Tag Archives: Business

IT support questions

Posted on by

What questions should you ask your IT support company? Sometimes in life we have to ask awkward questions. How much did that cost? Do you really need a second piece of cake? What is that smell?

You may have spoken to several IT support providers to look after you companies IT. However, who can you trust? It’s easier when you have been given a recommendation from a trusted source. Asking the right questions during the selection process, to determine if the company is the best fit is key. Whilst some questions may seem tricky, they will help you sort out the contenders.

However, you don’t usually expect to feel awkward asking questions of an IT support company. Well, you should.

A few tricky questions could help you to decide if they’re really the people you want to protect your business and its data. Make the wrong decision on which IT support company to work with, and you’ll lose time, money…  and a lot of productivity too. Worse still, if they’re not what they claim to be, you could also put your customers’ information at risk. At the moment, you really need to check their safety measures to protect your people. We’ve written a new free guide, listing the 5 most important questions you should ask your IT support company. Not one of those questions is to do with how much they’ll cost you.

Click here to download our useful guide.

What questions to ask your IT provider

Choosing a new IT provider can be an important decision for a business owner. What questions should you ask?

Five Things to Look for in an IT Support Company

It is not uncommon for technical problems to be handled by whoever happens to be the most tech savvy person in the company. That can work for a little while. As a result, it is not a sustainable practice. Your team should focus on meeting your organizational goals – not dealing with technology problems. Why not outsource your IT needs as it will help alleviate the burden, so you can get back to business.

Contact us to arrange an IT audit, discuss your goals and any technical issues you are experiencing.

 

SharePoint Makes Working Easier

Posted on by

SharePoint makes working easier by allowing its users to work remotely and have full access to data. It’s is like having a mobile office without worrying about security or space to store paperwork. Today’s business environment is drastically different from that of the past. Employees are working remotely. Regulatory requirements are changing and evolving. Organizations are under increased pressure to work more effectively. They also need to collaborate with greater ease and serve customers more efficiently. Take a look at our new video about how SharePoint makes remote working easier.

How can companies meet these changing needs while improving overall ROI and gaining the ability to make better business decisions? Microsoft SharePoint is a valuable tool that increases productivity. In fact, 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies are using SharePoint. However, does this solution make sense for your business?

Benefits of using Microsoft SharePoint

Working remotely as a team is really important right now, with many of us sat in different places. Businesses need to make sure that all their staff and sub-contractors have access to the correct files, folders and data storage. SharePoint is a great tool to help you do that.

It works with Microsoft 365 to connect your team and allow them to create, safely store and share documents online. You can set up team sites for projects, where your people can collaborate on documents. As well as allowing you to create an intranet for your business. Which is a great way to stay connected to what’s happening, where and with whom.

SharePoint makes working easier by sharing news with colleagues, access forms, lists and libraries of information. That’s vital when we can’t all be in the same place. There’s also a mobile app, so your team can stay updated on group news when they’re not at their big screen. The system is cloud-based and allows you to access everything in one place. This is perfect for working from home, back in the workplace or a hybrid setup.

For more information or to set up SharePoint for your business get in touch today to see how LIS can help you.

Office 365 Security Package

Posted on by

Lodge Information Services (LIS) are proud to announce their latest product The Office 365 Security Package.

One of the biggest concerns within any business is IT security. The rising use of the cloud and mobile devices has bought with it cost savings. As a result, there are increased data security risks.

Our Office 365 Security Package is a bundle of software tools. The package works continuously on Microsoft Office 365 accounts. They provide genuine protection benefits that EVERY business ought to have. We manage EVERYTHING for you. It’s all in our hands, which is exactly how it should be. Giving you peace of mind to allow you to concentrate on your business.

Download our Office 365 A Risky Business booklet to find our more.

Office 365 Security Package

Protect your business against cyber attacks. This will save you money and give you peace of mind.

Our Office 365 Security Package includes…

Email Forwarding Alerts. These alerts are designed to notify you promptly of any forwarders that have been set up on your email system. This enables LIS to act fast before any damage is done. The LIS helpdesk with a simple click of a button will approve or reject the forwarder on your behalf.

Admin Monitoring. Our help desk is alerted if any bogus attempts to set up a new admin account on your system. If the hackers make a change, it can be immediately detected and stopped. Your IT team will be notified of any changes to the admin account. Stay in control of your data and documents.

Spoofing Protection. Automatically checks for possible spoofing, when new emails arrive within your company. The system continuously runs in the background 24/7. We identify attempts to trick your staff into believing emails are internal rather than external. A warning message is splashed across the email is a match is found. No more paying unauthorized supplier invoices or following other malicious instructions. Powerful!.

Location Monitoring. Automatic alerts will be sent to you and the help desk when a login is spotted from a suspicious location. We will set up restrict access to agreed geographical locations. Overseas cyber criminals must not be allowed to access your date.

Contact us to make sure you are protected!

High Speed Internet

Posted on by

Three in five UK small to medium sized businesses do not have high speed Internet. Do you? Is it something you should invest in? As a result of slow or unreliable access, only 20% are selling their products online. While just 4% plan to invest in a digital channel going forward.

Internet that grows with your business

To underpin your digital strategy, you will need a reliable, high-speed internet connection that will adapt with you. It can be hard to find the right solution, particularly if you do not have in-house IT experts. Work with LIS, we offer you a consultative approach rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

For example, most businesses are aware of the benefits of standard and fibre broadband. However, not always of what comes after that and if it is appropriate for their needs. Special offers, advertising and a high price plan can be off putting.

High Speed Internet

Broadband for SMEs: Make sure you stay connected!

What is the best option?

Did you know there are a range of broadband options that are a step up from fibre, which will cost you less than the price of your daily coffee?

Choose from standard broadband, fibre or one of the many ethernet solutions. It will depend on part on how you will need to serve your customers in the future. Once you have the right internet connection, you will not have to worry. Having the speed and reliability you need to meet your customers’ expectations.

Click the link below to explore the Internet issue businesses are suffering across the country.

https://businessnewswales.com/three-in-five-uk-smes-dont-have-high-speed-internet

We can help companies improve their Internet speed and managed IT services, network support and telecoms. LIS specialise in network support, IT management & all aspects of IT and telecoms services. Contact us for your FREE IT audit.

#HighSpeedInternet #PostLockdownPlan #UKBusiness #ItsSlowingYouDown

Preparing to return to your work

Posted on by

No one really knows when the lockdown will end and when we can start preparing to return to your work. Why not try to start planning to get ready for when you are allowed back into your place of work.

Preparing to return to your work: Three things to consider

  1. Your employees. If it is a phased end to lockdown, you might have some people at work and some still working from home. It is good to form a plan now for every scenario as we might not return to the “old normal” for a long time yet.
  2. Look at your hardware and software. What’s been difficult during lockdown and caused frustration? What needs to be upgraded or changed? Identify what you need and plan for this to be implemented quickly. To help you stay efficient in case we have another lockdown.
  3. Finally, look at your data. Now is the time to check your data security has not been compromised in any way.

If you need help preparing to return to work for the “end of lockdown”, let us make it happen quickly and efficiently contact us.

The governments five key points

1. Work from home, if you can

Take reasonable steps to help people work from home. Are you unable to work from home or is work place open?  You should then go to work. Staff should speak to their employer about when you will be opening.

2. Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment, in consultation with workers or trade unions

This guidance operates within current health and safety employment and equalities legislation and employers will need to carry out COVID-19 risk assessments in consultation with their workers or trade unions, to establish what guidelines to put in place. If possible, employers should publish the results of their risk assessments on their website and we expect all businesses with over 50 employees to do so.

3. Maintain 2 metres social distancing, wherever possible

Employers should re-design workspaces to maintain 2 metre distances between people by staggering start times, creating one-way walk throughs, opening more entrances and exits, or changing seating layouts in break rooms.

4. Where people cannot be 2 metres apart, manage transmission risk

Employers should look into putting barriers in shared spaces, creating workplace shift patterns or fixed teams minimising the number of people in contact with one another, or ensuring colleagues are facing away from each other.

5. Reinforcing cleaning processes

Clean office more frequently, paying close attention to high-contact objects like door handles and keyboards. Employers should provide handwashing facilities or hand sanitisers at entry and exit points.

#returntowork

Preparing to return to your work

Help to control the virus. Staying alert. Follow the rules. We can continue to save lives and recover from coronavirus.