Let Us Take Your Pulse--Our Health Depends on It!

3D Corporation strives to provide the highest level of service to assist our clients in their continued success. In order to ensure our contribution to our clients’ success is of the highest value, we’ve created an online client “Pulse Survey” through which you can tell us our strengths and weaknesses in providing your business with network management and support. A link to the survey can be found on the “Clients” page of our website at http://www.3dcorp.us/clients.html. Click on the “Pulse Survey” image, and it will lead you to the site where the survey is hosted. We appreciate and value any feedback about our services that you would like to share with us.

If you are currently not a 3D client and would like additional information on how we can help you align technology with the goals of your business, please visit our website at http://www.3dcorp.us/, email us at info@3dcorp.us, or call us at (360) 671-4906.

3D Congratulates Frank Chmelik for his 2010 Super Lawyer Recognition

Frank Chmelik of Chmelik, Sitkin and Davis is one of seven Whatcom County lawyers that have been recognized by the Washington Super Lawyers Magazine as a 2010 Super Lawyer. According to SuperLawyers.com, attorneys are selected using a rigorous, multiphase process that combines peer nominations and evaluations along with third party research. The candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, and selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. As one of 3D’s valued clients, we would like to congratulate Frank Chmelik on this achievement and wish him the very best in 2010.
For additional information, please check the Super Lawyer’s website at http://www.superlawyers.com/index.html or the Bellingham Business Journal article “2010 Super Lawyers Announced.”

Apple Releases Security Updates to Fix 28 Vulnerabilities in OS X

Our Internet security solution provider WatchGuard has recently issued a high severity alert regarding 28 vulnerabilities that affect all current versions of OS X, Apple’s line of operating systems for Macs. An attacker can exploit these vulnerabilities in a variety of ways, including enticing the user to visit malicious websites or download and view various malicious media files. The impact of these vulnerabilities carries various results, the worst being the attacker executes code on the user’s computer, potentially gaining full control of it.

WatchGuard recommends that OS X users immediately download the updates released by Apple to fix these security issues. More information on these vulnerabilities and instructions on how to apply these updates can be found in Apple’s OS X 10.5.x and 10.6.x alert.

To read more about security threats to Macs, please refer to our previous blog posts entitled Don't Be Lulled into a False Sense of Security, Apple Releases Security Updates to Fix Almost 100 Vulnerabilities in OS X, Apple Releases Security Update to Fix Critical Vulnerabilities in OS X, Apple Releases Security Updates to Fix OS X Vulnerabilities, and Apple’s OS X Update Fixes Serious “Pwn2Own” Flaw.

If you would like additional information on WatchGuard and other security solutions provided by 3D, visit our website at http://www.3dcorp.us/, email us at info@3dcorp.us, or call us at (360) 671-4906.

References: WatchGuard’s LiveSecurity Update “OS X 10.6.4 and Security Update 2010-004 Fixes 28 Vulnerabilities”, Apple’s OS X 10.5.x and 10.6.x alert

Meet Team 3D: Scott VanderWoude, Network Administrator

3D Network Administrator Scott VanderWoude, perhaps more commonly known as “Scott Conrad VanderWoude The Great Awesome Wonderful Terrific Magnificent Exalted Majestic Role Model (The First!),” is next on 3D’s “Meet the Team” hit list to divulge his deepest, darkest secrets as revealed in the following interview with 3D’s Marketing Manager Gail Gromaski.

1. [Gail] First of all, where are you originally from?
   [Scott] Frankfurt am Main, which at the time was in a nation called West Germany, so I was born in a nation that no longer exists.
   
   
2. What did you do for work before joining the 3D team, and what are your qualifications relating to this field of work?
   Although I already had a more generalized college degree, I decided to dive back into college to pursue a curriculum specific to the computer industry. Also, while working part-time at an Internet Service provider, I remember speaking with someone from 3D who helped get an entire computer network up and running. That hero moment impressed me, swaying me to pursue a career in networking as I was more interested in helping people than programming computers. In nine months I obtained a solid A in every computer course needed for a "two year" degree, as well as multiple certificates, including one from the National Security Agency (NSA).
   
   
3. How did you come to work at 3D, and how long have you worked here?
   I met 3D's head honchos at a trade show where they were looking for talented potential staff like myself. My main goal at the interview was to get some interviewing experience, even if it didn't turn into a hiring experience. My interview with 3D obviously went very well, and in June of 2008 I started applying my skills to helping 3D resolve the technology challenges we meet on a daily basis.
   
   
4. What were your expectations in coming to work at 3D, and were they fulfilled?
   My main goals were to increase my understanding of a business focused on setting up and optimizing computer networking and to wrap up "internship" requirements to finalize the degree for which I had sacrificed more sleep than I had initially planned. Both of these were achieved quite some time ago.
   
   
5. What do you do as a Network Administrator, and do you wear any other hats at 3D?
   As a Network Administrator, I help clients with a wide variety of issues when they call us for assistance. I also check the results of our automated system monitoring, identifying actual problems that need to be resolved and then, of course, resolving them. In many cases, I can fix things behind the scenes so our clients can continue their business operations without being interrupted.
   
   I also help with the technical development of our 3DProActive™ service, such as implementing additional automatic checks that report and alert on potentially business-impactful situations.
   
   
6. What is your favorite thing about working at 3D?
   I found out very early on that 3D consists of a number of very talented people who really, truly care about succeeding at what they’re doing and really, truly care that we are taking care of the technical needs of the people we serve. Prior to working at 3D, I had imagined the theoretical possibility of being able to harness the Internet to achieve real-time network monitoring, issue reporting, and remote issue resolution. 3D's abilities, most notably seen with our 3DProActive™ services, put into practice a successful implementation of these ideas.
   
   
7. What do you consider to be your biggest strengths, and how do you think they contribute to your work at 3D?
   I like to know the nitty-gritty details of how computers operate so I can be very confident that things are actually working properly. My strong proficiency in command line tools and a number of programming languages have helped with enhancing automated processes that are a part of 3DProActive’s™ monitoring service. These skills, as well as some experience with various operating systems and some website technologies, are specializations in my skill set that add well to the technical talent of 3D's technical team.
   
   
8. What are your career goals, and how do you think that working at 3D will help you in achieving those goals?
   In the ongoing spirit of helping people, I like to share my knowledge. Since I have been in school, I have been accumulating notes and studying technical documentation. Someday I would like to share this with an organized public website, possibly a publication in print, and eventually find myself in the educational field where I directly teach people how to do the things like what I am currently doing at 3D.
   
   
9. What do you consider your greatest achievements, either at 3D or elsewhere?
   Probably my most unusual claim to fame was creating a website about the beloved and popular video game series called "The Legend of Zelda," which eventually attracted 3,000 to 3,500 visitors per day. Also, at Bellingham’s Bellis Fair Mall, I played and won two video game arcade games simultaneously, moving back and forth between the machines as needed. However, despite these achievements which may be more uncommon, I get more satisfaction out of being very moral, even during the times when it isn't super easy. That may be less unique and not an achievement I always accomplish alone, but it is greater than the other two I just mentioned.
   
   
10. What’s your family like?
    Unsurprisingly, I have a pair of parents. Less common, I have no siblings. Other than those two parents, the nearest blood relative I can find is seven states away in Ohio. I'm still a bachelor, though, so there's potential that could all change.
    
    
11. Finally, what do you like to do outside of work?
    In addition to improving my technical skills and knowledge, I am trying to increase in holiness and my familiarity with related sacred texts. A lot of what else I do also involves technology, from system configuration to creating informative web pages to writing literature to excelling at video game entertainment. I also like to dump ice cubes down the backs of my co-workers whenever I can get away with it (which, unfortunately, has never happened...yet).

3D is happy to have Scott as a member of our team and is always looking for talented individuals like him to join. To find out more about how to become part of the 3D team, visit our website at http://www.3dcorp.us/contactus.html.

3D Engineers achieve Certification in WatchGuard’s Newest Lines of Network Security Products

Network management firm 3D Corporation announces all network administrators and engineers have achieved certification in WatchGuard Technologies’ newest line of multi-function firewalls. This certification exemplifies each network administrator and engineer’s expertise in installing, configuring, managing and monitoring all 16 models of WatchGuard’s Extensive Threat Management (XTM) firewall appliances that provide businesses with top notch security while handling high volumes of network traffic.

Additionally, Network Administrator Dennis Ordanov and Network Engineer Jeff deLucia have earned certification in WatchGuard’s Extensible Content Security (XCS) products to provide clients with extensive multi-protocol protection and data loss prevention for email and web networks of all sizes and demands. Members of 3D Corporation’s engineering team also hold certifications in Microsoft, Cisco, and other technologies that recognize their expertise in using these products to provide businesses with reliable network management and support.

To learn more about how certifications like these provide value to our clients, call us at (360) 671-4906, email us at info@3dcorp.us, or visit our website at http://www.3dcorp.us/.

Microsoft Issues 10 Security Bulletins to Fix Various Vulnerabilities

Microsoft has released 10 security bulletins describing over 30 vulnerabilities ranging from important to critical in their severity. The vulnerabilities affect Windows, Internet Explorer, Office (including Excel and SharePoint software), Microsoft server and .NET framework. There are multiple vectors of attack to exploit these vulnerabilities and the impact of exploitation can allow elevation of privilege or remote code execution, which ultimately enables the attacker to gain complete control of the user’s computer.

3D Corporation will automatically test and deploy security patches on the networks of our 3DProActive™ Managed and Partner clients to eliminate the risks posed by these vulnerabilities. Other Microsoft software users should download and install the appropriate patches immediately to avoid possible exploitation of their computer and/or computer networks. More information regarding these vulnerabilities and their impact can be found at Microsoft’s security bulletin summary for June 2010.

3D provides businesses with up-to-date security solutions that keep networks safe and secure. If you would like additional information on how we can make your network worry-free, please visit our website at www.3dcorp.us, email us at info@3dcorp.us, or call our office at (360) 671-4906.

References: WatchGuard’s LiveSecurity Service Updates Released 6/8/10, Microsoft’s Security Bulletin Summary for June 2010.

Spring Cleaning Workstations and Servers - It's what's on the inside that counts

This time of year typically brings about the notion of ‘Spring Cleaning’, the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ premise that reminds us it’s time to go beyond the everyday surface cleaning and get rid of the accumulated dust and dirt. All too often, in most office situations, two major items get overlooked and are not cleaned as thoroughly as they should be: workstations and servers.

Thorough workstation and server cleaning should be performed at least once a year to prevent problems such as overheating, component failure and short circuiting that can arise from dust and dirt accumulation. Clogged vents and CPU cooling fans can keep heat-dissipating air from moving through the case, and even a thin coating of dust or dirt can raise the temperature of the machine’s components. The excess heat created from the buildup of debris can accelerate the deterioration of the circuits in the system and eventually result in permanent hardware failure.

Standard workstations and servers are not designed to be tolerant of high levels of dust and require preventative maintenance and cleaning to be performed to help mitigate such conditions. Physical cleaning of the interior and exterior of the machines, including the removal of dust and debris from cooling fans, power supplies and hardware components can help prevent problems from arising and save on costly maintenance or replacement fees down the road.

However, opening and cleaning systems is a delicate operation and should be handled with extreme care. To avoid complications such as network downtime, equipment damage, and the voiding of manufacturers’ warranties, it is important that the cleaning be performed by qualified IT personnel. And, as an additional cost-saving measure, system cleaning is often combined with other work including memory upgrades, security audits, and software updates that will help your network run more efficiently with less overall downtime.

If you would like more information on network management, including workstation and server cleaning, or how 3D can assist your business network, please call us at (360) 671-4906, email us at info@3dcorp.us, or visit our website at http://www.3dcorp.us/.

References: Wikipedia.org, “Hardware Tips: Complete PC Preventative Maintenance Guide”, PCWorld.com