Posts by dipak
Managing IT in a Tight Economy
The economy has taken a serious downturn. There’s no more disputing that fact, and it’s affecting church and ministry budgets. Are there some things you can do to keep your computer system stability and reliability growing when finances are tight? I think so. It’s true of churches and ministries like it is everywhere else: when budgets are growing, waste is more prevalent. That’s not a judgment on our stewardship; it’s just that we’re focusing on tasks that sometimes keep us from being able to look for the best economic strategy. The good news is that in this tight economy there are some ways we can cut expenses without cutting quality, reliability, or impact.
Read MoreMobile Phones & Devices
There are many new phones available, and some are not just cool; they’re also powerful tools. They might even be fun to use! I was asked recently which phone I use and why, and thought answering those questions might add to the discussion of what phone is a ‘best fit’.
Read MoreWiFi Stability & Other Tips
This week I made a quick trip to South Bend, Indiana to attend Granger Community Church’s IT Forum. That event and others like it are great places for good fellowship and for sharing ideas and solutions common to most in church and ministry IT. Following are a few things I picked up that may be helpful!
Read MoreReasonable Network Security
Church and ministry networks have unique security needs. Many mistakenly approach network security in our niche like they would a club or hobby, and thus don’t go far enough to protect our data and our team. Others mistakenly go so far they impede the team and increase their support call volume unnecessarily. We have worked or consulted on hundreds of networks in churches and ministries, and we have developed an approach that protects and empowers while minimizing support needs. I’ll share it with you so you can enjoy the same results.
Read MoreMac Tips & Tricks
Macs and PCs do mostly the same things, but they do them differently. Each platform has its quirks, and since I now use a Mac I’m learning some good tips and tricks that make me more productive on it. A couple of these have been in my previous Mac articles, but most haven’t. They may help other Mac users– especially those who are former PC users or who primarily support PCs– understand how to make the Mac work a little better.
Read MoreMBS Customer Satisfaction Pledge
Many who serve churches and ministries require that their clients sign a contract. We at MBS have never done that! We believe we should do our best to earn your business every day, and if we don’t earn it you have the option of simply terminating us. We’ve been serving churches and ministries since 1986, and we understand your corporate culture.
Read MoreCPA Audits Now Focusing on IT
Church and ministry computer systems and networks have grown in response to perceived needs over the years, and most have grown with very little intentionality or strategy. The results are often higher than necessary complexity, cost, and risk. CPAs are now being required to look at IT during audits for fiscal years ending 12/15/2007 and later. Are you ready?
Read MoreTithing Considerations for Business Owners
Calculating a tithe for employees is easy because they receive a paycheck. Doing so for business owners is more difficult because there are so many organization models, income sources, and accounting system standards. The result has been that business owners are left to themselves to identify their own methods for calculating a tithe. I hope this attempt at identifying factors for business owners to consider is the beginning of a discussion that helps many to do what our Lord challenged us to in Malachi 3:10-12.
Read MoreProtecting Data– Is It Really Worth the Hassle?
Some church assets are difficult to assess. Personnel, congregational goodwill, and data are just a few examples of assets whose value is usually understood only once it’s gone. None of us would say our data has no value to the organization, but trying to figure out what it’s worth so we can adequately protect it is challenging. Data is one of the most valuable assets a church has. Protecting it isn’t difficult, but must be approached as deliberately as the fire and security protection we apply to our church buildings.
Read More‘Can I Get a Mac?’
There’s a lot of buzz these days about Macs, and many in ministry are asking for them. Historically this decision has been driven by the software / applications in use. PC-centric churches usually say, “No.” to Mac requests pretty quickly. But Macs can run PC software now, so the question is going to keep coming. We need an updated response, and this two-part article may help.
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