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!
Posts Tagged technology
WingSwept, a leading local IT firm, has gone through 2009 accumulating much recognition and proving themselves to be an award-winning company. WingSwept is based in Garner, NC and staffs over 20 people in the four divisions of Government Services, Network Support, Web Development, and Vertical Marketing.
In light of the state of the economy, this IT firm has not hesitated in hiring the staff members they need to reach their growing client base, which also led to expanding office space. WingSwept has selectively filled multiple Sales Representative positions, a Customer Service Representative, a Community Relations Director, a Marketing Coordinator, and a Partner Advisor. WingSwept will conclude the year with other 1,700 diverse customers in all 50 states. It is WingSwept’s forward-thinking approach to business that has allowed the company to achieve revenue growth of 50% for the second straight year.
In 2009, WingSwept gained many key customers and strengthened relationships with existing customers in all divisions. The Network Support division has converted many significant customers to Managed IT Services to better accommodate the customer’s time and budget. The Vertical Markets division has the most rapidly growing customer base, and its success has not mirrored the economy in any way.
In the summer of 2009, Business Leader Media announced WingSwept as 31st on the Top 100 NC Small Businesses. In September, WingSwept was ranked on Triangle Business Journal’s Internet Marketing & Design Firms for the third time, this time topping the list in fifth place. North Carolina Technology Association most recently chose WingSwept as one of four finalists for the Customer Service Company based on the organization’s commitment to simplifying business for their customers and exceeding client expectations.
In August, the company was rewarded with a $16,000 workforce development training grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Development. The Program is designed to benefit businesses by enhancing the skills of employees, thereby increasing productivity and the potential for company growth. WingSwept’s focus is on becoming highly skilled in the techniques of selling and customer service in Vertical Markets, which serves clients nationwide.
All of these successes have not stopped WingSwept from being active in the community more than ever this year. They remain being committed to the Garner community and surrounding community, and often participate together in charitable events. WingSwept held its first ever Technology Spring Clean, an Earth Day inspired recycling event, which allows citizens to drop off old technology equipment to be recycled without polluting landfills. Jay Strickland strives to set an example in leadership and involvement. He is the Garner Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board and President of the Garner Rotary Club.
“It was always our intention to not only survive the economic turmoil, but come out of it stronger than we went into it. We have been blessed with a solid foundation of strong customers who themselves masterfully navigated the current economy and dedicated and focused staff,” says Jay Strickland, WingSwept CEO and a 2009 Triangle Business Journal “40 under 40” recipient and 2009 Business Leader Media “Mover and Shaker”.
What would happen if there was a flood, fire, or theft? Could your business operate? How long would it take you to be up and running again?
Some don’t realize how much they rely on data until after the fact…when it is too late. That is why every business needs a reliable backup at an affordable rate.
At the very least, business owners need to have data backup on the machines that hold the most critical data. At WingSwept, we offer a very affordable online solution for people like you to put on single computers, such as your off-site machines or coverage for main computers. It also recommended to have backup to your existing backup, and you can use our Data Vault Services to do so, because it is that affordable. We are even offering a FREE 30 day trial to test it out and help you protect your business.
For those of you using Microsoft Office’s Outlook, WingSwept would like to introduce a feature that will help you coordinate with other business professionals by emailing your calendar. It is a simple process from customizing how the recipient will view your calendar to sending it.
Click the Calendar icon in the left Navigation Pane of Microsoft Outlook, and then right-click the Calendar that you want to share. You can then select Send Calendar via Email.
A new window should open where you can clarify what calendar you want to send, the date range to share, and the amount of detail to show to the recipient.
For step-by-step instructions, visit Microsoft Office Online. Select Share your calendar with anyone, and then select Send your calendar via e-mail. It will automatically scroll down to the final section on the page.
You can find many other helpful tips on Microsoft Office Online. As always, WingSwept provides these tips wants to help you leverage technology.
Let your computer serve you longer by taking care of it. Make sure it does not have unecessary software on it, which take up space and may slow your PC down. If you are sure you don’t need a certain program anymore, you can go to your “Start” menu, to your computer’s “Control Panel”, and then to “Add or Remove Programs”. find that program that is no longer being used and select it to be removed.
Another way to keep your PC healthy, is to protect it from threats. Are you up-to-date on your anti-virus software? The wrong virus can not only slow down your computer, but can stop it dead in its tracks.
If you are in the Triangle area, contact WingSwept to protect your business’s computers and extend the life of your technology equipment.
CRN Magazine, in their September issue, examined the current state of technology, security solutions and what is to come. They rated the biggest security threats that will be facing customers in the next 12 to 18 months.
The 10 Biggest Security Threats Are:
- 39.7% – Data Loss/Breaches
- 35.9% – Internal Threats
- 34.3% – Social Networking Threats
- 33% – Trojans/Information Stealing Keyloggers/Fast Flux Botnets
- 22.5% – Phishing/Social Engineering
- 21.1% – Viruses
- 20.6% – Internet Worms
- 20.1% – Organized Cybercrime Networks
- 13.9% – Cyber Espionage
- 10.5% – Zero-day Exploits
Enterprise-level businesses are not the only ones who can afford protection from these things. WingSwept offers small and medium sized businesses security solutions to meet each customer’s unique needs. WingSwept specializes in Managed Services, Disaster Recovery, Data Loss Prevention, Virus/Spam Protection and much more. Keeping customers in business is WingSwept’s top priority. The suffering economy means businesses need cost-efficient solutions to adapt to increasing threats and new technologies.
The current economic downturn has challenged many business owners to re-evaluate existing business models, operational efficiencies, and capital expenditures. Many forward thinking organizations are finding unique opportunities and looking past near-term challenges to position themselves for success when market conditions calm and return to vibrancy.
Doing More With Less
A critical role information technology firms play in uncertain economic times is to help clients manage costs and identify inefficiencies. Taking advantage of technologies that are already owned can create returns through reduced management costs, more effective compliance with regulations, and increased efficiencies in operational execution. Cost savings and efficiencies free cash flow for investments and capital expenditures that competitors may not be positioned to leverage.
WingSwept applies best practice solutions that are unique and optimized to our specific customer’s needs. IT is not a one size fits all business and through investments in technology and people we are able to deliver unique strategic solutions, exceptional customer service, and timely technical support.
In 2008 Gartner released a study of the total annual cost of ownership of workstations and laptops in an unmanaged environment versus a managed environment. The study took into account all direct (hardware, software, support consumables, network-related costs, facilities, and administration) and indirect costs (downtime, suboptimal functioning, user-induced problems, user-to-user support costs, non-business computer usage, time spent customizing desktops, time spent researching technology purchases, getting quotes, and dealing with vendor problems). The cost savings on a well managed workstation was nearly $2,500 annually while the savings on a laptop was nearly $3,000. These are real cost savings for companies, achieved by minimizing time spent by employees trying to make their systems work, minimizing downtime, and extending the life of equipment through proper maintenance. Ultimately, as the Gartner study show, well managed technology not only saves money, but provides you the freedom to manage your business.
Learn to use your Blackberry to the best of your ability. Here are a couple of shortcuts brought to you by WingSwept. Below are some easy-to-master navigation tips for you while in a message:
B – scroll to end of page
T – scroll to top of page
U - jump to closest unread message
N - jump to next message
P - jump to previous message
SPACE bar - scroll down a page/screen at a time
A piece from an article written about WingSwept:
“WingSwept has had customers for nearly a decade in which it was setup under the model of managed services. Its new Total Care package was designed to offer the same level of service and pricing to a larger portion of the company’s 1,500+ strong customer base. WingSwept managed services offerings center around network management through best-practice bundled solutions which allow clients to avoid costly disruptions and downtime in the workplace.”
Read the NCTechNews article by David Menzies here.
Today’s Technology Trend
Jul 6
It has now been reported that Mozilla Firefox has become the most used internet browser today. Internet Explorer has fallen from the top-spot, although there are still a large amount of users. Why? It may be due to people’s hesitation to update their programs and comfort with sticking to what they know. Read more here.
Although this is just one recent change, it makes you realize how fast things really do change in technology. It is a job in itself to keep up with these changes, and may be one of many reasons your business has an IT provider. A new web browser is a trend that may not modify the way you do business day-to-day, but there are new and more advanced things that do pop up all the time, like viruses, that can prevent your business from running at all. At WingSwept, it is our job to understand these changes and keep you from worrying about them.