July 2016 Newsletter

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Using Social Media While On Vacation

With summer vacation season in full effect, here are some social media tips to keep you safe while you’re away from home:

1. As tempting as it might be to make your friends jealous by “checking in” at your deluxe Caribbean resort, resist the temptation. This lets criminals know your house is empty.
   
   
2. Fight the urge to post pictures too. If you’re on the beach with a cool drink, your valuables at home now have a bull’s-eye on them.
   
   
3. Make sure your Facebook, Twitter & Instagram posts are set to private, at least while you’re on vacation.
   
   
4. You could simply unplug yourself for your entire vacation. You might even enjoy not having your phone in your hand every waking hour.
   
   Follow these tips, and let your summer vacation be relaxing!

Which Of These 4 Cloud Computing Solutions Is The Right Fit For You?

Most likely you’ve heard all of the commotion around cloud computing and know that it’s the “Next Big Thing” in business technology. Yet, despite all of the hype, most businesses really don’t understand exactly what cloud computing is and what it could do to help them. “What are my options?” and “What is right for me?” are two of the top questions that I hear quite often. There are at least 4 types of cloud computing solutions for your business. Which one is right for you?

1. Pure Cloud: This is where all your applications and data are put on the other side of the firewall (in the cloud) and accessed through various devices (laptops, desktops, iPads, phones) via the Internet.
2. Hybrid Cloud: Although “pure” cloud computing has valid applications, for many it’s downright scary. And in some cases it is NOT the smartest move due to compliance issues, security restrictions or performance issues. A hybrid cloud enables you to put certain pieces of existing IT infrastructure (say, storage and e-mail) in the cloud, and the remainder of the IT infrastructure stays on-premise. This gives you the ability to enjoy the cost savings and benefits of cloud computing where it makes the most sense without risking your entire environment.
3. Point Solutions: Another option would be simply to put certain applications, like SharePoint or Microsoft Exchange, in the cloud while keeping everything else on-site. Since e-mail is usually a critical application that everyone needs and wants access to on the road and on various devices (iPad, smart phone, etc.), this solution is often a great way to get the advanced features of Microsoft Exchange without the cost of installing and supporting your own in-house Exchange server.
4. Public Cloud vs. Private Cloud: A public cloud is a service that anyone can tap into with a network connection and a credit card. It is a shared infrastructure that allows you to pay-as-you-go and is managed through a self-service web portal. Private clouds are essentially self-built infrastructures that mimic public cloud services, but are on-premise. Private clouds are often the choice of companies who want the benefits of cloud computing but don’t want their data held in a public environment.

Keep in mind that there is no “perfect” one-size-fits-all cloud solution for every business. All options have upsides and downsides. And which option is best for your business has to be determined on a case-by-case basis based on your company’s needs and business requirements.

Want a professional opinion on which option is best for your business? Our FREE Cloud Readiness Assessment will show you the way. Claim your complimentary assessment at: www.dpsolutions.com/CloudReady.

Guest Article

Forget Something?

Robert Stevenson

A while back I did a huge favor for someone and never heard anything from them… Zip, zilch, nada, nothing. Just a simple “thank you” would have been nice…but they acted as if it was expected of me. To say that I was disappointed is putting it mildly.

To me, disappointed is a very powerful and scary word. You see, disappointed can turn into other “dis” words, such as disgruntled, discouraged, disenthralled, disillusioned, disheartened and possibly even dissatisfied with our current personal or business relationship. I might start noticing that this relationship (business or personal) is really all about YOU and how YOU can benefit; the words reciprocation or gratitude don’t seem to be in your vocabulary.

Everyone likes to be remembered, thanked or appreciated for doing favors, going above and beyond, being courteous, considerate, thoughtful or kind. Being “taken for granted” stinks. Forgetting to show any kind of appreciation for someone who did something for you…that they didn’t have to do…can end up causing you problems later on. You will never know when someday you may need a helping hand, and all those people you took for granted and/or never thanked might NOT be so readily available to help you out.

Francesca Gino, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, did some research on gratitude and looked at 41 fund-raisers at a university, all receiving a fixed salary. The director visited half of the fund-raisers in person, telling them, “I am very grateful for your hard work. We sincerely appreciate your contributions to the university.” The second group received no such expressions of gratitude. What was the impact of the director’s thanks? Gino said that “the expression of gratitude increased the number of calls by more than 50%” for the week, while fund-raisers who received no thanks made about the same number of calls as the previous week.

Organizations and leaders who miss chances to express gratitude lose opportunities to motivate people that actually cost them nothing. Simply stated: gratitude is free and profitable. People may not show that they are upset about not being thanked…but when the time comes for them to help YOU out again, they may just be a little too busy that day. You can transform your relationships, business and personal life with the Power of Gratitude! Never underestimate the power of a thank-you and never pass up on the opportunity to say those two words.

“It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy.” – Anonymous