Why Outsource IT?

Every business needs an IT management plan to ensure the smooth running of its IT systems.

For any business, an IT failure at a critical moment can have far-reaching consequences. Telling your customers and suppliers, ‘Sorry, our system is down’ will do little to enhance either your balance sheet or reputation.

But what options are available to the owner of a small or medium sized business working to a tight budget? One that is worth investigating is outsourcing your IT to a specialist IT support company.

How do you decide if outsourcing your IT is right for your business? When weighing up the costs and benefits, you could start by asking the following questions:

1. What do you do if there is an IT problem?

Do you, or one of your staff, have to stop work to sort it out? Do you call someone in? Do they come straight away?

2. If your whole system was out-of-action for a day, how much would it cost you:

a) to have it repaired?
b) in lost orders?
c) in wages paid to staff who cannot do their work?

3. Have you ever allowed someone who knows all about PC to fix a problem – only to have it made worse?

4. How much time do you spend doing routine maintenance tasks?

5. How often have you neglected to carry out those important but time-consuming computer checks and updates?

6. Are you sure you are using your existing system in the most efficient and cost-effective way?

7. Are you able to keep up-to-date with, and take advantage of, all the latest IT innovations?

If you want to know more about how outsourcing works, contact a reputable IT support company in your area. Look for one that is qualified to manage all types of IT systems and understands the needs and concerns of business owners like you.

Many will offer a free, no obligation consultation that includes an audit of your IT system and suggestions for a range of services that can be tailored to your exact requirements. You can choose to outsource only the more complicated tasks, or you might prefer to opt for a full network maintenance contract that takes complete care of your whole system.

Whatever you decide, you will discover that handing responsibility for your IT over to a reliable specialist service can save money, headaches, and valuable time that you and your staff can put to better use in growing your business.

Wireless Networks: How Secure is Yours?

Is your Wireless Network secure? Are you absolutely sure...?
It is probably the case these days that most home and office networks are running wirelessly, taking advantage of the convenience and benefits a wireless network brings.

However, and very worryingly, we have experienced a number of issues lately where wireless networks have not been properly set up by businesses and were therefore running the risk of a security breech.

Wireless networks, when properly configured, can actually offer a far higher level of security than wired networks. But it is vital to have the network set up by an expert from the outset so as to avoid serious problems that could have far reaching consequences for your business or personal data and privacy.

Keep your Resources Safe

Resources can be anything from your internet service to your software. If your wireless network is not secure, anyone nearby can connect to it. Not only does this mean they will take advantage of the internet access that you pay for, they could also find their way into your data, e-mail and anything else they can lay their hands on.

It is commonly thought that wireless routers are secure by default: this is not true! They need to be set up to be secure and simply hiding your network ID (SSID) is not good enough.

How to Secure a Wireless Network

The best way to ensure security is to get help from an experienced IT professional in setting up your network. This is particularly important if you are running a business. They will ensure:

• Your admin password is re-set to something strong enough to prevent unauthorised access
• Your wireless router is physically secured so as to prevent tampering
• Suitable authentication and encryption are used

Secure your business and personal information by securing your wireless network; don’t think your wireless router is secure just because it says so on the pack. Take appropriate steps to set up your network so that it protects you, and if you are unsure how to do this, seek professional IT advice.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing: one of the latest buzz phrases, but what exactly does it mean and what effect is it going to have on the way we work?

In a nutshell, cloud computing is a new way of working; and it’s set to be revolutionary, especially for smaller and home based businesses.

Another name for cloud computing is ‘hosted desktops’. This is probably a better term to describe the concept because it sums it up literally.

With a hosted desktop, a specialist provider runs your server remotely. All your data, software and applications are kept on an external server and you simply login via the internet and access your desktop, complete with documents, files, folders, software and applications. It really is as simple as that! But let’s go into just a bit more detail so you can see just how beneficial this way of working could be to your business.

The benefits of using a hosted desktop, or cloud computing, are vast. Here’s a quick summary:

Big Benefits

• Complete security and peace of mind - no data or software stored on site
• No need for manual back ups – your data is constantly backed up throughout the day so you will never lose any of it
• No need to invest in costly server purchases or maintenance
• Access your own familiar desktop wherever you are via the internet and enjoy instant access to your data and applications
• Constant access to the latest software versions without having to load, update or purchase anything yourself
• PC damaged or stolen? No problem; your data is still accessible via another PC
• No need for a costly IT department or maintenance contract
• Substantial cost savings

If you run a small business, a hosted desktop will completely change the way you work; it will enhance your competitive edge by allowing you to compete with larger players in your industry with very little outlay. Cloud computing is safe, it’s secure, and it makes life so much easier.