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The CIO Holiday Wish List

It’s just a few days before Christmas, and well into Hanukkah. That means it’s a good time to spare a thought for your company’s CIO. Chances are you haven’t lately. Why would you? After all, they’re always off in that dark server room, twiddling with some piece of gear or another, or with their eyes transfixed to their computer monitors as they mutter darkly about downtime or network traffic statistics. Of course, there is the small fact that while everyone else in your company goes blithely about their business munching holiday cookies and booking skiing vacations in Aspen, your poor neglected CIO is busy warding off hordes of hackers, reconciling fractious disputes between pieces of hardware, and otherwise keeping the company’s data wheels from falling off. Maybe, just maybe, some token of appreciation is in order. Never fear! Your CIO’s wants are simple, and a panel of experts – people ...

Robert Tessanne2023-02-16T16:01:48+00:00

Red Level Moves to New HQ in Novi

Red Level is relocating its corporate headquarters to accommodate rapid growth, the company announced today. The Novi-based technology consulting firm will remain within the city it has called home since its founding more than a decade ago. Scheduled for January 2017, Red Level will close the doors for the last time at its current location on Catherine Industrial Drive and begin a new chapter within a new company-owned building – an 18,000 square foot facility on Grand River Avenue. Located at 40200 Grand River, the high-tech single story building provides Red Level with increased space for continued growth as well as easy access to area freeways. Following renovation, the new space will boast a contemporary open floor plan, cutting edge collaboration areas and plenty of natural light – a welcoming work environment for the talented technology professionals the company attracts. Red Level CEO Dave King is eagerly anticipating the move. ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:48+00:00

Clean Out “Dead Tech” – For Safety’s Sake

In the world of IT, there's never a shortage of things vying for your attentions - and never a shortage of "must-do" tasks to be preformed. Some of these are time - and energy-intensive, and despite their "must-do status, they still wind up being nudged aside. Cleaning out or replacing old technology tends to be one of these. Don't let it be. More and more, companies are waking up to the fact that outdated hardware and software aren't just inconveniences or sources of inefficiency - they are a security threat. There are still many companies out there running Windows XP and other unsupported operating systems and since Microsoft no longer produces security patches for critical vulnerabilities in the operating system, critical security holes will be found by attackers. Believe me, there's nothing like finding that all of your data has been encrypted by offshore criminals demanding a huge ransom for ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:52+00:00

MAINTAINING IT VS. INVESTING IN IT: Save now, spend later?

It can be a big decision: Swallow hard and write a sizeable check to upgrade your IT infrastructure, or “make do” for a little while longer? Maintain IT Change is hard, as well as expensive. Surprises – sometimes costly ones – are the name of the game when you open up the Pandora’s box of IT upgrades. That hot new technology you’re about to pour thousands of dollars into might be buggy, defective, incompatible with applications and devices, or pose a security threat. Adding top-quality IT personnel is pricy, difficult, and time-consuming once you vet applications, run interviews, and deal with the HR hassles. If the technology you’ve got has managed to get you by so far, why not push it to keep on going so long as you can? Your business has managed to survive this long without always having the latest and greatest—and without having to pour much ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:52+00:00

HARD PHONES VS. SOFT PHONES: Which Works For You?

For your company, what’s the best way to keep conversations going: Traditional phone systems or modern “soft” phone technology? Two competing platforms and strategies are ready to fight it out. “HARD” Phones Traditional “hard” phone systems, either analog or dedicated digital, have managed to keep businesses communicating – for the most part – for more than a century. “Hard” phones are simpler technologies from simpler times: They don’t require computers, individual phones are always on and registered, and they usually run on their own dedicated network – so they’re not competing with (or interfering with) non-voice business data. They’re the phones you grew up with, that you already know and love, so there are no steep learning curves getting in the way of adoption and usage – and the calls are generally clearer, too. They’re a little limited, maybe, when it comes to features – but if you just want ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:53+00:00

Information is the Oil of the 21st Century – Learn How to Manage It

Join Red Level and Dell at the Michigan Beer Company in Novi on May 12 IT has become one of the primary drivers of business growth due to the influx and importance of data. The question is, what do you do with all that data? How do you manage it? Who and how do you allow access to it? How do you keep up with it? This session is targeted to those charged with managing data – CIOs, CTO, IT Directors, Data Managers and Business Owners that want to learn a better way to store, manage and access the data that drives your business forward. The session is offered at the Michigan Beer Company in Novi on May 12, 2016 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Topics will include: A modern approach to data storage Flash and Hybrid storage Policy based, self-optimization Auto tiering Cost reduction while maximizing capital ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:53+00:00

Ransomware Attack! Crypto Virus Update

The United States Department of Homeland Security recently issued an updated alert regarding two variations of Ransomware - Locky and Samas. Both of these variations take control of your files and or systems and effectively hold them hostage for a ransom, which is why they are considered Ransomware. Check out the video to learn more about Ransomware, how to prevent it and what you can do if you are infected: This digital extortion can wreak havoc on your systems and productivity but it can be prevented. Below are a few tips from the pros at Red Level: Don't open emails from people or companies that you don't know. Don't click on any links or open any attachments with suspicious names. Do use the latest anti-virus and malware software available. Do update your systems with the latest software and patches. In the event that you do fall victim to Ransomware it is imperative ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:53+00:00

Windows 10 – Up Close and Personal

Operating system upgrades are scary things. After all, every time you update, you’re guaranteed of having to change the way you do things at the very least - and in a worst case, you may find some new bug or limitation keeps you from doing what you want at all. If you’ve held up on updating to Windows 10 up until now, your reasoning is understandable, but it’s probably about time to give it some serious thought. I’d like to share my personal Windows 10 experience. It's been almost a year since I began using Windows 10 on my first device. I was skeptical at first. I had used Windows 7 for years without any real issues. I had tried Windows 8 and found that it had its enjoyable moments on the right device, but it was intimidating at times. The Windows Insider program, which gathered feedback from customers about ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:53+00:00

Head “Down The Vent” – and Play Games for a Great Cause

Red Level employee Matthew Hagon and his friends Joe Perri and Josh Bohnard like to play board games- a lot. Two and a half years ago, they began channeling their passion towards a great cause: Helping sick children. The three founded an organization called "Down The Vent" and began hosting semi-annual all-day table game events to benefit the Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization which supports children's hospitals nationwide. For a few dollars, participants of all ages are invited to try their hand at any of the 200 table games in an all-day gaming marathon, with all profits going to Children's Miracle Network. Typically, over 100 people come together in a local high school library to try new games, support the cause, and have a lot of fun in the process. Hagon and Perri emphasize the relaxed family-friendly nature of the event, with participants ranging in the age from 3 years and ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:54+00:00

IT Capital Expenditure vs. IT Operating Expenditure: Which makes sense for your business?

Well, what should it be – buy or lease your IT infrastructure? Two titanic strategies are fighting it out for supremacy, and there can be only one winner. CAPx This is the way it’s always been done, and the concept is straightforward enough: you pay up front to purchase all the hardware, software, and peripherals that you’re going to need, planning for a specific lifecycle. You handle installation, configuration, and day-to-day management. Outside of limited (usually very limited) warranties, you take responsibility for whatever breaks, and you have to fix it. You pay more up front, but you maintain absolute ownership and control, in the most immediate hands-on sense, of all aspects of your IT infrastructure. The gear you buy shows up on your balance sheets as a company asset, and you might even gain tax benefits too, through purchase or depreciation. OPx This upstart strategy is gaining traction in a lot ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:54+00:00