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Why Choose an IT Support Company?

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Every time you turn on the news there’s always another newfangled gadget out there.  With more and more businesses moving onto the Internet, how do you stay on top it all?  A Boston Consulting Group survey showed that small businesses spend only 3% of their advertising budget on the Internet.  One of the major hindrances is that small businesses don’t have the staff or infrastructure to keeping up.  Instead of creating a whole department or relying on substandard acquaintances hire an IT support group.

Why? Three reasons: flexibility, scalability, and transferability.

Flexibility without being flimsy

Every small business is different and thus their IT needs are different. Bringing in an outside IT support group gives you choices without groping around in the dark for a solution.  Any IT support company worth their salt will be able to show you past projects that worked; whether it was increasing up time (time your computers are working) to Cloud security. We currently have 99% up time across all our clients.

Running a small business also means making every second count. Any down time can mean big losses. So, it’s best to choose a company that can offer 24/7 support. Even as a backup plan, if your IT specialist is out then you have someone to turn to. To be able to do that, your it support provider should be able to reach your office fast. So for example, if your business is headquartered in Boston, then you probably need business IT support in Boston.

Scalability

At first, it’s always easy to just put your toe into the water.  Let’s say your initial experience with Cloud data storage for just your accounting needs.  Now you want to back up all your data in the Cloud. To handle and maintain such a network, you’d need to hire more people right?  With an It support company, it’s simple to augment your staff.  This shifts the risks and the costs of finding qualified and reliable people to someone else.

Transferability

As your business grows so do your IT needs. Let’s say you open an office on West coast, three thousand miles away.  You could spend a fortune looking for someone to get that office up and running.  However, if your IT support company already has onsite service to 98% of the United States, then you’re already covered.

In this age of specialization, every business should consider finding experts in fields that they rely on, but can’t master on their own.

Office 365 Has A Plan For Everyday of the Week

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We’ve covered Office 365 in the past.  It’s software as a service plan devised by Microsoft.  Many consider it a boon to the software industry, giving consumers the ability to pick and choose more of what they want.

Microsoft divides its services into two categories: small business and enterprise.  Each comes with their distinct plans.

Small Business

The premium version cost $15 user/month or an optional $150 user/year.   The main difference between this level of service and those beneath it are mobile apps and desktop versions of Office apps.

Word, PowerPoint and Excel are all available as mobile versions on phones and tablets that support Windows 8 RT.  Having mobile versions of Office will allow you to work and share on the go.

The other major advantage is having the desktop versions of Office rather than the stripped down version.  This way, your employees will not have to learn a new system.

If you want to go with the cheapest plan, $4 user/month, it will give you the basics.  You’ll get Office for up to five machines.  The major things you’ll lack will be web conferencing, website domain hosting, and the mobile apps.  However, you will get the guaranteed 99.9% uptime that will pay you for any loss of service.

Enterprise

The major service that the Enterprise version of Office 365 provides is intranet through SharePoint.  These are like websites, but accessible only by machines on your network.  Intranet sites can include a billboard for office memos or even product information for your sales associates.

The most expensive version of Enterprise, costing $20 user/month, has luxuries such as an auto responder for your voice land.  You know, press one to leave a message.

For more information about Office 365 click here.

Pick a Windows, Any Windows

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Pick a Windows, any windows.  Microsoft has really put a plethora of choices out there.  For Windows 8, the three big ones are Vanilla, Pro and Enterprise.  If you’re on Windows 7 or XP (If you’re on Vista you really should) and considering making the switch, which one should you chose?

It all comes down to what you want.

Vanilla

In terms of software, Vanilla usually refers to the unaltered version.  It’s the one with no bells and whistles, you know, vanilla flavored.  On the whole, Windows 8 has a lot flash to it with its charms and apps and such.  However, has received upgrades on the back-end.

It has more security, optimized for faster booting times, and amalgamated storage spaces.

That being said, if you’re on Windows 7, a move to Vanilla Window’s 8 probably would be a lateral move.  You paid for Windows 7 when you bought your computer, no need to pay for it again.

Pro

Pro sounds impressive.  It sounds…professional and it has the features to back up its name.  If you’re on a Windows Server, Pro allows you to centrally manage your network.

For the laptops and tablets you take on the go, Pro has BitLocker.  This feature can encrypt your hard drive.  BitLocker is quick, as it only encrypts drive space that is currently in use rather than securing everything in sight.

Also, for those looking to give out IT support, Windows 8 Pro has remote access features.  Although any computer hosting Windows 8 can be accessed remotely, only those touting Pro can be in the driver’s seat.  When it comes to technical support, giving is defiantly better than receiving.

Enterprise

Engage.  Wait, wrong blog.

Enterprise, is, and always has been the heavy-weight of the Windows family.  Enterprise is really aimed at medium-large business.  Features like Windows to Go, which allows Windows 8 to be booted from a USB drive, is only useful with a Bring Your Own Device Office with security concerns.

There’s DirectAccess which allows outside machines to behave as if they are on an internal network.  Not really useful unless you have an internal network and have employees that wish to work from home.

To help boost efficiency, Windows 8 Enterprise also has BranchCache which helps streamline bandwidth usage.  Websites and apps that constantly accessed via the Internet can be cached for peer-to-peer usage.  For example. one guy can download the list that everyone needs to use, and using BranchCache all his co-workers can look it up without having to tap into the all important  bandwidth.

Chose Wisely

There’s not much more to say than get what you want.  It should also be noted that there is Windows RT, but you can’t buy it.  It only comes pre-installed on Microsoft Surfaces.

Tips for Creating a Social Business

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There’s no doubt about it: marketing has gone social.  Customers are more apt than ever to start tweeting about their service.  So what are you going to do about it?

Commit

It’s likely you’ve either thought about or have already set up a Facebook account for your business.  However, many business owners fall into the trap of neglecting their social media accounts.  These accounts should be treated like another touchpoint for your business, like adding another customer service number that the whole world can see.

Keeping on top of updates like when you’re having a sale and responding to customer comments is essential.  Though it may add another hour to your day going through your social media outlets, it will create another layer to your marketing dynamic.

Contemplate

If you haven’t created a Youtube, Twitter, or Facebook account for your business yet, you should probably take a deep breath and think about it.  Although it takes a few minutes to set up, you must be willing to commit.  A poorly maintained social media outlet is like having an unkempt front entrance.

Lacking in time and resources to commit to a  social media campaign is a sure sign you quit while your ahead.

Comprehend

Should you chose to accept this task, you should invest in media monitoring apps.  For example, Radian6 is a paid services that gives you reports on your various social media outlets.  That way you can track and see what garners attention and what doesn’t.

Social Media is still in it’s infancy.  It seems like the Wild West where every business, large and small, are on the frontier.

As always, you can count on us in case you need an it services company to cover all your IT needs.

The Curious Case of the Call Center Fraud

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As long as there has been money there has been people looking to making by means that are less than ethical.  Now, with all the technology people half a world away can can attempt to pick your pocket.

I happened to come across a new type of call center fraud.  Well, it’s actually a twist on an old trick.  Con-men calling you up at home in an attempt to sell you something you don’t need or to gain personal information is nothing new.

However, the twist is that they try to have you open up a backdoor for them into your personal computer.  They come under the guise of saying that they are calling from Windows Tech Support.

They then usually say that they’ve received reports that your PC is under assault by viruses, from the Internet no less.  After that, they direct you to a web to download some variant of remote access software, programs that let someone else directly control your computer from across the Internet.

There are plenty of legitimate reasons for doing this, like IT support.  But let it be known that IT support will never call you unless you call them first.

To stay safe, best to never install software direct to you by someone you don’t know on the phone.  It may sound like common sense, but it can be hard to turn away someone who’s calm, polite, and pretending to help you.

In fact, many of these scammers can be so persistent and calm that there is a whole subculture that revolves around messing with them.  Click here for a laugh.  Trust me, I didn’t cold call you on the phone asking for your credit card number.

Office 365 vs Google Docs

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They say you get what you pay for, but nothing is better than free.  That’s why for years people have been touting Google Docs as a way to go to get something for virtually nothing.  However, in December Google changed the pricing structure for its new business users.  Now there is a two tier pricing structure with $50 per user per year for basic services and $150 per user per year for advance security features.

The old adage holds true, you do get what you pay for.  The question now is do you get more if you pay for Microsoft’s new service: Office 365 which costs $6 per month for the first 50 users?

For Storage

You get more with Office 365.  Powered by Skydrive, the system offers an initial 25 gigabytes and $50 for each 100 more.  Google only dishes out 5 gigabytes at a price $60 for the next 100.

Collaboration

Google has the edge here.  The platform they use is more conducive to easily sharing, usually involving just a click and search through your contacts.  As of right now, Office 365 has trouble sharing with its desktop brethren.

Apps

It all comes down to apps doesn’t it?  Google Docs has a bit of an edge in document files.  They export and preview much easier than its Microsoft counterpoint.  However, Office 365 has a cleaner spreadsheet.  So, it’s a bit of a wash whose better in this arena.

The Bottom Line

For those who already have Google Business accounts you’ll probably want to keep your free services. People using sharepoint and other Microsoft platforms should probably stick with 365.

 

Nothing Beats Free: Part 2 of an going series

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When doing business nothing is better than free.  So, what’s good out there that’s free?  There’s plenty out there for business owner on a budget.

For Your Security: Windows Defender

For Windows 8, Microsoft combined its anti-spyware and real time anti-virus scanner into the Windows Defender. It’s not the best security suite around, but it’ll cost you nothing.  If you’re on a budget, just keep your Windows Defender up-to-date and you should be mostly secure.

Human Resource Management: Orange HRM

Orange HRM is an open source database software.  It helps keep track of job applicants, organize employee information, and assign permissions at a touch of a button.  It sounds complicated, but this software has a low learning curve.  There are paid SaaS (software as a service), but they are not necessary for most small businesses.

E-mail Marketing: MailChimp

MailChimp has several tiers of service. However, the free one is pretty generous.  It lets you send up to 12,000 e-mails to up to 2,000 e-mail addresses. With it, you can create quasi-customized templates to create a fairly unique look for your business.  The free version also has analytic data on your e-mail marketing campaign.

And of course, if you need IT support you can find that here.

 

IT Support and the Worker-Driven Tech Revolution

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As you’d expect from an event with “consumer” right in the title, the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show kicking off Tuesday in Las Vegas isn’t particularly focused on business’s needs. But the business IT site Information Management has an interesting take on why enterprise should be paying attention to CES anyway.

For one thing, a lot of much-discussed tech trends, from gamification to next-generation tablets, apply to companies as much as to consumers.

Even more, though, these days consumers—who, after all, are also workers—are often the ones driving the adoption of new tech in the workplace. If a delivery driver finds an app that makes it easier for him to steer around traffic as he makes his deliveries, you can bet he’ll use it, even if it hasn’t been approved by the IT department. In fact, it can sometimes be the techies who slow down adoption of new things because of security or reporting concerns.

Does that mean computer specialists’ only place at the office is to put a brake on the rampant spread of new technology? Of course not. A modern IT support service—whether it’s an internal department or an outside contractor—needs to be more involved than ever in the day-to-day life of an office.

Thwarting the adoption of new tech is not just futile, but it can lead to employees inadvertently do things that may be illegal, or counterproductive. Instead, IT support staff need to help employees at every level think through their tech needs and find ways to use the best tools for the job, and use them safely.

That requires not just on-demand IT support, but IT consulting to figure out strategies to stay on top of trends and let workers’ innovation work for the company, not against it.

Does Your Business Need An App?

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Confucius once said that the inferior man knows what would sell, while the superior man knows what is right.  Any small business owner will tell you that it’s much easier to be the superior man, because it’s hard to pin down how to sell.

What we do know is that technology often goes hand-in-hand with increases in business.  From the cash register to shipping tracking codes, technology can lower the barrier for a business transaction to occur.

It’s just common sense that the easier something is, the more likely we are to do it.
So, is launching an app a good idea for your small business?  It all comes down to: What do you want?  Apps for a small business can be boiled down to three varieties.  They either, supply information, increase exposure, or deepen consumer loyalty.

We live in the information age.  An app can supply information about your products and services.  In planning on making a purchase, knowing is half the battle.

Increasing exposure is similar, but differs in one important way: exposure is just getting eyeballs on your company.  It doesn’t have to provide any information.  It only needs to grab someone’s attention.

Finally, there are a variety of apps that deepen consumer loyalty.  Rewards, promotions, heads up on special offers all fall under the purview of enhancing loyalty.  The best of such apps create almost the air of mystic around the perspective customer.

When choosing a pre-made or designing an app for your business be sure to make sure that it favors at least one of these categories.

BYOD: Reining in the Cost

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We over here in tech land have often extolled the virtues of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Allowing your employees a certain modicum of freedom can go a long way in increasing their comfort and productivity.  However, this relatively new business practice can come with unforeseen costs.

Originally, the phenomenon was coined the consumeration of enterprise.  It was intended for high level executives only.  But as the practice spread, a few companies, like Network Sourcing Advisors, began to feel the pinch.

How can a practice that requires employees to buy their own equipment with their own money eat at the bottom line?  Well, taking smartphones as an example the costs are usually hidden, but rest assured, they will rear their ugly heads.

With Network Sourcing Advisors, it began with transition costs.  They had company-issued smartphones, but those all had to get shelved.  Those employees that didn’t have their own smartphones were upset.  Those that did, had to learn how to use them in accordance to companies policies.  Network Sourcing Advisors ended up $300,000 over-budget to bring 600 personnel up to speed.

Also, take the publisher Slate for example.  The company began subsidizing their employees devices.  To make sure that all their employees are up-to-date using the most efficient data plans, they estimate that they shoulder about $1,020 a year per employee.  They do this because the cost is tax deductible.  And of course, the benefit to the employee.

We’ve covered some of these bases before.  However, until now we’ve lacked concrete numbers.  And as always, whenever considering such an ambitious IT project, one should consider augmenting their staff in order to make things run more smoothly.