News
Power and “i”: Delivering on the Promise of Modern Infrastructure
For many owners of small and midsized business, all the talk about big data analytics, mobile devices, cloud computing, and social business spark pangs of large enterprise envy. As IDG puts it, the opportunities for SMBs abound: Business trends are driving the adoption of next-generation at a feverish pace. Insights from data analytics are making a competitive difference. Demand from customers, partners staff are mobile and the growth in social media has obliged businesses to follow their customers into new channels. Cloud computing promises to reduce IT costs, accelerate solution delivery and increase flexibility of deployment. It’s enough to make […]
The Latest and Greatest Storage Trends
The state of storage should read like one of those cheesy bumper stickers that say, “More space needed in the trunk.” Everyone is scrambling to find additional capacity within their IT walls to keep up with unsustainable data turbulence. According to a recent article by CloudTweaks, 90% of the data in the world has been created in the last two years alone! From a backup standpoint, storage can be an even bigger issue if companies are still relying on traditional systems such as tape, or even SAN or NAS. These backup processes call for all data to be copied instead […]
Why Customer Satisfaction is King
This is the age of the customer. They hold the cards. Their influence has grown through the explosion of social media and online customer review platforms. Their word carries a lot more weight with fellow customers than any advertisement or promotion ever could. These consumers are ready to either endorse you or warn people of your product. And winning their approval has never been more difficult; yet it is absolutely necessary given how much influence they have on the marketplace. What does it take to attract your customer base and keep them on your side? According to Forbes, for businesses […]
We are known by the companies we keep
When it comes to establishing industry credibility, companies are measured by each other. Especially in the B2B spectrum, working with distinguished organizations within their respective industries shows that you are respected and valued. In addition, having long-term partnerships show that you can be trusted. In today’s business landscape, trust is hard to come by, but once it’s established, it is the glue that keeps these partnerships together for 10, 15, and 20 years. mini-MAX is proud of the long-standing partnerships we have forged over the years. As an IBM Business Partner since 1983, we have been able to use our […]
The Secret to Great Programming for IBM i: Hire the Right People
How do you measure your vendor or service provider’s IBM system i programming experience in the IT industry? The level of expertise and experience a programming staff can bring in this area is a huge determining factor. We are proud to have a staff comprised of many retired or current IBM i specialists. Our programming consultants’ versatility comes into play for key programming changes due a business problem, tax update, or new government regulation. We can develop, write, and test any program before it goes live. Dedication is another measuring stick that helps mini-Max stand out in the system i […]
The mini-Max differentiator
Not all IT vendors and service providers are made of the same stuff. At mini-Max, we have sprouted roots in Louisville, KY and take pride in our local business. Our location on Shelbyville Rd is the headquarters of our company, and we specialize in implementing affordable, custom IT solutions for our local clients. With our Louisville based talented and diverse staff always on location, we can assist with a plethora of projects, and all without the travel and living expenses that other companies can tack-on to bills. From decision-making to execution, we also have a head start on all those […]
What to Fear from New Global Cyber Threats
If the threat of a cyber attack doesn’t keep you awake at night, then you are one of the few. With new innovative viruses that are designed to maneuver around antivirus software, the battle between good and evil coders perpetually continues. So, who’s afraid of the big bad global cyber threat? The answer should be you. According to Craig Sprosts, the VP of Product Management at Nominum, a company leader of network security programming, Nominum analyzed the top cyber threats for 2012 and the result was “a mix of new and modern ‘bots.’” A “bot” is specially designed […]
Why Cookie-cutter Architectures Can’t Cut It.
We are all trained from a young age to be wary of the word “custom.” Other words, like “expensive” and “excessive” come to mind. There was a time when factory-cut-outs were seen as the right, inexpensive choice, but in terms of today’s changing IT architectures, cookie-cutter systems aren’t going to cut it anymore. Technology powerhouses like IBM have started to recognize that there are wide arrays of companies with specific needs. We are entering a new age of IT, where “custom” is becoming easier and more affordable than ever. There is nothing like having a unique architecture built […]
4 Ways to Tell if Your MSP is Keeping Up with Tech Innovations
In the ever-changing world of IT, fortune favors those willing and bold enough to embrace the evolution of new technologies. For those stuck in the past, however, technology can be more of an obstacle than a tool to leverage success. So, how do you know if your managed service provider (MSP) is embracing the change and keeping your company current? These are 4 ways to determine if your MSP is keeping up-to-speed: Check your MSP’s website. New breakthroughs in technology occur every hour of every day. If your MSP’s website goes a month without noting some kind of […]
IBM Power Systems Bring Balance to IT
When Power7 was first introduced to a new generation of IT personnel, the prevailing goal was to drive tighter server performance without compromise. IBM described its new line of Power Systems as possessing “greater security,” “greater capacity on demand,” and “significantly improved performance.” Maybe the Power7 motto should be “do more with more.” There really is no other way to describe the intersection between needing amplified server performance to tackle today’s incredibly complex data needs. Among the many modifications and improvements that Power7 features are compatibility with cloud environments, high-end disk storage and enhanced agility to scale social and […]
IBM Storage Solutions Open up New Possibilities
Rapid data accumulation rates are changing the storage needs of small and medium-sized businesses. For these businesses, more data means more pressure on their existing systems to perform at a level they weren’t built for. This is especially the case for higher-density applications that require more compute capacity. The scary thing is that small businesses aren’t prepared for their inevitable data plight. According to a survey conducted last year by online backup provider Carbonite, 48 percent of the respondents said they had lost or deleted data accidentally, while only 13 percent felt vulnerable to a data disaster. For these […]
IBM Internet Security Systems Are Tough to Crack
No matter how often the IBM Power Systems are redesigned and infused with even more functionality, security remains a pressing issue. For SMBs especially, a security breach can be devastating. They don’t have the resources or scale to absorb a security breakdown in the same fashion as an enterprise could. That’s why IBM has taken special care to build in a new security suite that enhances security intelligence by spotting unusual activity before the system is compromised, and provides real-time monitoring with behavior analytics. One of the added twists that organizations have had to account for over the last […]
