What Are the Benefits of Cloud CRM Software Applications?

Regardless whether a company is large, medium-sized or small, customer relationship management (CRM) is key. Building a customer base, and determining methods of retaining those individuals, is easier in today's marketplace, but it can still be difficult if one does not have the right tools. For small business, acquiring affordable software that make the process simpler requires managers who are familiar with current technologies and understand how to utilize them efficiently. What is the best cloud CRM software? And how can it help your business?

The internet has given software developers a platform that allows them to provide new solutions to existing problems. Since the inception of CRM, IT personnel (either virtual or actual) have been required to manage the intricacies of small business CRM. While building and maintaining customer relationships is key, it can also be costly. Fortunately, cloud CRM software has taken some of the expense out of customer maintenance.

No Internal IT Required

It is easier for a large company to absorb the costs of IT professionals. Small businesses need to watch every single dollar, so outsourcing any IT needs saves money. Unfortunately, this also limits a business in other ways. Without IT personnel ready to fix immediate issues and provide upgrades, business moves slower and time lost means potential money lost. With cloud CRM software, a company does not have to have a dedicated IT department for this part of their business. Cloud-based applications allow the business CRM to function within the structure of the internet which means that the service provider takes care of any IT needs. The business owner just needs to sit back and use the resources cloud CRM software provides to grow his or her customer base.

Streamlined Operations

Any idea takes a certain amount of time from inception to implementation, whether it has to do with CRM or not. Unfortunately, businesses do not have time to waste testing an idea and trying to determine the best fit prior to launching small business CRM. The cloud allows businesses to implement CRM quickly and pull the ideas just as rapidly if they are not working.

The Ability to Customize

Small businesses also need to be able to fit the CRM program to their specific needs without much hassle. Cloud CRM software allows the owner to tailor their customer relationship program to the product, the mission of the company, the price point or any other requirement that they may have. Some CRM programs run with reward points, others build an email list by showing customers value via a website, another may use a drip campaign. Whatever the particular type of business CRM deployed, it can easily be adapted.

Showing customers that they can both trust and buy into a company can be difficult. Establishing a relationship is easier when cloud CRM software is utilized. Dedicated IT personnel are not necessary, operations are quickly organized and the campaign can be effortlessly personalized. With these advantages, it makes sense for small business CRM operations.

By Edmund Brunetti

Avoid the Headache: Get Managed IT Solutions

You have enough on your plate when trying to run a small business. Especially if you are just starting out, you are in charge of all of the departments - sales, marketing, accounting, HR, and even IT. While you may not be ready to delegate sales or marketing out to someone else, you can get managed IT solutions to help you tremendously.

What are Managed IT Solutions?

Managed IT solutions are where you have a company handle everything that is related to IT. This can include hosting your website, providing you with a network infrastructure and even programming your phones so that they have an automatic answer feature - known as hosted telephone systems. All of this can save you a significant amount of time and let your business run smoother.

You don't want to be the one responsible for the IT of your business, even if you do know what you're doing. For example, if your website goes down for any reason, you don't want to be in your server room with a phone to your ear talking to someone on the support line. You want to be able to pick up the phone and have someone come out to fix it.

Better yet - with managed IT solutions, someone is likely monitoring your internet at all times. They will tell you when it's down and get it back up and running without you having to do anything. This is ideal because you will experience little to no downtime. Especially if you are an e-commerce business, you can't afford to experience downtime because it means consumers may not be able to place their order - and that affects your sales numbers.

What About the Expense?

The only reason that you probably haven't gotten managed IT solutions already is because you fear the cost. Somewhere along the line, you decided that it wasn't going to be cost effective. You probably don't even know how much it's going to cost and yet you've decided you can't afford it. The only way to know for sure is by calling around to a few companies, learning about the services they can provide you and what the cost is.

The expense is eventually going to pay for itself. If you don't have to sit and answer the phones (or pay someone to), then you have paid for your hosted phone solutions. If you don't experience downtime because of someone managing your internet connection, then you never have to worry about losing out on potential sales - and this will be worth some money towards the cost of managed IT solutions as well.

You can have a thriving business without doing it all on your own. The most productive way to run your business is through delegation. Let an IT company come in and have a look at your business. The areas they can help you may startle you - and help you save both time and money.

Formed in 1997 and located in Houston, Dallas and Austin Texas and in Dubai, ERGOS is an IT solutions provider that stays ahead of the curve, providing innovative IT services. We provide our clients the kind of service that we would want. ERGOS provides managed IT services, IT infrastructure, Cloud IT and business solutions that Power Your Business and empower your work force. Our three technology divisions, Managed IT Services, Cloud IT Solutions and Business Solutions (Web Hosting and Development, Search Engine Optimization, Business Process Analysis) will address all your IT needs.

By Jeff Weigang

Malsubjects and Malware: The Malicious Combination

"Malsubject" (Malicious Subject) is an unauthorized individual or subject whose activities are intended to break into an Information System (IS) with malicious intent to compromise the information's confidentiality, integrity, or availability of organizations and individuals. Malsubjects include hackers, cyber-thieves, spammers, hacktivist, and nation states among many others.

It is easier to identify these individuals in the cyber security space by one common name instead of several, such as bad actors, threat actors, bad guys, cybercriminals, and others. The term malsubject defines these individuals regardless of their intended actions. After all, their intentions are always malicious in nature, no matter who they are or what we label them.

The term "malware", or Malicious Software, is defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Glossary of Key Information Security Terms as "a program that is inserted into a system, usually covertly, with the intent of compromising the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the victim's data, applications, or operating system or of otherwise annoying or disrupting the victim." Malware by this definition include viruses, worms, trojan horses, or other code-based malicious entity that successfully infects a computer system.

Because "malsubject" provides an opportunity to identify all types of "cyber bad guys" with a single term, the term "malware" ought to include, in addition to malicious programs, malicious hardware (e.g. ATM and gas pump skimmers) or malicious techniques (e.g. social engineering). Malicious hardware gets inserted into a system (physically and covertly) with the intent of compromising the victim's data. Malicious techniques are also used on individuals with the purpose of tricking them into performing actions or divulging information in order to gain access to information system's data. As a result, I use "malware" in general terms to identify malicious software, hardware, and techniques used to perform cyber-attacks.

In the world of cybercrime and cyber warfare, the fight is always aimed to prevent malsubjects and malware from penetrating information systems of public and private organizations as well as individual systems. It is clear that malsubjects using selected malware can identify, target, and attack all types of IS infrastructure. Once an attack is successful, the results and consequences of these malicious actions become a series of unfortunate events played against individuals and organizations.

The latest Verizon's 2013 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) stated that the 2012 combined dataset of security incidents analyzed for the report represented the largest they have ever covered in any single year, spanning more than 47,000 reported security incidents; 621 confirmed data disclosures; and at least 44 million compromised records. Unfortunately, these security incidents will continue to become regular news as malsubjects intensify their efforts using more and more sophisticated malware. For example, the recent malsubject attack on the Target Corporation produced a breach that exposed personal information on millions of its customers.

An effective cyber defense against attacks from malsubjects requires technologies, people, and processes capable of preventing or mitigating the damage caused by their malicious activities. Effective security controls and security awareness training are the best weapons against their intrusions.

According to NIST, "using the risk management tools and techniques that are available to organizations is essential in developing, implementing, and maintaining the safeguards and countermeasures with the necessary and sufficient strength of mechanism to address the current threats to organizational operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation".

Well implemented security controls based on appropriate risk management tools and techniques increase the odds of preventing many of the cyber-attacks currently affecting information systems and infrastructures all over the world.

In today's cyber space malsubjects span from one individual to organized crime groups and nation states capable of conducting sophisticated cyber-attacks from the most remote places in the world. All they need is a communication line to the public internet or private networks and the use of well-crafted malware to reach their targets. We might not be able to prevent them from reaching the system boundaries, but with good implementation of security controls; appropriate risk management tools and techniques; and constant security awareness training for organizational staff and the general public, we can slow down and someday we might be able to stop their advances.

By Felix Uribe

How To Choose A 3D Etching Machine

As far as the potential applications of three-dimensional printing technology go, 3D etching is one of the least accessible areas to the average layman or woman with the appropriate software and a cheap home printer. This particular strand of the technology requires a degree of expertise and precision that continues to restrict it to professionals in the sector.

Even these pros, however, are not always 100% sure of what they are doing. Much like everyone else, they are sometimes fallible. That is why they are careful to make provisions in order to ensure that the 3D etching process they set in motion goes without a hitch. One of the most important contributions they can make towards this goal is to pick the right kind of hardware for the job.

How To Pick The Right Machine

The choice of the best 3D etching machine for any given business is far from linear. Much like the purchasing process for other highly specialised items of machinery, it involves referencing, reading reviews, consulting with other industry specialists, defining the business's needs and, overall, a lot of browsing.

What this means is that printing and engraving professionals should never settle for the first or cheapest machine of this type they see on the market. Doing so may appear to make the process easier at first, but can prove costly should the hardware turn out to not at all be what they need. A little thought can go a long way in this regard, and industry professionals shopping for equipment should keep this in mind.

In order to ascertain which kind of machine is right for them, professionals should therefore start by answering a few questions regarding which materials the equipment in question will be working on, and which of the numerous 3D etching techniques it will be using. Some of these techniques have hardware built especially for them, so professionals who think - or know - they will be using these forms of the technique might be best served by seeking one of these out.

Once the technical specifications are defined, it is also important to consider the volume of output the machine will be dealing with. A small, home-based printer may do well with a desktop-sized machine, but a larger print shop is likely to need a mid-range or even industrial one. Features such as a high-speed scanner and the ability to produce large-scale objects should also be kept an eye out for.

Finally, it is important that potential buyers take the time to read reviews, procure opinions from colleagues, engage in a bit of comparative shopping, and above all check the terms and conditions of the warranties and certificates. Only by ensuring all these steps, in conjunction with the measures detailed above, can they make 100% sure that the machine they are buying is the right one for them, and not simply a waste of money.

By George Berdichevsky

Benefits of a Premium VZ Server

Companies around the world are turning to premium vz servers to help them manage their website, emails and more. These servers are an ideal solution because they reduce the need for managing a number of dedicated servers, offering an easy to use system which can be accessed with ease from every computer in the office.

The premium vz servers enable you to host a number of different domain names and email addresses in one place, this offers a cost effective solution for any company. It also reduces the amount of technical maintenance needed, reducing your software maintenance costs dramatically.

One of the main advantages to choosing this type of server is that you have less downtime, which is exceptionally important if you're hosting your website. You want your customers to have access to your site twenty four hours a day, if your site is down more than it's up, your customers will start looking elsewhere for the products and services that they require.

For companies that are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, then the premium vz server is the ideal solution. Because it doesn't require a host of dedicated servers, it dramatically reduces energy consumption. This not only lowers your monthly energy bill, but also enables you to control your carbon footprint effectively.

Many business owners are a little concerned about using this type of method to store their information, emails and site, but these are safe and secure, they are also easy to update, often with a software package which is designed to make this process easy and secure at all times.

The aim of every company around the world is to grow, so you can get a premium vz server which can accommodate you as you start your new business venture and grow with you, accommodating your requirements and growth along the way. This is such a huge benefit for many companies, as it won't require you change providers, but rather that your provider has taken steps to ensure your server will grow with you.

Another of the major benefits to this option is speed. You want your customers to enjoy fast access to your website, you want to be able to access the server quickly and you want fast speeds at all times. These products can provide this on every computer you use to access the server. They come in different package options, enabling you to determine the size and bandwidth you need for the fastest speeds available.

One of the biggest problems companies face these days is loss of data. You have your website developed, put it online and then something goes wrong and you lose everything. This isn't only frustrating, but can cost you time, energy and money. The premium vz servers are quick and easy to backup, ensuring that should you lose relevant information or accidentally delete something you weren't meant to, you can restore it within minutes without losing anything.

Finally, a very important note and benefit about premium vz servers is that they come with customer support. If you are stuck at any stage, whether you're making changes or trying to access your server, there is always someone on hand that can help you through the process.

Knowing you have customer support behind you at all times can make a huge difference to which company you use when making your purchase. Always ensure they offer outstanding customer support at all times, this way you will always have peace of mind that you have your own on-call technician who can talk you through the process and ensure your server is running perfectly all the time.

By Ihtisham Mohammed

It's Time to Redesign Your Website

Stephen Hawking once said, "Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." I think this quote describes the need of website redesigning. Today, redesigning a website has become very crucial to keep your website healthy. One can get high conversion rates through an up-to-date website.

Here are a few reasons to redesign your old website.

The site is outdated
It is very important to keep your website up-to-date. Many websites lose their high traffic because they have not been updated in years. Google also advises people to redesign their websites. In his recent video, Matt has laid emphasis on improving the user experience. He has advised business owners to change the website's layout, template and content. If you are in the fashion industry, you cannot use an image of 90s to attract the young generation. The fashion trends change with lightning speed. Therefore, a fashion website needs to redesign its images.

The site is not responsive
A responsive website design fits well on desktop, tablet as well as smartphone browsers. If your website is not responsive, your business is in real danger. More than 65% people in the USA use a smartphone. In order to reach many people, use responsive web design in your website. In responsive web design, a web developer uses the same code to display single site on all devices. Responsive site is a better option than creating a separate mobile site. A special mobile site uses a separate domain and looks completely different from its original site.

The site has low search engine rankings
Recently, Google released its page layout algorithm, which goes after the sites with too many ads at the top of the page. If you notice any change in the ranking of your website, redesign your website with proper ad optimization strategy. In 2012, Google rolled out a humming-bird update, which penalized site with duplicate content. If your site has lots of flash images or thin content, it is time to update your site. Adopt a robust strategy to make it SEO-friendly. Create a blog on your website to enhance its performance.

The site is slow
Users usually prefer to stay on a fast-loading site. They tend to navigate away from the site, which takes time to load. Approach a web developer to speed up your website. A fast-loading website is beneficial for SEO. It also offers a great user experience.

The site lacks content management system
Your site will scale new heights in Google if you update the content. A person, who does not have knowledge of coding, cannot make changes in the website. However, content management system (CMS) makes it easy to control your own site. You can add any information very easily in the CMS administrative panel. It uses a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) system to manage your content. Therefore, you should re-develop your website with a CMS.

By Gary S. Johnson

Cloud Computing In a Nutshell

We all heard the term 'Cloud Computing' and we've all probably said Cloud this or Cloud that at some point in time, but what is the 'Cloud' and how can it help me?
Don't you just hate it when there is a new trend and everybody is talking about it like they invented it? They'll usually use complicated verbiage to try and confuse you as much as possible into buying or overpaying for something you might not need at all or at least not at the volume they are trying to sell to you. Well, I can promise you that won't happen here.
So what is Cloud Computing? Cloud Computing is a way of using a collection of servers and storage to do what you would normally need to do but without the need to house and maintain the server(s) yourself. With the use of a 'Cloud', you can now run an entire business without ever maintaining a server or storage unit yourself or with the aid of an on-site IT professional. Some might ask, "What's so good about that?" Well, it increases efficiency, improves cash flow and a lot of other benefits I will review shortly.
Before I dive into the benefits, we need to start with knowing what a 'Cloud' is made of? Now this might get a bit boring, so let's just walk through the basics... and quickly.
First you need a platform. Since Cloud computing is basically a virtualization evolution, it needs to run on a virtualization platform. I won't dive into this because then it will just become a Wikipedia page. In short, you take multiple machines that are connected together and virtually make them into 1 machine using an application/software.
Once we chose the platform, we need to run it on some hardware. Dell, HP and IBM are currently the giants within the Enterprise IT industry that most 'Cloud Computing' uses for hardware. Due to the level at which their hardware is used, you can expect the same from their proprietary software. Most IT professionals who maintain these virtual environments will probably be most familiar with those brands since it's the most common.
The last segment is the network configuration. A Single cloud node will act like a management platform that can manage all the different zones in multiple geographic areas, from a single point.
And that is basically all you need to build a cloud. Now that we've analyzed the ingredients (only the basics so far but if you're interested in the individual components that make up the cloud let me know and I'll go over them in more detail J) let's touch on some of the benefits.
So what are some of the benefits of Cloud computing?
1. Security, mainly disaster recovery services - When you start using cloud computing, you can kiss your entire disaster recovery plan goodbye. If you have a cold site it's one thing but if you have a hot site, man you have probably spent a LOT of money! And I mean A LOT. Cloud computing will take care of most of the issues that interrupt a website and will do it faster as well. An industry average of 2.1 hours. Compared to 8 hours?! Wow.
2. Software Updates - Have you ever measured how long it takes you, as a server administrator, to run updates on all your servers? Well, days and even weeks, in accumulate. Cloud computing suppliers do the server maintenance, freeing this time so you can do something more productive for your business.
3. Flexibility - Are you running out of space? You need more bandwidth? Pick up the phone and start dialing. That's all that it will take for you to get more bandwidth or storage. No need to redesign your network with a new server purchase, deployment, and maintenance plan. Not anymore.
4. Server access - As long as you have one, you can access your data from anywhere!
5. Data Security - You lost your laptop? Someone stole your rack server? Your workstation caught fire? Bummer! But what if there was this crazy option that despite all this bad luck, your data won't be lost and is still accessible via any device that has an internet connection? See #4, now there is.
There are many more benefits, but those are the ones that are the most appealing, in my opinion.
I do believe that Cloud computing is here for the better and not so long from now, everything will be online via cloud. But it's not going to happen tomorrow and not this year. This is still a long and patient process. In the meantime there are suppliers currently providing all the equipment to create your own cloud, consultancy on how to run and maintain it, including deployment, support, mission critical on-site and backups.
Thank you for reading this long article. I hope this has helped you understand a little bit more about what is that trend called 'Cloud Computing', hopefully before you started spending.

By Yuri Aberfeld