Thomas Technologies, Inc.

What is Microsoft Intune? Microsoft Intune is a Microsoft Cloud based system that allows Chicago network administrators a single console to manage and secure computers from anywhere. IT staff can manage essential client tasks such as Microsoft Updates, malware protection, set security policies, software inventory management and identifying hardware issues before they become catastrophic.

How does Intune benefit my company? Microsoft Intune is ideal for satellite offices or for employees that are rarely in the office. Your IT network administrator can remotely administer PC management tasks or quickly identify issues before they disrupt productivity. The Intune management interface provides a single console for all administration tasks.

How does it work? The network administrator logs into manage.microsoft.com with their Live ID. From the management console the following tasks can be implemented:

- Analyze running software programs.

- Remotely identify and remove Spyware.

- Remotely run Windows updates.

- Identify computers Alerts that require computer support.

- Identify hardware errors.

- Check for valid software license.

- Run client reports on system health.

- Ensure Microsoft Endpoint Protection is on.

- Enforce Policies.

Here is what the Intune management face looks like:

What are the requirements? Intune targets all sizes of IT environments. Small businesses with no internal IT infrastructure can use it to protect their growing business. Larger corporations can also use Intune to keep track of external PCs including those used by outside sales executives or employees that work from home.


What is the cost? Windows 7 Enterprise volume licensing will allow you access to the $11 per PC per month access.

You can learn more about Microsoft Windows Intune at http://www.windowsintune.com

I sincerely hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment, send an email or just give us a call.

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In this video we explain how-to organize your Outlook Contacts by color categories. Please press the play button to watch the video.

Please leave your questions or comments in the comment box below.

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Tom

This video explains how to create additional Outlook Address books. The primary reason for creating additional Outlook Address Books is to separate personal, vendor and company contacts. Although there are other ways of keeping your contacts categorized some people prefer this method. With that said please press the play button below to watch the video.

Please leave your questions or comments in the comment box below.

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What is the Access Control List (ACL)?

The Windows ACL is used for determining which users can access server resources at specific levels. The security token created from Windows Server 2008’s security sub system, upon login authentication, contains the user’s security identifier (SID) which represents the Active Directory groups the user belongs to.

Why do you need ACL?

The purpose of ACL is to control Group/User access for Windows Server 2008 folder resources. When a user attempts to access an NTFS Folder/File the SID token is compared to the Access Control List (ACL) to determine if the user has access to the Folder/File resource based on the user’s group member status.

How do you use Windows Server 2008 Access Control List (ACL)?

In this example we will grant the Sales group access to the Sales folder on our server. The Sales storage folder will only allow people to the Sales group access. Here is how it is performed:

1. Open My Computer and navigate to storage folder.

2. Right click on the storage folder and select properties. The user interface for the ACL will appear. From here you will have access to three interfaces:

3. Open the Security tab and click on the edit button.

4. Click the Add button.

5. Enter Sales the name of the group and click the Ok button. Then click Ok again on the Permissions screen.

6. Now click the Advanced button below to edit Permissions for the Sales group.

7. In the Advanced Security dialog box select the Sales group and press Edit.

8. Now you can edit the Advanced Security Settings in the Permissions entry dialog box. At this point you can remove inheritable permissions from the parent settings. Now click on the Edit button to adjust security permissions.

9. Now select the security permissions you want to apply to the Sales group. Once finished selecting the permissions click Ok on this and the previous screens to complete.

That concludes applying security permissions on folder resources for Active Directory Groups. All questions and comments are welcome.

Your business blog is the most powerful sales tool to showcase your products and services. Show your customers and potential customers the type of organization you run. Engage them and showcase your expertise. The reason a static website is not enough is that part of the criteria that search engines rank websites is based on how frequently you update your website and the relevance of the content. So unless you want to end up on page 20 in the search engine rankings which pretty much means you do not exist you will need a blog. Blogs allow you to update your site easily without requiring any technical expertise. Here is the Top 10 Reasons Your Business Should Have a Blog:

1. Having your own business blog gives you credibility and a forum where you can show your expertise.
2. Display you passion for your work. Customers are drawn to personality behind the business.
3. Get Customer Feedback for your product and services. You can test out new ideas and get instant feedback. Engage your customers to see what they want most. The better the customer experience the more repeat business you will have.
4. Blogs allow customer Interaction. Readers can comment directly onto your blog, take polls and submit suggestions creating interaction and interest in your products and services.
5. Prove you’re ahead of the curve! Do your competitors have blogs?  Guaranteed at least some of them do, and you can bet that potential clients are reading them.  If a client was looking for a cutting-edge company to employ, having a well-written, professional blog would definitely be a nod in that direction.
6. Show your passion! Having a blog allows you to really draw out the conversation and show your passion as a small business.  Your static web pages can open the dialog, but the blog is what differentiates you as a passionate business owner and someone who really provides the best product or service.  It’s a good way to stand out from the pack.
7. Share company case studies! Your static website can only say so much without becoming bloated and busy.  Having a blog on your site allows you to neatly organize all your information. Case studies are a powerful way to showcase your company’s capabilities and prove your industry expertise.
8. Blogs encourage customer interactivity. Visitors can immediately add their own comments to your posts. This helps build a long term relationship with them and win their trust. It will also make your blog stickier because you will get many returning visitors eager to read others’ comments or write more of their own.
9. Blogs are easily updateable. You can create posts without having any technical experience.
10. Easily add Social Media aspects to your blog. Social media allows others to spread the word about your company service or product. CNNMoney.com has an interesting article on leveraging social media.

Thomas Technologies, Inc. - Chicago Network Consulting, Web Design and Social Media Consulting Company has created a new look and feel for our website. We appreciate you taking the time to visit our site. We are in the process of adding new IT related content on our blog to better service our customers and community. Please send any questions or inquires to info@Thomas-Tech.com. 

Chicago network consulting firms are leaving bloat ware anti-virus solutions for small memory foot print solutions like NOD32 by ESET.com. We highly regard NOD32, by ESET.com, Anti-virus solution as the premiere virus/malware solution for IT departments. Read Gartner’s 2009 Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms. To learn more about NOD32 please visit http://www.ESET.com

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