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Should you use UPS for your network gear?Smart business owners use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for emergency situations like a storm, fire, or other disasters. Often, a UPS is deployed for desktop computers to give employees ample time to save their work and prevent losing unsaved work. An even better power-saving strategy in emergency situations, however, is to use UPS for […]

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Should you use UPS for your network gear?

Smart business owners use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for emergency situations like a storm, fire, or other disasters. Often, a UPS is deployed for desktop computers to give employees ample time to save their work and prevent losing unsaved work. An even better power-saving strategy in emergency situations, however, is to use UPS for networking equipment.

UPS for network equipment

UPS systems provide backup power in case of outages and protect against power surges, which don’t just damage computers but also make you lose unsaved work. Deploying them for Wi-Fi routers and modems allows you to stay connected to the internet in what is typically a chaotic time.

Moreover, it makes sense not to just keep your PCs powered up, but to also have internet access during a disaster. This strategy works relatively well if your staff are predominantly laptop users, as that means you only need power for your Wi-Fi gear.

Better than generators

Although generators are indispensable for certain businesses, they also require greater upkeep. Small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) may not have enough capacity to maintain them because they typically require a utility crew who can manage high-maintenance equipment.

What’s more, extreme mishaps when misused or mishandled could result in generator-related fatalities. On the other hand, misusing a UPS unit could result in the loss of a day’s work, but it’s unlikely to lead to anything as extreme.

Why internet access is important during a disaster

UPS-supported modems or routers help you stay online for as much as 90 minutes, which should be enough time to get your bearings before power finally runs out. Internet service providers (ISPs) are usually prepared for catastrophes and would normally have an emergency power source to stay operational. And if you can stay online via Wi-Fi during an emergency, you get the following benefits:

  • Internet speed that’s faster than cellular access
  • No extra telecom costs resulting from overreliance on cellular data
  • All devices stay online using a stable Wi-Fi connection
  • Devices don’t have to rely on cellular data-equipped phones for internet connection

Plug in your network gear now

Businesses that aren’t located in disaster-prone areas probably don’t give much thought to installing UPSs for their computers, let alone their modems. But accidents and emergencies are inevitable. And when they happen, you’ll find that having internet access is one of the most important things you need to ensure business continuity.

Think of an emergency power supply source like a UPS as an investment that not just protects your systems from data loss but also keeps your Wi-Fi equipment functioning in emergency scenarios. Call us today for productivity-saving tips and other hardware hacks for your business.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Should you use UPS for your network gear? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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Single sign-on: The key to user managementFrom complexity requirements to minimum lengths, creating a password for a new online account can be bothersome. If your business is constantly experiencing this issue, single sign-on (SSO) can help. This technology is secure, easy to manage, and eliminates the need to remember a long list of usernames and passwords. What is SSO? Single sign-on […]

The post Single sign-on: The key to user management appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Single sign-on: The key to user management

From complexity requirements to minimum lengths, creating a password for a new online account can be bothersome. If your business is constantly experiencing this issue, single sign-on (SSO) can help. This technology is secure, easy to manage, and eliminates the need to remember a long list of usernames and passwords.

What is SSO?

Single sign-on allows you to create one username and one password that thousands of websites will recognize. If you’ve ever clicked “Continue with Google” on a non-Google website, you’ve already enjoyed the benefits of SSO. It’s faster, simpler, and more secure. Now, small businesses can accomplish the same level of efficiency between their employees and cloud platforms.

Instead of requiring everyone in the office to track separate accounts for Office 365, Slack, Trello, and other cloud apps your company uses, you can give them a single set of credentials and manage what they have access to remotely. Employees come to work, enter their designated username and password, and they’re all set for the day.

Why is SSO more secure?

There are a number of ways to set up a small business SSO solution, but most of them focus on removing login information from your servers. Usually, you’ll provide your employees’ logins to an SSO provider (sometimes referred to as an Identity-as-a-Service provider) and each employee will receive a single login paired with a secondary authentication — like a fingerprint or an SMS code to a personal device.

Every time one of your employees visits a cloud platform, such as Office 365 or Google Apps, the SSO provider will verify the user’s identity and the connection’s security. If anything goes wrong, your IT provider will be notified.

Should your network or any of its devices be compromised, hackers would find nothing but logins to your SSO accounts, which are meaningless without fingerprints or mobile devices.

How to get started with SSO

The first step is making sure you have a healthy and responsive IT support system. You need a team that’s constantly available to review suspicious alerts and troubleshoot employee issues. If you don’t currently have that capacity, contact us today and we’ll help you out!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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How to remove these 5 computer clutter typesUnused apps, error logs, and user bloat are some things that may be cluttering up your computer, causing it to function at less than peak performance. We’ll show you how to remove clutter from your Windows 10 PC and get it to run smoothly again. 5 Types of PC clutter There are five types of […]

The post How to remove these 5 computer clutter types appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

How to remove these 5 computer clutter types

Unused apps, error logs, and user bloat are some things that may be cluttering up your computer, causing it to function at less than peak performance. We’ll show you how to remove clutter from your Windows 10 PC and get it to run smoothly again.

5 Types of PC clutter

There are five types of clutter that may be causing your Windows 10 computer to underperform.

  1. Windows updates – This includes failed update downloads. While Windows will delete some of these corrupted and unusable files, others will hang around forever.
  2. Registry bloat – This includes files and applications you’ve deleted in addition to every action performed in Windows, which is recorded in your computer’s registry. Redundant entries bog down your PC.
  3. Error logs – These are log files kept by Windows whenever software in your system encounters errors in processing or crashes altogether. Just like with registry bloat, these log files accumulate and slow down your computer.
  4. User bloat – This refers to large numbers of your own files, especially if they’re unorganized.
  5. Bloatware – This refers to unwanted preinstalled software. It takes up tons of central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), and disk space, as well as poses a raft of security risks.

How to remove PC clutter

To remove these five clutter types and bring back Windows 10 to optimal performance, try these easy ways. Below too are actual Windows 10 screenshots to guide you.

Run Disk Cleanup
Windows has a built-in tool called Disk Cleanup that removes hidden junk files. To run this tool, type “disk cleanup” in the search box on the taskbar, and select Disk Cleanup from the results. Pick the drive you want to clean, then click OK. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of, then click OK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delete programs you don’t use or need

Most computers come with pre-installed programs that take up space and run in the background automatically. These commonly include free trials of random programs, games, and services that you will never use. 

Free up memory and storage space by removing these unused programs along with redundant programs that you rarely use or don’t need. To do this, type “add or remove programs” in the search box on the taskbar, and select Add or remove programs from the results. If you see a program on the list that you no longer need, click on it, then click Uninstall. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If necessary: Refresh Windows 10

If you don’t want to spend so much effort cleaning up your Windows 10 PC because of how messy it is, you can start fresh with a clean and up-to-date Windows 10 installation. This option will remove most installed apps (e.g., Microsoft Office, antivirus software, etc.) but it will keep your personal files and some Windows settings. However, it’s still best to back up your files before refreshing. 

To do this, type “recovery” in the search box on the taskbar and select Recovery Options in the results. Under “More recovery options,” click Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows, then click Yes in the pop-up window that says “Did you mean to switch apps? Settings is trying to open Windows Security.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will launch the Windows Security app where you can click Get started to begin the Windows refresh process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are innumerable ways to make your computer perform faster and more efficiently, and our Windows experts are equipped with all the tricks of the trade. Give us a call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post How to remove these 5 computer clutter types appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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How to remove these 5 computer clutter typesUnused apps, error logs, and user bloat are some things that may be cluttering up your computer, causing it to function at less than peak performance. We’ll show you how to remove clutter from your Windows 10 PC and get it to run smoothly again. 5 Types of PC clutter There are five types of […]

The post How to remove these 5 computer clutter types appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

How to remove these 5 computer clutter types

Unused apps, error logs, and user bloat are some things that may be cluttering up your computer, causing it to function at less than peak performance. We’ll show you how to remove clutter from your Windows 10 PC and get it to run smoothly again.

5 Types of PC clutter

There are five types of clutter that may be causing your Windows 10 computer to underperform.

  1. Windows updates – This includes failed update downloads. While Windows will delete some of these corrupted and unusable files, others will hang around forever.
  2. Registry bloat – This includes files and applications you’ve deleted in addition to every action performed in Windows, which is recorded in your computer’s registry. Redundant entries bog down your PC.
  3. Error logs – These are log files kept by Windows whenever software in your system encounters errors in processing or crashes altogether. Just like with registry bloat, these log files accumulate and slow down your computer.
  4. User bloat – This refers to large numbers of your own files, especially if they’re unorganized.
  5. Bloatware – This refers to unwanted preinstalled software. It takes up tons of central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), and disk space, as well as poses a raft of security risks.

How to remove PC clutter

To remove these five clutter types and bring back Windows 10 to optimal performance, try these easy ways. Below too are actual Windows 10 screenshots to guide you.

Run Disk Cleanup
Windows has a built-in tool called Disk Cleanup that removes hidden junk files. To run this tool, type “disk cleanup” in the search box on the taskbar, and select Disk Cleanup from the results. Pick the drive you want to clean, then click OK. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of, then click OK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delete programs you don’t use or need

Most computers come with pre-installed programs that take up space and run in the background automatically. These commonly include free trials of random programs, games, and services that you will never use. 

Free up memory and storage space by removing these unused programs along with redundant programs that you rarely use or don’t need. To do this, type “add or remove programs” in the search box on the taskbar, and select Add or remove programs from the results. If you see a program on the list that you no longer need, click on it, then click Uninstall. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If necessary: Refresh Windows 10

If you don’t want to spend so much effort cleaning up your Windows 10 PC because of how messy it is, you can start fresh with a clean and up-to-date Windows 10 installation. This option will remove most installed apps (e.g., Microsoft Office, antivirus software, etc.) but it will keep your personal files and some Windows settings. However, it’s still best to back up your files before refreshing. 

To do this, type “recovery” in the search box on the taskbar and select Recovery Options in the results. Under “More recovery options,” click Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows, then click Yes in the pop-up window that says “Did you mean to switch apps? Settings is trying to open Windows Security.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will launch the Windows Security app where you can click Get started to begin the Windows refresh process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are innumerable ways to make your computer perform faster and more efficiently, and our Windows experts are equipped with all the tricks of the trade. Give us a call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post How to remove these 5 computer clutter types appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More