What are the advantages of pre-owned hardware vs. new hardware?
Function5 provides both new and pre-owned hardware. There are some advantages of buying pre-owned hardware. Click here to view them.

What is a firewall?
Firewalls are computer resources configured to allow "good" traffic in and to keep "bad" traffic out. They must be updated continuously to support changing business requirements such as new users, employee status changes, new partners and new applications. Firewall management is resource-intensive and requires a high level of skill. Because of the effort and complexity involved, most firewall breaches are caused by the mis-configuration of firewall rules and policies.

Has someone intruded upon your network?
We have been approached by some large corporations asking for our help in identifying traces left behind by hackers. Some of the critical information needed was: what port was victimized, what was the method of attack (e.g. which virus or Trojan), and most importantly, how bad was the intrusion? We have even been successful in finding the hacker tools that were deleted by the unauthorized visitor.

How can I protect my network and its resources from hackers?
Install a firewall. If you connect your LAN directly to the Internet, configure a firewall to screen both incoming and outgoing traffic. Not having a firewall is the equivalent of going on vacation and leaving your windows open for someone to break in. This also includes employees going out to unauthorized destinations.

Am I really in any danger of someone hacking into my network and getting my company's sensitive information?
Yes, there can be no question that you're in danger.

If your computers are only connected to the Internet briefly, when you're browsing the web or retrieving and sending email, your connection exposure will be minimal. But if you are one of the millions of people who are discovering the amazing power and convenience of a persistent connection to the Net, and if you leave any of your computers on and connected for hours at a time, then your exposure is substantially greater.

How much can I save by getting a third party contract?
It varies. The prices are negotiable. On volume contracts you could get up to 85% off the list price from the OEM.

What are the advantages of a hardware maintenance contract?
You do not have to pay for parts or labor every time that the computer breaks down.

The computer is fixed by a technician and you do not have to spend time resolving this problem.

The annual costs are fixed costs and therefore can be budgeted. There are no surprise expenses for emergency repairs.

What are the advantages of using a third party maintenance company?
Low maintenance prices.

A third party company can support equipment from different manufacturers and can assume responsibility for multi-vendor problems. It is better to have only one maintenance contract instead of multiple contracts.

What happens if the hardware fails after the warranty expires?
You have a problem and you are on your own. Here are some of your options:

• Fix the hardware yourself if possible.
• Pay a company to repair the hardware.
• Replace the entire system.
• Stop using the system.

Should I replace the hardware instead of repairing it?
If the hardware is inexpensive, it may be better to replace it rather than to repair it.

However, if equipment that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars fails, it cannot be easily replaced and should be repaired. If a new replacement system is not very expensive, say less than $8,000, and if it comes with a three year warranty, you should compare the following:

• How much would a maintenance contract cost for three years.
• How much would a new system with a three year warranty cost.