Great Lakes Computer Corporation

Managed Service Provider

Archives for July 2015

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4 Cloud Computing Myths for SMB’s

small_business_use_of_cloud_computingThe following is a guest post from Avatara LLC.  Great Lakes Computer is proud to be a partner/reseller of their CompleteCloud product. 

Despite the rapid adoption of cloud computing in government, business and our social lives, there are so many misconceptions concerning what it is and what it does. When technology is understood, the benefits begin to outweigh the negatives. Cloud services can mean different things to different people.

Here are four cloud computing myths:

    1. Cloud computing is a fad. Cloud as a term is new, but the concepts and requisite technologies have been evolving for years. Cloud computing continues to emerge as a game-changing technology, with high adoption rates and investment.
    2. The cloud is not secure. The reality is that most businesses cannot compete with the level of security that is offered by cloud providers given that they have teams of security experts working 24/7.
    3. Cloud computing reduces productivity. Increased productivity is a key benefit of an effective cloud computing strategy. Increased accessibility, convenience and collaboration positively impact employee productivity.
    4. Cloud computing is expensive. The upfront costs of a cloud migration are often sizable, but the savings over time typically offset the initial expenditure.Small-business owners who leverage cloud technologies spend an average 20 percent less on technology than their peers.

In the end, cloud computing is the safest, most cost-effective, and efficient way to leverage technology today for small businesses.  Learn more about CompleteCloud HERE.  Contact Great Lakes Computer if you are interested in learning how cloud IT can revolutionize your SMB’s IT world!

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Ask Me about Anything: 10 Answers To Your Questions About Office 365

it support and office 365No matter what business you are in, the idea of not using technology is absolutely absurd. In today’s society technology is the way that businesses get into the public eye and become relevant to the audience they target. This is why having good software to help maintain your business is a great idea. A popular software out there today is Microsoft Office 365; an office software with programs dedicated to helping business create almost anything they need; from databases, to spreadsheets and more. However, with so many other services to choose from, finding the answers to your questions is important. Here are the answers to 10 questions you have probably asked about Office 365.

1. Is Office 365 Only Available for PC Use?

No, in fact, in recent years Microsoft has realized that some companies, homes, and schools love Windows but they do not want to give up their Apple products for a PC. So, Microsoft has now made it possible for Office programs to run on Mac as long as it is running Mac X OS 10.6 or higher. When using on a Mac, however, be aware that there may be some slight changes to the way it runs, as the programs are installed in different ways depending on the device you use.

2. Do I Retain Copyright For Documents Created on Office?

Yes, the person with the subscription has full rights to anything written within Office. This means that it will not be employees, but the company itself that has full right to all documents created on the Office 365 subscription. By full right, this means that Microsoft does not own anything that you create using your subscription… They allow you to keep whatever you have created as long as you have an active subscription.

3. We Want To Expand Using Mobile. Will We Be Able To Use Office 365?

Yes! Similarly to what they have done with Apple products, Microsoft has now introduced a way to access your Office 365 documents via your smartphone, no matter what the brand.

4. What Does My Business Receive With An Office 365 Subscription?

An office 365 subscription for a business comes with the Microsoft software designed to help businesses create the documents that they need. If working on a PC your subscription will include Excel (spreadsheets), PowerPoint (slideshows and presentations), OneNote (Note taking and organization service), Access (Database Creator), Word (Word processor), and Outlook (Email Application). You also receive 27GB of shared data (per subscription), free Skype minutes, and available SkyDrive space; allowing you to open documents from anywhere on any device.

5.What Are The Perks For A Small Business?

Small and large businesses can both benefit from using Office 365, but those that are smaller have a greater advantage with the program. First, this subscription based service is available for installation on 5 devices at a time. This means a smaller business will have to buy less subscriptions than a bigger company, leading to less overhead cost. Smaller businesses can also benefit from the mobile sharing features such as SkyDrive. After all, smaller businesses do more work via their phones and tablets due to how often they need to communicate; there really isn’t a “grapevine,” everyone has to be in the loop. This means that more items and apps that comes with Office 365 will be usable for your business, making it more worth your money. All you really need is the internet and everything you have is available to you. This means you won’t even have to go into the office to do your work, and small problems can be fixed relatively easily. These are only a few of the big reasons why Office 365 may be a great choice for your small business.

6.Can I Auto-Renew The Subscription?

Yes, there is an auto-renew feature for Office 365. You can go to your account manager under billing and payment, and have the status changed so that the subscription automatically renews before it expires.

7. Can We Customize App Install?

As of right now Office 365 includes apps that are installed when you download the programs and are not customizable. This means that even if you do not need them, there will be apps you are stuck with.

8.Do All Apps Work With Mobile?

All apps work on mobile, but some do not have a comprehensive list of options. For example, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are all available, but not all options for the applications appear.

9. Is There A Trial Option?

Yes, if you aren’t sure about using the system you can always visit the Microsoft website and learn about how to enter a trial period. This is a great way to learn if you like the programs or if you want to go with something different; it also does not suck you into a pricey subscription you don’t want or need.

10.Can I Obtain Backup of My Applications?

Yes, you can. You can either reinstall programs at any time online from your account settings or you can obtain a backup DVD from the Microsoft website.

For many small businesses, this information may seem overwhelming and daunting. If you need help determining which path to take for IT Support or IT Services.

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An Introduction to Office 365

Pros and Cons of Office 365When Microsoft initially released Office 365 home, university, business, and personal it was the company stepping up their technology game. The release of a program set that works on the new tile version of Microsoft and can be usable for Mac and mobile devices showed that Microsoft wasn’t resting on their past success, but trying to innovate and stay at the top of their game. With so many new programs, apps, and basics, no one really knew how to work the system. This is an introduction to Office 365 that will hopefully help ease the learning curve for your business.

What Is Staying?

Microsoft has not complexly changed everything. Although applications got a new facelift and they have included mobile ability, they’ve kept all the basic programs you know and love. You will still have good old Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; they will simply have new features and the ability to use mobile. Now, with a subscription you will also get Access, OneNote, and Outlook as applications, not add-on features, meaning you will still have all of the features you love. So, all the office basics are staying, but 365 has upped the game and released even more content that should make you very excited.

What’s New?

First, Office 365 is helping to introduce SkyDrive, an application that allows you to share and save files using the internet. This is supposed to mimic the “Cloud” that Apple implemented into all their devices. Your business now will also be given free Skype minutes with your subscription, a help when making those expensive business calls. The price is now a subscription model that you can automatically renew. No more “one stop” shopping, but instead you will now pay a subscription fee each year to keep your applications up and running. If you allow your subscription to expire you will be able to see your existing documents and files in a “read-only” format; meaning you cannot create new documents or edit, but you can still view previous work. Furthermore, Office 365 works on touch screen devices such as a tablet, smartphone, or touch laptop. There is now a button that allows you to change from “click” to “swipe,” giving you the ability to switch between touch and non-touch by the tap of a button.

The Pros and Cons

Office 365 is one of the most ideal software programs for small businesses to use.  With that said, there are also pros and cons that you should be aware of before you decide it’s what you want or need.

 Pros

    • The Sharing Possibilities: Social Media is starting to take over the business world and you need to be well versed in the new landscape. Luckily, Office 365 is created with ever-expanding social media in mind. This version of Office has many new capabilities that make sharing even easier than before.
    • It’s Efficient: This system isn’t going to give you the headaches that others will. The install and download is fast and painless, and gets you up and running in under an hour. You also get free web hosting and the ability to back up at any time whether it be to the SkyDrive or an auxiliary device.
    • You Just Need Internet Access: Office 365 was designed to bring all your devices together so that your business is never far away. That means, you can now access your files and documents from you home office, your office at work, your smartphone, and even your tablet. Through SkyDrive and other sharing options you can not only access your files, but the other important files that others send you. No more, “waiting until tomorrow” when a problem emerges; now you can fix it right away.

Cons

    • Very Complex: Microsoft missed the target with this one, and made Office far too complex. Although installation is easy, being able to find what you need can prove to be a challenge. The classic Microsoft simplistic and easy to use design is gone and has beeen revamped, and is now seemingly more difficult to use. Some businesses may want  to work with a managed services provider to implement and interpret this software.
    • You NEED the Internet: Office 365 is now making more and more businesses dependable on the internet to access documents and files. Because of this, if your internet goes down you lose touch with possibly 85% or more of your important documents until it is back on. Although the added Internet benefits are great, they can be a hassle as well.
    • Data Security: Like it or not, the internet and web based sharing is not the most secure thing in the world. So, it might be fantastic that you can save files in an alternate location, but maybe not so great when the business is forced to clean up the mess of being hacked and having sensitive information stolen. For more information:

Microsoft Office 365 is the company renovating itself and once again showing why they are the top of the technology market. However, the great system does not come without some concerns. Hopefully this  introduction into the workings of Office 365 has given you some insight into whether or not it’s the right program for you and your business.

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