Everybody is talking about it. Televisions have commercials of families sending precious data “to the cloud” and businesses are perking up their ears to the new technology. But would it surprise you to find out that “cloud technology” has been around since the early 90s? The cloud loosely refers to the internet data backup. By combining “cloud” with “computing” it simply means an extension of IT services over the internet without a physical data backup. The internet essentially acts as your server or network. Although “cloud technology” is becoming the hot new tech topic the basic themes have been around awhile. Even Gmail or YahooMail accounts could be considered cloud technology since they use the internet to store files and information. This is an adequate form of data backup for personal use but businesses have more at stake than losing a few e-mails.

The August edition of NetworkWorld included an article detailing the different types of cloud storage available, along with a 0-4 scoring system. They reviewed five products (Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloudfiles, Nirvanix SDN, Egnyte and Nasuni Filer) on performance, security, management, and features. Amazon S3 and Rackspace Cloud files tied for first place because of superior security and unbeatable upload speed. Egnyte came in last because of “no native file object encryption and no addressable API”. 

Luckily Computerbilities stays current on all developing technologies and we are able to offer the perks of cloud computing to your organization. Cloud computing is a way to expand your company without spending money on a physical system or training new employees. From spam filtering to data backup cloud computing is a mixed bag of options. Let Computerbilities help you find the best uses of cloud computing for your company.

If you are setting up a new network connection then the obvious next step is to invest in a firewall. This internet security device can be software or hardware (or a mix of both) and is used to block unwanted users from accessing your network connection. The firewall reviews every message and only allows the ones that meet certain security requirements to come through.  Without firewall you are leaving your network and computers vulnerable to hackers. There is a debate between using firewall software versus firewall hardware, so this blog will inform you of the difference then we will give our opinion on the best use.
                Some people prefer hardware firewalls because they are highly effective at filtering spam and viruses, along with having an easy setup. There is little configuration and they protect every computer on a local network. Hardware firewalls use two different techniques, packet filtering and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), to filter through pesky spam and various viruses. The one problem with hardware firewalls is that they do not filter traffic going from the local network to the Internet. This causes issues with e-mails or websites containing concealed programs that download on devices within the network, so they are not seen as harmful by the firewall.  This is not an issue with all hardware firewalls but a recurring issue with many.
            With software firewall protection you can specify which applications are allowed to communicate over the Internet from that specific computer so it has a leg up over hardware firewalls. Software firewall also comes in handy when tackling an e-mail worm that has its own server so it looks legitimate. The worm might slip through a hardware firewall because it looks like it is coming from a trusted source.  The problem with software firewalls is that they must be installed on every computer, which can end up costing a lot more than a hardware firewall.
            Both types of firewall connection have their pluses and minuses but in my opinion the hardware firewall is more cost effective than software, depending on the number of computers in your office. It is recommended to use a combination of both in most scenarios.

The daily news has been saturated with stories on the “WikiLeaks” scandal that resulted in the release of innumerable internal diplomatic messages and the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (for sexual offense charges in Sweden). While government officials blush and hurriedly perform damage control, many people are concerned with anarchist hackers seeking revenge for claimed first amendment infringement. These malicious computer savvy predators have wreaked havoc on commercial sites that have blocked donations to WikiLeaks. Mastercard and Visa websites were fully disabled for a day and PayPal was crippled to an extremely slow pace. Thankfully personal account information was not compromised but these terrifying events raise red flags for Internet security.

It is believed the hackers are using botnets to accomplish these heinous acts against those who oppose WikiLeaks. Botnet comes from the combination of “robot” and “network,” which is a group of computer systems that have been hacked using malicious software that installs worms, Trojan horses or other viruses to gain control of these systems so the “botnet herder” can complete mischievous tasks without being easily identified. Under the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act 1996 disabling a website is against the law.

Viruses are a fear shared by more than just big corporations, everyday Americans can fall victim. The ThinkPoint virus is an example of a crippling computer infection popping up all over the United States and world. It cloaks itself as a fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert and declares that you have a virus and must download the software to remove the infection. Then the Windows desktop will malfunction and no programs will open. The malware will open with repeated scans that identify viruses, which you must pay to download ThinkPoint to rid your computer of the infections. This causes many annoyances such as blocked internet access and inability to open any program without a window popping up saying the program has already been compromised. Beyond the frustration there is fear that your valuable information has been compromised. Computer viruses are a scary invasion of privacy so here are a few steps to avoid the initial infection:

· Never open an e-mail from an untrusted source.

· Do not download software from untrusted sites

· Do not click on unwanted pop-up windows

· Install an Anti-Virus program

· Install an Anti-Spyware program

· Always scan attachments from E-mail or IM before opening them

· Make updates and upgrades occur automatically

Tis the season for winter weather delays. Although everybody loves a winter wonderland, many businesses struggle with winter commuting and productivity. Remote desktop technology takes the pressure of traffic off employees and keeps them safe from icy roads.

Beyond bad weather this technology can be used in many situations, such as traveling salespeople or extended maternity.  Some businesses have hired permanent remote employees to cut back on office space costs. In fact, 40% of IBM’s employees are out-of-office, which saves them a bundle on real estate costs. Here are a few tips to being an effective remote employee:

• Constant Contact: Stay in constant contact with your office. Make sure your instant messenger is logged in and your cell phone is fully charged. You are working hard and make sure your office knows. Set up weekly video chats for face time with the boss.
• E-mail Etiquette: Review proper e-mail etiquette and answer e-mails promptly. E-mails and IMs are minefields of miscommunication so be careful that you are clear and concise.
• Create an Online Office:  A plethora of online tools are ready to help keep you connected with your coworkers. Use Google Docs to create documents that are easy to share and collaborate on. Dropbox is an online storage program that lets you save projects so you can work on them from any computer. If you are working on a group project the site “Bubbl.us” is great for brainstorming and comparing ideas.
• Dress for success: I know it’s tempting to spend the day in your pajamas but studies show people that dressed in work appropriate attire were happier and more productive. So no bunny slippers during that important conference call.
• Stay Consistent: Working from home is not a free ticket to sleep in. Keep normal working hours and be aware of time-zones and holidays.
• Remote Work Agreement: To keep things working smoothly write up an agreement that specifies expectations from both parties. It helps clarify your hours and clearly defines your role as a remote employee.

Remote desktop technology is a growing phenomenon and has many benefits for any business.  Computerbilities offers competitive rates on configuring these technologies for various businesses. Remote Desk Protocol (RDP) comes standard in Windows XP and under the managed service package our technicians can keep remote desktops running efficiently.

With the holidays fast approaching, Computerbilities has been flooded with questions regarding the hottest tech-toy this season: the iPad. Upon Steve Jobs’ big unveiling, Apple-addicts waited in lines that wrapped around street corners just to get a glimpse of one. But how does the iPad compare to laptops? And, can iPads replace our beloved notebooks?

In short, no. IPads are sleek and light but they cannot serve as a replacement for laptops. Here are several comparative points:

• Multitasking: The iPad does not allow multitasking. If you are using a laptop for work or school this inability to multitask is an annoyance that’s hard to overlook.

• Digital vs. physical keyboard: Many users struggle with the digital keyboard, especially the mirror effect that occurs when the iPad is laid flat. For students this would make writing term papers difficult at best, but for e-mails and general usage this is not a point of extreme contention.

• Document Creation: Although Apple offers Pages, Keynote and Number (the Microsoft Office equivalent) the touch screen navigation makes creating usable documents difficult.

• E-mail: The iPad concentrates on the visual flourishes and misses key e-mail functions such as flagging, sorting and attaching files.

• Flash: The iPad has easy one-touch access to iTunes but viewing free content on Hulu or YouTube is not an option because the iPad lacks Flash support (there are solutions for flash with an iPad, but they can be a bit cumbersome to use).

• Price: Including all the accessories an iPad costs anywhere from $499.00 to $829.00 BEFORE you buy the accessories, while laptops come to about the same price and include more software and document creation capability.

• Ports: The iPad only has two ports, which are for charging and headphones. Many users would like to have ports for SD cards or USB sticks. The missing ports and inability to attach files to e-mails leaves many users’ data stranded in Apple world.

Now, please don’t get us wrong. I am NOT saying that you shouldn’t buy an iPad. The iPad has many great features.

First, it is compact. The iPad weighs about 1.5 lbs and gives it portability beyond any laptop. You say the iPad is not compact enough for you? Get an iTouch, basically the mini version of the iPad (or maybe the iPad is the extended version of the iTouch). The iPad is versatile enough to use in place of an e-reader, and let’s face it, it is FUN!!!

Then, of course, there is the “Coolness” factor. Beyond any doubt, the iPad is one of the coolest gadgets out their, and when you consider that it can run Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), an app that will let you login to your windows computer, you have a great excuse to buy one.

So… what am I getting this Christmas? Something to go along with my iTouch. You guessed it… an iPad!

Taking Us by STORM 

The STORM virus is not new. It’s been around since January 2007. Why, then, are we so concerned about it? Surely by now, virus protection software can completely protect us from such an old virus, right? Wrong. According to representatives from F-Secure, a Helsinki-based antivirus company, “the Small.DAM (Storm-Worm) we posted on earlier spread very fast during the night, Helsinki time. The heavy seeding through spam was quickly obvious on our tracking screens. The worm was spread throughout the world very rapidly.” 

The STORM virus has even caught the attention of the FBI (FBI vs. Facebook). Of course, the FBI doles out some very sound advice: “Be wary of any e-mail received from an unknown sender. Do not open any unsolicited e-mail and do not click on any links provided.” They go on to mention that “you have received this, or a similar e-mail, please file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.” 

This virus has mutated — well, sort of — into a newer more powerful bot. It is spam, and it creates more spam. According to darkreading.com, “The bot code used in the infamous, massive STORM botnet that was taken down nearly two years ago is being used to build another spamming botnet. Researchers have reverse-engineered the tweaked version of the original STORM code, which so far has spread somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 machines.” 

The scary part, of course, is that most of these machines did have some form of active antivirus on them. Now, the question stands: Aren’t the virus protection applications able to completely protect us? Yes and no — rather, not completely. I believe that virus prevention is a joint effort between the user and the antivirus/spyware prevention software. 

We can’t take the FBI’s advice too literally. It’s good advice. But we also have to do business, and we don’t always know the exact e-mail address of our associates. Be careful when you open unidentified e-mail, and use some computer sense. Recently, there was a virus going around that appeared to have a Microsoft Word logo and a .doc extension. But upon closer examination, it had a .exe extension, and .exe extensions execute applications. That application in this form is very likely a virus. 

I always recommend using a professional version of an antivirus software, depending on your network, I like VIPRE, SOPHOS, AVG, Symantec, and Trend Micro (although the last two use quite a bit of resources), but I would insist on coupling those with Spybot Search and Destroy. It’s free, but they ask for donations, and even $5 or $10 helps. Make sure you download updates, immunize and then search for problems. Nothing out there does everything you’ll need to keep viruses at bay, but the combination of these will help immensely! 

Below is an abbreviated list of a few message headings you might be aware of in your e-mails and have historically contained the STORM virus. You may find a complete list on snopes.com. 

• 230 dead as storm batters Europe.
• A killer at 11, he’s free at 21 and…
• British Muslims Genocide
• Naked teens attack home director.
• U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza…

The virus also comes with one the following attachments (more listed on snopes.com.): 

• Full Clip.exe
• Full Story.exe
• Read More.exe
• Video.exe

Choosing the Right EMR

If you are a practitioner, finding the right Electronic Medical Records (EMR) can be a timorous task. It is a huge investment, not only in money, but also in time, effort and energy. In order to help with this, I have compiled a list of what you should be looking for in an EMR.

As an IT professional, I will start with the technical considerations. When choosing an EMR, you are much better off with one that is based on a single relational database. That means you want one application: your practice management, billing modules and health records all on one place as opposed to using two or three applications. Some EMR systems are add-ons to an existing Practice Management module with a small communication module in between. If the communication module goes down for some reason (and it will), you may lose data.

You’ll also want one that is compatible with Windows 7’s 64-bit processing power (even if it’s a 32-bit application) and will take advantage of the extra RAM you can use.

Security and HIPPA management should be another consideration. You want one that has User Authentication and will allow you to customize file permissions. You’ll need to think about security features such as:

• User Logging
• Legal Protection
• Importing and exporting patient data from other EMRs
• Importing scans, documents and PDFs.

Regardless of your financial status or philanthropic intentions, all practices must be run using common sense and good business practices. You need to ask questions such as:

• Does the application have financial reporting capabilities?
• Can data be exported to your accounting software (such as QuickBooks)?
• Does it have accounting features such as receivable aging?
• How does it treat Medicare, HCFA and UB92 claims?
• Can it create and print patient statements?

Don’t forget about Document Management. It will consist of the ability to scan, import and index existing records or other printed materials. It will also include the ability to print charts (for paper charting when necessary) and posting electronic signatures on documents.

One of the most important widgets in an EMR application is the scheduling calendar. When looking at a calendars functionality, it should have security options built in such as:

• The ability to view/edit schedule based on security rights
• View/edit schedule for multiple providers
• Search for appointments.

A few others I recommend are:

• Good patient demographics,
• Transcriptions,
• E-Prescriptions,
• Handwriting recognition capability,
• Text support and voice recognition.

When properly integrated into an EMR, these can be great timesavers, and in the end, help you to practice better medicine.

By Adam Pittman

Coming up with the right backup solution can be a very a discerning and confusing task, especially with all the options out there today. So what backup solution is right for you?

To better answer that question, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions about your data, your habits and personality (or at least your company’s habits and personality). For example:

1.How much data (in gigabytes) will you be backing upon a daily basis?
2.What about on a monthly or yearly basis?
3.Do you need to archive data?
4.Will you or someone in your company be able to securely store tapes offsite?
5.What kind of budget do I have for backup?

When it comes to data backup, there is no “one technology fits all” solution. More often than not the right solution is combining different technologies together. So let’s get back to my first question; how much data do I have to backup? If not much, maybe a thumb drive would be a great solution. You can backup your data and keep the thumb drive with you.

But if you have a business, that just won’t do. So to my second and third questions; what about on a monthly or yearly basis? Do I need to archive data? Maybe a large external hard drive – 1TB or so – might work. So then the question is, can you take it home with you every day? Perhaps if I could store it off-site as well…

I know there are some technicians who will tell you that all you need is a good, large external drive for your backup media. They are wrong. Think about it. What would you do if your building was struck by lightning? An average bolt of negative lightning carries an electric current of approximately 30 kilo-amperes (kA) and transfers a charge of five coulombs and 500 mega joules (MJ) of energy. Large bolts of lightning can carry up to 120 kA and 350 coulombs, and there are about 16 million lightning storms in the world every year. Even if you have no idea what a joule or coulomb is, you get the idea — it’s a whole lot of electricity, and oh yea… have I mentioned the probability of theft? Hurricanes? Flooding?

The power from lightning can flow through your floors, walls and other parts of your building. Many structures have steel frames, conducting electricity through the floors and walls. Even if you have a great uninterrupted power supply, external hard drives along with workstations and servers can and will get fried from a direct strike – and all your data with it.

So, should I trash my external hard drive? Not at all. It’s a great, fast local backup. But if you are going to use an external electronic device for a backup, you need to consider coupling it with a secure offsite solution like iBackup or Carbonite (starting at about $10/month) for those files you just can’t afford to lose.

Barracuda Networks, the same folks who brought you their award-winning SPAM solution, have a solution that combines offsite and external hard drives for your backup (Barracuda Backup Service), along with the software that powers it. It works by backing up all files locally (for that speedy recovery) then backs up your data in two different offsite locations. At first it might seem a little expensive, but when you think about what you’re getting, it’s quite reasonable.

Of course, if you have the need to safely archive terabytes of data, you might want to consider a tape drive or a tape library. Tapes are not electronic; therefore, a disaster like a lightning strike will not harm them. Now, to answer question four; will someone be able to take the tapes home with them? Because the tapes are light and small enough for easy transportation, it is quite convenient to take them home. Your information will also be safe from disasters that could destroy the office such as hurricanes and flooding.

But tapes have drawbacks, too. Even the fastest of tape backup systems are painfully slow when you compare them with hard drives, and they are susceptible to fire and other disasters. Iomega has a removable hard drive system I often recommend for backups of 120GB or less (in place of tapes) called the REV Drive.

What kind of budget do I have for backup? The answer to question number five depends on the brand and the amount you need. Iomega’s 70GB system starts at about $380. Barracuda Networks’ unit starts at about the units start at about $1,000 plus $50/100GB of data backed up offsite. Again, it all depends on your requirements and preferences.
Now you see the dilemma. As I said before, there is no “one technology fits all” solution. If there is a lot of data involved due to archiving, you might have to end up with all three technologies working together. I have a few clients that have the Barracuda backup system for their regular backup along with a tape backup for archival purposes. If you can afford it, it’s the best of both worlds.

Adam is the owner and CEO of Computerbilities, Inc.

By Adam Pittman

Electronic Medical Records commonly referred to as EMR or EHR (Electronic Health Records), have been around for more than 30 years. They’re wonderful tools for practitioners. Doctors have your medical history literally at their fingertips. Your practitioner will know all your information (age, drugs you regularly take, previous injuries, allergies, surgeries, etc.) immediately, not to mention helping doctors prevent mistakes by alerting them to things like drug interactions. The use of an EMR could very well help save your life. So why in the world would your doctor choose not to use EMR? Or better yet, why would you choose a doctor who is not using EMR?

There are many reasons why some doctors don’t use EMR. In some cases, it comes down to plain old economics. Despite the popular belief that all doctors are rich and all practices make money, the facts can be quite surprising. Many practices just struggle through for a series of reasons that can be as simple as their location (being in an economically suppressed area) to treating patients who have inadequate or no health insurance (and make no mistake, many doctors are philanthropic in nature).

In other cases they think that they would have to change the way they practice so much it is not worth the effort. Then there’s the daunting task of transferring the existing patient’s print records to an electronic system, followed by training their staff to use the new software. It’s no wonder why many doctors don’t want to implement EMR.

But the benefits outweigh the costs. In their 2001 study, Price Waterhouse Cooper estimated that the burden of paperwork for doctors using conventional paper records was about 30 minutes for each and every patient hour. Think of that; a doctor often works nine hours in his practice seeing patients. Now that doctor has to work an additional four hours and 30 minutes to update conventional patient records.

In most cases with a properly implemented EMR system, those 30 minutes can be cut down to five to eight minutes and can be completed during the examination. To the practitioner, this means more patients seen daily, hiring and managing a smaller staff, less work tracking down patient folders and fewer mistakes made. For you, it means shorter wait times and better care.

And what about prescriptions? Aside of other safety benefits, an EMR can prevent the doctor from prescribing a prescription that may interact harmfully with another drug you are taking. It might even help you get the drug you are prescribed.  A pharmacy manager at a Harris Teeter in Cary, NC, said he had to turn away a patient, who had recently undergone surgery, from getting a pain medication because he could not read the doctor’s handwriting. The patient had already been turned away by three other pharmacies. “All this could have been prevented if the doctor was using and EMR with e-prescribe features. The man did not have to suffer for the weekend like he did.” he said