American Global Software

Recently I have been flummoxed over trying to get a virus protection program installed on a client's machine. Because of the way they work Virus Protection programs are pretty monogamous. Like wives, your life does not go well when you try to have more than one at a time (I am going to get in trouble for that comment). Pick one and stick to it or, uninstall the first one before you change.

Recently I tried to install a new virus program and had a rough time doing so. The computer said I already had one installed. I am a pretty saavy computer professional so I've seen lots of them but, looking at the task bar, looking at the installed programs, looking at the processes in Task Manager, I couldn't identify what the program was, yet the new program I was trying to load, continued to complain.

Somehow the computer knew that it an anti-virus program was already running (rightly or wrongly) but I couldn't tell. I also had the sneaking suspicion that I knew how to find out and would kick myself when I "remembered." I knew that if the computer knew what was stuck in that little programmatic cubby hole, I should be able to find out.

When all was said and done I did kick myself, so in hopes of saving you that same silliness. In Windows 7 (I think this is the same or similar in Vista, if you are silly enough to still be running Vista) open the Control Panel and choose System and Security and then choose Action Center.

In the Action Center if your sections are not already expanded (and that is the silliness I missed) you will see a few sections.

What threw me off was normally I see a number of action items that need attending (which like the accomplished professional I am I categorically ignore). But by clicking the down arrow next to security, it expands information about the security of your computer.

Voila! Here I find what I was looking for, the computer sharing with me what it already knows. It tells me here that I have Windows Intune Endpoint Protection up to date and on. It also tells me that it is also working as my Spyware program.

If you didn't have an anti-virus program or spyware program running, you would have an alert here and at the top of the page.

If you don't have an anti-virus program or spyware program running, get one. Period. For Windows the first level is to go to http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx. Download it. Install it. No excuses.

If you want to expand what that security can do for you on one or many machines, we are getting more and more excited about Microsoft Windows Intune. It comes with Intune Endpoint protection, a copy of Windows 7 Enterprise, and we are using it to monitor and support all our clients remotely. We see what trouble is happening before it becomes a problem, check updates, and can provide support and manage them all remotely from virtually any location. If you have a small office with machines that you never know if they are save and up to date and secure, you have to try Intune.  You can sign up for a trial at http://www.windowsintune.com and if, when asked you provide partner #1130965, American Global Software can give you some options that would allow us to help you to manage those machines.

So that we can better serve our friends here in Mukwonago Wisconsin, American Global Software has joined the Mukwonago Chamber of Commerce. Today Jeff was welcomed by his Chamber Ambassador, Elizabeth M. Dyba of The House of Insurance, presenting his plaque on a beautiful sunny day outside at the Chamber office. During the month of June, American Global Software, LLC will be a featured new business in The Mukwonago Chief, the local newspaper.

Since for many of you who live out of town it will be difficult to get a copy of the paper the announcement will be as follows (barring any last minute edits!):

Jeff Fillian relocated to Genesee late last year and brought with him the technology office of American Global Software, LLC a Georgia based partnership. American Global Software provides technology services for small and medium businesses. These services include website design and hosting, search engine prominence, programming, upgrading, troubleshooting, monitoring, cloud services consultation, provisioning and more. As Microsoft Small Business Specialists and with deep knowledge in both propriety and open source technology AGS is poised to understand your needs and provide solutions that suit your business.

He is particularly excited at the way offerings in the cloud are bringing technologies, that traditionally were only available to large businesses with deep pockets, into the hands of small and medium businesses. Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint in the cloud, remote monitoring and support services at a fraction of the cost of just a couple years ago.

Concerning the work they do on web site design, hosting and prominence Fillian says, “We’ve also learned that getting your web site prominence on the most popular search engines is not a one shot deal but an iterative process. We create and host dynamic sites that reflect our three goals ‘dynamic, focused and information rich.’ Coupled with a vibrant blog and connections to social networking sites makes your web site a central part of getting your message out. We then test how your site fares in the internet marketplace, make adjustments and then test again, and again. It is a dynamic place out there and you need to active to stay ahead of the competition!” 

Jeff has worked much of his career as the one stop technologist for small and medium businesses and non-profits in Connecticut, New York and Chicagoland as well as a developer and manager at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Now that he and his wife have moved to the Mukwonago/Genesee area he is looking forward to helping local businesses with their technology challenges so they can concentrate on their business.

Not wasting any time, Jeff has been asked to lead a Best Practice Roundtable session on Social Networking for the Chamber on June 1.

We are excited to publish our new website and this new blog as well. We have made a strategic decision to start using some of the latest versions of Content Management software available for website publishing with this move. It allow us (and our customers) to be more nimble and responsive to changing market conditions and the growth that is occurring in their businesses. It is a little like the difference between how a home was built 50 years ago as opposed to now. Used to be that you would build a home one  two by four and one piece of plywood at a time. Every home was a custom build. There is still a place for that both in homes as well as with web pages, however 95% of the work we do can best be served by finding the appropriate pieces that have already been built, tested, and tested again and using those building block to craft a website that is dynamic, content driven and nimble.

This new design will finally allow us to support a blog. Technology changes so rapidly that we find that we need to continually publish new material and correct old to keep ourselves and our clients up to date with the latest information on how technical changes will effect their businesses. Stop back frequently in this spot as we discover and share the new and exciting developments that can help to move your business forward.