Tech Support Archives

How to Work Safely on your Home PC

coronavirus, IT Best Practices, Ophtek, PC Server, Security, Tech Support, Updatesoffice IT, Ophtek, productivity, security, updatesOphtek, LLC

Jun 2020

Workplace PCs tend to be more protected than those found in our homes. Therefore, you need to make sure you always work safely on your home PC.

With remote working on the rise, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important that we don’t take our eye off the ball when it comes to security. Organizations, naturally, have more finances to invest and enhanced IT expertise, but it’s still easy to stay safe at home. All you need to do is know how to protect yourself. And, to get you started, we’re going to share some fantastic ways to make sure you remain safe.

Working Safely on your Home PC

Safety on your home PC can be achieved quickly and easily by following these best practices:

Use Company Recommended Apps: It’s likely that your organization will have a list of authorized apps that it recommends you use. And it pays to stick with these apps. Your IT team will have vetted all the approved apps and confirmed that they are correct for your needs and safe. It may be tempting to download alternative apps if you’re experiencing problems, but this could compromise your safety. If in doubt, contact your IT team.

Implement All Updates: Software and hardware updates are crucial when it comes to getting the best IT experience. And, of course, they maximize your security. This is why you need to install all updates as soon as possible. Sometimes these updates will be automatic, but they will often need direct authorization from the user. Either way, the install process is simple and requires little more than a short wait.

Use a VPN: All data is sensitive and, accordingly, business data needs to be treated the same as personal data: carefully. One of the best ways to protect your data is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). An extended private network, a VPN will protect and encrypt any data that is transmitted across your internet connection. Most organizations should offer a VPN as part of your remote connection, but having a VPN installed at home will only strengthen your privacy. We recommend PIA (Private Internet Access) for VPN which can be used at home or on the road across all devices.

Beware of Coronavirus Malware: There has been a marked rise in coronavirus based malware and phishing scams, so it’s vital that you stay alert to these threats. Any emails or links that look even slightly suspicious need to be scrutinized closely. Thankfully, there are a number of telltale signs that can quickly be checked to verify the integrity of anything unusual. However, the most sensible action is, if possible, to double check with an IT professional. Malwarebytes is our preferred way to keep your home system safe.

Work with Your IT Team: IT is crucial to any modern business, so you can rest assured that there will be an IT presence in place while you are working. It’s important that you run any queries by them as you would if you were working in the office. This will ensure that normal IT operations can be maintained and you can remain safe.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

How to Avoid the Most Common IT Mistakes in Business

Backup Strategies, IT Mistakes, Printers, Tech Support, Technology Disposal, TrainingBackup Strategies, IT mistakes, printers, Tech Support, Technology Disposal, TrainingOphtek, LLC

Jul 2018

IT can be a complex area to tackle at the best of times, but there are certain mistakes which can be easily avoided through vigilance and understanding.

Maintaining, securing and purchasing technology for your organization requires a lot of knowledge due to the range of procedures and procedures involved. Thankfully, this knowledge is usually in place, but you would be surprised just how many silly mistakes still manage to slip through the net. And these mistakes, although seemingly minor, can sometimes have severe consequences.

To help you avoid these pitfalls, we’ve put together a guide on how to avoid the most common IT mistakes in business.

Printers are Important

Despite on-going calls for ‘paperless’ offices, the reality is that organizations still need to print. And where there’s a need to print, there’s a need for printers. However, far too many organizations fail to understand that researching a good printer is crucial. A cheap printer, for example, may seem the best way forward for a small business, but the amount of toner it wastes and the maintenance involved could soon end up costing more than you had bargained for. Therefore, thoroughly researching what the available printers can do and how well they can do it is vital.

Poor Training for Employees

Your employees need to know how to use the technology they’re working with, so regular training is key to avoiding technical mishaps and maximizing productivity. An employee who knows how to get the best out of the technology they’re working with is relatively rare in most organizations, so stay ahead of the competition by proving in-depth training and refresher manuals.

Not Sticking to Backup Strategies

A good organization is one that has a fantastic backup strategy, but a fantastic organization is one which sticks to its backup strategy. Sure, it may feel time consuming to back up your data to multiple sources and the costs involved can soon be felt by your bank balance. Nonetheless, the relief at being able to restore your data and keep your organization running is surely more preferable to your business grinding to a halt, right? And that’s why sticking to your backup strategy and ensuring that all the processes are regularly followed to the letter is important.

Not Disposing of Technology Correctly

Obsolete technology can soon become a burden on the available real estate within your organization. Disposing of said technology, then, is paramount to a functioning workspace. It’s not just as simple as chucking those old servers out with the trash though. Not only are there potentially dangerous components and chemicals contained within, there are also significant chunks of potentially sensitive data. Thorough cleaning and wiping of all data is highly recommended before you hand the technology over to a specialist firm to destroy securely and safely.

Lack of Tech Support

In a digital age where technology is advancing at a rapid pace, it makes sense to have tech support available at all times. Many organizations feel as though they can handle most IT problems without dedicated staff, but this is a dangerous step to take. It may feel cost effective to rely on a limited amount of knowledge and resources, but there are daily issues for even the smallest businesses which require an IT professional. With a reputable tech support team in place, you can ensure that all issues are dealt with quickly and correctly.