Ok, that’s a major understatement! Things have been completely turned upside down for many, including the transition to working from home. How’s that gone for you? Has it been smooth and straightforward or has it catapulted your business into a world you never expected?
On the bright side, it’s also given a lot of companies the opportunity to work with new systems and find better ways of communication between the staff.
If remote working is still looking like a longer term prospect for you, then you may have questions such as:
How will I continue to conduct meetings professionally?
How can documents be shared, added to and refined easily?
How will I keep staff motivation and morale up without face to face contact?
That’s where a programme like Microsoft Teams steps in.
This month, we’ve created a step by step guide for you to use this programme really effectively from now right up until you’re back in the post Covid-19 world (whenever that may be)
Step 1 – Download! If you have Microsoft 365, then you already have it (you’ll just need to
download it). If not, there’s a free plan if you’d like to suss it all out before making a commitment. And a month’s free trial for businesses.
Log in to OneDrive to access your docs
Add the app to all your devices to access wherever you are.
Step 2 – Create your teams! This can be done via department, management level, project team etc…
Step 3 – Create your channels! For example, yours might consist of a channel for product development, one for marketing, one for sales, another for design, etc.
Or it could be made up of different projects, such as one for each different product in the range. All of the docs, conversations, apps and meetings that relate to a product or project would be held within that channel and everyone in the team can access it.
Step 4- Set up a meeting! Using the Meet Now function, you can schedule a catch up, decide if you’re using video or audio and invite people to join at a specific time and date – as straightforward as that.
Step 5 – Save on time! If you’re a member of various projects and teams across the company, you can pin the ones you deem as most important or most used to ensure you can access them quickly and easily.
Step 6 – Get personal! Teams allows you to personalise your view to make it easier for you on a daily basis. Oh and if you’re a fan of a GIF, there’s even a handy little button for that.
Step 7 – Stay updated! Turn on your notifications to ensure you never miss out on any important updates. You can select the relevant people to receive a notification and you can keep an eye on what’s been going on recently using the activity function.
For the full step by step usage guide, we’d be happy to send this to you! Simple get in touch via our contact details here and quote ‘Microsoft Teams AGT assistance’ and we’ll get that straight over to your inbox!
Any questions in the meantime, then just shout! We’re here to help.
Following on from our last blog, we’re talking about those awkward as hell questions you should probably (definitely) be asking your IT support company before signing up to work with them
Here at AGT, we’re as upfront and honest as you can get. So, what next?
What’s your customer retention rate?
In the world of IT support, customer retention should be high. If an IT support company delivers what it promises to deliver, is easy to communicate with, and charges a fair price for this, a customer is unlikely to leave them for someone else. It’s simply too much hassle if they’re happy with the service. So what’s the deal if their retention rate is low? This is definitely something to ask and take into consideration when making your decision
Here at AGT: We pride ourselves on our high customer retention rate, in fact, our current retention rate stands at 100% for the month of May 2020 and you can see our live stats at the bottom of our homepage here
We also have a number of video testimonials from our clients – so you can be happy you’re hearing exactly what you need straight from the horse’s mouth.
How much of your revenue comes from fixing problems rather than anticipating them?
This is a good one! As we all know, prevention is better than cure.
So where possible, things SHOULD be put in place to reduce the risk of a disaster happening within your network. Of course, you can never protect your business 100% when it comes to the failing of technology. But you can make sure you’re taking every possible step to try. So if your IT support company is making more money from fixing problems, it probably means that they’re not spending enough of their time on preventative measures. In turn, that means you’ll be spending more money than you need to on keeping your business safe.
Here at AGT: We plan ahead for every eventuality. Updates are made on time; regular back-ups are taken; and we run 24 hour monitoring so that we can act immediately should we need to. Often, problems are fixed before you even know you have a problem, we’re like the IT stealth version of ninjas.
What’s the worst IT disaster you’ve ever dealt with and how did you solve it?
Anyone who has worked in IT for any amount of time will usually have dealt with a disaster of some scale. Knowing why it happened and the steps that were taken to resolve it will tell you more about a company than them listing all of their good points.
Here at AGT: We’re cool, calm and collected. We have disaster recovery programmes in place and we know EXACTLY what we need to do to solve things quickly and efficiently. Any issues we’ve dealt with in the past have been a learning experience and something we always use as a way to fine tune our services going forward.
So, now the awkward bit is out the way! We’d be delighted to have a chat and answer these questions in more detail for you! Get in touch here and let’s talk
Lockdown tested the strengths of many IT support companies; how they reacted to the work from home rules and how quickly and seamlessly they moved their clients to remote working showed many that they were not quite up to the task.
So, this meant that some companies have been looking for new IT support! BUT, there’s a few awkward questions you may need to ask them to establish whether they have just what you’re looking for. This month, our blogs will be focusing on the answers you want to know and how to find them out…
Who will be responsible for looking after us day to day? Will we speak to a different person every time?
If the IT support company does assign an account manager to each client, how do they assign them? Will they match their skills with your needs? Do they judge which personalities will get on the best? Or is it just a random decision based on who has the highest or lowest workload? It’s really important that you have consistency from your IT service provider. Ideally, you’ll usually speak to the same person or small group of people who know your history and set up in detail. It’s hugely frustrating when you have a problem, to have to go over background information before you can begin a resolution.
Here at AGT: We get to know YOU and you get to know us! Our team work closely together (Obviously keeping a nice 2m social distance), so that means you always know who you’re speaking to and can trust we know everything there is to know about your accounts.
Are you a specialised 1 sector band or do you work across the board?
For example, if they typically work with call centres, how will the service they provide translate to your estate agency? The set up is very different. How well will they understand your needs? If they’re used to working with large organisations, how does what they do adapt to a smaller business? Do their solutions differ depending on need or will they recommend the same devices and software to everyone? Should you expect the costs to be similar to those a large corporation would pay, or will they be tailored to your requirements?
You should also ask if one client makes up more than 50% of their business. It might sound quite intrusive, but what would happen to your support should that one client go away? Would the IT support company go under? And what would happen if that one client had an issue at the same time as you? Would they become a priority, leaving your business to come grinding to a halt while their problem is solved first?
Awkward questions- maybe! But, any IT company worth their salt will provide this information for you to ensure you are happy to proceed.
Here at AGT: We are honest and upfront with all of our clients. We work with a wide variety from small to large businesses and we work on a priority system. You will never be left unsure as to how and when your IT issues will be resolved. That’s a promise
Our next blog will follow next week with more of the questions you should be asking and what answers you should be hearing!
In the meantime, we’d be delighted to have a chat and answer these questions in more detail for you! Get in touch here and let’s talk
As of this week, lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease slightly and with life after Covid-19 becoming an ever increasing topic of conversation, it’s time to look at what steps you’ll need to take when your business does eventually return to the office.
Plan ahead
The process of working from home proved difficult for some, but by putting plans in place NOW for returning, you’re getting a head start on what could be another stressful process.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as everyone rocking back up to the office at 9am on a Monday, there’s actually quite a lot to consider…
Your team
It’s looking like there will be a gradual phased end to the lockdown period, in which case the team won’t be returning to the office all at once. You may have people working for you that are at higher risk (or live with someone who is high risk), so they may have to stay home for longer.
There’s also the remote working element – you may have found that allowing your team to work remotely has proved successful and this may be something you want to consider as a long term prospect for some members of the company. It could aid productivity and flexibility across the board!
Your equipment
There are a few aspects to be considered here:
What changes would you need to make to allow home working for any of your team on a regular basis?
Do you need to purchase extra devices or licenses for apps?
How will you manage the safekeeping and return of any company equipment during this process?
Did you or your IT service provider keep a list of what was handed out?
Will your IT service provider need to spend a lot of time with you setting everything back up in the workplace?
Your data security
Ok, we do like to talk A LOT about data security BUT this bit is crucial.
Access to your data has been moved across devices from your workplace to homes, and now needs to come back to the workplace again. Has your data security been compromised in any way during this process?
Of course, if you have a tip top IT service provider (like us!), then this transition will be as straightforward as ABC. If you made the switch to working from home in a rush, then there may be some elements of your data security which have been compromised in the process.
Whatever the case, when people and devices start coming back to your workplace, it’s a great opportunity to update everything, check the strength of passwords, and ensure all data is constantly backed up.
So, if you need a plan in place ready for when we’re given the go ahead, then we’re on standby and ready to get going. Get in touch and we can look at everything you currently have and how to ensure the move back into office life goes without a hitch.
Fun fact for you today, did you know over 90% of IT issues can be resolved remotely? Yep, true story!
Why are we mentioning this? Because, after speaking to some of our wonderful clients recently, we’ve had a few questions about whether location matters for your IT service provider – in the short answer, no!
Now for the longer explanation…
Here at AGT, we have not one but THREE North West offices (Lytham St. Annes, Preston and Manchester) so if we need to be onsite, we absolutely can be there, as and when you need us (and we always enjoy getting out to see our clients in person. The art of face to face conversation still lives on, especially post Covid-19 when we’ve all been starved of real life interactions). However, we also have a number of systems in place which enable us to be on hand for you remotely too.
How soon can we get to you?
Physically? Providing you’re in the North West, we always aim to be on site with you from one of our 3 locations on the same day! Distance is never an issue or a hassle and with the added perk of seeing an AGT team member in person – it’s a win win situation.
Virtually? We’re always available. As we’ve mentioned before, our IT services run 365 days a year. 24/7 so if you’re having an IT meltdown, we can remotely access from wherever we are and get things solved, sorted and back on track for you as quick as a flash!
What systems enable us to do this?
We LOVE our cloud based systems, seriously, we’d remotely marry a cloud based system if we could! This means that all of your data is safely and securely accessible without the need to physically be there in person to get it. Security is always our top priority, and we’ll never let you work on anything which isn’t encrypted and triple padlocked, with an added deadbolt just in case. Checkout some of our systems right here.
If you’d like a free IT audit to assess whether your current systems are shipshape, secure and accessible then we can help with that. Simply, send us a message on here and we’ll be right back in touch to discuss this with you and set up a meeting.
If you’re unsure whether cloud based IT services are the right fit for you, then let’s talk. We’ll find out what you want to achieve and how you work currently to find the best IT service for you and your company.
As straightforward as that! We look forward to seeing you online or in person soon!
Phishing scams, even if you’re not entirely familiar with what they are, you’ll probably know they need to be avoided at all costs.
Unlike the jolly people who sit beside a lake casting their rods for *googles fish names*… salmon, yes salmon? Phishers are scam artists who send emails under the pretence of being a trusted brand like your bank or Amazon, or someone else you regularly use online.
These ‘links’ encourage you to click and update your personal info such as your password or bank details, and usually because of some vital emergency, it needs to be done NOW.
What these links ACTUALLY do is take you through to a fake page (which looks a lot like the real deal unless you’re looking closely), but instead it’s the evil villains ready to pounce and steal your details for their own personal gains – boo, hiss!!
So now’s the time to step up as your own personal superhero and ensure this doesn’t happen to you or your staff.
How so?
Ok, we’re going to mention that buzzword again – PASSWORDS! Some people use the same password across multiple sites (even though we drone on a lot about why you shouldn’t), these evil phishing guys access multiple accounts using this same password. Keep them different and ensure they’re changed regularly.
Keep an eye out for the differences between fake emails and the real thing. Check the email address from which the email has been sent. You’ll usually be able to see the difference between a genuine email address and a phoney one if you look closely.
For example, a genuine email from Amazon will end in @amazon.co.uk and a fake might end in @emails.amazon.passwordchange.co.uk or something like that.
Double check!
Check who the email has been sent to. Phishing scams tend to send to lots of email addresses at the same time. Or the email addresses are all hidden, including your own. Sometimes, phishing emails are full of spelling mistakes and bad grammar too. That’s a dead giveaway.
If you’re ever even slightly unsure if an email is genuine then DO NOT click the link. We always recommend going directly to the company website and logging in there directly. Any communications from them will be on there too as a backup.
And as always, we’re on hand to double check and confirm any emails you’re worried about. Your IT providers with a superhero side hustle. Give us a bell here
As we’re all well aware by now, working from home has become the new ‘normal’ for most of us thanks to the ongoing situation, so it’s now even more important than ever before to ensure your company data is completely 100% secure on staff devices whilst they’re working remotely.
Sadly, cyber criminals are taking advantage of this global panic to do what they do best and we’ve seen an upsurge in attempts to steal data and breach systems, many based around the Coronavirus.
So what can be done?
Passwords: Ok, we know we harp on a lot about passwords but we promise we’re saying it for a reason. Yes, your team is working from home and they’re less likely to LOSE their device BUT there may be people in their home with access to it.
Solution – Strong passwords for all device access plus applications are a must. Also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for your applications (where you get a login code from a separate device). This gives you an added layer of protection.
Access: Out of the millions of people in this world, we like to think we can trust our families the most and we’re definitely not suggesting otherwise. But in cases where a member of staff has, say, a shared laptop, can they be sure that their children won’t click a dodgy link and inadvertently give hackers access to your company’s data? We’d bet not.
Solution – Who has access to your team’s devices? Is it safer and wiser to provide them with a company device instead? With company devices you can also ensure strict instructions that it can ONLY be used by the employee for work purposes.
Antivirus protected? If their device doesn’t have antivirus protection already then yes, there is
potential for it to become compromised, BUT the device may already have malware installed. Once that device has access to your confidential data, it could go straight into the hands of the wrong people – not cool.
Solution – Get on the phone to your IT provider and ask them to remotely check all devices to ensure they’re clean, up-to-date and completely secure. Sorted!
Up to date operating systems: Is there any possibility that your team could be using the now-dead Windows 7 at home? If so, then it could be a big issue here. Since Windows 7 is now
defunct, it’s unsupported so should something go wrong, you’ve nowhere to turn to
retrieve data or resolve a problem.
Solution – Ensure ALL employees are using the most up to date operating systems from home. Make a list of the devices and systems they’re using so if you need IT support they’ll be fully informed, prepared and ready to save the day.
Take the time to update: Yeah, we get it, application updates are a pain, ESPECIALLY when they take forever and a day. However, they’re vital and you need to ensure all updates are completed as soon as they’re available
Solution – If applications are updating, make a brew and be patient. They’re worth every single second. Check your employees have the relevant patches installed on their devices. If not, again you’re opening yourself up to cyber criminals, malware and data loss. Give us a call and we’ll get that sorted, STAT.
What VPN are people using? *Jargon alert!* VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it’s the safest way for your team to access company data. If you don’t currently use one, then it’s time to consider one as it will allow your team to access the company network from home.
Solution – Assess which VPN is most suitable for your new remote working requirements. Unsure? Phone your awesome IT service provider team (hopefully that’s us) and they can advise you of your best option
The home working handbook: Have you reviewed your current home working policy handbook since the pandemic began? Now’s a good opportunity to check it fully covers what is expected from the team and what policies and procedures you’ve got in place for a streamlined remote working environment.
Solution: Check it, update it and redistribute it. Schedule in a catch up with your team members to go through any changes and ensure everyone knows what to do in the event of an IT issue
Need a hand with any of the above? We’re here and able to remotely access and support you where required – your friendly IT service provided with a *virtual* smile. Give us a bell here
If you use Google Chrome as the browser on your laptop, desktop or other device, there are many great extensions you can use. Using these apps will make your browsing experience better and will enhance security and help you manage things like passwords and block annoying ads. The following are AGT Computer’s Top 5 Google Chrome Extensions.
1. LastPass
LastPass is a very useful extension that helps users manage the never-ending number of passwords they need to remember on a daily basis. LastPass lets you keep your decrypted database on your computer, but stores it in the cloud as well. Filling out forms is a breeze and so is their great login and password completion tools. LastPass is a smart way to keep your passwords safe and saves time when surfing the web.
2. AdBlock
AdBlock claims to be the best ad blocker out there with over 200 million downloads and counting. If seeing ads on Facebook, makes you see red, then this Google Chrome extension may be exactly what you’re looking for. It blocks ads across all sites and it’s incredibly easy to ad to your browser.
3. Google Image Search
This is a great extension for finding similar images located elsewhere on the web. Once the extension has been installed, you just hover over it and the Google Image Search link will be revealed. Once it recognizes the image it will bring up others that are similar.
4. Earth View
This extension may not help you manage your time, in fact, it definitely won’t, but it is absolutely fascinating nonetheless. The Earth View tab screen features plenty of satellite photos from every imaginable spot on the globe. Open a new tab and find a random location to explore from dizzying heights.
5. Google Dictionary
Feel less like an idiot immediately with this extension. Google Dictionary allows you to double click on any word that appears on a web page and the short definition will pop up. You can also bring up the full definition of any word.
What are your favorite extensions? Try out these great extension of Chrome and let us know what you think and remember AGT Computers also provides IT support to both individuals and businesses in Blackpool, Lytham, and Preston. We can help you backup data, protect your network and keep you updated with the latest tools to prevent hacking. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
Animal dissection can make one squeamish to say the least. Even for the heartier human specimens among us, cutting into the bone, tissue and organs of tiny, fury animals is enough to put us off our supper. The chemicals alone can get our guts churning. Consider our vegetarian and vegan friends who are morally opposed to eating animals, much less slicing them up with sharp surgical tools. Solving this problem is just another example of how the latest advances in technology can be used to solve problems. Whether you think cutting up critter cadavers is an ethically challenged proposition, or you believe it necessary for the advancement of science, it is science itself that may eliminate this nasty need altogether.
For the founders of US company, Necropsynth, 3D printing offered a solution to the inherent problems of animal dissection in the classroom. When co-founder, Bart Taylor got his first 3D printer it wasn’t long before he figured out a practical application for it. He thought by replicating animal tissue, he could offer science labs a way to teach anatomy without wasting animal life. Bart founded the company with his wife Tara to offer schools a less expensive, more humane way to teach science. A rat specimen in the States may cost a school as much at $12 per rat, whereas a 3D printed rat costs as little as $2 per.
Now that almost every restaurant menu has a vegetarian option, even our science labs and classrooms can as well. While the Taylors have successfully replicated tissue, they are still working on the printing of bones and muscle.
We may not have any 3D replicas of rats here at AGT Computers, but we’d be happy to discuss all of your software, hardware and other hi-tech needs. Our list of services includes repairs to laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones. We can help you install operating systems including the new Windows 10, as well as all relevant software updates. AGT Computers, Ltd serves the Blackpool, Lancashire, Fylde, Lytham and surrounding areas with cloud storage, cyber security and system upgrades. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
Are you still stuck in the past using an outdated browser? If you are stubbornly, or perhaps lazily. putting off updating to the latest browser, you are missing out. Not only are you most likely dealing with poor performance issues, but you’re also putting your computer and your data at risk to security breaches. Here’s another incentive to update your browser to the current version: starting in January of next year Microsoft will end support for outdated browsers. That includes support for Internet Explorer versions 8, 9 and 10. This news means it is finally time to upgrade, and what better way to start the new year than with increased speed and security. Without this upgrade to the latest supported operating system, users will no longer be able to receive the technical support they need. Important security updates will also not be available.
Those who choose to live with their outdated browsers do so at their own peril. They put themselves at risk of being infected by malware and viruses that are far more sophisticated than their current security programs can protect against. There’s also the annoying problem of slow loading images and less choices in plug-ins and add-ons.
Microsoft, of course, would like to see all users of their products using the latest versions of IE. That means upgrading to Internet Explorer for Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and the new Windows 10 operating system. Of course, Internet Explorer isn’t the only option. Chrome has become one of the most widely used Internet browsers around, but IE has certainly come a long way in a few short years. No matter what browser you choose, do yourself a favour and take advantage of the latest version and increase your productivity and speed. The tech world moves fast enough as it is and it’s simple to get updated.
If you have any questions about getting updated to the latest version of Internet Explorer, give AGT Computers a ring. Surf the web worry free, download movies and music and backup and protect your data. We are your one-stop shop for repairs to laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones. AGT Computers, Ltd. serves Blackpool, Lancashire, Fylde, Lytham and the surrounding areas with cloud storage, cyber security and system upgrades. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
