Major corporations and established businesses generally have well-supplied in-house IT departments to help them manage the technology underlying their daily operations. For small businesses, however, in-house IT support may not be an option. So, how are small businesses to choose the hardware, software, and services that the company will use, install it, integrate it, and keep it maintained and in good repair? Strategy 1: The Enthusiast Approach A common, if risky, strategy involves placing a … [Read more...] about Small Business IT Success Strategies
Which IT Services Should Be Managed?
Each year managed IT becomes a more prevalent option as businesses increasingly turn to managed service providers (MSPs) to meet their information technology goals. However, despite this growth, managed IT and the standard services provided remain largely non-standardized and mysterious. Thankfully, this is changing, and today most MSPs offer the following five core services that—when managed effectively—also provide the greatest relative benefit to respective businesses: Email Hosting Email … [Read more...] about Which IT Services Should Be Managed?
Backups : Cloud Storage vs External Hard Drive
Backups come in many different flavors nowadays. From total image backups, to file and documents backups, to even folder specific backups, it is hard to know which one is right for you. The big question now however, is 'Should I backup to the cloud? Or use a hard drive?' There are ups and downs for both sides of the argument. Security, amount of space, one-time cost versus recurring costs; all of these can factor into whether you would want to use the cloud or an external hard drive. There are … [Read more...] about Backups : Cloud Storage vs External Hard Drive
Setting Policies for Employee Home Offices
One of the best parts of modern digital communication? The rise of the home office and the ability for thousands of employees to hold their vacation days and get work done even when they don’t or can’t make it into the office. But, a properly developed and supported home office is more than a couch and a laptop, and if you want to get the most out of your employees when they’re working remotely you’ll want to set a few basic home office policies and also contribute some IT support to help … [Read more...] about Setting Policies for Employee Home Offices
Keeping your PC clean : Malware, viruses, and more!
Much like keeping your living area clean, your computer is something that should remain clean, or you increase your risk of damage, or viruses on your machine. Luckily, there are plenty of tools to help us clean up our machines, and in this newsletter I'll be going over a number of them to get your machines running efficiently and clean. Windows Defender/Microsoft Security Essentials are great tools to start out with. These are free programs available through Microsoft, and they do a great job … [Read more...] about Keeping your PC clean : Malware, viruses, and more!
The Virtual Office Vs. The Traditional Office
Experts have been debating the benefits of virtual office setups compared to traditional offices for some time, and while conclusions are still far off there have been some interesting case studies and more than a few impressions made. So let’s take a quick look at the main differences between the virtual office and the traditional office setup. 1. Physical Space vs. Flexible Space The first and seemingly greatest difference between these two office approaches is physical space. A traditional … [Read more...] about The Virtual Office Vs. The Traditional Office
November Newsletter: Ransomware
Last month we talked about various backup solutions for your computer and covered the differences between cloud and local backup. This month we will be covering one very good reason for maintaining good backups, Ransomware. At Grundig IT, we employ and manage backups for all of our business clients. If you need advice moving in a new direction with your backup, or need help getting a backup system in place, please feel free to contact us. As usual, feel free to suggest topics which you would … [Read more...] about November Newsletter: Ransomware
BYOD Advantages and Disadvantages
Bring your own device (BYOD) offices are growing increasingly common, and even offices with no formal “Bring Your Own Device” policy, or policies specifically AGAINST using personal devices for work often find employees spreading out data to their personal cell phones, laptops, and home computers. So, what are the most notable advantages for BYOD companies and what are the most important disadvantages to watch out for? Advantage: Employee Satisfaction Use of a device of personal choice often … [Read more...] about BYOD Advantages and Disadvantages
Safely Disposing Of Old Computers
Even the best technology on the shelf today has an expiration date. Sooner or later, those once great PCs your company invested in end up outmoded, broken down, and in need of replacement. But getting rid of technology carries its own risks, so make sure that you protect your data (and the environment!) by following these steps: 1. Understand the Risks Your computer holds more of your personal or corporate information than you may think. This information may be in the form of easily accessible … [Read more...] about Safely Disposing Of Old Computers
7 Points for a Good BYOD Policy
Once upon a time it was common for industry figures to carry two phones. One that was loaned to them from their company (which paid for both the device and the service plan), and which they tolerated, and one that they purchased themselves, paid for themselves, and liked better. But, as you can guess, carrying two phones at the same time was frustrating, wasteful, and counterproductive. It was time for a better solution. Now, only a few years later, BYOD policies have appeared in many if not … [Read more...] about 7 Points for a Good BYOD Policy
