Are Technology Malfunctions Disrupting Your Company’s Productivity?

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When employees call in sick or have to miss work because of a personal emergency, your business doesn’t grind to a halt. If you urgently need their assistance to finish a project or resolve an issue, you can probably reach them via email or cellphone. But when technology shuts down, it’s usually a big productivity problem. Even with automatic data backup, if your laptop crashes with all your current work stored on the computer, it may take time to restore your system. In the meantime, you can only do so much without that information.

A recent small business survey highlighted in an article on the FOX Small Business Center website shows that 75 percent of small business owners say technology malfunctions like crashed computers are more disruptive than sick employees. Nearly half of the 500 companies surveyed cited frequent productivity loss due to technology malfunctions, with 86 percent experiencing such a loss at least once. Office tools manufacturer Brother International Corp. polled companies with 100 or fewer employees for the survey.

As companies rely more on technology, it’s critical for a small business to fully understand the risks to its technological infrastructure and to create a plan to get the business functioning again after a disaster or technology disruption as quickly as possible. The basic elements of disaster recovery include having an off-site backup of your business data and making a plan for how you’ll communicate with customers and the rest of your company if the normal lines of communication are disrupted. Start by determining who will be responsible for communicating your company’s plan to customers and employees, and whether word will come by company-wide emails, text messages or robocalls.

Planning ahead is critical to maintaining productivity in the event of a major technical problem, and as the Brother International Corp. small business survey shows, these kinds of problems arise frequently among small companies. While no amount of preparation is foolproof, disaster planning helps your company to mitigate these risks and resume operations as quickly as possible.

Do you think that technology disruptions are more problematic than absent employees? What disaster planning tips do you feel are most important for small businesses? Share your thoughts!

http://smallbiz.carbonite.com/articles/bid/271211/Are-Technology-Malfunctions-Disrupting-Your-Company-s-Productivity

The Problem That a Computer Support Company Will Fix

Ever think about the saying that is anything can go wrong, it will.  Well this is very much true for computer systems.  Many business owners don't realize how important it is to have a good IT company at their side, to service and fix any malfunctions that could go wrong.  It is ideal to minimize the chances of anything malfunctioning, and TVG consulting can help do that.  

http://www.tvgconsulting.com/what-types-of-problems-can-a-computer-support-company-fix/

The Role of IT in Cloud-Computing for Companies

Andrew Horne predicted that IT departments in the corporate setting would shrink by as much as 75 percent in his interview with Bill Goodwin for Computer Weekly. Part of his forecast included an emphasis on cloud computing which is predicted to change how companies use software and how they will be supported in the future. The study also implies that the roles of IT teams will change greatly due to this change in arrangement. But the role of IT is still crucial even if they won't get any bigger. Many companies have yet to transition to cloud technology and they need the help of IT consulting to guide them. Fortunately for local companies, firms such as TVG consulting can provide the kind of computer support Los Angeles businesses need. It will allow them to make their operations easier and save more money, time and energy through the use of cloud computing.

http://www.tvgconsulting.com/the-growing-importance-of-computer-support-in-los-angeles-in-a-shrinking-it-industry/

Cloud Computing for Los Angeles Companies

From a Daily Fusion article published on June 17, it's been revealed that cloud computing has the potential to save enough energy to power the entire city of Los Angeles. When common software applications utilized by 86 million Americans are transferred into the cloud, enough energy can be saved to power an entire city. A Google-funded study conducted by the Berkeley Lab confirmed it. With cloud computing, companies can simply log into the cloud server and access all the files and software they need. It's the future of data access, and it's both economical and energy efficient too. But currently, not all tech firms are equipped to use it. Companies with heavy computer use should consider utilizing cloud technology. Such companies can rely on IT consulting in Los Angeles on utilizing cloud technology. IT consulting firms, such as TVG Consulting, are open for businesses interested in moving their operations into the cloud.

http://www.tvgconsulting.com/how-it-consulting-in-los-angeles-could-save-energy/

Company Websites and E-mails Still Relevant

Many companies have given up on e-mail marketing and putting up company websites in favor of social media presence in the hope of appearing more hip, tech savvy, and in the loop, aside from reducing additional costs for web design, hosting, and maintenance. This cannot be any more wrong.

Just as company phone numbers and personal mobile numbers seem more appropriate and formal in business cards instead of Skype user IDs, a well-designed, user-friendly, and professional website allows any company to announce to the rest of the world that they take their business seriously. Likewise, when compared to e-mail, tweets and Facebook status updates are limiting, very informal, and can get drowned in a sea of fresher but less relevant posts.

The usefulness of the e-mail lies on what is perceived as its inherent weakness: it is plain. A web mailbox does not have a lot of features. It doesn't have a sidebar that links to online social games. There are no widgets that gives live updates on the online activities of your each and every contact. This means that when you check your e-mail, you are in a disposition that is less open to distractions.

Companies can take advantage of the seriousness and formality of the e-mail as a platform to reach out to their clients. If necessary, they can partner with an IT company that provides computer support to businesses that do not have a dedicated IT team to tackle e-mail, website, and other computing concerns.

3 Ways IT Consultation Makes Life Easier for Businesses

By now, owners of small and large businesses alike know the value of information technology (IT) in their operations. The Internet, gadgets, and various other devices have helped close the gap and distance between traders and consumers. As technologies grow more sophisticated, though, the need for experts to help make sense of it all becomes more apparent. For company honchos way in over their heads in terms of information systems, IT consultants could help in more ways than one:

First, they could take the stress out of firms’ daily operations. Technical recommendations, especially during breaches in security, would prove invaluable. More than dispensing advice, though, many IT consultants are trained to provide estimates, management and support to ventures they are working for. Knowing that someone is on top of complicated matters such as IT could help companies focus on concerns that are equally important in keeping the business afloat like maintaining core competencies or boosting sales.

Second, an effective IT consultation service can take care of training for employees. Usually, companies hire independent experts for a period of time, or until the people on payroll could be taught the tricks of technological devices. From handling of new software to administration of IT systems, a consultant could equip employees with practical knowledge.

Supporting the Business's Mechanical Ally

What kind of business does not rely on computers? Its ability to process data and perform other tasks that were practically impossible decades ago has propelled this machine from luxury to necessity. A computer, through software programs installed in it, makes laborious work easier and more convenient, and acts as storage for critical records that can be viewed whenever concerned parties desire.

Just like Superman, a computer may be powerful, but it is not indomitable. Viruses and similar malicious programs can be considered the computer's kryptonite, causing the mechanism to crash, bringing the information stored within its memory down with it. To prevent this from happening, companies employ computer support services to conduct regular assessments and reparations to preserve computers.

Some examples of computer support techniques involve the modification of computer settings to prevent unwanted programs from installing themselves on the system. This process can reduce the risk of acquiring viruses. Experts in computer support are also in charge of creating backups of important files, which is crucial in case a computer breaks down beyond repair. Backups ensure that relevant data is safe.

Taking a computer for granted may spell disaster for your business. When you feel that your computer is not behaving the way it should, do not take matters into your own hands. Call computer support professionals and have them solve your problems.

Tech Shield On – Making a Firewall Work for You

In today's wired world, with many daily activities heavily reliant on computers, there are many cyber threats that can ruin your day. Worms, spyware, malware, viruses, denial-of-service attacks—all have the potential to creep onto your computer and wreak havoc on your system. Warding off such threats requires a solid network of firewalls to protect your personal digital fortress.

Firewalls contain a number of basic features. Inbound and Outbound Filtering helps a single computer liaise with another computer beyond the firewall, but not with other specific computers. A stealth-mode function can allow the computer to continue accessing the Internet but not make it visible to hackers by rejecting their probes.

At the same time, a privacy-protection suite in the firewall helps safeguard the machine against spyware or malware that attempts to implant itself in the computer. These destructive programs are often so prevalent in websites that a search engine may warn you that proceeding to certain sites may potentially harm your computer. Such sites include peer-to-peer filesharing and pornographic pages.

Installing a firewall will be one of the best things you can ever do for your computer or server network. Proper maintenance and monitoring can tell potential intruders to back off.