Goodbye: Windows Server 2008. Hello: Opportunity!

, , , ,

The success of the Windows Server 2008 operating system can’t be denied. It became a mainstay with small- and medium-sized businesses across a variety of industries. Around 85% of companies still run Windows Server 2008 due to the server’s proven reliability.

And that’s part of the problem.

What Companies Risk by Sticking with Windows Server 2008

On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will discontinue support for both Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The costs and time investment required for upgrades are why so many companies still cling to the program. With the 2020 stop date rapidly approaching, here are the risks of not upgrading:

  1. Extensive Security Vulnerabilities. Once Microsoft stops making regular updates, there will be no further security patches to Windows Server 2008. Continuing to use the operating system without these fixes exposes your important business and customer data to hackers looking to steal data. You could also end up infected with malware designed to take your systems hostage for ransom.
  2. Limited Cloud Compatibility. Not upgrading to a new version of Windows Server limits your options when it comes to expanding your technology platform via cloud technology. Windows Server 2008 isn’t fully capable of providing support for cloud or hybrid environments, which will limit your options on software that is only cloud-based.
  3. Performance Issues. Without regular updates, you’ll see your hardware performance slow down as Windows Server 2008 becomes more and more incompatible with your current hardware and software. Virtualization becomes harder since bugs and slowdowns would severely hamper your ability to provide a smooth multiuser experience.

Upgrading Benefits to Windows Server 2008

Upgrading to Windows Server 2016 provides companies with access to features allowing them to build an IT Infrastructure capable of meeting the demands of today’s digital business space. Imagine not having to hear the words, “Our system can’t handle it,” when a great idea is proposed involving technology that moves the company forward.

Here are some of the advantages gained once a company commits to installing an updated operating system to replace Windows Server 2008.

  1. More Extensive Security Protection. Windows Server 2016 provides companies with the ability to implement either single sign-on or multifactor authentication, allowing for better account protection. All of your virtualization instances receive more security from breach attempts from in and outside of your company.
  2. Expanded Cloud Capabilities. The operating system also adapts smoothly to running in a full or hybrid cloud environment. Windows Server 2016 provides an excellent on-ramp for customers looking to explore what they can do with cloud computing, including incorporating Office 365 into their workplace. The IT department can make cloud services available to individual virtual machines (VMs), which could be deployed with a lot less overhead. 
  3. Built-in Backup Services. Windows Server 2016 provides administrators with an out-of-the-box backup system. Resilient Change Tracking (RCT) allows you to perform both full and incremental backups of your VMs.

Upgrading to Windows Server 2016 allows businesses the freedom to explore software as a service (SaaS) offerings like Adobe, QuickBooks and JIRA. Your employees will appreciate the responsiveness of the new server which enables them to increase their daily output. 

Simplifying the IT Experience

Partnering with an experienced Microsoft partner to handle your Windows Server 2008 upgrade makes it a stress-free experience for your company. Simpleworks prevents your upgrade from getting bogged down in the details and handles the miscellaneous technical issues while keeping you on schedule. 

Simpleworks believes in making IT simple and effective. Our team of professionals confirms that all your processes and hardware function as they should upon completion of the new server installation. When Simpleworks handles your Windows Server upgrade, here’s a few of the many processes we cover:

  • Outlining what your final environment should look like
  • Assessing your server and cataloging everything on your network
  • Backing up your current server environment for possible rollback if you encounter issues during the transition
  • Communicating system downtimes to all affected parties
  • Installing the physical implementation of the upgrade
  • Testing all systems, applications and hardware affected by the update

Don’t continue falling behind on your Windows Server 2008 upgrade. Contact Simpleworks at (719) 476-0444 or online to get your company on track for a brighter technology outlook.

New Customer Portal Designed For You!

,

At Simpleworks, we recognize the need for our customers to have access to as many of our support services as possible. To address this need, our recently redesigned website has an advanced computer services customer portal that features customization options, communication tools, and useful information. We are already receiving great feedback about the added capabilities of our new site, especially the customer portal, so we’re confident that this improved access will benefit your company as well.

Advanced Features of the Simpleworks Customer Portal

The new portal is more than just a bill pay system. Here are some of the features of the Simpleworks customer portal:

  • Ticket submission — After logging in to the secure account area, our customers can submit a support ticket directly to our IT staff and monitor its progress.
  • Ticket templates — Many issues are common and general, so we’ve provided quick submission templates to make your submission even faster.
  • Account controls — Customers can review their plan, pay their bill, and download invoices from the Simpleworks customer portal.
  • Informational links — The portal also features links to important information about services, IT issues, and more.
  • Emergency contact — For our customers who face an IT emergency after normal business hours, submitting a ticket on the Simpleworks customer portal is the best way to contact our support staff.

Meeting the Needs of Our Customers

At Simpleworks, we continually strive to find new ways of meeting our customers’ demands. IT systems are vital to most businesses in the modern marketplace, so you can’t trust your success to a subpar IT service and support company in Colorado Springs.

Simpleworks has a proven record of providing superior IT customer service to a wide range of clients—both commercial and residential—in southern Colorado. Give us a call today to see how we can help your business to implement the IT solutions that will keep you operational, efficient, and protected.

Simpleworks Launches New Customer-Driven Website

Growing Colorado Springs IT Support Company Keeps Up with Demand

PRESS RELEASE: We are excited to announce that our stunning, fully-responsive, user-friendly website is now live! New and existing customers will find the site easy to navigate, informative, and representative of the full scope of services we offer. The new site also features live chat, which will allow inquiring visitors to receive additional information about our IT solutions instantly. Our existing customers now have a client portal to manage their accounts, submit tickets, etc.

This redesign became necessary because of the tremendous growth we’ve experienced over the last several years. “We simply outgrew our last site,” said Josh Brambila, General Manager at Simpleworks. “We needed a revamped web presence to better represent the full range of services we offer and to give us even better contact with our customers. We also wanted a fresh look and feel for the site to reflect the professionalism, expertise, and progress that defines what we do.”

Thanks to Power Plant Media, a web design company in Colorado Springs, the new site meets all of our needs. The knowledgeable and talented design team at Power Plant exceeded our expectations. We are confident that visitors, too, will appreciate the attractive design and new features which will help us serve them even better.

Simpleworks’ Comprehensive IT Solutions

Simpleworks has certified, experienced technicians who can install, set up, manage, and troubleshoot any IT service needed by a business or individual. Thanks to our loyal customer base, we have now expanded our services to include Voice over IP (VoIP), etc. in addition to the many other solutions we offer:

  • Network management
  • Business Internet
  • Phone and unified communications
  • Backups and disaster recovery
  • Computer support and repair
  • Virtualization and cloud solutions
  • Managed email services
  • Security and compliance
  • Datacenter services
  • Server support
  • Desktop support


 and more!  Check out the new website for more information about each of these services.

About Simpleworks

Simpleworks is the leading IT support solution for small and medium-sized businesses and residential customers in Southern Colorado. Regardless of the IT needs—whether simple or complicated, large or small—our specialists can build and manage your entire network. While we do have a brick-and-mortar location, there’s no need for you to bring your equipment to us. We will come to you, and if you have an emergency, we are on call, ready to help.

Windows 7 cracks 20% market share

“Windows 7 cracked the 20% share mark last month, a milestone the problem-plagued Vista never reached, Web measurement vendor Net Application said over the weekend. Gregg Keizer reports that Windows 7’s online usage share reached 20.9% in December, up 1.2 percentage points from the month before. Windows Vista, meanwhile, fell by half a point to 12.1%, its lowest share since July 2008. Vista peaked at 18.8% in October 2009, the same month that Microsoft launched Windows 7. The other standout finding: XP is projected to still account for 13% when it’s retired in 2014.”

 

See the original link here: http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/01/03/2329247/Windows-7-Trumps-Vista-By-Reaching-20-Share

A Festival of innovation and imagination in Colorado Springs!

,

Local “What If” festival for the creative hosted this weekend in Downtown Colorado Springs. You can expect interesting experiments in science and robotics among many other tech enthusiastic endeavors!

“We invite you to join us on Saturday, September 11, 2010, from 9 am to 6 pm, in downtown Colorado Springs as we bring together tech-enthusiasts, art-makers, garage inventors, do-it-yourself-ers, scientists, culinary magicians, original musicians, robot builders, urban farmers, student creators, innovators, engineers, and all other thinkers and tinkerers for the first annual What IF… A Festival of Innovation and Imagination.”

R1Soft Increases CDP Compatibility with InterWorx Integration

,
Originally posted by:
jbolduc on: Oct 15,2009 In: Announcements

“Exciting news- We have added Continuous Data Protection integration with the web hosting control panel InterWorx!
With the help of the InterWorx team, we’ve developed a new integration module for InterWorx that allows administrators to authorize shared hosting user access through InterWorx’s administrative panel ‘Nodeworx.’ When users’ have authorized access, a direct link will automatically log […]”