Partners

Microsoft

Microsoft has some of the best software for businesses. Their Small Business Server is decent integrated package for getting e-mail, database, file serving, printing, security, VPN and firewall all on one affordable server. Of course, it suffers from some stability issues as a result.

Microsoft's basic Server 2008 however is hands down the best iteration of their server operating systems to come out of Redmond. System management and troubleshooting received a lot of attention in this release. Most noticable to us, logs are more detailed and easier to filter cutting down on the time it takes to locate problems.

Intuit

We are a small business and when it come to businesses like ours, nothing fits the bill like Quickbooks. Because it is layed out in a nice, logical fashion it is easy to learn and easy to manage.

Antivirus

It seems that the moment we settle on an antivirus package that we think works, the publisher goes and fouls it up. That caveat aside, we have had good luck with Avast home edition as a free antivirus for home users. Note that we have had compatibility issues with Avast and the quicksave feature in AutoCAD.

We have used ESET Enterprise Security with one of our largest clients. It has an excellent administration console that allows you to do all of your client administration from a single interface. It also has stopped most viruses. However, we have had two issues over the past year where their definition updates have incorrectly blocked access to critical system files. Each instance caused serveral hours of down time while we worked to remove the bad update and install a fixed version. Definately a mixed bag.

If you use Qwest or Comcast for your internet provider you may have access to free antivirus as long as you subscribe to their services. Comcast Business class customers click here. Comcast provides free McAfee SecurityCenter. Qwest provides a hodge-podge of Windows Live OneCare, McAfee or their own home brewed Qwest Internet Security Services. If you have Qwest's basic DSL package you do not get any free antivirus at all.

SonicWALL

SonicWALL is what we prefer to use for business firewall and wireless connections. Mostly because they have a good price point, they are easy to configure and they are very stable. We hate those fifty dollar consumer routers that you have to reboot every couple days because they lock up.