How much time do you spend online? Most Americans spend 24 hours a week online, but a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that most people in the U.S. struggle with understanding online privacy and cybersecurity. In fact, the majority of people polled answered fewer than half the questions in the study correctly. If you want to find out how your digital literacy compares to those polled, take our quiz below.
Continue reading “How’s Your Digital Literacy? Take the Quiz!”
You always go above and beyond to secure the private data of your clients and employees, but even the most conscientious network security measures can be compromised. Do you have an action plan in place if a security breach occurs? Taking the right steps after a security breach ensures you can protect your business reputation and keep your clients and employees happy.
Continue reading “So, You’ve Had a Data Breach – 5 Steps to Turn a Fail into a Win”
If you run a business in 2019, you need a backup and disaster recovery plan in place. This is not something you can do without. The odds are good that 99% of your company’s information and processes all happen through computers. That means you need an information technology (IT) infrastructure in place that allows you to save, share, and access your company’s workloads and data. What happens when something goes wrong within your IT infrastructure? That’s where a backup and disaster recovery plan comes in. In most cases, you’ll hear these two terms used together – because they, like peanut butter and jelly, are better together – but they are actually two separate things. In this blog, we take a closer look at what backup and disaster recovery are, why they matter for your business, and how to test your current system to ensure your business is ready if the unthinkable happens.
Continue reading “Backup & Disaster Recovery 101 – Everything You Need to Know”
The short answer is yes! Computers should be considered an investment that needs to be maintained to ensure they function properly and last for years. While it may seem like computers and technology in general are changing so quickly your business can’t possibly keep up, by updating your computer software, protecting from viruses and other security risks, and properly maintaining systems, you can keep a computer running as it did out of the box for years, giving you the opportunity to plan and budget for replacement.
Continue reading “Can Regular Computer Maintenance Save My Company Money?”
Cloud-based hosting for data is happening at record rates, and there’s no sign that this trend is going to change anytime soon. Business owners and office managers worry that storage and business processes hosted on the cloud may be at higher risk from hacking, malware, and ransomware, but for some businesses, cloud-based hosting may actually offer increased security. IT ArchiTeks offers managed hosting services. We can help you understand and migrate to the cloud or transition from an on-site storage and networking systems (read – large, noisy server rooms) to cloud-based hosting for business networking, storage, and content management. When used properly, the right cloud-based hosting solution can be just as secure (if not more so) than the traditional systems you’re used to. In fact, many cloud-based hosting solutions are held to very rigorous security standards that ensure your business’ information and processes are stored, shared, and accessed securely.
Cloud-based hosting is, basically, subcontracted data storage, networking, and or specific business process that used to be maintained on-site through servers, physical (wired) connections, and other solutions. Instead, these data and processes are housed on cloud-based (internet-connected) servers without the need for your business to maintain or manage any of the equipment on-site. One of the most basic forms of cloud hosting is email. Every time you send an email, you are using a cloud to store and share your communication. As long as your device has an internet connection, there’s no need to download specific emails. You can simply use the internet to access them again later. Cloud-based hosting is like email on a much larger scale. Instead of just storing and accessing individual communications, cloud-based hosting allows businesses to store, share, and access all kinds of files, processes, and communications in a virtual environment. This is great news for the remote-worker business model that is only going to grow in popularity in coming years.
Now for the long-form answer to the question about cloud-hosting security. Yes, cloud hosting is safe for your business – under the right conditions. You still need to do your research and find the right option for your cloud-based hosting needs, and IT ArchiTeks can help with that. Some of the specific ways that cloud hosting keeps your business safe and secure include:
If you have all of your business information on-site in one location, a disaster can set you back weeks or months, or it can put you out of business completely. Flooding, fires, theft, and any other disaster could mean huge losses, but cloud-based hosting means your data is safe offsite. Most businesses can get back on track within days (or even hours) of a disaster by accessing their information through the cloud.
If you’ve ever talked to an IT consultant about protecting your business information, you’ve heard the word redundancy countless times. We talk about it so much because it’s really important. If you only have one copy of something, losing it means losing time and money. Cloud-based hosting platforms offer automatic redundancy protocols for most information, which means if a server goes down, there’s a backup and you don’t lose any information or time on task.
As more information is shared and stored online, many industries have set standards of expected security for data. It’s important that business owners and managers who work within these industries are familiar with the standards, it can be more difficult to determine how best to meet or exceed these basic security regulations. Most cloud-based hosting providers offer security protocols that meet or exceed those set by individual industries. For higher risk businesses like financial institutions and healthcare providers, there are cloud-based solutions that are made specifically to meet the more stringent standards of security in these fields.
Finally, cloud-based hosting services rely on active monitoring to troubleshoot and prevent problems before they start. If you’ve ever had a server go down, you know how long it can take to get everything back online, but with reliable monitoring, these server crashes and other common concerns can be avoided altogether.
While it can be completely safe to use the cloud for your business network, hosting, and storage functions, you still need to ensure you’re using the right resources with information security protocols that meet the standards in your industry. IT ArchiTeks can help you better understand your cloud hosting options, find products that make sense for your business, and maintain security and privacy for your company and employees. Call our team when you’re ready to schedule a consultation appointment to discuss security options for cloud hosting or help for all your IT service and security needs.
Most office managers and company owners have been down the long, frustrating road of introducing a new business communication tool that promises to improve inter-departmental productivity and collaboration. Then, employees don’t use it. When you’ve invested the time and money to find the right communication software and collaboration tools for your business, this can be frustrating. While getting everyone in the company to buy-in and use your new communication tool seems like an impossible dream, you can take some steps to improve employee buy-in.
Most of your employees want to communicate using their phones and tablets, so any business communication tool you invest in should be mobile device friendly. You may be worried about security, employee productivity, and other concerns associated with having employees using mobile devices, but mobile device management services from IT ArchiTeks will put your mind at ease and keep your employees happy and productive.
What do we mean when we talk about business communication tools? That may be referring to your traditional communication systems like phones, but today, business communication increasingly relies on the use of a variety of tools for instant messaging, video conferencing, sharing documents, collaborating on projects, and even giving presentations. Some examples include:
We could keep going, and for every type of business communication tool, you’ll find 1,000 specific options. At the end of the day, we recommend trying them out, and picking one that offers the functionality you’re looking for in a format that you actually like to use. As a company leader, if you like a product, you’ll be a good ambassador for it to your team.
Once you find the right product, test it out. Ask a core team of employees to try it and give feedback. Then, work together to create an implementation plan for the product, list out all the office functions it will be used for, create guides for your employees, and be prepared for training and answering questions. Once your plan is in place, introduce the product to all of your employees. Too many businesses don’t do the planning on the front end before they implement a new product, and this is one of the leading causes of lack of buy-in from employees. When there’s no clear plan for the product, employees either don’t use it or misuse it.
There are numerous open source business communication tools available, but one of the leading reasons businesses use paid products rather than free options is security. When you’re sharing business communications, documents, and resources, you don’t want the wrong people to have easy access. Before you invest in a product, review their privacy and security measures to ensure they meet or exceed the standards in your field.
When you’re ready to share the new product with your employees, create a clear, concise way of educating people about how the product is used, what tasks you expect them to use it for, and when you want everyone to be using the new product. In addition to communicating this clearly, you should post this information electronically and/or physically, so employees can access information about the new product whenever they need it. Whatever timeline you set, make sure to check in with employees throughout the process to make sure they are transitioning to this new communication tool rather than leaning on their existing work arounds.
Don’t make using the new communication tool sound like a punishment. Instead, talk about why you picked it, what you like best about, and how much you hope it will make their jobs easier. Be positive about using the new option rather than negative about getting rid of the old processes. Change is never easy, but the more you talk about the benefits of a new product or system, the more likely people are to want to use it.
As a continuation of the 5th step, you should recruit that team of core employees from the planning stage of the process as your product ambassadors. Encourage them to have team meetings to discuss what aspects of the new product will be beneficial for their specific job functions rather than the business in general. Make sure one person in each department is the go-to for questions and concerns about the product, and make sure you really listen to your employees if they express issues with the new product or process.
Don’t wait for your employees to come to you with concerns. Ask them to write a review after the first week using the product. Send out a survey email or ask your team leads to meet with their departments to get this feedback. Even if the product worked great when you tried it and seemed to have all the functionality you needed, there can still be issues after your employees start using the tool regularly.
After hearing negative reviews from employees or getting frustrated when employees don’t adopt the product right away, many managers and business owners just give up on the product altogether. Instead of throwing in the towel, give the provider an opportunity to help you fix the problems. Most products offer support services and customization for businesses, so reach out to them with concerns and ask them to help you solve problems.
At the end of the day, you want your business to run smoothly and you need employees to work efficiently, but if finding the right product, installing it, and maintaining the systems and applications all sounds like more work than you have time for, let IT ArchiTeks help. Our team can help you find the best business communication tools, implement them effectively across departments, and keep your products functioning and secure. Give our team a call to learn more or schedule a consultation.
In the past few years, products for business like Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Azure have gotten a lot of attention, and they’re definitively being used by more companies of all sizes each year. If you’re not in the information technology (IT) field, you may not really know what these products are and what they can do for your company. This week’s blog discusses some of the unique characteristics and business options of both Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Azure, but if you want to know more specifically about how these products and services can improve your business, it’s time to talk to the IT ArchiTeks team. Contact us to learn more about our IT support and consulting options. Whether you’re struggling to migrate your business networks to the cloud or you’re unhappy with performance of your costly business software suites, we can help you find cost-effective solutions that work for you.
If you’ve ever worked in an office, you have probably used the Microsoft Office Suite. These are your daily-use products like Word, Excel, and Power Point. In the past, you may have purchased physical disks that contained individually licensed software to be used on one or a few devices. More recently, you likely updated to the downloaded version of the software for each of your business computers, and now, you’re hearing some rumblings about the benefits of switching to Microsoft Office 365. In addition to allowing for easy download online from any device, Microsoft Office 365 gives your employees the ability to access their documents, apps, and information from up to five devices. Notice we said your employees have this ability. Rather than downloading and maintaining a license, Microsoft Office 365 allows you to establish individual accounts for users. Once they’re set up, your employees can download updates, customize their app preferences, and access the same Microsoft products on any computer or mobile device. It’s great news for increased productivity with diminished headaches for your IT manager, and these products are even better for companies that no longer have a traditional brick and mortar business since any user has access to the service center and troubleshooting options.
Check out our July blog on the benefits of migrating to Office 365
If Microsoft Office 365 gave your business the flexibility to allow employees access to business software on the go and when working remotely, imagine if they could access ALL of your business network offsite. That’s the power of Microsoft Azure. It’s not one product or software. Instead, it’s a fully customizable, cloud-based platform and IT infrastructure tool. That sounds complicate, and it can be. Put simply, Microsoft Azure is a flexible and customizable infrastructure that can be used for safe and redundant data storage, easy communication and collaboration between employees, and better access for businesses who have remote employees around the globe. Because it is so easily customized, Microsoft Azure can be extremely beneficial for your business, but all of the moving pieces and flexible components can be a little overwhelming if you don’t have an IT background. Don’t forget IT ArchiTeks has team members who can help translate all the technical specs and IT lingo into great products that work for your business.
Check out our July blog on the benefits of migrating to Microsoft Azure
So – what is the difference between the two Microsoft products? Like so many things in the world of IT, it all comes down to knowing your acronyms. Microsoft 365 is an SaaS product. Microsoft Azure is a cloud platform that combines elements of SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS products. We’ve broken down the definitions and descriptions of each of these for you here:
You may also hear this referred to as on demand software. Essentially, software as a service (SaaS) is a distribution model for software licensing. It allows for greater flexibility and improved function as the software is constantly updated and perfected by the providers of the program. This means you pay a monthly fee that includes the software itself as well as regular updates and improvements. In the case of Microsoft Office 365, your employees will also have access to limited IT support if they experience issues with software. Additionally, Microsoft offers user-centered tutorials and help videos and articles, so your employees can easily learn new functions of the software and troubleshoot issues from anywhere.
Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS) gets a little more technical. We recommend thinking about your current computing, storage, and networking tools. Does your office have an onsite room filled with servers and/or an offsite server? These can be bulky, costly to maintain, and if you don’t have offsite backups, you may find yourself losing business if the unforeseen happens and your server room is compromised. Rather than relying on a set of physical infrastructure components (like servers) that you need to maintain, replicate to ensure redundancy, and increase as necessary to support your business, a cloud-based IaaS product gives you the ability to rent just the space and infrastructure support you need. This makes IaaS products great options for businesses that are growing fast.
Perhaps the most complex in concept, Platform as a Service (PaaS) tools offer your business the ability to develop, customize, and maintain computer applications without first needing to have a degree in computer science! Some PaaS products that are commonly created by businesses include shared calendars/task management systems. Almost every business needs these applications, and PaaS products allow you to make one that is customized to your needs without building a new product from the ground up. There are many different uses for the PaaS functions within Microsoft Azure if you’re able to take the time to explore all of the capabilities. The IT ArchiTeks team can also help you review and explore these solutions and how they can improve your business.
If you still don’t feel 100% ready to commit to one of Microsoft’s new cloud-based office suites, it might be time to give IT ArchiTeks a call to schedule a consultation. Our team of experts can translate the technical jargon and help you understand how these resources will benefit your business.
Even if your business is one of the most innovative and boundary stretching, the odds are good you are still using the Microsoft Office Suite, which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Even if you’re using a different suite of programs, you likely work with others who do use these products, so you need access to Microsoft Office tools to collaborate. In the past, you needed to buy physical copies or digital downloads of the latest Microsoft Office Suite for each computer/user in the office. Today, Microsoft has given businesses a much more convenient option with Microsoft Office 365. In this blog, you can find out more about Microsoft Office 365 and why your business should be using it. If you need help with your Microsoft Office 365 migration or any other IT support needs, don’t forget to contact IT ArchiTeks.
Continue reading “Top 8 Reasons to Migrate to Microsoft Office 365 for Business”
In this blog, IT ArchiTeks reviews the top four benefits of switching to a cloud-based platform for your storage and computing needs like the versatile Microsoft Azure for business. If you have questions or want to set up a consultation with the experts at IT ArchiTeks, give us a call. We’d love to talk to you about Microsoft Azure for cloud-based IT infrastructure.
Continue reading “Top 4 Reasons It’s Time to Migrate to Microsoft Azure for Business”Every 14 seconds another business will fall victim to ransomware, and these attacks have increased by 300% annually. With startling statistics like these, there can be no doubt that you need to take steps to protect your business from potential attacks. Keep reading to learn a little more about preventing ransomware threats and rebuilding your system after an attack. If you’re ready to partner with professionals who can help you create a plan to prevent these threats and partner with you to restore your business following an attack, IT ArchiTeks are here for you. Contact us to learn more about how we partner with businesses to minimize risk for ransomware attacks.
