Tag Archives: IT Strategy

New version of Microsoft Office

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Microsoft to launch new version of Office this year

A new version of Microsoft Office for commercial customers – Office LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) – will be launched later this year, as will Office 2021 for consumers and small businesses.  It will be available for both Windows and Mac. It is designed for users who don’t want to use the cloud-based Microsoft 365 version of Office products.

Tom Warren from The Verge investigates more about this latest version.

New version of Microsoft Office

The release of Office 365 in 2011 saw Microsoft take its productivity software in a new direction.
For the first time, the Office suite will be available as part of a subscription service.

Features of the new version of Microsoft Office

The new version of Microsoft Office, for which there will be a preview next month, will include dark mode support, accessibility improvements, and features like Dynamic Arrays and XLOOKUP in Excel.  The most obvious change visually will be with Dark Mode.  Currently, Word has a dark mode which modifies the ribbon and toolbars. However, the canvas stays bright white. The ability to switch the canvas into dark mode, too, will be available in Office LTSC. The note taking program OneNote will also be available in the new version.

The interface will change and some features of the new version will mirror those of Microsoft 365.

“We have a lot of customers that have moved to the cloud over the last 10 months. That has happened en masse really. At the same time, we definitely have customers who have specific scenarios where they don’t feel like they can move to the cloud”,  said Jared Spataro, Head of Microsoft 365.

Support and pricing

The new version of Microsoft Office LTSC will be supported for five years.  This means, the support offered is two years less than with the current version. This revised length of support aligns more closely with how Windows is supported. Microsoft are aligning its release schedules for both Office and Windows more closely. Both 32- and 64-bit options will be available.

Pricing for Office Professional Plus, Office Standard, and individual apps will be increasing by ten percent for commercial customers.

Make sure your Office has the latest version

Efficiency is so important for business. Being able to create, collaborate and communicate seamlessly makes any organisation more effective. Having access to productivity tools that enable your team to do their jobs more easily. Accessing your work from anywhere, allows businesses to be agile and lets them compete in their sector.

Contact the LIS Help Desk to discuss the new version of Microsoft Office. Are you running older version of Microsoft Office? We can help with upgrades, security, cloud back up and any of your IT requirements.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#Microsoft   #LTSC  #Upgrades  #technews

Is it time to switch?

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Is it time to switch

If your IT support company just wasn’t good enough last year, then is it time to switch? IT is too important to have a weak supplier. Our new guide explains why we partner with our clients and don’t just work with them.

Download The Top 5 Questions guide to help you make the best decision.

Why is it time to switch to LIS?

Investing in a good IT support company is essential if you want to generate sales growth, streamline your processes, and reach your goals. Are you wasting too much time trying to sort out your companies’ IT system yourself? Is your current IT provider working with you and do they understand your goals? If you answer no to any of these questions, then ask yourself is it time to switch?

As your IT support company, LIS will take the time to find out your exact needs of your company. Our Technical Support Staff use their expertise to deliver bespoke technology solutions that are fully aligned to your business plans. We are an extension of your business and will be a crucial part of your team.

Unlike other IT support companies, our focus is on being proactive. This means that the majority of our time is invested in potential causes of IT disruptions, before your company encounters any issues. Typically, our IT Help Desk spend time monitoring services and are proactive when there are issues.

The PC doctor will see you now

Prevention is better than cure: we do not wait for problems to occur. Our aim is to make sure your company is secure and has the latest updates. We try our best to do all we can to reduce the chance of anything going wrong in the first place.

By fixing the problem at its source, we can stop the symptom from returning. This enables us to provide you with consistently high levels of service. This ensures, low levels of risk and ultimately, enhance the productivity of your IT systems and staff. Is it time to switch to an IT provider that will assist you and your team with any IT problems? This in turn will allow you to concentrate on building your business or enjoy some of your favourite pastimes.

We have a belief at LIS: “If it has already happened, it’s too late. Why should it go wrong at all?”

Flick the switch – it’s time to switch

As a busy business owner or manager, we understand your time is precious. There is nothing more annoying than your IT systems running slow or being down. Fed up with staff moaning at you that their emails are down? Or the ultimate nightmare that your company has a virus, or your server is down.

Never fear. LIS can offer you a FREE IT AUDIT. Contact the LIS Help Desk and speak to our experienced and friendly support team. It is never too late to switch. We will talk to you about your current system. Advise on upgrades to improve performance. Review your security and back-up solutions. IT should not be painful. Let us take away your headaches. It is never too late to switch, we are only a phone call or email away.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#FreeGuide #ITPartner #ITSupport #DownloadYourCopyNow

Your new PC is slow

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There’s no better feeling than getting a new PC. Until you start it the first time and realise it’s full of software you didn’t want or need! To your frustration your new PC is slow. You would expect it to come with a fresh installation of Windows and a clutter-free hard drive. But often manufacturers will preload their computers with all kinds of unnecessary programs, often called ‘bloatware’ and it will slow down your computer. Our new video shows why bloatware is on your computer, and what to do about it.

PC slowed down by bloatware? Almost all manufacturers are guilty of doing this to some degree. There may be lots of strange shortcut icons on your desktop when you first start your PC. Or if the All Programs section of the Start Menu lists lots of non-Microsoft applications that you never use, then your PC may be bursting with bloatware.

Why is bloatware still a threat?

All computer manufacturers are guilty of installing software on new machines. Lenovo for example is a company that installed bloatware on its devices that made users susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks. Another question to ask is, why is every new PC in this country pre-installed with German, French, Italian and Dutch office trials. If bloatware isn’t secure, it can put a PC at risk. All software installed on a PC must be kept up to date and secure – including bloatware.

Are you protected?

What Anti-Virus and other PC “protection” software does your new PC have installed? Many machines are shipped with massive dead weight old fashioned Anti-Virus which saps 30%+ of your performance when compared to a fast modern cloud managed product such as LIS managed Anti-Virus.

Like most PC problems, mobile devices are also susceptible to bloatware. While Android bloatware could be relatively harmless and just show ads, it can be used to expose users to risks. For example, some bloatware that can be used to spy on device owners could technically be used for legitimate purposes, such as managing the device.

How to detect bloatware

Is your PC slowed down by bloatware? Often, bloatware is identified by performance degradation. For example, devices weighed down by bloatware can take a long time to boot up, have slowed reaction times or storage issues.

Trialware is a common form of bloatware. Such software applications are included on devices for free when they are purchased and work for a specific trial period until a license is purchased. Adware that pops up on websites or on devices’ screens is another form of bloatware, as are system utilities and applications pre-installed on devices by manufacturers.

Bloatware can be detected by end users by looking through the installed applications and identifying any applications they did not install. It can also be detected by an enterprise IT team using a mobile device management tool that lists installed applications.

Make sure your computers are set up by professionals

This time of year, businesses are reviewing their IT equipment. Is your system running slow or in need of an upgrade? Don’t be fooled by large retail outlets special offers. Their solutions may not be right for you and most of them do not offer monthly IT support contracts.

Contact the LIS Help Desk for friendly, knowledgeable and impartial advice about IT systems. We can advise you on the best hardware and software solutions to suit your business. Our technicians will set up your PCs so they are ready for you to plug and play.

A good professional install will review and remove all bloatware. All PCs shipped by LIS come direct from the manufacturer but are then cleaned, secured and prepared to your business standard by our team before being released to you

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#Bloatware #Computers #Technology #ITsupport

 

Collecting Customer Data

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The best practices in collecting customer data

Customer data offers an insight into information such as customer demographics, behaviour, and preferences. This enables businesses to create quality products and positive experiences that will cater to their client base. However, it is not enough for a business to collect customer data. It must collect data that is useful and relevant. Here are some of the best ways to collect useful customer data and avoid challenges.

For the most up to date information about GDPR and gathering customer information visit the Information Commissioners Office website.

Customer data collection offers business benefits, but there is a limit to what kind of data can be gathered. Customer privacy has become a serious concern in modern society. There are various regulatory frameworks that ensure the protection of people’s private information. To avoid running afoul of the law, inform your customers that you will be collecting their data. It is important you specify exactly what data you will be gathering.

Collect identifiers

Whether you’re creating an online survey or a sign up form, collecting customer data is crucial. This information will form the foundation for future analysis and segmentation.

Collecting Customer Data

More and more companies today are relying on customer data to
help them outperform competitors and improve their services.

Track customer interactions

Define important customer interactions. For example, if you own an online store, you need to know how your customers arrived at your site, the items they clicked on, the items they added to their cart, and what they eventually purchased. Tracking each step of their buyer journey — from learning about your business to becoming a customer — will give you insights into what your customers need and want.

Gather behaviour-related data

Don’t focus solely on customers who made a purchase. Think about what other indicators produce meaningful data. In our online store example, you might want to track how many sign up for your email newsletter, which pages they visited on your site, or how much time they spent on each page. Analysing this information will help you determine which aspects of your efforts are most effective and which ones need improvement.

Automate data collection

When gathering customer data, you must minimize the risk of human error. The most effective strategy is to automate as much of the collection process as possible. Apps and tools such as online forms and optical character recognition systems feed information directly into your database. This eliminates paper-centric processes that often lead to mistakes.

Integrate your systems

Redundancies and errors are also common when there are multiple databases managing the same information. You can prevent these issues by working with an IT provider to integrate all your apps, databases, and software solutions. This way, data collected in one database will be synced and consistent across other platforms, reducing manual data entry and, consequently, human error.

Consider who will view the customer date reports

Inevitably, you’ll need to convert data into business intelligence reports. It’s a good idea to identify who will read your reports so you can highlight the most relevant insights for them. For instance, sales managers want to see quarterly sales figures, and human resources teams want to see labour costs compared to revenue.

Update data in real time

Companies today need up-to-the-minute data accuracy in order to stay relevant. Use business intelligence dashboards that collect, organise, and filter data at the click of a button so that you’ll never have to wait a day or more to receive critical information that can guide company decisions.

How can we help your business collect customer data?

Looking for technologies that can help you optimise collecting customer data? Call the LIS Help Desk, our IT consultants are here to help you. We’ll recommend best-of-breed technologies that track the information you need to grow your business.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#CustomerData #Security #ITsupport #Business

 

Register Domain Names

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Renew and register your domain name

“On 1st February 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union. The Withdrawal Agreement provides for a transition period until 31 December 2020. During the transition period organisations, residents and citizens in the UK will continue to be able to hold and register a .eu domain. The plan outlined below will apply as from the end of the transition period.

Find out what you need to do if you hold a .eu domain by visiting the government website.

According to Article 4 (2) (b) of Regulation (EC) No 733/2002, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/517. The following persons, undertakings and organisations are eligible to register .eu domain names:

  • a Union citizen, independently of their place of residence;
  • a natural person who is not a Union citizen and who is a resident of a Member State;
  • an undertaking that is established in the Union; or
  • an organisation that is established in the Union, without prejudice to the application of national law.
Domain Names

Do you a have a business or personal website? Is your email address based on your domain name?
Does your business rely on sales via your online shop or email? How would you feel if it all stopped working?

The transition period ended on 31 December 2020. At the end of the transition period, EURid enforced the following measures:

New registrations

As of 1st Jan 2021, EURid does NOT allow the registration of any new domain name by UK registrants. From that date, EURid will allow neither the transfer or update, of any domain name to a UK registrant.

Existing registrations

On 1st October 2020, EURid notified by email all UK registrants and their registrars that they would lose their eligibility as of 1 January 2021. Unless they demonstrated their compliance with the .eu regulatory framework by updating their registration data before 31 December 2020. They could do so by indicating a legally established entity in one of the eligible Union Member States. As well as, updating their residence to a Union Member State, or proving their citizenship of a Union Member State irrespective of their residence.

On 21st December 2020, EURid notified by email all UK registrants who did not demonstrate continued compliance with the eligibility criteria and their registrars about the risk of forthcoming non-compliance with the .eu regulatory framework.

On 1st January 2021, EURid notified by email all UK registrants and their registrars that their domain name was no longer compliant with the .eu regulatory framework and therefore. It will be moved to the so-called “SUSPENDED” status until 31 March 2021. A domain name in the “SUSPENDED” status can no longer support any service such as website and email. However, may still be reinstated if registration data is updated to meet the eligibility criteria.

On 1st April 2021, EURid will once again notify by email all UK registrants and their registrars that their domain name is no longer compliant with the .eu regulatory framework and consequently is moved to the so-called “WITHDRAWN” status. A domain name in the “WITHDRAWN” status is not in the zone file and cannot support any service.

On 1 January 2022, all the domain names in the “WITHDRAWN” status, formerly assigned to UK registrants, will be REVOKED. Subsequently, they will become AVAILABLE for general registration. Their release will occur in batches for security reasons.

Choose your domain name wisely

Choosing the right domain name for your website is crucial for your success. If you choose the wrong domain name, then it can be a hassle to switch later on without affecting your brand and search rankings.

Contact The LIS Help Desk to speak to one of our Technical Support staff.  We can register you a new domain name for your business today, or maybe we have a domain name of interest in our large library of domains for sale.  We can also provide web hosting for your new domain, Microsoft Office 365 for your email and cater for all your other IT requirements.

Domain names sell fast. Contact us today to see if your favourite domain names are available.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITIAL

#DomainNames #Registering #Renewals #ITsupport