October 2014 - Page 2 of 2

How to Setup Guest Wifi

Network, Office IT, Office Network, Securityguest wifi, office network, wifiOphtek, LLC

Oct 2014

Now that you understand the benefits of having a guest Wi-Fi network. It’s really simple to set one up, so here’s a quick guide on how to setup guest wifi.

1 – Access your router’s admin page.

This is so that you can access your router’s settings and configure it to add a guest Wi-Fi network. Simply enter your router’s LAN IP address into the web browser which should start with http:// followed by the IP address. If you didn’t already know, an IP address is a set of four numbers separated by periods. It should look something like:

http://192.168.1.1

Where can you find your router’s LAN IP address?

Some routers may already be labelled with a sticker at the bottom or to the side of it. Alternatively, you can find out by:

On Windows: Run a command prompt box, type the command “ipconfig” which should display some output. Take note if the IP address that displays “default gateway”

On a Mac: Enter network preferences, and then go to the “Advanced “ button, followed by the TCP/IP tab. Find “Router”, which will display the router’s IP address.

Apple device: head over to settings, go to Wi-Fi, then look for the “i” button to the right of your network name and click it. You should see the IP address under “router”.

Android device: This needs a separate App to view you router’s IP address. We suggest on to use called Fing.

Once you have your router’s IP address, type it into your web browser and access the login page. Simply enter your default admin ID and password (this should be labelled on your router). If unsure, you can contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to find out.

2 – Guest Network.

Once you’ve successfully logged into you router, you’ll see that you can configure its settings. Look out for a setting or tab worded as “Guest Network” or something similar to it. This can vary from one router to another. Note: that newer routers support guest networks, but some may not have this feature at all. Check your router’s packaging or manual to confirm if it has the ability to provide a guest network.

3 – Configure and save.

Enable your guest network by clicking on “enable”, along with any other preferred settings of your choice, save it, and you’re done!

It’s simple to do, right?

Now you know to set up a guest network so you can overcome the potential pitfalls mentioned in our previous article. Not only is this setup a win-win situation for all, you’ll also have peace of mind with having a secured LAN where nobody can see your private files, data or internet traffic, whilst maintaining a trustworthy relationship with your guests or customers.

For more ways to secure your home or office networks, contact your local IT professionals.

Everyone Needs a Guest Wifi

Office IT, Office Networknetwork, secure, wifi, wirelessOphtek, LLC

Oct 2014

Providing wifi has become so popular that you’ll find it in just about every establishment. Having a guest wifi is a necessary safeguard for your data.

You can see this for yourself by simply looking at the available Wi-Fi networks broadcasted and picked up by any device like your smart-phone, tablet or laptop. As Wi-Fi can be easily accessed in many businesses, from coffee shops, to fast foods chains, to airports and public transport, why shouldn’t your business or home offer it too?

Practical reasons why setting up a guest network is important

Accommodating business needs.

After all, it’d be very inhospitable to turn down Wi-Fi requests from associates, guests or customers who need access to the Internet. By setting up a guest Wi-Fi network, you can grant them the right to stay productive on their projects, allowing them to access their emails or their files on the cloud, without them having to resort to doing it all on their smart-phone. How many times have you had, or will you be having temporary staff, contractors and visitors on-site, needing Wi-Fi access or at least an internet connection of some sort? After all, it’s impolite to say no to them, right?

Keeping the LAN (Local Area Network) private.

It’s wise to separate the business’ or home LAN from unauthorized public access. Your LAN will typically hold internal files, folders, display device names and access to the intranet. As the saying goes, it’s best to be safe than sorry. This will tighten up any vulnerability from both accidental and intended malicious activities which could otherwise compromise any part of your business.

Providing a different password.

You wouldn’t want to give the same password to just anyone who will be able to note and potentially store it for later use, especially if it’s for any of your own personal business accounts. Besides, some passwords can have a simple format which can make it easy for anyone to guess. It’s time to close that vulnerability!

Setting up a Guest Wi-Fi Network

Now you understand the reasons and the benefits of having a guest Wi-Fi network. It’s really simple to set one up. Our next guide will walk you through the general steps on how to do it.

For more ways you can protect your privacy, data and business from breaches, contact your local IT professionals.

Solutions to Manage Software Licenses

Office IT, Softwareaudits, compliance, software licensesOphtek, LLC

Oct 2014

Every business needs to be prepared for audits or system failures. Here are five solutions to help you manage software licenses.

In our previous article, we covered the importance of tracking software licenses. There’s no straightforward solution. Ultimately, it’s more about being organized and finding a method to manage licenses effectively. There are both free and paid tools available to help manage and track software licensing more efficiently.

Options

X-Formation- A software tracking solution https://www.x-formation.com/

You can track, audit and plan your software budgeting. There are three different options to choose from depending on your business needs. You can also test out a trial version before deciding.

License Tracker– Open source Tracking Software http://ltrack.sourceforge.net/

It is a web based tacker designed to monitor software package usage which is open source.

Kace (Dell) – Hardware Appliance solution http://www.kace.com

They offer different appliances to fit in with the size of your business. Covers both physical assets and license tracking. It can tell you the number of endpoints out of compliance that may have not updated to a given software baseline.

SysAid- Manages Software Inventory http://www.sysaid.com/asset-management.htm

It can assist with keeping track and complying with user agreements. An agent is deployed to help automatically update the software inventory.

White Source- Web browser based solution http://www.whitesourcesoftware.com/

You can manage your OS libraries thanks to its tracking utilities. The open source version is free.

Final Thoughts

You will need to consider the size of your business in terms of the amount of equipment used that needs software licensing. In some cases, more licenses are used for individual user accounts that may access the same desktop.

Auditing licenses centrally and frequently, especially for any growing businesses, is the way to go to stay organized!

For more ways your business can stay compliant with licenses and software management, contact your local IT professionals.

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Monthly Archives: October 2014

1 – Access your router’s admin page.

Where can you find your router’s LAN IP address?

2 – Guest Network.

3 – Configure and save.

Practical reasons why setting up a guest network is important

Setting up a Guest Wi-Fi Network

Options

Final Thoughts