| To compete in the field of providing IT Support to small | | | | - SNMP (Including RAID Array) |
| businesses, today's Independent Computer Consultant | | | | - File Size Monitoring |
| has to move away from the old, reactive model of | | | | - Roll Your Own Event Log Check |
| charging hourly rates for on-site support and move | | | | - Roll Your Own Script Check |
| onto the more efficient and profitable model of | | | | If an error occurs, the application can instantly and |
| Managed Services, charging flat-rates for a suite of | | | | automatically notify you via an email or SMS alert. You |
| services, which include round-the-clock system | | | | also can generate weekly, automated health status |
| monitoring and remote support. | | | | reports that can be sent automatically via email to you |
| Fortunately, there are many current utilities available | | | | and your clients. |
| that can allow an Independent Computer Consultant to | | | | For Remote Computer Support - LogMeIn Free |
| provide these services at the highest level, for literally | | | | LogMeIn is both PC and Mac compatible and can be |
| pennies a day... or even completely FREE! | | | | installed on each of your client's computers in about 2 |
| The following applications are the ones I use personally | | | | minutes. Once installed, you can gain instant remote |
| and generally recommend. A simple web search will | | | | access to any of these computers from any Internet |
| allow you to evaluate these products against | | | | connected computer. |
| competing packages to determine what will work best | | | | The LogMeIn Free product is completely suitable for |
| for your individual needs and budget. | | | | providing all of your users with instant support, just as if |
| For Network Server Monitoring and Inventory | | | | you were sitting in front of their computer, but it does |
| Collection and Reporting - GFI MAX Remote | | | | have its limitations. For additional features such as |
| Management | | | | remote file transfer, remote-to-local printing or allowing |
| This web-based utility allows you to keep tabs on your | | | | multiple accounts to access the same computer (if |
| client's servers and all workstations around the clock. | | | | you want to grant the user the ability to connect to |
| Costing (at the time of this writing) only $12.95 per | | | | their computer using their own account), then you'll |
| month per server and an additional $0.10 per | | | | need to step up to one of LogMeIn's paid products. |
| workstation, this application will provide a web-based | | | | These are also very affordable and all information can |
| dashboard that lets you and your client see at a | | | | be found on their website. |
| glance the current health status of all major | | | | Use applications like these and you'll be able to provide |
| components of the network such as: | | | | your clients with an unparalleled level of service, |
| - Backup Status | | | | increase their system's performance, reduce or |
| - Anti-Virus Update Status and Activity | | | | eliminate unexpected system problems, increase your |
| - Drive Space Change | | | | response time and turn your clients into your greatest |
| - Critical Events | | | | fans. |
| - Disk Health | | | | Considering the cost to you can be next to nothing, |
| - Available Disk Space | | | | investing in applications like these would be the wisest |
| - Hacker Monitoring | | | | investment you could make in your computer |
| - WSUS Patch Monitoring | | | | consulting business. |
| - Windows Service Monitoring | | | | Of course, there are additional applications that you will |
| - Server Performance Monitoring | | | | need to maximize your productivity and profitability, |
| - Website Availability | | | | such as a ticketing system with a client accessible |
| - Bandwidth Usage | | | | portal and service reporting. These and many more |
| - TCP Port Monitoring | | | | subjects are covered in depth at the following |
| - PING Checks | | | | website... |