When does education end? With high school graduation? A college diploma or university degree? Never?

If you answered “never,” congratulations – you are correct. Lifelong learning is a reality in today’s global economy. The nature of the training people need will naturally change over time, as will the amount that different people need, but the need for ongoing training is a reality that is here to stay.

Government regulations, technology, and the global economy are just some of the things that contribute to the need for ongoing training. Whether you are just getting started in your chosen career or perhaps are nearing a change or retirement, the need for training never goes away. Around the turn of the millennium there was a big movement in education that emphasized the need for lifelong education. People were expected to have several careers during their lifetime and to require ongoing training for the changes they would experience.

Sure, your network is safe from intruders and viruses – but where are you physically storing this network?

As a computer user, you probably understand the importance of digitally securing your data.  You use anti-virus and anti-spyware removal tools to protect your system from intrusion and destruction.  You also ensure that your networking equipment is properly secured from uninvited guests who may use your Internet access to surf the net, or even worse, access your critical business data.  You feel comfortable knowing your computer equipment is in-house and accessible whenever you need to make changes or need to support your businesses IT infrastructure.

Mention hosting data remotely to most people, and you will hear expressions of concern: concern that the data might be at times inaccessible – Internet failure; concern that unauthorized people might get access to the data; concern that government agencies might get access to the data. Mention the Patriot Act along with hosting data in the United States and people react even more strongly. Many have expressed the concern that the Patriot Act gives the U.S. government sweeping powers to look at any data at any time for any reason. It follows, therefore, that before making a decision to embrace a cloud computing solution that involves hosting data in the United States one should make the effort to separate myth from reality.

Why is “Cloud Computing” becoming more and more popular for businesses?  Why would your business want to use “The Cloud”?  Most importantly, what does “Cloud Computing” really mean? 

“Cloud Computing” eliminates the costs and complexity of purchasing, configuring, and managing hardware and software for your business by creating and deploying applications and providing safe storage of your critical data in secure data centers maintained by IT professionals.  These applications and your data are available as a service over the Internet, known in the technology world as “The Cloud”.  While working in a cloud environment, all you need is a workstation or mobile device with an Internet connection and that’s it!  Everything else is configured and maintained by a hosting provider, saving you time, money, and frustration.

Continue reading to learn more on Cloud Computing and how your business can benefit from the trends of Cloud Computing:

Microsoft SharePoint has become an extremely popular platform for developing web sites. It includes features that enable things like document versioning, access and security control, and collaboration among users. One of the factors in SharePoint’s success is that it puts power in the hands of users, power that previously belonged to the IT Department.

SharePoint users can create web sites, add web pages, create document libraries for storing files, create lists for storing information, and perform many other tasks that previously would have required the services of IT Department personnel. This reduces demand on IT support and gives users more control over their working environment, but like all good things there is the danger of too much.

Is your Computer Network getting obsolete? Time for another upgrade? Are you faced with another large cash flow commitment when your business is trying to preserve cash flow for growth or other important reasons such as more salary to the owner?

More and more companies are searching for better more cost effective alternatives. Cloud computing can save you up to 65% of your computer costs and improve the protection of your data. Usually based on a low per user cost, your cash flow is matched to the growth of the company, thus avoiding high initial investments in technology and cash flow commitments for ongoing support.

Learn more about your options by reading our free article on the 7 Key Trends on Cloud computing on Business Performance Solutions Inc website or send a reply to tatehams@jasmith.com with your contact information.

ShareWhat? SharePoint!

The Lowdown on Microsoft’s Communication and Collaboration Tool

In the past few years SharePoint has become much more well-known, but many people who have heard of SharePoint really do not have a very good idea about what it is. In this overview we will cover the basics of what SharePoint is all about and what it might be able to do for you.

What is SharePoint? In simplest terms, SharePoint is software used to build web sites. There is a lot of software that can be used to build web sites, so what sets SharePoint apart? Why has it gone from zero to millions of users in a decade?

By Joyce Smith
President, Business Performance Solutions, Inc

An Intranet is like a private INTERNET, a way of distributing information within your firm. It is usually web-based and allows your team to share common information while still allowing security for confidential documents.  It moves users beyond disconnected applications, and is easily customizable.

Intranets have been around since the early 1990s, but until recently they were so expensive that only governments and large corporations could afford them.  Intranet systems can now be set up for even the smallest size of business at a fraction of the cost of only a few years ago.

Why would a company or organization use an Intranet system?   The core business reason is to share common information in a secure site and the elimination of the duplication of effort by various individuals in an organization creating different versions of the same document or template.  Intranets break down the individual silos of knowledge found within any organization and allow an easy way to obtain that knowledge. That knowledge becomes accessible to you regardless where you are in the world.

A recent survey of Canadian owner/managers of small and medium-sized businesses revealed a high degree of frustration. Seventy one percent of Canadian small business managers say that running a business is more stressful than it was 5 years ago. Not surprisingly, the survey found that owners are feeling more than stressed.

The most common problem is the shortage of time to manage the wide range of issues that small and medium sized businesses face. Owner/managers rated the following seven items as those that consume the majority of their management time:

Press Release

JA Smith Business Solutions Group

JA Smith Business Solutions Group announces a major breakthrough. The firm is the newest member of the Canadian Franchise Association and will immediately appear in the organization’s directory.

The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) is the national voice of the franchise industry and advocates on behalf of franchisees and franchisors. “We are thrilled to be accepted into the CFA,” says Joyce Smith, CGA and president of JA Smith Business Solutions Group. “Our ISO processes reinforce standardization, which is a perfect fit for the franchise system.”