Microsoft Office is used by 1.5 Billion people making it one of the most popular software suites in the world. Businesses nowadays rely on the suite’s tools to communicate, create/save documents as well as balance their books. But there’s a lot more to Office than you realize, particularly since the release of Office 365. If you are interested or you would like to find out more about Office 365 continue reading and see below a list of the most frequently asked questions.
1) What is Office 365?
.Office 365 is a cloud-based, subscription model version of Microsoft Office. Office 365 still contains the same core applications as traditional versions of Office, these include: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and depending on the plan purchased, may also give you use of other apps and services such as Publisher, Planner, OneDrive, Exchange, SharePoint, Access, Skype, Yammer, and Microsoft Teams.
There are a number of different packages available when licensing Office 365, these versions can be used for the following:
-Personel use
-Multi-user household
-Students
-Businesses
-Non Profit organisations
-Education institutions
Lets not forget Office online which includes online- and mobile -only versions that provide users access to feature-limited versions of Office apps for free.
2)How is Office 365 different from previous versions of Office?
Office 365 is a subscription-based service, meaning rather than buying a copy of the suite outright for a one-time, up-front cost, users instead pay a monthly subscription fee to access the service at a level of their choosing. This allows users access to the latest versions of office 365 as microsoft updates the platform on their end making this suite both fast and very efficient.
Another reason why office 365 is different to that of previous versions is the fact that it is designed to be used online, meaning all applications, services and data generated by Office 365 are hosted on microsoft servers.
Office 365 comes with mail hosting and cloud storage space so users can host their files online and have access to them anywhere at any time, all they require is a suitable device that connects to the internet.
3)Who uses Office 365 for Business and why?
The core applications of Office 365 still provide businesses with the basic tools they need to perform everyday tasks such as managing data, creating documents and communicating information. Office has evolved into a suite of intelligent tools that allow organizations/businesses to be more productive and efficient when using this platform. With the various plan options available on Office, companies of all sizes can get access to these tools instantly.
Services such as Outlook can provide a professional-looking platform through which businesses can build brand recognition, create brand awareness and market their services. Outlook’s extensive calendaring features can also help organizations better collaborate and manage their time.
All Office applications and services are connected, both to each other and to the web, facilitating and improving teamwork, saving employees time and enabling them to work better together through tools such as team chat, online meetings, co-authoring, sharing files and group emails. Office also allows organizations to work from anywhere with secure access to conversations, chats, emails, tasks and schedules making the business run smoothly and efficiently no matter where you are.
4)How can Office 365 help businesses grow?
The Office 365 suite makes performing tasks like finding information, sharing documents, communicating with colleagues and processing data much faster and a lot more straightforward. This ultimately reduces time spent on administrative duties/tasks allowing the business more time to innovate, create and move forward instead of back.
Apps recently added to Office 365 furnish business users with even more essential tools to help them grow, including:
– Microsoft Connections, a basic email marketing tool and customer engagement platform.
– Microsoft Invoicing, an app used to generate and send professional invoices to customers and accept payments on the go.
– Microsoft Listings, a tool used to assist organisations in order to manage their business information/data on platforms like Facebook, Google, Bing and Yelp.
– Outlook Customer Management, a simple customer management add-on for businesses who don’t require a full-blown CRM system.
– MileIQ, a mileage logging platform that automatically classifies and submits business travel.
– Microsoft Bookings, which allows users to manage customer appointments and schedules.
– Business center, a central access point for all office 365 business app, through which users can track metrics such as invoices, email subscriptions and bookings.
5)What is Microsoft SharePoint?
SharePoint is a web-based collaborative platform that integrates with Microsoft Office. Many Office 365 plans include SharePoint Online, a cloud-based service, hosted by Microsoft, for businesses of all sizes. This platform allows employees the ability to create sites to share documents and information with colleagues, partners, and customers.
SharePoint allows users to:
– Keep teams/colleagues up to date by using document libraries, tasks and calendars.
– Create, manage and share documents with colleagues.
– Ability to share news, documents, events and updates related to the business.
– Protect important data and content
– Download and have access to documents off-line.
– Communicate with colleagues in real time within the Sharepoint Online Interface.
6)What is OneDrive?
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud-based file storage service, where all files, documents, images, videos and music are stored for Office 365 users. OneDrive also allows files to be synced across desktops, browsers, and mobile devices provided they have internet.
7)What is Skype for Business?
Skype for Business is a version of the popular chat and conferencing service designed specifically for commercial use. Organizations can access all the telecommunications tools they might need on a daily basis, including send instant messages between colleagues, utilize video conferencing features, record conversations, share screens, give presentations and hold meetings making this tool both effective and productive in the business world.
8) What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft teams is a chat-based collaboration product, its main function is to facilitate teamwork and promote productivity, with three key areas of functionality such as: chat, project management and extensive integration with Office 365.
This tool brings together the chat capabilities of Skype for Business, along with collaboration tools like document sharing, useful AI-powered features such as chatbots and online project management tools.
9) What is Yammer?
Yammer is a social network used by employees to communicate and connect. It creates space to communicate across different departments within the business in the forms of engagements, news, messaging and announcements. This platform is designed to be a fast and intimate sharing tool, making it easy to collaborate with project teams.
10) What is Microsoft Exchange?
Microsoft Exchange is Microsoft’s email server solution. Everything that happens in outlook including incoming and outgoing mail, tasks, contacts, calendars ect are all stored on the Exchange server. Microsoft Exchange allows organizations to create their own, independent mail system.
11) What plans are available for Office 365 for Business?
There are currently two licensing models for business users wanting to implement Office 365. Companies with less than 300 users can opt for one of three Office 365 for Business plans and for larger companies, there are four Office 365 for Enterprise plans, all of which support unlimited users. License types can be mixed to suit the needs of the business.
Below displays all of Office 365 business plans for both SMB;s and Enterprises:
Office 365 for business pricing plans for SMB’s and Enterprises:
|
Office 365 Business Essentials |
Office 365 Business |
Office 365 Business Premium |
Apps included |
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
Desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, and Publisher
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
Desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, and Publisher
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
Services included |
Exchange
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
Microsoft Planner
24/7 phone and web support |
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
24/7 phone and web support |
Exchange
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Email Hosting
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
Microsoft Planner
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Connections
Microsoft Listings
Outlook Customer Manager
Microsoft Invoicing
Microsoft Bookings
MileIQ
Business center
24/7 phone and web support |
Email hosting |
50 GB mailbox and custom email domain address |
None |
50 GB mailbox and custom email domain address |
Device licensing |
Services for use on 5 phones and 5 tablets only |
Office apps and services on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user |
Office apps and services on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user |
Office 365 for Business pricing plans for enterprise
|
Office 365: ProPlus |
Office 365: Enterprise E1 |
Office 365: Enterprise E3 |
Office 365: Enterprise E5 |
Apps included |
Desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access and Publisher
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
Desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access and Publisher
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
Desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access and Publisher
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
Services included |
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
24/7 phone and web support |
Exchange
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Yammer
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Planner
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
24/7 phone and web support |
Exchange
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Yammer
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Planner
Unlimited personal cloud storage
24/7 phone and web support |
Exchange
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Yammer
Power BI Pro
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Planner
Office 365 Cloud App Security
Advanced Data Governance
Customer Lockbox
Exchange Online Advanced Threat Protection
Unlimited personal cloud storage
24/7 phone and web support |
Email hosting |
None |
50 GB mailbox and custom email domain address |
100 GB mailbox and custom email domain address |
100 GB mailbox and custom email domain address |
Device licensing |
Office apps and services on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user |
Office apps and services on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user |
Office apps and services on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user |
Office apps and services on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user |
12) Can Office 365 be used with previous versions of Office?
Many existing Office customers who currently run a perpetually licensed, on-premise version of Office can use Office 365 and enjoy all the features that cloud connectivity brings with it. Office 365 works best with Office 2016.
13) Is Office 365 secure?
Office 365 is a cloud-hosted platform, many new and prospective customers will have questions about security and privacy. A company’s data is its most valuable asset, and as we’ve seen in numerous high-profile data breach cases in recent years, the consequences of failing to adequately secure business data are severe.
Office 365 data is held in Microsoft’s global data centers, where dedicated threat management teams actively anticipate, prevent, and mitigate malicious access 24/7; a level of security that virtually no company can operate in-house.
14) What Admin Centers exist for Office 365?
There is now one single admin center for Office 365, known as the Microsoft 365 admin center. All Office 365 customers will use this admin center, whether they license Office 365 as part of a Microsoft 365 plan or not.
Five common IT problems and how to resolve them
blog1) I’m unable to log in?
This is easily fixed – Make sure you haven’t overlooked anything such as Caps Lock , Grammar and spelling when entering your login details/password.
Another reason is your password may have expired, or your account may have been locked due to too many unsuccessful login attempts if this occurs try and reset your password.
2) The Blue screen of death!
Simply rebooting can fix the blue screen of death. This problem is usually related to hardware or a driver that is not working correctly. It usually happens after you install a new piece of hardware or update some drivers, or if there are pending updates that you haven’t installed.
It’s helpful to tell your IT support company what you did just before the error occurred, they will be able to assist and diagnose the problem.
3) Computer does not recognise a USB device?
First things to check are:
1) Does the device work in a different USB port on the computer?
2) Are other devices recognised in that port?
3) Does the device work on another computer?
If you have tried these troubleshooting methods and still no luck, then your IT support company can proceed with some more in-depth troubleshooting.
4)Your computer just shuts down unexpectedly?
This could be related to overheating. Check your computer for dust, and make sure it is in a cool and ventilated place. If this is not the issue, then it is likely that your hardware could be failing or it could be virus problem. Disconnect the PC from any networks and call your IT Support experts, they will be able to assist you in fixing the problem.
5)Your internet is really slow
If you’re connecting wirelessly, then the location may be the problem. The signal is not necessarily strong in all corners of the building. Try rebooting your network router and you can also run a speed test at www.speedtest.net. If the speed is significantly slower than what you are paying for, then call your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to troubleshoot with them. If the speed test is good but your webpages are running very slow, you could have some malware or viruses affecting your internet speed.
Try running an antivirus scan on your computer. If this doesn’t resolve the problem then call your IT support company.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Office 365
blogMicrosoft Office is used by 1.5 Billion people making it one of the most popular software suites in the world. Businesses nowadays rely on the suite’s tools to communicate, create/save documents as well as balance their books. But there’s a lot more to Office than you realize, particularly since the release of Office 365. If you are interested or you would like to find out more about Office 365 continue reading and see below a list of the most frequently asked questions.
1) What is Office 365?
.Office 365 is a cloud-based, subscription model version of Microsoft Office. Office 365 still contains the same core applications as traditional versions of Office, these include: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and depending on the plan purchased, may also give you use of other apps and services such as Publisher, Planner, OneDrive, Exchange, SharePoint, Access, Skype, Yammer, and Microsoft Teams.
There are a number of different packages available when licensing Office 365, these versions can be used for the following:
-Personel use
-Multi-user household
-Students
-Businesses
-Non Profit organisations
-Education institutions
Lets not forget Office online which includes online- and mobile -only versions that provide users access to feature-limited versions of Office apps for free.
2)How is Office 365 different from previous versions of Office?
Office 365 is a subscription-based service, meaning rather than buying a copy of the suite outright for a one-time, up-front cost, users instead pay a monthly subscription fee to access the service at a level of their choosing. This allows users access to the latest versions of office 365 as microsoft updates the platform on their end making this suite both fast and very efficient.
Another reason why office 365 is different to that of previous versions is the fact that it is designed to be used online, meaning all applications, services and data generated by Office 365 are hosted on microsoft servers.
Office 365 comes with mail hosting and cloud storage space so users can host their files online and have access to them anywhere at any time, all they require is a suitable device that connects to the internet.
3)Who uses Office 365 for Business and why?
The core applications of Office 365 still provide businesses with the basic tools they need to perform everyday tasks such as managing data, creating documents and communicating information. Office has evolved into a suite of intelligent tools that allow organizations/businesses to be more productive and efficient when using this platform. With the various plan options available on Office, companies of all sizes can get access to these tools instantly.
Services such as Outlook can provide a professional-looking platform through which businesses can build brand recognition, create brand awareness and market their services. Outlook’s extensive calendaring features can also help organizations better collaborate and manage their time.
All Office applications and services are connected, both to each other and to the web, facilitating and improving teamwork, saving employees time and enabling them to work better together through tools such as team chat, online meetings, co-authoring, sharing files and group emails. Office also allows organizations to work from anywhere with secure access to conversations, chats, emails, tasks and schedules making the business run smoothly and efficiently no matter where you are.
4)How can Office 365 help businesses grow?
The Office 365 suite makes performing tasks like finding information, sharing documents, communicating with colleagues and processing data much faster and a lot more straightforward. This ultimately reduces time spent on administrative duties/tasks allowing the business more time to innovate, create and move forward instead of back.
Apps recently added to Office 365 furnish business users with even more essential tools to help them grow, including:
– Microsoft Connections, a basic email marketing tool and customer engagement platform.
– Microsoft Invoicing, an app used to generate and send professional invoices to customers and accept payments on the go.
– Microsoft Listings, a tool used to assist organisations in order to manage their business information/data on platforms like Facebook, Google, Bing and Yelp.
– Outlook Customer Management, a simple customer management add-on for businesses who don’t require a full-blown CRM system.
– MileIQ, a mileage logging platform that automatically classifies and submits business travel.
– Microsoft Bookings, which allows users to manage customer appointments and schedules.
– Business center, a central access point for all office 365 business app, through which users can track metrics such as invoices, email subscriptions and bookings.
5)What is Microsoft SharePoint?
SharePoint is a web-based collaborative platform that integrates with Microsoft Office. Many Office 365 plans include SharePoint Online, a cloud-based service, hosted by Microsoft, for businesses of all sizes. This platform allows employees the ability to create sites to share documents and information with colleagues, partners, and customers.
SharePoint allows users to:
– Keep teams/colleagues up to date by using document libraries, tasks and calendars.
– Create, manage and share documents with colleagues.
– Ability to share news, documents, events and updates related to the business.
– Protect important data and content
– Download and have access to documents off-line.
– Communicate with colleagues in real time within the Sharepoint Online Interface.
6)What is OneDrive?
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud-based file storage service, where all files, documents, images, videos and music are stored for Office 365 users. OneDrive also allows files to be synced across desktops, browsers, and mobile devices provided they have internet.
7)What is Skype for Business?
Skype for Business is a version of the popular chat and conferencing service designed specifically for commercial use. Organizations can access all the telecommunications tools they might need on a daily basis, including send instant messages between colleagues, utilize video conferencing features, record conversations, share screens, give presentations and hold meetings making this tool both effective and productive in the business world.
8) What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft teams is a chat-based collaboration product, its main function is to facilitate teamwork and promote productivity, with three key areas of functionality such as: chat, project management and extensive integration with Office 365.
This tool brings together the chat capabilities of Skype for Business, along with collaboration tools like document sharing, useful AI-powered features such as chatbots and online project management tools.
9) What is Yammer?
Yammer is a social network used by employees to communicate and connect. It creates space to communicate across different departments within the business in the forms of engagements, news, messaging and announcements. This platform is designed to be a fast and intimate sharing tool, making it easy to collaborate with project teams.
10) What is Microsoft Exchange?
Microsoft Exchange is Microsoft’s email server solution. Everything that happens in outlook including incoming and outgoing mail, tasks, contacts, calendars ect are all stored on the Exchange server. Microsoft Exchange allows organizations to create their own, independent mail system.
11) What plans are available for Office 365 for Business?
There are currently two licensing models for business users wanting to implement Office 365. Companies with less than 300 users can opt for one of three Office 365 for Business plans and for larger companies, there are four Office 365 for Enterprise plans, all of which support unlimited users. License types can be mixed to suit the needs of the business.
Below displays all of Office 365 business plans for both SMB;s and Enterprises:
Office 365 for business pricing plans for SMB’s and Enterprises:
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
Microsoft Planner
24/7 phone and web support
24/7 phone and web support
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Email Hosting
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
Microsoft Planner
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Connections
Microsoft Listings
Outlook Customer Manager
Microsoft Invoicing
Microsoft Bookings
MileIQ
Business center
24/7 phone and web support
Office 365 for Business pricing plans for enterprise
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
24/7 phone and web support
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Yammer
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Planner
1TB of OneDrive file storage and sharing
24/7 phone and web support
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Yammer
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Planner
Unlimited personal cloud storage
24/7 phone and web support
SharePoint
Skype for Business
Microsoft Teams
Yammer
Power BI Pro
Microsoft StaffHub
Microsoft Planner
Office 365 Cloud App Security
Advanced Data Governance
Customer Lockbox
Exchange Online Advanced Threat Protection
Unlimited personal cloud storage
24/7 phone and web support
12) Can Office 365 be used with previous versions of Office?
Many existing Office customers who currently run a perpetually licensed, on-premise version of Office can use Office 365 and enjoy all the features that cloud connectivity brings with it. Office 365 works best with Office 2016.
13) Is Office 365 secure?
Office 365 is a cloud-hosted platform, many new and prospective customers will have questions about security and privacy. A company’s data is its most valuable asset, and as we’ve seen in numerous high-profile data breach cases in recent years, the consequences of failing to adequately secure business data are severe.
Office 365 data is held in Microsoft’s global data centers, where dedicated threat management teams actively anticipate, prevent, and mitigate malicious access 24/7; a level of security that virtually no company can operate in-house.
14) What Admin Centers exist for Office 365?
There is now one single admin center for Office 365, known as the Microsoft 365 admin center. All Office 365 customers will use this admin center, whether they license Office 365 as part of a Microsoft 365 plan or not.
Email Backups – Never Lose An Email Again
blogLosing important documents can be stressful, overwhelming, time-consuming and extremely frustrating! – but how prepared are you for what comes next?
According to research, a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds so a little forward thinking never hurts anybody. Backing up your data is like an insurance policy. We hope we don’t ever need it but we are glad its there just in case. Thankfully backing up data is easier and a lot less time consuming than it used to be especially with our email protection solution.
Email communications play a vital role in your business, we all have the fear of losing important documents, attachments due to laptops crashing or being stolen. This, however, can be avoided, our email solutions allow you to manage on all devices (Laptops, Smart-phones, and Tablets) making it easy to access your contacts, emails and calendar events wherever you may be. It is a quick and reliable way to stay on top of things with regards to setting up meetings with clients and colleagues in the future. Our email protection solution guarantees that you will always have a copy of important files, documents, emails, and attachments making your life a whole lot simpler instead of having to go through all the time-consuming processes.
Office 365 is much more than just a software product- it’s an integrated experience of applications and services and encompasses everything from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Outlook to OneNote and OneDrive.
Unsure about using Office 365? If you haven’t made up your mind yet, here are 5 Benefits of Office 365:
Work Anywhere and Everywhere
Working remotely means more flexibility, agility. It means the possibility to access productive tools and familiar applications no matter where you are or what device you are using.
Always Up and Running Service
With Office 365, you’ll keep up and running, no matter what happens. All your valued data is sent to the cloud, meaning all your business documents, applications and emails will always be readily available.
World-Class Security
Our built-in security system lets you control who has access to your data at any time. You’ll also be able to pinpoint data whenever and have the ability to clear all your data if you lose your phone or any one of your other devices.
Increase Productivity
Office 365 makes work easier to manage and more streamlined. Emails, calendars and contacts are all synchronized to work together across all devices. Whether you are updating your calendar on your mobile phone or sending important emails from your laptop, the data will be captured and stored automatically resulting in increased time management and efficient collaboration.
Fast and Affordable
The bonus of Office 365 is that it contains no upfront costs but rather a flexible monthly billing process that can fit with your monthly budget making this extremely beneficial for smaller businesses starting out. You’re not bound into a fixed contract and this allows you to increase or decrease the number of users to suit your business needs and requirements.
What are you waiting for?
Will you continue to use outdated technology and sit back and watch the world go by? Or will you jump on the bandwagon, and move with a more efficient, effective time?
Ready to ramp up your productivity but don’t know how to go about implementing Office 365? Don’t worry. We have a team of experienced IT Geeks here to help you. Contact Complete IT Services today. Click here to contact us now.
7 common computer problems with solutions
blogWe all go through similar struggles when it comes to computers, so we’ve compiled a list of 7 common problems and their solutions. Some issues can be fixed without having to call your computer support company, if you know what to do, of course.
Before you do anything drastic like throw your computer against the wall in hopes of the problem being resolved, try figuring out if it’s a hardware or a software problem.
Hardware problems:
Hardware in computer terms refers to the actual device, such as your hard drive, laptop or any of the peripherals, like the keyboard, mouse or printer.
Software problems:
On your computer’s hard drive is a whole bunch of applications that have been installed, from the operating system, such as Microsoft Windows to applications such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc) and other common software applications including TeamViewer, Dropbox, OneDrive, Anti Virus software and more.
Let’s dive right into common computer problems and solutions:
1. My computer will turn on, but my screen won’t.
Step 1: Check that the HDMI cable or monitor cable is connected securely.
Step 2: Make sure your monitor is switched on and the power light is on.
Step 3: Hold your power button down for 30 seconds to ensure it shuts down and restarts properly.
2. My computer is underperforming and is operating slowly.
Your computer can be underperforming for many reasons and it could either be caused by the Hardware or software. One thing you can try do is make sure that there aren’t too many applications or website tabs open at once. Make sure you have enough storage because that plays a major role in the functionality of your PC. Restart your computer daily so to ensure unused background applications are closed.
3. My computer keeps restarting.
This is generally a software problem and so the first place you must look at is the software updates or your antivirus programmes. Try running a virus scan and check for Windows Updates or application updates.
4. My downloads are taking too long.
This could be a hardware problem or your internet connection might be too slow or faulty. Make sure you have enough storage and that your hard disk is fully functional. Restart your router and restart your computer.
5. My computer keeps freezing.
Make sure you have updated all software on your PC and scanned for any viruses. Perform a full restart or shut down instead of only putting the computer to sleep.
6. My computer keeps showing popups.
There’s a good chance that you have installed a program that has something called “Adware” which allows for unwanted ads to pop up. Use your anti-virus software to scan for Adware. Or go to the settings in your web browser and look for any suspicious-looking add-ons and disable them.
7. Problem: My Wi-Fi is slow or keeps disconnecting.
Solution: Make sure your Wi-Fi router is in range and you are close to it. If you see the signal on your device is only showing 1 or 2 bars, then your signal is weak, which can cause it to go slow or disconnect. If you have a dual-band router, use the 2.4g WiFi connection if you are further away or the 5g connection, when you are close to the router. If you are still too far from the router, you will need to expand your network by adding a range extender or a 2nd router.
If none of these computer hardware or software solutions worked, then give Complete IT solutions a call. If your business is in the Cape Town area, we can send a support technician to try and resolve your IT problems or we could assist you remotely.
Protect your business IT infrastructure by investing in a monthly support contract
blogMost businesses are driven by an IT infrastructure, which includes your workstations, email, network, printers, security and protection of data. By paying a monthly fee for a support contract, you can leave the IT responsibility with a professional support company, while you concentrate on running your business. Your IT support company will ensure your network is protected with anti-virus software, live monitoring and data backups. Maintenance and support tasks are performed regularly to make sure your computers and network systems are running at optimum levels.
Think of it as having your very own IT manager that can also assist you with your IT strategy, planning, budgets and support.
5 reasons to invest in an IT support contract:
1. Protect your network and workstations from viruses
Your IT support company will ensure your network and workstations are protected from viruses by monitoring your network and by making sure all the latest anti-virus protection utilities are up to date.
2. Preventative Maintenance
As software changes, preventative maintenance methods are used to re-engineer and restrict software to easily adapt to all the changes. This aids in preventing errors and issues that might occur at a later stage and ensures that your computer system runs optimally
3. Save costs
The most expensive aspect when coming to IT support is not the contract itself but rather the time that your staff can’t work, think about it, your biggest expense is your salaries and by not having working computers your staff are unable to be productive. If you invest in a support contract many IT issues can be prevented before any real damage occurs and keeps your staff happy and productive.
4. Save time
We all have businesses to run and time is important to us. If you network goes down or you experience any technical issues, the last thing you want to worry about is trying to find a support company, get quotes and try get your issues resolved. Your IT support contract covers you when your systems go down and the technical team will make sure you are up and running as soon as possible.
5. Improve performance
Your support company will ensure that all your systems are functioning properly and that your network performance is optimised. By implementing very strict preventative maintenance processes you will start to see the benefits of improved workflow.
Complete IT offers a range of support contracts to suit most medium-size businesses. Click here to find out more.
Protect your business – before it’s too late.
blogWe all use digital devices for different reasons, take our mobile phones, for example, we use them to chat, and to take amazing selfies. We even save our bank details and important documents on our phones and computers but most importantly client information, business documents, or even pictures of our little ones growing up. The last thing we need is a hard drive failure or virus infection that results in us losing all this info.
The process
Before you start implementing the steps to follow, always make sure you have secured your laptop or PC the second you get it. The following steps will assist you in making your PC virus free, however you need to continuously implement these measures to make sure it stays that way.
Anti-virus software does exactly what the name says. The software protects your computer or digital devices from harmful viruses. You are usually able to set the software to scan frequently end even scan emails as they arrive.
Suspicious websites to avoid are those that say you have won something or unknown websites that have pop up’s asking you to click and download files or programs.
Emails are one of the biggest ways to spread and receive viruses. To ensure you don’t receive any viruses via email, make sure your email provider always scans the emails before you open the email or attachment.
Scans can help your system stay updated and can continuously fight and get rid of the latest viruses. It is very useful to scan your computer often as your anti-virus software will update with the latest viruses regularly.
By keeping your operating system updated you will be protecting your computer from bugs or viruses. Keep an eye out for Microsoft Windows “Critical updates” and install them as soon as possible.
Firstly, what is a firewall? A firewall is a program that protects your system by preventing unwanted and unauthorized access. Your firewall should always be enabled and running in the background.
Downloading music or movies from unknown websites can be risky. This doesn’t only affect the artists, but also our computers. Always make sure you are purchasing or downloading content from a reliable/trustworthy source.
It always helps to be prepared – if you hear about new computer viruses going around, that’s when you have to pull out all the stops to make sure your computers or devices are protected and all software is updated.
BONUS TIP: Make strong passwords – not passwords like “1234” add letters and symbols to make it even stronger and more difficult to hack…
If you need further assistance with anti-virus software, firewalls, data backups or monthly support contracts, please give Complete IT a call on 021 556 3524.
Still Not Using Office 365? Here’s Why You Should Upgrade Right Now!
blogYou’ve heard about it from your business colleagues, employees, friends. The email system sounds great, but you’re still reluctant to implement it. Is it really necessary for a small business to change systems anyway? To put it this way: every day you go with out it, you are losing efficiency and risking safety! The chances are your competitors are already using Office 365 to boost productivity and grow their businesses.
Why is this? Office 365 is much more than just a software product- it’s an integrated experience of applications and services and encompasses everything from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Outlook to OneNote and OneDrive. The powerhouse system is also accessible from ALL devices and is highly collaborative.
So why aren’t you using it yet? If you haven’t made up your mind yet, here are 5 Benefits of Office 365:
1. Work Anywhere and Everywhere
Have a WIFI connection? You’re good to go. Whether you’re sitting on a plane, train, or at a beach resort in Mauritius- you’ll be able to access your emails! Working remotely means more flexibility, agility. It means the possibility to access productive tools and familiar applications no matter the location or device- increasing collaboration across regional departments and centers. And yes, your staff don’t have to chained to the desk either. It’s possible to work from mobiles, tablets and laptops on the go!
2. Always Up and Running Service
Let’s face it. Business disasters happen. Your trusted in- house system crashes. There is theft, a fire, a flood. Your data and servers are wiped out and you’re stuck- documents and data are the lifeblood of your business after all! This scenario doesn’t have to be the case. With Office 365, you’ll keep up and running, no matter what happens. All your valued data is sent to the cloud, meaning all your business documents, applications and emails will always be available. How’s that for peace of mind?
3. World Class Security
In an age of data hacks and information leaks- data security matters. Office 365 relies on Microsoft’s extensive data center and secure network architecture. This built in security system lets you control who has access to your data at anytime. You’ll also be able to pinpoint data whenever and have the ability to wipe all your data if you lose your phone! If this is not convincing enough- how does a 99.9% financially-backed uptime guarantee sound to you?
4. Increase Productivity
Increased time management and efficient collaboration should be the goal of any business. Office 365 makes work easier to manage and more streamlined. Email, calendar and contacts are all synchronized to work together. For example, if you update a contact on your mobile phone it will automatically be updated across all your devices! Furthermore, it is highly collaborative. Features like multi-party HD Video conferencing, shared calendars, team chat and content sharing allow your employees to collaborate in the next room, regional office or across continents- seamlessly. Hello Productivity!
5. Fast and Affordable
No more price guessing! Office 365 has no upfront costs and a flexible monthly billing process. You’re not locked into a fixed contract and this allows you to add or decrease the number of users to suit your unique business needs. If you’re a small business starting out, this can go a long way in fitting with your monthly budget. Furthermore, the process of transitioning everything is fast, easy and efficient.
What are you waiting for?
Will you continue to use outdated technology and sit back and watch the world go by? Or will you jump on the bandwagon, and move with a more efficient, effective time? Hope to see you in the Cloud!
Ready to ramp up your productivity but don’t know how to go about implementing Office 365? Don’t worry. We have a team of experienced IT Geeks here to help you. Contact Complete IT Services today. Click here to contact us now.
5 Reasons Why Your SME Business Needs IT Support
blogThink IT Support is just for large, corporate companies? Think again!
Whether you’re a titan of industry, or a small mom- and- pop family business, IT Support can be acutely beneficial. Tailored to your business’s unique needs, IT Support ensures business’s keep abreast with ever- changing technology, remedy problems before they happen and can significantly boost workplace productivity.
Unfortunately, small- to medium-sized businesses tend to overlook these benefits, mostly due to perceived cost. While an investment, the ROI and long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. If your business hopes to compete today, top notch IT Support is a necessity.
Here are 5 Reasons why your SME Business Needs IT Support:
New, cutting-edge, business-grade technology! Your IT Support team will bring you to the forefront and maximize your business potential. It will leverage effective tools that maintain profitability, such as cloud computing, remote monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery. These technologies can be utilized to advance business goals and seek further areas for expansion and growth. Moreover, you’ll be able to keep a competitive place in the market by relying on the tech that large, successful companies are employing.
Spending money on IT Support may initially seem like a costly investment, however the value far exceeds the cost in the long run. IT department budgets can be extensive and never-ending: hardware costs, software and network infrastructure costs and maintenance costs, to name only a few. Furthermore, the cost of IT department staff is substantial for any business. Hiring, training, managing staff in an ever-evolving arena such as IT can be financially taxing. Think about the cost of benefits, training, sick leave, vacations? With IT Support, you have an all- inclusive IT department at your fingertips, without these expenses! You won’t have to worry about unexpected monthly incidentals such as repairs and dodgy software malfunctions as well as technology updates. You will play a flat rate that doesn’t change, no matter the financial season.
Data Security is priority for any small business – and rightly so. The business world has gone digital with laptops, smartphones, applications, servers, operating systems, browsers, wearable technology and so forth all storing and transmitting copious amounts of valuable, confidential data. This requires stringent security methods. With IT Support, you’ll keep the confidential customer and company data secure and safeguard your business against crippling cyber attacks.
Daily IT operations can be stressful – and problematic. Peace of mind is one of the top benefits of IT support. An extra team of IT experts on stand- by can help remediate work-place issues quickly and effectively, saving a business countless hours of IT headaches. After all, the last thing a CEO wants to do is spend valuable time verifying that backups have worked or worrying about the speediness of a network connection.
Did you know that a single hour of downtime can cost the average business hundreds of thousands of Rand? System crashes are an unfortunate reality- especially when a business has become dependent on their IT system. IT Support companies help predict, identify and solve problems to prevent major losses from occurring. They will also constrain data loss risks by providing the latest in malware protection, robust data storage, event-monitoring software, and firewalls. As a result, your business can focus on its core competencies and strengths, rather than on IT issues.