfied with the service you are getting, consider WingSwept, an IT consulting firm and managed services provider in Garner.  Customer service and IT expertise are founding principles of the company.

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Looking Back on the Scams of 2009

Jan 22

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Technology Tips | No Comments

In 2009, millions of innocent consumers were harassed, defrauded, and robbed of valuable personal information that may have done serious damage to their credit and privacy for years to come. Some of the most memorable scams of 2009 and possible threats for 2010 are:

1. Spoofing Attacks – Scammers ask you to visit a website by pretending to be an official source, and rob you of your personal information.

2. Economy Related Scams – Scammers use the economy and enticing terms like loans, debt relief, etc. to get you to fall for their scam.

3. Work at Home Scams – Do you want to earn fast money while working at home? These are the type of things scammers will say to get you to participate in their scam.  They most always ask for an upfront fee.

4. Social Networking Scams – The continued popularity of social networking sites is a target to scammers and malware makers looking to spread viruses, hack into people’s personal accounts, or con people out of money.

5. Classified Ad and Auction Scams – Although Craigslist can ebay can be a good way to find things you are looking for, it is also a good place for scammers to plot.

This WingSwept article was inspired by one by Trend Micro.  Read their article here. 

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What are the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of your Technology?

Jan 14

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Managed Services, Technology Tips | No Comments

WingSwept’s IT experts offer businesses the chance to better understand their technology.  How efficient is your network? Is your server and technology equipment holding you back? Are you on the brink of a computer crash? These are all easy questions to answer after getting a Technology SWOT analysis by WingSwept.  It is our goal to help you leverage your technology, but first you need to know where you stand.  To find out more, contact our consultants.  This affordable offer could save your business!

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