Category Archives: Internet

All things web based.

Reviewing Your IT Needs as a Small Business

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As a small business owner, your IT infrastructure is critical to your operations. It’s essential to review your IT periodically needs to ensure they align with your business goals and are optimized for efficiency and security.

Key Areas to Evaluate

  1. Hardware and Software:
    • Age and condition: Are your computers and servers outdated or need repair?
    • Compatibility: Do your software applications work seamlessly together?
    • Security: Are your systems protected from cyber threats?
  2. Network Infrastructure:
    • Speed: Is your internet connection fast enough to support your business operations?
    • Reliability: Are there frequent network outages or connectivity issues?
    • Security: Are your network devices and data properly protected from unauthorized access?
  3. Data Backup and Recovery:
    • Frequency: How often are your data backed up?
    • Storage: Where are your backups stored? Are they accessible in case of disaster?
    • Testing: Are your backup procedures regularly tested to ensure they work as intended?
  4. Cloud Computing:
    • Benefits: Could cloud-based solutions help reduce costs or improve flexibility?
    • Risks: Are there any security or compliance concerns associated with using cloud services?
  5. IT Support:
    • In-house vs. outsourced: Are your current IT support arrangements meeting your needs?
    • Expertise: Do your IT staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to address your challenges?

Tips for Effective Review

  • Involve your team: Get input from employees who use IT systems daily.
  • Prioritize needs: Identify the most critical IT functions for your business.
  • Consult with an IT professional: A qualified IT consultant can provide expert advice and recommendations. Here at IT Turning Point this is what we do.
  • Consider future growth: Plan for your IT needs as your business expands.
  • Stay informed: Keep up-to-date on the latest technology trends and security best practices.

By regularly reviewing your IT needs, you can ensure that your technology infrastructure is supporting your business goals and helping you achieve success.

May The Force Be with You!

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Why is getting an I.T. needs Analysis is not just a good idea, but an essential one?

it analysis

In today’s digital age, technology is the backbone of most successful businesses. But for small businesses, navigating the ever-changing tech landscape can be daunting. This is where regular IT checks come in. Just like a car needs tune-ups, your business technology needs regular assessments to ensure it’s running smoothly and meeting your evolving needs.

Why Regular IT Checks Matter

Here are three key reasons why small businesses should prioritize regular IT check-ups:

  • Security: Cybersecurity threats are a constant concern. Regular IT checks can identify vulnerabilities in your systems, outdated software, and weak passwords, all of which leave you open to attacks. IT professionals can recommend and implement security measures to keep your data and operations safe.
  • Efficiency and Productivity: The right technology can streamline processes and boost employee productivity. IT checks can identify outdated software that’s slowing you down and suggest more efficient options. They can also ensure your systems are properly configured for your specific needs, eliminating unnecessary steps and wasted time.
  • Cost Savings: Small problems left unchecked can snowball into expensive repairs or data loss. Regular IT checks can catch small issues before they become major problems, saving you money in the long run. Additionally, IT professionals can help identify areas where you might be overspending on technology and suggest cost-effective alternatives.

Finding the Right IT Support

Many IT service providers offer flexible plans tailored to small businesses. Look for a provider who understands your specific needs and budget. Regular check-ups can be scheduled quarterly or even annually, depending on your risk profile and how often your technology changes.

Investing in regular IT checks is an investment in the future of your business. By proactively managing your technology, you can ensure it’s working for you, not against you.

Check out our IT needs analysis packages here, all tailored to you and your budget and needs. Needs Analysis.

2024: Unveiling Tech’s Next Horizon

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What’s over the horizon?

As we step into 2024, the tech landscape buzzes with excitement and anticipation. Beyond the usual suspects, groundbreaking advancements simmer beneath the surface, promising to reshape our world. Let’s peek at some of the key developments on the horizon:

1. Generative AI Takes Centre Stage: Imagine AI not just mimicking, but creating the next Picasso or composing a Beethoven-esque symphony. Generative AI, harnessing the power of deep learning, will unleash its creative potential. From personalized design solutions to hyper-realistic virtual experiences, expect this technology to blur the lines between art and code.

2. Quantum Computing Leaps Forward: While still in its nascent stages, 2024 could see significant progress in quantum computing. These powerful machines, capable of tackling previously insurmountable problems, will accelerate advancements in drug discovery, materials science, and financial modelling. Prepare for a world where the impossible becomes achievable with the aid of qubits.

3. The Metaverse Expands its Reach: The immersive digital world known as the metaverse will push the boundaries of reality. Expect advanced AR/VR experiences, seamless integration with everyday life, and even the emergence of virtual economies. As the lines between physical and digital blur, prepare for your avatar to become an extension of your identity.

4. Smart Devices Get Smarter: Our beloved devices are about to get a serious IQ boost. Expect smarter homes that anticipate our needs, self-driving cars that navigate complex scenarios, and wearables that monitor our health with unprecedented accuracy. The Internet of Things will not just connect devices, it will weave them into the fabric of our lives.

5. Sustainability Goes High-Tech: Climate change remains a pressing concern, and technology will play a crucial role in addressing it. Advances in renewable energy, energy storage, and green manufacturing will take centre stage. Expect smarter grids, efficient solar panels, and sustainable materials made from waste. Technology will become a weapon in our fight for a greener planet.

Of this course, this is only a glance

Of course, these are just a glimpse of the tech magic brewing in 2024. From ethical considerations surrounding AI to the potential implications of the metaverse, there will be challenges to navigate. But one thing is certain: the year ahead promises to be a thrilling ride, one where technology redefines what it means to be human, connect with the world and shape our future.

And that’s just the beginning. Buckle up, 2024 is going to be a wild ride! So get in touch here an check your tech will keep up. Click here.

The AI Revolution, Pros and Cons. Article 2

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AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously. AI has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, from the way we work to the way we interact with the world around us.

There are many potential benefits to the AI revolution. For example, AI could be used to automate tasks that are currently done by humans, freeing up our time for more creative and fulfilling pursuits. AI could also be used to improve healthcare, education, and transportation.

However, there are also some potential risks associated with the AI revolution. For example, AI could be used to create autonomous weapons that could kill without human intervention. AI could also be used to create systems that are able to manipulate and control human behaviour.

It is important to be aware of both the potential benefits and risks of the AI revolution. We need to ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits all of humanity, and that we do not allow AI to become a threat to our existence.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the AI revolution:

Pros:

  • AI can automate tasks that are currently done by humans, freeing up our time for more creative and fulfilling pursuits.
  • AI can improve healthcare, education, and transportation.
  • AI can help us to better understand the world around us.
  • AI can help us to make better decisions.

Cons:

  • AI could be used to create autonomous weapons that could kill without human intervention.
  • AI could be used to create systems that are able to manipulate and control human behaviour.
  • AI could lead to mass unemployment, as machines become capable of doing many of the jobs that are currently done by humans.
  • AI could lead to a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor, as those who own the AI systems will benefit from increased productivity and efficiency, while those who do not will be left behind.

In Conclusion

It is important to weigh the pros and cons of the AI revolution carefully before making any decisions about how to use this technology. We need to ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits all of humanity, and that we do not allow AI to become a threat to our existence.

The AI Revolution, Pros and Cons. Article 1

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Time for change

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm and is revolutionizing the way we live, work, and interact with each other. AI is a technology that enables machines to learn and perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and natural language processing. The AI revolution is happening right now, and it has both pros and cons.

On the positive side, AI is bringing about significant improvements in various industries, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and manufacturing. AI-powered robots and machines are taking over tedious, repetitive, and dangerous tasks, allowing humans to focus on more creative and productive work. AI-powered medical devices are helping doctors and healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat diseases more accurately and efficiently. AI-powered vehicles are making transportation safer and more sustainable.

AI is also helping businesses to improve their operations, increase their efficiency, and reduce costs. AI-powered systems can analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and provide insights that help businesses to make informed decisions. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are enhancing customer service, providing 24/7 support to customers, and improving customer satisfaction.

However, the AI revolution also has its downsides. One of the most significant concerns is job displacement. As machines become more intelligent, they are taking over jobs traditionally performed by humans, leading to job losses and unemployment. This could have a severe impact on society, particularly for low-skilled workers who may find it challenging to find new employment.

Another significant concern is the potential misuse of AI. As AI becomes more advanced, it could be used to create autonomous weapons, surveillance systems, and other technologies that could threaten human rights and freedoms. There is also the risk of AI being used to perpetrate cyber-attacks or manipulate public opinion, which could have disastrous consequences.

In Conclusion

The AI revolution is happening right now, and it has both pros and cons. While AI has the potential to bring about significant improvements in various industries, it also poses significant challenges and risks. As we continue to develop and deploy AI technologies, it is essential to be mindful of the potential risks and take steps to mitigate them. Ultimately, the key to harnessing the power of AI lies in responsible development, deployment, and regulation.

Using Technology into the future

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technology into the future
One world loads of technology

The use of technology has dramatically changed the way we live, work, and communicate over the past few decades, and this trend is expected to continue into the future. The advancement of technology has brought us the internet, smartphones, and artificial intelligence, which have revolutionized the way we interact with the world and with each other.

In the future, technology will continue to play a significant role in shaping the way we live our lives. The Internet of Things (IoT) will become even more prevalent, connecting everyday devices and allowing them to communicate with each other, leading to increased automation and efficiency. Augmented and virtual reality will become increasingly mainstream, changing the way we experience the world and interact with others.

Artificial intelligence will continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, transforming industries such as healthcare, finance, and transportation. AI will be used to diagnose and treat illnesses, automate tedious tasks, and make complex decisions. Automation will also lead to job displacement, which will need to be addressed to ensure that people can adapt to the changing economy.

Blockchain technology will also become more widespread, providing increased security and transparency for transactions and enabling the creation of decentralized systems. 5G networks will become more widespread, providing faster and more reliable internet access, which will be crucial for the development of new technologies such as autonomous vehicles and smart cities.

In Conclusion

The use of technology will continue to evolve and transform the way we live and interact with each other in the future. It will bring new opportunities and challenges, and it is essential that we stay ahead of the curve by adapting to the changes and ensuring that technology is used for the betterment of society. The future is unpredictable, but one thing is certain – technology will play a significant role in shaping it.

Get in touch now and have a chat about how we can help keep you ahead of the game. Click here

What is the key factor about adopting technology?

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A question I am asked a lot is, “What technology should I be using?”

The better question would be why should I use that technology?

So, what is the point of this article.? It is all about what you need and what you do.

The technology of yesterday, is not the technology of tomorrow as it is changing so fast. This matters because of the reason that technology is changing. It is changing because of customer demand a lot of the time and the new technology helps users work smarter and not harder.

So, what are the key factors about adopting new technology?

The ultimate answer is you are the key factor, let me explain further: –

I could easily go into any of my clients and simply say here is the new tech and you need it now. This of course is a broad-brush approach and they may not need half of what I am telling them they need.

So, I never do that, I ask loads and I mean loads of questions. I need to get inside their heads and their business. My forte is that I keep an eye and focus on what is out there and can advise accordingly.

I try and establish the following: –

  1. What do you and your business do just now?
  2. What may you be doing in the shorter term?
  3. Where do you see things in the longer term?

This enables me to focus on exactly you do and how you currently are doing it.

I can then look at solutions that are there just now that may make your tasks smarter and with emerging tech, I can advise on when you should maybe put your toe in the water.

I.T. is an ever-changing horizon and you have your focus and business to run. So why not hand it over to someone who focusses on the tech and get them to advise on what may be beneficial for you.

So, the key factors about adopting technology is you and your team and business. I always start from that point.

I.T. Needs Analysis Packages

Should old kit be abandoned?

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laptop update
Old kit gets a new life

The current statistics shown that the sales of various tech is now down and that people aren’t eagerly awaiting to buy the latest thing.

There are various reasons for this and to put your finger in the one would be wrong.

But it begs the question about what we do with old kit? I have been recently taking 7 year old laptops that have still some very good kit on board and upgrading by adding a SSD drive to them.

What do we do with our computers?

We need to look at what we now do with computers: –

  • A few years ago all programmes were on the computer and so was the data until we backed it up
  • The Internet was growing fast and we are getting faster access.
  • So cloud storage became a thing and has grown over the last few years to an amazing level.
    • “According to recent research by Nasuni, there is over 1 Exabyte of data stored in the cloud, or: 1024 Petabytes of data. 1,073,741,824 Gigabytes of data. Quintillion bytes of data” This data was 2013. 6 years ago.
  • These figures don’t even make sense to us. To try and comprehend this amount of data and storage becomes something we can’t relate to.
  • Applications are also becoming more cloud driven and this will only increase over the next few years. SAAS. (Software As A Service). Office 365 is a well-known one. Google utilities, (G-suite), etc. Monthly subscriptions and the latest and greatest always at your fingertips.

So what does this mean?

Well, the strain is being taken off a lot of standalone machines as the storage needs to be less as all data goes to the cloud. (See article on using the cloud, here.)

The machines if they have a large amount of RAM and a fast SSD drive can boot up in anything from 4 seconds to 18 seconds. (The one I worked on recently booted up in 4 seconds)

So old kit can be slightly upgraded and cope very well with what you need it to do. Thus alleviating the direct need to buy the latest kit all the time.

What’s best for you?

Well, that really depends on how you operate and the things you need to achieve. But don’t immediately write off all your current kit. Maybe it is just better connections that you need or you need to think about the way you operate and see if there are ways it can be done better.

What are your thoughts on this?

Comment below.

Let’s all use the Internet. But which one?

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Internet Evolution

I love this and was also blown away by this. What does my title mean and how many Internets are there?

Background info

Let me give you background info. At the end of last year I attended, with some tech colleagues, a Digital Expo in Edinburgh. A day of tech talks and an exhibition area full of stands and vendors showing their wares. (And the usual freebies as we like to call them.)

The main keynote speech was by an MSP about the Scottish Government trying to help tech companies and get Scotland at the top of the tech ladder. After that came the chap from Google. (I must admit at this point as to being an avid Google follower and watcher to see what they are going to do next.)

He started by taking us back to how tech and Internet access has developed over the last 30 years. Things have just exploded.

From Dial up to now literally instant access on all sorts of devices from fridges to watches and phones and laptops and so on.

Explaining the Internet

Now in a previous work post I had the privilege of teaching small business the benefits of getting a website and how the Internet worked for their benefit and the benefit of the user.

A common way I described the Internet was to keep it simple but make it understandable, went as follows: –

“Think of the Internet as a giant library full of information. Shelves of books going into the distance and finding things required a librarian to help you. They were at that time mostly Yahoo and Google. You asked then for what you were looking for and they went into the library and retuned all the relevant content”

People could visualise this and then I told them that their website would be in that content and how they could encourage the librarian to bring it to customers searching for what they had to offer. All makes sense and even though simplistic, easy to get your head around.

How would you explain the Internet? (This was very early days as well.)

So what has changed?

So if that explains the Internet then, surely it has just become much larger and has so much content the librarians have become smarter and better at what they do?

This is true of course and the search engines are constantly changing their algorithms to cater for new searches and the rise of the social media traffic.

Bur prepare to have your mind blown away. “Your Internet is not the same as my Internet”

“WHAT? I hear you cry. Of course it is.”

My man from Google explained the rise of the A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), has created tailored Internet for each user. So each time you interact and even shop, look for things, cafes, and theatres. Locations you search for, what locations you are in when you search. All these and many more things influence what return you get. So we could be in the same location and search for the same thing and get slightly different results. Our info is being tailored depending on our habits, likes and history etc.

Conclusion

Some people may find this very disturbing and that so much info about us is going around. Well unfortunately for them it is the case. Even using a food order app influences things. Loyalty card at stores, the list is endless.

I personally am excited about AI and what it can do for us. I think if used well and smart, we can benefit well from this technology.

So what Internet do I use, well I use the one tailored for me?

What are your thoughts on this?

What scares you about using the cloud?

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The nature of computing over the last few years has gone one way and one way only and that is to drive users on the cloud. The software is now offered as a service and machines locally are less powerful with less storage, as your storage is not local anymore and is on the cloud remotely.

Most people are going with the flow and some others are still thinking the old way and have loads of data stored locally. The machines then become infected and data is lost or compromised.

Some companies have to store data locally due to legal requirements or just their processes in-house require it. However, the way the world is going is to store remotely, which allows so many good benefits.

What are the Benefits?

Let us start by looking at some of the benefits of cloud and remote storage: –

  1. The use and accessibility of files and work become easier. Users can drag and drop files etc. to cloud storage drives ion their machines. You don’t have to be technical. The stored data can then be accessed from anywhere in the world.
  2. How about disaster recovery? A backup plan for data has been something us I.T. guys have shouted about for years. Cloud storage drives create an automatic backup of all data stored, taking away the need for you to do it and the costs involved.
  3. Security is always the main argument against using the cloud. However, the best thing about cloud-stored data is that the server data is distributed across redundant servers and the data that is stored in the cloud is safeguarded against any type of hardware failure. Cloud servers also provide automated backups and snapshots in order to make sure that your data is safe.
  4. There are cost savings in using cloud-based data storage as well. No expensive on-site storage solutions that have running costs as well. All this is saved and the cost of cloud storage against it usually means a cost saving. This depends on your company and setup of course.
  5. Data sharing is another great benefit of cloud storage. Files can be shared in-house with colleagues or with clients externally.
  6. Automation of backups etc. is also a massive benefit. Once set up a daily routine isn’t needed locally and this frees up people for other tasks.
  7. Online cloud storage is also a great way to allow staff and clients to collaborate on documents and projects. From anywhere in the world.
  8. File integrity is also another great plus. When working on a cloud-based file you simply save and close. This means we don’t have various copies on various machines. Then trying to sync most recent of them.
  9. The amount of convenience and peace of mind offered by cloud storage system is amazing! Even if you store data on transportable devices like external hard drives or flash drives, some kind of manual intervention and physical handling is required. The data that is stored in a cloud is backed up online and it can be accessed from anywhere. Information is automatically saved as it streams in. There is no need for you to save, label or track information. The convenience of online cloud storage enables you to completely concentrate on your work without getting stressed about data loss.

Conclusion

Online storage and backup are beneficial for all types of businesses. It is a platform that does not require any huge investment and can be actively used in connecting staff and clients. Collaborating and using data smartly. Not to mention less supervision and online activities. Secure in the knowledge that it is all backed up for you and can be accessed from anywhere.