IT Support Bristol | Network, IT and Computer Services Bristol | Signal Networks

Remote access to your network

James — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:12:16 +0000

Giving people in your company remote access to their email, company files and other systems – no matter where they are – allows them to work more efficiently and flexibly.

What’s more, it can be surprisingly easy (and cheap!) to set up. Dell has a range of laptops and other products that are ideal for remote working.

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Business computers

James — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:10:09 +0000

Office computers are key resources in your company. Yet choosing a business computer can be tricky given the overwhelming number of options. The trick is to focus on what you want to do with it and prepare a clear set of IT requirements before looking at specific business PC models.

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Office suites

Stuart — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:20:53 +0000

Most business computers have an office suite installed so they can perform tasks like editing documents, working with spreadsheets and creating presentations.

What’s in an office suite?

Office suites are also called ‘office software’ or ‘office packages’. An office suite is a software package which consists of several different – but closely linked – pieces of software. These usually include:

A word processor, to create, edit and save documents like reports and letters.
A spreadsheet program, for calculations and manipulating data on a grid.
Presentation software to build a set of slides for use during a talk or lecture.
An email and calendar package, to allow you to use email and manage your diary.

Most office suites will include other programs too. Note-taking software, accounts packages, database systems, customer relationship management software, graphics, design and desktop publishing packages may all be included.

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IT security

Stuart — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:55:46 +0000

Your company may depend on its computers for everything from business accounting to marketing and customer support. Make sure you take adequate precautions to deal with business IT security issues and keep your systems running smoothly.

Security issues

There are many sources of threats to your business IT security. For instance:

Data loss or corruption. Data is one of your biggest assets. Protect it from security issues like physical threats (fire, server theft and so on), malicious attacks and accidental deletion. Remember data protection rules too.

Internet security issues. Hackers and cyber criminals may target your business systems, or you could be affected by malicious websites, dodgy software, viruses, Trojans, spyware or spam (junk email).

Your employees. Whether by accident or design, the people in your business can be a source of business computer security problems. Carelessness, fraud or disgruntled employees can all cause security issues.

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Mobile working: The tasks I save for the train

Stuart — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:40:12 +0000

Even with email and Skype, most business owners are forced to spend a lot of time travelling to meetings. But with the right planning, train-time doesn’t have to be lost working time. So what’s the best way to work productively on the move?

“If most of your day-to-day work takes place on a computer, you can work anywhere ― including on transport,” stresses Richard Leyland, founder of WorkSnug, which connects mobile workers with places to work. “But clearly if you’re going to work from different locations, you need to be aware that some places are best suited to certain tasks and plan accordingly.”

Mobile working with email

For many business people, mobile working is about staying in touch. We can blame the rise of smart phones for that ― in recent years they’ve made it much easier for us to contact each other.

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Operating system software

Stuart — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:27:17 +0000

The operating system software is the first thing to load when you turn your computer on. It runs constantly, organising and controlling your computer so other programs operate smoothly.

Operating system software is required before you can do anything with a computer. As it’s such an important piece of business software, it’s wise to evaluate the options to get the best operating system for your company.

Choosing the best operating system for you

The operating system software market is dominated by Microsoft. The vast majority of companies use some form of Microsoft Windows as the main operating system on their computers.

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Instant messaging

Stuart — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:06:12 +0000

Business instant messaging (IM) is a quick, effective form of communication. A good way to get answers to simple queries, it’s faster than email and less intrusive than using the phone.

How business instant messaging works

Business instant messaging enables two or more people to communicate in an online chat on their computers. You type your message and hit send – moments later, the message appears on the recipient’s screen.

The simplicity and immediacy of instant messaging is very attractive. It can be useful in all sorts of situations:

Get a quick answer from a colleague who’s working in another part of your office or based in a different location.
Handle customer queries efficiently. Via instant messaging, a member of staff can answer questions from three or four customers at once.
Use IM statuses (available, busy, away, etc), to immediately see who’s free to deal with a problem.

Most business instant messaging takes the form of short typed messages. However, some IM systems allow you to send audio (so you can talk as if you’re on the phone), video (if you have a suitable webcam) and files to each other.

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Software licensing

Chris — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:00:16 +0000

Software licensing governs how your business can use the software it buys. Every piece of software has a licence agreement which explains what you can and can’t do with it.

Having the right licences ensures your business is using software legally. You can also save money by only buying the software licences you actually need.

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Are tablet computers right for business?

Chris — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:00:40 +0000

Spark up a conversation with anyone interested in IT or gadgets and the conversation can quickly turn to tablet computers

While tablet computers have existed for many years (the idea goes back decades and Microsoft first demonstrated a tablet running Windows in 2001) it’s the launch of Apple’s iPad which really made people take notice.

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Conferencing systems

Chris — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:52:35 +0000

Business conferencing systems enable you to hold meetings between people in different locations. They include conference calling, online meeting spaces and video conferencing, where participants can see each other on screens. Business conferencing can cut costs, as well as making it easier to hold regular meetings and share information.

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