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How to Maintain Operations While Working Remotely

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The ability to work remotely is one that most office employees and employers have come to expect in the digital world. Even if employees and employers don’t see remote working as essential to operations, business partners and clients certainly want to be assured that a company can maintain productivity if employees are out of the office.

It’s imperative that organizations have a plan for employees to work remotely, whether it’s on a regular basis or temporarily. Here are some of the office systems we can help your organization prepare.

Servers

When employees aren’t in a centralized location, access to the organization’s server is necessary for employees to store files and connect to other network devices. Our Complete Cloud services — powered by Avatara — ensure that businesses can maintain access to the network even if they are offsite. With Complete Cloud, all servers, storage and other infrastructure are moved to the cloud, represented as multiple secure data centers across the country.

All computers and technological systems are hosted in the secured cloud so remote workers don’t have to be physically connected to a tangle of hardware while in a home office or other remote location. Additionally, data is regularly backed up and encrypted with cloud computing so cyber security presents no issue.

Laptops

Desktop-as-a-Service, or DaaS, is a secure way for your employees to gain access to their desktops without storing all their files directly on the device. DaaS is a type of cloud computing that allows businesses to project a workspace through a device.

That means all data, applications and even the desktop are stored in multiple geographically dispersed data centers. Software programs allow users to access these desktops on laptops, desktop computers, tablets and cell phones, even if they are outside of the typical office space.

Documents

Offices often have a more controlled environment than a remote working location. That means the organization’s important documents could be more at risk to be damaged or compromised. Additionally, employees may find a once-easy collaborative task cumbersome if they have to send drafted documents back and forth through email. 

Our document management system stores, tracks and manages files digitally where employees can securely access them and work on documents simultaneously. The software program allows employees to easily search for files. Additionally, the documents are securely archived, negating the concern that employees could lose or damage documents that result in data or revenue loss.

Communication

Efficient and effective communication is essential to a company, internally and externally. Hosted communications systems — or internet-based communication applications — ensure that the process remains smooth. These applications work through the cloud so your employees don’t need to be connected to in-office phone systems and all data is secure. Calls from cell phones through the hosted system also show up on caller ID as the business’ phone number.

Additionally, the program can allow a group of employees to collaborate and edit a document in real time and facilitate a video or phone chat for employees working in different areas.

Infomax can help prepare your organization to work remotely. Learn more at InfomaxOffice.com.

How managed IT can change your business for the better

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When was the last time you or your employer focused on IT support for your company? Maybe you work at a small business that has fewer than 50 employees, none of which include a full-time information technology employee. Perhaps your IT staff is comprised of an unintentional IT team of one or two employees who happen to be tech savvy. Maybe you work at a medium-size company that outsources much of their IT services to multiple vendors: one for system firewalls, one for storage and data backup, another for phone systems and the list goes on. Isn’t it time for your business to be more intentional about your IT support in this world of complex technology?

Many small businesses have made the switched to managed IT services — IT support from a third party — such as ours that provide a variety of services and a team of IT experts. For many reasons, small and medium-sized businesses find managed IT services to be beneficial.

For one, businesses that use managed IT services gain access to a team of professionals who specialize in specific facets of IT, rather than one professional who has to be a jack of all trades. With Infomax’s iGuard Managed IT, clients know that more than 40 professionals with expert-level experiences work for their business. They also don’t have to worry about dealing with three or more vendors for all their IT support.

“What we can bring to the table is consolidation,” said Doug Postel, Infomax’s IT director. “We can give them security in knowing we can take care of the threat mitigation with firewalls, help with policies, phone systems, disaster recovery and backup.”

Another benefit of managed IT services is the cost effectiveness and predictability of expenses. Managed IT services that include a team of professionals often cost a company less than a full-time IT employee. Expenses are predictable because a company can choose their services and plan for the same costs each period. At Infomax, we also work with a company’s existing IT personnel.

“We can take care of that IT person and make sure they have the time and resources to focus on the objectives of the company. We really look at being able to build a support net around them,” Doug said. “We provide businesses IT for a predictable and manageable cost. We’re able to give the business owner peace of mind, and for one flat fee they know everything is taken care of.”

Most importantly, managed IT provides business owners and employees peace of mind knowing that they have a team of professionals who are working proactively — not reactively — to keep your business safe from cyberthreats. Managed IT staff work with businesses before breaches occur, periodically going over IT priorities. At Infomax, our iGuard Managed IT team even provides our clients with regular security awareness training to ensure employees are up to date on how to keep company data safe.

“For small businesses, we really become a one-stop-shop for their IT support,” Doug said. “For medium-sized businesses, we provide more necessary time and resources for their existing staff.”

If you are interested in managed IT services, contact us today.

Big Workflow Solutions for Small Businesses

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It’s that time of year again—no, not the holidays. Small Businesses Saturday is right around the corner. On November 28th, small businesses across the country will ramp up for big sales as local consumers support their community through shopping small. But, small businesses should make sure they are prepared to handle an influx in customers and provide exceptional customer service—not just on Small Business Saturday, but every day of the year. Intuitive digital workflows ensure faster processes and better customer service, among many other benefits.

Here are several reasons why every small business needs a digital workflow strategy.

  • More time to focus on goals. Small businesses often falsely believe that they aren’t big enough to warrant a switch from paper-based system to digital workflows. But, by implementing digital workflow solutions, small businesses are better equipped to focus on the important things. Rather than being bogged down by inefficient processes, they will be able to look ahead and plan for future success. A digital workflow strategy will positively alter the trajectory of your business, by improving the overall efficiency and productivity of your daily operations.
  • Streamlined communication. Even small businesses have communication issues. The most productive work environments require cohesive communication channels that connect in real time. A comprehensive workflow solution will speed decision-making tasks and improve the flow of communication across all levels of your team. With a digital workflow strategy, you can spend less time with back-and-forth communications, and more time focusing on your customer.
  • Improved responsiveness. It’s difficult to tend to the needs of your consumers when you are tending to your own business’s needs. With a digital workflow strategy, your business will run more smoothly. In a sense, a digital workflow strategy is like adding oil to a rusty chain. Imagine if you could retrieve an invoice in seconds instead of minutes, or instantly pull all sales related to a particular customer. With a digital workflow solution, you’ll be able to operate more quickly, creating positive experiences for your employees and customers.

A digital workflow strategy should be an intuitive and effective addition to your SMB workplace. Contact us today to learn about how to grow your small business.