| November 2007
In this issue: ■ Rapid Deployment
Partner
■ Telecommuting
■ Being Productive
Anywhere
■ Section 179
■ Travel Expenses
■ Illegal Software
■ Where in the World
■ Email Signatures
■ Opportunities
| You may know the Internal Revenue Code’s Section 179 as the tax loophole that lets some businesses write off the purchase of luxury SUVs. But Section 179 isn’t just for Hummers anymore. More
Travel Expense Deduction Strategies
By Joseph Anthony
Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center When you hit the road for business trips, you have to know the rules for deducting your hotel and meal expenses. While the rules haven’t changed much lately (proposals to increase the percentage of a meal that can be deducted haven’t gone anywhere), they’re still a little tricky. There are several different ways to deduct meal and lodging expenses when you or your employees are on the road. The method you use could make a difference in terms of how much money — and time — you save. Here’s a breakdown
Illegal Software Can Cause Big Problems Small businesses that grow swiftly or that frequently acquire new hardware sometimes find it hard to stay on top of their software licenses. Unlike most things you buy, software doesn’t necessarily belong to you. When you pay for a program, you become a licensed user — not an owner. The ramifications are profound. Let’s look at the different kinds of software piracy and how you can keep your business far removed from such activity. Continue
| eMazzanti Technologies Selected
By Microsoft as a Windows Server 2008
Rapid Deployment Partner eMazzanti Technologies announces its inclusion in Microsoft’s Technology Adoption Program (TAP) and Rapid Deployment Program (RDP) Community for Windows Server 2008. The firm was selected based on its status as Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Microsoft Small Business Specialist. eMazzanti demonstrates the skill and commitment necessary to deploy and support Microsoft’s next generation of network infrastructure.
Selection of eMazzanti into Microsoft’s Rapid Deployment Program is a credit to eMazzanti’s expertise and a win for our mutual customers. As one of the first Microsoft Partners to successfully roll out and migrate customers to the Windows Server 2008 platform eMazzanti has had a unique opportunity to test and explore it’s enhancements in a proactive manner. The Microsoft Windows Server Rapid Deployment Program (RDP) assists customers that are committed to deploying the new Windows Server operating system ahead of the rest of the business community and in synch with the official product launch. Microsoft provides these selected customers with deployment assistance through selected partners, such as eMazzanti Technologies, which include services, training, and ongoing technical support for a specific time period. Continue |
| | Making Telecommuting Work
for your Business
By Monte Enbysk
Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center Telecommuting has gotten a bad rap. Some say that employees can’t be serious about their careers if they’d rather work from home. Others insist that work groups fall apart if team members aren’t physically in the office. But the bad rap may not hold: The International Telework Association & Council (ITAC) reports that the number of workers who telecommute at least some of the time (the preferred term today for many is the less-U.S.-centric “telework”) tops 23 million, a number that continues to grow. While telecommuting is not for everyone, there is no question in my mind that in today’s Internet Age, most workers expect to be able to do it at least part of each week or month. So, as a small-business owner who seeks to recruit and retain good employees, you’d do well to be flexible enough to allow telecommuting whenever possible. Continue |
| Practical Productivity –
Being Productive Anywhere!
By Jane Cage, COO, HTSI’ve always worked beyond normal business hours. Twenty years ago that meant going back to the office after dinner if I needed access to files that were on our network. In those early days, there was no internet, no connection to the office and having a computer at home was a luxury that few people could afford – including me. Fast forward – it’s Sunday night, I’m sitting in the den. There is an HD movie on TV. I’ve just gotten a cup of coffee, let the dog in, and if my timing is right, the accounts receivable batch that I’ve started posting will have just finished. I can look at my network drive for the excel spreadsheet that I need and then send a report to my printer at work so that it’s there when I get to work in the morning. And to think I’m doing everything from my laptop. Maybe I don’t need to go to the office after all — well, not really.So – what is it that makes this quantum leap in productivity possible? Although the internet and the laptop play important roles, what really makes me productive is my secure connection to the office network. You may have heard of it as a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection. How does it work? I authenticate to the office using information and a set of protocols that only someone who belongs inside our network would know. The most common way to make the physical connection is through a firewall. After that, you need to make contact with your server, your desktop or both. Small Business Server customers are in luck – with a secure connection in place you have all the software you need to make a connection to your office computer. At our office, we also use a special server called a terminal server so that we have access to every network resource even if we only have a laptop that we take home. Continue |
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| | Please share this newsletter
with anyone who might be interested. | | | Where in the World
is {e}Mazzanti? Throughout the years,
patrons of eMazzanti
have sent us pictures of
their travels while
sporting eMazzanti gear. Submit a photo of your
own via email
where@emazzanti.net.
Should be we use your
picture, you will receive a
thank you package and
be entered into our
annual drawing.
| | Create& Use An Email SignatureIf you’re like many people, e-mail is a regular part of your workday. You send mail to business associates, customers, friends, and family — and you most likely end your message with a different closing depending on the recipient. Over the course of a day, that can add up to a lot of repetitive typing. Why not use automatic e-mail signatures instead? Creating, managing, and using automatic e-mail signatures are easier than you think, and quick to set up, too. Watch the demo
to see how.</span rel=”nofollow”> | | | Opportunities at
{e}Mazzanti eMazzanti seeks bright
minds to join the team. Refer a Network
Engineer to
www.emazzanti.net/jobs
and be eligible for a
shopping spree at
eMazzanti’s online store,
www.emazzanti.net/store.
Qualifying applicants
must receive full time
employment and have
referenced the referring
friend on the original
application in order for the
referrer to be eligible for
the annual drawing.
Shopping spree is limited
to $1,000 in merchandise.
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