HelpDesk or Help Desk?

Helpdesk and Help Desk are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two different types of services. Helpdesk is a service typically offered by an external provider that provides users with technical support and advice on using a product or service. Help Desk, on the other hand, is a service offered internally by an organization, usually to its customers, to provide them with technical support and advice.

Both services can help businesses by providing an effective, cost-efficient way to address customer service issues quickly and efficiently. Helpdesk and Help Desk can help companies to maintain customer satisfaction, reduce customer service costs, and streamline customer service processes. These services can also help businesses generate more leads and sales, as they can increase customer engagement and loyalty.

Why You Need a HelpDesk Solution

There are a few reasons why you may need support services. Here are some of the biggest things that can help you understand the importance of help desks on all levels of your business.

You Can Create Essential Customer Experiences

If you should have any questions, you can use the help system to get the answers or even be walked through a solution without having to sit on the phone the whole time.

Because the helpdesk provides a centralized database of knowledge (especially mixed with automation), it allows more workplace efficiency so work that needs to be done can get done without interruption.

You can use them for your customers, so if they have a problem, they can report it. This will help you get the most feedback possible about a product or service you may provide so you can get a heads-up on market research.

What Help Desks Do I Need?

Many types of tech support services are available, and they all do different things. You can choose which is right for your business depending on your needs.

If you have an IT help desk that provides remote monitoring and assistance, you can contact your managed service provider in case of cybersecurity or IT issues.

For all scopes outside your business’s IT department, you might consider having a customer service chatbot that allows your customers to interact and ask questions. Not only that, but it will enable you to resolve any customer issues.

Last but not least, you may want to consider a business-level help desk, which allows you to communicate directly with other internal departments of your business. These are very common in the workplace and will enable you to contact each other when you need small things, such as work on payroll or even get ahold of your HR department when required for the paperwork side. Of course, you can also use these features (and not abuse them) to alert an employee that you need to work on something or change a planned workload at the last minute.

Are These the Only Reasons Why I Need a Help Desk?

We’ve all been bombarded by irrelevant, spammy emails at least once. What if the software could weed out these emails, get rid of them for you, and even track emails you’ve sent and alert you when it’s been opened? Would that interest you?

You need to realize all of the things that make Help Desks more essential than ever these days. For one, tracking all those business emails is a pain. Therefore, as mentioned above, you can use internal help desks to replace this so your inboxes aren’t full of one-liners.

You can also use this as a marketing tool to analyze just how good your customer support is. The better support you have for your customers and that your IT team may have for you, the better your overall business endeavors will be. This means that you may have more conversions and happy customers, which equals better reviews and more recommendations for someone to come to your business first, above all others that may be competitors.

How Do I Get a HelpDesk?

There are a few steps to take for businesses looking to set up a HelpDesk for their customers or employees. First, consider the size of the organization and the number of users who will need access to support services. Then, it is important to decide on the type of customer support needed, whether it be an in-house team, a third-party provider, or a combination of both.

Once the type is decided, the organization will need to determine the hardware and software requirements and the personnel required to staff the HelpDesk. As a qualified Managed Service Provider, we’re happy to help you with any helpdesk needs. We highly recommend that you let us provide you with a quality IT help desk to protect you during these challenging times when cyberattacks are at the highest they’ve ever been.

The Pros of the Dropbox Password Manager

The Dropbox password manager has quite a few pros and benefits of interest to your business.

There are many benefits to using password managers for business applications.

1. The Dropbox password manager can protect your employees’ information.
2. It allows you to have particular concrete policies that protect your business.
3. It allows you to have the ability to set and enforce your passwords that may change regularly – but still allow employees to sign in seamlessly as if nothing has changed.
4. It can improve productivity and overall workplace efficiency.
5. They’re often more secure for your business. You’re more likely to have a cyber attacker try to phish the pertinent information from you than they are to get into your password manager.

Is Third-Party the Best Solution?

Not all password managers are created equal; some are downright awful regarding security. The Dropbox password manager is still in Beta, but it’s looking to change the game.

While you need to know that any third party may be liable for the information should you have a data breach, you want to ensure all of your company’s passwords are safe. Therefore, you must do homework before signing up for a service like the Dropbox password manager. These third-party services are always subject to attack. At any given point, they aren’t as good as dedicated services designed to provide ONLY password management to your company.

Software Solutions for Password Management

Partnering with the right MSP can be highly beneficial for password management and all facets of IT.

There are other things that you can have instilled into your business for security. These are often browser-based, but if you talk to your IT team, you may be able to have them find a quality software solution that can protect you more on the local level. These services are just as secure because you have everything stored on a local server, but you still run the risk of attacks if you don’t have one of the best cybersecurity suites to keep hackers out from the base of their attack points.

With the right managed service provider, you can get a locally owned solution rather than trust some third-party corporation that you may even have trouble calling customer support. And they’ll be able to provide cloud backup services and password management software. What’s the downside to this? If you have all your passwords stored on a local device, you are ultimately waiving the right for another company to maintain responsibility.

How to Protect Yourself

Network security is dependent on employee education, first and foremost. But did you know that password security is just as important? The Dropbox password manager will make it easier and safer to store different passwords for every site and program you need.

First, when you sign up for a service that uses a password manager, you will have a master password in place. You may want only to give your IT support team access to this and nobody else. Otherwise, your IT team may be able to have one, and you need it to be completely secure and nearly impossible to thwart and discover. There are all kinds of hacker tools that can try to find string passwords, so you need to have a good mix of capital and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers to protect yourself.

If you forget the master password, you may have some trouble. And what’s worse? It doesn’t mean you’re safe. Suppose your attacker should find a Windows Office exploit to operate your system remotely or even install a keylogger on your system. In that case, they can end up getting that master password and gaining access to EVERYTHING that you have secured in your company. Not even The Dropbox password manager can protect against something like this.

How Can I Avoid This?

It never hurts to have your passwords stored somewhere, but you want to ensure that you have them in the safest place possible. Talk to your network or secure VoIP provider to see what you can do regarding password maintenance and see if the Dropbox password manager is right for you. While you may want to get with the times and utilize these services, sometimes it’s best to have those million post-it notes or a spreadsheet printed out in a secure place or file cabinet!

Windows 10 Tip #1 Cleaning the Clutter

Over time, the temporary folders in Windows become cluttered and other areas of the computer. To make them speed up, older versions of Windows had an easy-to-find Disk Cleanup feature that would clear this clutter up, empty your recycle bin, and more.

This tool can still be accessed if you are running a small business or have a lot of data going back and forth, adding or removing, etc., regularly. Hit the Start button, and type Disk Cleanup. Then all you have to do is perform the cleanup and defragment of your hard drive as normal. It is highly suggested that if you run with SSD drives or defragment your computer fully (at least once a week), you do it at the end of the office day or have your IT team do it after hours.

Windows 10 Tip #2 Special Start Menu

You’ll see another Windows 10 tip in the left-hand corner, the special start menu.

Windows, of course, has a start menu when you hit the “Start” button on your keyboard, but many users don’t know that there are many things they can still access using a special start menu by pressing the letter X with the Windows key. It gives you an enhanced but slimline version of the Start menu that lets you access Apps and Features, Disk Management tools (including disk cleanup), Device Manager, Task Manager, PowerShell, and more.

Windows 10 Tip #3 Taskbar Hotkeys

These are not the shortcuts we are looking for, but if you hold down the Windows key and hit a number, you’ll be able to open up your taskbar programs, which is a pretty cool Windows 10 tip.

Aside from Alt+Tab, one of an IT professional’s best friends, you can also access different apps and windows on the taskbar according to the number they’re pulled up in. If you hold the Windows key and type the number of the window’s location on the taskbar, you can switch to it instantly. For example, if your browser is the fourth window on the taskbar, you’ll hold Windows & hit the number 4.

You can see all your open programs in one place by holding down the alt and tab keys simultaneously.

Windows 10 Tip #4 Shake it Down

If you have many different windows open, which is pretty standard in the workplace, you may need to do something such as access the desktop quickly or minimize multiple windows at once. To do this, you must click the top Status bar in your Windows app and then shake your mouse back and forth quickly. This will minimize all of that program’s windows so you can do what you must in other areas.

You can always restore the windows later by doing it again. However, you must have this setting enabled via the Windows Settings ->Multitasking area or the Group Policy Editor (something for the IT Pros out there).

Windows 10 Tip #5 The Powerful God Mode

Learning how to get into your computer’s God Mode folder is an invaluable Windows 10 tip.

This is something that many IT and managed service providers know about, but it is something they are keener on using compared to regular users. You can create a shortcut with every single setting for Windows in one convenient folder – including control panel shortcuts and more advanced features. To do this, you have to create a folder (you cannot create a shortcut to this anymore like you could with older versions of Windows) and name the folder: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Once you do this and hit enter, the icon will change to a new symbol, and when you open it, you need to be extremely careful. You can jack up your computer if you don’t know what you’re doing in this advanced control panel.

Windows 10 Tip #6 Boot Your Systems Faster

If you follow this Windows 10 tip, you’ll be able to boot up your system faster.

One of the best options that you can find is the task manager’s Startup tab. It allows you to enable or disable startup items (not services) that slow down your bootup and loading process. If you want the most out of this, you can always open the Windows Run command prompt (using the Start Menu we mentioned), then type MSConfig into the box, and then hit enter. This will pull up advanced configurations. You probably want these settings at the least:

Normal startup

Boot Tab->Timeout 8 seconds

Services Tab -> Check to Hide All Microsoft Services
Turn off Any Program services that aren’t system or Antivirus (Google, Adobe Acrobat, etc.)

Hit OK, or Apply-> OK, then restart your computer to see how much faster Windows loads. Do note that if you have an Antivirus causing slower computer speeds (this is common), you may not see much difference.

What Other Windows 10 Tips Can I Get?

If you have a good managed service provider or VoIP service team member that’s a true professional in everything IT, then all you have to do is ask if there’s a shortcut that you can use. Numerous tools can be used to speed up productivity. We highly recommend using them, such as if you’re a writer who needs to operate quickly with word processing or have many windows up for processing data. Just ask, and they’ll let you know!

What is a Virtual Machine, and What Does It Do?

If your company is like most companies right now, you’re working remotely. If you’re not using a virtual machine while working remotely, you are severely limiting your potential.

A virtual machine is essentially a computer system built into an already established computer. One of the coolest things is that a virtual machine can even be run remotely (from another computer). You can also set it up so that a virtual machine can be loaded instead of the current operating system when you power on a terminal. They’re heavily used by IT professionals, developers, and many other places that offer remote solutions for work. And for a good reason.

There are numerous benefits to using these. Even though files are virtually stored on a virtual operating system, they can be saved in external locations (like your backup drives and servers) instead, which can help thwart hijacking and hacker attempts.

How Can Your Business Benefit from This?

You may be asking this question (aside from what we said about security in general), but we can explain it much more in-depth. Here are some things you can look forward to if you’re choosing to operate your business with virtual machines instead of hundreds of office station computers:

·         Save Money on Office Hardware

Your office probably won’t have a setup as elaborate as this, but you can have a virtual machine that runs all of your computers in the office.

Face it – office computers cost a lot of money when you have numerous ones to distribute and have people operate. But with a virtual machine platform, you don’t have to have a thousand workstations with actual machines installed necessarily. Not only does this save office space, but it also saves you money because you can have one powerhouse work-office supercomputer that allows everyone to run their virtual machine. When used in conjunction with cloud services or other backup services and proper networking, you can have all files located in a drive outside of cyber attackers’ reach yet keep everything centralized.

·         Faster and More Efficient Workflow

With the right virtualization setup, you can have more efficiency with work being done when it needs to be done. As mentioned, the external storage solution that you use can also help to maintain clutter. Everyone can have their own space, while important things can automate to a centralized location. Office computer monitoring can be easier because you can see all traffic on the machine running a virtual machine and progressively monitor them. You can also set up all virtual machines to send data where it needs to go and utilize numerous tools to your advantage.

5 Powerful Ways Remote Work Can Kick-Start Your Company

·         More Energy Efficient

Nobody likes wasting power, especially when your electric bill during an AZ summer is through the roof. By running a virtual machine, you’ll save on electricity.

Having more computer towers running at once consumes more energy. Albeit it may not seem like much, because computers don’t contribute to most of your company’s power compared to things like lights being left on, heating and cooling, etc., it can still take its toll when you have a bunch of computers running at once. By having a maximized hardware machine and running multiple virtual machines on it, you can take advantage of more power-saving features – permanently lowering your energy costs and saving a bit of expense.

·         Disasters are Easier to Fix

With a virtual machine, if a disaster were to strike, it is often much easier to take care of and quicker.

When a virtual machine crashes, you can often reinstall it or reboot it quickly and efficiently. You may have some issues with things like drivers or other problems – especially if you’re using Windows in a virtual environment – because of software issues, hardware issues, and more. But when you do, there is often a more straightforward workaround. Not only can technical issues be handled faster, but from a remote environment as well. Helpdesk applications, VoIP applications, and many more can be run on a virtual machine just as they would a regular desktop, but allow you to have a little bit more flexibility.

·         Give the Hackers a Run for Their Money

By using a virtual machine, your data will be much, much more secure.

One of the most important things is that you can keep your data safe from cyberattacks. Just look it up – there are all sorts of videos online about people thwarting hackers in their attempts to hijack their systems by using a virtual machine. If you haven’t, you should check it out. When hackers connect and try to overtake a virtual machine, fixing it is simple – shut the virtual machine down and reload it. Otherwise, if something like ransomware attacks has occurred, the data isn’t really on the virtual machine, so you can reinstall the OS and take everything back without losing information.

Our Take

Having a virtual setup isn’t that bad, and when you have your IT team set it up for you, you and your company can truly appreciate having the data security you need while having a lot fewer troubles. There are many more benefits that we haven’t touched base on. But know that having a quality managed service provider and a virtual environment can open up the possibilities of so much for your business – so why not try it to keep things going during these tough times?

They’ve released versions allowing companies to use the Cloud-based VoIP or a dedicated PBX server, Linux, and even Windows to host 3CX software. However, each version comes with its bugs and problems. Therefore, knowing that you’re well prepared to tackle them in certain situations or avoid the issue overall by having the right OS is essential.

Everything’s in the Cloud These Days

3CX offers secure Cloud-based solutions for businesses of all sizes.

In recent years, your software solutions, customer support, and even your VoIP are not strangers to “the Cloud.” Of course, there’s no such thing as one dedicated cloud for everything,  but 3CX knows that many users want to have this option to use valuable tools and save hardware and software space in their place of business.

There are good and bad things about having cloud hosting in any shape or form, though – and most of it comes with data security. You don’t have control of a cloud-based server’s data – they do. However, if you’re not worried about it (since most of these servers are super secure), you can go for it and have your VoIP provider set you up.

Dedicated PBX Servers

Some businesses run their 3CX software on a dedicated VoIP server to achieve maximum performance.

These servers may have Windows Server or even Linux as their base kernel, but they’re more or less running the dedicated 3CX software as a micro-operating system of its own in many cases. These are a trendy choice among numerous companies because the VoIP servers and software are hosted on a dedicated machine that shares and are usually throttled up to get the best of the network’s bandwidth. Separate devices can often be put onto their network if you’re worried about sharing bandwidth, so your local internal networks don’t suffer in terms of speed.

Windows

3CX software in itself has world-class security features to keep you safe. But if you’re running it on Windows, you may encounter a hiccup now and then.

The 3CX software for Windows is made differently than that in a PBX system. You get a program that uses your system’s hardware and then, ultimately, through a router. The most significant benefit is that it can be run on a Windows system, one of the most popular operating systems in the world. Even more remarkable is that 3CX software can be run on a virtual server, which means additional security.

This call center uses 3CX software to route all their calls in a slick and easy-to-use interface.

However, the biggest downside is that Windows has a ton of security issues itself. Sometimes, Windows Updates installed frequently can restart your system and naturally can cause problems with entire computers. You get a free version for small businesses or slightly more substantial companies. You can get the Small business version of the Pro version, a paid edition that can be upgradeable and have many features. You can handle multiple calls at once, utilize Microsoft Exchange for your company, and even have automatic handset customization. You also get a web portal that allows individual users to set their Yealink phone settings for themselves.

Linux Versions

One thing Linux has going for it when it comes to 3CX software is it’s free.

One of the most significant benefits is the higher security that many people are comfortable with hosting 3CX on a Linux server. For starters, upgrading your system to a server with Linux is extremely easy (all you have to do is install “<Linux BUILD NAME>-server,” and your system upgrades to the server edition for free) compared to Windows. While Windows has server capabilities, to get the most professional services, you have to pay for them. Who doesn’t love free stuff? We certainly know that we like free software and open operating systems!

The Verdict

It all depends on your entire company’s needs regarding what kind of system you want to use your 3CX software on. If you look into it, every single version has its benefits, and your external managed service technician will be able to install it and set it up for you. With 3CX being one of the nation’s leaders of VoIP, it’s no wonder they would release it for availability on literally any machine!

But why? We’re going to get down to the bottom of this and tell you how you can improve your business. We’ll also tell you the good and the bad about updating your business’s outdated software. Updating goes far beyond the scope of needing to teach your employees how to use “new things.” Updated software is essential for business security!

Why Don’t Businesses Update Outdated Software?

Older software is cheap. No, seriously, it’s dirt cheap. You can buy a digital copy and OEM key for products like Microsoft Office 2016 for less than $100 per user. That is a great deal when you consider the savings. Older Adobe products can be bought for exceptional discounts as well. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019 is less than $100 on sites like Amazon.

Outdated software is cheap, and most people think that if it isn’t broke, why fix it?

Another reason why many companies don’t update their outdated software is due to user-friendliness. Many businesses believe that they’re going to have to teach their users how to use the new software due to changes that have been made. While this is somewhat true, anyone who’s mastered a previous version of the software can tinker around and discover how to use the new features that are available in newer software versions.

The other main reason is due to compatibility issues. If you’ve ever gone to most businesses, many of them are still using outdated Windows or Mac operating systems and computers. Most computers for business include just the essentials. Having to get new computer systems is a hassle, right? Simultaneously, having to apply constant updates to newer operating systems and programs can be painstaking. They also may have bugs in them (as mentioned in our previous post here).

Pros and Cons of Updating Outdated Business Software

There are both positives and negatives to updating your company’s outdated software. And just as with business, there are some reasonable cons to think about, but they often don’t outweigh all of the positives.

Updating Pros:

• Newer software and their updates offer more security and fixes of insecurities.
• Updating software allows the company to do more.
• The updated software offers more capabilities.
• It lowers software costs in the long run due to improved efficiency.
• Most employees already know the newer software. Those who don’t can learn.
• Newer software can improve the quality of work.

Updating outdated software boosts productivity, morale and encourages teamwork!

Cons of Updating:

• Newer software is often riddled with bugs.
• Some companies don’t care about current software if it gets the job done right.
• Newer software may require additional training, which may hinder productivity.
• While you may save in the long run, newer software is more expensive.
• Since employees may need training, they may not want to switch from what they know.

New software may be riddled with bugs, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent.

So What’s the Verdict?

While having old and outdated software and systems may be more susceptible to an extent, no business should ever sacrifice their security and their stability for the sake of higher numbers. While it may seem beneficial for companies to keep and hold onto outdated software, many of these computers, operating systems, and outdated programs have millions of exploits that can even prove to be financially dangerous for a business.

Therefore, having a company that can provide IT Support to keep your data and applications up to date is essential for a business to thrive. It’s not just a new decade, but also a new era!

Finding the Perfect Team Management Software Can Be Exhausting

Some people prefer to have standalone apps, while others prefer the browser-based features of online team management applications. Fortunately, the ones we’re going to cover for you are going to have both options available! This means they can be used as a standalone, and others can be used even on a mobile device! So let us get started, shall we?

1.     Clockify.ME – That’s What It’s Called!

Clockify’s team management software is incredible, and it’s free!!

Clockify is an exceptional time tracking web app. This makes it a fantastic tool for working on projects together or even having numerous things on their plate. They have a sliding hosted service for managing time and even payroll with all parties involved, including virtual assistants and more! You can create custom projects and also get the most out of them by charging an hourly rate.

Want to take it with you without having to log into the admin panel every time you’re going to start working? Simply “clock in” by downloading the desktop version of the software, or you can even use your mobile device or cell phone to clock into your projects. It allows you a cloud-based time solution that is very flexible and amazing. Anyone can be a part of your team with invitations, and you can even let others in a project know that all of their information is completely safe and secure. The platforms you can get it are:

• Android or iPhone
• PC, Mac, or even Linux
• Chrome and Firefox Web

If you want to check out Clockify and see all of their powerful options (of course, they also have Plus and Corporate accounts available as well), you can try them by clicking any of the links below:

Check out Clockify on the Web

Get One of the Apps or Browser Extensions

2.     Slack is Not for Slackers!

If you like things neat and organized, Slack’s team management software may be what you’re looking for.

Slack is an extremely incredible team management software. While some people started using it primarily in the freelance world, but believe it or not, some mighty companies are out there. Even LinkedIn and Google workers use Slack as their base tool of operations. It has a fantastic arsenal of things you can synchronize with it, such as “company” Dropbox accounts, Google Documents, Google Drive, and so much more! Not only that, but it also acts as a messenger in which you can create designated “project rooms.” It’s like the Discord of Employees and Works rather than gaming! You can even integrate other items like Zapier and other marketing tools as well.

What’s the downside? Compared to some other alternatives that are out on the market, it can be a little more on the costly side. However, it’s still one of the most highly supportive apps out there. And just like Clockify, you can even integrate other tools like time management cloud-based programs and bots (like ClockIt) to track time too.

3. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Google!

Google isn’t just a secure search engine. They also have an entire suite of team management software for you to use.

In the past, almost every business used manual office software like Microsoft Office (and they still do very much so) for their internal and external use of business-related items, from spreadsheets to presentations. Now, however, you can use Google Docs, Google Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites (for website building), and more if you’re a business wanting to thrive on the Google Platform. Furthermore, people are using Google’s team management tools because they’re so much easier to use. The downside? While Google promises that your data is safe, but in reality, they can’t protect everything. Not only that, but there was a massive phishing breach back in 2017, which proved that they’re not perfect either.

So What Do We Recommend?

Well, fortunately, if you want the best when it comes to your team management solutions, you may want to know that it is safe to say Slack and other platforms like Clockify aren’t the only solutions out there (although they’re exceptionally great ones). Even if you use a cloud-based project management system, no matter how big or small your business endeavors are, you’re also going to need to have a way to back up everything to a localized cloud. That’s why you should get a fully integrated network solution that can help you do this as well and provide you with every bit of safety possible!

2019 got off to a rough start with numerous initially designed applications and intended for strictly nothing but business. There was a slew of bugs that needed smashing, and it wasn’t just with computers. When it comes to all of the things that Windows 10 home users had to go through, businesses also got the short end of the stick if they ran Win10 (we’ll talk about that later).

Tech trends have been getting better for businesses, though, as VOIP services are no longer a rare thing of the past. Everyone’s using them – whether it’s with software apps like Skype, Talkatone (a Wi-Fi phone app for mobile devices), or even business office phones that are switching to the more tech-savvy solutions when it comes to communication.

Office Software and Updates for Next Year

Microsoft Office is one of the most popular platforms that just about any business has. Over the years, there have been numerous versions, leaked versions, and more widely used today. While some companies still have outdated Office apps, it’s not uncommon to see many companies switching to Office365. Most of them still use Microsoft Office 2016 for their business endeavors – with PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook being the primary applications used.

In the past, though, Office 2016 could be connected seamlessly with Office 365 services and synchronize, but 2019 will be the last year for that, forcing people to use it standalone (off the grid) or upgrade their office programs.

These QuickBooks tech trends should get any accountant excited!

QuickBooks is essential. However, if you get the QuickBooks Desktop, you can expect to pay a hefty fee. The positive thing about spending the $300 bucks for the Desktop Pro version is that up to three different users can use the software for your accounting needs.

The downside? You only have a fraction of what you would spend on QuickBooks online. Not only that, but they’re continually offering discounts since they’ve switched to cloud-based solutions, which can help you track income, expenses, taxes, deductions and even help you organize your receipts. If you’re a small business owner, you can even manage payroll with your 1099 contractors with excellent support as well.

Mac or PC for Work?

Apple and tech trends go hand in hand. With Apple pushing the tech trend standard to new limits year after year.

Mac computers have been used for years in the artistic industry and are still, to this day, one of the leading choices for artists and graphic designers. Some people say that the quality compared to a PC is better. What those people don’t realize is that a Mac is specifically designed with a decent graphics card and that it is built on the Unix (very similar to the open-source development platform for PC’s known as Linux – but not to be confused with it since they’re not backward compatible).

Not only that, but Mac has been primarily used in the multimedia industry and for a good reason), but it is still the best, and depending on your business needs, you’ll want to have one available at least.

Windows tech trends can be disappointing at times, but we hope that they trend upward this year.

For literally everything else, there’s Windows. Following Windows’ tech trends can be a negative thing to some people. However, it still trumps over anything else when it comes to how available the features are for things like programming flexibility, the ability to do a lot of the same editing, and not only that but Windows PCs are the standard for offices these days.

Sure, it’s great that you can do a lot with a Mac and that everything comes pre-packaged for you and is “easy to use” for most people, but you have no abilities for complete customization like you do with a Windows PC. Not only that, but you can’t even run any versions of Linux on a Mac without using virtualization software if you so desired.

Voice Over IP Isn’t Just for Home Users.

Remote VoIP tech trends can benefit your business greatly by keeping everyone connected, allowing you to make crystal clear conference calls, saving you money, and offering you the reliability that is second to none.

The majority of businesses are going online, from cloud backup services all the way down to VoIP phones. In the past, you only had a few options for true VoIP calls. Eventually, high-speed internet providers jumped on board, offering VoIP services with their cable, DSL, and fiber-optic internet services. This caused huge problems, and people complained about the downtime they had with their phones because of it.

Tech trends like remote VoIP services are still very young, but they offer fantastic value! Imagine being in the middle of the Grand Canyon and receiving and making an emergency call with HD sound quality? Now, that’s a tech trend we can get behind!

Since then, voice calling over the internet has evolved tenfold. Even cell phone companies and apps can provide voice-over Wi-Fi connections. They also offer satellite connections (as long as you have a data plan) for backup VoIP.

VoIP has become one of the mainstreams in the office world when it comes to having uninterrupted calls, offering more flexibility and professionalism than ever before. You had to give your personal or “home office” numbers to receive calls in the past. Now people are starting to use VoIP more effectively than before for the extra security it can bring you. There are even office phones that have excellent interfaces optimized for VoIP service.

Windows Updates Breaks More than Records

The Windows 1909 update was supposed to solve all the problems Windows 1903 caused, but it didn’t. As you may have guessed, this tech trend is trending downward and should be monitored closely.

Over the years, many businesses realized that they have their hands full of everything. They then choose Windows PCs, Wi-Fi connections, and VOIP services for just about everything while utilizing the latest software. Unfortunately, Microsoft had a rough year when it came to upgrading its Windows 10 platform. This caused many people to continue using Windows 7, from businesses down to gamers. Microsoft is pulling the plug on all support of this version of Windows in early 2020. All while Microsoft is still getting the kinks out of windows 10. Windows 8 and 8.1 aren’t expected to stop being supported until 2023.

So, there is some hope for those who are wanting to continue using older versions of Windows. However, if you do use Windows 8, their mainstream support ended in January of 2019.

For a broader list of tech trends or to inquire about IT/VoIP services, please send us a message. 

How Can Adobe Acrobat Tips Help?

Our Adobe Acrobat tips can significantly help small business employees in many ways. For instance, easily creating and editing PDF files can help streamline document management and make sharing documents between employees and customers easier. The Adobe Acrobat tips below can help small business employees to increase their efficiency, save money, and collaborate more effectively.

You Can Make Anything a PDF

With Adobe Acrobat, you can turn pretty much anything into a PDF.

Don’t have a printer? Or are you wanting to create a PDF from office programs? What about scanned documents? You can turn anything into a PDF to create one to work with. You can print a website and choose to print to PDF instead of a printer to create a high-quality one, or even export your Word Documents and e-mails to a PDF format. You can also capture a screenshot of your clipboard and then create a PDF form, making Acrobat one of the most versatile software programs. You can edit them with Acrobat or other Adobe products (yes, Photoshop).

Make a Book

Creating a book has never been easier than with Adobe Acrobat.

Okay, so you may not be writing a book, but even if you are, you can easily create one large PDF by combining multiple files, documents, or other PDFs. This way, you don’t have to continually copy, cut, and paste items individually to add more pages. On the same note, you can also extract every page into files using the Tools->Pages-> Extract method.

The Most Diverse Find Tool

Almost all PDFs can be searched if they have any text in them. Type Edit->Advanced Search-> and open Full Reader to search by line, text, subject, or categorized list tags.

Numerous “Batch” Tools

When you perform specific actions in Adobe Acrobat, you can select them for the opened document only or multiple files. If you don’t want to open the other PDFs, you don’t have to. For example, if you save copies of bill payments as PDFs, you want to choose a watermark to mark individual items for your company or even your home. You can do this even without opening any files—Acrobat.

Click on the Tools menu.

Click Watermark, select the files from your computer to which you want to add a watermark, and hit “Open.”

It’ll pull up the dialogue box. You can choose your custom text, font, size, angle, transparency & color to make your watermark. You can include any margins here if you want, and you can save your settings to a “Saved” dropdown box for later.

Once your watermark is configured (or loaded from a saved one), Click the Okay button.

You can add a watermark to your Adobe Acrobat documents in just a few quick steps.

Want to Open the document? Keep “Don’t Save Changes” selected, which will open all of them. Otherwise, you can choose the same folder selected at the beginning or a separate folder to have the items saved to. Don’t want to open the documents? Uncheck the box “Open when finished.” As a good measure, you may want to create separate files or add extra characters (like “paid”) to the file name if you’re comfortable with it. Most people overwrite the original files, though. Click the okay button, and the script runs. Done. Finished. Nothing left to do.

Exceptional Hotkeys

This cheat sheet may be from 2015, but Adobe Acrobat hotkeys are still the same.

When you want to do some fantastic quick work, rather than using the menus, Adobe Acrobat has an extensive list of Hotkeys available for both Mac and Windows computers. Want to edit the document text? Hit the “T” key, and you’re there. Need to insert files? Try CTRL+SHIFT+I (that is the letter “I,” by the way). You can link items and crop them as well, just by using many letters. The Hand tool is H. The Select tool is V. Zoom is Z. Cropping is C, and so many more. It would take too long to list everything in this guide.

So What Do We Think?

If you’re a business owner, no matter how small, you can significantly benefit by getting an individual or business subscription to Adobe Acrobat DC. At the very least, you can test it out by signing up for a free trial. You can use this powerful tool with Microsoft Office applications and even SharePoint. Suppose you’re looking for a robust network solution to handle all the traffic and give yourself custom backup servers. In that case, you can create secure documents and keep them safe with a company like Infinity Solutions.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office 365 software is a solid choice for businesses.

Microsoft Office Suite Software has been around for years and even decades. While it’s come a long way since 1990, Microsoft Office 2016, 2019 Enterprise, and Office365 have become the mainstream. They’ve even become more popular to use in recent years. While some businesses still have the older versions that aren’t supported anymore (Office 2013 and earlier). Either way, the abilities you can have with a powerhouse document editor, slideshow presentation creator, website and file publisher, online note backup, and more are better than you can get with any other business software suite that’s off-brand. They’ve become pretty much the standard.

Adobe Acrobat (Pro for Businesses)

This cheat sheet may be from 2015, but Adobe Acrobat hotkeys are still the same. Access to Adobe software is sure to help any business of any size.

Adobe Acrobat has been one of the dominant platforms for reading official documents since it emerged in 1993 as an original and new file format for documents. However, it’s come a long way since then, and the reader alone doesn’t allow you to edit them professionally. Therefore, it’s essential that if you’re in any business, you use Adobe Acrobat Pro and learn it. It may sound hard to believe, but it isn’t that hard to use. The more you use it, the easier it gets to learn! We’ll cover that with a tutorial sometime for you later on.

QuickBooks

QuickBooks software is a dream if you’re keeping track of your expenses.

Accounting is a huge deal. Whether you’re a corporation or a self-employed business, you want a reliable solution for accounting and tracking money. QuickBooks is a great and convenient way to do so. Everything is primarily automated if you use the online platform, and you have even more functionality than on the desktop platform. Of course, if you have a financial advisor or accounting department, you can always use QuickBooks Desktop Pro and manually do things.

Website CSM – WordPress

WordPress is the most used web builder software, and there are many reasons why.

Whether you’re operating an internal website or a regular website for a business, WordPress is not only the most powerful blog out there but also one of the most standardized and widely used web design platforms. Sure, you can achieve greatness with something like a website builder. You can even use plain old HTML, CSS, and Java. While these are great, they often require extensive maintenance and need to be continuously rewritten and updated. Failure to do so will leave your website looking like it just got out of bed. It’s also mobile-friendly, so your company can end up at the top of Google searches.

With WordPress, you can choose templates to do all of these and customize things on the fly. Have a new page? Boom. Link it to the main page. Want to have a blog post? That’s easy too, and you can choose to have your blog as a separate section of your website altogether, giving you excellent opportunities for landing pages.

Backup Services – Cloud Storage is Better

Cloud storage software is an excellent way to stay connected with colleagues, share documents, and create backups.

When you’re operating a business, you want the best data backup and recovery solutions possible. That’s why you have to realize that you want your local backups of everything, and you’ll also want some cloud backup service that can help protect your information and data.

Google Docs – Cloud Sharing Documents

If you aren’t using Google Docs to your advantage or don’t know how to use it, we can help you and show you how.

The Google Cloud featuring Google Docs, Google Sheets, and the rest of the plethora of “Google Cloud Services” is an excellent solution for sharing information quickly. Another thing to utilize in your business, primarily if you’re operating a sort of intranet and allowing remote connections, is Google Drive.

Antivirus – SentinelOne, Avast Business, or Kaspersky

Not only does SentinelOne stop malware, but it can also stop stalkerware. So, if you’re in the market for antivirus software, you might want to look at SentinelOne.

In the past, AVG Security, McAffee, and even Norton used to take the cake. There are still businesses operating slow and sluggish computers with these overbearing antiviruses. When you utilize an antivirus for your business, you want it to offer maximum security. Still, also it can stack onto Windows Defender and do a better job, not hog your computers. That’s why we use SentinelOne. SentinelOne is an AI-driven security powerhouse that finds problems before they even get to your computer. SentinelOne is an all-in-one cybersecurity platform that’s performance is unmatched in the industry.

The Best Software Solutions for You

Even the smallest businesses need to have viable security solutions, back up their files, and have secure ways to communicate over secured connections. Therefore, you want to look for a one-stop source for your connectivity needs.