Great Lakes Computer Corporation

Managed Service Provider

Bob Martin

By

Top 7 Benefits of an IP Based Phone System

 How SMB’s can cut costs with an IP Based Phone system

Great lakes Computer - IP PhoneInternet-based phone service has changed the telephony landscape. Businesses have realized huge savings by switching to Internet Protocol (IP)-based phone systems. Yet an IP-based system offers much more than just plugging a few new phones into your network.

It can transform your phone system into a next-generation communications hub, complete with cutting-edge technologies that let your organization deliver better customer service while cutting costs. That’s a tall order and it makes Internet-based phone service worth considering. This checklist outlines seven key benefits that will help you make the case for an IP-based phone system for your organization

Click here to download this IT Solutions entire article from “Focus” as Featured on Enterprise Guide’s B2B blog.

 

By

POS Systems: Keeping your critical business equipment healthy

Extending the life of a POS system

POS repairSmall- and medium-sized businesses often operate under profit margins that mean they need to make every penny count – twice, if possible.  Certainly, they need to be certain that they take the steps necessary to extend the life of their POS systems for as long as possible.  This is a particular challenge in small business environments such as restaurants and bars where POS equipment may be in use for as much as 18 hours per day – with never a day off.  Add in the moisture, grease, and heat that may be present in such a setting and it is almost a recipe for equipment failure.

Thankfully, there are steps that businesses can take to protect the financial interest that they have in their POS equipment.  One of the most important of all is a reliable system for data backup.  In this case, reliability means automation; businesses need to be sure that their information is being backed up not just monthly, weekly, or even daily, but instead on a continuous basis throughout the length of each workday.  A smart backup system will create up-to-date copies of the entire POS database as well as additional files specified by the system operator.

Keeping POS equipment clean is the single most important proactive step that businesses can take to make their systems last longer.  Grime, dust, and grease can play havoc with the responsiveness and reliability of a POS system.  When it comes to equipment featuring touch screens, a glass cleaner is a must, but for best results, businesses should avoid any trace of ammonia, which over time can damage the screen’s responsiveness.  Glass cleaner should never be sprayed directly on a screen; a much better procedure is to spray a cloth and then use it to wipe the screen down.

In order to clean fingerprint readers, a good technique is to use a strip of clear plastic tape.  This can remove the buildup that inevitably accumulates on such devices.  Even the printers attached to a POS system need their share of regular maintenance; they should be wiped down on both the inside and the outside to remove dust.

With regular, simple maintenance and a reliable backup program, point of sale repair calls can be reserved for those situations that are truly inevitable.

What to do if your POS system goes down and business must go on?

It is always important to have a service provider who not only responds quickly to POS repair calls, but offers what is termed Depot Repair Options.  These solutions provide substitute POS systems to keep your business up and running even when your main system is down.  There are many options of service available through Depot Repair.  Click here to learn more about Great Lakes Computer’s service options and their one hour reposne time guarantee on all POS repair calls.

By

How to Decide Which Data Backup Option is Right for Your SMB

Backup options for the truly small business

Great lakes Data SecurityMany computing options for small- and medium-sized businesses appear to be aimed at companies that have 50 or even 100 computers running on an integrated network complete with a server.  For some SMBs, however, such a company would not appear to be a “small” business at all.  Firms that have only a few computers also experience a pressing need to keep their systems backed up; even a business operating with only a single standalone system must find ways to ensure data security to protect both its own interests and those of its customers.

What are the options for small network backup, then?

Local hard media options

Any computer with a DVD-writer can burn information onto a DVD disk to create a durable backup copy.  This simple option generally requires very little IT expertise to carry out, but it comes with serious drawbacks for the small business.  DVD backups are likely to be wildly out of date when data recovery is needed since the process of making such backups is time-consuming and disrupts regular workflow.

If businesses are diligent about updating backups daily, this option comes with large costs since employee time must be dedicated to it each time.  The cost of DVDs will also add up, even if the disks are bought in bulk at a low per-item cost.

Network attached storage

Instead of using a DVD burner, a small business can consider purchasing a hardware device that can function as network attached storage.  These simple backup devices can be attached to a single computer if desired, or they can serve networks as small as two or three systems.

With network attached storage, automatic backups can be programmed to run on their own, which reduces the employee-time costs of getting data properly archived for use should data recovery become necessary.  A major drawback of this approach, however, is the fact that the device in question will be resident on the premises of the business.  Events such as theft or fire that could affect primary computer systems are likely to affect the backup device as well, leaving businesses without a reliable set of backup data.

Remote hosting

Any computer connected to the World Wide Web can take advantage of a more recent advance in SMB data backup options.  Remote hosting services allow businesses to use online backup.  This type of backup can be configured to run largely on its own, taking advantages of the cost savings offered by automation.  With online backup, data is stored away from the business customer, which renders it much more able to withstand local problems such as a flood caused by a broken water pipe.

These options are not mutually exclusive; it is perfectly possible to have, for example, network attached storage on site and to also back up files online for an additional layer of data security.

Compare Data BackUp Software Options

Download the WHITEPAPER “Comparison and Performance Analysis of Backup and Disaster Recovery Software” for an independent assessment of backup and disaster recovery software solutions performed by David Bourgeois, President of My IT, LLC. In this first hand account, the author evaluates performance limitations of Acronis imaging software, ARCserve tape software, MS SQL Backup for SQL, and MIMS offsite.

Contact Us