Multiple Solutions for Multiple Needs

PositiveVision has been helping businesses in the Greater Chicago Area as a software consultant for more than 8 years. Having installed countless applications and supported dozens of companies, the principals of PositiveVision remain the same, continually offer the best software applications, ones that provide our clients with the integration capabilities and efficiencies to meet their needs.

With that said, we are very excited to announce our newest product offering, Microsoft Dynamics GP. This solution has proven itself as a flexible, powerful business management solution. But despite its long track record, it still sets the standard for innovation, with powerful tools for creating insight and efficiency across your business.

This addition to our current product offering helps complete our tool box, offering a solution for every business including:

- Peachtree by Sage
- Sage PFW ERP
- Sage MAS 500 ERP
- Microsoft Dynamics GP

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing represents a fundamental change in the way consumers and businesses are using their computers and mobile devices, and it is a trend that small businesses cannot afford to overlook. “Cloud” is just another name for the Internet, and thus cloud computing really refers to any services and applications that are hosted and accessed via the web. In the software world, this is also commonly referred to as Software-as-a-Service or SaaS.

Cloud computing allows small businesses to remotely manage and store information, and access software or services from virtually any device with Internet access. Small businesses can also use cloud computing technology to boost their storage capacity via online storage services and create online backup and archiving accounts.

Cloud computing allows small businesses to save on expensive hardware, software, and maintenance costs since data and applications are being held on remote servers. Users can access their business services and applications through almost any device with an Internet connection including laptops, mobile phones, and PDA’s. It is also easy to add new users to the system when you need them.

As more and more software developers are offering “cloud” versions of their products, we wanted to breakdown pros and cons of cloud computing. Visit our blog, to read the pros and cons and to determine your next step.

Getting to Know Nicole Sherman

Nicole is a Computer Consultant and Network Specialist for and has been on the PositiveVision team since 2004. Prior to joining the company she was an Operations Manager responsible for Purchasing, Order Processing, Inventory, Internet EDI, and managing local and remote access networking. Nicole has over twelve years of experience working with business software systems and is considered an expert in her field.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a vocal instructor and singer.

How does doing what you do now, compare to what you wanted to be? In many ways being a consultant is similar. I help people learn how to improve; sometimes it’s their workflow or their processes. I provide our customers with knowledge and help them grow, much like a teacher does with a student.

How have you grown professionally over the past year? I was certified on Peachtree Quantum 2010, and successfully deployed Microsoft Steadystate on a network to manage one of our clients’ internet and program access through group policies in Active Directory.

What lessons did you learn in 2009? Last year I learned to look deeper into challenges and recognize that a path that once appeared the best route, may not remain so as we begin to take it. I continue to keep my eyes open and look for new options that may become available even once a plan has been set.

What are you most looking forward to in 2010?
Professionally I look forward to seeing the economy improve. I also always look forward to learning new software and programming. Personally I look forward to my eldest son graduating into high school, and my youngest getting out of diapers! And I’m looking forward to being tapped out for Order of the Arrow at Boy Scout summer camp!

What is your favorite thing in life and why? I’d have to say my family and friends; they are what make everything else in life enjoyable.

Bernard Foods Keeps Health Food Costs Low

A referral is worth a thousand words. It says that you value our expertise and that you can entrust your friends and colleagues to us for assistance with their technology needs. We don’t take this lightly and want you to know that we appreciate every single referral you give us.

Likewise, we greatly value our clients products and services and wanted to refer one of them to you!

As a family owned and operated business, Bernard Foods has been providing high quality food products since 1947. Of the sequence of events that led them to where they are today, Steven Bernard, President and CEO of Bernard Foods reflects, “When my dad first started the business the customers loved his products. It wasn’t long before dietitians were asking him if he could make certain foods without sugar or salt to accommodate those with dietary restrictions, and that was the beginning of our eDietShop.”

Publishing their first catalog in 1982, and opening their online store in 1996, the primary mission of eDietShop has been to serve those who, for medical reasons, must restrict their intake of sugar, sodium, fat, carbohydrates, cholesterol and calories. As people lean more towards healthier lifestyles, eDietShop is able to provide the finest options in nutritional gourmet foods. The best part is consumers can purchase these foods at wholesale prices. Steven explains, “When we cut out the middle men, the consumers win. Supermarkets can’t compete with us because of the availability and great prices we are able to offer.”

If you’d like to see what health food and gluten free options Bernard Foods has available, visit their website at http://www.edietshop.com/.

Credit Card Compliance: What You Need To Know

Regardless of size or industry, all companies that accept credit cards must adhere to the safeguards mandated by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard—referred to as the PCI DSS. While most companies are aware of PCI, many are unsure what it means for their businesses. As well, companies that use a third party for clearing and remittance often incorrectly assume that PCI compliance does not apply to them.

So, what are the risks of noncompliance? Beyond exposing your customers to fraud or identity theft, your business can be held responsible for the credit card company’s losses. In the event of a security breach or lack of PCI compliance, credit card institutions can assess your company higher credit card processing fees and levy fines of up to $500,000—or even bar your company from processing any credit card transactions at all. Keep in mind that this applies to all companies that accept payment by plastic—even if they don’t store any related data.

Acquirer audits, which can be carried out at any time, cover the 12 areas of mandatory compliance. The failure rate for PCI certification audits is high; according to recent research by VeriSign in “Lessons Learned: Top Reasons for PCI Audit Failures and How to Avoid Them,” fewer than 30 percent of companies pass these examinations on the first try.

To learn more and even take a self-assessment questionnaire to evaluate your risk visit: www.pcisecuritystandards.org., or visit the Sage PCI Compliance Webinar library packed with a ton of great information.

What You Should Know Before Entrusting Your Data to the Cloud

Cloud computing or Software as a Service (SaaS) is the process of using the internet to warehouse data and information rather than on on-site hardware and software. In what is becoming an ever increasingly popular choice for both individuals and businesses alike, we wanted to point out some of the risks involved with choosing to store your data in the cloud. While moving to SaaS reduces the amount of hardware and software you need to purchase and maintain, as well as provides a lower operational cost; you may end up paying in another way altogether.

The most common risks involved in cloud computing include difficult customization, loss of data, and most of all lack of proper security.

Customization Challenges
Most cloud vendors only provide one version of an application to multiple end-users. If your business requires something specific in the way of data input, reporting, or in-depth analysis to meet regulatory compliance, it may not be the best answer for your organization. Unlike on-site software which can be customized to work with your business, cloud servers take more of a one size fits all approach. With every company having its own processes and requirements it is impossible for the off-site application to cater to everyone. And unfortunately, unless many companies are asking for the same thing – it is unlikely that the vendor will implement a change to meet the need.

Data Loss
Once you move your data out of your own hands and into someone else’s you are encountering risks in two areas:

1. While some cloud application providers will tell you that you can get your data back out should you decide to move it back on-site at some point in the future – this may not be the case. Over time, many cloud subscribers find that the service provider has taken ownership of their data and processes and getting the information back out can be much more difficult than previously anticipated. This could stick your company with an application that isn’t working well, and that may not be the most efficient answer for your company – forcing you to allocate unexpected time and resources in order to continue to remain operational.
   


2. Doing business in the cloud also puts your organization at risk of the possible deletion or alteration of records without backups to restore the data. When you are not in physical control of the data you have no way to ensure its recoverability should something go wrong with the service provider.

Security
Lack of proper security is the biggest threat your company faces in the cloud. Four of the main areas where security is threatened include:

1. System Infrastructure. Due to the use of a multi-tenant architecture, users are at risk of guest operating systems gaining unwanted control or influence of their platform. Not all cloud applications maintain strong compartmentalization of accounts to ensure that individual customers are not impacting the operations of others.
   


2. Service provider employees. There is no rule that states a cloud service provider must share their hiring practices or employee access policies with subscribers. This opens you up to access into your system from unknown and unwanted intrusions from people you wouldn’t want in your system.
   


3. Spam, phishing and fraud. Unfortunately, any internet activity will put you in danger of being the victim of a spammer or malicious code writer. Unfortunately in the cloud this is increased. Passwords are not usually as secure as they could be and there are many ways for an attacker to determine the passwords of your company and its employees. This leaves you vulnerable to exploitation, data manipulation, and more. To make matters worse some cloud service providers offer an anonymous registration process allowing anyone with a credit card number to get up and running. This increases the threat from spammers and criminals to businesses on the same service.

Ultimately if you are looking for more efficient ways to run your business and cut costs, be sure to fully research any possible options before making a decision. Protecting your company’s data should be of the utmost importance, and doing business in the cloud may or may not be right for you.

IT Helps Manufacturing Companies Weather Economy

IT investments have given manufacturing companies the ability to respond quickly to the turbulent economic conditions over the last several years. Access to true data visibility allowed them to make quick decisions based on facts, rather than a ‘gut feel’. This has resulted in greater financial success for these companies and poised them for a smoother transition into a recovered economy.

A recent article by Emily-Sue Sloane on managingautomation.com details this success from a report from analyst firm IDC Manufacturing Insights. Vice President of Research, Bob Parker noted that, “Technology has changed the game for manufacturers in fundamental ways.” The article goes on to note that,

“In the past decade, technology trends such as virtualization, ERP consolidation, and business intelligence/analytics contributed to business’ agility and helped to bring down the cost of IT as a percentage of revenue, from 3.7% at the end of the last decade to 2.3% now, on revenue that doubled over those 10 years. IDC anticipates a progression to other economical technologies, such as cloud computing, virtual ERP, and something IDC calls “socialytic applications”, a combination of collaboration technologies and analytical tools.”

IDC expects to see new strategies gain momentum, including strategic outsourcing, shared capacity, and collaborative innovation. IDC also anticipates that manufacturers will turn to more sophisticated sales & operations planning processes to better balance supply and demand.

Below are the top 10 predictions for Global Manufacturing:

#10: Armed with metrics, manufacturers will move from sustainability reporting to intelligence.

#9: Smart services and the need for persistent assets will create the inflection point for RFID, sensors, and M2M.

#8: Firms will create intelligent fulfillment capabilities networks.

#7: Manufacturing companies will see factory assets as part of a fulfillment capabilities network.

#6: Manufacturing companies will become more mature in their use of enterprise PLM applications.

#5: Manufacturers will look to better align innovation with business strategy.

#4: “Dynamic optimization” will dominate capability investment to support redefining the supply chain.

#3: Manufacturing companies will begin the process of fundamentally rethinking their supply chain structures, evolving from a fixed-cost-driven supply network to a variable-cost-driven value network.

#2: IT organizations will look for cost structures that are more variable as they assist in making technology a focal point of business strategies.

#1: Companies will transform business models to better meet the needs of increasingly demanding customers.

To read more about this topic click here.