May  2007
In this issue...

 Get the Big Picture
 Outlook Anywhere
 Email Connector
  Network Assessment
 

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Get the Big Picture
Assessing your information technology

You are certainly familiar with the Rube Goldberg machine – the delightfully convoluted set of processes required to accomplish a simple task. In the day to day interactions of information technologies, Goldberg is often hard at work. It only takes a tiny disagreement between software codes or a mismatch of operating systems for the marble wobbling down the chute to end up on the floor.

Ideally, you should be evaluating your IT investment initiatives in the context of a comprehensive business strategy that ensures maximum returns and facilitates that all-important "alignment" of IT and business requirements. But the real world too often delivers unrestrained marbles.

It's indicative of the problem that many businesses face as they try to maintain an accurate picture of their assets. When turnover and change of these assets is inevitable and often unmonitored, you lose track of what you own and reduce the efficiencies of the processes they impact.

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Remote access of Exchange-based email is a requirement of most mobile workers. In the past, Outlook Web Access provided some, but not all, of the functionality of Outlook. Remote users who wanted to use their native Outlook software were forced to use a VPN connection to access the corporate network. VPN's, however, are more complex to configure and enable access to more network services than are required for simple e-mail access.

Outlook 2003 and 2007 now offers a simpler alternative to VPN connections — RPC over HTTP (which Microsoft has mercifully renamed "Outlook Anywhere"). With this feature, users can have security-enhanced access to their Exchange Server accounts from the Internet when they are working outside your organization's firewall. Users do not need any special connections or hardware, such as smart cards and security tokens, and they can still get to their Exchange accounts even if the Exchange server and client computer are behind firewalls on different networks. The user runs the same Outlook used inside the network and has all of Outlook's functionality enabled including shared calendars, contact lists and public folder access.

Outlook Anywhere runs on Windows XP and Vista and requires Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, 2007 or Microsoft Small Business Server 2003. Take advantage of Outlook's power and flexibility outside your office with Outlook Anywhere. Contact your account manager at Logical Business Solutions or the Helpdesk for more information.
For more information regarding this article CLICK HERE

"Hey! Can you help me with my computer?" "Do you know how to." Boy, just walking down the hallway again and I got "hall-jacked". No, that's not a terrorist thing. That's when you walk down the hall and someone stops you for help on your computer or asks about the server or network.

But it gets worse. "Ok, now I can't fix it. I've got to call Logical Business Solutions (LBS) and talk with the Help Desk. They sure are helpful, but this isn't a critical thing. I wish LBS had any easy and fast way to get a service ticket open." Well we do.

LBS has implemented a new service for our clients. It's called an email connector. While most of you know you can call LBS and speak with the Help Desk or call Dispatch and let them know you need assistance, did you know that you can also send to a specific email address and get some help?

Not only can you get an engineer scheduled, but you can have the help desk call you back or get sales help. All you have to do is send an email to service@lbs.net and LBS service software will automatically create a service ticket, notifying dispatch that you are in need of assistance.

Non-urgent issues can be handled efficiently and completely using this service. You can even ask for sales help and the ticket will be forwarded to your Account Manager for action. You can then log on to our service portal with your password to track how each and every ticket is being handled.

Do you have a question about past service tickets? Logging in to the portal can show you all the tickets created for your company, see what was done and how much time was actually spent on each item.

Ok, you say "What's this going to cost me?" Well, that's even better news. It costs you nothing. The access, ticketing and portal are at no cost to you. All they require is that you send an email to service@lbs.net  and your account login, password and a shortcut for your desktop will be emailed to you within 24 hours!!!

LBS is trying to make it as easy as possible for you to request assistance and we believe this new tool can be a great timesaver!!  For more information regarding this article CLICK HERE.

If not, call Logical Business Solutions for a
FREE NETWORK Health Assessment. 
Call Heather 904-281-0680 or email hnicholson@lbs.net