November 1, 2011
It has been a trying month for BlackBerry users who experienced an extended period of service interruption bringing BlackBerry email and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) services to a temporary halt. As it turned out, there was an internal issue where a vital piece of equipment in their data centre went offline. Subsequently, the backup system did not failover as expected. This created a backlog of emails and BBM messages which took a few days to process. It is worth noting that all mail caught in the backlog was eventually delivered.
This outage tested the patience of BlackBerry users as they vocalized their frustration on social media. In the end service was restored and the anxiety associated with feeling disconnected died out.
The big question our clients are asking is “should I switch”? The answer is no. The reason IT departments recommend BlackBerry can be attributed to the unparalleled security and administrative controls which offer the ability to regulate sensitive company information. The same concept applies for all users who chat with friends using BBM; they know their data is being sent through a secure network.
To make all of these security features possible, BlackBerry routes data through their private data centre. RIM’s method of delivering and securing transmissions means that messages cannot be intercepted and used by others for malicious purposes.
This type of service is not offered by other providers as a core service. Some companies have introduced similar BBM-type services for their iUsers which will be just as prone to failure. Despite the increased likelihood of downtime, RIM’s competitors understand that the benefits of a secure mail system outweigh disadvantages of server-side message filtering. As BBM derivatives come to market one must consider that these trickledown technologies which are being developed will experience similar issues at some point down the road, especially as they fight through their infancy stage.
Downtime is a fact of life for those of us who rely on smartphones for communication. Issues, such as RIM’s October outage, will be reviewed and better processes will be implemented to further limit downtime. Sea to Sky still views RIM’s products and services as a best practice solution for managing a business’s communication needs.
If you would like more information please visit the official BlackBerry press release site at: http://www.rim.com/newsroom/news/
If you have questions regarding your business IT, please feel free to contact a Sea to Sky consultant for more information.
- Sea to Sky Team
October 7, 2011
Back in March of this year Microsoft and RIM announced a joint venture to integrate Microsoft products with BlackBerry mobile devices. We now find ourselves in the fall of 2011 and the fruits of their labour are being realized with the new SharePoint integration for BlackBerry mobiles. This is very exciting news if you use, or are familiar with, Microsoft SharePoint.
The new SharePoint integration with your BlackBerry will allow users to:
- Download, edit, upload and sync documents,
- Navigate SharePoint files and folders
- View details of a document
- Integrate with the SharePoint calendar
- Utilize high-level BlackBerry security features
Here is a sample image of the interface, borrowed from the crackberry.com website article:
At Sea to Sky we feel that this is great news because it reinforces the fact that RIM and Microsoft are still putting business needs first.
If you have questions about this product, please contact a Sea to Sky representative for more information.
- Sea to Sky Team
September 30, 2011
This past week BlackBerry announced the Beta release for BlackBerry Business Cloud Services (BBCS). The software, designed to pair Office 365 Exchange services with BlackBerry devices, is on track to be released in January 2012. This is very exciting news for our clients who are leading the way by taking advantage of Microsoft Cloud services.
BlackBerry is working hard to make sure that any information traveling through their client’s phones via Office 365 is secure. The RIM team is designing a dedicated SSL connection on their end so all cloud-based services offered by Office 365 can be used securely. These features include:
- messaging,
- access controls,
- physical security at their data centres,
- backups and,
- administrative controls meet or exceed IT admin requirements
Basically; BBCS is going provide our clients with enterprise class IT features without the enterprise cost for hardware and ongoing IT support.
Below is a diagram from the RIM BlackBerry Business Cloud Services – Security Technical Overview document
As with any beta release of software, Sea to Sky will not be implementing this into any customer solutions. Once it has been given the official seal of approval we will begin the process of introducing the service to all of our client’s BlackBerry devices.
Stay tuned for more information!
- Sea to Sky Team
September 28, 2011
Microsoft has recently announced the next version of the Windows operating system; Windows 8!
Windows 8 signifies a radical departure from the traditional user interface we have all come to know from the current version of the world’s most popular operating system. This major interface design change has the blogosphere buzzing with both positive and negative views.
The most notable change is the new desktop user interface (UI) that resembles what Microsoft calls “Tiles”. The Tile design is similar to that found on the Windows Phone 7. This new interface was designed to accommodate the shift to touch screen devices which require larger screen push points for accurate command inputs from a user’s finger. These Tiles are buttons that represent programs. The tiles replace icons and can be customized and relocated on the home screen as needed. Below is a screenshot of the beta release:
Microsoft has stated that their goal is to unify the user interface across the myriad of devices people most commonly use (computer, phone, tablet and gaming console). This is a great idea and we can’t wait to see the final prouct.
We are very excited to see what advantages Windows 8 will bring to the business client. Sea to Sky will keep a close eye on the progress of Windows 8 as it gets closer to the launch date.
Windows 8 is still a long way from being released; it is likely to be made available to the public late 2012. If you are planning on purchasing a new machine Windows 7 is still a current, best practice solution that will last for years to come. Sea to Sky feels that it is still too early to know what the changes in Windows 8 are going to mean for our business clients. We will keep this blog up-to-date as Microsoft releases more information.If you have any questions please contact one of the Sea to Sky team members for more information.
- Sea to Sky Team
September 26, 2011
Effective today, Sea to Sky has officially moved to our new office at 300-455 Granville St. – at the corner of Granville and Pender, downtown.
This is really exciting, as it means we’re even closer to a lot of our customers downtown, and we have the space to expand and support more employees in the near future!
We look forward to supporting you from our new location – please let us know if you’d like to drop by!
For your records, our full mailing address is:
Sea to Sky Network Solutions
300-455 Granville St.
Vancouver, BC
V6C 1T1
Please update your records accordingly.
August 18, 2011
Sea to Sky Network Solutions is a dynamic, fast-growing managed services and IT solutions provider in Vancouver BC. We’re currently looking for a talented support technician to join our team.
You will be supporting multiple customers, and be responsible for taking accountability for seeing issues through from beginning to completion. The successful candidate will be providing frontline support for our extensive customer base, and needs to be motivated and able to adapt a variety of client environments and problem scenarios. This position consists of approximately 60% in-office and 40% onsite work, within the Greater Vancouver area.
Some of your responsibilities will include – but are definitely not limited to:
- Responding to support requests submitted via phone, e-mail, or our customer support portal within timelines defined by our SLA.
- Performing trouble ticket ‘triage’ to determine severity of issue and escalating as appropriate.
- Performing routine server and infrastructure maintenance, as defined by our Managed Services contracts.
- Working with our Technical Lead to ensure problems are addressed by the appropriate resource.
- Being accountable for time management, and hitting billable time targets as defined by management.
- Keeping extremely accurate documentation of client environments, problem resolution, and internal systems.
- Keeping Customer Service First – being polite, friendly, and approachable at all times.
- Managing time effectively – often handling dozens of open tickets at various stages of resolution.
- Keeping up with current industry standards and product releases.
- Providing guidance and instruction to end users on new systems, software, etc.
- Providing sales support when dealing with customers who are in a position to require new hardware or software – product guidance and recommendations included.
A valid BC driver’s license is required – as is a car in safe and drivable condition.
Some valuable experience would include:
- 2+ years in the IT consulting industry, or a helpdesk role
- Microsoft certifications (ie. MCSE, MCITP, etc)
- CompTIA certifications (A+, Network+, etc)
Thorough understanding of, and experience with:
- Windows XP, Vista, 7
- Mac OS X
- Windows Server 2003, 2008, SBS 2003, SBS 2008, SBS 2011
- Exchange 2003, 2007, 2010
- SQL 2005, 2008
- Active Directory
- DNS
- Terminal Services
- Enterprise Antivirus (Symantec)
- Enterprise Backup (Symantec)
- Firewalls/Routing/Switching/VPN/SSL-VPN (Juniper knowledge an asset)
- BES
- Hardware Troubleshooting
- MS Office 2003, 2007, 2010
- Virtualization (Xen Server & VMWare)
- EqualLogic an Asset
- Fibre Channel Storage (EMC) an Asset
- Communications Cabling Knowledge an Asset
The successful candidate will be willing to certify for multiple vendors, including Dell, MS, Juniper, etc.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in English, in both verbal and written forms, are required in order to provide a high level of service to our customers.
You will be working both independently and on a team for different projects – throughout the day you’ll have constant communication with teammates regarding the status of different issues. During team meetings, you’ll be expected to report on the status of your different tasks and projects, and be willing to meet with customers as required to resolve issues.
Please submit a cover letter detailing your work experience, your technical history, why you want this job and your expected compensation. A detailed resumé is also required.
You can contact Mike at jobs@seatosky.com to apply for this position.
August 18, 2011
Sea to Sky Network Solutions is a dynamic, fast-growing managed services and IT solutions provider in Vancouver BC. We’re currently looking for a Spanish-speaking support technician to join our team.
You will be supporting multiple customers, and be responsible for taking accountability for seeing issues through from beginning to completion. The successful candidate will be providing support for our extensive customer base, and needs to be motivated and able to adapt a variety of client environments and problem scenarios. This position consists of approximately 90% in-office and 10% onsite work, within the Greater Vancouver area. In addition, your Spanish language skills will be required to support and translate for clients in South America.
Some of your responsibilities will include – but are definitely not limited to:
- Responding to support requests submitted via phone, e-mail, or our customer support portal within timelines defined by our SLA.
- Performing trouble ticket ‘triage’ to determine severity of issue and escalating as appropriate.
- Performing routine server and infrastructure maintenance, as defined by our Managed Services contracts.
- Working with our Technical Lead to ensure problems are addressed by the appropriate resource.
- Being accountable for time management, and hitting billable time targets as defined by management.
- Keeping extremely accurate documentation of client environments, problem resolution, and internal systems.
- Keeping Customer Service First – being polite, friendly, and approachable at all times.
- Managing time effectively – often handling dozens of open tickets at various stages of resolution.
- Keeping up with current industry standards and product releases.
- Providing guidance and instruction to end users on new systems, software, etc.
- Providing sales support when dealing with customers who are in a position to require new hardware or software – product guidance and recommendations included.
A valid BC driver’s license is required.
Some valuable experience would include:
- Some experience in the IT consulting industry, or a helpdesk role, or a combination of post-secondary education and experience. This is an entry-level position and you will have the opportunity to learn and advance your skills in a variety of technologies.
- Microsoft certifications (ie. MCSE, MCITP, etc) would be a benefit
- CompTIA certifications (A+, Network+, etc) would be a benefit
Understanding of, and some experience with:
- Windows XP, Vista, 7
- Mac OS X
- Windows Server 2003, 2008, SBS 2003, SBS 2008, SBS 2011
- Active Directory
- Terminal Services
- Firewalls/Routing/Switching
- Hardware Troubleshooting
- MS Office 2003, 2007, 2010
The successful candidate will be willing to certify for multiple vendors, including Dell, MS, Juniper, etc.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in both English and Spanish, in both verbal and written forms, are required in order to provide a high level of service to our customers locally and abroad.
You will be working both independently and on a team for different projects – throughout the day you’ll have constant communication with teammates regarding the status of different issues. During team meetings, you’ll be expected to report on the status of your different tasks and projects, and be willing to meet with customers as required to resolve issues.
Please submit a cover letter detailing your education, work experience, technical history, why you want this job and your expected compensation. A detailed resumé is also required.
You can contact Mike at jobs@seatosky.com to apply for this position.
August 10, 2011
We are always on the lookout for new and exciting tools to help our clients increase productivity.
The Outlook Social Connector might not be classified as new anymore, but it is exciting! If you are familiar with this tool please stop reading, but if this is news to you, read on.
The nice thing about this Microsoft-made tool is that it is free! The Outlook Social Connector (OSC) integrates social media sites with your existing Microsoft Outlook software. The OSC is a great way to quickly see what your contact history has been with a specific person and check their status updates on social media sites, such as LinkedIn. It organizes items into sections including:
- Activities (social media related)
- Mail
- Attachments
- Meetings
- Status Updates (social media related)
On top of all this it pulls the person’s profile picture from the social media site to provide you with a visual reference of who you are speaking with. Here is an example of what you would see if you connected to Rob at Sea to Sky:
This connector has been out for some time now, but some of our clients have not heard about it; therefore, we wanted to put it out there for everyone to try! Microsoft Office has a great blog article discussing the features of the OSC here: (http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2009/11/18/announcing-the-outlook-social-connector.aspx)
If you would like to install the connector on your computer give a Sea to Sky technician a call at 604.628.6970.
Happy Computing!
- Sea to Sky Team
June 30, 2011
Sea to Sky is out saving the world again! We have been picking up old hardware from client locations and bringing it back to our office for proper data destruction. Next week we will be taking the load to our recycling partner; Free Geek Vancouver (http://freegeekvancouver.org/).
Q2 recycling drive pile, so far!
If you would like to have your old computer properly recycled and possibly redeployed to the benefit of a low income family give us a call. We are currently collecting old hardware until July 8, 2011 for this recycling drive. Please note that data destruction costs may apply; contact Sea to Sky for details.
Sea to Sky Network Solutions can be reach by phone at 604.628.6970 or email info@seatosky.com.
- Sea to Sky Team
June 28, 2011
Microsoft released Office 365 to the public. For those readers unfamiliar with Office 365, it is the successor to BPOS. We are very excited to offer Office 365 to our customers because it is designed to be a highly available, cost effective and scalable solution; perfect for most small businesses who want to limit upfront costs.
Microsoft’s Office 365 brings hosted email (Exchange Online), hosted file sharing (SharePoint Online) and communication tools (Lync Online) together in one place. Office 365 presents these products in a layout that any current Microsoft Office user will recognize. We really like this because it will make the transition to Office 365 much easier for the end user.
Additionally, the pricing plans provide our customers with the ability to purchase subscriptions of Office Professional Plus (a full suite Microsoft Office application including a whole slew of productivity tools) and/or Office Web Apps (a simple set of desktop applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, to view and edit documents online) depending on the plan you choose.
If you would like more information about Microsoft Office 365 you can visit Microsoft Canada’s website at: http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/office365/online-software.aspx. Here you will find video demonstrations, price plans and more detailed product descriptions.
Sea to Sky is a Vancouver-based Microsoft partner, here provide answers to any questions you may have regarding cloud migration and implementation.
Note: if you are one of our current BPOS customers we will be contacting you in the near future to create a migration plan to move your business to Office 365.
- Sea to Sky Team
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