Q1 2019

SME NEWS / Q1 2019 15 , Since its inception, Q2Q has earned a reputation for providing plain-speaking, honest and affordable IT services. The company is renowned for being a friendly bunch of technical experts who take the strain out of IT, making them the perfect recipient of our recognised experts in IT support services, and here’s how they do it... Recognised Experts in IT Support Services, 2019 - Lancashire IT management plays a similar role to a surgeon’s scalpel – the surgeon doesn’t care where the scalpel is from or how it works, provided it does the job properly. The modus operandi of the team at Q2Q, is making sure their clients’ technical infrastructure works in a similar way. Consider the impact that poor IT – or rather, faulty tech – can have on a workforce. Issues have a detrimental effect on staff attitude and engagement, which in turn has significant financial and productivity implications. By getting the basics right, like the surgeon having the right scalpel, business owners can focus on growth and networking – rather than how to connect their laptop to the office printer. Whether your IT is managed in-house or outsourced, it’s still important to remember the age-old saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’. Whether a start-up, scale-up or established SME, below are tips to maintain tech-related productivity and efficiency. Five IT Areas To Consider Anti-virus software – The mere mention of the word ‘virus’ is enough to instil fear into anyone, but it’s surprising to hear just how little attention is paid to protecting against them. A PC may have anti-virus software installed, but they must remain up-to-date! Neglected system updates – Staying on top of system updates is crucial to ensuring the smooth- running of your computer. We’re all guilty of closing ‘annoying’ security windows – but clicking ‘remind me later’ will ensure you don’t forget about them. Wi-Fi security – Ensuring your internet connection is private and secure is key to protecting your business from cyber-threats. A strong password is a simple – yet effective – method of keeping unwanted users out of your network. Remote working – With coffee shops the popular choice for meetings, public Wi-Fi provides the answer to all our remote- working prayers. However, it can also be a first-class ticket for cyber-criminals, so always make sure you work via a virtual private network (VPN). Backing up files – Gone are the days of the filing cabinet. But, copying files and storing them safely is still a critical part of the recovery process, should your business suffer a major IT fault or power outage. As tech continues to advance and our working lives become ever-more entrenched in the Jan19424 digital world, the need for IT support will inevitably keep growing too. Knowing what should happen in the background is key to ensuring all systems are ticking away smoothly – while being safeguarded effectively. Lorna Stellakis, Managing Director at Q2Q