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This week we welcome a guest host to the podcast, Erick Jensen, Information Systems Security Manager at IV Desk, an applications hosting provider here in Minneapolis.  Our hosts were eager to cover the Panama Papers this week and Erick has the security chops to help us dive in to the tech surrounding it as well as the potential security lapses which may have contributed to the leak.  Erick also provided a great counterweight to our team of IT hardware techs, providing the cloud-based vantage point on the discussion of Physical vs Virtual & Cloud servers. We close up by discussing a few light topics such as the worst IT buzzwords, what it’s like to be the first people in the office and some keyboard/mice options for users. Topics / Links: Any Benefit to Physical Servers Anymore? https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1542924-any-benefit-to-physical-servers-anymore The Panama Papers (and the tech behind it): https://www.reddit.com/r/PanamaPapers/ https://source.opennews.org/en-US/articles/people-and-tech-behind-panama-papers/ http://www.wired.com/2016/04/reporters-pulled-off-panama-papers-biggest-leak-whistleblower-history/ http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2016-04/04/panama-papers-data-leak-how-analysed-amount http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04/11/hackers_pwn_mossack_fonseca/ http://fortune.com/2016/04/09/bad-security-panama-papers/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3537371/Swiss-banking-whistleblower-claims-CIA-Panama-Papers-leak-named-enemies-United-States.html http://www.wsj.com/articles/panama-papers-firm-office-raided-by-prosecutors-1460520089 What do you do when you’re the first person in the office? https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1548120-what-do-you-do-if-you-are-the-first-one-at-the-office-in-the-morning What’s the worst IT Vendor word? https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1554831-what-s-the-worst-it-vendor-word What Mouse & Keyboard do you stock for users? https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1548551-what-mouse-and-keyboard-do-you-stock-for-your-users   Thanks to our studio sponsor, Vibrant Technologies, reseller of used servers, storage and networking equipment.

This week, a young US Army Veteran thanks an IT opportunity for pulling him out of a tough spot.  Also, if you’re in IT Hell, what do you fix first?  We review the topic: Is Starting an IT Reseller impossible?,  Finally, we discuss the essentials to take to a remote facility on a tech support safari. From Homeless to a Home in IT https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1403118-my-career-story-from-homeless-to-a-home-in-it IT Hell, what to Fix First? https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1460629-it-heck-what-to-fix-first Starting an IT Reseller is Impossible (?) https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1463022-starting-as-a-it-reseller-is-impossible What to Take? (to a remote corporate office) https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1461123-what-to-take

This week, a woebegone IT Pro is in a tech spiral trying to move IBM System 36/36 data and applications to IBM System I / iSeries.  We also discuss low cost internet failover in your pocket – using 3G to keep the company going.  When you’re looking to replace a switch this year, will you go chalk with Cisco or consider HP/Dell/Juniper switches?  Was there really a billion dollar mistake within Target when they went for Canada or is this corporate finger pointing?  Lastly, we look into a customer service case at Spicworks, where a  DOA return nearly resolved.  Good job, good effort. Moving IBM System 36/38 to System I: http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1446937-need-help-moving-ibm-system-36-38-setup-on-new-hardware Low Cost Internet Failover http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/308395-my-low-cost-internet-failover If you were given a choice for buying new network switches….. http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1451507-if-you-were-given-a-choice-for-buying-new-network-switches Billion-dollar mistake: How inferior IT killed Target Canada (via Reddit) https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/45o821/article_makes_it_shine_as_the_glue_of_enterprise/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/billion-dollar-failures-how-bad-decisions-and-poor-it-killed-target-canada/ DOA Return Issue and (almost) finding help in online communities: http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1402353-doa-return-issue – Quick discussion on how valuable communities & social are for getting IT support today.