PCSOFT Blog

The same business technology that worked wonders over twenty years ago is much different from the current state of office technology. Businesses could get away without a complex network infrastructure, but that’s sadly no longer the case. With multiple servers and workstations to manage, the typical small business network has more maintenance on its hands than ever before. What’s the best way to approach this maintenance?

If your small business has an in-house IT department, you’re one of the lucky few. Often times, small businesses don’t have the budget or the assets to dedicate toward an IT department. Plus, if they do, it’s likely that they don’t have time to get to every single task that’s asked of them. They probably have their hands full with assisting employees with computer troubles, often forsaking critical maintenance and updates in order to keep operations working in the moment--and you can forget about making improvements to your infrastructure in the near future, as they have more than enough responsibilities as-is.

By working with a managed service provider, you can augment the capabilities of any current in-house IT department you have. Trusted technology professionals like managed service providers can do everything from set up an email server to maintaining your whole IT infrastructure. If you need help with technology, a managed service provider can be a viable alternative to hiring a full in-house IT department.

One of the best ways you can use managed IT is for remote support. Your employees probably have a lot of questions that need to be answered--especially when it comes to how to use their newfangled technology solutions. Having a dedicated help desk that can be reached out to at any moment is a great way to use the help of a remote IT provider.

It’s reasons like this that PCSOFT wants to help small businesses in your area. Our list of managed IT services takes a firm, preventative stance on managed technology maintenance. We can help you keep operations running smoothly through the use of network security, data backup, disaster recovery, email management, and just about any other technology service possible--specifically to help your business focus on what matters most.

After all, you started your business for a reason, and it certainly wasn’t to spend all of your time on keeping your technology solutions working properly. In fact, most IT maintenance can be performed without being on-site at all. This is just one of the ways we can provide value for your organization. PCSOFT can remote into your devices and administer patches and security updates, as well as address any major or minor problems that make themselves felt on your network. We do this so that you can focus on other, more important things within your organization.

How can your business leverage remote IT services? To learn more, reach out to us at 02 98730080.

When you experience troubles with your technology, you don’t have time to just sit around and wait for the problem to resolve itself. You need someone by your side to assist with the problem. Yet, many small businesses don’t have the luxury of an in-house IT department that can help its employees resolve problems quickly and efficiently. How can you avoid this common issue and keep downtime to a minimum in the process?

Having mobile devices in the workplace can be tricky. While these devices greatly enhance flexibility, at the same time, mobile devices can leave your network unsecure if the proper precautions aren’t taken. To help you better manage the mobile devices connecting to your network, be sure to take advantage of these three mobile features.

Remote Wiping
One major drawback of mobile devices is how they can all too easily become lost or stolen. Obviously, if this were to happen to a device with sensitive company information stored on it, then you’d have good reason to panic. However, if the misplaced device was equipped with a cloud-based, remote wiping feature, you could then take action and wipe the device of its critical information before it’s too late.

Whitelisting and Blacklisting Applications
There are many malicious mobile apps out there that can deal great harm to your business. The risk can range from an app siphoning sensitive information to hackers, to having a device become compromised and enlisted in a mobile botnet. Security problems like these can be easily prevented if these apps are blocked from installing on the mobile device in the first place. This is achieved with a mobile device management solution that’s equipped to allow a network administrator the ability to whitelist and blacklist applications. As a bonus, this feature allows apps to be blocked on company devices that hinder productivity.

Actually, when it comes to mobile devices accessing corporate information, it’s a best practice to not allow users to download apps without first clearing the app with IT. When it comes to malicious apps, they’re designed to look like the real deal and have been known to fool even experienced users. Subsequently, when an IT professional oversees the installation of mobile apps, they’re able to adequately test the app for any security risks and then clear it for passage.

Cloud Syncing
For any business utilizing mobile devices, cloud syncing is the glue that holds every mobile strategy together. Without this feature, different versions of the same file would exist across multiple devices and manually syncing these files would be more work than what it’s worth. With cloud syncing, every edit to every version of every file is automatically saved and synced in the cloud. This allows your staff to collaborate in real-time using all of their various devices. Therefore, if you’re thinking about adopting mobile technology for your business, you’ll want to select cloud offerings that provide your business with the flexibility you need to succeed.

Implementing a mobile strategy that includes these three features is a great way to get started with mobile devices in your workplace. Of course, there are more factors to consider, like how mobile devices affect overall network security, and what it looks like for employees to use their personal devices for work purposes. To get started with a mobile device management solution that will best serve your needs, give us a call today at 02 98730080.

One of the primary concerns for organizations that have remote workers is the need to control and centralize communication solutions. While this isn’t a problem for a worker that’s in the office and hooked up to the company phone system, the remote worker doesn’t have this luxury. So, how can employees who work out of the office some or all of the time keep up with the rest of your workforce?

One of the easiest solutions to this dilemma is a VoIP system that uses softphones installed onto a device in the form of an application or software solution. This lets them stay in contact with the rest of your employees, without having to be on-site and connected to your in-house phone system. Therefore, a remote worker equipped with this VoIP solution can remain productive and collaborative even while out of the office.

In simpler terms, a softphone is a phone that works as software on your computer or mobile device. It works through either the traditional telephone line or via a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection, which transmits your voice across an Internet to the desired party. Unlike some exclusive VoIP-based phones, the softphone works without the physical device, which makes it more of a computing solution rather than a hardware solution. Softphones come with a digital number pad which looks like the dialer on a smartphone, and softphones allow for various features such as conference calling, call transfer, voicemail, and more.

Long story short: It makes more sense to use softphones for your remote workers, as it allows them to communicate with a headset or a mobile device, rather than a full-fledged handset.

As the business owner, it’s up to you to make smart choices about your IT budget before implementing any major change to your current setup. This includes your phone system. With a reliable VoIP solution, you can take advantage of all the benefits of a traditional phone system, without the need for all of the time-consuming and expensive infrastructure overhauls. By going with VoIP, you effectively avoid running new phone lines and revamping your office space to accommodate new onboards, and with a softphone, all you have to do is set up an account and configure a worker’s device. A good VoIP solution allows you to take advantage of traditional handsets that you’re used to, while allowing you to make or receive calls on a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop.

Softphones have a definitive edge in mobility, one which traditional phone systems can’t come close to replicating. A worker can install a softphone client on their mobile device and use an Internet connection to make or receive calls. It really is that simple.

As a bonus, VoIP systems also tend to be more affordable for businesses, as they don’t require an immense setup process and hardware purchases. Without the need for specialized equipment, a softphone can effectively use your employees’ preferred device to achieve similar results. Of course, the price will still vary by the plan, the number of users, and the number of devices, but you will gain greater flexibility in the long run.

Due to the remote worker needing a quick and easy way to stay in touch with your office, a softphone mobile client may be the best fit. Of course, every employee works differently and may prefer a different type of solution. Perhaps they would prefer a laptop with a headset, or maybe they have a desktop set up in their home office. Either way, a softphone offers a quick and easy solution.

If you’re considering VoIP, then you’ll want a trusted IT advisor to lay out your options before going all-in on an investment. To get started with a softphone solution that fits your needs, reach out to PCSOFT at 02 98730080.

Thanks to modern office technology, traditional office barriers that held businesses back are being brought down. With the right technology solutions, workers can work at any time from any location. This has led many employers to consider hiring remote workers due to the ability to bypass the restraints of geographical locations. Yet, just because you can hire anyone for a remote position doesn’t mean that you should.

With so much technology available to the modern worker, it’s easier than ever to work remotely. If your company takes advantage of remote technology, it has the potential to dramatically change things around the office for the better, thanks to its many benefits. Here are just a few benefits that every productivity-minded business will want to consider.

Save On Operating Costs
Obviously, when you don’t have to keep the lights on at the office and supply power to workstations, you’re going to save on the electricity bill, and this is just the tip of the savings iceberg. Think about not having to shell out for heating and air conditioning, not having to provide amenities like food and drink, and not having to pay someone to clean as often. All of these savings can really add up. Plus, if you decide to fully embrace having a remote workforce, you can even save on one of your most major expenses; paying for office space!

Save On Technology Costs
In the traditional office environment, every employee is provided a desk, an Internet-connected workstation equipped with mission-critical software, and access to other provided technologies, like a printer and fax machine. By having employees work remotely, you can save on all of these technology expenses. In fact, if you go “all in” with working remotely, you may even be able to avoid these expenses entirely. For example, for some employees, the prospect of working from home may be so enticing that they will gladly pay for their own equipment and software, an IT trend similar to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).

However, in a work-from-home scenario such as this, you will still want to have in place some kind of oversight in regards to the devices accessing company files, which you should be able to easily afford by not having to pay for an office full of expensive IT equipment. Also, it may be advantageous for your company to provide the mobile devices your remote employees will be using, so you can have more control over updates and the device’s data.

Improve Employee Morale
As you’ve likely experienced, the best way to improve employee morale is to dish out raises and bonuses. Giving your team the chance to work from home provides them a raise of sorts, as well as saving you the aforementioned expenses, making it a classic win-win scenario. For example, if a worker doesn’t have to spend money commuting to work, going out to lunch, professional attire, and doctor's visits to take care of the flu bug that gets passed around the office every year, that all equates to more money in their pockets. Plus, remote employees won’t have to waste hours each week driving to and from work, and they’ll be able to spend more time with their families. All these factors greatly improve employee morale, which means they’ll work harder, be more loyal, and stick around longer.

If you feel uneasy about having a remote workforce due to a lack of oversight, then talk with PCSOFT about remote solutions that will allow you to keep tabs on your team, as well as stay in touch with them in ways that will make it feel like they’re in the next room, like video conferencing, a virtual private network, and other cloud-based collaboration solutions.

For many companies that have been utilizing the traditional office setup for years, shifting to a remote workforce may be a major change. Although, don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from taking advantage of this wonderful, money-saving opportunity. PCSOFT is here to walk you through what it takes to make the transition. Remember, the one thing you’ll want to avoid is declaring that your team can work from home without taking the proper precautions to protect your company's sensitive information. Therefore, we highly recommend that you talk with IT professionals before implementing such a policy. To learn more, give us a call us at 02 98730080.