Running a small business can be challenging at the best of times. Whether you are just starting, or you have been running your business for a while and you’re just gaining traction, the right knowledge and help can make all the difference.
When it comes to selecting a managed services provider, you may think that doing this once is enough. Once you’re all set up with your provider, why bother changing, right? Here, we will look at what managed services are and what is included, as well as how you can get […]
IT threats can be a serious issue in businesses of any size, but when you are a small business, even the smallest thing can have a major impact. Here, we will explore what is involved with IT security and how you can protect yourself from IT threats that could seriously […]
After more than 20 years’ experience in the field of IP phones, Snom is introducing a new range of deskphones with advanced functionality. Snom has drawn on their years of expertise to develop a telephone series where the main requirement was their exceptionally high quality standards. Key features include: […]
If you don’t want to trip over trailing cables running to your conference telephone, why not use a cordless conferencing unit? The Snom wireless conference unit can be connected to a telephone handset and used in locations up to 50 metres away! This removes the need for either a network […]
Many people use Dropbox to store data and assume that, as it is in the cloud, it must be safe. Think again! Without a backup, data is in danger. A woman in North Yorkshire has been sentenced for deleting 5,000 files from her former company’s Dropbox account. She spent five […]
Will all your team be going back in to the office full time in the very near future? Have your IT and telecoms solutions enabled you to successfully work from home or could they be improved? With many team members visiting the office on a rota or for specific meetings, […]
The past few weeks have strained everything – people, relationships and systems at work. How have your communications survived? Keeping in touch with colleagues, customers and suppliers is vital at all times. If your telephone system isn’t helping you, stress levels rise. If you have problems with your telephone […]
It won’t be long until the government announces the end to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, but that certainly won’t mean life will return to normal. We would be foolish to imagine when the government lifts the lockdown that the world won’t have changed. We won’t all be going back to […]
Bailey is the gorgeous guide dog sponsored by Vantage IT. Training is taking place to make him a working dog and family pet. Bailey has settled very easily into life with his trainers. He has a very laid-back and cuddly personality and often attempts to give his love to Edmund, […]
The past few weeks have been unprecedented for all of us. For IT companies such as Vantage IT, there has been an immense amount of effort in a very short period of time to ensure users are able to effectively work from home. Many IT companies will be very proud […]
We recently started providing our managed IT support service to a new customer. Then within days, the country went into lockdown! Members of staff were required to work from home with remote access to the on-site systems. Unfortunately the customer had not had the opportunity to upgrade their firewall to […]
Have you considered laptop hire? Working from home while the country is in Coronavirus lockdown is only possible with the right equipment. Laptop computers are at a premium at the moment. If your team requires laptops to work from home, finding the right one can be tricky. Hiring a laptop […]
With the current Coronavirus scare, many people are either working from home or planning to. This is something we do regularly and at the moment, members of our ream are working remotely without our customers being aware! With the right security infrastructure in place, it is easy to have people […]
Come to meet Vantage IT at Red Bull Technology in Milton Keynes. The Central Business Expo will be taking place on 31st March at MK7, the superb exhibition space within the Red Bull factory. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet many local businesses in a location at the forefront […]
The Vantage VoIP Telephone System uses state-of-the-art technology to provide you with modern telephones and very cheap calls. With our hosted telephone system, you don’t even have the worry of maintaining your own in-house telecoms system. Vantage does all that for you and supplies the handsets for your desks. There […]
Vantage IT is proud to announce we are sponsoring the Tattenhoe Football Club Greens Under 7 team. One of our team is the father to a member of their team, so it is a great fit! Based in Milton Keynes, Tattenhoe Football Club has a large number of teams covering […]
Do you manage your IT internally? Have you considered outsourcing your IT management? We provide compelling reasons why you should! Data stores continue to grow and more cloud services are being introduced. The consequence is that attempting IT management internally can be a false economy. With the introduction of so […]
Has your PC got slower and slower over the years, to the point that you now have enough time to make a coffee while it boots? You might be tempted to bite the bullet and purchase a new PC, although sometimes there is another way, which might be more cost […]
IT can sometimes be perceived as an unnecessary cost, particularly where a server is concerned. But could your business operate without reliable IT? Persevering with an old server simply because it has been reliable for many years can be a false economy. Replacing servers can be dismissed due to the […]
Milton Keynes Expo 2019 is this week and Vantage IT will be there. Come down and see us at The Ridgeway Centre in Milton Keynes for this fantastic opportunity to meet many local businesses. It will be great to see you there, so please do come along to #miltonkeynesexpo. […]
Moving IT workloads to the cloud has become a key priority for many organisations and is set to grow around 3% further between 2019 and 2022. Crucially, a successful migration relies on careful and effective planning. You certainly don’t want to introduce risks or increased long-term costs to your business. […]
How will you send an email when Microsoft withdraws support for Exchange Server? Now that Microsoft no longer includes Exchange Server software with Small Business Server, running an Exchange Server on-premise has become too expensive for most SME’s. This is where the Hosted Exchange Cloud Email service from Vantage IT […]
First and foremost, our proactive IT support contract will save you money when compared to employing a dedicated IT manager or even a pay-as-you-go service. With all our contracts, we provide a discounted hourly rate and monthly retainer, designed specifically around your requirements. This is a cost-effective way of providing […]
Attackers target IT managed service providers (MSPs) and cloud service providers (CSPs), intending to install ransomware within their infrastructure and customer base. This is reported in Secplicity, which is a leading source of information about IT and business security from WatchGuard Technologies. The report states attacks are specifically targeting […]
Backing up data is vitally important for any business. But there is a lot more you can do to achieve complete data management. Vantage IT provides a next-generation data management platform which comprises Cloud Backup, Disaster Recovery (DR) and Archiving options – all in secure UK-based data centres. Our services […]
IT security is vital for businesses of every size, large and small. Does your business have fewer than 100 employees? If so, then you are still a target for hackers and in some instances, more vulnerable. It is a common misconception that only large businesses are hacked. The fact is, […]
Are you struggling on with your laptop? As Windows 7 end of support is under a year away, now would be a good time to replace it with a new machine. The old adage that ‘you get what you pay for’ is certainly the case for new laptops too. From […]
Buddy has spent the past few months as a trainee, living with a puppy walker who has begun the process of developing him into a guide dog. He will soon be moving on to early training, but here is an update of what he has been doing. During the summer, […]
Can your business continue to run in the event of failed server hardware? How would it affect your business if you could not use any of your IT equipment for several days? Backing up your data regularly is highly advisable, although depending on your IT equipment, it could take several […]
Windows 7 is still working hard on many computers used in businesses, even though it is almost a decade old. Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system was first pushed out globally in July 2015. The new system introduced a number of changes over older versions of Windows. However, despite some […]
Company directors often understand the benefits of introducing a server to their business. However, if you run a small business or are just starting out, you could be inclined to operate without a server due to perceived costs. Indeed, you might be tempted to simply use laptops or PCs to […]
IT security is vital for all companies and this must include secure printing. Have you taken steps to safeguard your network-connected printers? An unsecured network printer can lead to a data breach in your company. Using HP’s well established secure printing solutions, Vantage IT can make security concerns a thing […]
The FormBox is a fantastic tool for education, small businesses and hobbyists. It essentially makes moulds out of shapes which can be re used to create all types of things. What can FormBox do? Choose from a world of materials – you can bring unique ideas into the real world […]
Buddy, the guide dog sponsored by Vantage IT, is making great progress. He is being trained by a puppy walker to get him ready to join a person who need him. His walker has reported that he is maturing and gaining an understanding of what he is expected to do. […]
Refurbished IT equipment sounds appealing with its cheaper price, but does it really offer benefits over buying new? Does the adage of ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ apply? When meeting new customers, we sometimes find they have purchased refurbished PCs or servers at some point. However, these are not always positive […]
Protecting the data on your company’s laptops is one of the key components for GDPR compliance. This is because unencrypted data is easy to obtain from a hard drive. Data is valuable. That is why so many large organisations sell the data they hold on us. People want to obtain […]
With the fantastic weather due to continue for the next week or so, it’s worth remembering that your air cooling systems are working harder than ever to maintain a consistent environment. Do you have a system in place to alert you of a cooling failure? If not, what do you […]
Approximately two million online fraud incidents were reported in 2017, according to the UK Parliaments Public Accounts Committee. With only 20 percent of crimes actually reported, even this dreadful figure is just the tip of the iceberg. Online fraud is incredibly lucrative for the perpetrators, meaning it will not decrease […]
Your broadband connection is vital. In recent years, the use of cloud services has increased dramatically for most businesses. You may be using a Hosted Exchange service for your emails, Xero for accounts and Dropbox for cloud storage. You may even make calls on a VoIP (Voice-Over-IP) telephone system. When […]
Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) are more normally found in portable electronic devices but APC has just released some uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) using the technology. Li-ion batteries have much improved specifications when compared to traditional lead-acid batteries found in most UPSs. These will allow for better performance at higher temperatures and […]
When storms hit, is your vital IT hardware safe? You need to know that adverse weather conditions will not affect your business. The storms in recent weeks have caused power cuts and flooding. Both of these occurrences are not favourable to sensitive IT equipment! Water ingress will clearly damage […]
Many small businesses have been enjoying the benefits of Microsoft Windows Small Business Server (SBS) since its introduction over 20 years ago. The last edition Microsoft introduced was SBS 2011 which first appeared in December 2010. Many SMEs still use the software today. However, are you aware that Microsoft will […]
Do you struggle with a small, outdated monitor on your desk? When you spend so much of your working life looking at a computer screen, you need to be sure it is the most appropriate tool for the job. If perceived cost implications have prevented monitor upgrades, you could be […]
WatchGuard, a world leader in network security products, offers advice about protecting your business from phishing attacks. Phishing attacks continue to be a major concern for all of us. In fact, 76% of businesses report being a victim of a phishing attack in the last year alone. This is not […]
How do you know what the environment is like that your critical equipment is working in? You need someone monitoring it 24 hours a day and that is what the iMeter Lite does for you. Monitoring the environment within your critical IT locations is vital. It will ensure network uptime […]
If you have an upcoming office move, we hope the following proves helpful and prevents it becoming a major headache. If you have moved office in the past, you will be aware how much there is to organise, particularly in terms of your IT infrastructure. Thankfully, this does not need […]
If your company is using an outdated email system such as POP3, you may frequently experience performance or synchronisation issues. Fortunately, Microsoft Exchange can solve a lot of your problems. Although POP3 has been old technology for some time, it has been a necessary evil for many due to the […]
Attacks on guide dogs are more common than you would realise. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has started a new #TakeTheLead campaign that calls for pet dog owners to help prevent avoidable attacks on guide dogs. For a blind or partially sighted person, a guide dog can be […]
Protecting your data is vital. It is one of the most valuable resources you have and therefore the consequences of not keeping it safe could be disastrous. Vantage IT provides the assistance you need to help you find out where your data is and that it is securely controlled. We […]
We always look for ways we can save money for our clients. We would like to share a recent example of a customer with a faulty printer where we potentially saved them £3000! Case Study – Faulty Printer A customer contacted us to say they were experiencing problems with a […]
How is your Wi-Fi? Is the connection a bit sporadic? If it isn’t as reliable as you would like, here are some tips for improving the situation. Change Your Router’s Location When routers are hidden behind other devices or tucked in a corner, wireless signals can be affected. Many routers […]
Despite the weather we have just experienced, spring is almost upon us, so why not give your PC a spring clean of its own? Why a Spring Clean? If your PC takes ages to boot up or respond to your inputs, there is a chance it requires some basic housekeeping. […]
The internet is a huge, wondrous world, but are you using it effectively? From browser choices to shortcut keys that save you time, we offer tips so you can get the best out of your internet usage. Try Different Browsers Many people using Windows PCs will make use of […]
We all want to save ourselves time, and that is what Windows keyboard shortcuts will do. Keyboard shortcuts will speed up almost everything you do on your computer. However, long lists of shortcuts can quickly become overwhelming if you’re just getting started with them. With this in mind, we […]
Many of us regularly log in to online services such as Gmail or Hotmail as well as social media platforms such as Twitter or FaceBook. However, reports suggest that many people still don’t use the available 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) features of these websites, although this is highly advisable. If you […]
WatchGuard firewalls currently block access to dangerous sites based on a feed of known malicious URLs and also allow customers to block traffic to potentially risky sites. The new service, based on technology called Strongarm, will add blocking based on known malicious domains. Furthermore, by monitoring requests at the domain […]
Adobe’s powerful suite of productivity software has been around for many years and is the preferred choice for many businesses across the world. Creative Cloud provides software for graphic design, photography, editing of videos and web development. Adobe was one of the first to move from perpetual licenses to a […]
How many times did your IT fail last year? It never ceases to amaze us at Vantage IT how some businesses seem to be so accepting of IT failures, no doubt persuaded of such ‘normality’ by their service provider or internal IT support personnel. However, IT failures should be […]
Your Christmas holiday should be a relaxing break from your busy work life. However, you don’t want to return feeling even more stressed than you did when you left! Efficient planning will allow you to enjoy your holiday worry-free, so we have put together a few tips that we hope […]
If your organisation is still using a traditional PBX telephone system, now is the time to switch to Voice-over-IP (VoIP). There are a number of benefits to be had from using this type of phone system, for example: Far less expensive phone bills Unified communications with your PC and smartphone […]
If you’re looking for an incredibly powerful, yet stylishly designed, all-in-one PC that’s not made by Apple, then the HP EliteOne All-in-One PC will be for you. With superb build quality and performance, you’ll not want to look any further. Featuring a stunning 23.8-inch micro-bezel display, popup camera (supports […]
Is your business relocating in the near future? Are you looking to increase your headcount? Does your existing cabling look like spaghetti Bolognese? If you can answer YES to any of these, then get in touch with Vantage IT to discuss network cabling. Reliable network cabling is largely unseen but […]
Scanning can be a laborious task, especially if your office has only a flatbed scanner or basic multi-function printer (MFP). There are solutions available from Vantage IT which dramatically improve the scanning process, allowing you to concentrate on more important tasks. Our recommendation is the excellent Fujitsu ScanSnap, which is […]
Many routers come with Wi-Fi functionality already built in, but what if the signal doesn’t stretch far enough? As offices come in all shapes and sizes, and are sometimes spread across multiple floors, the Wi-Fi signal can struggle to cover the required areas. Fortunately, there is a solution to […]
Security researchers have released details of a weakness in the way wireless devices connect with each other. The security vulnerability is in Wi-Fi networks secured with WPA and WPA2. WPA2 is by far the most common encryption method for wireless networks (WPA should not be in use, as it is […]
Many organisations realise the benefits of an outsourced IT department. These benefits are not just in terms of cost, but also higher service levels and access to a wide range of skills and specialisms. Vantage IT has provided outstanding support to local organisations in business and education since 1990 and […]
As PDFs are one of the most common file types used in business, you may often wonder if there is a way to not only edit them, but also convert them into other file formats such as a Microsoft Word Document. Fortunately, there are solutions available that do this and […]
Do you remember a PC operating system used in the dim and distant past called Windows XP? Microsoft stopped supporting it several years ago which means no patches will be released to fix security vulnerabilities. Even so, according to the latest figures, there are still thousands of computers running on […]
Vantage IT is thrilled to be exhibiting at Watford Business Show in November – the biggest SME business exhibition in Hertfordshire. It attracts business people from North London, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire & surrounding areas. Keynote speakers include Lyndsay Morgan, Operations Director of Climb Online, a business started by Apprentice Mark […]
According to recent reports, there are around 10 million office workers in the United Kingdom. Most of these will have access to a PC, so that represents a significant number of people using a keyboard, mouse or trackpad every day. But how many people think about the ergonomics of their […]
Intel has revealed details about its upcoming range of 8th Generation Core processors. Some of the new features will represent a significant improvement over previous generations. For example, mainstream laptops will have 4 cores instead of the usual 2. According to Intel, these new CPUs will provide better performance and […]
As we all know, genuine toner cartridges can be expensive. This has led other companies to produce compatible toner cartridges or even fakes at a much lower price. Whilst this can appear to result in a substantial cost saving, this is usually a false economy and can even cause damage […]
Buying a new PC for your organisation should be more than just a financial decision. Before buying a new PC, you should consider what benefits it will bring to your organisation and what the intended usage will be. For example, do the users have to wait for 5 minutes every […]
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined TalkTalk after details for 21,000 people were exposed to fraudsters. It was found that TalkTalk failed to protect the information and unnecessarily allowed staff access to huge amounts of data which was then passed to unscrupulous third parties. The security breach was […]
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched a proposal to ensure organisations strengthen their IT infrastructure. Organisations who fail to implement effective cyber security measures could be fined as much as £17 million or 4% of global turnover. The Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive which will […]
Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fake Cisco equipment has been seized by police in Kent. Cisco had spotted the counterfeit equipment in circulation and notified the police. This is not an isolated incident and other hardware manufactures are also having their equipment faked. Due to the high […]
What can you do to ensure your IT systems are protected against the modern world of continuous security threats? We have always focused on keeping our customers’ networks secure and have provided you with a 10 point security checklist. 1) Firewall 2) Anti-Virus 3) Backups 4) Encryption 5) Patching 6) […]
Most computer users will have relied on Microsoft Office to produce letters, spreadsheets and presentations, to send and receive emails, and utilise a database. But have you thought about using Office 365? Since Microsoft launched Office 365 in 2011, many organisations have benefited from the numerous features it offers. As […]
Do you struggle with a small monitor? Do you get eye strain from your existing monitor? Would you like to increase your working area to two screens? Do you regularly work with graphical 2D and 3D images? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, it is likely […]
Are you spending too much on ink cartridges? Do you have to wait too long for your documents to be printed? Is the print quality inconsistent or poor? Can you only print on one printer? Are you unable to scan? If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, […]
Earlier this week, Microsoft launched its latest Surface Pro 2-in-1 laptop. It is the first refresh to the company’s popular line of hybrid PCs since October 2015 and it will be available to purchase mid-June. The concept behind the new Surface Pro is the same as its predecessors. It is […]
Vantage IT will once again be delighted to be exhibiting at The Hertfordshire Business Expo in June, the biggest business event in Hertfordshire. The Expo will be taking place at Alban Arena, St Albans on Monday 12th June 2017 and it would be great to see you there. In […]
Globally, there are millions of people that suffer from financial loss due to online hackers. There are, however, many things you can do to stay safe. In this blog, we have given five helpful tips to keep in mind whenever doing a financial transaction online. Make Sure the Website is […]
Being a victim of computer malware could cripple your organisation. Taking shortcuts with malware protection is reckless and unnecessary. McAfee Endpoint Protection is so much more than just anti-virus software for your PCs. It will also provide: Anti-virus for your server Firewall protection for PCs Web filtering Encryption for […]
Microsoft has released the second major upgrade to Windows 10 and has recently started rolling it out to PCs worldwide. The new ‘Creators Update’ has introduced a number of changes to Windows 10, both visually and behind the scenes. We have therefore compiled a list of the main things to […]
Mobilising your organisation can dramatically improve your efficiency. From lowering office overheads to improving the strength of your customer relationships, the benefits can be vast. What’s more, enabling employees to work from anywhere can also deliver a competitive advantage from a happier, more productive team. But in order to enjoy […]
Microsoft will be patching a security vulnerability that was recently noticed in Word. The bug allows malicious software to attack an unsuspecting user’s PC with an infected Word document. The flaw was reported at the weekend and emails have already been noticed that are being sent out to exploit it. […]
On 25th May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force. The GDPR replaces the Data Protection Act (DPA) and sets out what is required to keep individuals’ data secure. Although it is European legislation, it will still be introduced in the UK and will remain as […]
Cloud storage is great, but added care needs to be taken when you are entrusting your data to another organisation. Earlier this week it was reported that confidential documents which included passwords, credit card details, health data and legal documents were accidentally shared by organisations using Microsoft’s Office 365 service. […]
Product Lifecycle support for Microsoft’s Exchange Server 2007 email will end in April 2017, have you prepared for this? Existing email servers will continue to work past this date initially, but will receive no further patching from Microsoft, leaving your systems vulnerable to viruses, malware and instability. Each version of […]
Please don’t think you cannot be a victim of Ransomware. It is becoming more prevalent and it can affect anyone, even you! Criminals are constantly trying to find ways to extract money from unsuspecting victims and in ransomware, they have found a successful and easy to administer method. What is […]
You may be familiar with Cloud backup services from tech giants such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon. Examples of popular Cloud services are Microsoft Azure Backup and Office 365, which is Microsoft’s Email hosting platform. While these services can be right for some small to medium sized businesses, are they […]
Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices have become popular solutions for small businesses that would like easily accessible, centralised storage at a relatively low cost. What is a NAS? A NAS is a networked device which contains one or more storage drive. The drives will either be hard drives (HDD) or […]
Replacing your computer’s Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with a Solid State Drive (SSD) is simply the best upgrade at your disposal, capable of speeding up your computer in ways you had not thought possible. Vantage IT can upgrade your company’s PCs and laptops with these drives, providing significant improvements in […]
Closely monitoring the temperature within critical IT environments is vital. Jacarta, a leading supplier of environmental monitoring equipment, often hears horror stories of failing cooling systems, so they wondered how reliable they are. In 2007, they commissioned a survey of data centre managers which found that over 45% of the […]
HP is at the forefront of utilising new technologies to develop computers that are increasingly powerful yet smaller in size. The latest offering is the revolutionary Z2 Mini. Made for and by design professionals, the Z2 Mini gives you both performance and reliability in a small, elegant design for […]
HP has expanded the battery safety recall that it announced in 2016 because additional batteries are affected. Why is the Battery Recall Notice Being Issued? The faulty batteries have the potential to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to customers. What Products are Included? Affected batteries were shipped with […]
An increasing number of people are embracing ‘The Cloud’ to store their files, whether this is Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Amazon Cloud, or any of the other file syncing services out there. File syncing services can be very useful. However, it is a common misconception that these services are a […]
Vantage IT is delighted to be exhibiting at The Hertfordshire Business Expo in February, the biggest business event in Hertfordshire. The Expo will be taking place at Shendish Manor, Hemel Hempstead on Monday 6th February 2017 and it would be great to see you there. In addition to the exhibition, […]
