Have you considered using a dual monitor setup? As a time-pressed business owner, you’re probably looking for ways to improve productivity when it comes to computer usage. You can consider a faster processor or a larger hard drive, and you probably should. But one easy, affordable way to boost your productivity is to upgrade to a dual monitor setup. A good 22” monitor costs less than $200 and can quickly pay big dividends in boosted productivity and reduced headaches.

In fact, having a dual monitor setup has been shown to increase productivity by 20-30 percent. Some studies demonstrate additional benefits, including improved ergonomics and workplace satisfaction by workers who use dual monitors.

I have become a huge fan of using a dual monitor setup for both my office and home workstations to gain screen real estate. Using dual monitors helps me reduce time alt+tabbing back and forth between two different programs or views. I can easily view multiple programs side-by-side without scrolling. A dual monitor setup uses two screens operating from a single computer. This lets you move your mouse back and forth between them, dragging programs between monitors and creating an extra-large desktop.

A dual monitor setup works great for laptop users, too.

While the portability of laptops makes them convenient, tiny screens are a downside. At Synergy, I use what’s called a “docking station” for my laptop. I can bring my laptop to my docking station at work, plug in two cords and instantly have access to my desktop work station’s larger monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse, speakers and more. This eliminates the need to have both a laptop and a desktop computer.

Situations Where Having A Dual Monitor Setup Is Useful

• View web updates in real time: Web designers or developers can easily view web updates in real time, using one monitor to view the site while logged in and the other to view the site from a user’s (not logged in) perspective
• Sharing data between applications: For instance, you can browse images online and simply drag the image to the other screen where your photo editing application is open, without downloading and saving the image.
• Reference critical information: Dual monitors makes it easy to have reference information displayed on one screen while you work on a new document on the other. For example, one screen could have a PDF file, while you’re utilizing the other screen to write a report in Microsoft Word.
• Watch a video while applying the information: If you frequently watch how-to-videos, you can have the video going on one screen, while doing what’s instructed on the other in real-time.
• Convenient video conferencing: Ideal for multi-location businesses or companies with remote workers, dual monitors make it easy to see the person you’re video conferencing with while referring to their files on the other screen.
• Multi-task: Okay, technically, statistics show we can’t truly multi-task. However, most of us are frequently switching between various types of tasks throughout the day. Using multiple monitors makes this easier and less disruptive. View a web page while writing an email, refer to a document while writing something, or work with two large spreadsheets side-by-side.
• Easily edit presentations and documents: Having a second monitor makes it easier to refer to your source document while adding info to your presentation or new document, whether your source document is a spreadsheet, word document or web page.
• See more of your game world: Dual monitors aren’t just useful for work tasks. Avid gamers can extend their game across multiple displays.

Creating A Dual Monitor Setup

Most modern computers can accommodate dual monitors, including laptops. Synergy Networks can help you configure your monitors if you like. Settings for multiple monitors are located in the same place as the controls for your individual monitor, so you don’t need extra software.

You can purchase and connect a second monitor yourself. Synergy Networks can also do this for you.

Most new desktop computers come with more than one port for a monitor—whether DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, the older VGA port, or a mix. Some computers may include splitter cables that allow you to connect multiple monitors to a single port.

Most laptops also come with ports that allow you to hook up an external monitor. Plug a monitor into your laptop’s DisplayPort, DVI, or HDMI port and Windows will allow you to use both your laptop’s integrated display and the external monitor at once.

Configuring a dual monitor setup in Windows is relatively easy.

Just plug the monitor into the appropriate port on your computer, and Windows should automatically extend your desktop onto it. You can then drag and drop windows between monitors. However, Windows may mirror your displays instead, showing the same thing on each one by default If that’s the case, it’s easy to change.

You can control the way dual monitors displays information under “Display Settings” on your computer. If Windows failed to detect all your connected displays or monitors, there’s a “Detect” button you can click to help find new monitors you’ve recently connected.

You can click each connected display and choose an appropriate scaling level for it, which is useful if one display is a high-DPI display and one isn’t.

Need More Information about Dual Monitors? Give us a call.

If the idea of connecting multiple monitors is appealing, but the thought of doing it yourself is daunting or confusing, just give us a call. Synergy Networks would be happy to help you set up workstations for you and your employees that optimizes productivity and makes each workday a breeze!

Data backup is something most people know they “should” do. However, we frequently get panicked calls from people who’ve neglected to properly back up their data. Unfortunately, even if we can salvage data from a broken or corrupted hard drive, the process can be time-consuming and expensive. And sadly, sometimes the data cannot be retrieved at all.

Before the days of digital, the main threats to information, personal records and priceless family photos were fires or floods. Now, a trip on the stairs can send your laptop flying and your data into oblivion.

Synergy Networks provides cloud and local data backup services that run automatically, so you can trust that you’re protected no matter what happens.

Why You Need Data Backup

“I thought it wouldn’t happen to me.” We hear it all the time from clients who come to us with a corrupted hard drive. It can happen to you. We’re in the business of providing professional PC support to businesses and individuals, and it even happens to us from time to time!

Here are just a few of the common reasons you need data backup.

• Computer crashes always happen when you least expect them.
• Virus Infection is a common cause of data loss. Aggressive, malicious viruses can corrupt files and disable computers.
• Hard drive failure is something to be aware of because hard drives have a finite lifetime and can fail suddenly and without warning.
• Physical computer damage has become more common because we now tote our computers wherever we go. Your files are more at risk if you use a laptop.
• Theft is always a risk, since computers are sought after by thieves and cannot always be kept secure while you’re traveling, even across town.

Cloud Backup Versus Local Backup

We’re huge fans of redundancy when it comes to data backup. We provide for both local and cloud backup, so you’re covered no matter what.

Many computer users locally backup their files to an external hard drive or flash drive, which is a good first step. However, if you experience fire, flood, theft or power surge, this will not protect your information. Saving data to a separate location is necessary for better protection. This can be easily done if you have an external hard drive.

Local or physical backup is only as secure as the device you’re backing up to. When saving files on a physical device, your backup device needs to be kept in a different location than your computer. In addition, despite your best intentions, you may forget to copy your files as often as you should, leaving a large amount of recent work unprotected.

Cloud (online) backup is an important part of your backup strategy.

Files stored online are safe from damage to your physical location. If catastrophic weather or fire damages your PC and local backup here in Wisconsin, cloud backup ensures there’s another copy of your data in a totally different location or even a different state. In that case, you will still have remote access to your information from any computer with internet access. We can quickly and easily restore your files and photos to your computer from a secure online server.

Your Data Backup Options: DIY or Trust the Experts

The only thing more heartbreaking than trying to retrieve lost data for a client who didn’t have the proper data backup services in place is trying to help a client who had a backup application, but didn’t regularly run backups or maintain them properly.

You certainly can back up your data yourself. Some backup services are even free. But data backup is only as good as your ability to configure settings properly and run the backups regularly. It’s also risky to download unknown software without the expertise to know what software packages can be trusted, and which might actually pose risks for you, your privacy or your data.

More business owners and individuals are entrusting their data backup management to Synergy Networks, so that they can “set it and forget it” and know that we’ve got them covered. While a local backup not managed by us can be scheduled to run on its own and even monitored by you to make sure it’s running, our backup means we keep an eye on backups and notify you when we see it’s not happening as expected.

A client said to us recently, “I’m no computer expert. I just want it to work, and I don’t want any surprises. It’s well worth the $14/month to me to know my computer and my data’s in good hands with professionals.”

The bottom line is that if you value what’s on your computer, you’re wise to take steps to protect your information from sudden loss.  Work can be redone, but the loss of cherished files like family photos and personal records is permanent.

Learn more about Watchdog Systems Monitoring Services from Synergy Networks. Our Premium Watchdog Package includes data backup up to 20G. Or call us if we can answer questions for you.

Wading through tech-speak to know what you need for security software can be overwhelming. And meanwhile, you have a business to run. Here are a few key things you need to know about the importance of security software for small and mid-sized businesses, the benefits and your options as a small or mid-sized business owner.

What security software is and why it’s important for small businesses.

Security software is your computer’s or network’s defense against intrusion and unauthorized use of resources. Your need for effective security software as a small or mid-sized business is on the rise. According to a report by Keeper Security and the Ponemon Institute, 50 percent of small businesses have been breached in the past 12 months.

Small businesses are a key target for hackers, since they have more valuable data than the typical individual, but far less elaborate protections in place than a large corporation. In fact, studies show that a majority of small businesses are “underinsured” or “uninsured” when it comes to security software.

Losing your data permanently is the worst possibility. Endangering the data of your customers is another severe threat. But using security software comes with many additional benefits to keep your business strong, healthy and protected.

Security software keeps your data and system secure.

Security software keeps sensitive company and client data safe from attack from viruses and hackers. It also guards your system and applications from being lost or compromised due to system corruption, internal or external threats. Advanced security software can also leave an electronic trail to monitor internal use and flag threats of embezzlement or information breaches.

Security software protects your time and money.

As a business owner, you can easily comprehend the catastrophic financial loss that could be caused by a major security attack that compromises or destroys critical data. But your time is equally valuable. Security software that protects against malware and other “germs” keeps your system healthy and speedy, which protects your time. And when your security software proactively keeps bugs at bay, you won’t worry that you’re going to lose a whole day, multiple days or a week to restoring your system’s health. This can happen if over time your machine gets so debilitated by malware that you can no longer use it without a major cleanup.

Security software delivers peace of mind.

When you, your employees and your clients know you have a robust security system in place, you can communicate and share information with ease. You won’t have to worry that you or an employee will inadvertently open an attachment that contains a virus or other harmful code. The right security software also provides early warning alerts to detect potential intruders and let you know before they have the chance to do any damage. For example, it can send alerts about logins from unknown IP addresses or devices so that you can follow up.

Your security software options: Do it yourself, or get help from the experts.

There are a number of effective security software options on the market that let you handle security yourself. Some of them are free. But knowing which ones are safe, which ones work best, how much “insurance” you need and then finessing settings to work well for your unique business can be intimidating for a non-techie. And even the best antivirus, malware or web protection product is only as good as your memory to run regular scans. Countless times, we’ve had a client bring us a compromised computer to fix. When we dig deeper, we find that security software was loaded, but it wasn’t used properly. Security software won’t protect you if you don’t use it properly and keep it up-to-date.

Our Watchdog System Health Monitoring is designed to ensure your computer systems stay healthy, updated and bug-free. The basic version of WatchDog ($4/month/workstation) takes care of the keeping your hardware healthy and updated – first with performance thresholds related to CPU, hard disks, memory, and network and secondly with automated patching (updates) for Windows, Microsoft, Java, and Adobe as well as hardware driver updates. You’ll get e-mailed alerts, regular reports, and someone keeping an eye on your systems to make sure things remain “healthy”.

To address software security needs, upgrade to Premium Watchdog, which includes a security software called WebRoot SecureAnywhere. This provides anti-virus, anti-spyware, and web filtering. Also included in Premium Watchdog is backup to protect your critical data.

All WatchDog clients get free downtime notifications for routers, websites, and company networks. WatchDog clients also have free access to a remote ticketing system. This way, if a problem does arise, we can take a look remotely without you having to lug your machine to our office or even pick up the phone.  Once you’re a WatchDog client, we can usually remotely diagnose what’s wrong and provide estimated costs for the fix, if applicable. Often, we can even perform the fix remotely once you’ve decided you want it done. This can be a huge time savings and bring peace of mind.

Protect your most valuable business assets against security threats and performance issues. Start your one-month free trial of WatchDog Systems Health Monitoring. To have security software included, choose Premium Watchdog.

Its been a lot of chaos the past couple months but we’ve moved and are finally all settled into the old cheese shop in Verona. Once I can put together my email list for invites, we will be hosting an open house lunch thing this summer.
In the meantime, please update your records with our new address and phone numbers as follows.

202 W. Verona Avenue, Verona, WI 53593
608-497-3232

The sign in front (in the picture) is in progress now but will end up being very unique.  Keep an eye out for that as you drive by in the next week or two.

We’ve Moved – Synergy Networks