Technology Insights Blog

Common as it may be, the cloud tends to be a gray area for many business owners. Cloud computing is defined as the practice of using a network of remote servers, accessible via the Internet, to store, manage and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer. So basically, the majority of businesses use the cloud, whether or not they know what it is. For a more detailed and visual definition of the cloud, this infographic helps explain the concept of the cloud and its primary benefits.

Work is no longer a place we go—it’s a thing we do. We can do work…

• …on the road.
• …at home.
• …in the office.
• …on vacation.
• …on the airplane.
• …in the waiting room.
• …ANYWHERE.

There’s a whole lot to consider when it comes to choosing a telecom carrier. It’s something we’ve covered many times and are always looking for ways to help simplify things. As a long term telecom Carrier Agent consultant, our telecom experts are continually helping our partners find the best telecom solutions possible. As part of our process, we have a list of nine main checkpoints to use when choosing a telecom carrier. 

Keeping remote employees connected without hurting collaboration or lowering productivity can be a struggle for today's businesses. Luckily, technologies that allow employees to work from outside the office without feeling disconnected do exist. As an added benefit, enabling remote work can, in fact, enhance productivity. According to an article on Remote.co, "Eighty-six percent of those surveyed said they preferred to work alone to “hit maximum productivity.” What’s more, two-thirds of managers say employees who work remotely increase their overall productivity."

All that's left to do, then, is to put the technology in place that makes remote work possible and effective. 

Managed print services are an increasingly popular option for companies looking to operate a more productive and efficient fleet of printers. When it comes to wide format printers, not all providers are the same. Here's how we approach our print partnerships with companies:

The Internet is making our world smaller. Your business, no matter what size, can reach consumers on the other side of town or across the country with ease, but only if you have the Internet connection required to do so. Whether you simply use the Internet to connect your offices and remote workers, or maintain all of your operations in the cloud, your company's Internet connection is extremely important.

If there is one ubiquitous piece of equipment in the workplace, it's the telephone. A staple of office communication for decades, many people still have an outdated view of phone system capabilities. The concept that a phone system should be built to make and answer calls underestimates the power of and underutilizes the capabilities of modern phone systems.

Well designed private cloud environments allow businesses to experience better security and increased reliability. With private clouds, the primary challenge goes beyond the creation of the cloud itself; so, what should be expected from a service provider beyond the initial set up period? To answer that, first you must know the difference between a private cloud and a public cloud.

Today’s workforce is comprised of employees that work from various locations. Collaboration tools make it easier for employees to stay on task and remain productive whether they are in the office, on the road while traveling or working remotely from home. One of the most powerful collaboration tools available for businesses is Microsoft’s SkyDrive Pro offering which was overhauled at the beginning of 2014 and rebranded as OneDrive for Business. This cloud storage and collaboration tool received some new and enhanced features that further benefit business users looking for an anywhere-access solution for storing and sharing their work files.

What is OneDrive for Business?

OneDrive for Business is designed for organizations to provide a secure cloud storage option for their employees, while still maintaining administrative control over the business accounts and the files that are stored within it. This solution differentiates itself from the competition with the flexibility and the ease in which it facilitates cloud collaboration between team members. Users can decide who should have access to files by sharing at the file or folder level which sends an email invitation to those users to collaborate.

OneDrive for Business is included with on premise SharePoint 2013, as well as with subscriptions to Office 365 Business and Enterprise plans. Additionally, OneDrive for Business plans can be purchased separately for each user in your organization and include Office Online which gives the ability for team members to collaborate on documents simultaneously through its powerful co-authoring features.

With so many different options to choose from for business communication, VoIP has become an important solution many businesses are implementing. VoIP has the potential to significantly lower costs, and merge voice and data systems into one, easy-to-use platform. It also creates a platform designed for enhanced collaboration and remote communication. Best of all, the VoIP system is easily customizable so each business can have exactly they want, without having to pay a dime for anything that is not needed.