Endsight Named to the Inc. 5000

Endsight was named to the Inc. 5000 list, a collection of the fastest growing companies in America.

Endsight CEO Michael Chaput commented: "We are honored to be recognized by the Inc. 5000 for a second year. We have a great group of people here and they have worked hard to make Endsight successful."

Endsight placed at #2795 with a three-year growth rate of 79%. The 2011 Inc. 5000 reports that the IT Services industry as a whole grew by 56% and was one of the top 5 job generators from 2007 to 2010. To see Endsight’s listing, click here: http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/endsight.

Quality Equipment = Quality Experience

I don’t get to play golf as much as I would like, but you wouldn’t know it from all the golf shirts in my closet.  My wife is incredibly organized and errs on the side of minimalism. As a result, she really takes exception to the fact that I have so many shirts and she takes every opportunity that she can to get me to purge a few of them. In particular, she’s after one light purple “Polo” branded golf shirt that I’ve owned since college. The shirt’s in great shape but it’s age and the fact that I have so many newer, wife approved shirts places it in my wife crosshairs every time she gets an urge to spring clean the closet.

Problem is that I’m pretty partial to the shirt. Back in college I didn’t have a lot of money. So when my mother purchased the shirt for me I knew I had a quality item. Of course, I never would’ve dreamed that the shirt would’ve lasted as long as it has.

I usually tell my wife I can’t give the shirt away because, "I just look to good in it .”  Then she rolls her eyes and tells me, "get over yourself."  She’s right, it’s all too true that I feel like I look good in the shirt, but I think the real reason I keep the shirt around is because it’s a reminder of the quality of buying quality.

Similarly, there’s a lot of technology out there and just like golf shirts, tech comes in varying degrees of quality. Sometimes the technology is so important that it’s really hard to justify purchasing the most "economical" option. Yes, servers from reputable manufacturers such as HP cost more, but the data and software applications that reside on servers are vital.   If something were to go wrong HP has a pretty deep bench and resources that can be brought to bear to correct an issue. The risk of using a lesser-known manufacturer really outweighs any cost savings.

But sometimes the cost to quality trade-off is less cut and dry. Wireless networks for example are often targeted for cost-cutting. It makes sense, wireless networks are a more recent addition to corporate local area networks.  As such, I think they still carry the stigma of being considered optional or add-on.   Early on this may have been the case but now more and more of us have multiple devices that use a wireless Internet connection.  That means that the equipment managing the wireless network has to be more powerful and it has to be smarter and that means it’s going to be more expensive.

At Endsight, each of our clients is assigned a Technical Account Manager or TAM.  One of the TAM’s primary functions is to identify key areas of weakness or inefficiency in the computing environment and to make recommendations to address those areas. Part of the TAM’s analysis includes evaluating and comparing technology options. Endsight’s  Network Operations Team is also continually evaluating new hardware and software that can be safely and reliably deployed across the client base.

Sometimes we end up standardizing on one of the more expensive platforms and sometimes not. More often we find that the most valuable solution (the one that will provide the most "de-hassled" end-user computing experience) isn’t necessarily the most expensive solution. But because were looking for the most quality solution, most of the “economical” technology is rarely the right choice.

Adam Camacho, one of our TAMs, forwarded the included link:   This article by William Van Winkle, details the findings from a wireless performance test that his team conducted.   Adam included this as part of the due diligence he was conducting for one of his clients.

If you feel like it might be helpful to work with a partner that can bring recommendations based on research and analysis of what’s happening on your network, click here and lets schedule a time to meet in person.

Were looking for IT Engineers

About today’s job and tomorrow’s potential:

Joel J. and Joel C. both began their careers with Endsight in entry level positions.  Joel J. worked for a paper mill in Michigan and had no IT experience.  He began as an analyst writing proposals.  Joel C. was a senior at Chico, studying Information Systems.  He also had no hands-on IT experience and started as an intern.  Today, Joel C.  is out of school and working on production computer networks for hundreds of Bay Area companies.   Joel J?  He is now our Vice President of Engineering!

The good news is that your name doesn’t have to be Joel.  Scott, Marcus and Brian also started in entry level positions on our Support Desk.  Today Scott and Marcus are Senior Systems Engineers implementing sophisticated new technologies for our clients.  Brian is now a Technical Account Manager responsible for the IT strategy, design and account management for dozens of clients.

Are you looking for a company where you can work hard, grow professionally and have a blast at work?  Endsight is now hiring extraordinary people with 0-4 years of experience.

We have open positions on our support desk, field support and network operations center teams.  In addition to competitive salaries, we offer full healthcare coverage, a 401K matching program and many other unique benefits such as catered lunches and massages.

Please send your current resume to resumes@endsight.net

Check out the Job add on:

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/endsight

BrachOut: http://bit.ly/n7Mjlb

5 ways to make your keyboard easier to use

I found this helpful set of keyboard tips and thought it would be useful to re-post it.  You can see the original post from Microsoft by clicking here.

How to use a keyboard might seem academic, but there’s more to typing than just tapping the keys. For most people, the keyboard is the primary computer input and control device—that’s why it’s important to leverage the features and shortcuts that keyboards offer. Read on for tips to maximize ease of use, comfort, and efficiency.

1. Get to know your keyboard

Whether your keyboard is just out of the box or it has seen years of use, it may have features you don’t know about. Take a moment to review the literature that came with your keyboard, visit the manufacturer’s product website, and familiarize yourself with the layout of the keys. Knowing your keyboard’s capabilities and limitations—and where to find time-saving keys—can make it easier to use and can even increase your productivity.

2. Customize keyboard settings

After you’re familiar with your keyboard, customizing just a few basic settings can further improve your efficiency and accuracy. For instance, you can adjust:

• The pause before a character starts repeating.

• The speed at which characters repeat, which can help you avoid typing errors.

• The rate at which the cursor blinks, which can enhance its visibility.

You can make these changes right now:

• Windows 7

• Windows Vista

• Windows XP

3. Take shortcuts

Even if you’re a genius with the mouse, keyboard shortcuts can still save you time. They’re called shortcuts for a reason—they reduce multiple clicks to a single combination of keys, like hitting a chord on a piano. They also economize hand and arm motion.

Using keyboard shortcuts for the things you do all the time, like saving or closing files, can make computing much easier and faster. So whether you want to work more easily and efficiently in Internet Explorer, streamline your Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010 experience, or key international characters into your emails, you’ll find scores of shortcuts to speed you on your way. The table below offers only a few common standard-keyboard shortcuts, many of which work across Office applications—from Outlook to Access, from Visio to PowerPoint, from Word to Excel. You can find a more complete list of built-in keyboard shortcuts for a particular application by searching in Help for keyboard shortcuts. You can even peruse this keyboard-shortcut lists:

• Windows 7

• Windows Vista

• Windows XP

4. Make it easier to press multiple keys

If pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del seems an acrobatic feat, you can set up Sticky Keys. The Sticky Keys feature lets you hit shortcut keys one at a time rather than all at once. You can even set Sticky Keys to make a noise so you know it’s working.

You can set up Sticky Keys:

• Windows 7

• Windows Vista

• Windows XP

(Tip: In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, Sticky Keys has a keyboard shortcut—press Shift five times in a row.)

5. Find a comfortable keyboard

Keyboards come in many shapes and sizes, and the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard your coworker swears by might feel downright awkward compared to the Comfort Curve 2000 you covet. Keyboards come in a variety of colors and key styles, too, not to mention with and without wires. And some keyboards are definitely louder than others. All Microsoft keyboards are carefully designed to balance form and function with comfort. Test drive a keyboard or two to find the right one for you.

Although using the right keyboard can really make a difference, ergonomics also play a key role when it comes to typing comfortably.

Tips for using your keyboard ergonomically

It is essential to use good ergonomic practices to help prevent or reduce soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms. It is particularly important if you’re in front of your computer for long periods.

Here are some ergonomic tips for a safer, more comfortable computer session:

• Position your keyboard at elbow level, with your upper arms relaxed at your sides.

• Center your keyboard in front of you. If it has a numeric keypad, use the Spacebar as the centering point.

• While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.

• When you’re not typing, relax your arms and hands.

• Take a short break every 15 to 20 minutes.

• Type with your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard, so that you can use your whole arm to reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.

• Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any surface while typing. If your keyboard has a palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.

How you use the keyboard is up to you. But by taking the time to adjust a few settings and to follow the guidelines above, typing on it can become easier, faster, and even safer.

What’s difference between Cloud Services and Managed Services?

Cloud computing is still a very buzzy notion and still very nebulous in it’s meaning.   As more  outsourced IT firms add cloud computing to their menu of offerings  I’ve noticed that a new term has emerged, “Cloud Services.”  I think this  will only further complicate an already confusing  buzz word bonanza that includes Software as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, Hardware as a Service, Virtualization, Cloud Computing & Managed Services. 

I think that part of the confusion lies in the notion that each buzz word represents an all-inclusive technology solution for a small business.  Unfortunately, its not that easy.  Each term represents an approach to delivering technology and / or  technology support.  Since Cloud Services seems to be the new buzzword lets examine it  relative to  Managed Services.

What are Cloud Services?

To understand Cloud Services, first it’s important to have a rough definition of Cloud Computing.  Most simply, Cloud Computing is a computing architecture that allows a user to access a computer application (email for example) using the internet.  Google Apps and Microsoft 365 are examples of Cloud Computing for business productivity applications such as email, word processing, spread sheets and presentation.  For a more detailed definition of cloud computing click here.

The technology required to deliver Cloud Computing  is expensive.  Profitably operating a cloud requires lots  of customers.  Many local outsourced IT firms lack the scale to build and operate a cloud and so many of them do what they’ve always done,  resell some else’s product.   Most outsourced IT firms make the bulk for their money from professional services  and so they tack the word “ services” on to the word “cloud” and voilà, now  you have “cloud services.”

Cloud Services allow an outsourced IT provider to aggregate computing resources and allow a client to access those computing resources with out the hassle and expense of building, maintaining and upgrading servers.    But there’s a real risk the needs to be understood before choosing to leverage a resold cloud.  What happens if there is an outage?  How much control does the local firm have over the cloud resources it is re-selling?  I wrote a whole blog about Cloud Computing Risks.  You can click here to read it.  I also wrote one about leveraging resold services.  You can click here to read it.

Finally, while  cloud services allow a business to shift the hassle of buying, building, supporting and upgrading servers to someone else.  It neglects other parts of the computer network.   PC’s, laptops, handhelds, tablets, routers, switches, printers, internet connections and firewalls all remain and all need to be supported.

What are Managed Services?

Managed Services  by comparison are about the people needed to run a computing environment.  Leveraging remote monitoring and remote support technology, an outsourced IT provider can aggregate  talent and intellectual property (think IT professionals, process, tools, analysis and strategy) and provide it as an always available service.  Clients can access the expertise with out the hassle and expense of hiring, training and managing a team / person of their own.

Managed Services are most commonly  characterized by phone based & remote control computer support,  but reactive support should only be one part of a more comprehensive suite of managed services that includes IT strategy and network operations.   For a detailed description of Endsight’s  managed services, click here.

How do Cloud Services and Managed Services relate to one another?

Cloud Services and Managed Services should be employed together to allow a firm to outsource All of the resources (people & computing) required to deliver information technology to its employees.   Regardless of the servers location (on-premise or cloud) the entire computing network must be supported and strategically managed. 

At Endsight, we merge what is being referred to as cloud services into a functional managed services container that we call "plumbing.”   We started calling the server and infrastructure portion of a computer network “plumbing” some time ago because it really helped to simplify the client/server concept.  I think now more than ever the thinking of the server and network infrastructure as plumbing is really a great way to make sense of all the  the options.

For some firms, cloud computing  is an excellent fit because of required features that are only available in the data center. Other firms aren’t as reliant on their computing infrastructure and don’t necessarily require all the redundancy and scalability that the cloud provides. Contrary to the prevailing wisdom, cloud computing or cloud services are not always the low cost approach to providing server infrastructure. But as I mentioned, at Endsight it doesn’t really matter where the servers reside. To us it’s all just plumbing.  Taking an agnostic approach to plumbing allows Endsight to source the best possible solution for each of its clients based on their specific needs.

If you’d like to talk more about the comparison between cloud services and managed services click here and let schedule some time to talk in person.