Archive for the ‘Computer Support’ tag
How your IT service’s uptime is vital to your business
When it comes to modern business you’ll find that a lot of this will involve computers to some extent, whether it is one computer or as in most cases these days employees working from a computer each on a network. Computer networks are everywhere in business, they allow computers and their users to connect from across a building and even across the world.
This reliance on computers and networks though can be a problem if your network is not reliable. Reliability is a major factor in IT systems as if they are unreliable and are regularly experiencing problems then there is a good chance that your business will suffer as a result. A IT system that is unreliable could mean:
• slow network speeds or drop outs
• Data loss
• Lengthy changes (new connections, desk moves)
• Frequent issues and problems with your computer itself
One of the core requirements for your network and IT system is that it is working all the time, this is said to be a 100% uptime (i.e. when your service is running correctly) unfortunately no network uptime will always be at 100% as there will always be scheduled upgrades, power cuts and other issues that may compromise your network.
There are however many networks that have uptime percentages of 98% or even higher, these are the companies you want to use as they will have a better approach to their work and have your business and it’s smooth running at heart. When choosing an IT system provider you should ask about their reliability and any possible network up time statistics they have with their other clients.
You’ll ideally check with a few other companies not just the first one you come across, as well as reliability there is something else you should check. You want to hire an IT team who will be fairly local to you or have engineers who can respond to any emergency calls. If you have any immediate problems then you’ll want them sorting as soon as possible but if the engineer needs to travel a long distance then you could be waiting much longer than you would have to if you had chosen a team local to you.
So when choosing an IT company for your business make sure to check with multiple companies, find out their reliability and make sure you do your research before signing up with anyone.
When choosing an IT support company you should check out their reliability and the range of IT support services they supply. Some companies only do PCs whereas some will complete all necessary network cabling for you too.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
Tips to keep your network running and avoid unnecessary support call outs
Computers have become a part of our everyday lives, many people will have one at home and many jobs now require you to work from a computer also. It’s a fact of life that not all of us are as adept with technology as others, this usually means we’ll find ourselves stuck or think there is a problem that we cannot solve. Sometimes this will mean we’ll have to admit defeat and call up for IT support.
Obviously calling IT support when you have a problem is the best approach as that’s what they’re there for, to support you. But sometimes the problems we run across can be solved pretty quickly by ourselves and save calling out for support. These are just a few simple tests you can run to either fix the problem yourself or simply get a bit more information for the IT support technician to go off of.
Restarting your machine
Restarting your machine will normally be the first bit of advice any IT support technician will give you, it seems cliché and meaningless but you’d be surprised how many common freezes or crashes can be fixed by merely restarting your machine. Make sure you have backed up any work you were doing before hitting restart as not all programs will have auto-save features.
Backing up your work regularly
Making sure you back up your work frequently is a practice you should make a habit of. There are two ways to backup your work that are effective, the first is backing up to some sort of external media whether it’s a portable hard drive or on to CDs, the only disadvantage with this method is that you normally aren’t able to write to CDs again and portable hard drives can fail like the hard drive in your PC as well.
Backing up over your company network is the best option as your work will be stored on the company server which will have plenty of redundancy and backups to keep your work safe, also you can save your work as many times as you like to keep a recent copy.
Undo any recent changes
Sometimes installing new software can cause problems with your system so it’s worthwhile noting down any changes you’ve made; some companies do not allow users to install software for this exact reason. If you have installed anything recently, try uninstalling them to see if this fixes the problem. When calling your IT support department make sure to let them know any details or recent changes that may have led to the problem.
Sometimes computer problems can be fixed relatively quickly, these cases are normally where the user is able to give a lot of background information on their problem, this helps the IT support technician quickly diagnose the problem and fix your computer or cabling as soon as possible.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
Accessorizing Computers, What Comes Out of the Box is Just a Starter Kit
Yesterday, we spent about three hours trying to convince a client of ours that brand new computers just don’t come equipped with the all things that most computers need in a PC. We tried to convince him that a fully functional computer is one that is personalized with specially selected hardware and software accessories – and that the computer purchased at the store doesn’t come with these things. Unfortunately, all of our convincing was to our avail. Our client insisted that he should never need more than what came with his boxed product and that we were just trying “bilk” more money out of him.
As computer consultants, it’s our job and mission to make sure our clients are 100% satisfied when they walk out our offices. But our job is unnecessarily made harder when people don’t take the time to learn about computer accessories and familiarize themselves with the limitations of store-bought computers. Hopefully by the time you finish reading this article, you’ll understand the lesson that we were trying to teach our client: “What comes out of the box is really just a starter kit.”
The typical computer package comes with a CPU unit, keyboard, mouse, and speaker set. That may be just fine for some, but most people require more than that especially in today’s “connected” society. Today’s users require full multimedia capabilities, a wide range of graphics tools, and accommodations for the various portables we now enjoy. These extras aren’t included with “what comes out of the box,” and the only way to get them is to accessorize.
To illustrate the importance of accessorizing, we like to use the “plain dough” analogy. Let’s say that a brand new computer is a batch of plain dough – waiting to be flavored and baked into something useful. If we want to use this dough to make a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies, we would need to “accessorize” this dough with chocolate chips and a little brown sugar. If we want to use this dough into in a warm loaf of sesame seed bread on the other hand, we’d need to “accessorize” the dough with yeast and sesame seeds.
About Author: Haiming Jiang is the Managing Director of A+ Computer Support – a company that has been providing excellent computer services in Auckland, New Zealand for over 5 years.
Mail this postPopularity: 2% [?]
On the Hunt for the Best IT Companies?
IT companies are not difficult to find, but choosing the right one that best fits your business in Australia is! Not all IT companies are on equal footing when it comes to quality so do your homework to locate the one that best suits your business needs. Prospective companies need to be interviewed before you work with them, so this article gives you five questions that you can ask so that you can get an experienced firm that is competent to meet your needs. You will also receive contact information for one of the most experienced IT companies.
Get more help on the topic of Managed IT services Sydney.
Meet Your Requirements: The first question to ask any prospective IT company is how well the firm will meet your specific needs. You can ask this question as soon as you have made a complete list of things that you would like the firm to provide. You don’t have to be a big-time applications and computer expert to tell a prospective IT company what you would like them to provide. Most IT firms will hand you a template that you can fill out and check so that you can tell them what your company needs, and the IT company can get back to you and address those needs specifically.
Get an Experienced Company: The next thing to find out about prospective IT companies is regards their experience. With this question in mind, you should get information on how much work the company has done and for how long. Find out too if their IT solutions teams have experience dealing with companies with traits such as yours. For example, if your firm is financial, find IT support that specializes in the unique security concerns of this industry.
Is Training Provided? Inquire about how much support their IT can allow you. Will training be provided for your staff and will it proceed as the system evolves? Will consultants arrive to perform maintenance or check if the system still meets your changing needs? A high level of IT support is required if you think that your business will be changing and/or growing tremendously in the next 2 to 5 years.
If you want more comprehensive info on IT solutions Sydney that site will help you.
What is the Help Desk Response Policy? Good IT management will also include a readily available help desk that will be ready to assist if any problems arise. A high level of IT support ensures less downtime for your business. Different IT companies have different response time guarantees, so ask about these and have them place it in writing. Once you have the guarantee in print, you know that the IT company will be more apt to deliver its promise.
What are their Service Rates? The final question should involve the cost of the services. While this may not be the most important factor in choosing a company for your information technology, most small businesses are on a tight budget and this should be taken into consideration. You don?t need to pay large amounts of money for infrastructure if you don’t need high levels of IT. A smaller company that can personalize service may be a better fit for your needs and budget.
You need to have these 5 questions in mind as you go about looking for the best IT service provider. You’ll be rewarded with information technology that is both functional and affordable if you ask the right questions. Good IT support can make or break your company.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
IT Companies ? How to Choose One?
There are many different IT companies that you can select from so it’s not hard to find one, but it IS hard to find one that will BEST match your business. Not all IT firms are good so you need to do your homework to find a company that will provide you with the services you require. You need an IT firm that matches your unique situation well, so ask them the five questions in this article as you scout around for prospective IT companies. Contact details for one of the most experienced IT companies is also provided. For top-quality resources on computer IT company Sydney make sure to visit them.
How to Meet Your Needs: First of all, inquire how the prospective IT company plans to meet your specific business situation. Before asking the question, however, you have to complete a checklist of items that you want furnished. You don’t need to be an IT guru yourself to make your needs known. Most IT companies will have a template you can use to indicate what you need; when you return this to them, they’ll be able to reply if they can meet those needs or not.
Hire Because of Experience: Next, ask the IT companies: how much experience do you have? Discover how many years they’ve been in the industry and how many businesses they have served. It is also important to find out how much work the IT solutions team has done for companies with similar characteristics to yours. For instance, if you work for a financial company, then you will need IT support that can address your unique security concerns.
What About Training? It’s also vital to know the level of IT support they offer. Is training for your personnel on hand and will this be available as systems are modified? Will a consulting team also come in to check regularly on your system and evaluate any changes that have to be made on it depending on your company needs? This level of IT support is vital to small businesses intending to grow within 2 to 5 years, so that their systems can develop along with the firm’s growth. IT support information is only a click away.
What Kind of Help Desk Response Guarantee Are We Talking About? A help desk that is easy to call, and that is ready to help you solve your IT problems as they arise, should be part of the package offered to you by IT management. If you are concerned about how much downtime you may experience, this support network will spell the difference. Ask about what the various IT companies promise about response time, and ask if you can have this information documented. If the company does not deliver on its promises, then at least you have a contract to show when that time comes around.
How Much Will You End Up Paying? You are now ready to ask your final question: what will all this cost you? You may not judge an information technology company based on price alone, but if you are working on a tight budget then this should be an important factor. If your IT needs are simple, you don’t need to pay for a big infrastructure that is already set up. Personalized service, which often happens with smaller companies, could fit your needs and budget much better.
You can get the best IT service provider if you ask these basic questions. Do your homework and you will be rewarded with information technology that is affordable and functional. The best businesses out there get to the top thanks to great IT support.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
IT Services For Your Business
When you are looking to get into the networking side of your business, there are several things that you will need to consider, besides equipment and software. You need to know what the best IT solutions are for your particular business. There are many things to choose from when deciding on different IT services for your business. There are a myriad of decisions to be made here from what operating system to use to operate the network. Security and communications are also other solutions for business. Systems design and management also fall under this particular banner.
There are many different IT services solutions to be had by any business. Some of which include data management, database design, and designing of computer networks. Another place of interest is the staffing of the IT department in any company.Other solutions include application design, web applications and ecomerce solutions as well as software engineering and information assurance. So there are many different types of solutions for the IT part of any business. This is just a short list of what IT solutions can cover in a particular business, depending upon size and company need. So where do you find IT solutions for your business?
There are many companies that offer various IT solutions to small businesses all over Auckland and the surrounding area. However, many are not independent contractors and will charge you a small fortune to not only design but to implement any type of IT solutions for your small business. There is another way of getting IT solutions for your business.
We offer IT solutions for your small business, no matter what business you are in. From creating the infrastructure of IT to designing and maintaining the computers and software, we do it all for small businesses in Auckland and surrounding areas. We also offer staffing for your IT department with qualified personnel that are trained to handle all parts of the IT solutions for your business.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
What is Remote Computer Services?
When you are talking about computers and computer systems, you need to know about remote computer support. What is remote computer services, you may ask yourself and how does it fit into my business? Remote programs allow you to control computers from a different location. There are programs that will allow you after downloading the software to access your computers from different places other than the work location. This allows you to monitor what is going on with the computers, hold meetings online as well as work on another computer remotely. This can be a godsend when you are not at your business but need to get files from your business computer.
There are many different programs that businesses can use to remotely use computers, whether ones in the business or others that can be accessed from a non work location. Remote support comes in when you have or need to get remote software and hardware for your company computers. This means that someone can help you to set up remote access as well as upgrade your system to allow for remote access. Support can also come in the form of a trained computer technician. This technician will be able to set up your access to the remote computer as well as troubleshoot any problems with same.
There are many program manufacturers of remote programs such as Symantec for business usage. Usually remote support entails a live help desk for the product in question. This is usually a 24 hour, 7 day a week access for those who have these types of programs on their mainframes and computers. With so many software for remote access, what happens when you can’t reach the live helpdesk? This is where a locally trained remote support person will save the day.
This can be the difference between success and disaster. By having someone who is trained in remote support, you have a good chance of being able to completely remotely access your computer or computers from different locations. This is invaluable for business clients. Oftentimes a remote computer can give you the time to access material without being in the office. Now, how can you get this type of support? Our company offers remote access to all of our clients and our computer technicians are well versed in remote support. Remote support includes but is not limited to software and hardware, but also being able to fix any type of problem that the software or hardware will provide.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
How to Find Good Computer Companies
There are many different computer services companies that are around. The question is, are they good enough? What do I mean, you may ask? There are many different types of computer companies. Some are good, some are horrible and some are fantastic. With that being said, how do you find any good computer companies when you need them? Do you search through a phone book or internet listing or do you go by reputation alone? There are many different ways to look for good companies for computers and everything computer related in order to find the one that fits your needs.
When you are looking for good computer companies, there are some things that you need to know in order to make an intelligent choice for your company. Here are some things to look for. Has the company been in business long? Can you check reference? How much experience do the computer technicians have in things such as IT, and do they have any certifications from the major IT services program providers? Do they update their training in IT.? Have they been in the same location? What are their prices for services and what is provided during those services?
The answers to these questions should give you a picture of the company. Ask to speak to current and previous customers so that you have a good idea of what the picture is. Is the premises clean? That alone will tell you what you need to know. Computer companies have a reputation to uphold and by getting the information, you can decide whether or not to pass on the company itself and find another one. For example, if a computer company has a bad reputation, you certainly do not want to do business with that company.
Something else you might want to ask of the company. Are they an independent company or are they a chain of companies. Going with an independent company can often be the best idea and will save you money and time in the long term. Independent companies can often the best value for the money. Also another matter to consider is if they are local or long distance. You want someone that will be there when you need them, not several hours away from you. Computer companies can be the kiss of death or the breath of life for small businesses.
So what do you want in computer companies? Reliability and dependability are 2 hallmarks of a good company. Someone local who has a high degree of training in all matters of the IT industry is another plus and should be considered seriously. We offer reliability, locality, dependability and professionally trained staff with over ten years experience. We also offer affordability and references upon request. With training by Microsoft, Cisco and Sun systems, our staff is fully prepared to take care of your every need. Contact us for more information by either emailing us at the link below or giving us a call to see how we can help you.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
Computer Network Support and You
When you are running a business, you need someone that is knowledgeable about IT services in order to step in when a problem arises. So you need to know about network support both what it is and who is qualified to deliver such support. What is a network? A network is a business’s computers that are all connected via either LAN (Local Access Network) or via wireless and allows computers to share information as well as being online at the same time. This means printers, files ect. This can also include the use of internet messaging systems.
Network and computer services entails many different things. When you have a network, you are usually connected by both software and hardware enabling all computers to be operational. If any part of the system fails such as a computer crash or IT trouble, then you need to have someone that is familiar with these types of systems and software in order to provide support for the network.Network support means that there are people who can help you with any type of trouble that a network could undergo from hardware to software problems and upgrades to mainframes of the business.
There are many different network systems such as Cisco and Sun that are used for networking. If you have a problem with these software packages, you must have someone that knows these programs in order to help you get your network back up and running. By having network support, you can in a short amount of time get your network up and running again. You also have to look at upgrades to existing computer and mainframe systems as well as creating new systems that can better handle the workload and handle it more efficiently with no loss of the system.
Now with that being said, who would you turn to for network support? There are many places that you could turn to and many different things to think. But are they right for you? Do they have the training in dealing with all sorts of network problems as well as be able to build a network from scratch for you? Do they have the computer training necessary to be able to handle any type of problem with the network, software or hardware that could crop up? Furthermore do they have years of experience in dealing with network support?
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]
Are You Looking for a Computer Technician?
If you are looking for a computer repair technician in Auckland, what would you look for? Does the repair technician in question have years of experience in the field? What systems do they repair? What qualifications does the technician have as far as hardware and software repair? If you are looking for a computer repair technician, do they have qualifications with IT? Do they guarantee their work and offer it for a reasonable price? These are some of the questions that you need to ask of a potential computer repair technician.Has the computer company that they work for been in business for years?
Our computer services technicians have been in business for over 10 years. We cover every type of computer repair such as software, maintenance, computer hardware, as well as peripheral service and support. Some of the areas of troubleshooting include crashes, lockups, spyware removal as well as integration for both Mac and Windows.Our computer repair technicians are also skilled in hardware upgrades and virus protection and backup systems. We work on many different computer manufacturers and specialize in Windows and Linux systems. Does your computer technician have Novell and Sun IT qualifications?
If you need an upgrade, then we can help you. We can repair existing systems and make upgrades to mainframes as well as other computers that your business will use. We also specialize in virus removal and antivirus. If your computer has locked up or frozen, our computer repair technicians can repair the problem and have you running again in no time. We are familiar with all the latest service updates to a majority of computers used in business. We also can repair mainframes as well as repair any backup systems that have need of repair.
If you are having problems with computers or need repair for any computer system or mainframe that your business has, give us a call. We will be happy to assist you with all of your computer and network needs for your business. A friendly computer repair technician will be dispatched immediately to the premises in order to facilitate repairs. Our prices will be well within your budget and will have your business up and running in no time at all. So give us a call at the number listed below. Your business will thank you and your wallet will thank you as well.
Mail this postPopularity: 1% [?]