Best for SMBs: Laptop or desktop?
In today’s business world, computers are an essential investment. Considering the tight budgets of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB), one can’t afford to invest in the wrong hardware. Which is the smartest investment, especially for startups? Laptops or Desktops? Portability Laptops allow you to keep working when you don’t have an electrical outlet. However, this ability to take your work anywhere can be counterproductive by creating more stress on employees who think they must work all the time. Memory/Speed Desktop computers used to have more memory and faster processors than laptops. And although high-powered laptops have caught up, they are more expensive. If work is limited to word processing and emailing, affordable less-powerful laptops should be enough. Anything more will probably require a desktop machine. Security Data security is necessary not only against data leaks but as protection from litigation, reputation damage, and loss of business. With a network security system and IT staff, vulnerabilities are easier to address for desktop computers within office premises. They’re also less likely to be stolen. For laptops, however, mobility makes them more vulnerable. Data loss is a real risk as laptops may be connected to unsecured networks and hotspots or be lost or stolen. Protecting your laptops require special safeguards, and consequently more time and money. Price Laptops and desktops come in varying prices according to preferences. On the cheaper end of the price range spectrum, there are notebook-style laptops that are limited to word processing and web browsing capabilities. Desktops have affordable equivalents as well. The deciding factor when it comes to price is your IT service provider or hardware supplier. With the right partner, you should be able to get a good bulk deal on powerful but affordable desktops or laptops. Longevity Laptop computers may provide the convenience of mobility, but it’s much harder to upgrade their components as they get older. Laptops are also easier to drop or damage and more expensive to replace or repair. Being in a fixed location, desktops are less prone to this. And unlike laptops, many desktops are not always pre-assembled. Many desktops can be custom built with parts that are easily removed, replaced, or upgraded. Final Recommendation A growing company really needs a combination of both types of computers. However, a desktop computer will be generally more reliable for the fledgling company owner. Laptops should be added as budget permits to provide that extra portability and convenience, especially for managers who work remotely. If you have other questions regarding enterprise hardware, give us a call. We’d be happy to recommend the best solution according to your company’s business needs and objectives. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Don’t let negative reviews ruin your brand
Negative reviews on sites like Yelp, Trip Advisor, and Ripoff Report will damage your brand’s online presence . So how can you protect your company from defamatory and false reviews that show up on search results for your business? Here’s the best strategy. Don’t engage site or users directly Don’t send emails demanding to have the content removed or engage with the person who posted the content in an attempt to resolve the issue. The main reason: both users and content posted are not verified. There have been reports of users posting fake reviews in an attempt to solicit money from businesses they criticize. A few of these sites also claim to offer paid services to remove bad reviews but business owners should be extremely wary of any site offering to remove or edit a review in exchange for cash. Get on social media If one of these negative reviews makes its way onto the first page of Google’s search results, create social media profiles to bury it. Not only do active and relevant social media profiles outrank negative reviews, they also provide your past, present, and future clients with better information. Even if you already have a Facebook and Twitter account, don’t be afraid to expand beyond that to Instagram, LinkedIn, and even Quora. It’s also a good idea to get on Foursquare, Google+, and any other sites where reviews are verified by real users and not nameless people who don’t have to be accountable for what they say. Remember to update these regularly to ensure they stay at or near the top of the search result rankings. Encourage positive reviews You need to encourage customers to post positive reviews on verified review sites. Like social media profiles, positive reviews from credible review sites will outrank negative reviews from defamation sites. Depending on what your business does, sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Foursquare, Angie’s List, or even Facebook are great places to have satisfied customers leave reviews. Of course, getting them to do that can be difficult. Consider offering a discount to customers who post a review of your business on any of these sites. Doing this will help you climb up in search rankings while increasing customer loyalty. Combine efforts with an SEO strategy To optimize your brand’s search results, you will have to create positive content that is search engine optimized. Aside from social media profiles and good reviews on verified sites, optimizing search results for your brand start with its website. Promote a positive message about your brand with benefits and customer reviews. Strengthen your website with regular content such as newsletters, case studies, and blog articles. Content is about building consumer trust by being helpful. An informative blog is the best way to start. Avoid “selling” your brand on every piece of content. The best practice is keep this down to 20% of your overall content, or two out of ten blog articles. Try posting helpful videos on your company’s YouTube and be active on all your social media. It also won’t hurt to partner with influencers on social media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram to spread positive comments about your brand. These are just a few strategies companies use to manage their online presence. For more ways to get positive search results, call our team of experts today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Web conversion made easy with 5 tips
Are there surefire ways to attract prospects to your website and to convince them to sign up for your product or service? The first step is always to make your website easy to use. Read on for 5 tips that improve user experiences, site trustworthiness and conversion rates. Make it mobile-friendly More people are now surfing the web on the go – via smartphones, tablets, and laptops. If you want a piece of this traffic, you need to make your website’s design responsive to all mobile devices. To give your visitors an enjoyable mobile experience, make sure your website design fits the screen of any device. Additionally, all elements of your website – pages, resources, actions, and so on – should be easily accessible. If not, visitors will get frustrated and click away to a competitor. And who can blame them? You’d probably do the same. Make it easy for customers to contact you This means displaying your phone number in the upper-right corner of every page and providing a simple, easy-to-find contact form. While some people prefer not to give up their email address for fear it will be picked off by spambots, it can serve as another contact option for those who hate web forms. Ideally, you will provide more than one way for your customers to contact you. Give your visitors a choice, make it easy, and they will come. Keep it simple Have you started to notice a theme here? Proper web design can be summed up in one word: easy. People are always busy. They don’t have time to navigate a complicated website, dig through dozens of pages to find a contact number, or try and figure out what it is that you’re selling because your mobile site doesn’t display content properly. So when it comes to design, simplicity makes sense. When producing a simple website, every page, word, and image you create must have a singular purpose: to get visitors to contact you. Don’t waste time distracting them with excessive information, silly games, or flashy animations. Instead, have a nice clean layout so they can understand what you’re offering quickly and can contact you with a click. Include personal photos whenever possible Say you have to choose between two different websites. They both sell the same thing and look virtually the same. The key difference is that one uses real photos of the owner and his or her staff, while the other uses generic stock images of business people. Assuming images from both sites are of the same quality, which one will you more likely choose? Undoubtedly, the one that looks the most authentic. So next time you have to choose between stock images and shooting photos of you and your staff, invest some time and money in quality pictures taken at a studio – it’ll be worth every penny. Move social media icons to the bottom of the page Everyone loves throwing social media icons on their websites, and it’s not a bad idea to show your credibility. However, if you put these at the top of the page, your visitor is more likely to click on them immediately. Sounds cool, right? Wrong. When this happens, you just created an exit for them to leave your site and never return – and we all know how easy it is to get distracted on social media. Instead, place your social media icons at the bottom of the page or in the footer area. Remember the goal of your website is to convert. If your visitors leave before they get a chance to explore your services, content, and offerings, you’ve lost them before you even had them. Need a website or another solution to enhance your digital presence? Give us a call and leverage our IT expertise for your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Disaster recovery myths you can dismiss
Technology changes so rapidly. With disaster recovery (DR), we see business owners clinging to ideas that no longer apply. What kind of DR myths are still widely accepted by the masses? Here are three that need to be retired immediately. Tape backups are the best DR solution Backup tapes are physical objects that deteriorate over time. Don’t believe us? Try listening to a cassette tape from the ’90s. Over time, tape backups become distorted and stop working. Deterioration is slow and may only affect some files in the early stages, so don’t settle for a mere cursory check. Aside from backups in your office, another set of tape backups needs to be stored outside your premises. In case a natural disaster damages your office, not all your data will be wiped out. But if your storage space isn’t safe from the elements, this could also be a problem. Unlike tape backups, a cloud-based backup saves you time. Data is automatically backed up online, and you don’t need to spend time managing boxes of tapes. Your time is better spent on your assigned tasks, not IT management. The RTO you want will be too expensive Recovery time objectives (RTO) are essential to any DR plan. You need to get everything up and running again as quickly as possible to avoid serious losses. In the days before the cloud, a swift recovery time could cost you well into six figures. Today, cloud and virtualization solutions have made this much more affordable, and faster than ever before. Most DR providers can back up your critical data in an hour or two. And if you ever need to recover it, most services can do so in less than a day. That’s the power of the cloud. And when it comes to DR, it truly has changed everything. Disaster recovery is for big business, not SMBs The cloud has made this valuable service affordable for businesses of all sizes. From dental offices to small retail operations, SMBs can now take advantage of the best DR solutions on the market. Advances in IT and the cloud have eliminated the obstacles of complexity, costs, and insufficient IT resources. We hope that by dispelling these myths, we’ve convinced you that disaster recovery is more affordable and efficient than ever. If you’d like to learn how our DR solutions can safeguard your business, send us a message and we’ll gladly fill you in. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
5 tricks you can do with Android and Chrome
Using a Google account across your devices makes many things like email, web browsing, and managing your calendar a lot more convenient. Here are five tricks you might not yet know you can do when you sync Chrome with your Android phone. Send directions from Google Maps to your Android phone While Google Maps works great on smartphones, it’s often easier to use on larger screens. To send driving, walking, or commute directions from your PC to your Android phone, do the following: Click on a specific location on Google Maps (or enter a location in the search field and click on the desired result). Click on the Send to your phone button in the pane on the left side of your screen. Choose to have the directions sent to your phone via text or email. Sync your computer’s Chrome tabs with your phone This is especially useful when you need to bring your work outside of the office. Here’s all you need to do: Open the Chrome App on your Android phone. Tap the three-dotted menu icon beside the search field. If you’re not using multiple Google accounts, go straight to Step 4. Otherwise, tap Settings > your user icon > Sync > Sync to > your desired Google account, then press the back button until you see the three-dotted menu icon. Press it once more. Tap Recent tabs. You’ll see all the tabs you’ve opened recently while logged in to a particular Google account regardless of device. Finding your phone Simply entering “find my phone” in the Google search bar will display the current or last known location of your phone. On top of that, you can also ring your device for five minutes — even if it’s set to silent — in the hopes that you or some kind soul answers it and tells you where you can pick it up. Use your phone to control your computer For this trick, start by installing the Chrome Remote Desktop app from the Google Play Store on your Android phone (or even on your iPhone) and the Chrome Remote Desktop extension app for Chrome on your computer, regardless if it’s running on ChromeOS, Windows, macOS, or Linux. Each device you want to connect must have Chrome installed, and each Chrome browser must be signed into the same account. With everything in place, you can remotely control a system that’s switched on, such as your desktop, via your phone or Chromebook, or allow one-time access to give or receive remote support. Set reminders for yourself via Google Assistant or Google Keep You can use voice commands on your Android phone to set reminders. Say “OK Google” or press the mic icon to activate Google Assistant, then say “Remind me to buy milk at the grocery store” or whatever it is you want to be reminded of. Once the Add a reminder screen appears, you can edit reminder details, such as when you want to be given a heads up or where you want to be alerted (such as when you enter a grocery store). Alternatively, you can install the Google Keep extension app in Chrome or the Google Keep app on your Android. Simply open the app, click the Take a note field, type in your reminder, click the Remind me icon, then click on either Pick date & time to set when you want to be reminded or Pick place to set where you want to be notified. As long as you have syncing turned on for your Google account, you can use Google Calendar, Google Assistant, or Google Keep on one device to unleash reminders across all your devices. Syncing lets you make the most of your devices and makes you feel that you’re using one machine. For any questions regarding the Android/Chrome combo, feel free to give us a call anytime! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Hyperconvergence: IT for SMBs
Routers, switches, modems, gateways, firewalls, servers, and storage devices — these are just some of the many machines you need to build a network infrastructure that enables effective internal and external communications. Even when pared down to serve fewer users, the costs of building a similar infrastructure were prohibitive for SMBs, at least until hyperconvergence came along. What is a hyperconverged infrastructure? In a traditional IT environment, hardware for networks, servers, and storage had to be purchased separately and set up to work together as one cohesive system. Later, manufacturers started offering converged systems — pre-built “stacks” of hardware that work together right out of the box and come with advanced management tools and tech support. Now, hyperconverged infrastructure packs the entire stack into one box and lets everything be managed via a single interface. Not only is this box more affordable and easier to use, it can also be used as building blocks — just add more boxes as your business grows. In a word, hyperconverged infrastructure allows enterprise-level IT solutions to be scaled down for SMBs. Let’s take a closer look at how it can benefit your business. Software-centric computing streamlines upgrades Putting everything you need into a single box and then wrapping that box with a flexible and adaptable management software makes receiving regular patches and updates more convenient. Restructuring or adding more hardware later is also easier than ever before. Unified administration Hyperconvergence consolidates a number of separate functions and services into one piece of technology. Whoever is managing your network can tweak storage, cloud, backup, and database settings from one place. Simple scalability Different hyperconvergence boxes come in different sizes and capabilities; and all it takes to scale up is to install additional units based on your forecasted needs. If all you need is a little extra, then purchase a smaller upgrade. But when you’re expecting rapid growth, a bigger box will ensure that your IT infrastructure expands with your business. More than this, hyperconverged boxes make for faster deployment of IT services to remote offices as well. Stronger data protections Complexity is the Achilles’ heel of IT networks. Staying on top of a mounting pile of account management settings, malware definitions, and data storage settings is almost impossible. But, with a hyperconverged infrastructure, your servers and virtual machines aren’t built like a hodge-podge of third-party services with separate security vulnerabilities — they form an all-in-one service. Keep in mind that while hyperconvergence is simpler than most virtualization solutions, rarely is it simple enough to be handled by in-house IT departments of SMBs. A managed services provider is better equipped to handle the growth and evolution brought about by the benefits of hyperconvergence. The better your technology, the faster you can make changes. And the faster you can accommodate your shifting needs, the less downtime you experience. Call us today to find the hyperconverged system that best fits your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Unified communications explained
Many business owners are in the dark about unified communications (UC) and don’t know how it will help their bottom lines. To end your doubts and breathe new life into your business, read this. Companies in the United States and the United Kingdom have lost a total of $37 billion because of poor communication, according to The Holmes Report, the voice of the global public relations industry. The report added that the losses are caused mainly by employee misunderstanding, resulting in errors of omission and misinformation. Poor communication is definitely bad for business, more so if it is caused by disruptions in technology. Unsent emails, lost calls, and internet outages can leave clients and employees confused and disoriented. This, in turn, can disrupt the normal operations and daily activities of a company. Reliable technology To prevent communication hiccups from happening, organizations must utilize reliable technology services so employees can remain productive and connected. This is where UC solutions come in. UC is a platform that centralizes disparate communication methods to streamline how you connect with clients and employees. It combines several tools like the phone, voicemail, email, fax, instant messaging, and video conferencing into a single system so they can all work together. With UC, you can receive phone calls through a computer, forward them to a mobile phone, and organize call, email, and SMS histories by recipient rather than viewing each separately. As long as the messages travel through the internet, UC can organize them. By doing so, everyone involved in the business process — from bosses and employees to vendors, customers, and other business associates or partners — can get the same information and communicate effectively. Bigger scope Most UC systems turn to VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol to power their voice component. This uses the internet to make voice calls, the same way that laptops, computers, and internet-connected devices do. While VoIP services may have some UC features, the latter is wider in scope and unites everything into a single interface. Since UC puts everything under one roof, this brings down costs and makes employees more efficient and productive. They can telecommute, hold meetings, and talk to clients wherever they are without wasting time and energy in traffic. This results in better customer service and more profits. If you want to learn more about UC and how it can help your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are ready to serve you! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
SharePoint or OneDrive: What’s best for SMBs?
Storing files in the cloud is common nowadays, making things convenient for business owners who want to manage their data on the go. But the number of ways to do this can be daunting, especially to the uninitiated. Don’t get lost in the sea of options. This handy guide will tell you whether SharePoint or OneDrive is right for you. Both SharePoint and OneDrive help business owners manage and share data. But selecting the best platform can be difficult and give anyone a big headache. For instant relief, here’s a quick reference to help you choose wisely. Office 365 comes with different storage and sharing options to make business owners more productive. Two of these are OneDrive and SharePoint, both of which have a long list of features and benefits. Which option is best for you? Keep reading for the answer. Looking for a secure platform to manage your files? Where do you go for help? Should you choose SharePoint or settle for OneDrive instead? If any of those terms sound Greek to you, don’t worry. You don’t need a degree in computer science to figure it out. This article will give you the lowdown on what to expect from these services. Both SharePoint and OneDrive are cloud-based services from Microsoft that allow you to store, share, and sync files across different devices. SharePoint was released in 2001 and reportedly has over 190 million users. OneDrive, on the other hand, was launched in 2007 and has more than 250 million users. SharePoint is marketed mainly as a document management and storage system, but it can be configured to do much more than that. OneDrive, which was previously known as SkyDrive and Windows Live Folders, is part of the Office suite of online services. What the two have in common For starters, both platforms make use of Office 365 to help companies organize information and share this with others. To keep things secure, documents go to a cloud drive, so employees can easily track changes in a single file that is stored in one central location. One of the main reasons these platforms are so popular is because users can add comments and notes using real-time collaboration. Since data can be synchronized and is readily available, everyone sees the most up-to-date information regardless of how they view the document. With OneDrive, it’s personal OneDrive makes use of a SharePoint backdrop to work. This connects the two programs. The difference is that OneDrive is made for an individual, and the user remains in control even if the file is shared to different people. This means multiple teams can collaborate simultaneously as long as the original owner shares the document via a secure link. That person determines who can edit and view the file. There’s more to SharePoint With SharePoint, employees throughout the company can view and edit the stored file. Changes are tracked and higher-ups will know who is working on the document. This is ideal for human resource surveys or updates that need the attention of other team members. With SharePoint and OneDrive, businesses can improve the way they work. If you want to learn how online document sharing programs can improve your company’s visibility and productivity, get in touch with us now. We’re here for you. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Cool new Windows 10 features are coming!
Windows 10 is developed as a service, and regularly receives patches and bug fixes. It also gets feature updates at least twice a year, and 2018 is no different. This October, Microsoft unveiled the October 2018 update, also known as Redstone 5, which comes with some amazing new features. Your Phone Windows 10 is getting a built-in app called “Your Phone” that makes it easier to integrate your phone’s features with your PC. For instance, it will let you send texts and instantly access photos from your phone’s library on your computer. There’s also talk about syncing notifications between devices in future updates. Currently, the iPhone has limited compatibility with this app, but Microsoft promises additional features will be added later. Clipboard History The Clipboard app has been revamped and now allows you to access a list of items you’ve copied to your clipboard, pin frequently used images, and sync your clipboard across your devices. All you have to do is hit Windows key + V to pull up your clipboard history and copy-paste items without having to constantly switch between windows. SwiftKey Windows touchscreen devices like the Surface Pro will come with SwiftKey functionality, which lets you type by swiping your finger from letter to letter rather than tapping each one. According to Microsoft, this feature produces accurate autocorrections and makes typing faster once you get used to it. Dark Mode All Microsoft apps will now support Dark Mode, which can be enabled by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors. This improvement may seem small compared to other features in this list, but Dark Mode reduces eye fatigue and saves battery life. Cortana Search When you use Cortana’s search functions, she’ll now provide previews to give you more information. For instance, if you use Cortana to search the web, Bing search results will be displayed on your Start menu. Or, if you search for an application, Cortana will show you its download page. Windows Security Windows Security will replace the Windows Defender Security Center program and add even more safeguards for your devices. It will have a “Block Suspicious Behaviors” setting that detects and prevents app and file activities that can leave you open to attacks. What’s more, Windows Security keeps track of all the antivirus software, firewalls, and other security measures on your device, so you can see threat reports and manage your device’s cybersecurity in one place. Predictive Updates If you’re tired of Windows 10 restarting your computer at the worst times, you’ll love the new predictive updates feature. This function uses machine learning to study your computer habits and predict the best time to restart and update your PC. These are only a few of the features that Windows 10 has in store for users. Microsoft will likely release dozens more in future updates, so tune into our blog to learn about the latest Windows developments. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Don’t let hackers fool you with these tricks
The volume of malicious cyber attacks is increasing every year. Although many companies use the latest network security systems, they aren’t immune to the hackers’ favorite strategy — social engineering. Unlike malware, social engineering tricks people into volunteering sensitive data. Here’s what you should know to protect your business. Phishing This is the most frequently used social engineering attack, especially against small businesses. Check out these frightening statistics: Kaspersky Labs revealed that its anti-phishing system prevented more than 107 million attempts to connect users to malicious websites in just one quarter of 2018. Barkly added that 85% of companies have fallen prey to this nefarious scheme. And PhishMe reports that the number of these scams is growing by at least 65% per year. How is phishing carried out? Criminals make use of emails, phone calls, or text messages to steal money. Victims are directed to phony websites or hotlines and are tricked into giving away sensitive information like names, addresses, login information, social security, and credit card numbers. To protect yourself, be wary of emails from people you don’t know that offer you a prize, come with attachments you didn’t request, direct you to suspicious sites, or urge you to act quickly. Phishing emails usually appear to come from reliable sources, but they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. One of the most infamous and widespread examples of phishing was during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where victims received fraudulent emails for fake ticketing services that stole their personal and financial information. Tailgating What’s the fastest and easiest way for criminals to enter a secure office? Through the front door, of course! Tailgating happens when an employee holds the door open for strangers and unauthorized visitors, allowing them to infiltrate an organization. This simple act of kindness enables fraudsters to enter restricted areas, access computers when no one is looking, or leave behind devices for snooping. Quid pro quo Here, scam artists offer a free service or a prize in exchange for information. They may lure their victims with a gift, concert tickets, a T-shirt, or early access to a popular game in exchange for login credentials, account details, passwords, and other important information. Or hackers may volunteer to fix their victims’ IT problems to get what they want. In most cases, the gift is a cheap trinket or the tickets are fake, but damages from stolen information are all too real. Pretexting Fraudsters pretend to be someone else to steal information. They may pose as a telemarketer, tech support representative, co-worker, or police officer to fish out credit card information, bank account details, usernames, and passwords. The con artist may even convince the unsuspecting victim to apply for a loan over the phone to get more details from the victim. By gaining the person’s trust, the scammer can fool anyone into divulging company secrets. In spite of the many security measures available today, fraudsters and their social engineering schemes continue to haunt and harm many businesses. Thus, it’s best to prepare for the worst. To protect sensitive information, educate yourself and be careful. Remember: If anything is too good to be true, it probably is! To shield your business from social engineering attacks, don’t take chances! Get in touch with us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.