NtegraCare Blog

Tip of the Week: Sign in to Chrome

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We highly recommend, and ourselves use, Google Chrome to our customers as their primary web browser. Google Chrome is the fastest, most secure, and feature rich web browser on the market. There are a number of embedded features and extensions that will help users increase productivity and enhance their web surfing experience. One of my favorite features of Google Chrome is the "Sign in to Chrome" sync feature. Signing in to Chrome brings your bookmarks, apps, history, and other settings to all your devices. Anything you update on one device instantly updates everywhere else, and your Chrome stuff is safe in case anything happens to your computer. It’s your web. Take it with you. Check of the following video for an overview of Sign in to Chrome…..

Download Google Chrome:

https://www.google.com/chrome

Download Google Chrome for Android (Beta):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome&hl=en

The End of Innocence for Mac Users

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

As Mac's gain in popularity, thus market share, they become a more enticing target to those with malicious intent. With the majority of Macs being unprotected and Mac users being lulled into a false sense of security, Mac OS X looks to become a fertile breading ground for future malware attacks.

In the past, over 90 percent of the desktop market share used to belong to Windows, but with Mac’s eating away at that market share, the number of threats to Mac OS X have increased significantly. The general consensus among security researchers is that there’s nothing about the Mac that makes it inherently more secure than Windows, but Windows has always been a juicier target for malicious hackers because it has had a much larger market share than the Mac. As a result, when customers switch from a Windows to a Mac, they are often under the false impression that they are switching to a more secure environment. While it’s not true that the Mac is more secure, it is considered safer because fewer hackers target it. What we like to call “security through obscurity”, which is no longer the case.

Last year, Mac users were introduced to the MacDefender Trojan, and over the past few weeks, security researchers have found that over 670,000 Macs were found with the Flashback Trojan. Now earlier this week, two new malware apps targeting Mac users have arrived on the scene. So, if you are a current Mac user and have not been concerned with security up to this point, it’s time to start worrying about it. And if you are a Windows user thinking of taking that leap over to the Mac because you believe the hype that ”it’s more secure”, take the information I just provided you into consideration and make sure you protect yourself either way.

Windows XP/Office 2003 Support Ends 4/8/2014

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

On April 8, 2014, in just under two years, Microsoft will end support for both Windows XP and Office 2003. What does end of support mean to customers still using either? Beginning April 8, 2014, you will no longer receive security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates for either of these two products. Running Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 in your environment after their end of support date may expose your company to security and compliance risk as well as lack of software and hardware vendor support. Unsupported and unpatched environments are vulnerable to security risks and may result in an officially recognized control failure by an internal or external audit body, leading to suspension of certifications, and/or public notification of the organization’s inability to maintain its systems and customer information.

Ultimately, this means it is time to begin the process of upgrading or replacing your Windows XP systems and Office 2003 installations. Two years sounds like a long time, but it will go by faster then you think and it would be a lot easier on your bank account, your employees, your business, and your sanity to do a phased replacement/upgrade of those systems over the next two years rather then to get caught having to foot the bill to replace them all at once. So, over the next few weeks, we will be contacting our customers with Windows XP systems and Office 2003 installations to discuss your options and help put a plan in place. For those of you who’s business is currently not an Ntegra IT customer, we can still help. Give us a call ((757) 321-9880) or shot us an email (sales@ntegrait.com) to discuss your options as well.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Ntegra IT Solutions supports the fight to end breast cancer by supporting teams participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, 60-mile event. But we can’t do it alone and these teams need all the support they can get. So please, show your support in the fight to end breast cancer and help our friends participating in this event by making a donation. Each team member’s goal is $2300 with the team goal of $10,000 and net proceeds from the the 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer research.

The team member and their teams that we are supporting:

Sarah Rogers of Team Sista’s

Susan Altizer of Pinkies and The Brain

Thank you for your support!

Open email links directly in Gmail using Chrome

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

If you have been using Gmail (Google Apps) for some time, you know that when ever you click an email link within your browser it would typically open an installed email application rather then a new compose window within Gmail. Thanks to HTML5, this is no longer an issue. Follow the link to find out more!

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/open-email-links-directly-in-gmail.html

Another Satisfied Customer!

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

“Tile Restoration Inc - We have been using Ntegra IT for 2 years now. Great customer service, and the technicians are very professional and personable. They readily assist and are quick to fix whatever comes up whether it be remotely or on site. They go out of their way to make sure your business stays running smooth. We know we can count on them to meet our Technology needs. You won't find a better technical service anywhere. We highly recommend Ntegra IT Solutions!!”

--Brad Albritton, Vice President, Tile Restoration Inc.

Visit our Yellow Pages ad and Google Places page for more reviews and ratings!

Another Satisfied Customer!

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

“Kitchen Corps, Inc. is extremely pleased with the services provided by Ntegra IT Solutions Inc. We use them for our entire company IT services. Our network runs very smoothly. Steve is quick to help with an issue no matter how big or small, sometimes they call us to solve a problem before we even know there is an issue! If you are interested in Ntegra's services, call them for a consult. By the end of the meeting you will see why they are the perfect choice!”

--Sarah Rogers, Director of Operations and Sales Manager, Kitchen Corps, Inc.

Visit our Yellow Pages ad and Google Places page for more reviews and ratings!

Another Satisfied Customer!

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

“I've worked with Steve and Ntegra IT Solutions for almost 7 years. Steve and his team continue to provide world class service to our organization. Their response time is incredible, but more importantly the trust I have for Steve is second to none. If you're looking for not only top notch service, but also a company you can trust, Steve and Ntegra IT Solutions should be your choice.”

--Robert Holroyd, Vice President, Phoenix One Step

Visit our Yellow Pages ad and Google Places page for more reviews and ratings!

Your Old PCs Help Students In Need

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Have some old PCs sitting around your house or the office that is taking up space and collecting dust? How would you like to help aspiring students who may not be able to afford their own? Through its successful Computers for Student Success program, Tidewater Community College’s Computer Club refurbishes and updates older or in-need-of-repair PCs donated by companies and individuals. The group also has given re-worked units to elementary school students’ families, college students from other schools, high school students attending classes at the Advanced Technology Center, Portsmouth Social Services’ Employment Services for their clients seeking work, as well as a Montessori school to replace outdated machines.

Ntegra IT Solutions supports the TCC Computer Club by collecting our client’s old workstations, monitors, printers, and peripherals and donating them to the club. If you have some equipment you would like to donate and would like to schedule a pickup: info@ntegrait.com

BEWARE: Tax Season Scams

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

With the 2011 tax season in full swing, we are seeing a large amount of "phishing" emails in our spam filters supposedly originating from the IRS. Please be aware that the IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through email. Unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, or from an IRS-related component such as EFTPS, should be reported to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. The IRS's Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts page will provide you additional information on the scams that may take place through e-mail, fax or phone. If you have any questions or concerns that you think we may be able to help you with, feel free to contact us: info@ntegrait.com

Microsoft Home Use Program

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Home Use Program is a Software Assurance benefit, available as part of Microsoft's Volume Licensing program. Through this offering, you can purchase copies of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 through the digital bulk ordering (DBO; minimum order of 20) process for your employees, for only $9.95 each. This is a terrific benefit because it enables your employees to use the same Microsoft Office software at home that they use at the office, helping to boost employee productivity, enhance job satisfaction, and maximize return on software investment. For more information on how to enroll in or take advantage of your current benefit: sales@ntegrait.com

Another Satisfied Customer!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Another stellar 5 star rating and review from a long time customer! Check it out…..

“W. F. Robins, III, P.C., CPA has found Ntegra to be responsible, responsive, competent, and dependable. Ntegra takes excellent care of us, and has done so for over 6 years. From planning to implementation to follow-up, they handle every project professionally and take great care to schedule around our operating hours. They eliminate I T as an area of concern, allowing us to concentrate on our business. We highly recommend them.”

--Willard F. Robins III, Owner, W.F. Robins III, P.C., CPA

Visit our yp.com ad for more reviews and ratings!

Another Satisfied Customer!

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Just received another stellar review from another NtegraCare customer!

“Steve West of Ntegra IT Solutions just recently completed installation of new servers as well as reconfiguring multiple ongoing problems we had for years. We have 15 workstations. I would highly recommend Steve, and look forward to a long relationship with his company.”

-- Allen Alewine, Owner, Servpro of Chesapeake

Visit our yp.com ad for more reviews and ratings!

Ntegra IT Announces Referral Rewards Program

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

This past Friday’s announcement:

Dear Ntegra IT Customer,

You and our business partners have a lot of good things to say about Ntegra IT. We are excited that the individuals we work with and support think so highly of our offerings that they are willing to recommend us to other businesses. Recommending our services to other businesses and acquaintances shows a great deal of trust in the level of professional solutions Ntegra IT provides and we are honored that we have built that level of confidence with our customers. We also understand that we are extremely privileged to be afforded customers that are willing to advocate on behalf of our company. And because of this, we would like to go a little further than a simple thank you when our customers make the extra effort. To show our appreciation we have begun the NtegraNation Referral Rewards program.

NtegraNation Referral Rewards is a simple program that allows us to give a little back to the those that help make Ntegra IT great. Simply refer a business client to us that you think would benefit from our services and if that client turns into an opportunity, you earn $25.00. If that business opportunity turns into an Ntegra customer, you earn $75.00. And, of course, all Ntegra gifts come with a very appreciative, Thank You!

To take advantage of this program, simply visit click the link above or referral.ntegrait.com and submit your referral!

Sincerely,

Steven West

President

Ntegra IT Solutions, Inc.

Hard Drive Prices Soar

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Due to the floods in Thailand, hard drive prices have more than doubled over the past two weeks:

Reuters - Prices for hard drives are jumping as flooding in Thailand creates a shortage of the major component used in personal computers and one big customer is complaining of price gouging.

Digital Trends - 1TB hard drive prices skyrocket 180 percent due to Thailand floods

Introducing Google+ Pages

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

So far Google+ has focused on connecting people with other people. But Google wants to make sure you can build relationships with all the things you care about—from local businesses to global brands—so today Google rolled out Google+ Pages worldwide.
For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face. All you need to do is start sharing, and you'll soon find the super fans and loyal customers that want to say hello.

Keep up-to-date and in touch with Ntegra IT on our Google+ Pages: https://plus.google.com/102101692450512191694

Google releases new look for Gmail

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Earlier today, Jason Cornwell, Google User Experience Designer, posted a new blog post announcing Gmail’s new look with several other usability enhancements. If you are one of our Google Apps customers, the new look is available to you and we recommend that you review the blog post and watch the announcement video as well to get a better idea of the new features. If you are ready to give the new look and features a try, you can do so by clicking on the “Switch to the new look” link/button in the bottom-right of your Gmail window.

Ntegra IT Becomes a Corporate Member in the Hampton Roads Chapter of AFCEA

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Just about every industry now depends on technology to ensure their businesses run smoothly. Everyone has computers - even the government and military sectors are no different. That is why Ntegra IT is expanding their support and services into the government and military contracting arena for IT services.

Just recently, Ntegra applied for and was accepted for corporate membership into the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) as a means for networking, relationship building and information exchange with government and industry decision makers. Corporate membership will allow Ntegra tremendous opportunities to become more visible in and gain access to a broad network of government and industry professionals in the fields of Information Technology (IT), communications, intelligence and homeland security.

AFCEA International is a non-profit international association dedicated to supporting global security by providing an ethical environment that encourages a close cooperative relationship among civil government agencies, the military and industry.

The AFCEA Hampton Roads Chapter is one of 145 chapters and subchapters in 34 countries throughout the US and world-wide that offer engineers, programmers, managers, government officials and military personnel ongoing opportunities to exchange ideas through seminars and symposias, as well as many other activities.

According to Steven West, President at Ntegra, "As a veteran-owned business, we are uniquely aware of the many instances where different branches of the Armed Forces need computer support. Our team here at Ntegra has many years of experience with IT Infrastructure Management and IT Services to offer and an extensive knowledge of MIL standards and specifications, regardless of whether it's thin client technology or wireless communications technology, or a Computer Network Defense (CND) system."

Ntegra has a solution for every branch of the military -- whether it be with managed services, hosted Cloud solutions, or business continuity.

Ntegra IT Can Help SMBs Prepare For a Projected Busy 2011 Hurricane Season

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Ntegra Can Help SMBs Prepare For a Projected Busy 2011 Hurricane Season

(Chesapeake, VA - August 25, 2011) - The approach of an impending threatening hurricane always seems to bring out the stress in the best of businesses. With its path extending from eastern North Carolina all the way up the coast to the Northeast, businesses can expect winds from 50-125 mph from the possible category 4 hurricane.

Ntegra IT Solutions® has a versatile backup solution called NtegraCloud™ that complements the features of on premise backups, offsite backups and server redundancy to provide clients in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Northeastern North Carolina region with a feeling of security from having one of the highest levels of data redundancy and protection available.

Business owners have a reason to get uneasy when they hear of a hurricane bearing down on the U.S., and with plenty of good reason. Look at 2010 as an example. There were 21 tropical cyclones, 19 tropical storms and 12 hurricanes with 5 of those being major hurricanes making 2010 the busiest season for the Atlantic since 2005 when Katrina grabbed the headlines with news of its massive destruction to the residents and businesses of New Orleans.

According to Steven West, President at Ntegra IT, "Our NtegraCloud Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) marries up the Cloud with physical onsite solutions to bring customers capabilities they haven’t had in the past. It makes perfect business sense to have your business completely secured in case of a major disaster that can occur from Irene's fury."

Ntegra IT Solutions, Inc. is all about Integrating Information Technology with Integrity^TM. Ntegra IT Solutions provides technology solutions and tools to meet the unique needs of businesses. Whether a business requires computer repair, tech support, server management, consultation, disaster planning, phone systems, training, new hardware or new software, Ntegra is ready to provide the highest quality support and products available.

About the Company: Ntegra IT Solutions Inc. is a managed information technology service provider offering professional IT services and solutions for small and medium business.

We provide our customers with the peace of mind that their IT infrastructure is built, monitored, maintained and protected by professionals who leverage the best training combined with years of experience and the latest technologies to prevent down time and save you money.

If you'd like more information regarding Ntegra and the services they provide, we looking forward to having you contact us.

Hurricane Preparedness - Irene

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It is looking more and more certain that eastern North Carolina and Hampton Roads will feel the brunt of Hurricane Irene this weekend. Between now and Friday, Ntegra IT technicians will be making their rounds to help our customers prepare their networks for the coming storm. We will be testing battery backups, verifying data backups, checking physical locations of equipment, and making recommendations. Please review and implement the following recommendations to help protect your data and network infrastructure:

Protecting your data:

Make backup copies of your data
If you have removable media, store your backups offsite and in a secure location - secure against both weather threats and those from human intruders.
If you are using a onsite backup solution such as an external hard drive, at the close of business prior to the storm, take it with you.

Protecting your devices:

First step and most important is to unplug power from all devices.
Move devices away from windows and other vulnerable areas.
Locate devices under a sturdy desk or piece of furniture that could withstand the effects of falling debris (such as from a collapsing ceiling).
If possible, especially on the ground levels, keep equipment off the floor in case of flooding.
Wrap devices in heavy-gauge plastic bags, if available, or in plastic trash bags to reduce rain/water damage.

After the storm:

Be cautious about using devices, even if power is available and your devices are entirely undamaged.
Do not plug in devices that have been exposed to water or other contaminants.
Remember that your safety comes first.