When you have a question about business technology, it is our job to provide you with a well- measured solution, not just a paper answer. Here are a few of the most frequently asked, along with our solutions...

Q. I already have someone who does my computers. Why do I need you?

A. Everyone needs help. Especially a one or two-person IT staff. These employees must wear the "jack of all trades" hat; managing every type of technology need your business requires...fixing unauthorized downloads, restoring documents, training users, regular hardware maintenance and more. And, at the end of the work day, after managing all those responsibilities, your IT staff goes home.

Strategic IT Solutions is made up of specialists who can provide in-depth, state-of-the-art solutions to your software needs. We are always working for you, providing technology services round-the-clock designed to enhance the profitability of your business.

Teaming up with your current IT staff, we can all focus on making your business more profitable and productive.

Q. Is there slower download speed and email response time in a hosted environment?

A. With a modern broadband connection (using DSL, cable or dedicated Internet telephone line), most customers have ample connectivity speed to never notice a difference between a messaging solution they manage themselves and one that is hosted. More important, if you have any mobile employees, they can access the messaging solution through any broadband connection, regardless of location, and don't need to struggle with firewalls that can significantly slow access.

Q. How can I be sure my data is private and secure?

A. Data privacy and security is a very serious topic. We approach this issue from three directions. They are:

• Anti-Virus and Anti-SPAM Solutions — Viruses, worms and the impact of spam can all have significant and catastrophic impacts on not only email data, but also a company's entire information technology system. We use core Microsoft Exchange anti-SPAM capabilities and the advanced Barracuda anti-spam/anti-virus. Every message is scanned for viruses both inbound and outbound, and the servers and stored documents are also scanned.
• Backup and Disaster Recovery — Our messaging solution, including all of our customers' data, is backed up incrementally every night and completely every week.
• Data Privacy — Every customer's data source is protected from outside access through a robust security, intrusion detection and firewall solution. Every customer's data is logically segregated and protected from other customers to prevent inappropriate data access.

Q. My current solution is free or less expensive. Why would I spend more just for e-mail?

A. Today, messaging solutions, including email, are a critical component of business. Loss of communications and messaging capability can translate to lost revenue, lost customers, and inability to perform work, and at minimum idle and unproductive employees. Email is never free, because the cost of downtime for a 'good enough' solution can be crippling. Further, our business-class messaging solution offers far more than just email. It includes:

• Contact lists that all employees can view, share and edit, regardless of location
• The ability for employees to schedule meetings, events and resources by viewing every other employee's current schedules and commitments
• Shared folders and document repositories that all employees can access regardless of location
• Blackberry and Microsoft ActiveSync mobile solutions that enable employees to access mail, calendars, contacts and tasks wherever they are
• Advanced anti-SPAM and anti-Virus protection to eliminate the annoyance of unwanted emails and the risk of downtime
• Comprehensive archiving and backup solutions to protect critical business emails, contacts and data