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Why Are IT Costs Rising?
Why are we seeing a trend toward rising IT costs? It seems like in the age of information, with the dollar-per-computing unit on the decline and technology becoming faster and more efficient, this just shouldn’t be the case.
The answer lies in a basic understanding of how economics affects our everyday lives. Economics is the study of cause and effect relationships, whether in an economy, an industry, a home, etc., and applies to computing (things like RAM, CPU, storage, and networking as a service) just as it does to utilities (like power, water and gas). We all know that when there is a drought our water bill goes up. The bill goes up to incentivize people to use less water. As economist Thomas Sowell says, “The first lesson of economics is scarcity. There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it.” This applies to the computing world as well. Continue reading »
Security Best Practice Reminder: Don’t use personal passwords for work-related items
It’s a challenge keeping up with passwords these days. Not to mention having to come up with ones that are “strong” enough but not so complex that you can’t remember them. It’s easy to forget the importance of maintaining secure passwords or just get lazy and use the same one across the board- for work and personal logins.
Don’t do it!
NEVER use your work account password for any external sites (gmail, hotmail, facebook, twitter, etc.). There have been many reports of google accounts being hacked recently, and if your work account has the same password, there could be a LOT more at stake than just your personal information.
Document Retention Considerations in a “Less Paper” World
Virtually all firms have a basic document retention policy that outlines what physical files are saved, how long they are kept and when they should be disposed of. However, many firms have not taken into account all the facets of transitioning to a digital environment, particularly today when files can be stored in a multitude of electronic formats.
The good news is that for firms that have traditionally had a good physical document retention policy and have educated users on its requirements, the transition to include digital files in the mix is fairly straightforward as long as policies are reviewed and updated annually. Firms that have not done so well may be facing a momentous cleanup of old physical and newer digital files to comply with a digital document retention policy, but this transition should be a business requirement in today’s litigious environment. Continue reading »
Dumb Down Your Smart Phone
Why would you do such a thing? Modern man has achieved much in recent history. One of man’s major achievements as of late, for the lack of better terms, is creating the cure for boredom. That’s right – boredom.
Thanks to our smart phones (along with tablets, other hand helds, etc.) the modern man no longer has to fret with nothing to do. There is always an app close by, another email to read, a bill to pay, an Angry Bird to save, and the list goes on and on with what’s at your fingertips. While there is much to be thankful for about the ‘productivity’ in our hands, there is also something to worry about – the demise of boredom. Continue reading »
The Story Behind Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (Part 2)
In the previous post we addressed VDI from a high-level perspective and the main vendors. We will turn now cover the scope of VDI, discuss scenarios that have and haven’t worked, evaluate the benefits of moving to VDI for a CPA firm, and finally address Xcentric’s stance towards VDI. Continue reading »
The Story Behind Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (Part 1)
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a hyped term in the technology market right now. Unfortunately, the term has really become ambiguous, as VDI is more so a concept than a technology. VDI actually encompasses a suite of different technologies; therefore, it is important to distinguish between what is being delivered and how it is set up. In this blog, we’ll attempt to define the what and who of VDI. Continue reading »
Considering the Cloud? Good questions to ask.
Adopting the Cloud is an emerging challenge in the CPA profession. The reality is that the Cloud will touch every aspect of your organization. In some cases these changes can be predicted, but it is not realistic to be able to predict all of them. Asking the right questions about how the Cloud affects the variety of stakeholders at your firm or the bottom line is an important exercise for your firm to take part in so you can reduce the amount of unknowns. That said, this article is designed to help you get a start on your analysis. Continue reading »
Q-A with Brenna: First season in the Cloud
It can feel daunting to jump into the deep end and trust a vendor with a key aspect of your firm. Brenna, and her firm, did so when it came to their technology. Here is a brief Q-A session on how the Xcentric Cloud has impacted the firm in the first few months (and one busy season) at the firm. Continue reading »
Xcentric Store Releases Printer Recommendations
Reward yourself after a hardworking tax season by upgrading your laptops, desktops, monitors, and printers.
We are excited to announce the newest addition to Xcentric Store: printers! We have added 3 printers that are fast, multi-function, black and white, and color. These printers range in size from personal desktop to large office.
We selected Lexmark printers for multiple reasons:
1) Lexmark printers are certified with Citrix, making them compatible with Xcentric Cloud.
2) Lexmark is a leader in their industry by creating products and standards such as dual head scanners and new printing units that other companies are copying.
3) Xcentric tested Lexmark extensively through printing 500 pages, across multiple clients, locations and applications.
4) Setup service, unpacking, and installation are included in the price.
Xcentric Store was created with the intent to make your hardware purchases simpler. Through a due diligence process, Xcentric identified the laptops, desktop, monitors, and printers that would best suit the needs of accountants. We listened to the requests of our clients and have responded. Continue reading »
Kicking Off Event Season
Event season is almost underway and Xcentric will be speaking and exhibiting at even more events this year!
We’re kicking off event season in May with the BDO Conference in Las Vegas. Then we’ll head to the AAA Technology Fly-In in Detroit and the PKF Firm Management Conference in Palm Beach, FL.
In June, we’ll be at the McGladrey Spring Roundtables, AICPA Tech+ (here’s a special registration discount) and the AAA Conference in Las Vegas, as well as the Enterprise Worldwide Symposium in Chicago and the Montana Society and AWSCPA Conferences in Bozeman and Salt Lake City respectively.
Here’s a full listing of our upcoming events. Let us know if you’re planning to be at any of these events- we’d love to connect with you while we’re there. Hope to see you soon!