The Office 365 And VoIP Integration Can Have A Positive Impact On Your Small Business

the office 365 and voip integration can have a positive impact on your small business

The integration of Office 365 and VoIP is a great step for businesses to take, especially those who want to save a significant amount of money when long distance phone calls have to be made. A business can save on long distance calls, while not having to make a steep investment in the hardware and software.

With the Office 365 and VoIP integration, your business will have a sophisticated system that is not difficult to use. Your system will be unified with your messaging and conference calls, and you will have an enterprise level online presence. A great thing about VoIP is the support it has been getting from Microsoft Skype for Business.

The Microsoft Skype for Business software makes it very simple and convenient for a business to integrate VoIP into their business. Just about every person in a business is familiar and comfortable with Microsoft products, and they know what to expect from Microsoft software. Skype uses the Microsoft interface that we are used to seeing.This makes it a smooth transition for everyone in your business or organization. It will not be difficult for employees to get used to the new system because it will seem so familiar to them.

When your employees use Microsoft Skype for Business for the first time, they will see all of the collaboration features that it offers. The software makes it very easy for employees to send messages or make phone calls. So, it will be very easy for everyone in the office to connect and communicate with each other to discuss the business. This will definitely come in handy when team members need to have meetings or conferences. Since the system is simple and straight-forward, your business will not have to spend money on training sessions or spend extra time showing employees what needs to be done to put a conference or meeting together.

Integrating Office 365 and VoIP and having the support of Skype, will help your business improve in its communication efforts. It is also a money saver. Since VoIP was first brought to people’s attention, several things have changed since then. It is has seen great improvements, and it can significantly help your small business.

Contact us if you want to discuss this topic or anything else.

Best Computer Brands: Other Names Beyond Apple in Desktops and Laptops

Best Computer BrandsSome of the best computer brands on the market may be names that surprise you when you may think Apple dominates everything in the computer world.

While they’re still generally considered #1, what about when you’re looking for something more affordable or even more durable?

The iMac and MacBook Pro lines are still quite expensive to buy, and some consumers are starting to turn to alternatives that provide all the basics you need.
Here’s 4 Corner IT‘s Best Computer Brands:

Asus as the Budget-Friendly Computer Brand

You’ve no doubt heard about Asus or even had a friend who’s purchased an Asus desktop or laptop in order to save money. They’re generally half the price of Apple’s iMac, yet have all the basics so you’re never want for the traditional things everybody needs.

However, Asus goes a little beyond that. Their M70AD-US003S desktop has a fast solid-state hybrid drive, plus full capability for multimedia. It also has the modern features of near-field communication and Qi wireless charging so you won’t feel like you’re falling behind.

PC Mag voted their desktop second to Apple’s Mac Pro in quality. Keep in mind Asus also puts out excellent laptops. They sell for as little as a few hundreds dollars in most outlets. Their Transformer Book T100TA laptop was also voted by PC Mag to be superior next to Apple’s Macbook Pro.

CyberPower Zeus Mini

If you’re primarily a gamer on your PC, this affordable computer is also considered one of the best around. As a midrange gaming desktop, it’s very compact and has a lot of power for something so small. The price is around $1,800, though its lower price may be because it can’t be easily upgraded.

Nevertheless, it’s a name you probably haven’t thought of if you’re searching for a PC with powerful gaming capability and one that doesn’t take up a lot of room.

The Continuing Popularity of Dell

You don’t hear a lot of chatter about Dell computers nowadays. However, they’ve quietly continued to be a popular computer brand in the desktop and laptop markets. Their Precision T3610 is one of the best desktop workstations around today. This is based on its fast processor speed and 3D graphics capability. Plus, it’s very upgradeable with a chassis that’s easy to open for IT technicians.

Dell laptops are also still a major force. The Latitude E7440 is a popular laptop based on its extreme durability and outstanding features. You have to pay more for those, however, yet some find it superior even to the MacBook Pro. It’s all going to depend on whether you’re still an adherent to Windows. Additionally, if you still fear the threat of Windows viruses.

Contact us here at 4 Corner IT so we can be your IT support service to keep everything running smoothly. No matter how superior the brand is, without proper prevention and technical monitoring, your computer can be rendered useless when mishaps or viruses cripple your network.

3 Tips to Keep Your Firewall Safe and Secure

3 tips to keep your firewall safe and secure

Tips to Keep Your Firewall Safe

“Firewall” is a word most everyone is familiar with, but really what is a firewall and why is it important?

Simply put, a firewall is a software or hardware barrier that helps your computer avoid hackers, viruses and worms that access your computer through the Internet.

First Step

It may sound obvious, but the first step in keeping your computer safe is to make sure the firewall on the computer is kept on at all times. It’s also important to run virus scans on a regular basis to locate and remove viruses promptly… better yet, turn on the ‘automatic update’ feature, so your computer is scanned every day and you never have to think about it or remember to run the scan manually.

Second Step

Second, be sure to install all updates to software and/or the operating system often. Don’t delay the install – updates exist to correct changing technology requirements and to fix security holes. By completing updates on a regular basis, you are more likely to avoid potential viruses.

Just say no! Don’t open attachments or click on email links unless you’re certain that they’re safe. Also, avoid “free” software downloads. Many of these are riddled with spyware, adware, or worse and in the end you end up paying more through compromised security.

Here’s a bonus tip – always have a backup! Ok, so this one won’t help you avoid the problem to begin with. However, having a backup of all data, email and contacts is essential in the event that any damage is caused by malware. Having a backup ensures that in a worst-case scenario situation, you can be up and running again with minimal downtime.

To find out more about firewall safety and data security for your SMB, please contact us. 4 Corner IT has been providing data security services for over 10 years. We’re ready to manage your team’s safety with our expertise.

Information Security and Disaster Recovery : How to Protect Your Business From Mother Nature

For many businesses, large or small, technology has been proven to boost productivity and make processing information easier and easier. And for many businesses, this reliance on tech can make facing a natural disaster a rude awakening.

Average Disaster Recovery Comix

In Florida, where our main headquarters is located, these natural disasters usually consist of category 3+ hurricanes with a small chance of flooding in a moments notice – giving us the “incentive” to take our information security and disaster recovery seriously. Wherever your from, however, this type of planning can save your business’ time, money, and even its life. Here are some things you should keep in mind:

1) As always, the key focus here is to develop a contingency plan. This plan should not only detail what management personnel should do in the case of an emergency but how and when. For a reference guide in making such a contingency plan, check out the N.I.S.T. and their whitepaper Special Publication 800-34 detailing what a business should do before the cost of downtime outweighs the cost to recover.

2) Whatever Disaster Recovery Plan you come up with, remember: always assess the dangers that may occur in your geographical area. This involves stepping back and determining the protection your company needs from an external and internal viewpoint. Always weigh the benefits of having a strong insurance policy and determine where pricey tech should be located. For example, a business within a heavily flooded area would think twice before placing their server room in their office’s basement just as a business with frequent blackouts would invest in consistent backup logs and generators.

3) In some cases, even the best of planners cannot foresee a disaster that could cripple or maim business operations. In these instances, however, you can still take precautionary measures to secure and recover your equipment until events have passed. In the case of a large-scale disaster, plan a business strategy that will determine if and when you can get back up and running – this involves letting your clients know if their services will or will not continue. Also, plan an alternate site location for your tech to be stored and secured – both from the elements and looters who can often take advantage of disabled and vulnerable businesses.

Bad Disaster Recovery Plan Comix

4) Above all else, make sure your employees have adequate preparation in the case of a disaster. Many businesses often overlook their workforce in times of plenty, but when all else fails, your employees can be the ones to bring your business back to its feet. Employ safety guidelines and develop a handbook especially in routine seasons when storms and temperature changes increase. All the effort you put into protecting your employees and your resources is what makes your business stronger and disaster recovery much more efficient.

For 4 Corner IT support pertaining to disaster recovery, check out our disaster recovery services page or contact us to talk to one of our business and technical administrators.

Top Benefits of VoIP and Office 365: Implementing a VoIP Phone System with Office 365

top benefits of voip and office 365 implementing a voip phone system with office 365

If you haven’t already made the switch, now may be the perfect time. A hosted VoIP Phone System for Office 365 can truly enhance your customer experience; providing your staff with the tools they need for highly efficient, streamlined customer service.

The power of Hosted VoIP coupled with Microsoft’s Skype for Business system will allow for even more flexibility in not only external, but also internal business communications.

Office 365’s Skype for Business offers a universal platform for instant messaging, video conferencing, voice communications, Exchange email, and a wide array of other Office 365 applications.

Top Benefits of VoIP for Office 365

  • The Office Experience Anywhere: Whether at the office, home, or overseas Skype and hosted VoIP allows staff to use Office features from virtually any location. Features like HD Video Conferencing can bring staff together no matter their location using their desktop, laptop, tablet, or other mobile devices.
  • Cost Effective Implementation: In most cases, you do not have to upgrade your current office equipment to begin using all of the features Hosted VoIP and Microsoft Office 365 have to offer. Hosted VoIP allows you to use your current office equipment, seriously decreasing start-up costs.
  • Mobility: By enabling VoIP on handheld devices, all the features provided by your office’s hosted VoIP services will be available for use.
  • Flexibility: Hosted VoIP services and integrated Office 365 services are completely scalable. So whether your company is experiencing a growth spurt or is in need of a scale-back; your provider can make the necessary changes to your account quickly and easily without service disruption.
  • Customized Service: Your subscription to Office 365 app features is completely customizable; therefore, you can take advantage of apps whenever they are needed simply by changing and adjusting available features with your provider.

If you are interested in learning more about hosted VoIP solutions, please contact the professionals with 4 Corner IT.