Best practices for your business technology
Have you thought about virtualisation
Chichester | Hampshire | Sussex
Celebrated to remind everyone about the importance of protecting data and keeping your systems secure. ABM have insisted since conception that all of the businesses we support invest in a secure data backup. Now more than ever, protecting data is paramount. The cost involved with data breaches, and losing data far outweigh the initial investment for backups. If you do not have a solution ABM can provide you with options, taking into consideration how your business functions and the budget you have available. (An important note: just because your data is stored in the cloud, does not mean you do not need a backup. Your supplier likely stipulates in your agreement that your data is your own responsibility.)
All data has a backup
Operates to a schedule
Tested and monitored regularly
The most important data is allocated priority
Kept offsite or away from typical working environment
A policy is created to advise trusted individuals about the backup procedure
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During our visit, we will complete a thorough assessment of your infrastructure and sit with you to discuss your requirements. A meeting of minds allows ABM to source a complete product, and plan for any specific eventualities, including company growth.
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Running a diagnostic review of your server helps ABM to understand if there are any current problems with how your infrastructure is set up. It will allow us to see if we can complete a straight migration, or if we will have to start again with a fresh configuration.
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A server should last your business for 5 years at least, and so it has to be right. A lot can happen in this time and you should never be held back by outdated or inefficient technology. This process has been fine tuned over ABM's many years in business. We will quote you our solution and answer any questions you may have.
'Whether the meeting be via call, email, video or in person, carving time out of your day to discuss your business expansion, new business venture, project management or system audit allows you to delegate some of the responsibility, and gain expert advice on the most efficient step forward for your IT infrastructure.' - Anthony Moignard ABM's Director
Free up your time for other tasks
Highlight a trajectory for your projects or goals
Allow you access to expert IT advice
Clear a path and make the seemingly impossible, possible
Create a more focused road map to success
Give you information on how to budget for your next business stage
Allow you a window into the future (future proofing is important)
Access the practicality part of your dream
Business connection created even if you decide not to go ahead
Internet capabilities - The most important questions to ask are: Does the building have an efficient broadband infrastructure? i.e. leased line fibre-to-the-cabinet, or fibre-to-the-premises? What are the internet speeds, upload and download speed?
Networking infrastructure - The main issue we often find is that there is never enough network port allowance allocated. Having network ports for PC's and phones for each employee is important, and then do not forget an allowance for growth AND for any other devices you may have, for example printers, Wi-Fi access points, CCTV cameras, LED displays or Smart TV's. In a new build this is relatively simple because you can request this in your project details, however for established offices, further work may be required to ensure the office space works for your requirements. This leads us onto the cabling of a building. Recently we have found electricians have been advertising the capability to run network cables alongside their mainstream work. This is great if they have trained and have an understanding of IT, but if they don't, then the 'cost saving' will be lost to an IT company rectifying the situation. You see, asking an electrician to run cables for your networking infrastructure is like asking them to complete the plumbing. Too many times we find network cables have not been numbered, which long story short, means going round, establishing which cable is which, and then checking if each are wired correctly; if we have a faulty test show up, we then can not easily establish where each end of the cable starts and finishes, which extends the whole process. Electricians also cable network cables like they are your typical electrical cables, which basically means the slack they leave to allow endplate and patching connectivity is often too little for network requirements. All of these factors add additional charges to the budget.
Building pointers - When you first research and visit an office here are a few IT specific pointers to add to your list: If you have a server, do you have a secure, ventilated room (potentially with A/C capabilities) that you can lock your server away in? You want your server cabinet to have limited accessibility and for noise purposes be away from all employees. Are there enough networking ports and plug sockets for all of your employees and future proofing for more? Does the office have CCTV, if not is this something you will require? (If so, is the building listed, or abnormally tall? Because this will make CCTV more difficult to install) Is the building single-occupancy or shared? You need to think about your data protection situation and adjust your IT security for this.
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Not everything can be turned off and on again. PC's and laptops are fine as long as you do a complete, safe shut down. If you can't and the PC has completely frozen, you will have to proceed to hold down the button. You can also power off routers and switches, however, this will affect everyone else in the office, so check everyone has saved and finished what they are doing. Anything else, we would recommend leaving alone.
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Lots of people call and get worried because their technology doesn't turn on, or flickers. This could be because the cable is loose or has been unplugged. Please check the cables, and potentially, if using an extension lead, swap this out too. Be careful about what, and who else, is plugged in to it though.
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As an IT technician it is good to get a full picture of an issue. This way we can decide where we need to look and where we don't. Part of this process is checking if anyone else in your office is having issues. Ask around to see if they are experiencing the same problems.
In warmer weather you run the risk of letting your technology over heat. If you have a fantastic AC system then chances are you won't have to worry. However, here in the 'never-really-that-hot-UK' most office environments have fans cooling employees down, but leaving technology to fend for itself.
Your technology will constantly hang and it will take a while to get your tasks completed.
If you can hear your fan making some strange sounds and running at an increased rate.
Are you experiencing systems crashes or random restarts?
Does your technology feel warm or hot to touch?
If all of your technology is in an enclosed space (potentially in a server cupboard or cabinet), have the door open to allow for air circulation.
Make sure you shut down any printers, laptops and PC's at the end of the day / if not in use. It gives them the time to completely cool down.
Investing in a small air conditioning unit is a very good idea!
Cleaning the inside of your device is very important. Dust can sit inside the machine stopping your tech from cooling itself down efficiently.
(Please get professional help when cleaning out your technology)
You own all of your equipment. You are not paying a rental premium. Which often can be more expensive than hardware. After a certain point the Cloud becomes a more expensive option. Large data storage costs increase monthly expenditure.
You have full ownership of your data and it is local to you. It is private and as long as you take security precautions, this can't be accessed or stolen. If you have Government contracts, they might require you to have localised secure data. The majority of Cloud contracts advise that your data is your own responsibility.
To have the Cloud work as intended, you will require a decent internet connection. Synchronising your data requires bandwidth. If you are in a rural location you will have to consider this. Do you use ERP or accountancy software that requires and on-premise server? If this is a key factor in your day to day running, you will have to consider an alternative solution.
Why is having double, or even triple screen capability the best investment for task productivity, and what should you keep in mind? The university of Utah completed a recent study, confirming that with two monitors, task productivity increases by 25% and with three monitors 35.5%.
Multi-tasking: Lots of people find themselves doing two or even three tasks at once. Having two or three screens allows you to do this effectively
Productivity: When you make a task visually easier to complete you become more efficient at it, your output will increase
Proactivity: You may have a job role that requires monitoring of calendar entries or incoming orders, with a spare monitor this is visible all the time
Distraction: Having two screens means you can view two windows open at once, your work and potentially another personal search
Graphics Card / Ports: Your PC requires a graphics card that will support your use of two screens, as well as ports to plug in the monitors
Costs: Depending on your choice of screen depends on the costs involved. Most likely, different job titles will require different sized monitors
Businesses will offer an immersive experience for the 'try before you buy' aspect of sales. Creating a space where you truly believe you are using a product or service, likely using elevated VR.
At the moment many people associate blockchain with cryptocurrency. However, some large businesses have now adopted this to ensure transactions are secure, accounted for, and unalterable.
Many processes within a business still create a level of inconsistency. Automation rules out room for error. Most mundane tasks in businesses are covered by automation already. However, it is likely that larger more complex tasks will continue in a similar direction.