About Jeffrey Wrobel Expertise I can provide assistance in the sometimes confusing area of networking Macs. The Macs
make networking easy, however, the large number of variables introduced by any network
solution can be difficult.
Experience I have over 20 years experience with Macs and their connectivity. I own my own consulting firm that specializes in network communication, Macs, and Mac-PC hybrid networks.
Organizations Certified Apple Developer
Education/Credentials UMASS Dartmouth, 4 years, Philosophy Major, Psychology Minor
Advanced computer theory, video technology, and encryption
Past/Present Clients I have a great many clients, all through word of mouth recommendation. These clients include celebrities, film makers, college professors, and physicians, but most are folks that love their Macs and need to keep them running their best.
Expert: Jeffrey Wrobel Date: 6/10/2008 Subject: starting a business
Question Hi I am trying to start a business here is my idea and help would be great
Mission Statement:
Our goal is to provide security and safety protection to corporations from threats from the outside world. Companies need information to be secure and confidential and through our software and our on-call local staff we will be able to protect companies from viruses, scanning emails, hackers, and other malicious threats. The niche market that we will focus on will be smaller companies. There is a great current need that has arisen due to the growing number of hackers combined with the fact that it is harder for smaller companies to have the funds to afford the necessary protection. We will make it possible for these companies to have the protection and we will be able to make profit through our effiencies, which compromises our technology and technical know how and through economies of scale.
Have computers, exchange information with outside world. Internet and computer network. Threats from world—viruses, malicious hackers, hacking web page get into systems to access information.
Need security for their information to protect, scanning emails, etc.
Small companies hard for them to afford all of this protection so get external consultant. Needs managing. In case of emergency need someone there immediately. Experts sit in remote location and can set up these systems to make sure that no breaks into the system.
Idea: Experts see what they want and set things up. See what customers want
After this hand over to monitoring center who are dedicated to . Have to know products software and hardware in order to administer remotely. Setting up expert system where they can do all of configuration remotely as well as monitor.
Competetive advantage: Security expertise, language, ability to fly over Europe and do consulting and do locally as well.
Make profits from instillation fees for setting up the software. Response time, staffing.
Answer Dear Michael,
I am an expert in computer networks, security, and repair. I have a good deal of knowledge of computer theory and network protocols, however, as a small business person who has owned his own business for 7 years, I've learned a great deal about what I don't know.
Your idea is a good one and small businesses need a robust security solution at an affordable price point. However, realistically, most small businesses refuse to acknowledge their need for security. It's hard enough to get them to hire part time IT people. Between 2 and 10% of a companies GROSS REVENUE should be spent on IT. There is no free lunch. I have a client who is dispensing with me after 4 successful years because the owner has taken the lack of problems to mean that IT and IT security is no longer needed. She opted for a complete PC model, even after paying to purchase and configure an Xserve Mac OS X Server as a file server and the engine behind the backup system. It works flawlessly with the PCs and is rock solid, never having to be restarted in over a year. She is now hiring another firm to install Windows Server 2003 and have all the PCs netboot off that server, putting the PCs at greater risk and making them helpless if the server crashes (which it will). She spends less than .3% of her gross revenue and wants to spend much less. The problem is that there is no free lunch, as you know, and she will end up with a major IT disaster on her hands.
One of the paradoxes of IT and network consulting is that when you are doing your job correctly, it appears as though you are not doing anything. When you are not doing a thorough job, you end up running about putting IT fires out, appearing busy and efficient to the uneducated. Therefore, your first priority is to effectively educate the consumer. Your potential customers do not need to be frightened into going with your services, but they need to understand the risk and complexity of security threats in 2008.
The problem with small businesses is that they have small budgets and cannot justify exhorbitant prices under any circumstances. You must keep them within their budget and give them the best protection for their money. One of the best ways to do that is to install security appliances that are tailored for the needs of the business. Often, people are convinced to spend $3000 or more for a security appliance that is like killing a mosquito with a steamroller. Better to go with a less expensive network security appliance and provide them with maintenance-based consulting. Something like the Check Point Safe@Office 500W UTM is about $400 and has features only found in units priced thousands more. You can set up a VPN and keep an eye on things/monitor traffic from your office, charging the client for off-site maintenance/traffic monitoring. You can then give them a security report each month with their invoice. They need to see what they are paying for. Just telling them is NOT enough. I've learned the hard way that just doing a flawless job means nothing if the client doesn't grasp what s/he's paying for. They will tell you they understand but there is no substitute for documentation.
I have tons of ideas and caveats for you that I've learned through experience, but I must move on right now. Feel free to ask any issue-specific questions you might have, okay?
Sincerely,
Jeffrey J. Wrobel
