Can you say with absolute certainty that your business could survive a total server failure tomorrow morning? If the answer is no, then you have work to do getting your data backup systems into a better place. Most small businesses believe that having a backup running is the same as their data being safe, but that’s simply untrue. Having a...
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Accessibility is a major topic in modern technology, as it benefits everyone involved. Not only does it allow a team member to participate productively in the workplace without obstacles, but it also gives an employer access to a wider talent pool. One such tool (or toolkit, really) is built directly into Microsoft’s productivity software as the Word Accessibility Assistant. Much...
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The old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” has long been outdated. Nowadays, letting your hardware slowly degrade over time without maintenance is a surefire way to create issues that ultimately increase your costs and frustrate your team members. Let’s talk a bit about why it is critical to cycle through your hardware and how to do so...
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Technology and extreme weather don’t mix. Whether it’s a heatwave or a deep freeze, your office equipment is sensitive. If the temperature isn't just right, your hardware can slow down, break, or even die permanently. Here is a simple breakdown of why your tech hates the weather and how you can protect it. (more…)
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How much do you worry about the ever-present threat of downtime-causing disasters? The hardest issue to wrap your head around is that the disaster itself is only the start of your troubles; it’s the downtime immediately following the disaster that really layers on the pain. It’s a slow bleed on your network and your business, and it can cost your...
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The most talented employees on your payroll are subject to a specific kind of tax, one that saps their productivity and makes them feel like expensive data-entry clerks. That’s the tedium task, which is levied against employees of small businesses that use multiple tools that don’t integrate well. Ultimately, what happens is that these businesses have employees manually connect these...
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In business, it’s often the case that you spend more time talking about work than you spend actually doing the work. How many emails have you sent recently that could be described as “email tennis?” We won’t mince words; this endless back-and-forth discussing meeting times, checking calendars, and re-typing the same responses day-in and day-out is increasing your administrative friction...
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We’ve all been there: You’re deep into a complex problem, finally finding your rhythm, when, bing.. A quick question pops up on one of the platforms you use to communicate (we all have several). You answer it in thirty seconds and try to get back to work. If this happens one time, it might be okay, but if it happens...
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Over the next week or so, countless gingerbread houses will be created and then consequently destroyed. During that initial creative process, you’ll get to see careful preparation and precision, which should yield a longer-lasting, more sustainable product. You can apply a similar philosophy to handling your business’ data; with the right structures in place (like the 3-2-1 rule for data...
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As a business owner, you understand the need for harmony and efficiency. Whether it's the smooth operation of your supply chain, the flow of customers through your store, or the synchronization of your sales and marketing teams, when everything works together, your business sings. Now, apply that same principle to the invisible but vital engine of your modern company: Information...
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