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5G is not just about faster speeds, it can transform your business so start thinking about how you can utilize it. 5G networks have started rolling out and as businesses start to gear up to take advantage of 5G, not everyone is prepared for it. 5G creates a lot of potential for business owners but it also brings in challenges in the form of data security. What is 5G? 5G is the next generation of the mobile network after 4G LTE which is expected to change the way we live and work. If 2G brought us SMS and MMS, 3G with the mobile internet, 4G with streaming and social sharing, 5G is the future where it will bring all devices interconnected in today’s modern society. 5G can be a game-changer for businesses but not everyone can simply implement modern technologies immediately. But, what does 5G mean for businesses? Benefits of 5G Network For Businesses Faster Speed and Higher Capacity 5G networks are said to be 100 times faster than 4G which can provide a major boost for companies. Placing that into perspective, if downloading on an LTE can take 10 to 15 minutes, with 5G, it would be possible to do in under 10 seconds. With faster speed, transferring a large amount of data will no longer be a problem. 5G also offers a greater capacity to cope with multiple applications all at once. The battery life for your smart devices is expected to improve along with these features that will allow your business to become more responsive. Increased Productivity 5G will allow businesses to work faster and provide more services in less time. More employees are consuming data continuously through their smartphone or mobile devices and you want to ensure that their time spent on mobile phones is productive. With a much more reliable network, your employees will spend less time fretting about connectivity and more time to focus on important tasks. Smart Working One of the major advantages of a 5G network in the business world is the ability to work anywhere. Yes, some professionals are already working remotely but still, there are a few setbacks. With the promise of higher data speeds, remote work can be completed at a quicker rate even when employees aren’t connected to the business network. In addition to that, smart buildings and offices are likely to develop continuously with 5G connectivity which can provide a more secure and efficient working environment that businesses can operate in. Innovation 5G can create new opportunities for your business. If you have a network that is capable of faster speed, higher capacity, and lower latency, you can develop new business models or embed new systems so your business can grow faster against your competitors. How To Get Your Business Ready? “China Mobile Hong Kong, Hutchinson and HKT have launched commercial 5G services in Hong Kong as of April 1”, according to an article from RCR . With these developments, how can you ensure that your business is ready? 1. Long-Term Strategy Start planning for your Digital Transformation Strategy. You should probably have an idea of what should be included and how 5G fits into it. If not, do your research, learn its capabilities and how can you incorporate your current business processes to sync with the new technology that comes with the 5G network. Make innovation a part of your company culture and there should be clear communication within the organization to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Every department or area in your business will be affected by 5G and old processes might have to be discarded to make room for changes. Related Article: Building A Successful Digital Transformation Strategy 2. Organize Your IT Systems Get your IT systems ready for 5G and start transferring your systems and files to the cloud if you haven’t already. Prepare to scale up and address concerns such as data security. Each company can have different solutions, but it should include the extensive use of cloud computing services. Your business can benefit from using the cloud as it can be accessible to anyone on your team with their mobile device even when they are outside of your business location. 3. Find the right partner When you adopt 5G to your business, you will need a trusted partner to help you manage your IT infrastructure, devices, and systems as your business expand and change. Look for a partner that provides you with proactive IT service management . You might think that you can do it alone, but you might miss vital details that are needed when you slowly incorporate 5G into your business. To learn more about how Uniserve team can support your business, send your inquiries , or call us at +852 3622-8500 .

Before thinking about what your digital strategy would be, or how do you start, ask if implementing a digital transformation is feasible for you. Most of us are getting the wrong idea about what digital transformation means. It’s not just upgrading your technology but also restructuring your business process to easily adapt to changes. Digital transformation is a way of integrating technology to create or modify an existing business model and generate new experiences for customers and team members. Understanding what digital means is essential in building a successful strategy. A Roadmap To Digital Transformation Strategy For your business to implement an effective digital transformation strategy, planning is vital. Once you determine what is you want to gain from developing your digital foothold, then you can get started on how to get there. Step 1: Establishing your Goals and Direction Answer these questions: What is your end goal? What are you trying to achieve? Digital transformation goes beyond having an internal IT. Digital transformation can give you an opportunity to revise your overall business process and allows you to gain an advantage against the competitive market, instead of just updating one part of your business. In this step, you need to establish your vision and the objective of your transformation. This will allow you to determine the next steps of your digital strategy and help you discern the results. Define your KPIs so you can measure the effectiveness of your strategy once implemented. Increasing digital competency across the organization can be one of your short-term objectives or reducing turnaround time from delivery to order is your long-term. These are just examples and it doesn’t necessarily need to be specific to digital, but how technology can be applied to achieve it. Step 2: Assess the Current Market Your digital transformation strategy should be customer-centric. Keep in mind that customers always look for something different or something more personalized for them. Technology development is becoming more aggressive and changes in different industries are more noticeable, analyzing the current market trends will help you create a more relevant strategy. Be mindful of the gaps you can bridge to improve customer experience. Step 3: Prepare for Culture Change Get everyone in your company on board with the idea of digital transformation, one of the key contributors to a successful transformation is company culture. Culture change is a roadblock that your business needs to overcome. Ensure that everyone understands the reasons behind the change and must be open to it. A company culture that can embrace these changes, inspire collaboration, and motivates employees about digital transformation is more built for success. The concept of the new digital culture describes how technology influences the way we engage with others or the way we think and behave within society. The new digital culture is the result of a disruptive technological revolution that surrounds us today. Step 4: Building your Execution Team How will you execute your plan? Who will be responsible for it? The person or team who will lead the implementation should help employees feel secure in times of change. This can be your Chief Digital Officer (CDO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO) or even an external team. The chosen team should have the willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies as your business continues to evolve. Digital transformation is a continuous process that’s why your organization needs the expertise to keep everything on track. Step 5: Investing in the right technology In this step, you need to assess your current infrastructure and adjust it according to the imminent changes. Various solutions can assist you with your digital transformation, but it requires a lot of decision making. You need to take time choosing the right technology that best suits your plan to avoid wasting time and money. What are the tools or technologies that drive your digitalization efforts? It can be 5G powered smartphones, and collaborative applications (e.g. Microsoft 365 ) or artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Before investing in new technology, ask if it aligns with your goals, and fills the gap in your organization. Step 6: Measure and Adjust Once you’ve implemented your plan, it’s time to look at the results. Remember that the digital transformation process doesn’t have an end. Take a step back, analyze the metrics, and monitor the impact before adjusting if it’s necessary. Change is inevitable. It is necessary to update your strategy based on current market trends and conditions. Effective Digital Strategy For Modern Businesses As you plan your own digital strategy, keep in mind that it’s all about your customer experience. Ensure that your transformation strategy will center on how you will provide your services or product and not on what technology should you use. Putting your focus on technology alone can be a recipe for disaster. Clients would still prefer human interaction than robots. Technology should be used as a tool for communication, collaboration, and engagement. Your digital transformation plan can only be effective if everyone in your organization is open to the changes that come with it. The journey can be difficult as you go through different challenges and encounter failures, but success is never an easy task. Ready to start with your Digital Transformation journey? If you’re looking for a team of professionals to help your business with digital transformation, reach out to us! We have years of experience assisting various organizations in different industries execute a successful transformation plan.

When dealing with technology, most business owners need the assistance of an IT Help Desk. One question remains, is it really necessary? Why is it important for your business? When your employees need someone to troubleshoot a printer, upgrade a laptop, or update security on a device, it’s the Help Desk that comes to the rescue. An IT Help Desk is responsible for responding to technical questions of its users or clients. IT companies use a Help Desk software that enables a support team to track, prioritize, and resolve customer issues. A Help Desk is designed for users to contact an IT expert whenever they are experiencing a technical problem. Why Outsource Your Help Desk? As your company continues to grow, you and your employee’s demands also increase and while some organization has internal IT support team, outsourcing proves to be a better option as it provides multiple benefits. Let’s look at the lists: 1. Quality: Outsourcing your Help Desk to a professional IT service provider will lead to improving the quality of your service along with a decrease in response time. Your company could look at the issues and use this information to improve. 2. Scalability: Your support system also needs an upgrade. With an internal Help Desk, it would consume your time, resources, and investment once the demand increases but when you outsource, these problems can easily be lessened. 3. Reduce Cost: When you have an in-house tech team, it requires a huge cost because everything must be purchased and maintained - computers, telephone systems to multiple software - in addition to recruiting, hiring, and training. By outsourcing your IT support, you are eliminating these strains and freeing up more of your resources for other vital services and save money at the same time. 4. Easy Management: When you outsource a Help Desk, they will do most of the work for you. As a business owner, you do not have to worry about tracking your internal IT department’s performance, time, and replacement when they leave. 5. Flexibility: If you have an office running a 9 am – 5 pm schedule, you will not have someone working on the Help Desk after the business hours which can lead to complaints if a client or employee calls in for assistance. Outsourcing Help Desk support from a professional IT service provider will offer you a 24/7 assistance. A Help Desk is made available to your users or client, so they can convey issues with regards to technology or services. Like in any relationship, the key for it to last is communication. When issues are resolved quickly, it will leave your employees or users in a good light. Understanding the Help Desk Support Levels Technical reports are classified as either critical or non-critical, and each support technician is group into different levels depending on their expertise to resolve an issue. Each time you call for any certain technical issues, it goes to a specific level of support. Level 1 This is the basic level of customer support which requires a customer representative to have a broad understanding of a product and provide tips on how to manage a problem. This includes basic technical issues such as password resets or printer troubleshooting. Level 2 In this level of support, the IT representative has more experience and handles more complex technical issues beyond a level 1 technician’s capabilities including software troubleshooting and network support. Solutions are based on experiences or within a database. Level 3 IT support technicians handle the most complex problem in this level. Issues include infrastructure, data management requiring a deeper analysis of the operating system, programs, or applications. Choosing Uniserve IT Solutions Businesses that want to remain competitive in a progressively complex and connected market need to find and leverage every strategic advantage possible that is why they are turning to outsourced Help Desk with Uniserve IT Solutions. Contact us today and find out how your business can benefit from our services.

Businesses, small or large need technology to operate, it is a must-have tool that directly impacts the success of your business. That is why IT budgeting is important when you do business planning. Unfortunately, for small business owners, understanding and creating an effective IT budget can be a bit of a challenge especially in this ever-shifting world of IT. Factors to consider when creating an IT Budget Creating an IT budget can be tricky especially for first-timers, but with proper research and understanding of your organizational structure along with these key factors, you will be able to start creating a cost-effective plan. Current IT Infrastructure Begin your IT budgeting by listing down your current IT assets - software, hardware, servers, printers, phone systems, network infrastructure, devices, etc. What infrastructure are you currently using? Your budget depends on the size of your infrastructure. Small organizations tend to prioritize upgrades and expansions to boost efficiencies. Business Requirements Your IT needs varies on the size of your operation, what technology do you require to keep your business going, short-term and long-term? Are there any expectations your current infrastructure doesn’t meet? Determine IT-related goals for your business, it’s not only an assessment of your current structure but forecast potential needs to account in your IT budget. Long-term Vision The long-term vision will play a vital role when planning your IT budget. If you’re only thinking of the short-term vision, then your IT budget will change drastically as the demands will increase. It is important to know that your IT Infrastructure will support your future vision if you are expecting a rapid growth of your business. IT Budgeting Best Practices For SMBs Some of the best practices we follow when planning an IT budget include: 1. Aligning with your business goals Be smart and don’t rush on your IT Investments just because you want to adapt to the latest trend in technology . When it comes to your business, ensure that you are truly investing in the right technology that will support your goals and needs. 2. Be outcome-based Business owners tend to focus on what type of equipment they need, rather than the result they require for a piece of equipment to achieve. Focusing on outcomes will allow you to consider several solutions, for instance, instead of replacing your server, think of what other solutions can meet your employee’s needs for storage data. 3. Be Inclusive Yes, it is your business, but that doesn’t mean that you are the only one affected by the changes. Seek the view of your people and you might get important insights on what can work that will help with your IT budget planning. 4. Reviewing your budget Look at the results and you will see where your business overspent or underspent. Be proactive so it will be easier for you to create a budget the next time you need it. Reviewing the budget will also help you see what works and what doesn’t, or what set up needs to change. 5. Plan for Disasters Allocate a disaster fund outside your standard budget, it will cost you more if you don’t set aside some of the budget and a disaster strikes. Related Article: A Guide To Disaster Recovery Plan (Free Template) The Don’ts of IT Budgeting Don’t stick to a fixed number as it will limit your vision. Forecast upcoming projects and consider multiple procedures. Don’t go too complex, or too generic. There’s always a balance when creating a budget. If you think that your budget is too simple, you can always add little details that will allow you to see where your money is going. Don’t wait for a piece of equipment to break before replacing it. You will waste time and resources waiting for it to be fixed. Need Help With Your IT Budget? At Uniserve IT Solutions, we have years of experience developing best practices to keep our clients focus on business rather than technology. We have a team of experts to be your outsourced IT department. Your IT infrastructure is our priority! Contact us today.

If you’re struggling with a slow PC, there might be several reasons why and quick solutions to speed it up. Working with a slow computer can be frustrating and can even make the simplest task feel like a hassle. Slow computers do not necessarily mean it needs an instant replacement. A few simple tweaks can give your computer a bit of a boost in the performance department. Common Reasons Your PC Is Slow a. Too Many Apps & Programs Running There are multiple applications that are programmed to automatically load upon startup like Skype or Spotify. All these applications that are running can use your computer’s memory and have proven to drag your computer’s processing speed throughout the day. Even after rebooting your computer, it does not necessarily mean that these programs have stopped running. If the setting is enabled to run at startup, they will just pop right back up. How to fix it: Simple. Delete programs that you no longer use, close programs you currently do not use and disable programs from launching at startup. To Delete Programs: 1. Type ‘remove program’ into the Windows search bar and enter 2. Arrange and sort programs by size to determine the heaviest programs 3. Highlight the program and hit ‘Uninstall’ To Close Unused Programs: 1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager 2. Sort through the list and find programs that use a significant amount of memory that you aren’t currently using 3. Click and hit the ‘end task’ button To Disable Launching on Startup: 1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager 2. Go to the ‘Startup’ tab 3. Select the ‘enabled’ program that you don’t need to launch at startup, and click on ‘disable’ b. Not Enough Storage Space Computers store files and install programs in the hard disk or storage drive. When the storage drive is full, your PC can slow down. Your Operating System (OS) requires space to create temporary files, and swap files. Lack of memory from your storage can make these tasks impossible thus slowing down your PC. Even with multiple drives, ensure that each has at least 500MB of space to help your Operating System manage your files better. How to fix it: Empty Your Recycle Bin Clearing your recycle bin occasionally will help your PC to perform better as files on the bin can build up every time you use your computer. Delete Temporary Files Files that programs download when installing updates are generally stored in a temporary folder and it can build up over time, taking up space on your hard drive. Use Cloud Storage Consider moving large files to Cloud storage that only you and your employees can have access to. You can ask for the assistance of a trusted IT Service provider to help you navigate these changes securely. Related Article: Cloud Backup Tips To Keep Your Data Safe c. Your PC Is Infected with Virus Malware and viruses can cause a lot of problems on your computer and slowing it down are just one of them. It infects everything from your browser to your hard drive. Make sure you have anti-virus software installed and regularly updated. Anti-virus programs take part in protecting your computer even from spyware, but they can slow down your computer when running. The best way to do a virus scan or malware scan on your computer is when you’re not using them, so it doesn’t interfere with your workday. Related Article: What To Do When Your Computer Is Hacked? d. Your PC Is Too Old Nowadays, computer programs work with the latest technology. It’s similar to how mobile phones work where some updates are not compatible with the current OS of the device. Older PCs cannot keep up with these latest updates thus slowing it down even more. If all else fails and your computer is still slowing down or freezing a lot, then maybe an upgrade may not a bad idea. You should consider spending on a computer with the right specifications, as a more high-end computer can last longer. Is your PC running slow or are there any certain programs that limit your productivity and efficiency? Contact us today and learn how we can enhance your PC’s performance.

Every business relies on Information Technology (IT) to effectively process information. From the way you communicate through emails or telephone systems to storing large amounts of files through your database. Computers, laptops, and mobile devices are being used every day to communicate, process, and manage information. We all rely on technology more and more, but what if a disaster happens and technology suddenly stops working? What do you do? In this article you will learn: What is a Disaster Recovery Plan? Why do you need it? Steps to develop a plan for your organization Is your business prepared for a disaster? What is a Disaster Recovery Plan? A Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is a document that facilitates an organization to respond to a disaster and take immediate action to prevent losses and quickly salvage its operations. It is a detailed document outlining the exact measures that will take effect in the event of a disaster to guarantee business continuity. Why do you need it? Disasters can happen to anyone at any time and your business is not exempted. Even an hour of downtime can cost you thousands, therefore having a disaster recovery plan is a must. Disasters are divided into 3 classifications: Natural: floods, earthquake, epidemic or pandemic (e.g. Covid-19 ) Human-induced: cyberattack or sabotage Technological: hardware or infrastructure system failure. You cannot always avoid disasters, but having a plan can alleviate any potential damage. Steps to develop a plan for your organization Creating a disaster recovery plan is not as simple as you think. It requires in-depth research to understand your business needs and the risks it might face. Aside from planning and created, you should also conduct a test to make sure it works and regularly update it to ensure relevance. Here are the steps to guide you in disaster recovery planning: 1. Identify your assets Distinguish what your business needs to protect, this can include your hardware, software, network equipment, and critical data. List all your assets under IT management and map where each asset is located virtually or physically, which network it is placed, and relation to other vendors. 2. Risk Assessment Now that you have identified your assets, go through each and list the internal and external threats including natural, man-made disasters, and incidents associated with technology. It also includes the probability that an event may happen and the impact it might occur. How would it affect your business continuity? 3. Determine the criticality of data and applications Categorized assets into high, medium, or low impact. You must evaluate your business process to identify which are vital to your operation. Focus on short-term solutions such as revenue flow rather than a long-term response to restoring your business to its full operational capacity. But, critical processes such as payroll shouldn’t be delayed. 4. Define recovery objective Consult with your business colleagues and ask some of these questions to have an alignment: What applications does your department use? Would you consider restoring data that is more than a year old? 3 months? 6 months? Are there times that an application is not being used, internal or external? What is your leniency for downtime? Use this information to define your Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). RTO is the time you will set for the recovery of your business’ IT and activities after a disaster. RTO’s goal is to calculate the maximum acceptable time your business can be offline. RPO is more focused on your business’ tolerance concerning your data. What is the acceptable amount of data you can afford to lose? If your tolerance is high, your RPO can be from hours to days. If you can’t afford to lose data, then your RPO will be seconds. 5. Establish the right tools Choose Software or hardware that will help you achieve the required recovery set up. Would it be cloud-based ? There are plenty of solutions available on the market today but make sure that it offers the right level of protection your business needs. 6. Communicate your plan Don’t leave the rest of your employees vulnerable. Circulate it across your team and be sure that you will store your plan where everyone can have access to it. 7. Test and review your DRP Practice doesn’t make it perfect, but practice leads to progress. Try your plan and make modifications if you encounter any problems. Review the plan every now and then, to ensure its relevancy to your structure. Is your business prepared for a disaster? Having a solid plan in place can help you minimize loss should the worst happen. In short, it’s always good to have a plan ready so you’ll feel more prepared for whatever might happen. Ready to start creating your disaster recovery plan? Get in touch with our team today!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a lot of changes, not only to our lifestyle but also on how businesses operate. Home quarantine, social distancing and working from home has become the norm. Although it’s all temporary, the practice of remote work will have a long-lasting impact on how businesses connect and coordinate with their employees. Aside from the challenge of effectively managing a remote team , most businesses or organizations are not prepared for a remote work set up particularly with cybersecurity. However, with the help of an IT services provider, remote working can be set up in a secure manner enabling safe collaboration between your employees. Here are some of our security tips while working remotely: 1. Work with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) A VPN can establish a secure connection between the business network and the remote worker’s device. All the data sent through this channel is encrypted and protected ensuring that all files remain safe. The downside is it requires a high internet bandwidth depending on the files your employees are working on or the applications they will use. It is not recommended to use a VPN to connect personal computers since the files can be copied or stored on the user’s computer. Related Article: Does VPN Protect Your Online Privacy 2. Use of Cloud Applications When you use web-based applications, you can let your employees work from any location. Most cloud service providers have their security policy, and they are better equipped to secure any data within the apps. 3. Use of a Hosted VoIP Phone System A hosted VOIP phone system securely allows remote access from computers, phones, or tablet. It provides internet-based phone calling for businesses and offers secure audio/video conferencing. Your employees can access it remotely from any device while retaining the functionality of an office desk phone, so no need to change or have a new number. 4. Multi-Factor Authentication Passwords can easily be compromised but with the implementation of multi-factor authentication, you’ll get an additional layer of security. Chances of stolen data are highly unlikely, so you and your employees will have peace of mind every time you access accounts. Related Article: Authenticator App: Microsoft or Google? 5. Firewalls, Anti-Virus Software and Anti-Malware Either you’re providing devices for employees or they will be using their own – including mobile phones and tablets, ensure that firewalls, anti-virus software, and anti-malware are up to date. Your employees don’t all have the same level of technical expertise so you should be prepared to provide technical support when needed. 6. Training Your Employees Your employees shouldn’t worry about jeopardizing the company’s data security. As business owners, you can provide them with proper cybersecurity training especially if they are going to use their own devices. They should be able to spot any unusual computer activities which can be a sign that malware is present. Your employees should also be prepared for phishing attempts and educate them on whom to contact in any case of suspicious activities. By doing this, you can prevent any cyberattack. Not all businesses are the same. When working remotely or at home, some organizations may only need collaboration tools, and others may require a direct connection to your company’s network or need all of it. One thing is certain, each factor should include cybersecurity protocols so your company’s data will remain safe. While this is a stressful time for most of us, it’s also a good opportunity to think about how your business is prepared for emergencies and how well could you do remote work. Reach out to us today and we’ll help you set up a secure remote work environment tailored to your business needs.

When you think about a modern workplace, you think of open spaces, gaming areas, and unique furniture. That’s all true, but it’s much more than the physical features. Technology is changing the way all of us work within and outside of our offices. The modern workplace is digital and smart. The nature of work has changed, and consequently, the nature of the workplace has changed too. One of the many challenges business owners face is finding ways for employees to communicate, collaborate, engage, and keep focus. For a modern workplace to be successful, aside from meeting the needs of people, investing in the right technology is one of the key factors. Related Article : 5 Characteristics of a Modern Workplace Communication Tools Communication and collaboration are vital for employees and businesses to succeed. Investing in tools with essential features like file sharing, chats, team conferences, and calendar syncing should be utilized for this to be effective. Some factors to consider when choosing the right tools are: Accessibility – should be available on all devices Reliability – should function even with connectivity issues Adaptability – should be user-friendly Interconnectivity – should be integrated easily Mobility In today’s modern world, you’ll often find yourselves no longer working in a confined space. You will always look for flexibility and the ability to work from any location, any time of the day. Businesses find themselves adapting to a highly mobile workforce that allows employees access to corporate technology and offering a compliant system that connects them 24/7. The market today is demanding and competitive. Employees need a mobile work setting to meet the demands of customers and be responsive. Businesses need to embrace this new concept to improve employee’s creativity and productivity. Security Tools Data security is non-negotiable in a modern workplace. No one is safe from cyber-attacks, and it’s not only external. Internal mistakes such as employees sharing passwords or making it visible can compromise your business’ security. Security tools that can manage users’ identities and authenticating such users are fundamental to ensure that your modern workplace is always secure and monitored proactively. As the number of threats continues to rise, your workplace security must keep up and evolve. Most Used Apps and Software Businesses all over the world are investing in apps and tools that focus on communication, collaboration, and security. Some of the most used apps are: 1. Slack An app for internal communication and management of projects for discussion and brainstorming among team members. 2. Zoom An app that provides remote video conferencing or meetings of up to 100 people from any locations. 3. Teams A platform for collaboration and communications that combines file storage and sharing, chat, video meetings, and more. 4. Trello A web-based app that allows users to manage projects and track progress. 5. G Suite A productivity and collaboration tool developed by Google where users can share and store files, create documents, chat, and do video conference. Our Recommendation Aside from the apps mentioned above, the ideal software for a modern workplace is Microsoft 365 . It’s an integrated solution for productivity, communication, and security. With a simple and secure login, you can access Outlook, Word, Excel, OneNote, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and more from anywhere, on any device, any time. Contact us today and learn more about the products in this article, and we will answer all your questions.

Working remotely or working from home has become a necessity for businesses right now. As a business owner, manager, or team leader, you’ll suddenly find yourself managing an entirely remote team, which is quite challenging, especially if unprepared for this type of management. How can you establish a personal connection? How do you make sure that your team is truly working on their tasks? How can you motivate them to be engaged and to communicate with each other? There are going to be a lot of questions, and here are some tips to guide you on how you can manage your remote team effectively: 1. Communication and Transparency One of the biggest challenges of working from home is the sense of isolation and loneliness, primarily if your team is used to an office environment. As a leader, you need to lead by example. Share your visions and objectives, get them involved, get them to share ideas, opinions, and discuss projects with you and others. Check-in with your team regularly and help them settle in. You may not be able to do it daily, but developing a rhythm will help you in establishing that personal connection with everyone and can make them feel included. Small gestures have the most significant impact reminding them that you’re all in this together. 2. Set Expectations Be clear about your expectations. You can’t expect your employees to be successful if you don’t set clear deadlines on a project, working hours, or response times. You’ll want these expectations to align with others to avoid confusion and overlap. Team members must know the short and long-term objectives, in particular: Weekly tasks and specific projects they need to work on and to prioritize Level of availability you expect them to have Ways to reach you if there are some matters to be discussed 3. Utilize Technology As a leader, it’s your responsibility to keep your team connected and engaged. Choose a communication tool that is best suited to your company’s needs. Investing in reliable tools is the first step to make collaboration possible. Tools like Microsoft Teams have features that allow your team to chat, call, schedule meetings, do video conferences, collaborate, and share files from anywhere. Make sure that they all have access to the internet because there’s no point in working remotely if they can’t even connect online. You can also utilize these tools to celebrate special occasions virtually, post company milestones, and give shout outs of recognition. It will inspire connection among your team and develop a more engaged remote team. Read: Get The Most Business Benefits With Microsoft Teams 4. Build Trust and Accountability It’s so easy just to call, check-in, and get back to work within minutes, but if this is all you’re doing, then you lack in leadership and management skills. To have a strong working relationship with your team and build rapport, establishing trust will improve their level of confidence. We all know that without trust, problems will go unaddressed, which leads to a decrease in productivity and, in the end, negatively impacts the business. Get to know your employees as a person to help you build a more committed workforce. 5. Be Flexible With the ongoing situation right about COVID-19, social distancing, and home quarantines, it’s important to understand everyone’s situation. It’s not an excuse not to get work things done but to be more considerate. Regular working hours are probably out. Give them freedom and flexibility to work on the tasks at a schedule that works for them and helps them be more productive. There are real benefits of working remotely, but managing a full team of remote workers can be tough, not only for you as the leader, but also to your employees. Being organized in your process and following simple rules can help you reach your business goals sooner. Reach out to us today and find out how we can help set up your business for remote work and manage your team effectively.

This World Backup Day, we want to increase awareness on the importance of backing up your data and keeping it secure in the Cloud. The Cloud has become a place where data is continually stored, USB’s or external hard drives are now rarely used, and the number of cloud users increases yearly. The complete shift from working offline and into the Cloud is happening. From confidential business documents, passwords to identification card scans, the Cloud has become the storage for businesses and individuals alike. But how can you be sure that your data is safe on the Cloud? What Is Cloud Backup? It is the process of storing or sending data to a cloud-based server through a secured public or propriety network. Cloud storage is often confused with cloud backup. Cloud backup users can synchronize data where any changes made in the original file reflects in its cloud version. Cloud backup services continuously scan your virtual setup for changes and updates it in the Cloud. This service ensures data recovery in the event of a disaster. There are multiple approaches to cloud backup that can fit your business’ requirements, these includes: Public Cloud: Third-party providers such as Microsoft 365 offers cloud services over the public internet that can be available to use or purchase. Public Cloud is either free or sold on-demand, allowing users to pay per bandwidth or storage they consume. Private Cloud: Also known as the internal Cloud, are typically used by one organization and are not exposed to the public. Private cloud infrastructure is protected by a firewall guaranteeing that only users inside the company can have access to the data. Hybrid Cloud: It connects a company’s private and public Cloud into a single infrastructure, enabling organizations to meet their business objectives more effectively than public or private clouds alone. Read: Cloud vs. On-Premise: Which server is the best for your business? Tips To Keep Your Data Safe In The Cloud 1. Don’t Store Sensitive Information It is sensible to avoid storing confidential and sensitive information on the Cloud, such as your passwords or credit card details, because honestly speaking, there is no such thing as privacy on the internet and identity theft continues to rise. It is not only your personal information but also your business properties such as copyrights, blueprints, etc.; this data can accidentally land on another system, which can lead to potential data leakage. 2. Encrypt Your Data Cloud services provide local encryption of your data, where it needs to be decrypted before gaining access; this protects your data from administrators and service providers itself. Multiple third-party tools also allow you to encrypt data before storing it in the Cloud. They generate and apply passwords before uploading, giving you the extra assurance that your private information is tightly secured. 3. Create Strong Passwords This may sound repetitive, but creating a general or basic password wouldn’t work since it’s the easiest way to compromise your Cloud. It’s imperative to have a secure and complex password apart from frequently updating them. Read: Password Security and Best Practices 4. Install Anti-Virus Software The problem might not be the cloud security but the system you are using. Encryption, passwords are among the security measures that can be done. If there is no proper protection in place for your systems, hackers can still get access to your account, exposing it to viruses that can penetrate your cloud storage. In conclusion, you can’t rely on one method alone for securing data in your Cloud. At Uniserve IT Solutions, we can help you find the right solution to keep your cloud backup data safe and secure. Contact us today!

A lot of IT analysts and experts claim that there is no substantial difference between a service desk and help desk. Users are even more confused about which term to use or what department to call if they need assistance. Before we dive deep into these two different terms in the world of IT, it’s very important to know where they originated and how it is defined back then. Back in the early 1980s, the help desk is more focused on troubleshooting IT issues along with the goal of helping IT teams and not the end-users. Service desk, however, is the point of contact between the service providers and end-users where they manage service requests and handle communications with the users. Basically, the help desk is considered as a division of a service desk. Throughout the 2000s, both terms weren’t considered different, companies might call it a Service desk while end-users call their IT Support as a help desk. What is a Service Desk? A service desk serves as the communication center of an employee or companies where they can ask for help from their IT service providers, this means that regardless of the kind of help being provided, the goal of a service desk is to provide high-quality assistance to customers in a timely manner. Service desk often includes multiple aspects of IT Service Management (ITSM) such as: • Service Request Management • Incident Management • Knowledge Management • Self-service Support Generally, it provides a customer-centric and robust way of providing support from IT to customers. A Service Desk can almost do what a help desk does, but it goes much further. What is a Help Desk? IT help desks is all about meeting the needs of the end-user. If something needs troubleshooting, you call for a Help Desk and log a ticket so it can get fixed. Organizations use the help desk to help customers on a specific request aiming to provide technology solutions. It is typically composed of a group of technicians who finds a solution that best responds to their customers’ needs or requests which is usually divided into two levels: Level 1: Deals with customers asking for common information regarding a product or service. Level 2 : Usually require a technician for assistance through on-site support or telephone support due to the complexity of the problem. A Help Desk uses helpful features such as Email Management, Tagging, and Automation . These features help in ensuring that all incoming requests are being tracked, monitored, and resolved. What are the differences? Service Desk team or individual is the company’s internal support that is responsible for handling hardware and software issues. While the help desk is the external support that handles a company’s product or services. Each type caters to a different audience: help desk for customers and service desk for employees’ IT well-being. A help desk can also function as the PR team for companies since they deal with consumers on a daily basis. How a Help Desk and a Service Desk can help your business? If your company requires immediate action to be more productive, a help desk is recommended but if you want to focus on corporate strategy and give importance to your IT functionality then a service desk is more beneficial for your business. Both services exist to fix what is not working. Systems and devices must run smoothly, and both of these services ensure that preventive solution is being implemented to avoid future technical issues. In conclusion, both services are valuable for the company to function daily. Understanding their difference will help your business to develop more efficient support. Contact us today and learn how we can help you with our IT Support service.

Cybercriminals are getting sneakier every single day and you should know what actions to take if your computer is hacked. As a business owner, it’s important to take immediate action and to not hope for the best. Controlling the situation and having a backup plan should be on your priority list in any case of a breach. The best solution to combat cyberattacks is to be prepared. No individual or business is safe, and chances are that hackers are just waiting for the right moment to strike. Knowing what to expect and how can it be fixed is necessary. Here’s What You Need To Do: 1. Reset your Passwords Change all your passwords, not only on your computer or laptop, but also your email and social accounts, and every other service that holds your personal and billing information. There might be a chance that you cannot log in to your account, so try resetting your password or look for another account recovery option. If it still doesn’t work, it is recommended to contact the company provider directly and they can take immediate action. Remember to use different passwords for different accounts so your information won’t be compromised. You can also implement multi-factor authentication for an additional layer of security. Read: Password Security and Best Practices 2. Scan and Update your Security Software One of your installed software might be the cause of it. Run a security scan on your device using an anti-virus program and malware detector to eliminate programs or infections that are creeping around on your hard drive waiting to do more damage. If malware is found, it is best to reset your passwords again as this malware might have logged your new password. Read: Reasons Why Software Updates Are Important For Your Business 3. Check and Verify Accounts After changing passwords, ensure that all your information is not changed. For example, your shipping or billing address, and ensure that there is no automatic forwarding set up in your email. In addition, check if your granting rights that authorize any third-party apps such as Facebook and Twitter on your account. The best thing to do is delete any application that you don’t remember installing in the first place. 4. Inform Your Family, Friends, and Colleagues Alert them that your computer has been hacked so they will be cautious of any messages sent using your account. If your email is hacked, it’s important to let your contacts know as hackers used affiliated accounts to gain access since it’s less suspicious if they have received e-mails coming from their contact list. 5. Keep An Eye On Your Online Accounts Hackers sometimes just get enough information to get access to your credit or debit account and make any fraudulent purchases online. Ensure that you are checking the activity on your account and report any suspicious transactions, you’ll know better than anyone if any purchases are authorized by you or not. 6. Reinstall Your Operating System If you’ve really suffered from a major hack on your system, you should consider reinstalling your Operating System (OS) and cleaning your hard drive before retrieving your back up files. It is recommended to get help from an IT professional to ensure that you’re not transferring any damaged or infected files to your reinstalled system. Remember that you can keep hackers out if you make it harder for them to breach your data. Remove old habits and follow best practices when it comes to protecting your information. Keeping your defenses up and placing a lot of barriers will help you avoid any cybercrimes or hacks. Contact us today and find out how we can help you when your computer is hacked.