Aruba ClearPass Part 1

By Jeff Joyner

Network Access Control or NAC has been around for over a decade, but there are many organizations where this technology has yet to be embraced.  This may be changing thanks to the trend of BYOD (bring your own device).  Companies who want to have more control with the devices allowed on their network are turning to NAC to provide this type of security solution.  The HPE/Aruba ClearPass platform is a best-of-breed product that will provide granular control of wireless and wired access and be able to grow as your company grows.

Say you want to allow employees the ability to connect their personal tablets or laptops to the corporate network where you control which resources can be accessed.  And you want to make sure these devices have appropriate security software installed and updated.  You also have contractors on site that require wired and/or wireless connectivity to the network and need to have access to specific resources during business hours only.  ClearPass can do all of this and much more.

Guest wireless is often offered with either an open (no password) network or with a password that rarely gets changed.  ClearPass can automate individual password generation per user with limitations on bandwidth and time-of-day access if preferred.  You can also force guests to request access with approval from an internal user (manager, receptionist, etc).

ClearPass is flexible in that it works with many vendors, so you don’t have to rip out your current switching environment to make this solution work.  It also supports multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android.

For more information about what the Aruba ClearPass solution can do for your network, contact CTG Sales at sales@ctgva.com or 804-353-5307.



Jeff Joyner is a network engineer at Convergent Technologies Group.

The HP Pro Slate 12 – The Perfect Tool for the Modern Law Office

By: Daniel Bendele

Before transitioning to the technology field, I spent time in a traditional general practice law firm,and in a non-traditional lobbying setting. Looking back on my time in both settings, I wish I would have had access to a tool like the Pro Slate 12.

Taking and transcribing notes for clients and potential clients is one of the most time consuming tasks for any attorney, paralegal, or legal assistant. In a business where time is often the determining factor in how much money the firm is bringing in, any tool that can help increase the amount of clients you are able to work with and decrease the time needed for each client is beyond essential. The Pro Slate 12 and its accompanying HP Duet Pen is an absolute game changer.

The Pro Slate 12 is an Android based tablet that allows you to take handwritten notes on the tablet or on a separate sheet of paper and have those notes transfer as text instantaneously to the tablet. Once the notes are on the tablet, they can be stored securely in the Google cloud and then transferred to whatever medium you'd like (Microsoft word, PDF, it even integrates with Tabs3 and Practice Master).

Not only does the tablet change the way attorneys and their staff can take and store client information, but it is also possible to access important research tools like Westlaw and Lexis via their Android apps. This is another game changer for the mobile attorney as it allows you to research relevant case law on the go. Along with making your research capabilities mobile, the Westlaw and Lexis apps on the Pro Slate 12 could save your firm thousands of dollars on printing costs, by allowing attorneys and their staff to easily identify relevant case law without printing unnecessary cases.

My previous legal experience allows me to see just how great of a tool this tablet could be for lawyers and their staff, but I’m certain the Pro Slate 12 could save time and money for business people in a myriad of industries. Whether you are an accountant interviewing clients, or a doctor/nurse speaking with patients, the ability to easily and securely take paperless notes is a major technological evolution. 

Here at Convergent Technologies Group we work tirelessly to not just find you the best hardware, but to find you solutions that put your business ahead of the curve. If you would like to see the Pro Slate 12 in action, contact our office and we will be happy to come and show you how this fantastic tool can help keep your company at the front of the pack.

Daniel Bendele is a SMB Account Manager for Convergent Technologies Group.

4 Reasons You Need CTG as Your IT Partner Right Now

It’s easy to call Convergent Technologies Group an IT company. But that’s like saying Nike is an athletics company or Kraft is a food company. Each of us provides a range of products or services under that category umbrella, but each of us has strategically honed in on core offerings that reflect what we can deliver best for our customers.

Being nimble and staying on the leading edge of the ever-changing IT market has been an integral part of CTG’s evolution over the past decade. We now offer a core platform of services that allow us to meet many common IT needs for our customers, no matter where they are in their lifecycle or within their industry.

Some customers come to CTG looking for a specific service, then deepen their relationship with us as they learn more about our extended capabilities. Other clients – including startups and smaller mom-and-pop operations – recognize us from the beginning as a daily partner to whom they can entrust their complete IT needs.

So, why should you consider CTG right now as your IT partner?

1.      We build the data center that meets your needs. From the initial steps of planning the architecture that aligns with your business operations to implementing storage and backup services to handle everyday tasks, we start by sitting down with our customers to understand both current and targeted goals, working to develop an IT framework that can scale with the business. Within that, we incorporate disaster planning and recovery, as well as integrating the best applications to support your varied business tasks. With our strong relationships to the nation’s top IT manufacturers, including as an HP Gold Partner, we can deliver the highest-quality platforms at the smartest cost for your business, including next-generation resources such as virtualization.

2.      We keep your IT secure. Every day, you hear news of attempted – or worse, successful – hacks on corporate technology networks. Because this is one of the biggest worries for business owners, we have developed critical processes using the most-effective tools to put up the best defense. The first step, with the customer’s blessing, is to do our own penetration testing to identify a network’s vulnerabilities, coupled with security audits and assessments. We then offer best-in-class resources, which are continually updated, to protect you and your business.

3.      We offer managed services that keep your doors open for business.Our remote support and help desk actively track and monitor your network operations, because we know that even the best systems can have their bad days. We often find and solve those hiccups before you – or your customer – even notice. We also offer cloud solutions and other resources that allow you to focus your energy on where it matters most: your business and customers.

4.      We support you wherever you are. Work doesn't happen in the office from 9-to-5 anymore. You and your workers are handling more and more remotely, whether delivering a presentation at a client’s office or catching up on a project at home after leaving early to watch a child’s performance. We can implement the best mobility resources and wireless solutions to ensure you can work productively, while maintaining the highest network security.

Information technology long ago stopped being a one-size-fits-all business commodity. We know that, which is why every solution we craft is based on the specific needs of our customers. We listen to what you need, then apply our expertise to develop the IT services that let you run your daily business effectively and efficiently.

John Monahan is co-founder of CTG.

We’re Hiring – Join the CTG Team!!

How many people tell you honestly that they like going to work every day?

I do – and it’s not because I’m one of the bosses. OK, maybe it is, because launching Convergent Technologies Group nearly a decade ago with my business partner allowed us to create the kind of IT company where we can do things our way. At first glance, we’re a veteran-owned firm that specializes in IT services such as data center, security, virtualization and emerging technology, such as bring-your-own-device (commonly known as BYOD).

But what we really do every day is focus on what our customers need. As IT consultants with unique access to HP and other best-in-class products and services, we recommend and implement the right technology that customers need at smart costs to reach their business goals. And we don’t simply walk away then. We’re here to make sure everything continues to run smoothly and to suggest next-stage IT investments to strategically take that business to the next level. It’s a perfect win-win situation: When our customers succeed, so do we.

Over the past 10 years, putting our customers first has been our cornerstone. In the last seven years alone – which, not coincidentally, is the average tenure of today’s CTG staffer – our company has experienced average annual growth of 37 percent. Yes, you read that right, and it’s strongly because of our people, who are our key assets. This year, we’re looking at projected growth of 45 percent, and we need good people to fill key roles within our organization.

Could you see yourself at CTG?

Before I talk about current job openings, let me share a little more about what it’s like to work for CTG. The most important thing about liking what you do is finding the right place, where you fit in.

We’ve built a workplace culture that promotes teamwork, respect and fun. Certainly, you need to know your way around the IT business, but – as you’ve probably reasoned – we put just as much emphasis on knowing how to take care of our customers. Because of that, we hire people who:

• Think outside the box, as individuals who know how to unravel IT puzzles and craft technology solutions that work seamlessly for our customers.
• Approach job challenges strategically, and can then communicate easily and effectively with both clients and teammates.
• Have an internal drive to succeed and bring fresh ideas to light.
• Make smart decisions because they are empowered to do their jobs.
• Want to grow with our company, as they master their current role and step up to new responsibilities.

If you think about it, we’re a sports team comprised of all family members. We believe in providing support for everyone at CTG, where everyone can rely on the bench for back-up. We also believe that family should always come first. We know that our employees’ healthy home lives – which means never missing a child’s game, concert or other special event due to work – spill back over, with good karma generated for our organization.

I want you to love coming to work as much as I do.

Who do we need?

We’re looking for:

• Inside sales representatives: This entry-level track is ideal for new college graduates with the drive for success. This position pays salary plus commission.
• Call center/telemarketing associates: These individuals will reach out and introduce CTG and our services portfolio to prospective clients, with a goal of arranging in-person meetings for our field account managers. This position pays salary plus commission.
• Enterprise account managers/personal systems and print managers: Ideal candidates will bring at least three years of IT sales experiences, along with a strategic commitment to develop sales territories in Richmond, Northern Virginia and Tidewater. This position also pays salary plus commission.

Besides a competitive pay package, CTG offers full medical, dental and vision coverage – just to start. We also provide three weeks of paid vacation annually, corporate contributions to employees’ retirement funds, and specialty training to achieve and maintain designated industry certifications.

What are you waiting for?

Our application process is simple: Send your resume, along with a cover letter with references, to resume@ctgva.com. Be sure to tell us specifically why you want to join CTG. We look forward to welcoming new talent to our team.

John Monahan is co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group (CTG).