What are the different VoIP options for SMBs?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a telephony solution allows small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to choose between traditional desk phones (hardphones) or software-based devices (softphones). Read on to learn which option best suits your organization’s needs. What’s a hardphone? A hardphone functions like a normal phone, but it’s connected to your business’s IP network instead of a telephone line. There’s no learning curve associated with VoIP hardphones and they allow your staff to call anyone worldwide at an affordable price. More advanced hardphones have built-in video displays and touch screens for video calls, eliminating the need for separate equipment for video conferencing. What’s a softphone? A softphone is any electronic device that uses a software application that allows users to turn their PCs, laptops, and tablets into phones that can make and receive local and international calls. Softphones let you dial a number on your computer or mobile device and speak through its embedded speakers and microphone or through a headset with a microphone, so you can make and take calls wherever you are. Which VoIP phone is for you? When choosing between hardphones and smartphones, consider the following questions: Are your employees always moving around? Do they require 24/7 connectivity? Does your company take pride in offering top-notch customer service? What’s your IT budget? Your answers to these questions will determine the type of equipment you need. Why choose hardphones? Nothing beats the voice clarity and noise cancellation features of hardphones since they are designed specifically for voice calls, unlike softphones that share power with other programs on a device. They also let you make and receive calls without being disrupted by poor PC performance or malware. Because you have to purchase actual phones, the initial setup costs for hardphones are greater than those for softphones, but the monthly phone bills are more affordable. Not only that, softphones may be more costly in the long run, as they require separate headphones and microphones that may need to be replaced or maintained frequently. Why choose softphones? If your company has a mobile workforce, adopting a softphone solution may be the way to go. Softphones feature call routing, which allows you to divert calls to one or several specified internet-enabled devices, ensuring your clients have 24/7 access to your company. This is most useful in a contact center environment. Transcribed voicemail messages are another helpful feature, as this enables you to receive messages promptly, even if you’re in a meeting or on the road. Our experts are available 24/7/365 to answer any questions you may have pertaining to VoIP and especially about whether hardphones or softphones are right for you. If you’re interested in upgrading your telephony infrastructure, give us a call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
3 Excel tips that make life easier
Microsoft Excel is now better than ever, thanks to its extremely user-friendly features. Pull yourself up skillswise by following our three tips below. Take advantage of Ideas in Excel If you’re not sure which type of chart best tells a particular story out of a table of data, don’t worry — Excel’s artificial intelligence has got your back. Just click any cell in a data range, then go to the Home tab and click the Ideas button. A task pane will appear, showing recommendations for what data visualization you can use. Here’s a quick reference for what some of the most popular charts are for: Column/Bar chart – Compares categories with one another by depicting their numerical standing in terms of column height (or bar length, in the case of bar charts) side by side (think of lining children up and looking at how tall they are) Line chart – Shows how data changes over time or another variable that continuously increases at a regular rate Pie chart – Sets items as being parts of the same whole to depict and compare how much each contributes to or partakes of that whole Scatter diagram – Sets two variables as axes on a Cartesian plane and plots data as points on that plane to show whether a relationship exists between the two variables, and if so, what kind of relationship they have with one another Intelligent answers for questions about your data Thanks to natural language processing, users are able to ask a specific question or make a visualization request to Ideas, and Ideas will respond by providing a chart that answers that question or fulfills that request. For instance, if you have sales data for shirts, sweaters, boxers, briefs, jeans, and socks, and you ask for “total sales for boxers, briefs, and socks,” Ideas will show you a pie chart showing how much those three items contributed to their total sales. You can thereafter revise the label of that chart to “Total sales for underwear.” Save time by using dynamic array formulas For the longest time, Excel users had to enter one formula in a cell to have something returned in that particular cell only. If, for instance, you opted to use formulas (instead of the Remove duplicates command) to obtain unique values from a list containing repeating names, you’d have had to nest all sorts of functions that only increase in complexity for every succeeding cell that you use. This is no longer the case, thanks to dynamic array formulas. Simply put, dynamic array formulas let users obtain multiple results that “spill” over multiple cells by just executing a single formula. Plus, just like how a single-cell formula result changes when that formula’s source reference changes, the results of the entire array also stay in sync with the changes in the source reference. To illustrate, let’s say that you use the Unique function to obtain a list of non-repeating names from a list that mentioned the name “Eric” a lot. The resulting array will be a list that mentions “Eric” only once, but if all instances of “Eric” were deleted from the source list, then “Eric” will be taken out of the results array. Besides Unique, these are some of the other functions that showcase the dynamic array feature: Filter – Extracts all records that match the criteria that the user set (e.g., a list of names of people with green eyes) Randarray – Generates a table full of random whole numbers or decimals between two values that are provided by the user Sequence – Creates a table full of numbers that begin at a specified value and increase by an increment set by the user Sort – Extracts unique values from an array and rearranges them into a new array according to the ascending or descending order of a chosen column index (e.g., a list of billionaires and their respective net worth, sorted from lowest to highest net worth) Make data extraction easier with XLOOKUP Let’s say you have a table that records the meals that Mark, Martha, and Marion ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on May 5, 2020. The names of these three individuals are in Column A, while what they had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are in Columns B, C, and D, respectively. May 5, 2020 NAME Breakfast Lunch Dinner Mark Scrambled eggs, bacon, and home fries Pork chop and mashed sweet potatoes Shrimp and vegetable tempura with rice Martha Avocado toast Aglio olio Salad Nicoise Marion Pancakes and sausages Fried chicken and cheese grits Roast beef with baked potato Finding out what Mark ate for lunch is easy enough to do manually, but now imagine his name among those of 20,000 other people, in a list that’s randomly ordered, in a table spanning the year 2020. Instead of driving yourself crazy, you can retrieve that information efficiently through Excel’s XLOOKUP function. Extracting data that corresponds to other pieces of data is what lookup functions are for. The very first to be rolled out was Vertical Lookup or VLOOKUP, a function that goes row by row to look from left to right to retrieve your desired information. Next came Horizontal Lookup or HLOOKUP, which did the same thing, except it went column by column to look from top to bottom. The latest and best iteration of the lookup function is XLOOKUP. It combines both VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP and improves them by being able to go right to left and bottom to top as well. Let’s go back to our 2020 meals table example above. With XLOOKUP, you can find out who ate roast beef with baked potato on April 2. However, if many people ate that meal that day, you’ll only be able to retrieve either the first or last match in the table depending on whether you specify that the search be done from first to last or in reverse order. Returning multiple matches is possible, but only by integrating
Tips to boost the speed of your WordPress site
A decade ago, five seconds was a completely acceptable page load time. But today, most users expect a web page to load as soon as they open it. Otherwise, they will simply close it. To prevent users from bouncing off, try these tips that will surely speed up your WordPress site. Keep WordPress and plugins up to date Updating your WordPress version and plugins will not only keep your website secure but also speed it up. Therefore, you should install those updates as soon as they become available. Choose a website host wisely Your website’s host can make or break your website, so before you select one, carefully compare the details of their service plans — especially the website speed and uptime — against those of other vendors. While it may be tempting to opt for shared hosting because of its low cost, know that it’s also going to offer the slowest speeds because many websites are simultaneously relying on the same server for bandwidth. In contrast, a dedicated server will provide the best speed, but it may be too costly for many small- and medium-sized businesses. A great mid-performance, mid-price alternative is a virtual private server (VPS). A VPS acts like a dedicated server in terms of functionality but still technically uses a shared server. It will speed up your site better than the typical shared hosting without breaking the bank. Keep your site lean The leaner your site is, the faster it will be. To create a lean site, be mindful of these four aspects: Theme – While the promise of a versatile theme can spark the imagination, implementing one can set you back in terms of speed. When a theme has a ton of features, the huge amount of code that powers those features can bog down your site. Avoid this by testing the theme demos to see how long they take to load. If the loading time is more than three seconds, look for another theme that loads faster. Design – Design elements can also dramatically slow down your site. Simple sites are faster, so carefully consider the ads, images, and extras that you’re thinking of adding. Plugins – Not all plugins are created equal; some run fast and others slow. To tell one from the other, use special plugins that show the impact a plugin has on your site’s load time. What’s more, think twice before installing a plugin because having fewer plugins translates to a faster site load time. Images – While many raw images are around 3,000 to 4,000 pixels wide, most featured images are only 600 to 800 pixels wide. To reduce image weight and thus gain a faster site, resize your site’s images to the exact size they’ll appear on screen. Leverage speed-boosting plugins Use plugins that speed up your site. Cache plugins like W3 Total Cache and WP Super Cache can provide more speed by caching every aspect of your site, thereby reducing its download times. Another helpful plugin is Lazy Load. It boosts your site’s speed by loading the elements at the top of the website first, then loading subsequent elements as one scrolls down. But before installing the Lazy Load plugin, make sure to check your Theme Options to see if it’s already included. Use redirects sparingly Web pages that point to your old URLs can really slow down your site, so make sure to avoid or limit them. Also use the Redirect mapper tool or similar alternatives to uncover redirects that you don’t need. Implementing some or all of the tips above will surely speed up your WordPress site’s speed. But if you need more help optimizing your website or in other IT matters, just give us a call. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Virtual reality can help your business grow
Technology helps businesses grow. However, with so many innovations available, identifying what to adopt can be bewildering. Virtual reality (VR) is cutting-edge tech businesses can invest in, but is it right for yours? Find out by checking out our list of VR advantages and benefits. VR training Virtual hands-on training has been proven to be much more effective than in-classroom or e-learning methods. According to PwC, VR learners are: Four times more focused than their e-learning counterparts Four times faster to train than their in-classroom counterparts Nearly four times more emotionally connected to what they were learning than classroom learners 275% more confident to apply the skills they’ve learned from the training This means that VR learners become productive and efficient much sooner than non-VR learners. An important benefit of VR training is that it can replicate situations that are dangerous or have adverse consequences if people make wrong or suboptimal choices in real life. Here are a few examples: Pilots log many hours in VR training long before they actually get off the ground. With haptic VR, budding surgeons can learn how it feels to use their scalpels without cutting into actual flesh. Trainees in organizational leadership can learn soft skills via VR training, too. Immersive VR interactions can provide impactful learning experiences with little to no risk of unwanted real-world consequences such as fallouts with colleagues. Create your own VR prototypes Thanks to VR, you’ll no longer have to rely on manufacturing prototypes when you want to see what your product physically looks like and how it might work. VR prototypes allow you to make any changes before actual production. Model creation in VR, for example, can save company resources, as these virtual prototypes allow manufacturers to examine a product and make changes without the time and money required to build a physical model. And if you have the data, you can use VR to simulate real-world conditions. To illustrate, you can see how your automotive suspension design responds to different types of terrain, or how easily your drone can be controlled in a hurricane. VR for engineers As with manufacturing, VR is also time- and cost-efficient for engineers, architects, and other professionals who work in large-scale construction. It replaces traditional approaches, such as rendering small 2D models, and offers a more immersive experience that helps in designing structures that are more useful and intuitive for the people who’ll be using these. VR real estate tours With VR, real estate agents don’t have to tour potential buyers in the actual property. They can let their clients see what the property looks like in a three-dimensional setting and virtually go from room to room. Brokers can entertain buyers who may be miles away or simply don’t want to spend time going from house to house. Take customers on an adventure If you are in a tourism- or adventure-based business, you can use VR to give customers a taste of what to expect from your attractions. If you’re a marketer for an amusement park, you can offer a short VR simulation of one of your most popular rides. Or if you own a resort or campground, you can also create VR simulations of the activities you have in store for visitors. If done properly, VR has the potential to bring your small- and mid-sized business to new heights. If you have any questions about how you can mesh VR with your company, don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to assist you. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Get rid of PC clutter with these tips
Has your Windows 10 PC been running slowly? It’s likely because your desktop and hard drive are a jumbled mess of shortcuts, files, and other digital clutter. Let’s take a look at five types of clutter you should remove to get your computer performing like new. 5 Types of PC clutter There are five types of clutter that may be causing your Windows 10 computer to run more slowly than it should. Windows updates – This includes failed update downloads. While Windows will delete some of these corrupted and unusable files, others will hang around your computer forever if you don’t look for and delete them. Registry bloat – This type of PC clutter includes files and applications you’ve deleted as well as every action performed in Windows, which is recorded in your computer’s registry. Error logs – These are log files kept by Windows whenever software in your system crashes or encounters errors in processing. Just like registry bloat, error logs accumulate in your computer over time, slowing it down considerably. User bloat – This refers to large numbers of your files, especially if they’re unorganized. Bloatware – This refers to unwanted preinstalled software such as trial versions of antivirus programs, games, and the like. Bloatware takes up plenty of space in your computer’s central processing unit, random access memory, and storage. What’s more, it poses a raft of security risks; for instance, it can introduce apps designed to exploit personal information stored in computers. How to remove PC clutter To remove these five types of clutter and optimize your PC’s performance, try these methods: Run Disk Cleanup Windows has a built-in tool called Disk Cleanup that removes hidden junk files. To run this tool, type “disk cleanup” in the search box on the taskbar, and select Disk Cleanup from the results. Pick the drive you want to clean, then click OK. Under “Files to delete,” select the file types you want to get rid of, then click OK. Delete programs you don’t use or need Free up memory and storage space by removing unused and redundant programs that you rarely use or don’t need. To do this, type “add or remove programs” in the search box on the taskbar, and select Add or remove programs from the results. Click on the files you’d like to remove, then click Uninstall. If necessary: Refresh Windows 10 You can start fresh with a clean and up-to-date Windows 10 installation to get rid of clutter. This option will remove most installed apps (e.g., Microsoft Office, antivirus software, etc.) but it will keep your personal files and some Windows settings. However, it’s still best to back up your files before installing a fresh version of Windows 10. To do this, type “recovery” in the search box on the taskbar and select Recovery Options. Under “More recovery options,” click Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows. Click Yes in the pop-up window that says, “Did you mean to switch apps? Settings is trying to open Windows Security.” This will launch the Windows Security app where you can click Get started to begin the Windows refresh process. These are just some of the ways you can enhance your Windows 10 PC’s performance and get the most out of it. For more useful Windows tips, give our experts a call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Top IT security terms everyone should know
It’s every business user’s responsibility to protect their computers and data from cyberattacks. The good news is that you don’t need to be an IT security expert to keep them safe. You can start increasing your knowledge by learning some of these basic cybersecurity terms. Malware For a long time, the phrase “computer virus” was misused to refer to every type of attack that intended to harm or hurt computers and networks. The more appropriate term for these harmful programs and files would be “malicious software” or “malware.” Whereas a virus is a specific type of malware that is designed to replicate itself, any software created for the purpose of destroying or unfairly accessing networks and data should be referred to as malware. Ransomware Don’t let all other cyberthreats ending in -ware confuse you; they are all just subcategories of malware. Currently, one of the most popular of these is “ransomware,” which is malware that encrypts valuable data until a ransom is paid. Intrusion prevention system (IPS) There are several ways to safeguard your network from malware, but an IPS is quickly becoming one of the nonnegotiables. An IPS sits inside your company’s firewall and looks for suspicious and malicious activity that can be halted before it can exploit or take advantage of a known vulnerability. Social engineering Not all types of malware rely solely on fancy computer programming. Experts agree that the majority of attacks require some form of “social engineering” to succeed. Social engineering is the act of tricking people, rather than computers, into revealing sensitive or protected information. For cybercriminals, complicated software is totally unnecessary if they can just convince potential victims that they’re a security professional who needs the victims’ password to secure their account. Phishing Despite often relying on face-to-face interactions, social engineering does occasionally employ more technical methods. Phishing is the act of defrauding people using an app or a website that impersonates a trustworthy or often well-known business in an attempt to obtain confidential information. Just because you received an email that says it’s from the IRS doesn’t mean that it is. Don’t take such emails at face value — always verify the source, especially if the emails are requesting your sensitive data. Antivirus Antivirus software is often misunderstood as a way to comprehensively secure your computers and workstations. These applications are just one piece of the cybersecurity puzzle and can only scan the drives on which they are installed for signs of well-known malware variants. Zero-day attacks Malware is most dangerous when it has been released but not yet discovered by cybersecurity experts. When a vulnerability is found within a piece of software, vendors will release an update to fix the gap in security. However, if cyberattackers release a piece of malware that has never been seen before, and if that malware exploits one of these holes before the vulnerability is addressed, it is called a zero-day attack. Patch When software developers discover a security vulnerability in their programming, they usually release a small file to update and “patch” this gap. Patches are essential to keeping your network secure from the vultures lurking on the internet. By checking for and installing patches as often as possible, you keep your software protected from the latest malware. Redundant data When antivirus software, patches, and intrusion prevention fail to keep your information secure, there’s only one thing that will: quarantined off-site storage. Duplicating your data offline and storing it somewhere other than your business’s workspace ensures that if there is a malware infection, you’re equipped with backups. Our cybersecurity professionals are always available to impart more in-depth knowledge of the many different kinds of cyberthreats. Get in touch with us today and find out how we can help you with your IT security woes. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Hardware management checklist for SMBs
Regular maintenance and continuous monitoring are key to making sure your hardware runs optimally. These tasks usually fall on IT staff, but by following these tips, you can help your IT team prolong the life of your computer equipment. ✓ Clean your computer components Wipe down monitors with a clean, static-free, non-abrasive fabric such as computer component-specific microfiber cloth. You can use the same type of cloth to wipe down mice and other peripherals, but for those tight nooks and crannies such as your keyboard surfaces, a can of compressed air will do the job. Regular wipedowns are good because dust buildup can block computer air vents and affect their performance. Also ensure that your workstations are getting adequate ventilation and don’t get direct exposure to sunlight and other heat sources. ✓ Manage your cables If you’re not giving your computers’ cables the attention they deserve, now’s a good time to do so. Aside from wiping the thick coat of dust off of computer cables, consider using cable management solutions that unclutter and untangle messy wires. Cable organizers don’t just organize and secure your cables, they also help ensure your PCs run quieter and are less prone to overheating as a result of blocked air vents. Planning to relocate or upgrade in the near future? Organizing your computers’ cables now will make future relocation and upgrading processes much easier. ✓ Review and update your inventory Keeping stock of all your hardware helps you manage hardware life cycles and purchases, identify items that are near their end of life, and ensure you avoid duplicate purchases of items already in stock. Your inventory list should include all owned and leased devices: PCs and laptops, printers and scanners, tablets and smartphones, and modems and other network hardware. Update all your assets’ serial numbers and keep track of their respective users and location. ✓ Maintain your printers Clean the interiors and exteriors of your printers, including paper trays, which are sure to have accumulated dirt from years of use. You should also repair and/or replace parts and accessories such as print heads and cartridges that are no longer in good condition. Should you decide to do a complete printer maintenance, check for the latest software updates for your printers and install them immediately. ✓ Implement a hardware policy This is also a good time to create a technology guideline that your employees can follow to ensure they work efficiently. These guidelines reduce the need to spend on unnecessary repairs, keeping the succeeding year’s checklist shorter. With clear instructions on the proper use, replacement, and storage of your hardware and devices, you’ll be better able to manage your hardware for years to come. With a more organized IT hardware inventory, you have one less thing to worry about. Want to get more in-depth hardware management advice? Call our experts today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
What you need to know about VoIP phone systems
While many businesses are already using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones to connect with their customers and other stakeholders, some still depend on traditional telephone systems to get the job done. This is because many organizations aren’t aware of the crucial gains in productivity and efficiency that come with internet phones. If you’re still not convinced about deploying VoIP, read this quick guide. What is VoIP? Traditional telephones are still very much a part of today’s business operations, and companies use them to connect with various stakeholders such as customers, investors, and suppliers. But telephony has come a long way from when the first telephone was invented in 1876. Modern phone systems are now automated, cheaper than ever to acquire, and have virtually unlimited reach. One of the most widely used modern phones in the market today is the VoIP phone. VoIP technology uses the internet instead of wired circuits to transmit data. And it does more than just transmit audio like legacy phones do. It can also send a variety of data (e.g., video, multimedia, SMS, etc.) and perform other tasks such as call routing and anonymous call rejection. VoIP setups: On-premises vs. hosted A VoIP system’s hardware and software can be either on-premises or hosted. On-premises means that all of the VoIP’s components are housed within the premises of the company. Hosted VoIP, meanwhile, means that only some of the hardware, like phone units and other equipment, can be found within a business’s premises. The rest of the technology, including the software, is hosted online. In this setup, service providers look after hosted systems for their clients. Which setup should you choose? You may want to consider the condition of VoIP hardware and software in different environments. Generally, hardware is affected by the wear and tear stemming from daily use, so whether you choose to house it on-premises or not doesn’t make much of a difference. Barring any accidents or physical damage, any VoIP hardware should last several years. On the other hand, software requires regular updates and security patches, and it’s faster and cheaper to update software that’s hosted in the cloud versus one that’s on-premises. If you want to better protect your systems from cyberattacks and enjoy the latest VoIP features as soon as they come out, choose hosted VoIP. Business adaptability with VoIP In the past, hardware and software were built to last. Traditional phone systems, for instance, rarely get new features once they’re deployed. Meanwhile, modern IT solutions like VoIP are built to adapt and change. These days, critical updates are released regularly, with complete overhauls taking no longer than 2–3 years. If you choose hosted VoIP technology and outsource its management, then you can enjoy a faster, easier, and cheaper upgrade via cloud-based rollouts. Most hardware components are also improved upon every once in a while, with replacements and upgrades coming every 5–8 years on average. Note that if you outsource your VoIP systems, your VoIP provider will be the one to ensure that the hardware is up to date, and your company won’t have to shoulder outright hardware upgrade costs. As your business moves forward, you must have a phone system that is agile and fast, and can integrate smoothly with the other systems in your business, such as email or management software. Be one step ahead VoIP is reliable. As long as you have a high-speed internet connection, you can guarantee high-quality voice calls with 99.9% connection uptime. Unavailability, choppy connections, and other traditional phone issues translate to lost sales and productivity. If your phone service is spotty and is constantly unreliable, perhaps it’s time to switch to VoIP phones. VoIP is reliable, adaptable, and won’t cause a dent in your budget. Call our experts today so you can always be a step ahead with VoIP. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Microsoft 365 security pain points and how to solve them
Many businesses prefer Microsoft 365 not only because of its powerful features and cost-saving benefits, but also because of its world-class security. However, the cyberthreat landscape is constantly evolving, so using this suite of cloud-based tools and services will always come with security challenges. Fortunately, Microsoft is continuously looking for ways to address these issues to ensure that your environment and data are protected. Vulnerabilities in SharePoint Businesses typically use SharePoint Online and on-premises SharePoint sites to store sensitive information like personally identifiable data. Failing to secure SharePoint content against unauthorized users is one way to expose data and your business to malicious actors. This can be critical for companies that are required to comply with stringent data privacy and protection regulations and may face serious consequences for noncompliance. To prevent this, limit administrator-level privileges and enable encryption. Additionally, set the necessary security restrictions per user for every application. Unprotected communication channels Phishing attacks and malware are two of the most common ways cybercriminals infiltrate a system, but there are other paths of attack. Microsoft 365 applications like Microsoft Teams, which can connect to external networks, may serve as a medium for ransomware and other types of attack. Train your staff to identify potentially malicious files and links. Also, offer guidelines on how to handle and route sensitive files and communication to safe locations. Security risks in dormant applications Organizations using Microsoft 365 often won’t use all the tools and services included in the productivity suite. You may use one or several programs like Word, Excel, and SharePoint but rarely use OneDrive. If your business has been utilizing specific programs, note that some dormant applications may be prone to attack. This is why it’s crucial to identify the apps that aren’t being used, and have an administrator tweak user settings to restrict availability on such apps. File synchronization Like most cloud services, Microsoft 365 allows users to automatically sync on-premises files to the cloud, such as in OneDrive. This useful feature is not without security risks, however. If a file stored locally is infected with malware, OneDrive will view the file as changed/updated and trigger a sync to the OneDrive cloud, with the infection going undetected. Office 365 Cloud App Security, a subset of Microsoft Cloud App Security, is designed to enhance protections for Office 365 apps and provide great visibility into user activity to improve incident response efforts. Make sure your organization’s security administrators set it up on your systems so you can detect and mitigate cyber risks as soon as possible. Cybercriminals will continue to sharpen their hacking techniques, and your organization must keep up to protect your systems, apps, and devices. Call our team of IT experts now if you want to strengthen your business IT security. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
How does the human cloud benefit SMBs?
If the prevalent image of a startup is a couple of guys in a garage (think Amazon, Apple, Microsoft), the emerging picture of the workforce of the future consists of skilled talents collaborating in the cloud. Thanks to the human cloud, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can now eliminate the barriers associated with traditional workspaces and enjoy cost-effective solutions. What is the human cloud? The human cloud is a working platform where staff perform white-collar tasks from any location and on any device. Collaboration, file sharing, or discussions on projects are done in a flexible and productive manner, rewarding team members solely for their output. Benefits of hiring on the human cloud Companies looking to take advantage of the human cloud are entitled to the following benefits: Low cost The human cloud helps save time and money spent on traditional employment processes. Hiring is fast and easy, and you pay for the skills you need on a transactional basis. No overhead Hiring through the human cloud requires no overhead for office space, thereby enabling firms to stay lean and profit-focused. By becoming virtual, teams can work independently from anywhere. Remote collaboration via the human cloud is a game-changer that benefits companies, such as startups, that are inclined to spend fewer resources to build their business infrastructure. Get skills on demand Employers can contract for micro-tasks, such as copying text from business cards, to larger tasks, like selling products for a fee, to even more complex projects such as software design and programming. Global talent pool Even startups can be multinational today, so they are no longer limited by geography in finding key talent with specialized skills. Business can leverage overseas creative, administrative, engineering, and other high-level talent to build a well-rounded team. A good idea can come and be executed from just about anywhere.For instance, Foundr Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Nathan Chan started a passion project that enabled him to interview some of the most influential entrepreneurs around the world, which he shared through his monthly digital publication. For Chan, the launch of this successful project would not have been possible if it wasn’t for human cloud service and freelancing platform Elance. Elance allowed him to leverage overseas talent and build a solid team of graphic designers, audio/video editors, and writers. All tasks and projects for each issue of his magazine run through the platform, which also conveniently processes payments for his contractors. Easy collaboration Using an online platform gives SMBs the ability to manage projects through virtual workrooms. Collaboration software can be extremely important and even mission-critical for remote teams to work efficiently. As more startups and SMBs become familiar (and comfortable) with the advantages of the human cloud, the future of work means that location is not the most important factor in determining who will contribute to your business’s success. A worldwide network of online contractors is now ready to serve you with the qualifications, skill sets, and shared enthusiasm you seek to turn ideas into valuable products or services. For more information on how to leverage cloud technologies or collaboration software, get in touch with any of our cloud specialists. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.