DATABASE MANAGEMENT
WORRY FREE

Would you be doing more with database creation using products like Summation if you had someone to provide the ongoing technical support? The time has arrived, feel free to jump, Midwest will now provide the net, the internet that is.

Number one, you’re not alone in making the transition. Many firms are flirting with electronic productions. I say flirting because the desire for paper review is now coinciding with the practical advantages of eDiscovery. It is possible to live in two worlds. You can still get the advantages and searching functions of the contents of disks that parties send, without having to completely walk away from the paper productions you’ve grown to love. As a particular case is being provided a wealth of knowledge in an electronic format, it isn’t uncommon for missteps to take place that cost the client, which can be avoided. The infrastructure your firm currently has may not have anticipated the need that is now being demanded of it. Many attorneys would be happy to invest in the computer hardware, but not until they know the general direction their practice is going. Midwest can pick up the slack as you transition, and partner with you to get the job done in the most efficient manner.

Midwest will now be able to provide the support you need with its upgrade to a Citrix remote access system. The experience we bring to the table in electronic productions, database creation and maintenance can bring balance to your practice. It will level the playing field, by providing resources that otherwise would not have been available. Take as much of it in-house as you feel comfortable handling. As your knowledge base increases, so will your efficiency and the bang for the buck you can provide your client.

Cases can be loaded, hosted and maintained by Midwest on your behalf. The remote user can log into the secure system using a high speed internet connection, allowing multiple people access from multiple locations. Midwest’s hosting service will give you the flexibility in your practice that the boxes of documents stacked in the hallway never could.

If you’re interested in a consultation on services Midwest Imaging and Midwest Paralegal can provide, please contact Shawn Olley or Glenn Hertel at 414-764-2772.

LOST FILES RECOVERED

Just Imagine; one day you crash, and all your computer files are gone! This recently happened to one of the computers at Lakeside Buses of Wisconsin. The hard drive was nearly full, and quite fragmented. The computer crashed in the middle of a disk check, and changed all the file names to a number with a .CHK extension. Nothing on the computer worked, and none of the files would open. Fortunately, they called the Forensics Specialist at Midwest. In 7.5 hours we were able to recover over 1,000 files, including all the billing databases. File recovery from a digital crash is another way Midwest’s Computer Forensics can help. No need to send your computer half way across the country, contact Rick Stieghorst at Midwest Imaging and eData Support for file recovery, password recovery, hard drive wiping, or any other computer forensic-related work.

TECHNOLOGY IN IT'S INFANCY

In the world of information systems, new technical standards are being made everyday. It is said that “Technology is in its infancy”. With that in mind it may be beneficial for you to understand what type of computer setup you currently have and what type of setup you would like to have, for your business needs.
Whether your computer setup consists of one stand alone P.C. (Personal Computer) or if it consists of a large Datacenter, it is important to understand the differences between workstations and servers.

A workstation is a standard PC, where its operating system (i.e., Windows XP Professional) is designed to have the ability to obtain resources from other computers on the same network. Workstations connected on the same network are portals for users to use shared resources from servers on that network. Allow me to explain, files, printers, and software can be stored/installed on a workstation’s hard drive as well; however, those resources are not readily available to other computers on the same network. A workstation’s operating system is not designed to have this responsibility and may not provide a stable environment for other users to access that information.

A server operating system (i.e., Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition) can have different workstations accessing its hard drive(s), software, and printers via a network connection. Additionally, servers can help manage user accounts, workstation settings, virus scan, and other resources on the same network.

Additionally, one can manage resources more efficiently from one main location on a network as opposed to maintaining the same options manually for each workstation. Server operating systems do require greater system requirements (RAM, free space, processor speed, etc.) and more initial cost; however, they are designed to reduce costs in the long run.

Wipe Your Old Hard Drives Clean!

One in four computers is victimized by identity theft. If you are planning on donating, or replacing one or more older computers, have Midwest wipe the hard drive clean to Department of Defense Standards! Deleting, or formatting the drive DOES NOT remove files from the drive. Contact Rick Stieghorst at Midwest Imaging and e-Data Support for more information.