A lot of people are now using Windows 11 (as of August 2024, Windows 11 had over 31% of the Windows market share) and since Windows 10 retires in late 2025 this will increase significantly over the next year. This blog article will go through some great tips on optimising your Windows 11 experience. Continue reading
As a business owner, you may already have an existing IT support provider or MSP that handles your IT needs. However, have you ever considered if they still truly meet your needs and expectations? Just settling for the status quo and sticking with the “devil you know” may not always be the best approach to your current business’s needs. Continue reading
It can be very upsetting when your computer breaks down. It probably has the whole of your business on there and you need someone that you can trust to take care of your device. It can be a lot to ask and that is why we are sharing the following five tips to help you feel better about your choice of repair company / person. Continue reading
Sometimes myths are harmless, but when it comes to business IT myths, not knowing the truth can be damaging. Make smarter tech decisions with accurate information and a better understanding of IT. This article debunks seven common business IT myths. Continue reading
What we can do easily today was literally the stuff of dreams just 10 or 20 years ago. But as much as good technology has made working remotely easier and enabled many businesses to keep going via working from home, we also must remember that trying to fix IT issues yourself may cause more issues and can be a massive time thief. Continue reading
The majority of businesses today have one or more computers, and that is unlikely to be the full extent of the technology. Everyone has a smartphone, and there may also be modems, routers, tablets and of course printers! When you have problems with any of these devices, business owners can feel stuck. Continue reading
Business today relies on technology in ways that we have never seen before. It is at the core of almost every business around today. Going digital impacts small companies as much and maybe even more than large ones; it can make new opportunities possible and accelerate your business path. Continue reading
In todays world technology allows us to accomplish more tasks faster than ever before. Paperless documents, remote collaboration and video conferencing have all lowered the costs and increased the speed of everyday business at an extraordinary rate.
As with most things, the benefits of modern IT does come at a cost. Consistent maintenance has become critical to almost every business. The IT department is now as important to the functioning of a firm as sales, marketing, or management. The advantages that come with modern technology more than outweigh the drawbacks – it is up to the business owner to balance both. In today’s highly competitive business environment the latest tips, tricks, and tools are essential to keeping ahead of the competition.
Considering a new technical support service? Find out why you should choose a tech support service that is proactive instead of reactive, what it should look like in the context of your business and how you can make an informed decision.
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You have likely been using the same applications for some time in your business. While you have been replacing computers and devices regularly to maintain your competitive advantage, the standard software installation have largely remained the same. The programs do the job perfectly and everyone knows how to use them, so what is the point of upgrading?
In some cases, it is completely fine to keep that old legacy program. However, there are some aspects that you should consider:
With some software the author has moved on from supporting the program. They may have closed the business, sold it or gone in a different direction completely. Either way, they are no longer interested in helping and supporting the program. Every time you come up against a problem you have nowhere to turn and productivity takes a hit as you try and come up with a workaround. You also run the risk that it could suddenly stop working after a Windows update, start clashing with other essential software or even create large holes in your network security. Even applications from bigger companies like Microsoft have stopped support for older versions. Having support available to both assist and protect your business is a huge advantage.
Due to the rapid advancement of computer hardware, you may find a simple component refresh leaves your legacy program completely incompatible. The latest CPU, graphics card or motherboard may suddenly brings your entire business to a standstill, purely because it is too advanced. Owners can work around this by keeping some older computers running for that program, but as the hardware fails, you may find yourself struggling to find replacement parts or technicians able to install them.
The longer a program has been around, the longer hackers have had to discover its weaknesses and holes. It can be a flaw in the program itself or in the operating system that runs it. For example, the program may only run on Windows XP, but Windows XP is not being supported by Microsoft any more. This mean any new weaknesses in XP are not being fixed by Microsoft leaving you open for attack. This is how hospitals across the UK found themselves infected with ransomware last year – they were running programs with known weaknesses that were out of support.
Sometimes it is not always feasible to replace a program immediately and we can help you run it on a virtual machine. That is, getting the older operating system or program to run from within another program. With this setup you will have increased security, an element of support and a strong backup system while you work to find a replacement program. These solutions are very specialized and resource hungry though, so let us know if you need help.
The other option is to move to a new application that fulfills your requirements, is supported, compatible with new hardware and secure. If you have been running the old program for some time, this may feel quite daunting at first but we can help you out and assist with the migration.
Do you need to talk through your options? Give us a call at 08 8326 4364 or
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