The IT Experts

One of the first considerations you need to make when you are installing a new wireless network is the hardware and software you are going to need to make it work. You’ll obviously need a modem, a router, and depending on how you need it to function, a network switch. Besides the cables that run from your modem to your other hardware, you won’t need any other hardware unless your space is too big, then you may need to purchase a Wi-Fi extender. 

Here are some of our most useful suggestions when trying to set up a comprehensive wireless network: 

• Skip the consumer level - Like other types of hardware, there are different “grades” of networking equipment. For your business, you definitely want to purchase hardware that is of commercial or enterprise grade. This will ensure that you have the built-in security you will need when handling people’s sensitive information. 
• Prioritize redundancy  - Disasters happen, and you will want to make sure that your network is reliable enough to get back up and running. A data backup platform like our Backup and Disaster Recovery will work wonders to get you back up and running effectively. 
• Plan for future growth - You will want to ensure that your wireless network can be scaled to support organizational growth or higher foot traffic, depending on your market.

The IT professionals at KB Technologies are here to help you build your best business. Call us today at (954) 834-2800 to learn more about how to get the wireless network that is right for your business. 

The Benefits of Working from Home

There are benefits to working from home, even under normal circumstances, that employees undoubtedly appreciate. A big one is eliminating the commute. While those fortunate enough to live just a few minutes from the office may not see the significance, for most, the commute can be a terrible thing. In New York City, the average commute takes about 43 minutes, and rural areas of the United States see 30 percent of their workforce traveling 30 minutes each way to get to work.

There are also the health benefits and decreased spending that can be seen, as employees are less inclined to snack and order out for their meals. Home also features fewer of the distractions that the office presents. In fact, despite the other distractions that the home can provide, a Stanford study conducted over two years demonstrates that working from home can greatly boost productivity. Finally, as an employer, you have to appreciate the decreased investment into space and utilities that remote strategies can bring if it were to become the norm.

The Issues with Working From Home

Unfortunately, there is no universal standard for what to expect when using a remote work strategy. Some employees just aren’t as productive doing work at home as they are doing work in the office, which gives many business owners and managers reasons to hold back on remote work privileges. It falls to the employees to gain the trust needed to convince the employer that remote capabilities are a good thing. There is a general acceptance of the idea that, if a person is at their desk at work, they are at least contributing something to the overall productivity of the group.

Remote work’s benefits transcend simple company culture and can really impact a business’ functionality. Whether it is a matter of preference, or based on a need like the health concerns you are currently facing, everyone stands to gain when remote work is a viable option.

How to Make the Most of Remote Capabilities

As an Employee:

Be on Time: While the eliminated commute makes the morning easier, make sure you spend the extra time you have doing what you need to do, whether that’s taking care of the family, eating a better breakfast than you otherwise could, or getting in a bit of reading or meditation. However you spend your extra time, just make sure you are in your seat and ready to work when you are supposed to be.

Focus: Without the distractions of the office, focusing on your tasks should be somewhat easier. Try to accomplish as much as you can between breaks in your concentration. You will accomplish more, and the work will be better for it.

Track Accurately: It is absolutely crucial that you accurately track how you are spending your time working from home. Take note of when you start and end your tasks, acknowledge when you reach certain milestones in your progress, and make sure you are communicating with the rest of your team to keep them up to speed. This accountability can also placate those who may distrust you are working diligently.

Use the Right Equipment: Rather than going through the process of setting up an office phone in your house to deal with meetings you need to attend online, invest in a comfortable set of nice headphones with an integrated microphone. Using the speakerphone on your smartphone or the options integrated into your workstation should be avoided, if possible. A headset will improve your experience, as well as the experience those working with you have.

As an Employer:

Provide a VoIP Solution: Voice over Internet Protocol is compatible with virtually all devices, allowing your employees simplified communications through an app or an installed client without any additional hardware requirements.

Use Cloud Solutions: If you expect your staff to be productive while working remotely, give them the tools to be able to do so. Storing documents and hosting your critical applications on cloud resources--while no small feat to implement--can significantly improve your employees’ workplace satisfaction and productivity, whether they are in the office or working remotely. We can help you make any needed adjustments, as well.

Standardize Things: Set standard processes and applications that your employees should be following and using, and give them to your employees. Otherwise, they may find themselves trying to complete a task and resorting to the use of unauthorized software and tools, also known as shadow IT.

We Can Help You Put Remote Capabilities into Practice!

There is a significant amount to consider when integrating telecommunication and remote access capabilities into your business, and there is no one way to do it. Going through the process with KB Technologies as your resource and guide will make your entire process more efficient and seamless.

We are always here to help you out. GIve us a call at (954) 834-2800 to get started.

It makes sense that any kind of redundancy would be frowned upon, given that business operations today have become so focused on efficiency. The difference is that the redundancy that we are discussing here has an intended purpose.

Let’s examine this intentional redundancy in action with the 3-2-1 Rule of data backup.

The 3-2-1 Rule

This “rule” is pretty generally accepted amongst IT professionals. It sums up to the following:

• 3. Three copies of your data should exist
• 2. Two of these copies are backups
• 1. One of these backup copies should be located offsite

But why two backup copies? Wouldn’t one of them be mostly redundant?

It would, and that’s the point. Consider the possibility that your on-site backup could be lost in the same disaster that destroys your original copy. Your backup isn’t going to be of any help then. What if you found out that your offsite data center suffered a disaster, and so your backup is gone, just as a minor data issue takes place in-house?

Your second backup is just that, a backup to your backup. Plan C, when Plan B doesn’t work out.

A Timely Message

It isn’t hard to see why this kind of reliability is valuable to a business, considering what has been happening in the past few weeks with the COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses everywhere are either closing up shop or shifting to remote operations for the time being, and as this has been going on, business locations are being targeted. Theft and even vandalism can be very real causes of data loss, which means that properly backing up your data is a must.

This situation also highlights one of the reasons that we really push the cloud as the best option for your backups. Not only is your data protected in the cloud, it is also accessible to your team, allowing them to work from home if need be until it is safe to return to normal working conditions.

Of course, nobody should hope to have this happen, but not being prepared for it is just foolish. Again, we recommend the 3-2-1 Rule, as it practically guarantees that you aren’t without your data.

If you need help setting up your backup solution, we can help with that, too. Call KB Technologies today to learn more about how working with us can ensure that your IT is reliably available to you when you need it. Reach out at (954) 834-2800.