Job Description

• Ardham Technologies, an Albuquerque NM based IT Service Provider, is seeking an experienced Virtualization Engineer. The qualified candidate will be eager to grow, have a strong desire to advance their skills as well as their career in the IT field. They will also have experience in this type of position.

  Ardham Technologies is an established leading Information Technology solution provider headquartered in Albuquerque, NM.

  We service businesses, schools and government organizations primarily in the Southwestern US. We provide consulting, proactive, and reactive services as well as turn-key solutions that include hardware, software and professional services.

  Our engineering group works in a team based environment. We support clients on various project implementations as well as by providing resolution to their day-to-day IT challenges.

  This role is responsible for supporting a wide variety of hardware and software based virtualization and networking components. Common devices supported include Dell Server and storage products (Compellent/Equallogic/Powervault), VMWare Sphere , Microsoft Hyper-V , etc. Supporting and designing medium to enterprise level storage and virtualization an expected day to day task.

Responsibilities of the Virtualization and Storage Engineer include:

• Provide exceptional customer service and follow-up for all issues
• Provide resolution to the root cause of technical problems
• Answer incoming support calls and messages (email, text, etc.), providing resolution within stated time requirements
• Provide proactive and reactive support, as well as initial configuration and deployment services, for:
• Software, including: VMware vSphere, View, vApp, Microsoft Hyper-V, V-App, etc.
• Hardware, including: Servers, enterprise level storage (Compellent, Equallogic, PowerVault)
• Provide foundation-level support for LAN/WAN hardware and software as well as installation
• Adhere to all established security standards and best practices
• Maintain accurate and detailed records within ticketing and invoicing system for all work performed
• Think critically and work methodically to troubleshoot and resolve tier two and three support issues

Qualification requirements include:

• Ability to handle a moderate volume of calls, emails, and tickets
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail
• Expertise in configuring and managing LAN/WAN/Virtualization infrastructure
• Basic understanding of Microsoft AD management (user add/change/removes) and network hardware (RADIUS, TACACS, MS-CHAP based integration with network devices)
• Eagerness to grow, learn and succeed!
• 2+ years related experience
• Knowledge of routing and switching is required

Notes:

• VCP, VSP, CCNA, and/or MCSE certifications are suggested for applicants.
• Additional Employment Requirements: Reliable transportation, valid drivers license and insurance. Flexibility to work off-site executing projects as required for up to two weeks at a time on occasion.

Benefits Package includes:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Health, Dental and Life group insurance plans
• 401k

• Please email responses with a cover letter, resume , and relevant certifications.

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The biggest change in Windows 8 is the “Metro” interface.  There have been mixed reactions to this new way of accessing your applications.  This new “skin” is designed to bridge the gap between tablets and the desktop.  No matter what you run Windows 8 on (tablet, desktop or phone), the Metro interface looks and works the same.  It has tiles that function as “active” icons.  For example, the Photos tile will actually display thumbnails of your pictures right in the Start page without even being clicked on.  The News tile functions as a ticker of the latest headlines.  When you click on an icon, you are brought into a full-screen, stylized application similar to an iPad or Android app.

Many users are encountering a shock with the new start menu: It’s not there anymore. The Metro interface replaces it. This is definitely an adjustmentfor desktop users. Fortunately, this can be easily fixed by installing the free, open-source program “Classic Shell” over at SourceForge. This program allows you to pick the Start button style that you like: 98, XP or Vista/7. From there, you can continue to customize the look and feel of the menu far beyond the default menus of any version of Windows.

There are some other cool changes in the new version.  The copy dialog now graphs the speed and progress of any file copies.  Also, the Task Manager now shows a great deal more information about the currently running programs, processes and services, including files that are open.  Nerds (like me) like that sort of stuff, but it can also be handy for the average user.  When something’s not working the way you expect, it’s nice to be able to get more information about what is going on, no matter what your skill level.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words and video is even more valuable, here’s an intro to the new interface from Lifehacker:

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Job Description

• Our Inside Sales Representatives (ISRs) work alongside our Outside Sales Representatives (OSRs), Presales Engineers, and Clients to provide the right technology solutions for our clients. This is a team-oriented role designed to build long-term and lasting relationships with clients. The ISR works closest with the OSRs on a daily basis to strategize around existing and potential opportunities. The ISR also maintains the accuracy and updates in the system of record for opportunities and clients in their territory.Many opportunities will be handled autonomously by the ISR directly with the clients.

Responsibilities of the ISR

• Remaining in daily contact with their OSRs and attend team meetings
• Actively managing the progression and details of sales opportunities in the territory
• Teaming with their OSR and/or outside business partners to progress opportunities to closure
• Maintaining contact with clients and identifying new opportunities through phone conversation and email
• Creating quotes and sales orders for clients
• Ensuring data is up to date and accurate in various internal systems
• Interfacing with vendors and manufacturers for assistance with pricing and product information
• Passing sales certifications tests such as those for Cisco and Microsoft when required

Performance Measurements include

• Accuracy of projected revenue vs. booked revenue
• Quantity of “past due” opportunities (those which have not been properly updated)
• Frequency of updates to opportunities
• Client and vendor feedback
• Management performance reviews

Regular and recurring tasks for the ISR

• Creating Sales Orders and Projects in the CRM system, ensuring that all required documents and information is included as well as ensuring accuracy of the information
• Performing morning follow up calls with their customers
• Creating renewal notifications for warranty or subscription orders
• Promptly acting on leads provided by the Inside Sales Manager or others
• Creating E-Rate spreadsheets with details from the USAC website during E-Rate season

Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to actively listen and identify a client pain point and opportunity
• Ability to work independently, and prioritize both revenue generating and non-revenue generating activities
• A high degree of confidence
• Strong attention to detail and time management abilities
• Ability to multitask
• Effective communicator
• A drive to succeed and grow both personally and professionally
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, Google and basic internet-based searches
• Experience with ConnectWise or QuoteWerks is a plus

The post Inside Sales Representative appeared first on Ardham Technologies, Inc..

The center of the booth featured a living room-style seating area and a constant video conference to the engineers back at the Ardham headquarters.

The left side of our display featured a smaller, mobile video conferencing unit and our stand-up display.

Finishing it off with our coffee station on the right side of the booth, our booth was designed to be warm and inviting while giving visitors a place to relax, experience some of our technology offerings and get any questions that they may have answered.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s event and we hope to see you there!

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This tool is new to Windows 7, but addresses a need that’s been around since the first time Windows was ever booted up, an easy way to get a picture of a portion of your screen and save it, paste it into a document or send it to someone else.

You can find the Snipping Tool by clicking Start -> Accessories.

Once the Snipping Tool opens, it will look like this:

Once this is up, you just drag a box around the area of your screen that you want to save.  When you release the mouse button, the image will be displayed in the Snipping Tool and (automagically) copied to your clipboard.

You can also write or draw on the image using the marker or pen tools on the top of the window.

When you’re finished, you can either click the Save (Floppy Disk) button to save it as an image file or the Copy button (2 Pages).  You can even email it directly from the Snipping Tool using the Envelope button.

“More Power!”

An extra tip that makes the Snipping Tool even more nifty is the addition of a Shortcut Key.  This allows you to just press a key combination within any application and be brought directly into Snipping mode in the Snipping Tool.  Here’s how you get that set up:

Navigate to the Snipping Tool icon by clicking Start -> Accessories.

Instead of clicking on the icon, though, right-click on it and click Properties.

Click inside of the Shortcut Key block.

Now, press a combination of Ctrl, Shift and/or Alt and a letter or number on your keyboard.  I recommend using Ctrl + Shift or Ctrl + Alt.  If you only choose Ctrl or Alt, it may conflict with keyboard shortcuts inside of various programs and cause unwanted behavior.  I, personally, use Ctrl + Alt + S.

Click OK and now you have a magic key combination that takes you right into the Snipping mode of the Snipping Tool.

We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words and takes a fraction of the time to produce, as well.  The more that you incorporate pictures into your communications, the more effective they will be and the less time it will take to get your point across.  :)

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A Little Bit of Backstory…

Websites used to be just simple text files consisting of a language called HTML with some graphic files linked to make it look nice. This was simple and relatively secure, so the only worries when it came to security was typical system-level security. (Y’know, making sure that someone can’t break into the actual computer that hosts your website…) This is the type of security that people were already used to dealing with.

As the web became more widely used and more people wanted an easier we to contribute content to the web, content management systems began to be developed. These were far more complex than simple HTML under-the-hood, but they presented simple interfaces for users to add and update content. This was very convenient and became widely adopted. In fact, the majority of websites these days use some sort of content management system. The most popular one being WordPress. There’s a very good chance that your website is based on one of these content management systems.

Errr…Bugs…

In computer science, there is a concept that the more lines of programming code there are in a piece of software, the more bugs there will be. This is true on the web as well. Content management systems introduced the possibility for a website to be vulnerable through bugs in the actual web site code, rather than just bugs in the server software. These days, the majority of website hacks that are perpetrated are due to flaws in the content management systems that run the sites.

Now that you understand why this issue even exists, you’ll see why updates to these content management systems are necessary. These updates usually fix security vulnerabilities or functionality problems that the developers of the content management systems learn about. If you’re not updating your CMS, it’s only a matter of time before your site will fall victim to a hacker who is looking for an easy target.

Help Me!

If you’re unsure if your website is being updated or even if you’re unsure what content management system it uses, we can certainly give you a hand with that. We also offer a monthly website maintenance service where we update your CMS software, backup your website, scan it for potential malware infection and clean any spam comments that may have been left by malicious people. We can also implement additional site security, functionality or even remake and rebrand your entire site. If anything in this article has given you cause for concern or raised any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 505-872-9040 and we can help you clear up any questions or issues that you may have.

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Tablets are thin, sleek devices that, as of right now, are much like common smartphones. They do basic computing tasks, can receive corporate email, and have a 5 – 10 inch screen. There are many advantages and disadvantages to this relatively new technology. In this post I will go over with you some of the key features that can make or break the future of this technology.

Advantages

So what does a tablet offer? Well they are lightweight in comparison to most modern day laptops and you can use them just about anywhere. Tablets offer greater battery life and are nearly half the price of most laptops. This results in a simpler interface and a more natural feel. However they don’t perform quite like a laptop does yet*. As of right now think of a tablet as a glorified media reader, you can read, watch videos, and play games in a personalized, mobile platform.

Disadvantages

Tablets are not going to be replacing personal computers completely, but the push is there. The manufacturers of these products definitely have some innovating to do before we can kill off the laptop or desktop computer. My biggest gripe with a tablet is that you cannot really connect anything to them. They don’t have USB ports!  Sure you can get Bluetooth peripherals, but those are few and far between. The virtual keyboard limits a user’s productivity too. Unfortunately touch screens do not really have reference points like physical keyboards do. This makes it so you constantly have to glance at the screen while you type. Another issue I would like to bring up is that mobile operating systems are not as powerful as a full-fledged operating system, which again leads us back to lack of productivity.

Buy or not?

Personally I am waiting to buy a tablet, simply because if I got one I would have to carry my laptop with me along with the tablet. This is because my laptop has everything that a normal computer has, CD Drive, USB ports, Ethernet ports etc. My smartphone will do everything, or just about everything a tablet will do. However, the future of tablets looks quite promising.

The Future!

The future is going to be amazing if tablets can get it all right. What needs to happen is that software developers need to make applications that are just as robust on a tablet’s operating system as they are on a personal computer’s operating system. Another big step towards the right direction is that a lot of web based applications are emerging with virtualization and cloud technology. This means that the mobility of a tablet will allow you to work anywhere with an internet connection through a web browser. Converging the tablet with a laptop is not that far off. Companies are making docking stations for tablets that basically give you all the features of a laptop, other than the operating system. Lastly there is Windows 8, the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system. Windows 8 looks as though it may combine a simple touch based operating system with a much more complex full version of Windows. Now picture this, you plug in your tablet to your docking station, a fully functional version of windows is now in front of you. Then when you’re ready to go, you undock and now you have the choice between a mobile OS and a full OS. Sounds cool right? Well hopefully this sort of thing is not that far off.

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In all seriousness, in most business environments many of the tasks that are performed by users throughout the day are dependant on Internet access to some degree. Enhancing this single aspect of your environment has a wide-reaching impact on all of your users.

Preparing For the Future

Besides the benefit of simply faster Internet access, bandwidth is the single biggest factor affecting your organization’s ability to utilize cloud-based solutions. When you move any function or application to the cloud, every request or interaction with that system will be sent over your Internet connection and the response from the system will travel back over your Internet connection again.

For example, if your file storage is based on a cloud server and you open a spreadsheet from your PC, the request is sent over the internet (through a secured connection) to your file server, which then sends the entire file back over your Internet connection to your PC. Once you’ve edited the spreadsheet and save it, the entire file is sent over your Internet connection to the server.

If you don’t have adequate bandwidth, you can easily see how this can begin to bog down your entire operation with multiple users simply handling their typical workload.

Cloud-Based Caveats

The easiest thing to overlook when planning for your move to the cloud is the upload speed
of your Internet connection. When you have, for example, a DSL Internet connection, your upload speed is usually no more than 1Mb per second. Often, though, your ISP can offer an increase in upload speed on your connection. A good rule of thumb is to have at have your upload speed be at least 30% of your download speed if you want to move one of your in-house servers to the cloud.

The “Silver Lining”

It can be difficult to plan a migration to the cloud. Ardham’s engineering team is very well versed in cloud and virtualized solutions. We also offer cloud services for a variety of needs including file storage, backup, spam filtering and email security. We can even move your existing physical server into the cloud to reduce administration and hardware costs. Give us a call to find out if your business can benefit from a cloud solution right now.

The post The Most Important IT Upgrade Today appeared first on Ardham Technologies, Inc..

In times past, most business viewed IT departments as a cost center instead of a service center or business enhancement group. A Marketing department would instead be viewed as a business enhancement division of a company. Why? The greatest irony of IT being viewed only as an expense is that all departments are now so integrated with IT, that they cannot function, nor contribute as much without it.

The days of viewing a server or PC as “another expense” are gone. Let’s compare mathematically with a PC that is four years old vs. one year old. First we need a foundation – Moore’s Law. Moore’s Law states that PC processing power effectively doubles within a two year period, recently revised to 18 months. Theoretically, all things being equal, a new PC vs. a four year old PC is going to be about four times faster. Let’s take the common example of an everyday administrative task: E-Mail.

A Deeper Look

On a four year old PC using Microsoft Outlook, a user double clicks the launch icon. The program opens up is in a ready send/receive state after 45 seconds. If this happens every business day, that’s 45 seconds times 5 days a week, times 52 weeks a year. Not accounting for holiday scheduling, that’s 195 minutes of productive time lost waiting for a program to load each year. Multiply that by 20 employees, and you’re looking at 65 hours of lost productivity a year, simply waiting around.

Now apply that math to a PC that’s less than a year old. Let’s say that it opens Microsoft Outlook in a send/receive state in 15 seconds. The same group of 20 employees is losing 21 hours of possibly productive time vs. 65 hours a year. That’s a 65% decrease in idle time!

The Bottom Line

Here is a non-technical example: modern software is designed to take advantage of faster speeds, more resources, and updated architecture. Attempting to run it on older devices is like using a tow truck. It can only tow up to 20 tons, and as time has passed, we’re now asking it to tow 40. We’re stuck waiting for it to haul loads 20 tons at a time, when an updated truck would be able to haul 60.

The point is this – holding out on hardware can hurt your business. Your business is more than likely completely integrated with your PCs and servers. If you’re using the best tools to get the job done, it means you can finish faster, perform more work, and ultimately make more money. Upgrading is important not because it’s good to have the latest and greatest, but because the latest and greatest is designed to do more for you, faster.

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Technology platforms that run a modern business are often taken for granted.  Workers arrive in the morning, log in to their PC, open up their business application, and begin their workday.  For the most part, these events go on day-by-day, without much consideration taken regarding where they live, what they run on, and where their data is stored.  This is all well and good, and is the intention of corporate infrastructure technology – to be completely transparent to the end user experience.

Imagine, if you will, that the day comes when suddenly you cannot log in, cannot load your applications, and cannot access business data.  What would happen if the data that operates your business (applications, shared files, databases, websites, security controllers) completely disappeared?  Would you be able to continue your daily operations?  Would you be able to sustain revenue?  What would you do without all your corporate documents, accounting information, or inventory data?  What if payroll was due tomorrow?

This is referred to as a Disaster Scenario.  Billions are spent by companies each year planning and testing for situations involving the loss if IT infrastructure and data.  Each and every contingency plan for a disaster has a key requirement:  the process of backing up and securing important data.  Backups provide a fallback when a primary device is lost, and grants a business a point in time to recover to.  Backups ultimately have the potential to save a business in a worst case scenario.  While most businesses perform basic levels of backups, the last decade has shown us what can happen if only the bare minimum of backup operations provide.

Disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, floods, or physical destruction from attack revealed weak points for corporate disaster scenarios – failure to diversify geographical location.  Local backups worked great for local recovery, but when a flood strikes, the safe deposit box at the bank can’t save your data if it’s a mile down the road and in the same flood zone.

To rectify this situation, many backup companies are now offering low monthly rates and easy consumer solutions to copy critical data over to highly secure data centers.  These datacenters are typically far away enough that any form of localized disaster will have no effect, and grants a business peace of mind knowing their data is in a repository hundreds of miles away.  Cloud based backups are the next step in securing your critical business data.

Ardham provides businesses with regularly-recurring services that will verify the integrity of your backups.  We also partner with a variety of vendors and software suites that provide backup solutions, both local and cloud-based.  Contact us today to inquire about protecting your critical data.

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