Blog

Why You Should Always Have A Backup

We would like to start by asking a question and that is a simple one “if you lost all of your data, would you be able to operate your business and what is your back up plan?’’

Many businesses store their data on things such as G-Suite, OneDrive, Dropbox or some other form of cloud-based storage solution. These solutions are fantastic as they enable you to share files between devices and access them remotely, however they have one major floor and that is in relation to backups.

Whilst you may believe that your files are stored safely, there is no guarantee that if a virus got into them, you accidently deleted them or even if the host lost them, you will be able to recover the data.

This is a big risk as the data that businesses store is often invaluable, and you would be surprised at the number of small, medium and even large businesses who do not have a reliable data backup system. Some statistics quote that this could be as high as 50%!

What is a backup & how does it work?

Simply put, a backup is a second copy of your data that is stored elsewhere and accessible should you experience any issues.

There are several different solutions that can work depending on your business needs. The majority of solutions incorporate a cloud backup which is where your data is stored in a physical or virtual file or database to a secondary, off-site location for preservation in case of equipment failure or catastrophe.

You may wish to have all of your files backed up in one go, or incrementally back up files which is where all files are backed up on a specified date and then where only new or updated data is backed up each time.

Disaster recovery

Disaster recovery is a solution that helps protect your organisation from the effects of significant negative effects, such as an on-site fire or other major disruption.

A disaster recovery plan is extremely important for organisations who solely rely on their IT systems for day-to-day operations. Whilst this is a large majority of companies, examples may be care homes, financial institutions and major supermarkets.

If you have an on-site server or hosted on-site software, a disaster recovery system will mean that you are able to be back up and running in a relatively short period of time in order to minimise disruption.

If you do not have a backup, then we strongly recommend that you get one set up and do not run the very real risk of losing your valuable data.

We have a range of backup and disaster recovery solutions to suit the needs of all sizes of businesses and ensure that they remain protected, safe and secure. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your IT needs, our team would be more than happy to help.

How Working From Home Can Be Extremely Effective

With many of us currently working from home, businesses are needing to adapt to a new landscape. We provide our clients with solutions that enable their teams to continue operating seamlessly whilst ensuring that their IT system and data remain secure.

We thought we would put together a summary of our top advantages & disadvantages when working from home as there are several things that should be considered.

Advantage 1 – Flexibility

Perhaps the main advantage to working from home is the flexibility that it can provide. It enables your team to be able to continue with some of the simple day-to-day things such as receiving deliveries, working flexible hours, taking care of the kids and much more.

This flexibility is something that is very attractive as it can help your employees to maintain a healthy work / life balance. It also cuts out the time your team spend commuting which is always welcome!

Advantage 2 – Creature comforts

It goes without saying that working from home means that your team can work from an environment they feel comfortable in.

This includes things such as having their own kitchen to cook lunch and being able to work in a relaxed environment. It is a known fact that a less stressful environment generally leads to a better quality of work!

Advantage 3 – Access to office systems

Unlike in the early 1990s, advances in IT technology mean that your team can access office systems in much the same way as if they were in the office.

Making the most of things such as shared drives hosted software means that you no longer need the confines of an office to continue working as normal!

Whilst there are many advantages to working from home, there are also some disadvantages that should be considered.

These disadvantages, however, do not need to be things that prevent your team from working effectively!

Disadvantage 1 – Communication with team members

Working remotely can cause a few challenges when a team environment is helpful to how you function. In addition, it means that things such as face-to-face team meetings are not possible.

Whilst this can be a disadvantage, we are able to provide things such as bespoke videoconferencing, team chat software that can help to overcome this and bring your team together. In addition to this, integrated telephony solutions can mean that your team can take and make calls as if they were in the office.

This is an extremely cost-effective way to work when you consider the overheads of an office!

Disadvantage 2 – IT Issues can be a challenge

When your team are not based in the office, having an IT issue can prove to be a challenge. In addition, they may find that their internet connection is not wholly reliable and therefore cause downtime.

Whilst we are unable to help fix any home broadband issues that are the cause of your Internet Service Provider, having a managed IT service means that your team will always have someone to call should something go wrong. This means that they can take action rather than doing nothing!

Disadvantage 3 – Ensuring that your team are working efficiently

This is often one reason where people like to have their team working from a central location. We have all heard about the three-hour lunch break, heading off for a round of golf or having a nice lie in and cutting the day short!

These things do not need to be a concern however, as by using our software you can see when your team are online or offline and monitor computer usage to track actions in a non-intrusive way. This will help provide valuable insight as you run your business.

Overall, the advantages of working from home often far outweigh the disadvantages and as well as being possible, they can save you the overheads of an office!

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your IT needs, our team would be more than happy to help.

BT ISDN and PSTN Switch Off 2025

In 2014, BT announced that it would switch off its voice ISDN and PSTN circuits by 2025 and orders for these circuits will no longer be available from 2023. Advances within new IP technology, mean that these services are no longer worthwhile.

What do I do?

You can migrate your lines to SIP or move to a hosted telephony solution such as VoIP (Voice over IP). SIP is an IP Based telephone line. This is the direct replacement for voice services previously using ISDN or PSTN. If you phone system does not have availability for SIP functionality, we can migrate your services to SIP and then back to analogue using a converter. However, our hosted telephony solutions are feature rich and can reduce your overheads and the stress of the BT switch off.

Will I lose my numbers?

No, not at all. We can seamlessly port all of your number to Bells IT without losing a single call.

Microsoft Windows 7, Server 2008 and Exchange 2010 End-Of-Life

Back in June 2019, Microsoft announced that Windows 7, Server 2008 and Exchange 2010 would become end-of-life products early 2020. The date was set for January 14^th, 2020. On this day, Microsoft will stop supporting these products, but what does that mean? Well, this means that Microsoft will stop producing security patches or updates, it will no longer be classed as a compliant system for some vendors and they will no longer support the operating system. However, this does not mean that your computer will mysteriously stop working. We have had many conversations with new clients panicking about the deadline, believing that their computers will stop working.

So, what are my options?

An in-place upgrade to Windows 10. Previously, Microsoft offered all Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 for FREE. However, they decided to stop this offer more recently. If you have opted in for this service, you are still able to receive it. For all new upgrades, there is now an upgrade cost.

How do I upgrade to Windows 10?

The first step is to decide if your existing hardware is reliable enough to last. If you are having to pay for the upgrade, you may want to bite-the-bullet and purchase newer hardware that comes with Windows 10.  If your hardware is relatively new, then you can pay the small fee for the Windows 10 installer. We can also offer to manage all of this for you and for your company.

What about the other products, do they impact me?

Server 2008 and Exchange 2010 are normally used commercially or within small to medium businesses. If you are aware of using a small business server, or have an older server, then yes, this may affect you. If you are a business owner with a server and unsure on the products you use, then we are here to help. Give us a call to discuss your options.

CCTV Law – Home vs Business

CCTV at home

If you are looking to have CCTV fitted at your home, it’s important to choose the right location and angles to capture the areas you want. There a few legal implications of installing home CCTV systems. It is advised under the Human Rights Act, that you make every effort to ensure that ‘collateral intrusion’ of nearby premises or public areas are kept to a minimum.

CCTV for your business

It is vital to follow the guidelines for use of CCTV at work. Failure to follow or understand the guidelines may result in your footage being dismissible if you ever needed to use it. If you are looking to use CCTV in your place of work, you are now required by law to register with the ICO. You will also need to comply with the Data Protection Act 1988.

At Bells IT Support, we can design, install and manage your CCTV requirements. We can offer this service to all individuals and all industries.