The right phone system can save you money and drive productivity; the wrong one can cause a lot of frustration. Five questions you should ask before you decide 1. How do you want to pay for your phone system? 2. Where do you want to install it? 3. Who do you want to manage it and handle end-user issues? 4. What carrier services are available at your location? 5. Do you have a reliable infrastructure and the connections to support your entire company? What Are Your Options? When it comes to phone systems, you have two main options: hosted voice,…

Failing to optimize your IT infrastructure can put your business at risk and cause IT costs to spiral. But for many organizations, ever-changing demands combined with a lack of time, resources, and experience with new technologies make managing IT infrastructure a challenge. The immediate benefits of outsourcing your IT infrastructure management are clear: giving business owners/managers peace of mind that day-to-day IT standard operations are well-controlled while internal teams focus on more high-impact initiatives. IT teams pulled in multiple directions often struggle to keep up with the latest infrastructure technologies and operating practices. IT infrastructure has experienced significant disruption in…

Because of the pandemic, many businesses have moved to a Work from Home and remote access basis. The way they do business, the way they interact with customers and customers interact with them has radically changed. New internal and external corporate communications have placed intense pressure on IT as they implement VoIP or Cloud Phone systems on a restricted budget. Companies that have implemented VoIP Phone Systems have seen the financial and operational benefits of VoIP Phones. There is the question of multiple software platforms to support different internal and external communications needs – phone calls, video conferencing, instant messaging,…

Managed IT is an investment and as with all investments it's normal to consider the return it can bring. When it comes to Managed IT, there are several benefits that directly translate into cost savings. Managed IT helps organizations ensure the right people and the right resources are allocated in the best possible ways, which in turn, provides financial benefit. Other common initiatives Managed IT can support include improving customer satisfaction, investing in new resources, optimizing the use of existing resources and refining an organization's agility. Here’s a few ways Managed IT provides financial benefits to organizations: User Productivity As…

Have you heard of VoIP and are curious as to why you should switch over? VoIP offers countless benefits, especially for small businesses.   Increased Productivity  Traditional wired phones can’t measure up to IP networks when it comes to agility. This added efficiency offers more productivity in many ways:  Integrated/Unified Communication  VoIP technology integrates with several business applications including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, email, voicemail, fax etc. Just the CRM integration alone can increase productivity across sales and support functions. When a consumer calls, the service representative has all the necessary details at his fingertips. Knowing your consumer helps the support department easily solve…

What are the attractive features available with a cloud-based office phone system? Here are the most popular VoIP features that businesses will enjoy using. These business phone features will matter depending on your needs. 1) Auto attendant Project a professional image with a phone menu that greets incoming calls. If you've called a company and had to press 1 for sales, 2 for support, you've used an auto attendant. An auto attendant helps you direct callers to the right person or department. You can forward calls to your voicemail or elsewhere outside of business hours. 2) Mobile and desktop apps With cloud…

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a proven technology that lets anyone place phone calls over an internet connection. With the rise of broadband, VoIP has become the definitive choice for phone service for consumers and businesses alike. Why do people enjoy using VoIP phone service over traditional phone lines? It offers many more capabilities than analog phones. And it can do it all for less than half the cost. Cloud phone service providers include powerful features not found with standard phone service. Auto attendants, call recording, custom caller ID, voicemail to email, and so much more. Plus, you can…

Technology has come a long way since the introduction of Internet Explorer and will continue to make massive strides in the future. One thing any Magic 8 Ball will guarantee is that new technology will continue to be a major part of our lives.  Businesses must rely on Information Technology (IT) in order to stay competitive and current.  But managing IT comes with unwanted challenges and issues. So to help you out, here are the most common IT issues that your business is likely to encounter.  Security  Cyber security is hands-down the biggest problem with technology. Hackers are perpetually drooling over identities and personal information.  But you…

Cloud computing is a term that has made its way into everyday business IT discussions. An appropriate cloud computing strategy that fits your day-to-day operations, as well as long-term usability, can be an essential component of business success. Cloud computing gives unprecedented access and options to businesses of all sizes. Before you make the move, take a moment to understand the different types of cloud computing available. This will better prepare you to decide which cloud environment is better suited to your needs. The cloud environment that works for a local office with 10 employees is probably not ideal for…

As we continue to navigate the effects of COVID-19, newly remote offices are being presented with new challenges for their IT infrastructure and cybersecurity. But, with the crisis bringing chaos to the economy, superfluous IT investments aren’t an option for many small businesses. This means that business owners are often walking a fine line between avoiding overspending and funding necessary updates to their infrastructure. For those considering how to prioritize updates for (or to) their infrastructure on a budget, here’s what we suggest: DO: Review Your VPN Needs If your employees need a secure Internet connection to and from their…

Tri-Copy's managed services are a proven, strategic method businesses use to further operations and lower expenses. Because managed services allow businesses to outsource IT – especially those day-to-day technical management responsibilities and functions – businesses of all shapes and sizes are wondering what managed services can do for them.  Reduce Downtime  When problems pop up, the time it takes to fix them has an impact on your bottom line. Our full-time help desk staff know how to give businesses the help they need. In fact, we’re able to resolve 97 percent of our customers’ service issues remotely. That means 97 percent of…

Business growth can create tension, stress and challenges to future success and productivity. One of the biggest challenges your business faces as it grows is increasing complexity in its IT network infrastructure. As your business grows, you add more users and devices to your network, and force the network to accommodate greater mobility. However, with this greater complexity your network team is left facing the challenge of creating a more efficient and responsive network. The solution is automation. What is network automation? Network automation is a strategy where both physical and virtual devices within a network have their processes automated.…

A SIP trunk is a direct connection between your organization and an Internet telephony service provider (ITSP). Having one of these connections allows for the client to extend their VoIP telephony system directly to the ITSP without the need of a firewall. This connection configuration is easier to set up and more secure than traditional network configurations. The advantages do not stop at VoIP; SIP trunks can be used to implement a host of real-time services such as instant messaging, conferencing and security features. Deploying a SIP trunk means simplifying your business' telecommunications and having options later as technology expands…

Cloud computing is a combination of hosted applications, data storage, and remote server access through the internet. The cloud is where all applications and data are stored. Many individuals and businesses use the cloud in some format, often without knowing. Social networks and email applications are two of the most common uses. We often get the question of where is cloud data physically stored? Data and applications housed in the cloud are not just whirling around in nothingness. Cloud-stored data and applications are stored on individual servers of data centers that are located all over the world. Data center owners…

When I talk to clients about Managed IT for their company, a few of the same questions keep coming up. They're great questions, and they give me the opportunity to explain the value that Managed IT can bring to an organization.  Here are the answers to my five most frequently asked questions.   1.What is Managed IT Services?  Managed IT Services is essentially outsourcing your computers, network and help desk support to an IT company. When you choose a Managed IT partner, that partner will install agents on all your PCs and servers. These agents monitor the system and send reports whenever anything on the machines…

The paperless office, promised since the first desktop computers started appearing, has yet to become a reality for most companies. Despite the predominant use of computers, a good portion of most day-to-day work is still paper-based. Many employees still want to print documents for careful study or to bring to meetings, a practice that works against a truly paperless office. For now, the perfect paperless office system remains an elusive goal. Despite these challenges, you can drastically reduce the amount of paper documents your business depends on by choosing a document management system. The term "document management" (DM) covers a…

In a new study cited by Network World, 70 percent of business owners and management teams reported their office phone services were inadequate. Companies noted their increasing reliance on mobile operations and remote employees and considered traditional phone services (even VoIP systems) far behind the times. Also, 92 percent of owners surveyed recognized distinct advantages in a business upgrade to cloud-based services. If you are thinking about switching to the cloud, here is a summary of what awaits your company. The inadequacy of traditional and VoIP phone systems The IT decision-makers who participated in the study consistently noted how the…

The Corona Virus is Forcing Organizations to Adapt Rapidly to New Challenges How can your business prepare for these challenges? These actions are the actions that Tri-Copy is taking as we respond to the crisis. 1. The health of your employees is crucial to the sustainability of your business during this current crisis. A comprehensive approach to maintaining a clean work environment and healthy staff is critical. Meet with your team and educate them on official recommendations for hygiene during the pandemic. Keep your team informed on your organization’s current plans to address the pandemic. Have your office and/or work…

Email security is important to all successful businesses. It is the most common medium we use in everyday operations to send important information. If emails are compromised, you could be at risk for serious repercussions. The good news is, it is possible to prevent most unfortunate email security circumstances - by setting email security standards for your business. Here are some of the email security best practices to include on your list of standards: Use secure servers for email communication. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is an encryption technology that allows you to communicate with your email server using enhanced encryption…

The cloud can be so much more than just a place to store files. Storage is often the first need companies identify that brings them to cloud storage, but the additional benefits of cloud computing extend far beyond simply storing data. Cloud storage can save your business money, allow your business to run more efficiently, increase productivity and more. Let’s look at a few of these benefits:  Lower Costs. Physically backing up data can be expensive. There’s a cost for the hardware and software you use and in the event of a disaster, there are costs for data recovery.  With the cloud, you…

Is your company looking for security for your IT department? Today we are going to look at the benefits of outsourcing your IT’s security. Having a top-notch in-house IT support team isn’t a luxury that small-to medium-sized businesses can’t afford. Luckily, today’s companies can economically outsource IT security to the best minds in the business, minimizing their risk of security breaches in an online world.  Hiring an on-site IT staff and keeping them trained on the latest technology costs an arm and a leg. Even during downtime when everything is running smoothly, the company is still cutting those hefty IT paychecks. By…

Small, day-to-day printing is normal for most offices, even if they rely on print shops for larger, higher-quality projects like brochures, letter campaigns, pre-addressed envelopes, and photos. While this is typically done to increase efficiency and reduce costs, printing outside the office is oftentimes more expensive than printing in-house. After all, the printing company you hire establishes pricing to cover upkeep costs, equipment depreciation, supplies, employee salaries, and their profit margin.  Printing can take up a significant portion of many office budgets, so anything you can do to reduce costs is a good idea. Investing in the right equipment and…

A Managed IT Service provider can help your business streamline operations, save money, and enhance productivity. When choosing a provider to work with, it's important to ask questions that help you understand how this partnership will work and what their ongoing services look like. As you compare providers, ask the following important questions before deciding which company to go with.  What level of service can I expect? You'll want to know this before you sign on as a client, not after. The price of service and the level of technology used to support your company's IT infrastructure are important, but cost savings…

Cloud computing is becoming common in offices as companies look to boost the productivity of employees, enhance their accessibility and create a mobile-friendly environment. For most businesses, the decision to migrate to the cloud is an easy one. For others, the benefits and drawbacks need to be closely considered before a decision is made. The cloud can be so much more than just a place to store files. Storage is often the first need companies identify that brings them to cloud storage, but the additional benefits of cloud computing extend far beyond simply storing data. The cloud is a way…

Cloud computing is a combination of hosted applications, data storage, and remote server access through the Internet. The cloud is where all those applications and data are stored. Many individuals and businesses use the cloud in some format, often without knowing. Social networks and email applications are two of the most common uses. The origins of the cloud began when individuals and businesses started depicting the Internet as a cloud in diagrams. When the cloud, as we know it and experience it today was developed, its name came from these diagrams. Nowadays, a common term is cloud computing, which refers…