Joseph Moran

Not too long ago, smartphones routinely came with unlimited Internet access via the carrier’s mobile data network. That’s no longer the case, as most carriers have now abandoned all-you-can-eat data plans in favor of metered plans that give your smartphone a limited amount of data transfer per month. Exceed that limit, and you can expect […]

Resource-constrained small businesses often flinch when pondering the cost of new computers. After all, the outlay for each new system ultimately encompasses not only the upfront price tag of the hardware and software, but cost of deployment as well as ongoing support and maintenance. NComputing’s M300 Virtual Desktop Kit ($549 MSRP) aims to offer small […]

To protect small business data from accidental loss, the first step is to make sure you’re performing regular backups to some kind of supplemental storage device (external hard drive, NAS, tape, etc.). It isn’t necessarily the last step, however. While having such an on-site data backup will save your bacon in the event of something […]

Many small businesses currently enjoy cost savings as a result of their decision to consolidate an IT infrastructure via server virtualization — that is, replacing multiple physical servers with software-only “virtual” ones that can co-exist within a single physical server.  Another form of virtualization gaining traction and known as VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) extends the […]

The venerable landline home office phone is quickly becoming an endangered species as more and more people abandon it for the added features and lower costs of VoIP-based phone services that use your broadband Internet connection to place and receive calls. If you want to cut the cord and embrace VoIP, you have plenty of […]

The lifeblood of any small business is its data, and how well a company accesses, manages and protects that data can go a long way toward determining the company’s success or failure.  For small firms that want to minimize the costs and hassle associated with data storage, a compact and relatively inexpensive network attached storage […]

Whether you’re navigating the Web or your local mall, shopping for the holidays is always easier when you have a great list of options. We love easy, so here’s an overview of 12 great wireless networking products that any tech-loving friend or family member will appreciate. Amazon Kindle Fire ($200) Apple’s iPad may still be […]

Do you know how many PCs are sitting on your small business network, what hardware is under the hood, which operating system and applications they’re running, and perhaps most importantly, whether that software is properly licensed? The answer is probably no, considering that compiling and maintaining such information typically requires a degree of time and […]

Considering that one of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) primary missions is to conduct electronic espionage, it stands to reason that it knows a thing or two about network security. As it turns out, the NSA’s Information Assurance Directorate (IAD) publishes a technical guide called Best Practices for Securing a Home Network. Don’t let the […]

When you have several computers on your desk, controlling them all can be a real pain. Leaving each system with its own keyboard and mouse takes a ton of space, plus it creates a confusing mess that virtually guarantees you’ll periodically find yourself working on a different system than intended.   Buying a KVM switch […]

While simultaneously copying a folder to the 5big Network 2 and streaming video from it, we abruptly pulled out a drive to generate a failure, and after a momentary hiccup, both operations continued to a successful conclusion. When a drive dies, the front indicator turns red, mimicking the light above the failed drive’s tray. You’d […]

When we looked at Iomega’s StorCenter ix4-200d Cloud Edition NAS device a while back, we found it to be a solid choice for small businesses that need to keep lots of data accessible both inside and outside the office. Iomega’s new StorCenter px4-300d takes its place above the ix4 in the company’s NAS product line, […]