QuikNews December 2002 E-Mail Newsletter




Quality Technology Solutions, Inc. QTS QuikNews � December 2002 � Issue 2002.12 December 16, 2002 ************************************************************************ Welcome to the December edition of QTS QuikNews, our Monthly E-Mail newsletter. In this monthly e-mail, you will receive an update of what's new at QTS - new products we support, new patches and upgrades, solution ideas and promotions to save you money, and information about our company and our clients. As a QTS client, a prospective client we have had discussions with, or a �friend of QTS,� you have been automatically added to our newsletter distribution list. To unsubscribe from this mailing please see the instructions at the bottom of this page, or call your QTS Account Manager. Please do not respond to this e-mail. This is an unmonitored account. ********************************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE ********************************************************************** 1. QTS News 2. Events 3. Patches & Upgrades 4. President�s Corner 5. Partner Spotlight: Econium 6. Special Offers & Featured Solutions ********************************************************************** QTS NEWS ********************************************************************** QTS IS MOVING! After over 10 years at our current location in South Orange, NJ, QTS will be moving to new corporate offices in Morris Plains. Our new facility is minutes from routes 10, 287, 280, 46, 80 and 24, and right on the NYC train line, so we�ll still be close to our Northern and Central NJ and NY customers. We are at this time anticipating a move date within the first two weeks of January, and will contact our customers with final details on the move plan to ensure un-interrupted service to our clients. Our contact information will be as follows: 201 Littleton Road Morris Plains, NJ 07950 (973)984-7600 Fax: (973)984-7650 Personal phone extensions, email addresses and our web address remain unchanged. QTS PROMOTES JOHN HOUSTON Quality Technology Solutions, Inc. (�QTS�) today announced the promotion of John Houston to the position of Director, Customer Services. In his new role, Mr. Houston will be responsible for overseeing all technical staff activities, on both projects and support. He will retain project management responsibilities, but will now also oversee QTS' Customer Support Center. According to QTS President and CEO Neil Rosenberg, �John's seven plus years of experience with QTS, from both the sales and technical sides of the house, make him uniquely qualified for his new role. He has the respect of the technical staff, as well as a high level of trust with our customers. In this new role John will be able to ensure that our service delivery is of consistent quality and that our service level is always high, and customer-focused.� NOVELL PRODUCT SUPPORT LIFECYCLE Manufacturer support for software offerings typically runs a 3 year lifecycle from initial product release these days � sometimes sooner, sometimes later, depending on the frequency of interim updates. The following Novell products are coming up on their end-of-life date: 05/01/03 � Novell BorderManager 3.6 05/01/03 � Novell Client 4.81 and 4.82 07/19/03 � Novell GroupWise 5.5 Enhancement Pack 12/28/02 � Novell ZENworks for Desktops 3.0 12/09/03 � Novell ZENworks for Desktops 3.2 See http://support.novell.com/lifecycle/forecast.html for more information. Note that support for NetWare 4.11 was discontinued effective 12/31/01, NetWare 5.0 was discontinued effective 3/31/02, and BorderManager 3.5 and GroupWise 5.5 were discontinued on 8/1/02. +++ FROM THE WEB +++ No press releases were issued in December 2002. ********************************************************************** EVENTS ********************************************************************** No customer events are presently scheduled. QTS will resume its Seminar Series in 2003. ********************************************************************** PATCHES & UPGRADES ************************************************************************ Call the Customer Support Center to have us apply QTS-standard patches and keep your systems current. The following patches have been recently released and are generally recommended by QTS: * Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 3 Also, please check http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/current.asp for applicability of Microsoft Security Bulletins to the products in use at your environment. Contact your QTS Account Manager if you would like our Customer Support Center to monitor these bulletins for you and advise with recommendations for your environment upon release of new bulletins. Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition signature files are currently at version 41216h (12/16/2002). CA InoculateIT 4.x signature files are currently at version 41.00 (12/16/2002) and 6.x signature files are currently at version 23.59.00 (12/16/2002). McAfee VirusScan/NetShield signature files are currently at version 4237 (12/11/2002). Please keep your antivirus signatures, and your scan engines, current! If you do not have your system set up to automatically distribute updates from your server to your PCs, please call your QTS Account Manager or the Customer Support Center. Some patches can cause problems, especially in combination with other software programs or patch levels. Please talk to us to verify whether we see any possible problems in your environment before patching your systems independently. We make best efforts to test patch combinations but cannot guarantee compatibility between software and hardware manufacturers� products. ************************************************************************ PRESIDENT�S CORNER ********************************************************************** During the past eleven years at QTS, I have been involved in the deployment of information technology systems at hundreds of businesses, of all types and sizes ranging from some of the largest in the country, to some of the smallest. Although I hate generalizations and their inherent inaccuracies, they do sometimes help to reach conclusions and see patterns, so I�d like to take a moment to do so. To generalize, I have seen technology deployed in one of two ways � either to realize a modest gain in efficiency, or to transform a business process and create a strategic advantage. Unfortunately, the �tactical� deployment of technology to realize a modest gain in efficiency is by far the most common � a business takes a process that is manually, or via other automation processes, taking 20 minutes and tries to slice the time down to 10 minutes with faster computers, or with more efficient or customized software. The ensuing gain creates a real business benefit � time saved can be applied to other tasks, which can prevent the need for future hiring or allow for downsizing. Increased efficiencies can result in improved service to customers, or better internal management, or other benefits. This is the easiest type of technology to implement, as it will have the least user training and the least impact on the business (and thus the least fear and resistance). It has a very real ROI, and is the least risky to implement. A more �strategic� approach to technology is to identify ways that information technology can truly transform a business and create strategic change in the way the business operates. This is the type of change that can have a truly profound impact, by creating competitive advantages, by sharply reducing effort required to complete a task, or by creating entirely new ways for people to work and use technology assets. This type of project typically takes longer, requires more user training and is far more complex. It also has more that can go wrong � from the standpoint of the project�s complexity, the risk factors of the technologies, and most of all the �human element� of peoples� resistance to change. Change needs to be communicated and carefully managed, workflow needs to be analyzed and proactively planned, buy-in of key users needs to be obtained, and how the technology is deployed is often even more of a success impacting factor than the technology itself � negative attitudes and resistance to change can kill a project faster than a software bug or a missing feature. However, these types of projects can have immense strategic value. This is the �home run,� or perhaps the �grand slam� of the technology world compared to the singles and walks that the more tactical projects represent. A properly planned and managed strategic initiative, especially when properly combined with a tactical series of projects to deploy productivity enhancing technologies, can have a tremendous impact on a business. But an element of vision and creative thought is needed to define and develop the solution, and then a lot of planning and management is required to make it successful. That�s why most people never get around to focusing on it. Many technologies that are currently available have this ability, when properly viewed. Just on the Microsoft front, its upcoming CRM software, its Tablet PC offerings, its .NET development tools and the Business Intelligence capabilities within its SQL Server software are all areas that can readily be leveraged into strategic solutions that create competitive advantage or sharply change workflows. Typically, the closer to the customer the technology gets, the more strategic the opportunity, but not always. The key is the ability of these technologies to drive significant change, and not just subtle productivity enhancements, in an organization. Both are important, but often people become so consumed by the latter that they never take the time and effort to think about the former, and opportunity is lost. As we come to the end of 2002 and begin 2003, many of you are in your planning cycles for the new year. You�re budgeting for new PCs, maybe new servers and security technologies. You�re looking at neat gadgets like the newest PDAs trying to figure out whether your people would really use them. Maybe you�re upgrading software. Allow me to make a suggestion � step back from all that detail, and think � what are the top five business problems or opportunities you and your management team see in your business right now. What are the significant issues that would have a truly positive impact on the business. Step back, forget about the technology, and be really strategic and honest. Try to define the issue a bit, with some supporting bullet points, and prioritize the five items. This makes for a great senior management team planning exercise (which also helps with buy-in down the road and at budget time, by the way). Now, think about how technology can be applied to solve that problem, or create that opportunity � if you�re not sure, then I or your QTS Account Manager will be happy to help you brainstorm it, as we do this all the time for many customers. By defining the problem, and identifying potential solutions, you�re now heading in the direction of a strategic, business-impacting initiative, and with a bit of effort can come up with some cost-benefit analysis. By tackling one or two projects like this at a time (depending on the size of your organization, of course) while continuing to do the tactical stuff, you�re becoming a Change Agent for your business, and moving from a tactical role to a more strategic one. And, incidentally for the IT managers and staff reading this, you�re making yourself far more valuable to your business. It�s a great process to go through, and one that can have long-lasting positive impact. I hope I�ve provoked some thoughts and helped you, even if I have created a bit of extra work for you. Trust me, it�s worth it. Please have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season, and I look forward to writing for you, and hopefully working with you, in 2003. Neil Rosenberg President & CEO Quality Technology Solutions ********************************************************************** PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: ECONIUM ********************************************************************** This month QTS is spotlighting its knowledge management and ebusiness solutions partner, Econium. Econium is a Gold-Certified Microsoft Solutions Provider that builds technology solutions that promote information sharing, distribution and collaboration across teams of people. Econium has specific experience using portal and intranet technology to facilitate delivery of these solutions. They have a particular expertise building systems that manage sales and marketing assets and information for product and brand marketing teams. Econium is a two year old firm that is made up of seasoned business technology experts who focus heavily on understanding the business processes and needs initially, then applying solutions that will leverage existing technology investments. They work with a variety of collaborative technologies including Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server and SharePoint Team Services, Exchange, SQL Server and Content Management Server. Their clients include Kraft Foods, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and Adams Candy. Econium is headquartered in Northern New Jersey and also has an office in New York City. Econium relies on QTS to create the technical infrastructure on which its solutions run. Econium develops and deploys solutions which are geared toward lowering the costs for companies to manage, distribute and share the information they need to conduct business. For more information on Econium please view their web site at www.econium.com, email them at sales@econium.com, or call 973-812-9691. Or, contact your QTS Account Manager. ********************************************************************** SPECIAL OFFERS & FEATURED SOLUTIONS ********************************************************************** SYMANTEC SECURITY SOFTWARE Symantec is offering a 10% discount on many of its security software programs (Intrusion Detection, Vulnerability Management, etc.) to customers who purchase a Vulnerability Assessment utilizing Symantec�s NetRecon software, from QTS. Contact your QTS Account Manager for more details. SURFCONTROL MAIL SurfControl is offering a free license of its Virtual Learning Agent software, which intelligently searches mail contents to classify messages and prevent sensitive information from leaving your company, to all customers who purchase SurfControl Mail between now and December 31^st. Contact your QTS Account Manager for more details. VERITAS COMPETITIVE UPGRADE Veritas is offering competitive upgrade pricing on its Backup Exec products and options to customers who switch from competitive offerings, including ARCserve, between now and December 31^st. Veritas is also offering special upgrade pricing to current customers. Contact your QTS Account Manager for more details. ALADDIN ESAFE COMPETITIVE UPGRADE Aladdin is offering a 50% discount through year-end on competitive upgrades to its antivirus/content filtering solutions. Contact your QTS Account Manager for more details. ********************************************************************** To Comment on this newsletter, send an email to QuikNews@QTSnet.com. ********************************************************************** To Remove yourself from this mailing list please send a reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject field. Or call or email your QTS Account Manager. ********************************************************************** To Subscribe to this Newsletter, tell your friends and colleagues to go to http://www.QTSnet.com/QuikNews. ********************************************************************** To View an archive of all QTS QuikNews editions, please visit http://www.QTSnet.com/stayinformed/QuikNews/QuikNews_Index.htm. ************************************************************************ ^{� 2002 Quality Technology Solutions, Inc.} This site last updated 08/31/07 � 1999 Quality Technology Solutions, Inc. 201 Littleton Road, Morris Plains, New Jersey 07950 telephone: 973.984.7600 fax: 973.984.7650 email: info@qtsnet.com