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Why Small Businesses Need IT Support: The Benefits of Outsourcing

Why Small Businesses Need IT Support: The Benefits of Outsourcing

In today’s digital age, technology is a critical component of any business’s success. Small businesses, in particular, need to have reliable IT support to ensure smooth operations and minimise downtime. However, many small business owners may not have the resources or expertise to manage their IT needs in-house. That’s where outsourcing IT support can come in handy. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of having IT support for small businesses.

Access to Expertise

Hiring an IT support team provides small businesses with access to a team of experts who have extensive knowledge of the latest technology trends, software, and hardware. IT support providers have the necessary skills and experience to identify and resolve complex IT issues quickly, minimising downtime and improving productivity.

Cost-Effective Outsourcing

IT support can be a cost-effective solution for small businesses that don’t have the resources to hire a full-time IT team. With IT support services, small businesses only pay for the services they need, whether it’s regular maintenance, troubleshooting, or upgrading software and hardware.

Increased Security

Small businesses are increasingly becoming targets of cyber-attacks. IT support providers can help ensure that a business’s network and data are secure from external threats such as malware and hackers. They can implement security protocols, regular data backups, and disaster recovery plans, reducing the risk of data loss or breaches.

Improved Efficiency

IT support providers can help small businesses streamline their operations, automate tasks, and implement innovative technologies. This can help businesses save time, reduce errors, and increase efficiency, resulting in higher productivity and profitability.

Focus on Core Business Activities

Outsourcing IT support can allow small business owners to focus on their core business activities, such as sales and marketing, without worrying about the technical aspects of running a business. IT support providers can take care of all the technical details, freeing up time and resources for business owners to focus on what they do best.

In conclusion, having IT support is essential for small businesses that want to thrive in today’s digital age. With access to expertise, cost-effective solutions, increased security, improved efficiency, and the ability to focus on core business activities, outsourcing IT support can provide small businesses with the resources they need to succeed. If you are a small business owner looking for reliable IT support, consider outsourcing your IT needs to a trusted provider.

Get your time back and focus on growing your business with our reliable IT support. Fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation with one of our experts. During the consultation, we’ll discuss your business’s unique IT needs and provide tailored recommendations to help you achieve your goals. Don’t let IT issues hold your business back – take the first step towards a more efficient and productive business today!

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Mastering OS Updates: A Step-by-Step Guide for Windows & Mac

Mastering OS Updates: A Step-by-Step Guide for Windows & Mac

We rely on our devices and software everyday for practically everything. From staying in touch with family and friends to managing business operations, our lives revolve around technology. Unfortunately, this convenience also comes with risks, as cybercriminals are always looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in our software and devices. But there is a simple precaution to minimise these threats – regular updates. In this article, we will discuss why updating your device and software is crucial and how you can do so on both Windows and Apple devices.

Why Updating Matters

Imagine leaving your door unlocked – that’s what outdated software is like for your device, inviting cyber intruders. They exploit these gaps to steal your data or seize control. By updating, you equip your device with the latest armour – security patches, bug fixes, and speed boosts – defending against potential cyber dangers.

Updating Windows Devices

To update your Windows device, click:

If you want to install the update now, select Start  > Settings  > date & Security  > Windows Update , and then select Check for updates. If updates are available, install them.If updates are available, you can choose to install them.

Check for Windows Updates

Updating Apple Devices

For Apple devices, it’s equally easy. Visit Settings > General > Software Update. When an update is available, hit “Download and Install.” Turn on “Automatic Updates” to receive future armour without lifting a finger.

Updating Mac OS

Safekeeping Business Devices

In the business realm, there a number of proactive measures that can be taken to armour your devices and prevent cyber assaults. Schedule and automate updates to ensure consistency and minimise risk. Deploy up-to-date antivirus software and train your team to spot and report suspicious activity for added protection.

In a Nutshell

Keeping your device and software up to date is paramount in today’s tech-driven world. Regular updates are your virtual shield, fending off cyber threats and preserving your data’s sanctity. Whether Windows or Apple is your weapon of choice, automated updates make it so easy to stay secure. With our user-friendly guide, staying ahead in the cybersecurity game is simpler than you think.

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Maximising ROI: How Managed IT Services Can Benefit Small Businesses

Maximising ROI: How Managed IT Services Can Benefit Small Businesses

Managed IT services have become increasingly popular among small businesses in recent years, and for good reason. Read on to discover the benefits of outsourcing IT Services to a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

MSPs provide a range of services that can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations including:

• IT Support and Maintenance
• Cloud Services
• Network Management
• Data Backup and Recovery
• Security
• Compliance

By providing these services, MSPs provide their customers peace of mind and improve their ROI through increased efficiency, reduced costs, and increased overall competitiveness.

Our services will give you peace of mind

Cost savings

Instead of hiring a full-time IT employee, small businesses can outsource their IT needs to an MSP at a fraction of the cost. This can help small businesses keep their overhead costs low and increase their profitability. MSPs can also help small businesses identify and eliminate unnecessary IT expenses, such as software subscriptions or hardware that is no longer needed.

Increased efficiency

Managed IT services can also help small businesses increase their efficiency. MSPs can provide their clients with the latest technology and software, which can help them automate tasks and streamline processes, freeing up small business owners and employees to focus on more important tasks.

A professional MSP service will provide its customers with real-time monitoring and maintenance, which can help avoid downtime and keep operations running smoothly.

Improved security

Small enterprises are often the target of cyber-attacks, and MSPs can help protect them with advanced security solutions, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems. MSPs can also assist with compliance and regulatory requirements that small businesses must adhere to.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our Managed IT Services.

How to Protect Your Data in the Cloud

How to Protect Your Data in the Cloud

Before the pandemic, many businesses took measured steps to transition to cloud technology. The global pandemic forced many companies to make rapid changes to allow their employees to work from home. Although there were security implications associated with such drastic measures, it has resulted in massive gains in cybersecurity.

The cloud has revolutionised the way businesses store and manage data. Thanks to major vendors investing in top-tier security measures, businesses of all sizes can rely on a high level of protection for their confidential information, along with regular updates as more features are added daily.

Despite the advances in cybersecurity technology, businesses still experience security breaches. Often, these breaches can be avoided when the right policies and configurations are in place.

To ensure your business is adequately protected without breaking the bank, let’s look at a few simple yet effective measures that are included with Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365

Use Microsoft 365 Business Premium

All Microsoft 365 plans include security features, but Premium provides far more features specifically designed for business environments.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

When every user is authenticated correctly, the risk of security breaches drastically decreases. Furthermore, this powerful security feature can be executed speedily, taking a few minutes per account.

The two most secure MFA methods include the Security key method (which involves using a separate security key that you can insert into a PC or mobile device to authenticate the login) and the use of an authentication app. If you use voice and SMS-based MFA please do so with caution. SMS and Voice MFA do not use encryption, making it easy for hackers to intercept them.

Data Security in the cloud

Admin Account Protection

No user should have admin rights on their primary account because even admins can make mistakes when checking email or casually browsing. Users should only have the access they need for the time they need it. Implement a limited access policy to cut the chances of any violations.

Disable Anonymous Sharing

Anonymous sharing is enabled by default, allowing you to share documents with anyone. Meaning, a document could accidentally get sent to the wrong person. By disabling this feature, you will have more control over where your business data is shared.

SharePoint

Monitor SharePoint for Changes and Access Events

SharePoint is a practical way to keep your team informed. You can receive alerts for suspicious activity and notifications when someone deletes more than five files or copies a large amount of data. This can help prevent data loss accidents as well as malicious acts.

Implement Device Policies and Management

Your workforce may use various devices to carry out tasks. Each device is a potential path into your protected environment, so it is essential to have strong policies in place. You can create policies that require complex passwords and insist that Windows updates are performed promptly. Endpoints are now the most prominent threat, so use the free device protection in your Microsoft Business Premium subscription to boost security.

Block Client Forwarding Rules

Enabling email forwarding might breach your workplace policies and also put your business at risk. Suppose a hacker managed to gain access to an account, they could forward emails to an address of their choice, allowing them access to leak sensitive business information and wreak havoc.

The importance of online data security

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Policies

In Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you can designate rules around your data, such as restricting certain document types from being emailed. You can use these rules to prevent sensitive information, such as credit cards, Medicare, and licence numbers, from being emailed, cutting a critical risk. If your business must share sensitive data, we recommend uploading documents to a secure file storage platform such as OneDrive or Google Drive and then generating a secure link to share with relevant individuals/teams.

Improve Your Microsoft Secure Score

Microsoft 365 includes a handy tool that evaluates your security posture and provides a score based on system configurations, user behaviour, and other measurements. In addition, the tool offers you a prioritised list of recommendations to support you in raising your security level.

Backup Your Cloud Data

A common misconception is that someone, somewhere, is backing everything up for you in the cloud, but that isn’t entirely true. Understand what your data loss acceptance level looks like and find a data backup solution you are satisfied with.

The best online data security protection is prevention through training

Training

Regarding cybersecurity, it is no surprise that human error is the most common cause of security breaches. Regardless of all the possible precautions you take to minimise the risk of cybercrime, all it can take is a link click, download, missed update or misconfiguration to lead to a big problem.

The best way to avoid human error is to enforce cyber security guidelines and provide online and in-person training and testing.

Testing should include a targeted phishing campaign to see who clicks – this can help you to identify who requires training.

As part of any cyber security audit, we look at physical security; you’d be surprised how many people still put their password on a post-it note by their monitor and how many visitors are left unsupervised around sensitive information!

Most of the actions in this post require little or no help to set up and will immediately reduce your risk of a breach. While it is worth investing in a cyber security review and the assistance of a data security specialist, there is plenty that you can do yourself to become less of a target to hackers.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about data protection.

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How to Create an Outlook Email Signature

How to Create an Outlook Email Signature

If you are using Microsoft 365, you might like to use a signature management application that appends to emails after you send them from any device. The email signature management application creates brand consistency and is a great marketing tool.

This article, however, will show you the process of creating an email signature using the Microsoft 365 Outlook application. Let’s get started!

Step 1.

Choose “New Email”, as if you were composing a new email.

Step 1 Click New email

Steps 2 and 3.

Click “Signature” then click Signatures…”

Step 2 and 3 Click Signature then click Signatures...

Steps 4

The Signatures and Stationery window will appear. Click the button that says New” to create a new signature. 

Step 4 Dialogue box pops up, click New button

Step 5

Type a name for your signature when prompted, then click “OK”.

Step 5 Name your signature

Step 6.

In the larger “Edit signature” field, design your signature. It is here that you can format your signature’s text and add links and images.

To add an image click the insert image icon Insert and image by clicking this icon

To add a link (or Teams chat link) to your signature, select the image or text you want to apply the link to. Next click the link icon: Link Icon

Step 6 Insert Image and link

Steps 7 and 8.

Paste your link in the “Address:” field and press “OK” to continue.

Step 8 paste your link in the address field and press "ok"

Step 9.

The link has been applied, to save your signature, click “OK”.

Step 9 Link is created, confirm and save by clicking "OK"

Step 10.

Now you can use your signature by clicking on “Signature” again. This time you will see your signature in the dropdown box. Click on the new signature to use it.

Compose your email and send it as you usually would.

Step 10 click "Signature" and find your new signature in the drop down box. Click it to choose it

Step 11.

Once you have clicked on the signature that you created, it will appear at the bottom of your email. Test that your link goes to the correct page/application.

Compose or make any edits to your email and send it as you normally would.

Step 11. Completed signature. Test link works

Need additional instructions?

Please let us know if you have any difficulties. We are happy to assist you. We welcome your feedback so we can further improve our processes. Our aim is to make your life easier so you can get your time back.

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Protect your Data & Business with Managed IT

Protect your Data & Business with Managed IT

Technology has revolutionised the business world, and there’s no turning back. Now more than ever, businesses of all sizes need to stay competitive. They also must ensure their data remains secure. In order to be competitive and prevent data breaches, businesses of all sizes need to keep up with the latest tech trends. But that’s sometimes more challenging than it sounds. Implementing and managing technologies is a full-time job — one that requires a specific set of skills and knowledge. That’s where IT management comes in.

IT management is the process of planning, organising, and controlling the resources needed to run an organisation’s IT infrastructure optimally. This includes everything from hardware and software to networks, data storage and cyber security. Essentially, IT management is responsible for keeping an organisation’s IT infrastructure operating smoothly and efficiently.

There are many reasons why every business needs IT management. Here are just a few:

To Enhance Data Security

To Stay Current with the latest Tech Trends

To Optimise Efficiency and Productivity

Provide Cost Optimisation Strategies

Enhance customer satisfaction

Enhance Data Security

Recent events such as the Optus Data breach have proven that data security is critical to protecting your company and client data. With hackers becoming more sophisticated every day, it’s now extremely important for companies to have stringent security measures to protect their data and systems from attack. IT management can help develop data security policies to lock down data and user access. IT management can configure security software and implement security protocols such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption technologies.

Stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends

One of the most important roles of IT management is to keep an organisation up-to-date with the latest technology trends. Keeping up to date with everything from researching new technologies to implementing them in a manner that will benefit an organisation the most. Staying up-to-date with the latest technology trends allows them to remain competitive in their respective industries. Furthermore, IT management enables businesses to take advantage of opportunities that they might otherwise miss out on if they were using outdated technology.

Optimise efficiency and productivity

Another key role of IT management is to optimise efficiency and productivity within an organisation. Businesses can be optimising efficiency in many ways, such as streamlining processes, automating tasks, and improving communication channels. By optimising efficiency and productivity, companies can get more work done in less time, which can profoundly impact their bottom line.

Cost Optimisation Strategies

IT management can provide companies with strategies to consolidate disparate systems into a single platform or migrate to a more cost-effective infrastructure solution. IT management can negotiate better deals with vendors and suppliers.

Enhance customer satisfaction

Finally, IT management can help companies focus on serving their customers and less on the technology issues that arise due to a lack of support or under-maintained equipment. IT management can help enhance your customer satisfaction by providing self-service options and automation. These services may help many customers to resolve issues independently without a customer service representative. Enhancing customer satisfaction levels result in retaining customers and business growth.

As you can see, there are many reasons why every business needs IT management services to stay competitive in today’s marketplace. If you’re unsure where to start when implementing or managing technologies within your organisation, contact Key Technologies for a chat to discuss your IT needs. We would be more than happy to assist you!

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