1. Microsoft Office Professional Plus – This is the obvious must have software for anyone interacting with other businesses. I really enjoy the seamless operation between products and how it makes interacting with the business world so much easier. I have tried Open Office, and it is a faster, less bloated office productivity suite and significantly less expensive. However, it is still only 90% real-world compatible with Microsoft Office, and thus can be a real pain. This is especially true when it comes to situations where page formatting is critical. When you factor that in, in many cases, the time I would spend working around the compatibility issues, Microsoft Office is actually less-expensive — something I think people need to consider a bit more often when looking at free tools… But alas, this list is filled with free tools!
2. Microsoft Acrobat Professional – Yes, I have used (and continue to use) a number of low cost PDF creation tools such as pdf995 – which I really enjoy – and often recommend for users looking for simple print-to-pdf features; but I really appreciate all of the features which come in the full fledged product such as the ability to optimize scanned documents, perform OCR to make a scanned document searchable, and the ability to create interactive forms.
3. Notepad++ is probably the best text editor I have used in a long time. It is a great improvement over the built in Notepad. The color coding when viewing code such as HTML, PHP or Java is very helpful, and there are additional plug-ins available.
4. CuteHTML is a no longer a developed application but I have used it for so long I am simply used it’s interface and appreciate the built-in FTP application. I use it frequently to edit HTML and PHP code. I know there are better applications out there, but this is simply used out of familiarity and habit.
5. CuteFTP is my preferred paid for FTP application for ages, but I have honestly stopped installing it on new systems and simply use Filezilla which features match close enough to meet 99% of my needs. This program permits multiple FTP downloads from mutliple FTP server at the same time and supports FTP, sFTP and FTPS. It is mature and actively developed.
6. Virtual Drive Clone - my favorite application for mounting ISO images as optical media.
7. Microsoft One Note – while technically part of the Microsoft Office Suite above, I call this one out for two tools that a lot of people don’t know about. First is that there is a screen clipping tool built into it. There are a lot of screen clipping tools available, both free and paid for, but this one is already built into a Microsoft Office application, so there is no extra software to download, install, patch or even take up system resources. A simple press of windows-S enables you to clip any part of the visible windows. I use this frequently for creating documentation or power point presentations. The second part is that it is slowly replacing my trusty physical paper notepad. And using One Note 2010 with Microsoft Skydrive, it keeps my laptop, desktop and work computers all sync’ed. Love it!
8. Drop Box – along the lines of syncing data, I am starting to use Drop Box for non sensitive data. They can help keep your data synced between multiple devices including mobile devices. Due to a recent security flaw, there was the potential for your data to be accessed by other users. As with any technology like this, I discourage the use for anything sensitive.
9. Keepass safe – A password manager which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key-disk.
10. VLC – A highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, …) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
11. Log me in – Each of my systems has this installed, and I really appreciate that even after you logon to the website, to access your system, it still requires you to enter whatever password you use on your computer to access it.
12. Trillian – While I rarely use instant messenger anymore, Trillian is a fantasic,  fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC – all in one application and interface.
13. CCleaner – A system optimization and privacy tool that removes unused files from your system and allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space.
14. Google Picasa – A free software that helps you locate and organize all the photos on your computer, edit and add effects to your photos with a few simple clicks and share your photos with others through email, prints and on the web.
15. Remote Desktop Manager – If you are freqently connecting to remote resources such as via RDP or VNC, this is the tool for you. It offers built-in support for Microsoft Remote Desktop, Terminal Services, VNC, LogMeIn, Team Viewer, Ftp, SSH, Telnet, Dameware, X Window, VMware, Virtual PC, PC Anywhere, Hyper-V, Citrix, Radmin, Microsoft Remote Assistance, Oracle Virtual Box and more.
16. PuTTY – is probably the most common, versatile multi-protocol client application which is our longtime favorite choice for all our SSH needs. To many PC power-users an SSH client is absolutely vital to their everyday operations, and PuTTY’s the most popular windows client for a reason.

1. If there is trialware software, I remove it – especially if it is anti-virus software! Clean up all of the unneeded software
2. Run Microsoft Updates to ensure the operating system is fully patched. Even newly shipped computers can need 10′s to over 100 updates!
3. Visit the hardware manufacture’s website such as the Dell Support Website and check for updates to the BIOS and other hardware. As with #2 above, the vast majority of computer shipped directly from the manufacture is running old software such as BIOS and firmware.
4. Install a web browser of choice – for me I install both Chrome and Firefox.
5. Install a handful of standard apps every user needs:
   1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
   2. Java for Desktop Computers
   3. Adobe Flash Player (but you’ll need to do this for each browser you use)
   4. Adobe Shockwave Player (old, but some sites still require it)
   5. Adobe AIR Player (used on some sites)
   6. VLC (plays just about any media)
   7. Open Office (if you don’t own a copy of Microsoft Office)
   8. Virtual Drive Clone (lets you mount ISO as if they were CDs)
6. Install any purchased or commercial software
7. Download and CCleaner, and run the registry cleanup utility – during the install, I uncheck virtually all of the install options. I like this tool hidden, not actively running, and not even viewable on the start menu. I will execute it from the “Program Files” directory manually. I prefer an un-cluttered Start menu, so many utilities, especially for other people, I keep un-linked in the start menu.
8. Install Anti-virus software:
   1. I prefer commercial Anti-virus software, and never recommend a consumer grade AV software for anyone
   2. If you don’t have access to a commercial/business AV software, choose Microsoft Security Essentials – a lightweight, free, non-ad driven Anti-virus software
9. Run a disk defragmentation software, either Microsoft’s built in utility, or Diskkeeper (highly recommend)
10. Setup a non-administrative user account. If this is a domain based workstation, then this is likely already taken care of but for small work groups, friends or family personal computers, I always setup two accounts. Their “user” account and their “adminsitator account”. Both have passwords, typically the same password to make it easy for them. I have them always use the “user account”. And if appropraite setup the computer to auto login to that account.

In the next article I will discuss some of the software tools I install on my own workstations as an administrator and power user.

Enjoy!

What are your options…. Typically we have be forced into one of the following options:
1) Users know eachothers passwords;
2) Reduce the security by removing the password requirement or granting other users administrator permissions;
3) Users simply power off/on the machine to work around the issue;
4) Or they can use the windows based “winexit.scr” which will effectively forcefully logoff the user when the screen saver kicks on.

However, now with this custom GINA, you can now enable any user to logoff that offending user without requiring administrative permissions or changing your security routine. Aucun is a replacement GINA that wraps Microsoft’s own MSGINA.DLL to allow any given group of users to unlock or force logoff a locked session on a Windows machine, unless the currently loggon on user is a member of a group you specify.

I created this for a friend that needed an unlock feature. By popular demand, I added force logoff and warning display. Here is a more detailed feature list:

• GUI provided by original MSGINA.DLL (no training of end user required)
• Allows any member of a given group to force logoff a locked session
• Allows any member of a given group to unlock a locked session
• Support a exclusion group (to prevent unlocking administrators by regular users)
• Allows to display a custom message when the workstation is locked
• Supports 64 bits versions of Windows
• Supports international versions of Windows
• Allows chaining multiple Gina’s together

You can learn more about this and download here: http://www.paralint.com/projects/aucun/

Samsung designed the NC220 with its new LED BLU technology, which offers bright and clear pictures on an ultra-slim, eco-friendly design—and markedly reduces energy consumption when compared with conventional CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) monitors. Such innovations have allowed Samsung to remain the undisputed global leader in monitors for 19 straight quarters, according to a recent report from market research firm IDC.

This easy-to-deploy, easy-to-maintain desktop virtualization system reduces IT burden at every step. Software and security updates can be deployed in minutes from a centralized location, eliminating the need to service each individual workstation. Additionally, the Cisco UPOE technology is designed to enable that both data and power can be supplied through a single Ethernet cable, allowing for easier installation and more flexibility when configuring an office space.

“Samsung and Cisco are leading the way in transforming enterprise workspaces,” said Jeong-Hwan Kim, senior vice president of Display Sales & Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “Now every workstation can leverage the power and speed of the company’s centralized server, while reducing energy costs and creating a more beautiful, less cluttered environment.”

The addition of Cisco UPOE increases flexibility and choice for businesses by extending network power resiliency, at reduced costs compared to traditional power infrastructure, to an unprecedented range of devices. Cisco UPOE can supply up to 60 watts of power—twice as much as existing power-over-Ethernet technologies, which is currently restricted to 30 watts.

“Cisco UPOE doubles the amount power delivered over the Ethernet to support many more devices, including the Samsung zero client desktop virtualization devices,” said Jeff Reed, vice president of Cisco’s Unified Access Business Unit. “Now the same Ethernet cable that provides network access will power Samsung’s industry leading virtual desktop devices—dramatically simplifying deployment and management of these devices.”

Enterprises can save additional energy by implementing Cisco’s EnergyWise to better manage and monitor the power consumption of IT devices powered and connected to their Cisco network.

Zero client monitors like the Samsung NC220 are server-based monitors for businesses’ cloud computing systems. These products eliminate the need for local CPU, memory and storage at each individual workstation; instead, the monitor is connected via the network to a central server that executes tasks traditionally handled by a desktop PC. Samsung and Cisco have been working together to embed the Cisco UPOE on the Samsung NC220 since the two companies entered into an alliance earlier this year.

This tool can be used to simulate multiple sessions autocreating printers using the same printer driver.

http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX109374

This document applies to:

Access Gateway 4.5 Advanced Edition
Access Gateway 4.5 Standard Edition
Access Gateway 4.6 Advanced Edition
Access Gateway 4.6 Standard Edition
Access Gateway 5.0
Access Gateway 7.0 Enterprise Edition
Access Gateway 8.0 Enterprise Edition
Access Gateway 8.1 Enterprise Edition
Access Gateway 9.0 Enterprise Edition
Access Gateway 9.1 Enterprise Edition
Access Gateway VPX 4.6
Branch Repeater 4.5
Branch Repeater 5.0
Branch Repeater 5.5
Branch Repeater 5.7
Branch Repeater VPX 5.6
Branch Repeater with Windows Server 1.0
Branch Repeater with Windows Server 1.5
Branch Repeater with Windows Server 2.0
Citrix Licensing 11.5
Citrix Licensing 11.6
Citrix Licensing for 4.5
EasyCall 2.1
EasyCall 2.2
EdgeSight for Endpoints 5.2
EdgeSight for Load Testing 3.6
EdgeSight for Presentation Server 4.5
EdgeSight for XenApp 5.0
EdgeSight for XenApp 5.1
EdgeSight for XenApp 5.2
GoToAssist 7.0
GoToMeeting 3.0
Lab Manager 3.6
Password Manager 4.5
Password Manager 4.6
Presentation Server 4.5 for Windows Server 2003
Provisioning Server 4.5
Provisioning Services 5.0
Provisioning Services 5.1
Provisioning Services 5.6
SmartAuditor 1.1
SmartAuditor 1.2
Workflow Studio 1.0
Workflow Studio 2.0
XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008 x64
XenApp 6.0 for Windows Server 2008 R2
XenDesktop 3.0 x64
XenDesktop 4 x32
XenDesktop 4 x64
XenServer 5.0
XenServer 5.0 Update 3
XenServer 5.5
XenServer 5.6

Read more at: http://support.citrix.com/article/ctx114746

For more information see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2021748/en-us?sd=rss&spid=12925

HIPAA does not prohibit the use of fax machines to communicate PHI; however the information is subject to strict regulations that protect the privacy and security of the information both at the point of dispatch, during transit and at the point of delivery.

The security provisions of HIPAA require “reasonable” efforts to make sure that the information delivery via fax has been sent securely and was received securely and by the person intended.

HIPAA makes a number of demands to ensure that patient health information is properly protected. These, in relation to security and privacy, include:

•All fax machines are to be placed in a secure area and are not generally accessible.
•Only authorized personnel are to have access and security measures should be provided to ensure that this occurs.
•Destination numbers are verified before transmission
•Recipients are notified that they have been sent a fax.
•Include a cover-sheet clearly stating that the fax contains confidential health information, is being sent with the patient’s authorization, should not be passed on to other parties without express consent; and should be destroyed if not received by the intended recipient.
•Any patient data should be in the fax body and not in any of the data fields.
•Faxes are to be sent to secure destinations; i.e., the fax machine of the recipient must be in a secure location, accessible only by those authorized to receive the information.
•Maintain a copy of the confirmation sheet of the fax transmission, including the necessary data such as time and recipient’s number.
•Confirm fax delivery by phoning the recipient.
•Received faxes are to be stored in a secure location.
•Maintain transmission and transaction log summaries.