At Sky Computer Services we know every business’s technology needs are different and having the right IT support in place is mission-critical. Whether you have 5 employees or 500; 2 computers or 25 servers – we can craft an IT management strategy that’s right for your organization, and we’ll find the most cost-effective way to get just the right level of support.

Our custom-tailored support plans allow customers to completely outsource the procurement, installation, and ongoing management of their IT hardware and software.

On Demand Support Services are designed to address the needs of clients that want a highly responsive, professional, and reliable IT support resource available to them when the need arises, but don’t necessarily need or want ongoing management services. On Demand Services are priced on a per incident or hourly basis. »Learn More

IT Management Services provide our clients with proactive, ongoing monitoring, management, support and planning of your IT systems, as well as support for your employees using those systems. These services are priced on a flat monthly fee for unlimited service – providing budget predictability and ease of access to our services. »Learn More

IT Support & Management is a post from: Sky Computer Services

• The Sky Remarkable Service commitment (3R+2P) – you will find our team to be Responsive, Reliable, Resourceful, Proactive, and Personable – easy to work with – always!
• Experience – we’ve managed IT for hundreds of businesses in just about every industry
• Single source solution – we can provide and manage all aspects of your company’s IT needs
• National service delivery – where you need us, when you need us
• Service guarantee – we stand behind our service 100%

And most important…

Our people and our culture. We hire a unique group of people that has a rare mix of people skills and technical skills, and a burning desire to constantly improve the level of service we provide to our clients. That’s the #1 reason we have been able to grow so quickly and keep long term relationships with people that bring Sky with them no matter what company they go to work for.

All of our people share the following characteristics:

• An entrepreneurial spirit
• A servant’s heart
• A fun-loving attitude

Not just anyone can be a part of the Sky team. As our employees like to say, “we are a hard team to play for. ”

We have a tough, time-tested interview process that almost always finds the hidden gem in the candidate pool, and our team immediately works to make any new employee understand and live up to our high expectations.

It’s this unique combination of factors that makes clients frequently comment, “I don’t know how you find these people!”

Sky’s core values:

• Bring the entrepreneurial spirit to everything we do
• Put people first
• Strive for constant and never-ending improvement

1+1 = 3

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. We strive every day to be an indispensable resource for our clients, bringing all of our resources each day to help our clients reach their goals. If you are ready to be an Sky client, please click here.

Why Us is a post from: Sky Computer Services

1. Unstable with occasional “crashes” because your “server” was never designed to share files
2. Vulnerable to hackers, virus, employees and accidental deletion of files because win98 has NO security – No need for user names and no control over who can do what and who can open what.
3. In danger of hard drive “crash” because most Hard Drives are under warranty for 1 or 2 years

Benefits of a Server:

1. FASTER – Quicker file access because of the high-speed Hard disk (SCSI hard disks are even faster- see quote). A server is also faster because it has more memory.
2. STABILITY – Windows 2000 is built on a different “file system” so it never “crashes” and can stay on form months without rebooting
3. EVERYTHING BACKED UP – Automatic Daily backup of all files on a tape drive.
4. SECURITY – All user can place files on server and thus access files from any computer – All files and folders can have different levels of access based on the user name and password. I.e. Accountant and boss can only access accounting files.
5. REMOTE ACCESS – Users can Dial-in or connect through an internet connection like DSL and access “their” files
6. You can add a host of new services such as sharing a database of clients or sharing the same accounting file i.e QuickBooks, ACT, outlook.
7. You can expand your system in the future by adding other services like SQL Server, website hosting and more.

Benefits of a Messaging server:

Microsoft Exchange Sever 2000 installed on a server will provide compete messaging (MS Outlook 2000) and file collaboration services where users can access their calendar, contacts and files from any website!

I can not emphasize enough how important it is to have a stable and secure server with a tape backup that will automatically back up all of your files.

Why Server is a post from: Sky Computer Services

Safety Tips

• Update your virus software weekly – there are always new viruses.
• Scan for viruses every night – you have to do it these days.
• Back up all your data files at least weekly to a tape drive – lots of people lose everything!
• Take one copy of your back-up disk to a second location in case of emergency – many people have thanked me for this advice.
• Use a firewall if you have DSL or a Cable Modem connection – or you will become infected with a virus or harmful file.
• Upgrade to Windows2000 or XP for more security and less reboots!
• Keep a back-up of all you files on another hard disk – easy to retrieve.
• Don’t DEFRAG more then once a month – too often wears on your hard disk.
• Don’t fill your hard disk with too many MP3 files – keep a min. of 300 MB available.
• Get a good back-up battery – Just a surge protector is not enough.
• Despite what others have told you, it is better for your computer (not server) to be shut down every night. Windows 95 and 98 particularly likes to be restarted. Windows 2000 and XP are better designed to be on all the time, however, your system may still heat up and reduce the life of your hard drive if you leave it on all the time.

Click here for PC Repair Information and Rates
Click here for PC Parts Information & Advice

Buying Tips

• System Tips
  If you are buying a new computer, make sure you get Windows XP (why pay for an old operations system?) XP has the stability of Windows 2000 and the “user friendly” interface like Apple computers. If you wish to do high-end graphic design and/or video editing you should stick with Windows2000 for stability. The only problem with Windows 2000 is that there are often “compatibility problems” so you will need to make sure that all your external hardware and software (i.e scanner, CDRW) will work. You can have the same type of compatibility problems upgrading to XP or Windows 2000 as well so check first.
• Case Tips
  Buy a computer with a large case and less “integrated” features like video and sound for better “upgradeability”. E-Machines in particular, use small cases that make it difficult to add additional drives etc.
• Monitor Tips
  Buy a high quality 17″ monitor. Wait on the LCD flat screen models until the price drops more unless you “just have to have one”. Recommended Brands: KDS, Hansol, View Sonic.
• Printer Tips
  Printer prices have dropped tremendously in the last few years but I would not recommend buying a low-end printer (less then $70), because the construction of low-end models is more prone to jamming and problems. I also would not spend more then $250 on an inkjet printer, because the quality after that point is higher than most people require, unless you have specific photo quality printing needs. I prefer HP printers because of the availability of printing cartridges, durability and customer service. Lexus printers are a bit too cheaply made for my requirements and personally I don’t prefer Epson printers either. Canon makes some great printers but I would not buy the lower-priced models. Also avoid buying an “All in one” system I.e. fax, scanner, copier etc, because of the high rate of problems and connectivity.
• Memory Tips
  Memory prices have never been lower so everyone should have at least 128 MB of RAM because it improves performance so much. I use 256 MB of RAM and that is the amount I would recommend for all new computers unless you are a power user and need 512 RAM. The new DR RAM is slightly faster and necessary for some Pentium machines, however, most users will not notice a performance improvement.
• Sound Tips
  Use better speakers than the ones provided with most new PCs. Spend $29 to $49 on some new speaker for much better sound. Most new computers come with built-in sound. However, if you want to hear music in stereo quality, you should get a separate sound card installed.

Click here for our Recommended List of Peripherals
Click here for PC Parts Information & Advice

MAC Tips

• Damaged Floppy Disk…
  Ever inserted a floppy into your Mac and gotten the error, “this disk is unreadable do you want to initialize it?”
  There is a possible fix for this: Eject the disk, then open “First Aid” (which should be located within your system’s utility folder). Make sure First Aid is the active program and then insert the floppy. Highlight the floppy in First Aid and click “Verify.” It should say “You need repairs.” Click on “Repair” and it that should solve the problem. You must verify first or you will not solve the problem.
• Booting from a CD…
  Booting from a CD is useful for diagnostic purposes. It ensures that the system software your computer is booted from is “known-good.”
  The suffix ROM (as in CD-ROM) stands for “Read Only Memory”: this means just that the data that have been stored on the disc can only be read, or interpreted by the computer, not written to. This is important because all software, system and application alike, can become corrupted at some point or another. Corrupted software can cause you all sorts of problems, from system freezing, to crashes, to incorrect image display etc. So if you think your software may be corrupt, it might be a good idea to boot from something that isn’t or can never become corrupt, like a CD-ROM. To boot from a CD, simply put it in the CD-ROM drive and hold down the ‘C’ key on your keyboard during the boot sequence. This works for Norton Utilities, your system software disks that originally came with your computer, as well as a number of other diagnostic programs.
• Moving your Control Strip…
  Lots of people ask me how to move their control strip around the desktop making it more easily accessible. To move the Control Strip, simply hold down the Option key and drag it wherever you like. You can even customize the order in which each button appears on the strip by doing the same thing for each button.
• Rebuild your desktop…
  Your should rebuild your desktop file at least once a month to ensure your Mac shows the proper icons and aliases on your desktop.
  Hold down the “Command-Option” keys while your computer boots up. Once you reach the desktop, a dialogue box will appear asking if you really want to rebuild your desktop. Click “yes” and let it do its thing. Note, if you have your hard drive partitioned or have an external drive, it will prompt you to rebuild each of these files.
• Zap your PRAM…
  PRAM, or parameter RAM, works closely with your system’s power management. It is mainly responsible for correct date and time functions.
  Whenever troubleshooting a power issue, you should always Zap your PRAM first. To do this, hold down “Command-Option-P and R” keys simultaneously on startup. You should hear a second or even third startup chime when you do this. Your PRAM has been reset. Once you reach the desktop, you’ll need to reset the date and time, as it will have changed.

Click here for MAC Repair Information and Rates
Click here for PC Parts Information & Advice

Disclaimer. We sincerely hope that these tips can assist you. However, we are not responsible for system damage or financial loss in any manner due to the advice provided here. If you have a virus or other serious hard disk or operating system problems you should contact a trained technician for assistance.

Tips is a post from: Sky Computer Services

Sky Computer Services, LLC and its affiliate companies requires that all the visitors to our site(s) (skycomputerservices.com, skyewebs.com, skywebservices.com, skylivetech.com, skyitsupport.com and others) on the World Wide Web (“Site”) adhere to the following rules of use. By accessing this site or any site of Sky Computer Services you indicate your acknowledgment and acceptance of these terms and conditions.

1. Laws

   User access to and use of the Site is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

2. Copyrights and Trademarks

   The trademarks, logos and graphics (“trademarks”) displayed on the Site are the property of Sky Computer Services. Users are prohibited from using any trademarks without the written permission of Sky Computer Services or such third party which may own the trademarks. All content on the Site is protected by copyright. Users are prohibited from modifying, copying, distributing, transmitting, displaying, publishing, selling, licensing, creating derivative works or using any content on the Site for commercial or public purposes.

3. No Warranties

   ALL INFORMATION ON THE SITE IS PROVIDED TO YOU “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, SECURITY OR ACCURACY. Sky Computer Services does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice or statement made through the Site by any party. Other than as required under consumer protection law, under no circumstance will Sky Computer Services be liable for any loss or damage caused by a user’s reliance on information obtained through the Site. It is the responsibility of the user to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content available through the Site.

4. Limitation Of Liability

   Sky Computer Services specifically disclaims any liability (whether based in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise) for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of or in any way connected with access to or use of the Site, (even if Sky Computer Services has been advised of the possibility of such damages) including liability associated with any viruses which may infect a user’s computer system.

5. Links

   Sky Computer Services is not responsible for the content available on any other Internet sites linked to the site. Access to any other Internet sites linked to the Site is at the user’s own risk.

6. Postings

   Sky Computer Services is under no obligation to review any messages, information or content (“Postings”) posted on the Site by users and assumes no responsibility or liability relating to any such Postings. Notwithstanding the above, Sky Computer Services may from time to time monitor the Postings on the Site and may decline to accept and/or remove any Postings that contain:

1. Personal Data

   User acknowledges and agrees that by providing Sky Computer Services with any personal or proprietary user information through the Site, user consents to the transmission of such personal or proprietary user information over international borders as necessary for processing in accordance with Sky Computer Services’ standard business practices.

2. Changes To Rules

   Sky Computer Services reserves the right to revise these Rules and Regulations at any time and users are deemed to be apprised of and bound by any changes to these Rules and Regulations.

3. Violations Of Rules And Regulations

   Sky Computer Services reserves the right to seek all remedies available at law and in equity for violations of these Rules and Regulations, including the right to block access from a particular Internet address to the Site.

4. Access To Password Protected/Secure Areas

   Access to and use of password protected and/or secure areas of the Site is restricted to authorized users only. Unauthorized individuals attempting to access these areas of the Site may be subject to prosecution.

Terms of Use is a post from: Sky Computer Services

IT Support Services

Network SupportNetwork Security Business Solutions Computer Repair Mac Support Data/Voice Cabling Support Plans Outsourcing Partners

Technical Inquiry is a post from: Sky Computer Services

All of our people share the following characteristics:

• An entrepreneurial spirit
• A servant’s heart
• A fun-loving attitude

Not just anyone can be a part of the Sky team. As our employees like to say, “we are a hard team to play for. ”

We have a tough, time-tested interview process that almost always finds the hidden gem in the candidate pool, and our team immediately works to make any new employee understand and live up to our high expectations.

It’s this unique combination of factors that makes clients frequently comment, “I don’t know how you find these people!”

Team is a post from: Sky Computer Services

http://skycomputerservices.com/support_plans_rates.htm
PC Repair, MAC repair, Networking Support, Procurement Services, Solution Consulting, Project Management, Telephone Support, Printer Repair/Support, Web Services & Design, and Programming

Rate Plan A

For small businesses with 3 to 12 users/workstations and one server

• On-site Workstation/Desktop Support
• On-site Networking Support
• On-site Macintosh Support
• Emergency Response
• Emergency Response (evenings and weekends)
• Emergency Response (late night and early morning)
• On-site Computer Training/Coaching
• Telephone Support is available

Rate Plan B

For small and medium size businesses with 10 to 20 users/workstations and one or two servers

• On-site Workstation/Desktop Support
• On-site Networking Support
• On-site Macintosh Support
• Emergency Response (working hours)* -
• Emergency Response (evenings and weekends) –
• Emergency Response (late night and early morning)*
• On-site Computer Training/Coaching
• Telephone Support is available

Rate Plan C

For medium size businesses with 15 to 50 users/workstations and multiple servers

• On-site Workstation/Desktop Support
• On-site Networking Support
• On-site Macintosh Support
• Emergency Response (working hours)*
• Emergency Response (evenings and weekends)
• Emergency Response (late night and early morning)* –
• On-site Computer Training/Coaching –
• Telephone Support is available

One Time Pre-payments

(*A one time pre-payment allows clients to receive reduced rates only until the pre-payment fee is exhausted.)

*Working Hours

• Note: Rates are higher for clients not on support plans

For an appointment call 310-837-2525

Off Hour/Weekend Service
Follow instructions on answering machine.

(Call 310-837-2525, press 3 #, leave your message. Our weekend customer support will be paged and will call you back within a couple of hours.)

Support Plan Rates is a post from: Sky Computer Services

Affordable support services for businesses with five to one hundred network users

Enjoy peace of mind, knowing that your network is being professionally administrated and supported by a team of expert networking consultants. We will efficiently maintain your computer infrastructure with our diversified team, and without additional IT staff or multiple contractors.

On-site Consultation Available

We’ll study your existing system’s capabilities, understand your needs and provide our recommendations.

We will provide upon request:

• A detailed proposal and an estimate for most technology projects
• Networking, Laser Printer or Telephone Support Service Agreement

SkyNet Support Plan

Thank you for considering the SkyNet Support Plan as your complete IT outsourcing solution. The objective of the SkyNet Support Plan is to transform your technology support method from a reactive “break and fix” pattern into a more advantageous proactive and preventative methodology. The SkyNet Support Plan will produce a high level of network stability and security at substantially reduced costs along with an interruption free work environment.

Benefits of the SkyNet Support Plan

• Focus more on your core business
• Reduce and control operating costs
• Avoid “down time and “emergencies”
• Cost-effective equipment procurement
• Priority Service of other clients
• 7-Day-a-Week Network Monitoring2
• Account and Project Management
• Telephone Support

• Reduced rates³
• Monthly Billing⁴

The SkyNet Support Plan has two parts:

Preliminary Support Services¹

Comprehensive proactive services and hardware upgrades are often required to achieve the objective of attaining peak network performance and security. In the long-term, these Preliminary Support Services will greatly contribute to lower maintenance cost and network stability. (These services are basically “one time investments” and are completed within the first sixty days from the commencement of the SkyNet Support Plan.)

Monthly Support Services

The key to maintaining low network maintenance costs is to conduct regular preventive support and 24/7 monitoring. By being proactive network emergencies and user crises are basically eliminated. In the long-term, our Monthly Support Services are designed to reduce costs and manage your network resources in the most effective and efficient manner possible. We will provide regular on-site and remote support to maintain your network based on your requirements and budget. See Support Plan Rates for rates.

Preliminary Support

By performing Preliminary Support services, thousands of dollars can be saved in years to follow, with lowered monthly maintenance costs. These Preliminary Support services are comprised of three service phases: Assessment, Stabilization and Monitoring. (Services are quoted and/or estimated individually, subject to client’s approval and billed by the hour. See Support Plan Rates for details).

1. Perform a Security Audit and Network Performance Analysis

Our Network Security Specialist will perform a security audit on your key network servers and generate a report so you may view where your network is most vulnerable. Your network infrastructure and server performance will also be analyzed and areas of improvement will be documented. We will provide clear recommendations and estimated costs for improvements and updates.

• Identify current security concerns
• Conduct internal and external vulnerability scans
• Establish secured network design and access strategies (Including
  firewalls, intrusion detection and VPN implementations)
• Assessment of current and future IT needs
• Perform a network improvement Analysis
• Assess Data back up system/procedure
• Assess Anti-virus and Spam solutions
• Diagram network infrastructure

2. Execut Stabilization Services (as required)⁵

Based on the results from your Network Performance Analysis and Security Audit, various services will be required to transition your network from a reactive management method to a highly stable and reliable network environment. Services include:

• Setup Microsoft “SUS” Server to automatically perform system updates
  for all systems
• Upgrade operating systems to current versions
• Upgrade hardware for peak performance
• Assessment of current and future IT needs
• Produce Network hardware and software documentation
• Setup and/or configure antivirus, back up and anti-spam solutions
• Implement security updates

3. Setup Remote Support Setup (if required)⁵

While not a replacement for on-site support, remote support is a cost effective and efficient method of managing certain network elements. Remote support is also a rapid solution to remote monitoring alerts. Setup requires a few hours labor and a suitable firewall.⁷

4. Monitoring and Reporting Setup (Optional plans available)⁵

Network Monitoring is essential for proactive network support.

• Services monitor the following: Disk space, Website, MS SQL, SMTP, DNS
  resolution, MS Exchange, back up services, antivirus services and more
• Notification by email and pager to multiple clients
• Reports can be accessed from any web browser
• Servers and/or workstations can be monitored.⁵

Monthly Support

After the completion of Preliminary Support Services, we will provide regular on-site and remote support to maintain the peak performance of your network.

• Regular on-site Maintenance Services

  In order to maintain stable and secure network performance, our technician will visit your location for a minimum of 4 hours per month to perform on-site proactive services. Support will include but is not limited to Network Servers, Network firewalls, Antivirus Systems, Backup Systems, and workstations unless otherwise indicated. With each visit an extensive list of tasks are performed and systems are monitored. This includes but is not limited to:

• User Support and “on-going” Support

  Depending on your requirements Sky Computer Services, LLC will provide training, telephone support, equipment procurement, hardware and software upgrades, will include but is not limited to Network Servers, Network firewalls, Antivirus Systems, trouble-shooting and repair of network infrastructure and computer systems.

• Monitoring Options

  • Monitoring Support: $60 per month – (Requires a software purchase starting at $395 + tax and labor. Dedicated workstation may also be required)
  • Weekly Remote Monitoring: $120 per month Per Server – Technician will remotely connect to your server once a week and check backup-up, virus software, system updates, server logs, e-mail administrations, services, disk space and more.

• Other Support Services Provided6

  • Data, Voice and Fiber Cabling (5 Year Waranty)
  • Onsite Laser Printer Repair (Support Agreements available)
  • Component Level Notebook repair
  • Web design⁷
  • Web marketing⁷
  • Web hosting⁷
  See Support Plan Rates for rates.

Support Plans is a post from: Sky Computer Services

Business today demands a different kind of database solution. Performance, scalability, and reliability are essential, and time to market is critical. Beyond these core enterprise qualities, SQL Server 2000 provides agility to your data management and analysis, allowing your organization to adapt quickly and gracefully to derive competitive advantage in a fast-changing environment. From a data management and analysis perspective, it is critical to turn raw data into business intelligence and take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the Web. A complete database and data analysis package, SQL Server 2000 opens the door to the rapid development of a new generation of enterprise-class business applications that can give your company a critical competitive advantage. The record-holder of important benchmark awards for scalability and speed, SQL Server 2000 is a fully Web-enabled database product, providing core support for Extensible Markup Language (XML) and the ability to query across the Internet and beyond the firewall.

Fully Web-Enabled

SQL Server 2000 provides extensive database programming capabilities built on Web standards. Rich XML and Internet standard support give you the ability to store and retrieve data in XML format easily with built-in stored procedures. You can also use XML updategrams to insert, update and delete data easily.

• Easy access to data through the Web. With SQL Server 2000, you can use HTTP to send queries to the database, perform full-text search on documents stored in database, and run queries over the Web with natural language.
• Powerful, flexible Web-based analysis. SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services capabilities are extended to the Internet. You can access and manipulate cube data by means of a Web browser.

Highly Scalable and Reliable

Achieve unparalleled scalability and reliability with SQL Server 2000. With scale up and scale out capabilities, SQL Server meets the needs of demanding ecommerce and enterprise applications.

• Scale up. SQL Server 2000 takes advantage of symmetrical multiprocessor (SMP) systems. SQL Server Enterprise Edition can use up to 32 processors and 64 GB of RAM.
• Scale out. Scale out distributes the database and data load across servers.
• Availability. SQL Server 2000 achieves maximum availability through enhanced failover clustering, log shipping, and new backup strategies.

Fastest Time-to-Market

SQL Server 2000 is the data management and analysis backbone of the Microsoft.NET Enterprise Servers. SQL Server 2000 includes tools to speed development from concept to final delivery.

• Integrated and extensible analysis services. With SQL Server 2000, you can build end-to-end analysis solutions with integrated tools to create value from data. Additionally, you can automatically drive business processes based on analysis results and flexibly retrieve custom result sets from the most complex calculations.
• Quick development, debugging, and data transformation. SQL Server 2000 features the ability to interactively tune and debug queries, quickly move and transform data from any source, and define and use functions as if they were built in to Transact-SQL. You can visually design and code database applications from any Visual Studio tool.
• Simplified management and tuning. With SQL Server 2000, it is easy to manage databases centrally alongside all enterprise resources. Stay online while easily moving and copying databases across computers or between instances.

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition (5-client)
Microsoft; Windows NT / 2000 $1,489.00

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition (10-client)
Microsoft; Windows NT / 2000 $2,259.99

Call for details

SQL Server is a post from: Sky Computer Services