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Windows Server 2003 Set To Expire July 14th!

If your organization is currently running either Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Exchange 2003 on any servers in your office, you need to know about a dangerous security threat to your organization that must be addressed very soon.

Windows Server 2003 and Exchange 2003 Replacements MUST Be Made By July 14, 2015

Microsoft has officially announced that it will retire all support on the Server 2003 operating system on July 14, 2015. That means any business with this operating system still running will be completely exposed to serious hacker attacks aimed at taking control of your network, stealing data, crashing your system and inflicting a host of other business-crippling problems you do NOT want to have to deal with.

This is such a serious threat that the US Department Of Homeland Security has issued an official warning to all companies still running this operating system because firewalls and antivirus software will NOT be sufficient to completely protect your business from malicious attacks or data exfiltration. Running Server 2003 will also put many organizations out of compliance.

Unless you don’t care about cybercriminals running rampant in your company’s computer network, you MUST upgrade any equipment running this software.

FREE Windows Server 2003 Migration Plan Shows You The Easiest, Most Budget-Friendly Way To Upgrade Your Server

During the month of April, we are offering a FREE customized Windows Server 2003 migration plan to all businesses still running this operating system on any computers in their office. At no cost, we’ll conduct a full analysis of your network to help you determine what specific servers will be affected by this announcement. Additionally, we will provide a detailed analysis of all upgrade options available to you, along with the pros and cons of each option. While there, we will also assess other security, backup and efficiency factors that could be costing you in productivity and hard dollars. We will then put together a customized Server 2003 Migration Plan specifically for your office.

To schedule your FREE on-site assessment today, visit www.aztechworks.com/server2003 to get started.

“As a business owner, you don’t have �me to waste on technical and opera�onal issues. That’s where we shine! Call us and put an end to your IT problems finally and forever!”

Dedicated To Your Success,

David Cara�ni President & CEO

April 2015

Inside This Issue…

Windows Server 2003 Set To Expire ................................. Page 1

Shiny New Gadget: The WayTools TextBlade .............. Page 2

Six Easy Ways To Improve Your LinkedIn Profile .................... Page 2

Does This Password Sound Familiar? ............................ Page 3

A Pleasant Drive With The Queen Of England ................. Page 3

Your Chance To Win $20 Visa Gi�:

................... Page 3

Customers Expect More .............. Page 4

IT Just Works

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Shiny New Gadget

Of The Month:

The WayTools

TextBlade When we are surrounded by touch-

screen mobile devices, some�mes we

can get a li�le nostalgic for a good old-

fashioned keyboard. Sure, there are a

number of apps that make typing on a

touch-screen easier, but tac�le

feedback is non-existent. Or we want

to type something more substan�al

than a text message or quick email,

and we don’t want to go through the

chore of typing it all out on a small

screen. And then it’s o�en hard to find

a wireless keyboard that is both

prac�cal and truly portable.

The WayTools TextBlade aims to solve

these problems. The TextBlade offers

a fully-featured and responsive

solu�on—while maximizing

portability. Through a Bluetooth

connec�on, you can sync it up to your

favorite smartphone or tablet. The

lithium polymer ba�ery lasts upwards

of a month with average use, and it’s

quickly recharged via USB. Small but

powerful magnets keep it held in place

when you’re using it and when it’s

tucked away in your pocket.

Six Easy Ways To Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is a great social media platform for entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals. Unfortunately, your LinkedIn profile may not be helping you to create those connections.

So let’s tune yours up with six simple steps:

Step 1. Revisit your goals. At its most basic level, LinkedIn is about marketing: marketing your company or marketing yourself. Think about your goals and convert your goals into keywords, because keywords are how people find you on LinkedIn.

But don’t just whip out a keyword tool to identify popular keywords. Go a step further and think about words that have meaning in your industry. Use a keyword tool to find general terms that could attract a broader audience, and then dig deeper to target your niche by identifying keywords industry insiders might search for.

Step 2. Layer in your keywords. The headline is a key factor in search results, so pick your most important keyword and make sure it appears in your headline. Then work through the rest of your profile and replace some of the vague descriptions of skills, experience and educational background with keywords.

Step 3. Strip out the clutter. The average person has changed jobs six to eight times before they reach age 30. Sift through your profile and weed out or streamline anything that doesn’t support your business or professional goals. If you’re currently a Web designer but once worked in accounting, a comprehensive listing of your accounting background is distracting.

Step 4. Add in some personality. Focusing on keywords and eliminating clutter is important, but in the process your individuality probably got lost. Now add enthusiasm and flair. Share why you love what you do in your profile. Describe what you hope to accomplish. Remember, no one connects with keywords. People connect with people.

Step 5. Take a good look at your profile photo. A photo is a little like a logo. On its own an awesome photo won’t win business, but a bad photo can definitely lose business.

A good photo flatters but doesn’t mislead. The goal is for your photo to reflect how you will look when you meet a customer, not how you looked at some killer party. The best photo strikes a balance between professionalism and approachability, making you look good but also real.

Step 6. Get recommendations. Most of us can’t resist reading testimonials, even when we know those testimonials were probably solicited. So ask for recommendations, and offer to provide recommendations before you’re asked. The best way to build great connections is to always be the one who gives first.

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Business Con�nuity Tip Of The Month:

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) A�acks: Trends Show a Stronger Threat in 2015

What the heck is a DDoS attack and how can it affect my business? Imagine that you own a restaurant which seats 20 people. Imagine also that some teenagers decide to play a prank on you.

Suddenly, 100 teenagers show up at your restaurant at the same time. The pranksters aren't there to buy meals, they're there to block your actual customers from sitting down and buying a meal. Because your customers can't get through the crowd, they are unable to enter your restaurant, and you lose money as your customers instead spend their money at another establishment.

This is analogous to what an attacker does when they initiate a DDoS attack against your company’s internet IP address. If the IP address points to your web or email server for example, then the server may be overwhelmed. Legitimate traffic heading for the server will be unable to contact it, and the site becomes unavailable. Service is denied meaning that your web site will stop responding or email will be stopped. What makes a DoS attach a DDoS attack is the malicious traffic is generated from multiple sources -- often throughout the world -- making the attack much harder to stop.

Most business today depend on internet so imagine if critical internet services like web sites and email or web-based line of business apps were unavailable. Think about the cost to your company. All indications is that 2015 will be a banner year for these attacks both in the strength and power.

There are more devices on the internet than ever (TV’s, fridges, thermostats, etc.). Many have little or no security to prevent malware infections. The result: many of the “smart” devices end up as mindless drones in a hacker group’s botnet.

What to do to prevent the attacks. 1. Purchase a business-class internet security appliance/router/firewall. I see so many small businesses purchase a $50 to

$200 router from BestBuy or Stapes thinking that will offer protection for their network. Let me be frank, If you paid less than about $500 for your internet router, you have a piece of junk that offers almost no protection for your business. A security appliance offers both automatic defenses against these types of attacks as well as strong reporting so that DDoS attacks can be detected and mitigated quickly. Someone needs to be monitoring the logs and that’s where partnering with a managed IT firm would come in.

2. Move critical services to the cloud. If you are still running your web, email, or other server that are critical to your business operations, consider moving them to a cloud or co-located environment. Moving to the cloud means servers that are at a data center with multiple internet providers and much more sophisticated equipment than we could ever afford. They are super expert at quickly detecting and thwarting all kinds of attacks.

Did You Know? Editor Benne� Cerf challenged Dr. Seuss to write a book using no more than 50 different words. The result? One of my favorite books: Green Eggs and Ham.

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Buy Me A Pie!

How o�en have we received the call asking us to bring home some milk? I’v also had the experience where I have gont to the store and thought I was being clever picking up a few items I thought we needed only to find out that my dear wife has done the same. Boom! Two of many things!

Buy Me a Pie solves that issue by allowing the crea�on of mul�ple grocery lists that are synchronized in real �me among mul�ple devices (even devices on different pla�orms).

This App has saved me a ton of frustra�on especially when I’ve used the last of something, I simply put it on the list and we all have it.

Buy Me a Pie! Comes in a very limited free version but I recommend the $2.99 version that is available at the Apple AppStore or Google Play

The Truth About E-mail In 2015 Love it, hate it or call it the gold at the end of your rainbow, e-mail is here to stay. Over the past two decades, it’s become

deeply ingrained in our day-to-day business communication. It’s basically a requirement. Despite a number of software advances and changes in the online communication landscape, e-mail is more important than ever.

This was recently confirmed by a study conducted by Pew Research. They found that e-mail is indispensable among those who are Internet-connected at work. These days, that covers a lot of people. In fact, 61% say it plays an integral role in their job. Additionally, 46% say e-mail access keeps them more productive (while another 46% say e-mail has no bearing on their productivity one way or the other). Only 7% say e-mail hurts their productivity.

In 2014, social media analysts warned that e-mail was on its last legs and that it would soon be overtaken by other online services. However, as this study seems to confirm, that is not the case. In fact, in the workplace, it’s very much the opposite. The Pew study found that social media, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, benefited only about 4% of those in a connected workplace.

Even among the millennial generation, and those who regularly use social media networks in their personal lives, it hasn’t been something fully translatable to the professional environment as a productivity factor. This doesn’t discount uses for social media in the workplace—as a marketing or customer outreach tool—but no social media platform has come close to replacing e-mail as the go-to communication tool.

That doesn’t mean Silicon Valley start-ups aren’t trying. They are always at work trying to find that next four-leaf clover in online communication, hoping to develop that so-called “e-mail killer.” So far, nothing has stepped up that can achieve what e-mail can, particularly for businesses.

For many businesses, it comes right back to the fact that e-mail works. It’s a proven platform and it remains the business communication “golden child.” It’s the same reason phones and fax machines aren’t extinct. They serve a purpose and they help us get things done. That doesn’t stop businesses from always looking for ways to streamline that process.

Another reason e-mail works: accessibility. E-mail is used on nearly a universal level. Social media platforms, while many are incredibly popular, can’t touch the truly global reach of e-mail. Have you considered how e-mail impacts your job? Does it keep you productive? Or are you ready to move on to the Next Big Thing?

Mobile App Of

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Your Chance To Win $20 Visa Gift Card

The Grand Prize Winner of last month’s Trivia Challenge Quiz was:

Douglas Pabst of The Fortress The correct answer was: C) New Zealand

This month’s ques�on:

One famous April Fools’ Day hoax occurred in the 1957 when the BBC aired a curious story that tricked quite a few viewers into

believing they could grow what?

A) Musical Shrubbery B) Horse-sized Hamsters C) Spaghe� Trees D) Chocolate Potatoes

Call or email me right now with your answer:

Does This Password Sound Familiar? You know the difference between a good password and a bad one. Many of us do like

the convenience of a simple, easy-to-remember password that requires no effort to recall and type when we connect to our WiFi network, buy from our favorite e-tailer or use for online bill pay. But many of us also appreciate an added layer of security so we don’t use an effortless password when sensitive data is on the line.

In a recent study conducted by SplashData, they looked at a sampling of over 3 million passwords (all of which were leaked during a data breach last year). They compiled a list of the most common passwords—and the results weren’t all that surprising. 123456 was the No. 1 password used last year, followed by the classic password.

While these passwords may have the IT and security crowds shaking their heads in dismay, it’s not all bad news. These popular passwords may offer next to no practical security, but according to the study, the 25 most common passwords only represent about 2% of the overall total.

This means most people don’t use these passwords—or qwerty, or 111111, or iloveyou. The study found more variation among the most popular passwords versus the 2013 study. Is it a possible trend? Are people turning to more imaginative or secure passwords? Maybe, but only time will tell. Even if the study suggests most of us don’t rely on overly simple passwords, SplashData’s list serves as a reminder to use more secure passwords and to change them regularly.

The Lighter Side…

A Pleasant Drive With The Queen Of

England In 2003, the recently deceased King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia paid a visit to the UK. During the trip, he met with Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral, the royal family’s castle and estate in Scotland. The queen asked then-Crown Prince Abdullah if he would enjoy a tour of the estate. The prince wasn’t ini�ally keen on a tour, but he decided it would be polite to accept as a guest of the queen. He agreed.

When their transporta�on arrived—two regal Land Rovers—the prince stepped into the front passenger seat. It allowed him an exquisite view of the estate and the surrounding countryside. What happened next, he was not fully prepared for. The queen opened the driver’s-side door and climbed in. She swi�ly turned the igni�on, threw it into gear and hit the accelerator.

Keep in mind, women in Saudi Arabia are prohibited from driving.

Also keep in mind, the queen is a very experienced driver.

While giving the prince the royal tour, she did not hold back. It was pedal to the metal. As she blasted down the narrow country roads, she remained a�en�ve to her guest and kept the conversa�on lively. It was an a�en�veness the prince felt was misdirected. He pled with the queen to focus on the road. She did not.

Following Abdullah’s death in January, Queen Elizabeth takes the throne as the world’s oldest reigning monarch at a spry 88. Abdullah was 90.

CUSTOMERS EXPECT MORE In today’s market, as in none before, it is crucial that we learn selling savvy.

The sales environment has changed radically in four distinct ways:

1. Customers are better-educated, more sophisticated and more value-conscious. In other words, they are harder to please; they want more for their money. Think about your own demands as a consumer. You insist on quality goods and efficient service. You don’t want some slick con artist trying to trick you into buying a product or service you don’t want or need. And you don’t want to be abandoned after the sale. You expect follow-up service. If something goes wrong, you want to know that the salesperson and the company are going to stand behind the sale.

This means that salespeople have to stay on top of their markets. They have to be knowledgeable about the products and services they are selling. And they have to be honest—they have to be sincerely interested in helping their customers find value and derive satisfaction.

2. Competition is stiffer. Customers now have so many options that price will always be the deciding factor—unless you can offer a strong differential advantage. That means you have to offer something that sets you apart from all the other salespeople who are trying to get your customers to buy from them. You have to provide quicker service, more up-to-date product knowledge and better follow-up. Moreover, your customers must acknowledge the superiority of your products and services, and the object of your presentation should be to lead them toward that recognition and acknowledgment.

If you can’t lead your customers to that acknowledgment, you won’t get the sale, no matter how good your product. Your success in selling depends less and less on the product you are selling, and more and more on your skills as a salesperson.

3. Technology is rapidly replacing peddlers. People are buying more through direct mail. The Internet is making it possible to buy almost anything you want at the click of a mouse. Companies are no longer looking for peddlers to handle items that are much easier to sell online or through the mail. In many cases, they’re setting up self-service systems that can be operated by clerks. Of course, there are plenty of very good opportunities for really sharp salespeople who can sell with power and skill, especially in the industrial field.

To be successful as a salesperson, you must find ways to distinguish yourself from the inexpensive clerks and the commonplace peddlers. You must rise to the challenge with proficient skills, depth of knowledge and a positive attitude.

4. Time has become a priceless commodity. Prospects don’t want salespeople wasting their time. And if you’re serious about becoming successful, you don’t have time to wander around showing your products or services to anyone who will look at them.

To survive in today’s volatile marketplace, you need a clear and effective strategy. You need the skills to implement that strategy. And you need the know-how to make that strategy work for you. When you acquire and apply these things, you’re demonstrating selling savvy.

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Contact us any�me for all of your IT needs!

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Phone: 623-444-2395

Web: www.aztechworks.com

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Dr. Nido Qubein is president of High Point University, an undergraduate and graduate ins�tu�on with 4,300 students from 40 countries. He has authored two dozen books and audio programs distributed worldwide. As a business leader, he is chairman of the Great Harvest Bread Company, with 220 stores in 43 states. He serves on the boards of several na�onal organiza�ons, including BB&T (a Fortune 500 company with $185 billion in assets), the La-Z-Boy Corpora�on (one of the largest and most recognized furniture brands worldwide) and Dots Stores (a chain of fashion bou�ques with more than 400 loca�ons across the country). As a professional speaker, Dr. Qubein has received many dis�nc�ons, including the Golden Gavel Medal, induc�on into the Interna�onal Speaker Hall of Fame and as the founder of the NSA Founda�on in Arizona.

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