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With cloud technology becoming an increasingly viable choice for business, questions still remain as to whether it’s the right choice for your business. Kinetik IT’s President, Josette van Stiphout, weighs in on questions and considerations when contemplating sending your business into the cloud.

• Company Size: Usually, cloud technology is the most appropriate for small to midsize businesses that do not have the talent and funding to implement in-house solutions. It also depends on the cloud application’s capacity and functionality.
• Physical Location: Does it make sense for your company if all employees are office-based rather than working from a remote office?
• Security: "Do I want to have everything in the cloud including all my company data?"  The most important questions that people need to ask are really pertaining to data security.
• Space and Software Rental: A disadvantage for cloud computing is that you basically rent – it’s a lifetime rental situation. You don't own anything, and you will always pay a fee. This may be appropriate for some situations but not all.

The cloud has been available in some of fashion for 20 years or more, where it was called ASP (Application Service Providers) or SaaS (Software as a Service). Now in general terms, it's called cloud technologies. But keep in mind there are different categories of cloud computing: software, infrastructure, storage and platform hosting.

In addition to general-use questions, Josette offers considerations for the actual cloud provider. Here are some general suggestions:

• Choose a brand name cloud provider – e.g. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, NetSuite etc.
• Find out the physical location of the service provider’s data center, where the application and files are stored.  Is this data center owned by the cloud provider or is it outsourced?
• Understand what kind of security controls and processes the provider has in place. Who will  be administering your systems, can they see your data, and how do they avoid your data potentially being copied? Can other organizations who are using the same service potentially copy your data?
• Learn about their track record for up‑time.  Planned downtime is a given – for them to perform scheduled maintenance and upgrades – and you want to know what it is.
• Know the historical length of downtime or average outage time, especially if it’s unplanned downtime, or a specific outage.
• Learn about the type of redundancies and data protection policies they have in place, in the event of loss of data, data corruption, unscheduled downtime or security breach.
• If you want to cancel your service, how easy is it to get your data and migrate to another service provider?  Will they keep copies of your data after the service is cancelled?
• Get a copy of their SLA (Service Level Agreement) and support guarantees.

Located in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, Kinetik IT is a full-service information technology and internet services provider, offering a wide array of technology and internet strategy solutions, as well as sound advice.  To learn more about services and products, and to stay up to date with Kinetik IT, visit www.Kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

At Kinetik IT, we specialize in website design, graphic design, internet marketing, software and web development, network support and services in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona.

We love to work with clients that love technology because we love technology. The oldest branch of our company is software development, and we truly believe in the power of custom software. We love working with clients who love technology and who want to evolve and optimize their business, moving forward by using technology in the best ways they can.

When deciding whether custom software is right for their particular needs, clients have some decisions to make.  When buying off‑the‑shelf software, a business is, essentially, trying to have to accommodate the software’s functionality and limitations.  The business must adjust how they do business based on what the software allows them to do or to track. And as important, the software usually does not fit the company’s workflow.

With Kinetik IT custom software however, we write software for clients based on how they do business.  We're adept at analyzing various businesses’ needs within various industries, learning how a client does business; analyze their workflow and how they interact with software, catering to their specific needs.

To learn more about services and products, and to stay up to date with Kinetik IT, visit www.Kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

In any field, there are characteristics that inevitably determine which companies will last and those whose tenure will be short-lived.  One of these characteristics is having well-defined guiding principles. Serving as a guidepost in making decisions both big and small, these principles, or core values, are not simply chosen like a wish list of company traits might be, but rather cherry-picked from that organization’s existing culture and highest virtues. 

Generally defined as “principles that guides an organization's internal conduct as well as its relationship with the external world,” core values can also be defined as unchanging, while being timeless and to sustainable long term, as they were in the book, “Startup Culture: Values vs. Vibe” by Chris Moody,

At Kinetik Information Technology, we provide website design, SEO internet marketing, software development and computer network services and solutions that move our clients forward. We accomplish this through uncompromising dedication to our own well-defined core values and principles, including:

• Integrity
• Service
• Loyalty
• Value
• Excellence
• Dedication

Of course, our principles will only be meaningful, if each of us at Kinetik IT consistently strives to excel in everything we do, surpassing our set standards. After all, an organization can only expand and achieve greatness through the pursuit of excellence and growth of each individual team member.

To learn more about services and products, and to stay up to date with Kinetik IT, visit www.Kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik on Facebook, LinkedInor Twitter.

Josette van Stiphout, President of Kinetik IT, fell in love with technology as a junior programmer in the late 80s; shortly thereafter, she founded the Phoenix-Scottsdale area company that would become Kinetik IT.  “We were one of the first Microsoft-Certified Partners in the valley,” she said of the company’s beginnings. “They called it Solution Providers then. Initially, we were named Mach 2 Systems and in 2000, it was time to change the company’s identity to reflect the mission and vision for the company. The dynamic shifts in the software, technology and e-commerce industry caused us to evaluate where we wanted to be in then years. We were seeing many exciting changes in our industry that helped businesses of all sizes become more successful through utilizing technology. We wanted a name that helped to convey that by putting people, ideas and technology into motion, we are supporting the future success of Arizona businesses.”

A front-runner in Microsoft Windows software development, web design, web application development and IT services, Kinetik IT is now a full-service information-technology and internet services provider, offering a wide array of technology and web services. 

Kinetik IT has always made a goal of fostering productive business relationships, on both ends of the spectrum – seeking out employees who embody efficiency and passion for their work, and developing custom software and database systems and building long-term solutions for clients by uncovering and catering to their most important needs.

Kinetik IT designs custom software solutions – bridging the gap between marketing and technology – and developing desktop, web applications and mobile solutions to optimize organization and revolutionizing the way clients do business.

To learn more about services and products, and to stay up to date with Kinetik IT, visit www.Kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Search the internet for the phrase, “Never give up,” and you’ll come across several eponymous images.  Undoubtedly, the most well-known is that of the frog who, while cradled precariously in the craw of a bird about to eat him, is doing his best to wring the neck of his winged opponent.  Another image is that of a mouse wearing the tiniest helmet, perched in front of an ever-so-enticing cheese-loaded mousetrap.  In both instances, the underlying message is that hard work comes naturally when you’re passionate about what’s at stake.

Working in the information technology arena has never been smooth sailing, at least not for any extended period of time.  Since its inception, the industry has weathered its share of booms and busts, followed by more of the same. “I would say, our biggest accomplishment is that in 24 years we've been through the ups and downs of the technology bubble, 9/11, economic downturn,” says Josette van Stiphout, President of Kinetik I.T. “We've had several highs and several really lows and within that 24‑year period. Nonetheless, during the trying times, we did not choose the easy way out, resorting to lay-offs or salary decreases. Instead, we did whatever we had to do to keep our staff employed. We believe our staff is better off not having to worry about having a job or not. We want them to focus their energy positively, such as on exceeding our clients’ expectations.” Our business philosophies and loyalty to our employees are quite different than what is the norm for corporate America.”

Working in such a volatile industry, the key to Kinetik I.T.’s 24-year longevity has been in the passion and commitment of our people to deliver high-quality custom desktop and web-based software systems and long-term I.T. solutions for our clients.  We do this by first uncovering, then catering to the client’s most important needs.  Because our employees embody both efficiency and passion for their work, bridging the gap between marketing and technology and revolutionizing the way our clients do business is more than just work to us – it’s our goal, our mission. And we’ll never give up.

To learn more about services and products, and to stay up to date with Kinetik IT, visit www.Kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik IT Phoenix on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Most companies have a web site in this day and age.  Therefore it is important to create a web site that has a positive impact, when someone initially visits your web site.  How would one accomplish this? First of all, create impressive graphics for your web site. No one can deny the importance of a great engaging, interactive design for a website. But knowing that you need these “wow” factors incorporated in the design, and implementing them, are two different elements. Planning is vital before you can even start to design your website. Using a professional graphic designer is fundamental. Many companies will skip the process of hiring of a professional graphic designer because they underestimate the importance of graphic design for a website. Many entrepreneurs feel that their product will sell itself to the client. Oh no! In most cases the product will draw potential clients to the website, but to grab and hold the prospect’s attention you must have the appropriate graphic design to accomplish this, which only a professional can help you accomplish.  Graphic design Phoenix can help.

There are many advantages associated with hiring a professional graphic designer. Some of these are listed below:

·         One of the biggest advantages of hiring a graphic designer is… time savings. This is huge. Having a professional who understands graphic design, can create and implement a very nice design for you faster than a novice designer, saving you time and money.  I can’t tell you, how many people believe they can design their own web site, not realizing that this will have an impact on their bottom line.  As I said before, to achieve the most positive impact on your target audience, your web site must have a professional look and feel to it, which can only be achieved by someone trained in graphic design. Your time is valuable and can and should be spent on your area of expertise, leaving your web site in the trained hands of a graphic design professional.  It is not hard to find one; just look for graphic design scottsdale to find a professional who can help.

·         Another big “no-no” is that many companies feel their web site is the one area where they can save money.  Please, this should really not be the case. Web site design should be one of the most important parts of your company’s budget. If your web site doesn`t have a good look or feel then your brand won’t inspire positive feedback and repeat visitors will be non-existent. You must be able to deliver your message to your potential clients in the proper and most engaging way to create a perceived value.  If you can’t find any great designers in Scottsdale, then look for graphic design phoenix.

·         Another aspect that must also be addressed is that there may be certain legal issues to consider concerning your trade. When you hire a graphic design professional from graphic design Phoenix, they will point out the issues they may be aware of.

·         The last thing to be aware of when you hire a professional graphic designer phoenix is that you will be able to create a perceived value in the mind of your potential customers. If you are not able to create a perceived value, you will not able to succeed, no matter how good your product is, or how well you excel in providing your services.  

The World Wide Web - How it all started…

The Internet has become a huge part of an individual’s everyday life. Millions of web sites are viewed and used every day. In this day and age, it is impossible to imagine a website without colorful backgrounds, various style sets of typography, animated graphics, and of course music. How did the phenomenon of the internet get started? In 1989, while Tim Berners-Lee was working at CERN, he had an idea to create an internet-based hypermedia initiative for global information sharing which would have global appeal to it, and thus become known as 3W’s i.e., the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web has come a long way since then, and over time many software tools have been developed for creating web sites and web applications. Nowadays, Phoenix web designers use different types of tools depending on what portion of the design production they get to be involved in. Although these software tools are constantly being updated, by introducing a new set of standards, keep in mind the basic principle behind creating websites remains the same.

User Experience is Key

The technologies used for creating web sites include standardized mark-up languages. These programming languages may be “hand written” or “auto” generated by software.  How “good” or “bad” a user’s web site experience, will depend on how well structured the layout, labeling and instructions are on a website. How effortlessly the user understands it all or how the user can interact on a site depends on the level of interactive design of the site. Therefore when designing and implementing a web site, a Phoenix web designer will develop graphical and technical specifications (web design phoenix documentation) which specifies i.e. exactly how the website will work, as well as how it will appear to the user.  The key is that the Phoenix web designer needs to know upfront what type of a website they are designing. For example, a business-to-business web design will hugely differ from any other consumer oriented website like retail, sports or entertainment websites. 

What Makes a Great Web Designer?

Web designers have a responsibility to create the site’s visual aspect, overall layout, and typography of the web pages. A great Phoenix web designer should have the technical knowledge of internet specific languages such as CSS, HTML, PHP, JavaScript and Flash to create a site, not only a degree in web design, web development, web content management and multimedia design. A web designer who has both the technical knowledge of internet specific languages, and a degree in web design or web development, as well as practical experience with some, if not all of the basic techniques like Java, JavaScript, XML, Microsoft SQL Server, IIS, Windows Server environments etc. would also be a great Phoenix web developer.

 So, What Makes a Great Web Developer?

So what is the difference between a great Phoenix web design professional and a great Phoenix web developer? A great Phoenix web design professional needs an aptitude for imagination and creativity, while a great Phoenix web developer needs to have strong skills in software design and programming.  Both need to have the ability to pick up on new web design and development techniques in regards to the international web standards and protocols. And both need to have good interpersonal, communication skills, can multi-task and be effective team members.

There are several proven software development metholodologies out there and most of us who are professionals in developing software know that all these methodologies are proven for one project or another. The true question is which methodology is right for a specific project. So how do you choose the right software methodology for a specific job.

What do we mean by "Managed Services Model" within the Information Technology Services Industry?  Wikipedia offers a good but somewhat cumbersome definition for the average person. In other words: Managed Services is a very efficient and effective way of transferring the day-to-day monitoring of a company's servers, computer desktops (PCs), and network peripherals to an IT Managed Services Provider. The service provider utilizes "monitoring" software in order to pro-actively manage potential server, desktop or network issues. There are several software providers that allow the service providers to buy the appropriate software licenses to be able to pro-actively monitor their customer's servers etc.

When does a "Managed Services Model" makes sense for your company?  First of all your company's philosophy should tie into the principle of pro-active maintenance.

Learn Top 10 toxins to keep away from our pets to ensure their safety:

1. Flowers: Buttercups, morning glories, poinsettias and tulips can cause stomach pains, hallicunations and mouth irritation, if ingested by your pet.

2. Fruits: Grapes and raisins are extremely toxic for dogs. Ingestion can lead to irreversible kidney damage, which can result in death.

3. Plants: Elderberry, holly berries and potato plants can all cause your pets pain. The Arizona native sago palms plants can cause liver failure in both dogs and cats.

4. Chocolate: Can be toxic to dogs. Pure baking chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs.

5. Alcohol: It  causes vomiting, difficulty breathing and tremors.

6. Medications: Human medications can be toxic for pets.

7. Chemicals: Motor oil, battery acid, rat poison and bleach, if ingested by your pet, must be treated immediately.

8. Some Foods: Onions can cause anemia in cats and dogs, and the artificial sugar in toothpaste and chewing gum has been linked to problems.

9. Environmental Hazards: Mushrooms in the yard and contaminated water can critically hurt your pets.

10. Caffeine: Caffeine can cause damage to the heart, lungs, and kidneys, as well as hurt the central nervous system. Keep your pets away from caffeine pills, coffee beans, coffee and tea.

Source: Green Living Magazine - October 2010.