Do you spend too much time searching for old emails?

 You've searched everywhere...

• Inbox;
• Sent Items;
• Even your Deleted Folder

...but they're nowhere to be found?
 
Prevent wasting time searching for emails by changing the subject line.

Now, if Microsoft Outlook wasn’t such a dynamic tool, you’d probably have contact every email sender and give them an email etiquette lesson on how to be more descriptive in their subject line.

But lucky for you, you can change the subject line easily once you receive it - saving yourself search time and energy.

Try one of these two easy options when an email with an undesirable subject line arrives in your Inbox :

1.        Open the email, click where the subject line appears (note: does not look like you can edit it but you can.). Make sure to save when closing the email so the changes take place.  

2.        Change the setting of your inbox to allow in-cell editing

a.       View

b.       Arrange By

c.       Current View

d.       Customize Current View

e.       Other Settings

f.         Click Allow in-cell editing

g.       Ok, Ok….done.

You can modify the subject line to a specific Company name or File # or Document ID to use within your search folder criteria settings. This will allow you to view those emails quickly by clicking the Search folder which matches what you are looking for.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

• Questions about this article?
• Suggest a topic
• Learn more about our Houston IT Consulting

Part 2 of a 3-part interview with Kirill Davydychev, Senior Technical Specialist, Xvand Technology.

IsUtility® Technical Specialist Kirill Davydychev takes a look back at the evolving nature of IT consulting and IT support in Houston during the past decade. 

Q. Is there a downside to the rapid-pace evolution of today’s technology?

Moore’s Law (named after Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore) suggests that the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit doubles every two years. Unfortunately, computers are evolving so quickly, ‘hard drives’ (storage devices for digital data) simply can’t keep up with the pace. This may, perhaps, account for why many organizations have transitioned from traditional computer services to cloud and utility computing in the past decade.

Conversely, one of the key ‘upsides’ of the IT evolution is the trends towards simpler “usability”, a phenomena Gartner Research calls the “democratization of technology”. In the past few decades alone, technology has transformed from 100+ lb. machines managed and used only by highly-trained professionals to something that is built into everything we use, including business processes.

Q. Moore’s Law has been around for decades. Why haven't Houston IT consulting firms offered cloud computing in the past?

The advancement of the Internet has been the key factor in the advancement of services such as remote PC access, remote pc support and, eventually, cloud computing.  Ten years ago, remote access was still in its infancy.  Most consumers and businesses relied on 56k modems, and faster lines were cost-prohibitive. Now that cheaper alternatives, such as DSL and cable, are readily available to all budgets, remote desktops run at the same speeds or even faster than locally-run systems.

Q. So all we’ve been waiting for was…the Internet?

Historically, remote access has always been a step behind ‘local access’. In the 1980’s, there was only text. In the late 1980’s, Microsoft and Apple made local computing two dimensional with graphics and images. At this time, text was now accessible remotely.  In the 1990’s, Windows NT4 and Citrix enabled graphical elements available remotely. However, at this time, local access had evolved to enable three-dimensional capabilities (aka “multi-media”, the blend of sound and video). This was predominantly the ‘status quo’ for over ten years since business demand wasn’t present at the time. Recently (2008), industries IT advancements in the oil and gas and healthcare sectors have paved the way for four-dimensional imaging available in real time. Experts predict that eventually there will no longer be a need for locally-owned systems.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you feel that your current process does not meet these standards, or if you would like more information on IT outsourcing please feel free to contact us:

• Questions about this article?
• Sign up for our free monthly newsletter
• Schedule a free demo of our IsUtility® system

A 3-part interview with Kirill Davydychev, Senior Technical Specialist, Xvand Technology.

IsUtility® Technical Specialist Kirill Davydychev takes a look back and a peek ahead at the evolving nature of IT consulting and IT support in Houston.  The business community has witnessed - and embraced - many technological transformations since Xvand first introduced utility computing (as “IsUtility®”) in 2000. Davydychev offers his perspective on the significant changes in IT and what businesses can expect moving forward into the next decade.

Q. With all of the utility and cloud computing  options available, why would someone want to invest in in-house IT resources?  

Until recently, many of today’s business executives see IT as a sinkhole rather than as a profit-center. As a result many have opted with what, at first glance, was the least expensive option. I think many recognize that IT has become more integrated into the business process.

Some IT professionals believe that you can better control your own destiny by using your own IT equipment. This way you’re not at the mercy of third-party computer services or tied into their long-term contracts. Owning your own IT resources is fine if you’re just starting a company, but as your business grows so does the complexity of your IT system.

Q. Should Houston businesses be concerned about being ‘locked-in’ by an IT consulting firm?

Unfortunately, yes. Most of the firms that provide IT support remote PC support in Houston are credible and competent. However, you should always be careful about signing a long-term contract. Computer technology evolves so quickly that it’s hard to know whether your vendor has the resources to keep pace. This is especially the case with cloud or utility computing which sounds great in theory, but you don’t want your vendor to learn new systems at your expense.

Q. What are the primary disadvantages of owning and managing your own IT equipment?

As I mentioned earlier, buying your own equipment seems fairly innocuous for a small business just starting up. However, over time, key components - such as CPU, disk, RAM, and, to a certain extent, the network – begin to bottleneck, resulting in latency or crashing of your system. These problems grow exponentially in organization with satellite locations and remote users or when remote pc access is required. All too often the typical in-house answer for these problems is to throw more money at it. Buy another server. Add more redundancy. Hire another IT support person. It’s becomes a vicious, never-ending cycle.

For these reasons, budget forecasting for IT is also an issue when you invest in your own equipment. You never know when IT problems can arise, and to what extent. You find yourself having to assume more capital expenditures and risk.

Q. What should a prospective client look for in an IT vendor?

Certainly be wary of long term contracts. Also, if you’re venturing into “newer” IT solutions, such as cloud computing, make certain that the prospective vendor has significant experience in this area of IT expertise. We cover this topic extensively in our Nine Tips for Choosing the Right Outsourcing Provider whitepaper. 

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you feel that your current process does not meet these standards, or if you would like more information on IT outsourcing please feel free to contact us:

• Questions about this article?
• Sign up for our free monthly newsletter
• Schedule a free demo of our IsUtility® system

We see and hear warnings for Hurricane Season on television, radio, in newspapers, and even on bulletin boards. For some people, these messages have become so commonplace; we’ve begun to ignore them.

We’ve seen the value of disaster planning. Unfortunately, we’ve also seen the drawbacks of not planning. That’s why we’re offering our clients and friends the following suggestions on how to prepare…before a disaster occurs:

 Step 1: Equipment Storage

·         Elevate Electronic Equipment (Triple E Action)

·         Secure Electrical Wires

Step 2: Power Alternatives

·         Install Battery Backup System (This should only be used as a temporary use of power; for a graceful shutdown of your computer.)

·         Generators. Gas tanks & cans should be full of gas. (As long as you have electricity (and Internet), you have access to your IsUtility^® service. Remember to save your data frequently as gas can run out without notice.)

Step 3: Protection of Electronic Items

·         Surge protectors (only useful for power surges)

·         Turn OFF all electronic Items during any storm and unplug them!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our disaster recovery specialists.

Creating & Sharing a Calendar in Outlook 

Would you like to have another calendar in Outlook, maybe even one you could share with someone in particular?

How How much time do you think it would save to have a co-workers calendar readily available within your Outlook?

You can create calendars in Outlook, and share them with anyone you select from your contacts.

Follow these easy steps:

Add a Calendar:

1. Select ‘Tools’
2. New
3. Folder
4. Calendar should be highlighted in the Select where to place the folder box
5. Type Calendar Name desired
6. Click OK

Share this Calendar:

1. Verify the Calendar in which you want to share is the only one with a check mark.
2. Click Share My Calendar
3. In Calendar Properties dialog box-Select ADD
4. Select User from contacts
5. Click OK
6. Adjust Permission Level
7. Apply
8. OK