Thurs 04/02/2010 4:55 PM
Please be aware that Microsoft has contacted us with a Critical Security Bulletin. Microsoft intends to release a number of Security Updates beginning February 9, 2010. These Security Updates will impact the following:
- Desktops & Laptops utilizing Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7
- Servers utilizing Windows Server 2000, 2003 & 2008
- Desktops & Laptops Microsoft Office XP
- Desktops & Laptops Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac
If you are enrolled in a Currie & Wiltshire Support Plan, we will be in contacting you shortly to schedule a time to update your systems.
If you are not enrolled in a plan and require assistance with ensuring your systems are not vulnerable to hackers and malicious software, please contact us immediately at 416-748-8383 ext. 1 to schedule an appointment.
Rich Douglas joins Currie & Wiltshire!
Mon 01/02/2010 10:55 AM
Currie & Wiltshire are pleased to announce that Rich Douglas will be joining the company as an Account Manager. Mr. Douglas has over 20 years of experience in telecommunications & computer sales and management. Mr. Douglas comes to Currie & Wiltshire from Biz Software Direct where he was a member of the senior management team and played a key role in its rapid expansion. Additionally, Mr. Douglas was previously Vice President of ITN Corporation where he demonstrated the same characteristic skills in augmenting sales revenues by building a customer driven team. We are excited to have him as part of our team and confident he will do an excellent job in servicing our accounts.
If you have any inquires or questions regarding Currie & Wiltshire Support and Services, please do not hesitate to connect with Mr. Douglas at 416-748-8383 ext. 2.
100% Write-Off Opportunity on Computer & Software Purchases
If you were putting off purchasing computers and software, you may want to rethink that decision. In an effort to help businesses innovate and compete during this recession, the 2009 Canadian Federal Budget provides a temporary 100% CCA rate for eligible computers and software acquired after January 27, 2009 and before February 2011. This 100% CCA rate will not be subject to the half-year rule, which generally allows half the CCA write-off otherwise available in the year the asset is first available for use by the taxpayer. As a result of this measure, a business will be able to fully deduct the cost of an eligible computer (including the systems software for that computer) in the first year that CCA deductions are available.
To be eligible, computers and systems software need to be situated in Canada, acquired by the taxpayer and used in a business carried on by the taxpayer in Canada or for the purpose of earning income.
June 29th, 2009
Chris Wiltshire featured on Small Business Big Ideas Radio Show
March 22nd, 2009
Currie & Wiltshire Featured in Durham Trade & Commerce Magazine as The Hired Gun‘s that make IT Happen
February 2009
Currie & Wiltshire help Ontario Manufacturing Become more Competitive in the Global Economy!
Currie & Wiltshire are pleased to announce that they have been pre-approved by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters ("CME") for the purpose of providing IT Best Practices SMART Assessments. This is an exciting opportunity for Currie & Wiltshire to assist Manufacturers and make a direct impact in the Province where we work and reside .
The Government of Ontario, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) has created the SMART Program to help small and medium-sized manufacturers in Ontario improve their manufacturing productivity to enable them to compete more effectively in the global economy.
Use of an approved service provider is a requirement of the CME’s SMART Assessment Program, but does not guarantee that an application will receive funding under the program as the application must still meet the other criteria of the program and be selected for funding. Currie & Wiltshire were one of the first IT companies to be recognized as having the experience and system for providing SMART Assessments. The SMART Assessment program aligns well with Currie & Wiltshire’s own Business Technology Needs Analysis which is a unique and proprietary assessment process that combines ITIL (Information Technology Information Library), ISO 20000 (International Organizations for Standards) and CobIT (Control Objectives for Information and related Technology) frameworks with a blend of our clients feedback and years of IT and management experience. The outcome produces an action plan that addresses the strategic, operational and tactical needs of the organization to implement reliable, repeatable and measurable processes.
For approved applicants, SMART Assessments will contribute to the cost of having Currie & Wiltshire complete an IT best practices assessment to identify potential business improvement opportunities for manufacturers. For example, if an organization suspects they can gain a competitive advantage with increased employee productivity, lower risk of information loss, reduced human errors and increased customer satisfaction through improved information technology services, they could use a SMART Assessment to bring in a specialist from Currie & Wiltshire to analyze this area of the business, quantify the extent of the problem and develop an improvement strategy.
Up to 250 SMART Assessments will be available to Ontario manufacturers. If a company is eligible for SMART funding it is also eligible to take advantage of SMART Assessments. The total cost of each SMART Assessment is up to $7,000, but the company only pays $1,000 (or 15% of the Assessment cost, whichever is less), plus any direct expenses incurred by the service provider (for example, for travel to and accommodation at your location) – the SMART Program pays the balance of $6,000.
Headquartered in the Durham Region, Currie & Wiltshire is an award winning, vendor neutral company, dedicated to helping organizations gain a competitive advantage through results oriented information technology deployment and leadership
November 2008
John Currie Speaks to the Canadian Association of IT Professionals (CIPS) about "Work Life Balance"
Work / Life Balance is something that is important to everyone - regardless of what career or profession you are currently involved with. My personal philosophy is that you only have ONE life - regardless of how you work it out - you only have 24 hours in a day, of which you must sleep and eat as well as fit in all your work, play, family and personal time. It's the balance of what makes the most sense for you that creates the proper mix - heck, my ratios might not be correct for you and vice versa.
Out of all the topics for our 5 part series on Igniting your Career - this is the one that I am the most looking forward to discussing. I am very interested to hear what IT Professionals have to say has worked for them to achieve a balance as well as things that have not worked.
I'm very excited about our speakers for this one - I believe we have a nice mix.
• Mishelle Graney, Manager of Product Support, Clarity Systems
• Paul Gossen, Senior Trainer and Founder, Business Transformed
• John Currie, CEO of Currie & Wiltshire
Are you registered to listen in and more importantly - ASK YOUR QUESTIONS? Sign up on our landing page and participate - this is a two way conversation with our panelists and the audience. Missed out on the other shows? Not to worry - you can get them from our Resource Page here on the blog
Rick Claus
IT Pro Advisor
December 5th, 2007
Currie & Wiltshire Voted #1 Business Computer Systems Management Company
December 2007
Featured on Small Business Big Ideas Radio Show
December 2007
John Currie speaks to Lets Do Lunch members about Celebrating Success
November 2007
Currie & Wiltshire Recognized as the 2007 Success story by the Business Advisory Council of Durham
Small and medium size business cannot afford to hire a fulltime IT department however, to do business in today's competitive market, IT services are heavily relied upon and required. When these companies do hire, they hire a single technician, use ad hoc technology services or outsource to a hardware or software vendor. These options leave a significant gap in staffing, produce inconsistent or unsatisfactory results and borderlines on conflict of interest, as a hardware or software vendor is surely not going to recommend any solution other than their own. This may or may not be in the best interest of the business.
Realzing this gap in service, John W. Currie and Christopher P. Wiltshire joined forces to develop an alternative by providing an affordable, shared, scalable IT department that rivials what larger organizations take for granted, yet meets the smaller businesses needs and budget. In 2006, they came to the Business Advisory Centre of Durham (BACD) seeking Financial and Marketing advice.
"I would recommend to anyone thinking about starting a new venture to visit the BACD office, both Carol Ann Walker and Inder Mehta provided us with expert guidance to bring our vision into reality" said John W. Currie, CEO of Currie & Wiltshire Inc.
After listening to many individuals and business owners about their technology struggles, Currie & Wiltshire coined the phrase "technology migraine" has become the center of their corporate objectives.
"Vendors often limit support to their own products leaving customers bouncing like a ping pong between support centres. We troubleshoot the functionality of the entire technology problem, not just one program or application" said Christopher P. Wiltshire, President of Currie & Wiltshire "We truly become a business technology management partner who resolves problems, monitors & reports on performance, provides guidance and enables the business with technology solutions that save time and money."
November 2007
Currie & Wiltshire Featured on Small Business Big Ideas Radio Show
July 2007
Currie & Wiltshire Featured on the Novak Report
July 2007
Currie & Wiltshire Featured on First Take Live with Dan Carter
July 2007