August 2018 - DNA IT Solutions

Monthly Archives: August 2018

News

Think before you click

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Think before you click DNA IT Solutions
27
Aug

Cyber criminals will use something very interesting to grab your attention.

It might be a sensational news story, some shocking photos or an interesting video.  All designed to encourage you to click to see more but when you do – that’s where the fun ends.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is the process of tricking people out of information, often by getting you to respond to an email. It is usually for theft or fraud purposes.  You may think that you would be clever enough never to get caught but you should think again.  The emails are getting more sophisticated and with the technology available globally today it does not take much to trick somebody.

How do you combat phishing?

Here are our top tips to help you avoid getting caught out.   They may seem pretty obvious but we know smart people who just didn’t think and have lived to regret it.

• Trust your instincts if an email looks suspicious. Report and delete it.
• Watch out for poor grammar, bad spelling or a sense of extreme urgency. They can indicate a phishing email.
• Requests for personal information by email should always make you suspicious. Your trusted companies wouldn’t ask you to verify data in this way.
• Look for subtler approaches to capture information such as login details, including emails which bait you onto fake web pages.
• If you receive an email from a familiar sender but it is unexpected or raises concerns, ring them to verify it.
• Never click on a link in an email. Re-type the URL into a browser.
• Be wary of attachments. Always check with the sender before downloading.
• Be vigilant, and think before you click.

Some of your friends or colleagues will have been a victim of phishing, it is very prevalent.   We know that because we have heard the stories and in some cases had to fix the problems caused.  They are too embarrassed to admit they were caught out, who can blame them.  Don’t be the next victim – think before you click.

 

Watch our video to find out more.

News

What makes a Help Desk excellent?

Posted on by Sean Lucas
A Great Help Desk DNA IT Solutions
20
Aug

When your screen is frozen, when your folder doesn’t show the files that should be there, when your PC just goes kaput!  You are about to cry or scream… wait, take a deep breath and ring the help desk.

It’s always great to have an expert to hand to solve the big (and not so big) issues that can occur day to day in your working day.  It’s important that those we rely on are fit for the job, so here is what we value when it comes to Help Desk Service.

A quick response

We want somebody that is there when we need them, at the end of a phone or a quick reply by email.  We want to be able to speak to somebody on a level that we understand that is not too technical.  We want them to get to the heart of the problem and take the stress away.   They should take the time to find out what is wrong but also get it solved quickly.   A group of technicians that are able to work on your issue, no matter who picks up the phone.  Most of all we want to feel they have a genuine want to give good customer service and get us back up and running.

Good processes

If there is a ticket system, then we want it answered efficiently.  We want knowledgeable staff that are able to access our history and records if it is an ongoing issue.   They should have good diagnosis skills to tell us how long it will take to resolve the issue.  There should be a system for escalating more complex problems up but with good communication to let us know what is happening and the time scale involved.

Escalated issues that require higher technical abilities should have their own process and group of engineers. When the service desk is closed we want to know how to contact after hours support and that should be clear, and easy to do.

Technical skills

We want to feel that they know a lot about the basic common issues and are knowledgeable about our software and hardware.  We expect them to have all necessary qualifications and training that is up to date.  Really we want them to be able to know what to do and access the vendors on our behalf if required.   They should be able to understand logs and know what they should be looking for.

Customer service

We expect the help desk to know how to communicate with us as a customer and anticipate our frustration.  They should be able to efficiently get the issue solved, knowing when to solve it now, or escalate to another engineer that needs to go onsite.   Staff that are motivated and productive will be evident during the call and throughout the experience.   Those that can communicate well and take an interest in the customer will be the shining stars of the company.

In general, the help desk staff are the ones that interact with the customer the most, that is why they are vital to the blood of the IT managed service provider.  A slip up on this desk could lead to a lost contract, so it’s important to get it right.  Well trained, experienced and happy staff that treat customers well are the best assets they could have.

The IT service desk should be there, ready to react when you need them and allowing you to get back to building your business.

News

What is Managed Print Services?

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Managed Print Services DNA IT Solutions
13
Aug

You may have heard the term ‘Managed Print Services’ and you could be curious to know how it would improve your business.

Managed Print Service is a way of gaining visibility and taking control of your printing which in turn can help you create efficiency and in turn save money.

Saving Money

Appointing a company to manage all aspects of the printing needs for your business can not only save money but can make life easier in many ways. They will start with assessing the equipment you already have to see if it can be optimised in any way.  They look at your history and your goals to create the right plan which will remove inefficient devices and replace them with ones better suited.

An experience provider will know what will suit your business based on its size and the nature of the business.  Knowing the right level and the right product for you to ensure it fits within your budget.

Networked equipment

Local printers are less efficient as they only service one user.  They are costly to use and service so a move to a networked printer that can be used by many makes sense.  This placed in a great position in the office so all can use will make it easy to access, improving workflow and result in maximising the usage of the device.

Photocopiers is another area where costs can be reduced.  Giving each employee a PIN to use the machine will make it easy to monitor use by department.  By monitoring devices, your provider can automatically order cartridges so they do not run out.  You know, it always happens at crucial times and you cannot afford any unnecessary downtime.

One vendor

Moving this onto a vendor that already looks after your IT means one less vendor to manage.  There will be cost savings due to scale and no nasty surprises as maintenance costs are all built in.   Your provider will ensure help is to hand when you need it via their helpdesk.  Any training or servicing will be done quickly.

Quality equipment will make it less likely to experience breakdowns and give top quality copies consistently.  Newer equipment will also allow remote printing for staff that want to print remotely away from the office.  The beauty of having an expert providing managed print services means that all systems are designed bespoke for your business.

Maybe it is time you considered moving to a managed print service provider to save you time and reduce the pressures on your business.

News

The Business Challenges of Moving to the Cloud

Posted on by Sean Lucas
Business Challenge of the Cloud DNA IT Solutions
07
Aug

It is estimated that over 75% of Irish businesses are deploying cloud technology, with many already planning to increase their deployment in the coming years.

Cloud computing platforms and technologies are advancing rapidly and it can be difficult to keep up to date.  Many already know about the many benefits of cloud such as scalability, cost effectiveness and added efficiency.  Add to that the many options such as public, private or hybrid cloud and there really is something to suit every business.

We look at the challenges that a business might consider when making the decision to start their journey to the cloud.

The Challenges to moving operations to the cloud:

Not knowing where to start –  It will seem like an overwhelming project at the initial stages.  In many cases this will deter some, while others might delay and miss out.  It is time to be brave and find out as much information as you can before you make any decisions.

Worrying about getting it right – It is important to ensure you are selecting the right platform.  Not all cloud is the same, public cloud may be the right place for you as a smaller business.  However, depending on your industry regulations you may require private cloud.  Getting it right for your own business needs is important.

Fear of new processes – Most of us do not like change.  Moving to cloud will create changes to the way the business will operate.  There may be difficulties getting the team on board, some will be resistant to change.  The timeline will be a concern to some and having the management confident in the decision they are making will make the transition easier.

Not having a strategy – When you know why you are making the move to the cloud and you have your objectives defined you can create a clear strategy.  Is it for better performance or reducing costs?  A significant change like this needs a clear strategy so you want to know why you are doing it in the first place.

Concerns about security – With so much ‘fake news’ regarding how safe the cloud is, it is no wonder that those not familiar with it will worry about the safety of their data.  Your cloud provider will give you all the reassurance you need.  With thousands of organisations having made this journey before you, you can have peace of mind.

The time it will take – Concerned with the amount of time this project will take?  Finding out the real facts will give you a clear timeline from planning to implementation.  Time is money and downtime is not something any business wants.   The transition should be clearly defined and measured.

While all these challenges will naturally occur to any business decision maker, they should not be concerning enough to stop considering the cloud for business.  With the right experienced partner leading the way, your journey to the cloud should be a success story.

DNA IT Solutions help businesses like yours every day of the week to transition to the cloud.  We create bespoke project plans for businesses of all sizes in many sectors.  You can speak with our team of experts for more information.