If small- and medium-sized businesses think cyber security is impossible to manage now, just think about what it was like before the internet provided a way to receive IT support remotely. In today?s business landscape, enterprise-level solutions and security can be delivered from almost anywhere in the world. Read on to find out why that?s even safer than you realize. Hands-on managementUnless you have an overinflated budget, relying on local copies of data and software means IT staff are forced to spread themselves across a bevy of different technologies. For example, one or two in-house tech support employees can?t become experts in one service or solution without sacrificing others. If they focus on just cybersecurity, the quality of hardware maintenance and helpdesk service are going to take a nosedive. However, Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) benefit from economies of scale. CSPs maintain tens, sometimes thousands, of servers and can hire technicians who specialize in every subset of cloud technology. Fewer vulnerabilitiesCloud security isn?t superior just because more technicians are watching over servers. When all the facets of your business?s IT are in one place, the vulnerabilities associated with each technology get mixed together to drastically increase your risk exposure. For example, a server sitting on the same network as workstations could be compromised by an employee downloading malware. And this exposure extends to physical security as well. The more employees you have who aren?t trained in cyber security, the more likely it is that one of them will leave a server room unlocked or unsecured. CSPs exist solely to provide their clients with cloud services. There are no untrained employees and there are significantly fewer access points to the network. Business continuityThe same technology that allows you to access data from anywhere in the world also allows you to erect a wall between your local network and your data backups. Most modern iterations of malware are programmed to aggressively replicate themselves, and the best way to combat this is by quarantining your backups in the cloud. This is commonly referred to as data redundancy in the cybersecurity world, and nowhere is it as easy to achieve as in the cloud. The cloud doesn?t only keep your data safe from the spread of malware, it also keeps data safe from natural and manmade disasters. When data is stored in the cloud, employees will still have access to it in the event that your local workstations or servers go down. The cloud has come a long way over the years. It?s not just the security that has gotten better; customized software, platforms and half a dozen other services can be delivered via the cloud. Whatever it is you need, we can secure and manage it for you. Call us today.
There?s no denying that your business?s productivity suite is one of its most valuable software solutions. Cloud services like Google Apps for Work and Microsoft Office 365 continue to be huge game-changers in the business environment, and it?s been found that their increasing popularity is thanks to the convenience of providing mobile access to important data and applications. The success of ?software as a service,? or SaaS, is a significant trend that you need to leverage to your advantage. In essence, businesses that use SaaS are paying a flat rate for a productivity suite or similar service. This software can then be accessed through the cloud via an Internet connection, making it both flexible enough to add new users, and accessible enough to be used anywhere on most any device. According to BetterCloud, 91 percent of Google Apps users claim that SaaS helps them more than traditional desktop applications, while 68 percent of Office 365 users say the same about Office. The success of Software as a Service offerings can be attributed to paying less for more over time. Rather than buying software outright, businesses are finding it more economically feasible to pay a smaller monthly rate for services rendered. This presents several benefits in comparison to purchasing applications in full, like having more manageable payments over time, and always using up-to-date versions of business apps. Additionally, it?s much easier to add new users to a cloud-based productivity suite than it is to purchase new licenses for all of the software required for their position. Besides these benefits, BetterCloud believes that there are still some significant roadblocks that are preventing organizations from implementing cloud-based applications. One of them is the business?s dedication to the antiquated desktop application infrastructure. People are simply used to having their solutions available right on their desktop workstations. Even if they?re gaining ground, concepts like cloud computing, document sharing, and collaboration are all relatively recent developments in the business world. It will still be some time before these concepts are fully recognized and accepted. The modern business?s technology infrastructure is changing to adapt to a demand for an increasingly-mobile, highly collaborative work environment. Having access to critical software solutions while in the office isn?t enough anymore. Executives and employees alike want access to their data and applications at all times, and it?s this drive for mobility that?s fueling the cloud-based application revolution. Therefore, if you want to be at the forefront of the competition, you need to take measures now and begin the assimilation process as soon as possible. If your business is looking for a way to improve operations, you can contact Info Advantage at (585) 254-8710. We can equip your business with the software solutions and cloud computing environment it needs to stay productive.
Your wireless router is critical to your business? online infrastructure and provides your team with precious wireless Internet connections throughout the office. You need to ensure that the signal can reach your entire office. Here are some tips to help you figure out where to put your router, and to ensure that its signal is as strong as possible throughout your office. Put Your Router Out in the OpenSome people don?t like the appearance of routers. They fashion them an eyesore and try to hide them away in cabinets or elsewhere, away from where people can see them. This is often both counterproductive and dangerous, as the device can potentially overheat in a place with poor air circulation. If you store your router in a cabinet, you?re also weakening the signal, which can make it spotty and difficult to use. Instead, we recommend that you keep your router out in the open, where it can get plenty of air and keep the signal as strong as possible. This is a best practice for your technology, including workstations and servers that generate a lot of heat naturally by functioning properly. Use a Central LocationWhile it might be tempting to just put your router in a far corner of your office and forget that it exists, chances are that the other half of your office won?t be receiving a very strong wireless signal. To avoid this, you need to set your router up in a central location where it can broadcast its signal to the entire office. Depending on your office?s setup, you might even need multiple access points to allow each of your employees to access the Internet. Also of note, you should elevate your router slightly to ensure that the signal isn?t being blocked by furniture that sits on the floor. File cabinets, desks, and other objects, could all get in the way of the wireless signal. Review Your Bandwidth and Internet Service AgreementSometimes the placement of a router won?t have anything to do with your problem, and the issue is with your network connection instead. In this case, the problem would be with your modem or your Internet service agreement limiting your bandwidth and the flow of data. If you?re having wireless problems, and you?re sure it?s not your router, it?s worth looking into the problem on the ISP?s side of things. Upgrade Your RouterAre you using the same old router that you picked up when you first started your business? If so, there?s a strong chance that your router?s hardware or firmware is outdated. Since you actually have control over your router, you?d do well to investigate the issue before you purchase a new one. It?s recommended that you go with a router that?s capable of supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands. This will help you keep your network strong and healthy. Plus, sometimes all it takes to resolve connectivity issues is to upgrade your system?s firmware. For help optimizing your business?s wireless network, reach out to Info Advantage at (585) 254-8710.
Internet-based technologies like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) are widely used by small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to bolster work productivity and efficiency. There are two kinds of phones to choose from: traditional desk phones (hardphones) or software-based phones (softphones). We?ll break down which is best for your business. What?s a hardphone? A hardphone is a desk phone that is connected to your business?s IP network, just like a normal phone. There?s no learning curve associated with VoIP hardphones, and they allow your staff to call anyone worldwide at a more affordable price. The more advanced hardphones have built-in video displays and touch screens to accommodate video calls, eliminating the need of having separate equipment for video conferencing. What?s a softphone? A softphone is any electronic device that uses a software program that allows users to turn their PCs, laptops, and tablets into high-tech phones to 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 microphone, so you can make and take calls wherever you are. Which type is ideal for you? There are some things to consider when you?re choosing between hardphones and softphones: Are your employees always moving around? Do they require 24/7 connectivity? Does your company rely on having top-notch customer service? What?s your IT budget? Your answers to these questions will determine the type of equipment you need. If your employees are mostly in the office, hardphones may be better, especially since you probably already have them and they will be available for use with VoIP. But if your company requires a mobile workforce, adopting a softphone solution may be better. Softphones feature call routing which allows calls to be diverted to one or several specified internet-enabled devices, ensuring your clients have 24/7 access to your employees. Other features like transcribed voicemail messages also enable you to receive messages promptly, no matter whether you?re in a meeting or on the road. Costs Hardphones and softphones each have their advantages, so which one you choose may come down to your IT budget. For SMBs that have a limited IT budget, purchasing new hardphones for all their employees can be expensive, especially if you require hundreds of them. Softphones may be better if you?re on a tight budget. You just need to download an application and buy some headsets. If your budget permits you to spend more on telephony infrastructure, then a VoIP solution would be a great way to improve your users? productivity and save money on your monthly phone bills. Our experts are available 24/7/365 to advise you on any questions you may have pertaining to VoIP, and especially about whether hardphones or softphones are best for you. If you?re interested in upgrading your telephony infrastructure, give us a call today.
Email is (and has been) a prime method of communication for businesses of all sizes. With email comes a whole slew of issues that are essentially synonymous with the technology; spam, information overload, phishing, and information privacy. Even Rochester small businesses that only do business locally are at risk of these issues. Personal email accounts are equally at risk. Employing proper precautions and practices whenever communicating via email is very important to prevent the risk of security compromises, monetary loss, and even legality issues. Spam Inundation If you’ve been using email for a while either professionally or personally you have almost certainly gotten email from people you don’t know. Most of these emails are blatantly unwanted while others can look ‘almost’ legit, as if a real person is trying to contact you. Often (and unfortunately) spammers can get your email address when you put it online or use it to register for accounts on sites on the internet. The good news is standard spam protection is getting better these days, and more advanced spam protection is cost effective for businesses that need the extra layer of protection. Spam can cause a lot of harm for a business network if it isn’t kept under control – spam can bog down email servers and eat up network bandwidth and plus it drastically slows down employee productivity because they need to sift through it all just to find their real email. If you and your staff are getting more than a few spam emails a day, contact us at (585) 254-8710 and ask about our anti-spam solutions. Don’t Open Attachments from Unsolicited Emails This has been a golden rule for general email usage for a very long time. If you received an email from a stranger and there is an attachment, don’t touch it. If you receive an email from a contact and there is an attachment, but anything is suspicious, don’t touch it. This goes the same for links – if the email was unexpected and just seems fishy, it is possible your contact’s email may have been compromised. Use your judgment on this, but remember it isn’t your contact trying to trick you, they are merely the victim of a similar hoax from one of their contacts. If you have any doubt, simply reply or pick up the phone and ask them about it before continuing. Keep your Computer Safe Be sure to keep antivirus definitions up to date, and run scans regularly. Running adware and spyware removal software at regular intervals is important too. Be sure your Windows Updates are up to date as well. For businesses, you’ll want to invest in network protection to keep external threats from leaking in. Even for small Rochester businesses, security and threat management is important to keep operations running smoothly and to prevent expensive downtime and data theft. Don’t Rely on Email for Storage Everyone has done this at least once; you are working on a report or document on one computer and you email it to yourself in order to pull it up on another computer. That’s fine as long as you mind your inbox capacity, but you shouldn’t rely on email for storing files, not even as a reliable backup. Imagine having to painstakingly pick through all of your email to […]