Looking for Nerds with Aspirations

By Jeff Garell

Convergent Technologies Group is looking for the right people to join our technical team. We need some utility players: people who are comfortable and confident working with both the network and servers/OS sides of the house. 

Do you look like that person?

You are probably working at a small- to mid-sized company with a relatively small IT staff comprised of talented jack-of-all-trades. You have an almost insatiable curiosity about technology and have a deep desire to get your hands on emerging tech that really wouldn't fit in your current environment. You occasionally reflect on the fact that most of your working hours are spent in maintenance mode and wish you could provide more direct impact on the business. You're as comfortable configuring a firewall, switch or router as you are working with Windows servers and Active Directory.  

We're not looking for rock stars; we're looking for future rock stars.

We offer the opportunity to not just work on a network, but to work on a hundred or more networks of varying size and complexity. There are no same-old, same-old kind of days. You will be exposed to the latest and greatest technologies, have opportunities for advanced training, and a skills and career path that can lead to senior-level consulting and architecture. Our customers range from very small to international Fortune 100 organizations whose names you know.

Convergent Technologies Group offers excellent compensation and benefits. An earlier blogpost shared more about our culture at CTG, as well as the great perks of working here.

If you're interested and up for the challenge, send your resume to resumes@ctgva.com and answer the question: Why you?

Jeff Garell is co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group.

Are You Thinking about Your 2020 IT Budget Yet?

By John Monahan

It’s summertime, and your mind is on that upcoming week at the beach for vacation. Without question, you need that time away to decompress and refuel.

But don’t forget to spend time right now on planning your IT funding requests for the coming year. Actually, you should be pulling together your budget outline for the next five years.

Let’s consider some elements of your IT budget planning:

1.       Never spend just once on technology.
A lot of businesses invest significantly in technology refreshes, then they turn around and walk away. They fall short by failing to develop a strategic five-year plan, which includes both mapping out IT needs and how they’re going to pay for that.

It’s easy for a business leader to think that if I just spent X dollars on technology, I’m good for a few years. The truth is that after only a year, a business is falling behind again. Technology changes so fast that by Year Four, a business will have to spend double when it spent when they conducted that full refresh a few years earlier.

2.      Plan to invest more than you might think every year.
Look at that five-year plan and get an annual commitment to invest about 20 percent of what you spent on your technology refresh. Doing small and affordable upgrades and enhancements to your infrastructure will allow you to get the full five years out of your technology.

3.       Put your money to good use each year.
Basically, I’m reiterating the point above, because I can’t stress it enough. We hear constantly from new and potential clients that they can’t believe they need to invest the same amount all over again because they haven’t touched their infrastructure after refreshing it. But the simple fact is that you can’t implement a new infrastructure and leave it alone. Innovations come along that can push your business forward, but your technology needs to be healthy and in position for you or your IT partner to integrate those new features.

4.      Know when it’s time to start anew.
Technology moves fast. And each generation of products is more efficient, more effective and simply more savvy. Eventually, you’ll need to make that significant investment to refresh your infrastructure. Start mapping out what you’ll need now – before it’s mission critical – and develop the business case to get the significant level of funding that the right refresh requires. I often compare investing in technology to buying a car. The 2015 models are much better than we saw in the 2014 versions, but think about what’s coming next with the 2016 models.

5.      Don’t be married to the best-developed plans.
That’s all those are: plans or blueprints or roadmaps. You need some general direction of where you are headed with your technology, but be willing to get off the highways and explore some back roads. Keep your eye on the destination, but some of the more interesting things can happen when you’re flexible in the journey. You know I like analogies, so another way to think about it is considering how you play on the basketball court. If you stand flatfooted, your opponent will run right past you.

6.      Let technology drive your business.
You need to understand that technology is an inhibitor rather than an expense. In fact, making the right decisions about technology can help your business grow with less. However, you need to rethink how you invest your dollars so that you are agile and can jump at new business opportunities. The right technology allows you to be nimble.

7.       Security is not a “nice-to-have.”
Every day, we seem to read about yet another security breach – and we’re talking massive attacks, not just a trickle here or there. Whether you’re part of a Fortune 500 company or a three-person law firm, you have the same data characteristics that hackers find valuable. You need to budget and then spend those allotted dollars on ongoing penetration testing. And don’t forget to dedicate some financial resources toward protecting your mobility products and networks, so you are controlling who has access to any level of your data.

Running a business requires continual investments, starting with technology. Make sure you have an active line item for technology spending, because your competitors certainly are making investments in their quest to get ahead. Don’t be intimidated by the cost of technology, but take charge by developing a long-term plan where you are positioned to spend strategically.

The bottom line is that you get out of your technology what you put into it.

John Monahan is a co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group.

The 4 P’s for Securing the Road Warrior (Part II)

By Jeff Garell

Whether you're hitting the road for business or personal travel, making sure you keep your company or individual information secure should be the top of your list. In yesterday’s blog post, we discussed Plan and Prepare. Today, let’s tackle the last two topics: Prevent and Purify

Prevent 

Now that you're on the road, you need to be a little more aware of your surroundings – whether making sure you collect everything after passing through the X-ray station or sitting in the airport lounge waiting for your flight. Be sure all of your stuff is accounted for and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put anything of value in your checked luggage.

Clothes and toiletries can be replaced relatively cheaply compared to your tech gear, fancy cameras, and the like. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, the less gear you bring, the less you have to worry about tracking.

Once you've navigated the Transportation Security Administration and airport gauntlet, you've arrived at your destination. And it’s smooth sailing from here, right? Not really. There are still potential threats all around, and your prevention steps go beyond the physical safety of your gear:

1. Check the room safe: Is it big enough to fit all of your electronics if you want to ever leave them behind? If not, what can or should you do? This is a tough one. You can choose to take the risk and leave it behind, try to hide it somewhere (between mattress & boxspring? Duct Taped to the outside of the building?), or you'll just need to take it with you. Whatever you choose for this trip, you might need to consider paring down your pile before the next one so you can fit your gear in that safe next time.

2. Be aware of housekeeping: I tend to not make much of a mess, even on the longest of trips, so I often leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on my door for the duration of my stay. If I run into the staff in the hall, I'll explain (and often sign something) that I don't want my room cleaned. If I need something such as fresh towels, I’ll call or go to the front desk and make the request. How does this help? If no one is supposed to ever be in my room but me, then the key card access logs will be easy to narrow down. Additionally, I have walked down the halls during housekeeping time and have often seen many doors left open while the staff members work their way along the corridor. In fact, I've approached my room while it was getting cleaned, walked right in, grabbed a couple of things (my notepad), and walked out without being challenged as to whether this was my room. That’s when I decided this was a better tactic. If you want to get your room cleaned, take everything of value with you.

3. Validate the Wi-Fi: This advice applies to your visits to the Starbucks, Panera and anywhere else that doles out free Wi-Fi. Here’s one spot where you'll want to do some practicing before you hit the road so you have the process down. Whenever I sign on to the Wi-Fi, I'll quickly scan the network (using nmap) to see if I can find any other devices on it. A properly configured guest network should block “conversations” between guests on that network. If it doesn't, you should seriously reconsider whether you should use that Internet service. If I can see your device, then I can see your traffic and capture your data.

In addition, at hotel check-in, verify the Wi-Fi network name so you connect to the correct one. I recently stayed at a well-known hotel chain that uses something along the lines of "IBahnxxxx" (with the x’s being a number) as its guest network, but, when looking for it, I saw several variations of “hotelName_Guest” access points. If you connect to the wrong one, you're now connected through a stranger’s “access point,” and someone could decrypt your session in what’s called a Man-in-the-Middle Attack. Had I not checked, I probably would have connected to the more obvious access point names.

4. Turn it off: No, not your glowing personality, but your device. If it’s connected to Wi-Fi and you're not using it, turn it off. Just closing the lid of your laptop isn't really good enough for a motivated enough attacker. If you're connecting to an Ethernet port (wired), then be sure to disconnect the cable. Many IT departments enable something called Wake-on-LAN (WoL) so they can turn your machine on remotely if they need to do maintenance; leave a machine on the wired hotel network, and your laptop could be turned on while you're away. If you've followed the advice about encrypting your drive, then there’s much less to worry about regarding WoL.

All right, your trip is nearly over, and it’s time to check out. You hung on to those room card keys right? I ask because there are hotel systems that will put some of your personal data – and, in a few cases, your credit card info – in plain text on that card. These systems are getting phased out, but I certainly won't trust that the hotel I'm in has the latest and greatest software or systems – even if it’s new. Every key card comes home with me and gets friendly with the shredder.

Purify 

OK, finding a “P” word for remediate or fix was a little challenging. So by "Purify", I mean when you get back home (or to the office), it’s time for a heavy duty scan by your anti-virus/anti-malware tools.

If you have an IT department, ask what you should do given available tools. For the most part, you're looking to make sure that you don’t share something picked up while on the road. Some people take this to an extreme by fully restoring their equipment with backups they made before traveling. Unless you're going to a hacker conference, this is probably not necessary, but some will still do it.

This might seem to be a pretty daunting list of things to think about - and these rules apply whether you're on vacation or on a business trip - but given the potential loss you could experience, it’s well worth the effort. I hope you've picked up a few good ideas that will help keep your gear and data safe while on the road.

Happy and safe travels!

Jeff Garell is a co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group.

The 4 P’s for Securing the Road Warrior

By Jeff Garell

I travel pretty often in my business – not as much as some, but more than others – and I've found some pretty common sense methods to make sure my equipment and data remains safe.

Those simple action steps each start with the letter P: Plan, Prepare, Prevent and Purify.

Plan 

Do I really need to bring all of this?

Every time I go on the road – whether for a simple overnighter or a longer trip – I evaluate the tools I expect to need. On many trips, I’ll really only need a tablet and my cell phone. I follow this routine because the less I bring with me, the less chance there is to lose something – not to mention the lighter my travel load will be if I don’t need my laptop, extra monitor, mobile hotspot, power bricks/chargers, as well as various cables and power strips for all of it. Sadly, occasionally I need to haul all that gear but fortunately not too often.

The key to making this work is ensuring that you will have the tools (software) you need on the devices that you chose to bring. In the past, I’ve tested that I can perform the majority of my work on a tablet by putting away my laptop and just using the tablet in the office for a week. While I recognized a small productivity hit and I surely wouldn't want to do it long term, that test showed that I can work effectively on many trips with a much smaller tech footprint.

Paring down your gear means less chance of leaving something behind or taking your eyes off the pile and having it walk away without your knowledge.

Prepare

Once you've decided what to bring, take time to ensure your data is safe.

The first thing to do is make sure important data is backed up. I know: Backups are boring. But it’s better than the total freak out you’ll experience when you realize it’s gone. I'd highly suggest making copies of anything important you’ll need on the trip. Leave one copy with a colleague at the office and put the other on a USB drive that does not get tucked into your laptop bag. If that bag gets stolen or left behind, then there was no point in the extra backup. This extra backup will allow you to purchase or borrow another machine and still make the most of the trip.

Just as important is making sure you have run updates on your operating system, current anti-virus, and that your laptop firewall will be on (or that you know how to turn it on) when you're traveling.

If you carry any confidential or regulated information (think HIPAA, proprietary/financial data, or the super secret plans for your island lair), make sure you are using whole disk encryption. This encrypts your entire drive and requires a password before the operating system even starts. It’s an extra step on every boot but is critical if you have data that needs an additional layer of security. Should your laptop get stolen, then all you've lost is the laptop (you did back up your data already, right?). Yes, it’s a pain in elbow to have to buy a new device but much less so than having your confidential information out in the wild.

And when you're not using your laptop, shut it down completely. Your laptop’s sleep/hibernation mode does not cause the drive to be in an encrypted state.

Tomorrow: Prevent and Purify

We covered a lot of ground today, so we’ll finish the discussion tomorrow, when we’ll share some additional practical tips to use every time you travel.

Jeff Garell is a co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group.

4 Key Takeaways from HP Discover 2015

By John Monahan

Our CTG team left Discover 2015 just on Friday, and we're already working to bring the latest innovations from HP back to our clients along the East Coast.

While we hope you were following our social media updates about what was happening at this annual customer event, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the key takeaways from our days in Las Vegas:

       1. HP is focused on transformation.

On Day 1 of the conference, CEO Meg Whitman brought this front and center, particularly as the organization drives the evolution of two new companies. Her focus was initially on Hewlett Packard Enterprise, the arm that will continue to drive innovation within the IT industry.

“Technologies may change. Business models may shift. But one thing never changes for us, and that’s the importance of the relationships we build with our customers and our partners,” she said. “Thriving in the idea economy requires a new style of business, and this is where HP leads like no other company. … You have to pick a transformation partner with the vision and breadth to create the best possible future.”

The HPE strategy will focus on:

·         Transform to hybrid infrastructure

·         Protect your digital enterprise

·         Empower the date-driven organization

·         Enable workplace productivity

Check out this highlights video to hear more directly from Whitman about the transformation strategy. In fact, HP has an entire YouTube channel dedicated to presentations and more from Discover 2015, so we encourage you to explore topics of interest to you and your business. Our CTG team can help answer questions about how to bring new solutions to you.

       2. Storage is king.

Amidst many different production announcements and upgrades, one stands out: the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage family. I don’t have enough room here to fully detail just how revolutionary this is to the industry, so I’ll focus on the key issues. As HP explains, this product brings a new class of massively scalable flash arrays, flash-optimized data services to accelerate IT-as-a-Service consolidation, a 25 percent lower cost for flash capacity and hybrid IT initiatives.

We saw this personally in an exclusive meeting we hosted for our clients with some of HP’s leading storage developers. For a rare hour, we discussed the real challenges that our customers face in their daily business, with HP’s top minds giving insight on effective solutions that work not just for today but can adapt and evolve as those businesses grow and tap into new opportunities.

3. New products are responding to the evolving economy.

To start, HP is getting into the movie business, with a five-year partnership to develop the next digital experience and technology to support a trio of upcoming “Avatar” sequels.

New products include HP LeanFT, which brings a test-and-learn methodology to application development. Products where updates are coming include the HP Helion portfolio, which supports your transition to a hybrid infrastructure, and HP will expand it's Converged Systems offerings, including a new partnership with Arista Networks.

The bottom line is that HP is applying forward thinking in creating and launching IT innovations that build on it's years of leadership, while recognizing that how we do business is changing every day. As those business models evolve, we need technology that is equally nimble and flexible to support ideas we haven't even yet considered.

4. Relationships matter.

To reiterate that last point, every industry is moving forward at lightning speed. And no one business can do it alone. Whom you select as your partners in those journeys is paramount to ensuring you get smartly and efficiently to your destination.

That’s why CTG looks to build a relationship with every client. We don't believe in simply selling you technology. Instead, we are bringing our unparalleled expertise across the IT infrastructure to guide you in making meaningful investments that work today and are scalable to your changing business. Some of the first customers we signed when we launched CTG a decade ago remain our closest clients today, because they see that we bring deeper value to the business.

John Monahan is a co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group. 

We Built Our Business on Relationships

By Brandon Samuel

When I started at Convergent Technologies Group a little more than five years ago, I learned quickly that to succeed in this industry, you have to develop an effective way to set yourself apart from all the competition you face on a daily basis. Clients constantly are facing new challenges in their environments and rely on their IT partners to provide insight and expertise to address those challenges head on.

Starting out, I had little experience in the IT field. While my family has seen much success in the industry, I was determined to blaze my own path and find what worked best for me. It took a while to find my stride, but one of the things that makes CTG a great place to work is that our people – starting with our leaders - never stifle creativity or dismiss our ideas. Our sales team is made up of a group of individuals committed to a common goal of making CTG a trusted resource to each and every company with which we work. We all have an open door policy in the office and work closely together so that we can all learn and grow as a team.

Meeting after meeting, it became increasingly apparent that there aren’t many companies looking to provide forward-thinking solutions to their clients. The fast-paced IT environment makes it easy to slip into the role of an “order taker” and to forget that each technology that a customer implements is something that they will rely on in the long term. Budgets are getting tighter, and it is more and more important that each solution provides the greatest amount of value and ROI for the client.

I am proud that CTG takes a much more holistic approach to our relationships with new and existing clients. We view ourselves as a relationship-based company and fully understand that each IT solution requires in-depth consultation and consideration – not just for now, but also for three to five years down the road. In a sense, we are taking a great deal of ownership with everything that we provide, because we understand that the customer experience both near term and long term is paramount to having a successful relationship.

I tell everyone that I meet with that CTG is not a “churn-and-burn” type of company. Our sales process is not designed for our sales representatives to be sitting in front of their computers and by their phones, waiting for the client to call with a quote request. Our goal is to work with companies that see the value in a relationship between their IT team and their team at Convergent. We want to have regular meetings with our clients, not only to make sure things are running smoothly at that time, but also to discuss and plan out future projects so that we are ready when their business is ready. Each sales rep is dedicated to their own book of business and is involved in each step of the process: from the initial meeting all the way through the implementation process and beyond. One of the biggest complaints that I get from customers is that when they have worked with other companies, they were left “high and dry” after they made a purchase. Because of the emphasis that we place on relationships, you can be assured that we will continue to be your go-to partner year after year.

Convergent Technologies Group is a strong company that is dedicated to being a partner with our clients. We work with the best manufacturers in the industry and take pride in delivering a solutions-based service to our customers. If your company is looking for a relationship and wants an organization that will get to know and understand their needs, we are the company for you. We look forward to the opportunity to meet with you and earn your business.

Brandon Samuel is CTG’s mid-size commercial/enterprise account executive.

What to Expect from HP Discover 2015

By John Monahan

Next week, much of the CTG leadership team will be on the road with HP, as we participate in our technology manufacturer’s key customer program: HP Discover.

From our experience attending for many years, this annual program connects CTG and our clients with HP’s top experts, who use this venue to introduce new initiatives, share insight on industry trends, and connect with visionary IT leaders from across the country.

As HP rightly bills the event, this is an “active, dynamic conversation.” Topics start with cloud, Big Data, security and mobility – and the conversation only gets deeper as HP engages with us on real issues that customers face with their technology in daily business.

From June 2-4 in Las Vegas, the program will explore more than 700 topics featuring thousands of experts from within HP and across the technology spectrum. It’s not an understatement to say that we have access to more information and insight in three days than we could in months; the program will cover some 2.25 million square feet of conference space. And the program is designed to help participants put conference learnings immediately to work. Whether you are looking for new ideas or best practices, CTG can help you connect with the right HP expert and product to find the answers you need.

As we discussed in an earlier blog post, being an HP Gold Partner gives CTG rare access to the manufacturer’s best people and latest technology. Our leadership participation at HP Discover 2015 is just one benefit of our strategic alliance with HP.

What you can expect from HP Discover 2015:

·         Leadership viewpoint: HP Chairman, President and CEO Meg Whitman will talk about the company’s latest strategy and initiatives.

·         Learning opportunities: The program will feature different training sessions to meet your different needs. Hands-On Labs, which run two hours, will give you firsthand experience with HP’s newest technologies, bringing in real-life scenarios, simulations, guides and training tips. HP ExpertOne Trainings are longer sessions that are scheduled to ensure participants can still attend keynote sessions and networking opportunities.

Too hard to pick out which sessions to attend? Check out HP’s recommendations for the top 5 “can’t miss” sessions for HP Converged Systems.

·         Technology innovations: Track keynotes will feature HP senior leaders speaking on emerging IT trends, HP’s point of view and strategy, and individual business initiatives. Panel discussions will include HP, customer and partner experts addressing the industry’s hottest topics. If that doesn’t deliver what you’re looking for, you can attend breakout sessions on the topics that matter most to you and your business or 30-minute sessions on specific business solutions. The Innovation Theater will feature 20-minute talks by customers and other experts on how innovation and collaboration can change business outcomes.

The HP Discover Insider blog will feature regular updates on game-changing innovations in enterprise software, hardware, services and networking. Keep visiting the blog for regular behind-the-scenes updates and insights.

Whether you are attending sessions in Las Vegas or will be participating via non-stop live streaming, know that our CTG team will be bringing the latest HP technologies and learnings back to Greater Richmond. As we prepare for the conference, let us know if you have any technology challenges or opportunities where we can help. We’ll be sitting at the table with the top nation’s IT talent, and we’re ready to put that knowledge to work for you.

John Monahan is a co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group.