Category: IT How To

In an ideal world, you’d never have any technical issues, and you’d never have to call Microsoft technical support. Everything should work perfectly, without bugs, slowdowns, crashes, or corruptions. Of course, technical issues are inevitable, and when you experience difficulties, you call technical support to get the problem resolved as quickly as possible. The only thing worse than experiencing the frustration of Microsoft technical issues is when you call and go through the whole rigamarole of what is wrong only to hear, “Your product is not supported.”

What does it mean if a Microsoft Windows product is not supported?

In the most general terms, “not supported” means that Windows is no longer eligible for the downloadable bug fixes, security patches, and other updates from the Windows Update service. It means that the product has exceeded the standard lifecycle support services. Each Microsoft product and service pack will fall into different support schedules, but you can also track the overall support lifecycle as well, so that you can plan for the inevitable end of a product for personal and professional use.

If Windows is not supported, is it still functional? Can you use it?

When Microsoft no longer supports a version of Windows, and your install is no longer protected from known security risks, compatibility issues, and other bugs, you can still use the operating system. In most cases, you will still be able to start and run your version of Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8.1, etc.; but you will experience increasing instances of software incompatibility and likely security risks. You may also experience error messages or other support issues related to your hardware and software. The compatibility issues can be frustrating, but you will likely still be able to use the product. For those individuals and companies who love the “old” product, and don’t want to change, they don’t really have to, at least not yet.

Why would you use Windows when it is no longer supported?

There are a number of reasons why you might need to use a version of Windows that is no longer supported. For example, your hardware may not support a new version of Windows, or your software may not be compatible. Another reason to stay with a deprecated version is because you just prefer it, because you don’t want to upgrade, or even due to security restrictions from your company. Some companies still use Windows 7 for security reasons, or because there are rumors (often well-founded) of issues with the new release. There’s always a trade-off when you decide to use a deprecated or unsupported product. You probably won’t be able to install or access new programs, websites, or other more current functionality; but you also may not need all those bells and whistles. If you prefer the old system, and you don’t want to change, then nobody can force you to upgrade. You have options to keep your system and programs in the exact same, stable state you’ve always enjoyed.

What is the timeline for service packs and the Microsoft lifecycle?

When a new Windows (OS) service pack is released, the previous service pack is on a 2-year cease-of-support updates countdown. While that timeline would seem to give you a general sense of how long you have before your product is no longer supported, there are caveats. Microsoft sometimes extends the length of time for support services, or just allows the support timeframe to inexplicably continue. It can be welcome news for the general Windows user, but it’s not something that is promised or assured. So, the consensus is that you should take support when and if you can, but expect that it could end.

How do you make sure Microsoft will be supported?

With the Modern Lifecycle Policy, you can pay for Software Assurance (SA), a subscription that offers additional licensing and professional services. For professionals and business owners, SA offers peace of mind that they will receive support services even when the standard product is no longer supported. Some companies also rely on the additional licensing rights and professional services, including:

• Dedicated support services
• Training or online certifications
• Access to Microsoft partners

For companies who need help with additional training or services, the SA solution can more than pay for itself. The alternative (or additional) scenario is to hire or use existing IT infrastructure to support your Microsoft support or training needs. Even with your paid support services (for SA), Microsoft can still end all support for a product with a 12-month notification of support cessation.

Depending on their scope and impact on your workday, tech issues can take hours to resolve, if not days. In some cases, you may spend far too much time tracking down a problem, only to come up empty-handed in the end. In others, such as security breaches, you may not even know there is an issue until the damage has been done. If you and your team have been handling any tech issues that arise on your own, you could greatly benefit from partnering with a managed IT service provider. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from this partnership.

Increases Speed of IT Repairs

When you acquire managed IT services for your company, you can report any and all tech issues as they arise and receive a prompt response. Upon receiving your call, your managed service provider will immediately look into the problem and find the most effective solution. With their years of experience in this realm, their IT experts have likely come across the problem before and already know how to fix it. This makes for very speedy service that helps keep your business operations moving forward without disruption.

Prevents Tech Issues

Managed IT services prove extremely valuable in the prevention of tech issues of all kinds. From malware attacks to hardware failure, your IT service professionals can stay ahead of the leading issues and potentially keep them from cropping up at all. Through these preventative actions, you can avoid unnecessary downtime that could otherwise derail the work efforts of your entire staff.

Improves Employee Productivity

When your employees can hand off tech issues to a dedicated, outsourced team, they can remain on task in fulfilling their daily work duties. This keeps their productivity high, so you can meet your daily business goals and continue to push the annual growth of the company. With your employees on task, rather than dealing with IT issues, your business operations can continue running smoothly day after day.

Boosts Data Security

Computer software and hardware issues can have a detrimental impact on the security of your business data. Especially since most of these problems remain hidden from view until a catastrophic loss of data occurs. Therefore, your company and client information likely remain at risk without help from a skilled IT expert. These professionals specialize in optimizing security at the network, server and workstation levels, so you can focus on running your business without worry.

Ensures Regulatory Compliance

With improved data security, you can rest assured that you are not breaching regulatory compliance rules for your industry. Your managed IT service professionals stay on the cutting edge of security to ensure their clients always remain in compliance. You can customize your service plan with the right level of protection for your company and its associated industry regulations.

Decreases Equipment Upkeep and Repair Expenses

You can decrease the amount you spend on upkeep and repair of your equipment with oversight from skilled IT professionals. These pros will only perform the necessary tasks that are required to maintain your daily business operations. Their ability to track down the problem and fix it the first time around will likely prove invaluable as you work on minimizing downtime and boosting employee productivity. These professionals can also help you time and plan your equipment upgrades perfectly to avoid wasting money on unnecessary items or overspending on parts.

Works Well for Any Budget

With your managed service partnership, you can build your custom IT plan around the exact needs of your company. You can select the items that will benefit you the most and leave the rest. If you only need computer and cloud support, for example, you can leave all server-related services off your plan. You are not locked into the services you select in the beginning either. You can also make adjustments to the scope of your managed IT service plan as you expand your operations.

Ability to Easily Expand

As your business achieves phenomenal growth, you will likely need to add computer equipment and make other key adjustments to accommodate your team and their needs. Your managed IT service provider can help you develop a plan that supports your current and future levels of growth. You can build a stronger network, upgrade your software and add computers to your workplace, for example, in support of your company’s continued success.

Peace of Mind

When you sign up for managed services, you will give yourself true peace of mind in knowing that all your IT needs are handled. You can call for service any time that your computer equipment acts up or software programs fail to operate as expected. You will receive support and oversight in the prevention of problems that would otherwise cause much downtime for your employees. Through all the managed IT service benefits, peace of mind comes out on top as it allows you to focus on what really matters –accelerating the success of your company.

Setting Up Your Managed IT Service Plan

With a look at these managed IT service benefits, it is clear that there are many ways this arrangement can boost the success of your business. You can get started in building this partnership by calling your preferred managed service provider. With this call, you can share the network, equipment and other IT needs of your company to start building your plan.

If you are uncertain of your company’s IT needs, that is okay. Using their skills and expertise, your service provider will assist in identifying the areas that will help your business grow and thrive. Your IT pros will also take a close look at your industry, including all regulations, to help you find the appropriate level of service for your company’s success through the years.

Are your company processes aligned with the technology you have? Have you purchased different software for different things when one software could have been used for multiple things? Do you feel there are technological gaps or challenges not being appropriately addressed? Is your company providing its services or products in the most optimal way? Do you want systems streamlined to meet company goals?

If you have any one of these questions or any others like them, then you may be in need of a vCIO. But is a vCIO just another expense for your company or is it essential to obtaining optimal performance and achieving goals? Here’s what you need to know and should consider.

What is a vCIO?

A vCIO, short for virtual Chief Information Officer, provides all the functions of a CIO that large firms employ to develop strategies designed to leverage technology for optimal business performance. The CIO looks to technology for solutions, aligns it with business needs and goals, and measures its success by establishing metrics. In addition, the CIO keeps informed of all new opportunities and technological developments to ensure the company is up-to-date and on course for success.

Thus, a CIO is vital to an organization’s development, growth, and continued success. The one difference between a CIO and a vCIO, however, is this: resources. A full-time CIO is expensive and requires a lot of resources. You have to provide an office, a workstation, a good salary, and benefits. Those are costs that medium to smaller sized organizations would like to avoid. A vCIO allows these companies to benefit from the skills and knowledge of a CIO without having to put forth the full expense of one. A vCIO can be retained on an as-needed basis, so you pay only for the times you benefit from his or her services. In sum, your smaller company outsources a vCIO and receives larger company executive-level expertise at an affordable basis.

What benefits can a vCIO bring to your company?

To know the benefits a vCIO would bring to your company, a good starting point is understanding better what a vCIO actually does.

A vCIO is equipped with pretty much the same duties and responsibilities that a CIO is, and these include:

• Analyzing IT. A vCIO assesses the hardware and software you use as well as your overall IT infrastructure and aligns it with your business processes and business goals. This analysis allows the vCIO to understand your work processes as well as to identify any challenges, gaps, and tech solutions. Based on this analysis, a vCIO will recommend hardware, software, and IT infrastructure expenditures.
• Strategizing. A vCIO’s primary goal is using technology strategically. The vCIO will develop a plan to create and manage an IT system that helps the company achieve goals. The vCIO has a deep knowledge of technology and business and is able to incorporate both to benefit companies. To incorporate the strategy, the vCIO will work with other stakeholders and direct the IT roadmap.
• Adding Value. A vCIO makes sure that the technology used brings value to the company by helping employees do their jobs better and by providing services and information, among other things, to clients more efficiently. A vCIO makes sure employees and clients get what they need.
• Providing information. They are not called chief information officers for no reason. vCIOs must stay current on all things related to technology, including things that pose as risks to the company, technologically speaking. The vCIO will know all the industry trends and will analyze what the future holds so that the company invests in the right technology now and does not lose out later because of it.

These are the broad responsibilities of a vCIO, and through these responsibilities — if executed well — the company benefits. By leveraging technology strategically and successfully, a vCIO helps the company increase its employee and customer/client satisfaction while also increasing revenue and decreasing expenses.

In this way, the ultimate benefit of a vCIO is this: competitive edge. A vCIO can be that competitive advantage your company has over the competition.

Does your company need a vCIO?

In today’s market, no matter what industry you are in, technology plays a role. And technology is changing and evolving all the time, and with the latter come new opportunities as well and new challenges. No company today should be without an information officer, but so many are, and that’s why so many companies fail to achieve their goals. An information officer brings together technology advancements with company goals, and through this strategic alignment, magic happens.

So the question should really be: do you need a full-time CIO or a vCIO? The answer is dependent on several factors.

• Number of employees. How many employees does your company have? Generally speaking, a company employing 250 people or fewer may benefit from a vCIO, but larger companies typically require full-time CIOs.
• Technology. How much is your company reliant on technology? What are your security needs? How many employees are dependent on technology for their day-to-day tasks? How is data stored and managed?
• Company Growth. Do you intend to grow your company? If so, when and how?
• Business Goals. What are your business goals? How do you intend to reach those goals?
• Resources. What resources, especially in terms of financial resources, does your company have? A vCIO saves you money and helps you increase profits, but the initial costs must be considered.

There are no straightforward means to determine if your company needs a vCIO or not. You must consider the above factors and weigh your answers. Technology today is complex. Its application for strategic purposes is complex. Its benefits, however, are many. Can a vCIO take your company where you want it to go, and can it do so faster, more efficiently, and more effectively?

Is a vCIO essential to your company?

Now for the real question: is the vCIO essential to your business? The short answer: yes. But if you are still unsure, ask yourself these questions:

• Does your company have a go-to IT person who knows all things technology?
• Is the technology your company has being used fully and strategically?
• Are you creating value through your technology?
• Is your data safe and secure?
• Are your employees satisfied?
• Are your clients/customers satisfied?
• Do you see growth in the future?
• Do your IT infrastructure and your business procedures lead to outcomes that achieve business goals?
• Do you have a competitive advantage over your competitors?

If you answered no to any of these questions, then that can be problematic. A vCIO can ensure that all the above questions are answered affirmatively, and when that’s the case, you can rest assured your company is performing optimally. So, ask yourself now: is a vCIO essential to your company? Then act; do your research and find a vCIO that will fit well with your company.

Why Do Local Small Businesses Need IT Services?

Many small business owners are entrepreneurial and want to do as much as possible on their own. However, specific tasks require technical expertise that would distract owners from operating their businesses. IT support services are a perfect example of the type of task that small businesses owners would do better to outsource to reasonably priced local firms. Having a business of any size is tough without proper IT functionality, so it’s well worth the investment overall.

How Does Outsourcing IT Services Result in Substantial Savings?

Businesses hire outside firms to take care of their various IT needs because it’s more cost-effective. Hiring in-house IT resources can be prohibitively expensive. Also, you may not require full-time support for most of your IT needs, so it doesn’t make sense to hire two to two dozen people to build out a proper IT team when a local IT firm already has the staff to meet your intermittent needs without breaking the bank. It also saves you the hassle of hiring, managing and processing payroll for these resources.

How Do IT Firms Provide Fast Access to Assistance?

When you contract with local IT companies, you often have 24/7 access to help during an emergency. If you need the same support for salaried or hourly in-house resources, you can expect to pay for overtime hours or compensate employees with time off for working after hours. Also, a team of experts who deal with a variety of systems and clients is likely to find and resolve your issues more quickly. Most IT firms assign an account manager to each small business so that you can build a relationship and have a single point of contact for emergencies. The expenses of this concierge-style offering are much lower than the cost of paying an entire team of IT employees to work in shifts. This is especially important for businesses with extended hours, who may need regular support after normal business hours.

What Benefits Do IT Service Firms Offer for Safety And Security?

Small business owners are so busy with day-to-day tasks they often don’t have time to think about data security. Hackers and cybercriminals take advantage of this to hack into networks to steal data or hold your customer database for ransom. Since privacy is becoming a bigger issue than ever, data security and safety are a huge component of your company’s reputation. Outsourcing firms have security specialists on staff who keep up with the latest advances in the industry. Proactive professionals in the security field are passionate about what they do. They often suggest changes to your network that help protect your employees, customers and the business as a whole. This is crucial because best practices change with the advent of new technologies, so having experts monitoring your systems significantly reduces your overall security risks.

Can an IT Services Firm Increase Your Productivity?

Small companies have a tendency to assign IT responsibilities to employees with any type of IT knowledge. This leads to mixed results. If you hire someone with the capability to learn new technology quickly, they still need time to master the systems in place at your company. Engaging an outside IT firm means that they will assign professionals with the required skill sets to complete the tasks required to run your systems optimally. This lets you concentrate your hiring and mentoring efforts on employees who can help you grow your business. Since IT is outsourced, you can simply call your IT services firm and get back to work while they take care of the issue. This saves time and frustration and increases your productivity.

What Are Some Additional Advantage To Hiring IT Service Firms?

Technology, by its very nature, is constantly evolving. Hiring in-house staff brings with it some additional expenses to keep them up-to-date. This includes travel and educational expenses for training on existing systems and certification and training on new technology, such as cloud solutions. Disaster recovery strategies, mobility expertise and many other specializations can quickly explode your IT budget. Instead, hire a team of trained specialists with a single phone call to your local IT services provider.

Can Outsourcing IT Service Bring You Peace Of Mind?

If all the risks associated with data breaches, system outages and other IT problems can keep you awake at night, it stands to reason that an affordable partnership with reliable IT experts can bring you peace of mind. Be clear in your expectations and make sure you understand the contract you sign, so there are no unpleasant surprises down the road. Do your homework and check with other companies that have worked with the firm you want to hire. Knowing that a qualified team of professionals is ready and waiting when you pick up the phone goes beyond giving you peace of mind. It lets you focus on growing your enterprise without worrying about how the technology can stand in your way.

Sadly, hackers are something that many companies have to deal with on a daily basis. What might seem like a fairly uncommon problem is actually more widespread than you might imagine. Hackers are a skilled set of individuals but at the same time, they cause widespread issues with companies across the globe.

Building a Hack-Proof Network is a Priority, and an Essential

The top national security officials in Australia are now actively working to create a mobile network that is essentially non-hackable. The project is not only to protect mobile networks, but also to protect entire power grids, hospitals, and universities from potential shutdown as the result of state-sponsored cyber attacks.

The home affairs department is currently working to determine what needs to be done to create these networks that would essentially be impenetrable and impossible for hackers to breach. The Home Affairs Department is also looking to find industry support programs from Australian technology companies to help improve the overall cyber defences of the nation.

The issue lies with potential cyberattacks that have been aimed at the government and at Australian businesses that seem to have originated from China and Russia directly following the blocking of Chinese company, Huawei, when they tried to provide equipment for 5G networks that were in the process of being created.

It was recently revealed that computer systems that are used for the Australian parliament and various other political parties were attacked by a foreign government. The government currently is seeking stricter email security as Beijing and Moscow are being blamed for cyber attacks that were previously discovered.

What Does a Hacker-Proof Network Mean?

The new network is set to be built in the private sector, but top cyber experts and spies would ultimately be in charge of securing and protecting the network once it is completed, making it safer than current networks that are largely commercial.

The proposal is currently for two different options: either multiple networks or one network that spans the entire country and that is then administered and kept up by the government. So what does this mean? Well for starters, it means that all sensitive data is going to be monitored within the network. This means that records from hospitals, airports, dams or power grids would all be housed within this new network. It is even rumored that banks may be able to use the network for their transactions as well.

The fear and necessity for this type of solution are very real. In 2015, a hacker group attacked a power grid in the Ukraine by using malware to take down the grid. The grid was providing electricity to nearly 250,000 people who lost power during the attack. Australia is concerned that this type of attack may be closer to home than they know. On top of that, they are also worried about sensitive military information and research being attacked and taken as well.

Last year, it was reported that the Australian National University’s computer systems were attacked by hackers based out of China. Developing an environment where data can be securely accessed and used is highly necessary. Creating a network where data cannot be accessed by those that are not authorised is essential and the Australian government realises this.

Hacker-Proof Networks are Needed Worldwide

Though the focus to this point has been on Australian hacker-proof networks, any country and any company can benefit from a secure network that cannot be hacked, or that at the very least, is difficult to hack. IT companies all over the world are now working in an attempt to create networks that are harder and harder to access for those that are not authorised.

With the right IT company, you can have a network that is secure and that is not easily accessed and changed. Hackers are becoming more and more bold and are far more likely to try and attack high profile networks like those hosted by the government in an effort to do the most damage possible.

Technology is changing and improving and there is now more chance that a secure network is in the future than ever before. Australia hopes to foster a deeper relationship with the information technology industry and hopes that their symbiotic relationship will create a network that is secure, safe, and free of hackers.

Depending on their scope and impact on your workday, tech issues can take hours to resolve, if not days. In some cases, you may spend far too much time tracking down a problem, only to come up empty-handed in the end. In others, such as security breaches, you may not even know there is an issue until the damage has been done. If you and your team have been handling any tech issues that arise on your own, you could greatly benefit from partnering with a managed IT service provider. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from this partnership.

Increases Speed of IT Repairs

When you acquire managed IT services for your company, you can report any and all tech issues as they arise and receive a prompt response. Upon receiving your call, your managed service provider will immediately look into the problem and find the most effective solution. With their years of experience in this realm, their IT experts have likely come across the problem before and already know how to fix it. This makes for very speedy service that helps keep your business operations moving forward without disruption.

Prevents Tech Issues

Managed IT services prove extremely valuable in the prevention of tech issues of all kinds. From malware attacks to hardware failure, your IT service professionals can stay ahead of the leading issues and potentially keep them from cropping up at all. Through these preventative actions, you can avoid unnecessary downtime that could otherwise derail the work efforts of your entire staff.

Improves Employee Productivity

When your employees can hand off tech issues to a dedicated, outsourced team, they can remain on task in fulfilling their daily work duties. This keeps their productivity high, so you can meet your daily business goals and continue to push the annual growth of the company. With your employees on task, rather than dealing with IT issues, your business operations can continue running smoothly day after day.

Boosts Data Security

Computer software and hardware issues can have a detrimental impact on the security of your business data. Especially since most of these problems remain hidden from view until a catastrophic loss of data occurs. Therefore, your company and client information likely remain at risk without help from a skilled IT expert. These professionals specialize in optimizing security at the network, server and workstation levels, so you can focus on running your business without worry.

Ensures Regulatory Compliance

With improved data security, you can rest assured that you are not breaching regulatory compliance rules for your industry. Your managed IT service professionals stay on the cutting edge of security to ensure their clients always remain in compliance. You can customize your service plan with the right level of protection for your company and its associated industry regulations.

Decreases Equipment Upkeep and Repair Expenses

You can decrease the amount you spend on upkeep and repair of your equipment with oversight from skilled IT professionals. These pros will only perform the necessary tasks that are required to maintain your daily business operations. Their ability to track down the problem and fix it the first time around will likely prove invaluable as you work on minimizing downtime and boosting employee productivity. These professionals can also help you time and plan your equipment upgrades perfectly to avoid wasting money on unnecessary items or overspending on parts.

Works Well for Any Budget

With your managed service partnership, you can build your custom IT plan around the exact needs of your company. You can select the items that will benefit you the most and leave the rest. If you only need computer and cloud support, for example, you can leave all server-related services off your plan. You are not locked into the services you select in the beginning either. You can also make adjustments to the scope of your managed IT service plan as you expand your operations.

Ability to Easily Expand

As your business achieves phenomenal growth, you will likely need to add computer equipment and make other key adjustments to accommodate your team and their needs. Your managed IT service provider can help you develop a plan that supports your current and future levels of growth. You can build a stronger network, upgrade your software and add computers to your workplace, for example, in support of your company’s continued success.

Peace of Mind

When you sign up for managed services, you will give yourself true peace of mind in knowing that all your IT needs are handled. You can call for service any time that your computer equipment acts up or software programs fail to operate as expected. You will receive support and oversight in the prevention of problems that would otherwise cause much downtime for your employees. Through all the managed IT service benefits, peace of mind comes out on top as it allows you to focus on what really matters –accelerating the success of your company.

Setting Up Your Managed IT Service Plan

With a look at these managed IT service benefits, it is clear that there are many ways this arrangement can boost the success of your business. You can get started in building this partnership by calling your preferred managed service provider. With this call, you can share the network, equipment and other IT needs of your company to start building your plan.

If you are uncertain of your company’s IT needs, that is okay. Using their skills and expertise, your service provider will assist in identifying the areas that will help your business grow and thrive. Your IT pros will also take a close look at your industry, including all regulations, to help you find the appropriate level of service for your company’s success through the years.

Managed IT Services is a transaction often required by businesses large and small in order to operate efficiently. It’s unfortunate that some owners and managers misinterpret the scale of services provided by a Managed IT Provider. To some extent, there is a contractual obligation toward the expected services, but there is also a simple limitation as to what the IT Provider is capable of doing for your company. Managing your network system, affording security to your records, or simply plugging in your new computer can all be aspects of what IT does, but it has to be contracted in order to hold an expectation of having a particular aspect of the job completed for you.

Contracts and Coverage

A common myth about contracted IT services is that “everything” is covered. No IT service provider is going to contract to enable the software your company uses and expect to spend a week developing your network. Likewise, nobody is going to contract to physically attach your hard components and then set up software for free. Although most IT people can do either job, they specialize. One person might run power cords to individual desks and set up the needs for a computer to run, another person will customize the individual computer to the needs of the job. Although either person can do either job, they don’t, so you need to describe to the Managed Services Representative which of their employees you need to hire to fill your needs and which services you plan to conduct in-house in order to find the right contract with the right specialists you need for consultation services.

Service Level Myths

Some companies offer tiered pricing platforms in the services they offer. To an extent, such offers allow individual businesses to choose what services they need, but at the same time, it has to be understood the provider is going to do their very best regardless of which pricing tier you choose. If you pay only to download new software, no legitimate provider is also going to install it for free, nor can a contract to install software be filled if the programs haven’t been bought and downloaded. No Managed Service can provide free service in addition to their contractual obligations, but it isn’t a myth that they will give you appropriate advice on how to meet your goals and needs.

Every IT Provider Is an Expert

Unfortunately, not everybody who offers IT Service is an expert in the needs of your company. A reputable Service Provider will tell you what they can and cannot do, and will have associates they can recommend toward the services you need which they don’t provide. It isn’t a myth that every IT Provider is an expert. They are, but they aren’t necessarily an expert in every aspect of the field. IT Services are a broad range of helpful ideas toward your company’s success, anyone who claims to be an expert in every aspect of those concepts should be viewed with skepticism.

Conclusion

IT Services are a necessary aspect of every successful business. Some IT work can be conducted in-house, but other jobs require an outside contractor. It’s important to understand what services are provided contractually and realistically as opposed to believing the myths about what an IT Provider can do for you before you hire them, and a reputable company will be prepared to answer such questions as part of their business proposition before you hire them.

If you’ve ever managed your way through moving your company to a new location, you know there are hundreds of details that need attention. If you’re about to do so for the first time, your to-do list is likely miles long. There are square footage concerns, floor plans to develop, and workstations, furniture, and décor to plan. There’s the logistical puzzle of keeping your day-to-day operations operating as free from disruption as possible. And don’t get us started on the budgeting and planning meetings leading up to such a move!

Your list is already long, but there’s one massively important item that must be on it: IT support. There could hardly be a greater disaster than realizing only once your equipment and personnel are moved into your shiny new space that your IT infrastructure is incomplete or missing entirely. We’ll be honest: the most efficient way to handle the IT component of moving offices will depend on the nature and size of your business. Here are four areas to consider so that you can determine the best way forward with your move.

Consider Managed IT Support

If you’re leading a small- or mid-sized business, now may be the time to consider outsourcing all or part of your IT support. It may hurt to acknowledge it, but your small in-house IT group may simply not have the skills needed to plan a complex IT rollout in a new location. Even if they can do it, how confident are you that they’re on the bleeding edge of infrastructure deployment and that they’re following best practices? Reality is, their everyday work is far different than this. Perhaps it’s time to bring in experts who do just one thing: managed IT support.

Plan Ahead

Whether you’re using a managed IT support service or going it your own, planning ahead is crucial. Don’t wait until the month or week of the move to develop an IT deployment strategy. Start talking with your IT support as soon as your move is definite. They will inspect your new space and develop a comprehensive IT migration plan.

Early Access Is Key

You don’t want IT to be running around deploying equipment and infrastructure on move-in day. No, that’s a recipe for delay. Consider planning two “day ones” – your first one is early and private, limited to key leaders and IT (or your IT support group). This approach gives IT access to the new office space for deployment and setup, and it gives your key leaders a chance to acclimate to the space before bringing over the masses. Your second “day one” is the highly publicized move-in date. Everyone moves to the new space and steps into a fully functioning office. The IT functions are all in place, and people can get back to work as soon as they’ve unpacked their belongings.

Consider an IT Audit

If you’ve been in your current space for any length of time, you’re sure to have accumulated some tech that’s either out of date or no longer in use. It doesn’t make logistical or financial sense to transport that equipment to your new space. There is the time and effort needed to move it, and then you’ll have to find a place to put it in your new space.

Months before the move, task your IT group with performing an IT audit. They can identify and document the equipment that will move with you and the equipment that won’t. Now is the time to replace anything that’s out of date or on the verge of needing to be replaced anyway. Any new purchases can be deployed in the new location prior to the move, which will further simplify move-in day.

Move-in day will be here before you know it, and it’s crucial to have an IT migration plan in place. A managed IT support service can help make your move as smooth as possible. If you’re nervous about handling this all in-house, contact us today if you’re interested in learning more about IT support.

Looking for ways to help your team accomplish more? Consider equipping their workspaces with additional monitors. Skeptics are likely shaking their heads at this, wondering, “Will that really improve productivity, or only give my employees an extra incentive to stream videos or play games? Aren’t more screens just a recipe for distraction?” Believe it or not, business leaders recommend providing your employees with two or more monitors. Here are just a few reasons why multiple monitors should be on your radar screen:

Digital Decluttering

It’s well-known that a messy workspace typically leads to chaos and confusion. Working at a crowded or disorganized desk requires you to navigate piles of paperwork or jumbles of office supplies to get things done. A cluttered desktop computer has the same effect. An abundance of icons and open tabs creates headaches for your team, while a second monitor keeps apps and programs organized.

Higher Productivity

Industry leaders report that productivity increases with two or more monitors. Users can navigate multiple applications efficiently, view more information simultaneously, and customize each monitor’s layout– with different landscapes and resolutions– to optimize ease-of-use.

Most modern computers are designed with multiple-monitor systems in mind. That means your employees can enjoy the benefits of added data availability without having to learn a new software program or spend valuable time configuring a new system. Those advantages alone are enough to boost productivity and streamline workflows. It’s also worth mentioning that Windows automatically “remembers” which monitor you last used to open a program, defaulting to that screen when you need to access the program again. When you’re multitasking or working on a big project, you can keep application accessibility consistent to maximize efficiency.

Versatility

Multiple screens prove invaluable in a variety of occupations– from graphic design to market analysis and stock-trading. You can easily make use of multiple applications and copy, paste, and edit data and images when you have access to more than one monitor. If your marketing team uses social media to promote your brand, they can reserve one screen for Twitter and Instagram and keep other documents open on another.

Likewise, if you must frequently respond to email, you can glance up from your work occasionally to check the other monitor for new inbox arrivals, rather than having to toggle back and forth within one screen, which can make digital correspondence more of a distraction than it has to be.

Workstations with extra monitors are also helpful for people who use laptops and need to frequent multiple workspaces throughout the day. Some companies provide “docking stations” where employees can connect a laptop to multimedia equipment– such as a monitor, speakers, and wireless keyboards– to access data, utilize a particular application, or perform other tasks. This is more cost-effective and efficient than providing each employee with a desktop and a laptop.

Data-Sharing and Referencing

When meeting with colleagues, you can effectively keep them “in the know” by enabling them to view the same information simultaneously. Whether you’re presenting information to a small group or a larger crowd, multiple monitors can be adjusted to display information from different angles, making it highly-visible to everyone. Similarly, if you are communicating with clients and vendors, you can track inventory or an order’s status without putting people on hold while you look up the information.

When preparing reports, you can have a PDF or HTML file open on one screen for reference while you create a Word document or Excel spreadsheet on another. If you have more than two monitors, you can keep other pertinent information within easy reach, too, allowing you to transition more smoothly from one task to the next.

Collaboration

When teleconferencing via Skype or a similar app, you can make your data visible to colleagues while still communicating almost as though you were face-to-face. Displaying data on one screen while video-chatting on another allows you to keep the interaction personal without compromising data accessibility.

The idea of providing multiple monitors for your staff may seem counterintuitive at first, but the advantages outweigh potential drawbacks. When you make dual-monitor systems a staple of your workplace, using them will become second-nature, especially when you see how they make it possible to move so effortlessly from one application to another. This low-maintenance solution gives your team the opportunity to get more accomplished in less time and paves the way for better communication and collaboration. All these benefits can go a long way toward improving morale and serving as a catalyst for enhanced creativity and innovation.

What happens when Australia faces a cyber attack? The Members of Parliament (MP) jump into action. They are concerned about the breach and they want answers. The MPs require that top officials come before Parliament and the Intelligence and Security Committee to discuss how hackers potentially breached Politicians’ network systems and email.

Anthony Byrne, who is the Labor Member of Parliament, insisted that an explanation be given to him by the Department of Parliamentary Services, the Australian Signals Directorate Director-General, Mike Burgess, and Alastair MacGibbon who is the head of Australian Cyber Security Centre.

What Really Happened?

Despite their best efforts and using all possible resources, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith and Senate President Scott Ryan said identifying the cause of the incident would take time in a joint statement they issued. Also in the statement, they said at this time, there was no evidence that any data was accessed or taken; however, an investigation would continue to ensure the safety of everyone’s information. The investigation has not determined if the attack was from a foreign entity, but they do know it was a robust attack and not a kid in his basement.

There is great concern that this breach was intended to interfere with Australia’s political process similar to what occurred in elections in the US and France. There has been no proof that this was intended to impact the results of the processes occurring in Parliament. There was also no proof of an intent to influence election outcomes.

Other concerns expressed by the MP is that email went down at three o’clock in the morning, however, no one was notified about the breach until the system was already back online, which was not until nine o’clock that same morning. In addition, they were notified by email about the breach, but they weren’t able to get into their email system.

Actions Taken as a Result of Breach

Everyone has watched on the world stage as countries such as the US have experienced email breaches and the possibility of foreign countries negatively impacting their election outcomes. Even if there hasn’t been breaches, just the threat of them have caused morale problems in the country. Feelings of mistrust are already starting in Australia as many are concerned as a result of the attack and have lost faith that the Department of Parliamentary Services are able to handle these growing threats. They feel as though they may not have the expertise to handle these situations.

It was suggested to all politicians that they change their passwords within the expenses system. This is the system that tracks usage of funding received from the public for work purposes. This action was purely a preventative measure. Many measures have been taken over the years to tighten the cyber defences of Parliament. Despite this, the MPs are greatly concerned about their data.

Are There Other Concerns?

This is not the first time Australian politicians and systems have been targeted by cyber attacks. In 2011, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s computers were attacked and Chinese intelligence agencies were thought to be responsible. In 2013, Chinese hackers were blamed for stealing blueprints of Australia Security Intelligence Organisation headquarters, presumably to tap into phone and computer lines. In 2017, defense data was hacked and stolen. In 2018, Australian government took aim at Russia for a previous router attack.

In early 2018, the Australian Cyber Security Centre analysed a cyber attack and found that eight Australian web hosting companies were compromised and allowed bad actors the ability to hack into their customers’ websites. In December 2018, the US Justice Department and UK officials charged Chinese government hackers with indictments. At that time, Alastair MacGibbon, the head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre told thousands of Australian businesses that they may have been hacked by the Cloudhopper epidemic that was plaguing heavy-hitting global IT companies like IBM. Last month, the Australian Cyber Security Centre shared some of their findings, which is that data attacks are on the rise in Australia. In the last quarter of last year, there were 262 breaches and 168 of those were considered criminal.

Most likely, Australian officials won’t publicly place blame, but through media leaks, it may come out that China is to blame for this latest cyber attack on politicians. It has been known for a long time that Beijing has an entire unit in their military that handles these type of attacks as well as stealing secrets. Despite being a covert operation, their name is known. It’s the People’s Liberation Army Unit 61398. Even though it will take a significant amount of time to determine who is behind the attack, because of all the known data and frequent accusations from other governments, it is easy to speculate that Beijing is the attacker.

Whoever is behind the cyber attack, it is believed that they could be trying to gather information on a particular party possibly to discredit them, or just to get what they believe is provocative gossip. They also could be intending to derail a particular campaign’s agenda. Quite possibly, it could be used simply to discredit the entire governing body and create distrust within the general public.