Microsoft has millions of users and by extension millions of customers. At AGT Computer Services we know this as well as anybody, because many of these customers — especially in the area of Blackpool, Lancashire, Lytham and Fylde — are our customers too. That’s why we have always strived to provide the same high level of service they expect when they use Microsoft products. Which is why at AGT, we are proud and honored to have achieved recognition as a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions.
Being a Silver Partner means that we have had to demonstrate a level of expertise in Microsoft products and we have had to prove our competency as a Midmarket Solutions Provider. To receive this recognition, we were required to complete a series of competency exams and acquire the necessary certification. As Silver Partners we can provide our customers even better service, offer more solutions and improve our support.
Core requirements of the program include customer references, business-focused competency assessments and technical credentials earned through exams. For us, it’s not just about certificate and exams, however. We take pride in helping our customers meet the challenges of IT, small business and cloud data storage, and now as a Silver Partner, this certification places us in the top five percent of Microsoft’s partners across the globe. When our customers see that we have received this certification, they know we are a company with the best interests of their business at heart, and not just from a tech perspective.
As the needs of our customers change over time, the business environment must evolve right along with it. Our team of highly qualified professional IT consultants share our knowledge and expertise with our customers. We have successfully met the challenges presented as software applications change, from Office 365 and Windows 8 to Windows Server 2012. AGT hopes to continue to excel and be a leader in the profession and to help our clients stay connected and keep their data safe.
We are excel at finding solutions to our customers needs as they build their businesses and move forward. AGT Computer Services serves the communities of Blackpool, Lancashire, Lytham, Fylde and surrounding areas. By providing viable IT solutions to our customers, we have helped many small businesses stay connected to the Internet, perform important cloud backups and migrate to Office 365. We want to continue to showcase our abilities, demonstrate our commitment and be a leader in new technology. Now we are even better equipped to do that.
The trend towards working from home has increased along with the advancements in technology that make this option possible. This can many times be a better situation for both employees and their employers. Allowing employees to work from home can save companies money in energy costs and leasing office space and working from home offers a lot of flexibility to employees.
Workers in the UK have a right to make a request to work from home or to have flexible work schedules. This allows workers with families, especially those with young children, to make time for their activities, or take them to and from school. It’s not just parents who can benefit from flexible working. Flexible start and finish times provide options for juggling work life and personal commitments. The flexible working law gives all employees the right to request to work from home so long as they can come to terms with their employer.
To make a request, workers are required to have been employed by the company for a minimum of 26 weeks. Employers are required to deal with such requests in a timely manner. Of course, employers are not bound to honor a specific request. They are simply required to consider it and render a decision. The employer may deny the request if they feel it is not in their best interest and the worker can make an appeal to an employment tribunal.
The flexible working law can include several types. Job sharing allows for two people to perform a single job while splitting the hours. Working part-time hours is an option as is working compressed hours, which means working longer hours over fewer days. Flexitime allows for employees to choose their starting and ending times, although these times need to be agreed upon by employers. Annualised hours allow employees to work a certain amount of hours over the course of a year with flexibility about when those hours are. Staggered hours may see an employee work at different times than their coworkers. Phased retirement allows employees to choose the age at which they will retire. A reduction in hours is also an option for these employees.
In order to take advantage of this law, an employee must make a statutory application where he or she puts their request in writing after which the employer has three months to make a decision. Upon agreement, the necessary changes are made to the employee contract. If the employer declines, they must state their reasons in writing and the employee can then make a complaint to an employment tribunal.
Working from home can be accomplished with a remote desktop, a VPN or virtual private network and software such as Teamviewer or LogMeIn. These SaaS (Software as a Service) companies use cloud storage to allow people to work remotely while staying connected.
If your request to work remotely has been granted by your employer, you’ll need to make sure your home office is suitably equipped. You’ll need a reliable network connection and proper IT support. AGT Computers can help set your home office up in Preston, Lytham or Blackpool. Call us today.
Ransomware is the latest, and quite possibly the most devious type of malware developed in recent memory. The name comes from the virus’s ability to infect a computer system and either encrypt or lock its files. The files will then stay locked and reman inaccessible for the owner until a ransom has been paid either in a cash voucher or in Bitcoins. CryptoLocker is one such version of the malware that uses infected emails and botnets to infiltrate Microsoft Windows and encrypt files stored on the computer’s local or mounted network. Using public-key cryptography, the ransomer holds the private key to unlock the files which it will provide the victim once the ransom has been forked over. There is no guarantee, however, that once the hacker has been paid, the key will be provided, and the ransom can be as high as £237.
Thankfully, Windows users can breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing that security experts have devised a way for victims of CryptoLocker to access a free key to restore their files. This malware is thought to have affected half a million Microsoft users, but security agents working in a number of law enforcement agencies across the world, were able to obtain a copy of the hackers’ database of victims and get a glimpse into how their operation functions. This group is also responsible for generating a strain of malware called Gameover Zeus. This trojan horse malware has been used to distribute CryptoLocker to machines and infect Microsoft systems.
The CryptoLocker virus first appeared late in 2013 and is thought to have involved 500,000 thousand victims who were asked to pay the ransom, usually in Bitcoins, in 72 hours or risk the permanent loss of their files. While it is believed that less than 2% of the victims actually paid the ransom the gang, which is thought to have originated in Russia, may have netted as much as $3 million from the scheme.
The Decrypt CryptoBlocker website is one way for victims to unlock their files, but of course the major lesson to be learned here is not a new one: Always back up your files. These types of malware will surely adapt to any new efforts to combat them. At AGT Computer Services, we have already encountered one such infected Microsoft Windows system where our decryption efforts did not work. Performing a routine Cloud back up will help mitigate damages in the event of a ransomware infection like CryptoLocker, or any virus for that matter. Installing Cloud anti-virus protection will also help prevent such an infection from happening in the first place.
AGT Computer Services provides IT support to both individuals and businesses in Blackpool, Lytham, and Preston. We can help combat this malware and enable you to restore all files in the event of an attack. We can provide your systems with patches to keep you protected with the latest updates. Don’t pay the ransom, and don’t fall victim to the CryptoLockers or rely on CrytpoBlockers to come to the rescue if you do.
