(608) 755-1524 sales@computer-center.com
Storms make trees take deeper root.
Dolly Parton

Covid-19 and Working Remotely
A How-To Technology Resource

Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.

why do I need a $900 firewall AND pay a maintenance fee?

IT Security Tip #32:
Routers are $100 at the big-box stores
Why do I need a $900 firewall
AND pay a maintenance fee?

Routers and firewalls can be confusing – they essentially serve the same purpose of distributing Internet to devices on the network. A router like you’d purchase at a big-box store is designed to serve the needs of the home, not the needs of the business. It’s likely more important the Xbox has a great WiFi signal so little Jimmy can play his game, rather than being able to deny all Internet access from North Korea. A firewall, unlike a router, is intelligent. You typically pay a subscription fee because the firewall is constantly updating itself to protect against the newest cyber-attacks. Unlike a router, the firewall actually looks at all Internet traffic passing through it to make sure it’s legitimate, not a virus, and was requested from a computer inside. They also allow us to block access totally to some third-world countries known for producing cyber-attacks. A good firewall can also let you know what your staff has been up to – who’s that looking on careerbuilder.com for five hours? Don’t cheap out, and don’t buy your gate to the Internet for your business at a big-box store. It truly is the gate between your business and the rest of the world – and you want a strongly armed guard, not a non-intelligent robot. If you can afford to invest in one thing, get a good firewall!

PS – Business-grade firewalls can be used in homes, too – especially if you want to control the content users can access on the Internet, and want to see what the people in the house have been doing. There is no rule that a firewall is just for business – we sell them for use in the homes of lots of CEOs, CIOs, and other professionals.

Microsoft Tips for Office

We Have The Resume For You

Forget the formatting—use a template. Word has dozens to choose from. In Word, select File > New, type Resume in the search box, and then press Enter.

We Have The Resume For You

Keyboard Keys

Shortcut of the Week

Start a YouTube Video From Anywhere in Timeline

To create a link to a video that doesn’t start at the beginning, follow the instructions below.

  • Open your selected YouTube video and pause it at the time you want the video to start.
  • Right-click on the video and select “Copy video URL at the current time” from the drop-down menu.
  • Once the video URL is copied, you can paste it into an e-mail message or web page.

Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/

Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.

Sincerely,

James Pearson, President
The Computer Center
39 S. Main St. – Upper
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 755-1524