June 24, 2010
In today’s world of heightened security with both foreign and domestic threats on the rise, eternal vigilance now more than ever should be the mantra of all Americans including Small Business owners.
What? What does National Security have to do with me? Well the short and simple answer is that “Security, being a chain is only as strong as its weakest link”. Small Business owners are responsible for not only economic growth, but also contribute to the growth of online computing resources on the Internet.
Small Business owners have been feeling the pinch in the economy and as a result may have not spent the funds necessary to ensure that their networking environments have been secured. We all have heard it before, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it”.
Communications is a key component in subversive activities both in the United States and abroad. Small businesses and individual citizens have unknowingly assisted in the facilitation of these communications, through poorly secured communications systems including VoIP, Network and Email systems.
A poorly secured communications system deployed on the Internet, not only gives the ability to bounce or even originate communications to anywhere in the world, but it may in fact have legal consequences as well. Minimally Small Businesses or individuals that have been breached may be impacted as a result of governmental computer systems flagging them as a person or an entity of interest for monitoring.
For those of you reading this that have already made capital investments in communications systems, take the time verify that they are secure. Some industry best practices include:
1. The implementation of a hardware firewall that has been well configured
(remember the minimalists approach in access is always the best).
2. Disable unused services on both workstations and servers.
3. Leverage anti-virus and anti-malware whenever possible.
4. As a part of your audit policy, enable logging of all access, and authentication to secured resources.
5. Implement a ridged password policy across all systems.
6. Educate your users, (business related browsing only, deleting unwanted emails
and never opening un-trusted downloads from the Internet).
No one can ever guarantee that a system is 100% secured as long as it has a network cable attached to the world, but taking some simple precautions can go a real long way.
For those of you that are currently ODS Managed Services customers rest assured that ongoing maintenance and monitoring of network resources is an integral part of our service. For those of you who are not an ODS Managed Services clients we are able to provide an audit service to test and report how secure your network is. Any remediation actions may then be performed under a professional service engagement.
By Taras Rudko CIO
May 18, 2010
The new ODS “Virtual System Administrator” interface is almost ready for live launch. We have spent months preparing, building and testing the new function ability of this state of the art server. The entire environment is built on the proven technology of 64bit platform of Windows Server 2008, and utilizes the database scalability of Windows SQL Server 2008.
We decided to install on a HP DL380 server, Dual XEON processor, 10GB of Memory, and 2 RAID arrays, as this is a powerhouse of hardware, capable of handling some of the most system intensive programs.
The Graphical User Interface has been completely redesigned. The module tabs and function lists have been combined into a single expandable-collapsible explorer like navigation pane
Some of the new features include “Users, Scopes and Roles”, for added security and access for Master Administrators, Consultants and End Users. Computer groups have also been migrated into Organizations, Machine Groups and Departments.
The Info Center includes a new function called the INBOX. The inbox holds messages generated by other users or by the ODS System. Much like email, you can use it as a method of system notification or to communicate with other ODS users.
Your Complete Remote Access Tool
With a goal of minimal user interruption Live Connect gives you the tools to do anything and everything you can imagine with an agent, directly.
Complete Agent Data including procedure history
- Audit Information
- A robust drag and drop file manager for transferring files to and from the agent
- Command Prompt
- Remote Registry Editor like regedt32.exe
- Task Manager to see running processes and resource consumption
- Full Featured Event Viewer
- Ticketing interface to update active issues directly
- Chat for IM like conversations with the agent user
- Desktop Access for full interactive remote control of the agent
- Discovery is a tool to sweep the local network(s) of the agent and discover all network nodes
- Video Chat allows for fully interactive face to face video chatting with the agent user if their machine has a camera
March 9, 2010
Much of our build-out project is well underway. In fact the planning for our project started months ago, I wanted to mention that in case we make everything look too easy and very fast. Proper project management is a skill in its self. We are proud to have several members of our staff that have worked on countless projects far more detailed and larger than our humble move. The new space is a 2600 square foot operation from our current 1400 square feet.
All of the engineering changes have taken place and the walls are all set in place. Painting the office took place just this week. Some minor electrical changes took place, but a few other changes are required as well later on. A few walls were removed to make room for our Network Operations Center, where we will be able to comfortably double the amount of technical staff over the upcoming years. As you can see here to the left, our reception area received some extra attention. Just today our sign vendor met with us to properly plan our needs and moving of our current neon signs to the new location. Our carpet will be down in the next 10 days, where we can then begin some of our physical move and technical aspects.
Next week we expect to have our security design plans complete, including our locksmith needs. Our video surveillance and alarm needs to follow. Our primary Internet lines will be 
installed towards the end of the week which gives our new office life. Shortly thereafter our back up lines and remaining communications aspects will be completed. Our furniture requirements are pending approval this week. Our conference room plans for a combination conference room, training area and webinar stage will be ready to install. We really can’t wait for the use we’ll get out of that.
On the back end our administrative staff are really excited since it seems we will be ahead of schedule and they are the first to move. However they are very busy planning some of our events based around our big move. They include our next training day for our Agent Program and Level 2 Consultants Program. We’re excited that we will have such a perfect room outfitted for them. The next is our grand opening month of discounting to help promote our new walk-in area as well as new Managed Service client discounts. We will follow with an official ribbon cutting and evening grand opening event for our fellow partners, vendors, clients, friends and family.
More updates to come, stay tuned. Dee Rudko, CEO
February 17, 2010
“Hello and welcome to AMRCON’s “Small Business Executive Review”. I am Taras Rudko and as many of you know I have been on board with AMRCON for just about a year now as their Chief Information Officer. During this time period I have had the ability to experience and gather valuable information that I now plan on sharing with the AMRCON Community.
We live and conduct business in a rapidly changing and complex landscape that does not only revolve around a successful P&L. Making decisions that successfully guide you through that landscape require intelligence in the form of internal and external influences. I hope to examine Technological, Political, Social and Governmental influences. Blend them with a mix of life and career experiences to provide insight in the form of blog articles.
Topics that I hope to cover in the blog installments will include, leveraging technology investments, security both physical and digital, operational awareness, political and regulatory impacts on small business and the like.
I hope that you find the material insightful, educational and from time to time humorous.”
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