How to conduct an IT audit in-house [+free template]
The word ‘audit’ is often enough to strike fear into even the most resolute business owners. What issues will an audit raise? Will I have to fix them right away? What if it is bad news? Such concerns and doubts mean that SME owners fail to perform enough audits and thus ignore crucial opportunities for […]
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Get more from your internet investment today…
Many organisations today provide an internet connection for their employees, clients and visitors. Given the fast-growing use of the internet, poor connectivity can be not only frustrating but damaging to a business. Perception is everything, and one of the most common ways in which a customer can judge your company is on your internet connection. […]
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The secret to slashing your IT expenditure
Small budgets and limited IT expertise in-house can keep organisations from making effective decisions. Investing in the right hardware will save you time and pain, as well as money in the long run. Without sufficient resources, the ongoing operations and bottom line of your business may fail to operate efficiently, or even at all. Hardware […]
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What information security strategies are vital for accountants?
With all data held on your internal servers or your cloud, keeping this information secure is a technological challenge. As you hold sensitive company information, you need to consider information security strategies as a matter of urgency. Why is information security important? The security of your clients’ information is vital for the success of your […]
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Why businesses are embracing Managed Services, and why you should too.
Do you often find your IT department is inundated with problems? Or is your network speed getting increasingly difficult to deal with? Moreover, as your business grows is your IT department or provider struggling to manage it? If any of these ring a bell, then it might be time to think about a change… a […]
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A return on your investment with your IT system
You might be concerned by how your IT system can consume so much of your staff time and money. You could have it firmly fixed in the cost column and cringe with every purchase. Such a mindset can make it difficult to continue your investment in IT products. If all you see is expense, then […]
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The best IT solutions for accountants
There is no sector more shaped and improved by IT developments than accountancy. From the thick ledgers of old, with paper receipts and a calculator, we are now in the world of the cloud with software that covers all four areas of accounting. Charting the route to the best IT solutions for accountants now focuses […]
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Top 5 IT Solutions to increase office efficiency
In a competitive world, it’s a case of ‘survival of the fittest’ for many small or medium-sized businesses.
If your office is lean and streamlined, you will reap the rewards in terms of time efficiencies and increased productivity – and it comes down to getting your IT right.
Top Products to Ensure Your Data is Secure
Surveys of business owners consistently reveal that among their biggest concerns at the moment are the uncertain economic outlook and cyber risk. While Serval Systems cannot, unfortunately, promise to speed up the economic recovery, we can certainly assist with data recovery (should the worst happen) and safeguard your system from cyber attacks. Here are our top ‘data […]
Read moreCommon IT Problems Facing the Legal Industry
Legal firms are directly in the firing line when it comes to cyber crime thanks to the large amount of sensitive and confidential information they hold. Yet while such bounty is highly prized by hackers, surprisingly few law firms are prioritising IT security, making their business protection much weaker than that of other industries. Remote access to sensitive […]
Read moreImplementing IT Policies For Business
Why are IT Policies Necessary? Clear policies about how IT is or may be used lead to a well managed, effectively run business. They provide a set of instructions to ensure the smooth running of operations on a day-to-day basis. An up-to-date, fully functioning IT system is now fundamental for the majority of businesses to […]
Read moreWhat Type of Backup is Best for Your Business
Hundreds of new pieces of information are being created in your business every day and what a costly disaster it would spell if all of it were to get lost. As you know data backup is essential for every business, but it can be difficult to know which one is best for your business. The right backup […]
Read moreEnhancing Your Business with the Right IT Solutions for You
Enhancing Your Business with the Right IT Solutions for You During our 15 years in the industry we have seen how IT improves businesses. However, simply adopting every kind of software that comes along is not necessarily going to do the trick. Instead you need to know which will be the right IT solutions for […]
Read moreStaying Protected 101: The Business Firewall
When you leave the office at the end of the day you lock the doors behind you. The same should be the case for your computers, in order to protect the information stored on them. A firewall is that locked door to secure your business IT network, designed to block unauthorised access from other, less secure networks […]
Read moreIn Safe Hands: The Benefits of Offsite Backup
Offsite backup is an essential component to any business’ disaster recovery plan. Without one you’re at risk of losing vital data should the unexpected happen, such as a fire, flood, theft or a major software or hardware failure. Protecting your essential data from being permanently lost with offsite backup will enable your business to continue functioning as […]
Read moreWhy You Need a Disaster Recovery Plan
Disaster has struck, you have had a major hardware failure, a fire or flood, or accidentally deleted critical data – what are you going to do? What would happen to your business should one of these scenarios strike? Long periods of downtime Unhappy customers Permanent loss of data With an effective disaster recovery plan (DRP) […]
Read moreThe IT Security Checklist for Businesses
Every day businesses are becoming more reliant on the internet – from storing data in the cloud to running their systems through computers and the internet. But lurking in the shadows sophisticated malicious software is being created, e.g. viruses, worms and trojans, ready to exploit weaknesses in networks and steal personal data. For instance, did […]
Read more5 Ways Cloud Computing Can Grow Your Business
Cloud computing has been hailed as an IT game changer. Thanks to the Cloud, you can now discard your internal, complex infrastructure and manage your business’ data through the internet. Cloud computing is fully encrypted to your business and you are in charge of who accesses your company information. It is very secure, in fact it is […]
Read moreWhat is Cloud Computing?
Have you ever been on the move or sat at home and really needed access to documents from your office at work? If your documents are hardwired in the office server then they aren’t going to budge, leaving you unable to complete the task you intended to work on. But what if you could put […]
Read moreBecoming a Paperless Office – Avoiding Data Loss and Protecting Your Business
The idea of the paperless office has been around since computers first arrived on the business scene and yet, all these years later, it is still largely a myth. Why does the thought of relying completely on electronics give us such cause for concern? Well, first, we’ve all heard the horror stories – from information […]
Read moreNew Web Domains = New Business?
Have you heard that web domains such as ‘.com’ and ‘.org’ are running out? Now new domains are being created such as ‘.london’ and ’.gallery’ and even wacky ones including ‘.ninja’ and ‘.cool’. This could mean big business for companies in the future. The first of the new top-level domains have been released, and over […]
Read moreHow IT Can Improve Your Business Productivity
Productivity is a key component to achieving business goals and is a firm indicator of success, or possible failure. So what steps do you need to take ensure high levels of productivity? How do you know your employees and business are performing productively to maximise your business success? Using IT, such as business productivity software, […]
Read moreHow IT Can Help To Grow Your Business
As a business owner or manager you’ve probably made some resolutions, from how to grow your business with new leads through to ways to increase engagement with your existing customers. Why not follow our tips below for business success: • Get your IT systems in order Before you can consider increasing your leads and customer […]
Read moreImproving Your Warehouse efficiency with IT Support
Imagine being able to run your warehouse more efficiently, without having to be concerned with making human errors or boring stock taking. Did you realise that a reliable IT support system can take care of many processes and help you manage your warehouse much easier. IT support manages most warehouse processes – from pulling orders […]
Read moreWhat Should Your ‘Out of Office’ Say?
Christmas is just around the corner, which for most of us means a mass exodus from the office. Opening hours at this time of year vary from business to business, so ensuring your employees or colleagues have their ‘out of office’ response set on their emails is an important part of your communications with your […]
Read moreEmail Security: Spam Explained
Spam emails are a modern day pest. In the same way we are hounded with junk mail through our letter box, we are pestered with unsolicited mail electronically as well. Spam or junk email has many of the same characteristics as postal junk mail, but its aim is often far worse. What are Spam Emails? […]
Read moreBusiness IT Support for Offices
Bustling offices, small businesses and internal IT support have never mixed well. Busy offices have limited resources and a working week is packed with day-to-day tasks, leaving little spare time for staff to focus solely on IT. Often it isn’t financially viable for small and medium businesses to hire a staff member dedicated to managing […]
Read moreIT Support Services for Accountants
We all know how frustrating it can be to receive incorrect wages. But to ensure that we all get paid the right amount at the right time, accountants must rely heavily upon access to data, such as payroll information. While IT systems can make or break an accountancy business, a well designed network will ensure […]
Read moreVoIP Features That’ll Have Your Office Ringing with Joy
The introduction of hosted telephony has revolutionised the way in which offices work. With more flexibility and ease, businesses across the UK are reaping the benefits of VoIP hosted telephony technology. What is VoIP? Firstly, what exactly does VoIP mean? Voice over Internet Protocol (or IP) simply means that calls are made over the internet. VoIP operates […]
Read moreRemote Access FAQs
Security and data protection are a major concern for businesses when it comes to working remotely. We’re often asked by our clients how safe remote access is, how it works and what the benefits are. Here are our most frequently asked questions about remote access and the best tools around: What does remote access mean? […]
Read moreHow Can You Improve Employee Performance Through IT?
Poor IT infrastructure and processes not only affect customer satisfaction, but also employee productivity. If IT systems are letting you and your employees down, read on to find out how making improvements now could help to keep your employees happy and their productivity levels up: How IT Improves Employee Productivity Minimises the need for paperwork […]
Read moreBenefits of Outsourced IT Support and Services
As an integral part of your business, a working IT system keeps your employees and customers happy. Stories of big name companies whose IT systems have failed their customers are never far from the headlines and the damage can be long-term. Outsourced IT support services however allow your team to focus on their jobs, whilst IT […]
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