Blog
Microsoft Plans to Urge All Windows Users to Windows 10
For decades, Windows users have endured Microsoft’s attempts at developing an operating system they could depend on for more than a few sales cycles. From Windows XP, the parade has gone through Vista, Windows 7, the not-so-popular Windows 8, and having skipped over Windows 9 are preparing to release Windows 10. The approach Microsoft is […]
How Electronic Payments Can Help Grow Your Business
If you have yet to notice, the world of electronic payments continues to expand and has caught on with major players such as Apple Computer and eBay. eBay has decided to split from its long time corporate partner PayPal, while ApplePay is the latest entrant into the electronic payment industry. The question is why have […]
How CRM Can Help Small Business Improve Communication
The heartbeat of every business is its customers. Can a small to medium-sized business get value out of a customer relationship management (CRM) software package? CRM Customer Relationship Management, in its most basic form, is software employed by a business to manage its customer information. The software tracks communications with customers, customer enhancements requests, the […]
Essential Features of Email Systems for Businesses of Any Size
Email has become essential to the business world. Just as the two-way radio became essential for police forces after an initial skeptical period, email has become a cornerstone of business communication. Whether you provide your email in-house or contract it out to a third party, there are things you must have in your email system […]
Efficient Computer Networks Reduce Costs and Increase Efficiency
Many companies spend a lot of time and resources on deciding exactly HOW to build and configure their computer networks. There are many choices and considerations, but one of the most important aspects of the decision making process is how the network’s architecture will positively affect the company and its bottom line. A large investment […]
Do Mobile Fingerprint Scanners Truly Protect Your Business?
Apple has added some intriguing features to their latest mobile product lineup, one of which is the fingerprint scanner. Its stated purpose is to heighten the security on the mobile phone. As the smartphone in general becomes increasingly integrated into the mobile office, making it harder to break in seems like a good idea. However, […]
Managing Power and Cooling is Still Key to Business IT
You may believe, in the current environment of cloud migration, that the onsite data center has passed into oblivion, or, at least, been severely diminished. Part and parcel of this change would mean managing power and cooling would also be a thing of the past. You may believe this, but you’d be wrong. Cloud Computing […]
Travelers Beware: Hotel Wi-Fi Could be Open to Attack
It’s convenient, it saves you and your company a few dollars over your personal or business mobile hot spots and it just pops up when you flip open your laptop or look at your tablet or smartphone. You may not even think twice before hopping on the Wi-Fi at your hotel, but perhaps you should […]
Barriers To Small Business Technology Adoption
Speed is life in the business world. That’s true of most every aspect of your business, but it’s especially true of technology, and the speed with which you adopt technological innovations critical to your business’ success. One of the challenges, of course, is to be able to properly identify the technologies that are critical to […]
Should Leasing Be Part Of Your Tech Strategy?
One of the major decisions any company must make is whether to lease their technical equipment or to buy it outright. As with most decisions in the business world, there are pros in cons to both sides of the equation. The Pros of Leasing Your Equipment Won’t Become Obsolete One of the major setbacks to […]
A Visionary Approach to Your Security
The purpose of an IT partner isn’t just to fix something when it is broken, it is to keep your people working and your data secure. Astral moves beyond traditional managed services by addressing all the key areas of cybersecurity in today’s complex landscape.
