March 2018 - DNA IT Solutions

Monthly Archives: March 2018

News

How Autotask can help generate revenue for your business

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Generate revenue with Autotask DNA IT
26
Mar

You might be aware of Autotask as a file sharing platform, however, it is so much more than that.

Autotask has grown to become a valuable business tool that is streamlining business processes.  Its vision of unifying people, processes and data is driving growth for many businesses across the globe today.

Autotask PSA

Autotask professional services automation (PSA) is a complete solution offering unlimited opportunity to organisations.   This IT business management platform allows you have everything at your fingertips to manage your critical business functions.

The CRM (Customer Relationship Management) capabilities allow you to capture every interaction with all of your customers.  Every phone call, meeting and email will be recorded so a full record is available when you need it.   A great tool for pricing, it will record all the time spent on a project and convert that to a cost, plus include any additional expense incurred.

Project management becomes easier as timesheets can be integrated within the system.   By adding the expense information from the finance department, it will create an accurate picture of all ongoing and completed projects.  You will have more success getting paid earlier and on time as they will be less disputes on billing.  Any queries will be handled quicker as all information will be there on screen.  It is simple to approve all amounts and post the invoice and we know that greater invoice detail will keep the customer happy too.

 

Customised Platform

The Autotask platform is customisable for your needs and the way you like to work.  You can create a custom company dashboard with your preferences by choosing from built in features.    We know that better systems make better business.   Efficiencies are gained by automating simple tasks and freeing up time for valuable team members.  Another bonus is that customers are happier as their account is managed better.  Happy customers and happy staff equal business success.

Somebody once claimed that information was power.  Autotask customised reports will give you the whole picture that will help you make better business decisions.    Customer service levels will be higher because you know more about your customer and their projects.  Plus, you will be better able to see opportunities and room for improvement, allowing you to create a vision for the future.

All this in one place, easy to use and available to you from Autotask.  For more information on Autotask professional services automation and how it may fit into your business please contact DNA IT Solutions today.

 

News

Layers of security

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Layers of Security DNA IT
20
Mar

Security Alerts

With each passing month there seems to be another story of a company who got hacked, some piece of ransomware that is making the rounds or even news of a colleague whose laptop got infected by a virus.  When you are busy with your business the last thing you should be concerned about is Cyber Security but unfortunately it has become a significant risk.

More places to attack

With IT being the heartbeat of most businesses today, there are more devices and technologies in use than ever.  Even the smallest of offices will have a PC and a laptop.  Add to that the smart phones and tablets that most people seem to use and before long the numbers start to add up.  As we move to the cloud we then concern ourselves with cloud security, network security and sharing information that is not encrypted.

More advanced methods

Cyber-attacks can be lucrative business for hackers and now they are becoming more co-ordinated.  With the ease of communication globally they can be arranged quite easily.  Recent attacks that have been investigated have been found to have been very well thought out and planned well in advance.

Did you know that you can now purchase a kit online that is ready for use and can enable somebody with even basic IT skills to launch an attack?  That means more attackers and an increase in the number of attacks each day.  Sophisticated technology means one keyboard warrior can launch an all-out battle against a victim of choice.

Layers of Security

However, all is not lost so there is no need to give up hope just yet.  As the bad guys get more sophisticated so do the world leaders in IT security.   It is important to know that there is not one single solution that will protect you against everything, rather it will be the layers of security working together that will provide the best protection.

These layers work like a team – they are more effective when all working together and covering all the bases.

  • Proactive – Keeping a watch out for attacks
  • Detection – Knowing and identifying the attack
  • Preventing – Stopping it before it damages
  • Investigating – Checking it out to shield from future attacks
  • Protecting – Protecting your data and your business interests.

In today’s world an organisation needs to look to the protection of the whole business environment.  Having a single centrally managed security approach by amalgamating many vendors will ensure solutions that work together.  Offering consistent protection that helps to provide better security is the key.

At DNA IT Solutions we work with world leading IT Security technologies to provide the best protection for our clients.  Everything from anti-virus software, anti-ransomware methods, secure email systems, mobile protection, perimeter and gate protection.  We also specialise in data loss prevention and end user training for a complete offering.   If you are concerned about the level of protection you have in your organisation maybe it is time to speak with the expert team at DNA IT Solutions.

News

Cloud Computing for the SME

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Cloud computing for SME DNA IT
12
Mar

Many businesses today began at the kitchen table as a start-up then grew to having its first employee.  Before long these small enterprises were looking at office space and within a couple of years had grown to a team with a great future ahead.

No matter what stage your business is at we are pretty sure that you rely on IT each and every day to help you run your business.  As your business grows so does your reliance on IT and what you expect from it.

How can Cloud be a benefit?

Traditionally your IT infrastructure would be housed within your own premises, however, as you develop your IT needs become more complex.  You may decide you want to free yourself from the traditional IT that is holding you back and make the move to Cloud services.

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is using the internet to enable on demand network access to computing resources such as storage, applications, networks and more.  Smaller businesses might have a server room that serves a purpose for several years. However, when businesses start to grow they also outgrow this form of on-premises reliance and start to consider a move to the cloud.

Types of Cloud

Every business is unique and their needs will differ and that is why there are several options to consider.

Public Cloud – This is a cloud infrastructure made available to the public.  Microsoft Azure is an example of a cloud provider popular with Irish businesses.  Trust and reliability comes with the Microsoft name and an understanding of the flexibility and scalability that businesses need is assured.  Secure and reliable, this is quite often the perfect choice for the SME.

Private Cloud – While the public cloud may be the perfect fit for most customers, sometimes dedicated storage space is needed and that is when private cloud becomes an option.  IBM Cloud is enterprise level dedicated private cloud for situations where needs are more complex.

Hybrid Cloud – As in many industries, sometimes a one size fits all is not the answer and that is where hybrid cloud comes in.  Depending on customer needs a solution which is a mix of on premise and cloud is the best option.  Every combination will be different but a bespoke solution can always be found.

The move to the cloud can seem daunting for most business owners but it’s only fear of the unknown.  Once you have an IT partner you can trust, they will advise and guide you to pick the right solution for your business.  At DNA IT Solutions we help businesses like yours transition to the cloud every day of the week.  With a promise of less hassle and as little downtime as possible we can help move your business to the cloud.  Leaving you to concentrate on developing your business for the future.

News

The Top 5 Benefits of Managed IT Services

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Top 5 Benefits of managed IT DNA IT
05
Mar

One valuable piece of advice that is given to business owners when they start out on their journey is to stick to what they are good at and outsource all the other tasks.

It’s great advice when it comes to accounts, human resources and various administration tasks.  It’s even better advice when it comes to outsourcing the management of the IT systems.   Most businesses rely on their IT infrastructure to function every day and the cost of having a system that fails can be immense.

So when it comes to outsourcing what are the main benefits?

  1. Access to Enterprise Level Technology

The right managed service provider will have a suite of products and services available to their clients.  They will already know what you will need and the best options for your industry requirements.  As a small business you can gain access to the newest technologies and the best support that normally only the bigger global companies can get.

  1. Less downtime

Downtime costs you money – every time!  When your IT systems are fit for purpose, monitored 24 hours a day and upgraded as required you will have less issues.  Your managed service provider will be proactive and address any risks  before they develop into an issue.  You can’t work when your email or order system is down so don’t leave yourself wide open to that eventuality.

  1. Reduced costs

What’s the real cost of downtime, of your time trying to fix an issue?  Much less than having that issue not happen in the first place.  With managed services you will have a fixed monthly fee so you can plan for the future within whatever budget you set.  When it comes to cloud services you will only be paying for what you need.

  1. Increased opportunities

The right technologies will allow your business to grow.  You will be better able to access new markets, to handle bigger clients and busier workloads.  You need systems that are robust and built to last.   And when it comes to growth you will be already planning for the future with your provider to create a manageable plan and budget.

  1. Peace of mind

The biggest benefit of working with a IT solutions provider you trust is not worrying about your IT letting you down. Knowing that somebody is monitoring your systems 24/7/365.  Meaning that you can focus on your business and not what the technology is doing.

 

Put a plan in place for the future and grow with confidence.  DNA IT Solutions work with clients just like you to be proactive in protecting their data, enabling them to access the best systems and plan for the future.  Talk to our team today about cost effective enterprise level IT support.