I’m still somewhat new to the MTI team. The world of IT is still new to me, and I find myself getting lost in tech lingo more often than I’d like to admit. I still have to stop myself and say “monitor” before “computer” on occasion (they are not the same thing, in case you didn’t know). I still don’t fully understand how a UPS works. I just recently learned what an IP address is. And I still couldn’t tell you if there is a difference between a “network” and a “domain”.

I’m far from a technician, and like some of our readers, I can’t tell you the difference between a firewall and an IP switch—they’re both boxes if you ask me—or how much storage you get with 4GB of RAM—although I think it’s a pretty good amount if I had to guess. I am by no means a technician. But I’m learning. Every month, I’m given the opportunity to research and cultivate myself in the world of Information Technology through crafting a useful newsletter. Whether it’s big news in the worlds of Windows or Microsoft, a simple trick to help me filter through my emails faster, or informative tips on how to make a secure password, I get the chance to learn something new relating to this world and to educate others through short, instructive news articles.

Believe it or not, a lot of my inspirations for news article topics are influenced by support requests that come into the office. Requests are called in at random with a very wide array of needs every day. Of course, if a customer calls and says their server is down, or their PC has fallen ill to some sort of new computer zombie apocalyptic virus, I really can’t do much to help (that’s where our awesome, highly skilled, 24-hour techs come in!). But if it’s a simpler request, such as needing assistance adding certain programs to their computer startup, I can curiously do a little research around the office to figure it out, and voila!, a new article is born.

If you’re anything like me, quick explanations are needed quite often when talking to a computer technician—because otherwise, their descriptions can sound like a foreign language. Working closely with MTI technicians, and being given the chance to engage in the monthly newsletters, has helped my technical competence grow immensely. If you’ll continue to follow me in this journey of IT shortcuts and explorations, you may just pick up on a few things, too!

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletters. Enjoy the monthly tips, tricks, and news-bits, and expand your IT expertise with me.

“Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.”-Pablo Picasso