The 3 most important areas to discuss with your technology partner (jargon-free)

IT support is a technical job, and some of the language used can be a bit, well… technical.So here’s our jargon-free look at the 3 most important areas to discuss with your technology partner.

tKnow IT Jargon Buster: Learn to talk Tech

Does IT jargon feel like an alien language? We steer clear of tech talk as much as possible when we’re working with our clients. But next time you need help with an IT issue, it could save you a lot of time if you have a few words of lingo in your locker.That’s why we’ve created our new, free IT Jargon Buster. It’s a great A-Z of just some of the terms you might hear when you’re talking with an IT expert.

How do you stop programs loading at startup

One of the reasons windows can take ages to start can be due to the number of programs or apps trying launch automatically at startup. Over time you install programs and they decide they should add something to your startup list. Our new video shows how to manage this.

Help plan 2021 with Microsoft Planner

Microsoft 365 has some amazing productivity and collaborative tools already built in.Did you know that within Teams there’s a useful project planning tool?Watch our short video for the lowdown on how to use Microsoft Planner.

What does ransomware mean to you?

It's one of the fastest growing crimes in the world.. but what does it mean to you? Ransomware can be scary. What if you switch on your work computer tomorrow morning and instead of the screen you normally see, the screen goes totally red. Your then shown a message saying that your business's data has all been locked and that the only way to retrieve it will be to pay thousands in Bitcoin. Statistics suggest is not a rare event. It happens to businesses every day - everywhere - even in Ryedale. Every business is at risk. And it can be one of the hardest things for us as your IT support company to fix. We’ve written a brand new guide.

Is your phone system ready for the hybrid workplace?

When was the last time you upgraded your business phone system?If it’s been 5 years or more, then you’re overdue an upgrade.You probably update your laptop and mobile phone every few years. Business phones are no different.Designed to work in the office, from home or on the move, watch our new video to see the benefits from installing a 2020 VoIP system for your business.
tKnowITman

Working From Home: Slow Internet? Try hotspotting your phone

I've had a few people saying that their broadband is slower than normal at home. This can be because you are normally not working from home at this time of day but more likely due to the increased volume of people using the internet for surfing, watching Netflix, Prime, YouTube, etc. First, try rebooting the router, check the microfilters on phone outlets and try an ethernet cable if wi-fi is poor. If you are using a laptop over wi-fi and you also have a smartphone with a decent 4G signal then try creating a local HotSpot on the phone and then connect your laptop to the hotspot rather than your normal router. See if things run any quicker Remember to check your data tariff and allowance though

tKnowIT: Services mostly as usual

With the latest announcement from the government, it is important that you know that tKnowIT is able to provide you with your normal IT support, monitoring and maintenances services. This includes businesses who currently don't have a support agreement with tKnowIT but need help on a pay as you go basis. tKnowIT can help with IT systems, assistance with staff working from home, auditing and securing their machines, etc. It is sad to see so many businesses are having to shut their doors until this all blows-over but I’m in the fortunate position that a lot of IT tasks can be performed remotely.

MS Teams: Here’s how to make project communication as easy as possible

Managing multiple projects with lots of different contributors can be a real headache.Unless you use one of the world’s favourite collaboration tools – that you may already be paying for.

Start taking the Tablets

Tablet computers, like SmartPhones, have been around for years…

Windows Phone 7 Review

For several years the Apple iPhone has dominated and redefined…

Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 Mobile Scanner

For a number of years I have used HP LaserJet All-in-Ones as…

Time to upgrade I.T.

TIME TO UPGRADE I.T.Now is the time to be looking to replace…

If you have a Windows 7 machine and you use it for business, you MUST replace it by the end of this year.
Why? Because it’ll be a major target for hackers in January next year (2020).
This is a serious threat to many businesses in Ryedale and beyond. It will leave their entire computer network open to hackers.
We’ve created a new short video to tell you why it’s such a problem, and why you mustn’t wait too long to replace your old tech. Remember what happened when the NHS were still running Windows XP?
To comply with GDPR you should also have a plan to replace any machines running windows 7.

It might have only just turned 2019. But we want you to look ahead to next January, in 2020.
Because there’s a major software problem on the way… and it’s going to affect half of all businesses and organisations in Ryedale.
In January 2020 Microsoft is ending the life of lots of old versions of popular software.
This includes the 2010 version of Office, some popular server software – and Windows 7.
If you have even one computer that runs any of this software, you’ve got a major headache from next January.
In fact, your business will be at severe risk of being hacked, as well as no longer being GDPR-compliant.
We’ve put together a brand new guide to help you see if your business will be affected – anyone can check, regardless of technical ability.
Plus we tell you why you mustn’t wait till next year to take action. This problem has to be tackled now.

21 ways to help your staff get more done, in less time – with Office 365
Do you already use Microsoft Office 365 in your business?
Lots of people already do. It’s now got 120 million active users across the world. And 50,000 small businesses sign up every month.

Cyber attacks: Stronger, faster and more sophisticated

Cyber attacks: Stronger, faster and more sophisticated

A new cyber security report has brought some bad news: Cyber attacks are getting stronger, faster, and more sophisticated. We have all the details.
The little things that make a big difference

The little things that make a big difference

Microsoft’s made another update to Windows 11, and while it’s a small one, it could make a big impact. We have all the details of what’s changing.
And the award for most common phishing scam goes to…

And the award for most common phishing scam goes to…

Which phishing scam are you and your employees most at risk from? We tell you about the most common phishing emails and the easy way to stay safe.

Encryption: the difference between chaos and calm

What would happen if your business data was stolen?Would it:a) Throw the company into chaos and put everything on the line? Or… b) Be an inconvenience that, fortunately, you’d already anticipated?

Secure your data under lock and key

The data in your business is invaluable. Without it you wouldn’t have much of a business left, would you?So that data must be kept safe… and one of the best ways to do that is to encrypt it.That way, even if a cyber criminal gets their hands on it, your data is worthless to them.Our latest guide explains everything you need to know about encryption, and why it’s something you should implement straight away.
Before you replace your slow PCs…

Before you replace your slow PCs…

Windows PCs running slowly? It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to replace them. There are some other ways you can give things a boost. We’ll tell you how.
Which ransomware payment option is best? (Hint: none)

Which ransomware payment option is best? (Hint: none)

Cyber criminals are giving you more options when it comes to paying your way out of a ransomware attack. Our advice remains the same though. Find out what that advice is here.
Bridging the trust gap between your employees and AI

Bridging the trust gap between your employees and AI

Have you noticed your employees are reluctant to use AI in the workplace? It may be down to their lack of trust. We explain how to show them AI is a tool that makes work better for everyone.

How proactive monitoring will help your business weather any storm

You’re the captain of your own ship. You have an excellent crew behind you. You’re prepared for anything!Or so you thought.Then one day, out of the blue, a massive digital kraken tentacled its way into your ship's systems, causing havoc.Your lookout was using the crow’s nest as a cosy place to nap. What you really needed was a vigilant lookout, alert for any small sign of danger.This is the difference between being proactive about monitoring your business’s systems, or reactive. And we all know that prevention is better than cure, right?Our latest guide explains everything you need to know about proactive monitoring for your business.Download your free copy now.