Nonprofits Get IT For Less In Trying Times - WWJ Newsradio 950
The NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work) initiative and Online Tech Corp., both based in Ann Arbor, announced a continuing partnership through 2013.
Online Tech has been a Community Partner with NEW since 2007.
NEW removes technology hurdles for nonprofits through npServ, a shared IT services program that helps nonprofits cut costs, operate more efficiently and stay focused on mission. Through a grant from Online Tech, the largest managed data center operator in Michigan, npServ is able to use Online Tech%u2019s data center services for the benefit of nonprofit clients in Michigan. These services include e-mail, data backup, and Web site hosting through Online Tech%u2019s dedicated SAS70 certified servers and back-up services.
Recently NEW aided a Detroit-area nonprofit who had been without email for a week and had no access to their server. It had become nearly impossible for this organization to continue to serve their community without access to documents and email.
%u201CAs we started troubleshooting and eventually added them to our Linux thin client program, we learned that data security was a sensitive issue for the organization," said npServ director Linh Song. "Not only was there data that needed to be HIPAA compliant, but like many nonprofits, there was staff turnover creating an increasingly difficult challenge in maintaining institutional memory. Installing a file server with different permissions was a first step for the organization. But more importantly, this organization needed to make sure their critical data was saved and secure offsite.%u201D
NEW was able to get this organization back up and running and set them up in Online Tech%u2019s secure HIPAA compliant data center.
The npServ community is a group of nonprofit organizations that share technology infrastructure and support services. The npServ program is a combination of open source office technology (open source technologies allow a desktop to act as a portal to a central computer saving on energy use and prolonging the life of an otherwise obsolete computer) hosted at Online Tech%u2019s data centers. With the npServ system, nonprofits don't need to purchase an expensive computer for each desk. Small desktop devices replace the old desktop computer at a fraction of the cost. The npServ system is simple to maintain and provides secure data backup through Online Tech%u2019s service support, remote access, and email service.
Nonprofits that are part of the npServ community feel empowered by technology rather than stymied,
%u201CLike so many nonprofits, we were always struggling with information technology, working with a patchwork of donated hardware and printers," said Jimena Loveluck of the HIV-AIDS Resource Center. "The npServ system has helped us advance our technologies in a way we could have never done on our own. This is a great example of how shared services can make a big impact, and ultimately help nonprofits fulfill their missions more efficiently.%u201D
More at www.onlinetech.com or www.new.org.
