Chicago is a city divided. We at CrossRealms want to bridge the gap between the affluent, digitally-rich parts of the city and the vast swaths in which wireless internet is hard to come by. Fundamental training in information technology (or lack thereof) has socio-economic implications that can resonate for generations– those who interact with technology [...]
Blog
The Digital Divide
Lili Rudis, February 6th, 2012Moving Forward with Green Data Center
Lili Rudis, January 24th, 2012Here at CrossRealms, IT is our business, but it’s not the whole picture. We are a company that takes pride in providing you with the best possible solutions to maximize computing efficiency, minimize costs, and make your whole IT experience pretty darn pleasant. But why do we do it? As a for-profit business, it’s no [...]
The Basics of Auto-Provisioning
Mollie Nye, December 21st, 2011Finding an easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide to auto-provisioning your 3CX VoIP phone system is challenging. Most answers lie in product summaries, web forums and, unfortunately, in trial & error. However, at CrossRealms we believe it to be the most effective method for installing, managing and updating your 3CX VoIP phone system. With 3CX as our partner [...]
3CX Telephony & Call Center Solutions
Mollie Nye, October 24th, 2011Last week at CrossRealms, we consulted with a potential, mid-sized client on telephony and call center solutions for their business. We discussed the highlights of the 3CX system, such as: customizable features, integration with Microsoft Outlook, and the add-on call center module. Additionally, we spelled out the advantages of working with CrossRealms for installation, training, and [...]
Misconceptions about Palo Alto Firewalls
Usama Houlila, October 17th, 2011Recently I had lunch with a network manager from a large community hospital. As we were discussing security and the Palo Alto Network (PAN) firewalls, I realized that many people view them as only application firewalls. After reviewing Palo Alto marketing materials, I believe part of that misconception is due to their focus on their [...]
The Role of a Network Architect
Usama Houlila, September 2nd, 2011Recently, I had a discussion with a colleague on the role of an IT department and, specifically, the real role of the network architects within the IT department. Three years ago, when I was a network architect at a large law firm, I would have answered that it’s the duty of network architects to create [...]
A Simplified How-To For CrashPlan Pro
Usama Houlila, May 31st, 2011I have been using CrashPlan Pro for almost 3 years and I have realized that, although the software is simple to use, knowing the internal workings of the software and how to build the system correctly are the only ways to guarantee a successful restore. Let’s start with the fundamentals. 1- Although the CrashPlan Pro [...]
IT Resource Constraints And Its Impact On Security Patching
Usama Houlila, May 16th, 2011For the past two years, IT departments have seen their budgets and staff cut, forcing them to focus on the bare essentials. This trend is most visible in the server environment in which patching has become a non-essential task. As an enterprise architect and a security consultant, I’m seeing more and more environments that have [...]