Access IT Podcast

In this episode, special guest Jeff Davey, Practice Lead of Software Defined Data Center, walks us through the latest updates on the entire VMware stack. Learn how VMware is discovering new avenues of delivering outcomes by bridging the gap via internal engineering and relentless development of their solutions, while “democratizing the cloud” by collaborating with other industry manufacturers.

Discussion topics include:

Overview of the VMware approach to solving business challenges

Running VMware cloud on another cloud, such as AWS and Azure

Intrinsic (or “tattooed”), layered workload and app security with AppDefense, vSphere Platinum, vSAN, Workspace ONE, and SD-WAN

Key takeaways from VMworld 2018

How VMware is promoting using “tech for good”

 

PCM Canada and VMware provides consistent operating and infrastructure to enable innovation and efficiency, through focused application experiences and leading software defined data center solutions. LEARN MORE

Follow Jeff Davey on Twitter (@vJEFFD)

Today, all professionals are expected to be creative and think critically. However, “40% of people who are asked to be creative say they don’t have the necessary tools.” That’s where Microsoft Surface comes in…

Senior Partner Development Manager at Microsoft Surface, Khaleel Rajack, is this episode’s special guest. Together, we discuss today’s business trends and delve into some of the technology spearheading the modern workplace movement.

Microsoft Surface, especially when paired with Microsoft 365, helps to provide users and companies with a seamless, first-in-class experience. Learn how Microsoft is revolutionizing how we work thanks to the intuitive and  “natural” capabilities — like ink, voice, touch and gaze — of the innovative Surface devices.

 

If you’re looking for a partner to manage this experience, PCM Canada gives various purchase options which includes Surface and Microsoft 365, with the ability for PCM Canada to manage that end-to-end solution. Visit www.pcmcanada.com to learn more.

Business leaders are under increasing pressure to build a data-centric organization, according to our special guest, Robert Cox, Senior Product Marketing Manager at NetApp. Organizations that leverage the cloud and transform digitally, have an unfair advantage.

But how safe is your data in a cloud service like Office 365?

In this episode, Robert describes how some of the best practices of legacy, on-prem hardware and traditional backup/restore practices have been brought into the age of the modern workforce thanks to NetApp’s Cloud Control for Office 365; giving customers an extra layer of protection while enabling admins to control and restore data when, and how, they want to.

‘Digital Transformation’ is toping the agenda of companies of all sizes. Go beyond the buzzwords and learn the real-world practices that have helped organizations, from ivy league schools to NetApp, lower cost, scale resources, streamline admin, and protect their data.

Gain the flexibility, speed and automation that can make the difference in this competitive market. Visit www.NetApp.com/CloudControl to trial Cloud Control or click HERE learn more about PCM Canada and NetApp data center and cloud solutions.

We're joined by Stan Bobnic, Enterprise Sales Engineer at Dell EMC. With over 20 years' experience in various IT roles, Stan has seen first-hand the different challenges businesses face.

Listen as we share insider updates from Dell EMC and their unique approach to designing SMB solutions, including how Dell EMC has adapted to the changing technology and business trends, what goes into designing their products, and the data-driven, cloud-driven solutions of tomorrow.

The episode concludes with an overview of the PowerEdge VRTX, a modular, "datacenter in a box" that is usability tested and engineered to fit any office. The PowerEdge VRTX is quiet, energy efficient, highly configurable, and versatile, offering a growing business a streamlined experience that's affordable and easy to manage (and support). 

To learn more about Dell PowerEdge VRTX, visit www.pcmcanada.com/go/vrtx

Welcome back Kozy fans! Season 3 has now begun. 

In this episode, Jeff Koziuk gives us a breakdown of some of the more overlooked functions of Microsoft OneNote, Record Audio and Research.  

Record Audio: where you're able to insert, directly into your notes, live audio notes on-the-go or during that important meeting.

Research: a side pane that’s connected to the Internet, allows you to quickly insert snippets from web search results of your topic, complete with their URL’s and date/time stamps.

This episode focuses on Cisco’s security portfolio and how Cisco and PCM Canada’s new Evolve NX bundle is giving businesses peace-of-mind knowing staff, customers, and guests are safe on their network. Listen as Ian McGarry from Cisco Systems Canada analyzes the challenges facing SMBs today and how to solve these in a practical and sustainable way.

What will the IT landscape look like in 5 years, 10 years? How can a small business develop a security practice that’s both affordable and agile? Join us as we tackle the issues facing Canadian businesses head-on and receive fresh insights into these critical topics and much more, including:

How to future-proof your IT practices to protect your network

Network management and security on that network

Taking a proactive and holistic approach to security

Cisco’s affordability options for state-of-the-art solutions

Evolve NX combines best-of-breed networking technology, security, and collaboration tools to provide a holistic IT solution for companies of all sizes and sectors. Developed with these different verticals and industries in mind, this affordable, bundled, end-to-end solution is agile and operates with low expenditure thanks to manageable monthly payment options.

Visit www.EvolveYourIT.ca to learn more.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jayson Chakkalakal who is PCM Canada's Product Manager for Evolve. Evolve gives end-users all the tools they need to be successful, including the latest device, software and help desk support so they can be productive anytime, anywhere.

Learn how Evolve gives your business the flexibility and peace-of-mind as we discuss:

Challenges and struggles that companies experience today in their IT practice

Financial forecasting and how It can make it difficult

How does Evolve mitigate these challenges with its features and unique per user, per month pricing model

Improving collaboration within your organization with the latest technology

Technology should be the efficient and reliable tools that businesses use to grow. SMBs shouldn’t have to worry about unanticipated expenses or struggle to both equip and support users. Choose the features you want and the technology you trust from leading vendors, including Microsoft, Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Samsung. Visit www.evolveyourIT.ca to build and price your custom Evolve bundle.

In this special episode, we discuss the history and customer success stories of the Stratus-ID solution. Powered by Microsoft Azure, Stratus-ID is an automated employee onboarding and offboarding solution that integrates into your environment, and pushes information to all systems and applications at your organization. This single tool integrates to Azure Active Directory, Office 365, Exchange Online, SFB, Outlook, SharePoint, HR systems, third party ADP, payroll, accounting and other industry-specific applications with customized workflows for approvals, alerts, and synchronizations.

Hear from Greg Mardon from Stratiform, a PCM Company, as he describes the development, incorporating the entire Azure stack, and technical back-end of the solution. You will also receive first-hand accounts from a Stratiform client, GoAuto as Shaun Guthrie, Director of Information Technology shares how Stratus-ID has both reduced the ticket resolution from 90 minutes to an average of 5 minutes and lowered their ticket total by 30%.

Visit www.stratus-id.com to learn more!

Microsoft Office 365 and the integration between the different appliations is meant to drive productivity through efficiency and collaboration. A perfect example of this focus is the enhanced capabiltiies with  Outlook and OneNote. 

In this step-by-step walkthrough, Kozy explains how, within Outlook calendar items, you are able to make and share notes in just a few simple clicks. And, within OneNote, email your notes to colleagues or link your notes to a meeting for easy access later.

Save time, stay organized, and keep your team on the same page thanks to OneNote and Outlook.

This next Outlook Quick Tip will describe how to quickly reply to an email thread with a meeting invite. This "handy feature" can save you time and raise your Outlook game to the next level.

With this method, your meeting invite will automatically include all those on the email thread, the email thread will be inserted into the body of the meeting's agenda, and suggested times will be visible based on the availability of those on your team.