Category: Software

Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Features and Pricing

Posted on by Jake Boase

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is Microsoft’s most complete plan for small and medium businesses. It bundles the familiar Office apps and Teams with a serious layer of security and device management, which is why it is often the best value plan for a business that takes data protection seriously. This guide explains what is included, roughly what it costs, and who it suits.

In short, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is Microsoft’s most complete plan for small and medium businesses, combining the Office apps with advanced security and device management. You can compare it on the Microsoft 365 for business site.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium apps and security

What is Microsoft 365 Business Premium?

Business Premium is one of the Microsoft 365 plans aimed at organisations up to 300 users. It includes everything in the Business Standard plan, the productivity side, and adds advanced security and device management on top. In short, it is the productivity suite plus the tools to keep your accounts, devices and data safe.

What is included?

  • The Office apps: desktop and web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
  • Email and calendars: business email hosted on Exchange with a 50GB mailbox.
  • Teams: chat, calls and video meetings for the whole organisation.
  • Cloud storage: 1TB of OneDrive per user, plus SharePoint for shared files.
  • Advanced security: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to guard against phishing and malware, plus threat protection.
  • Device management: Microsoft Intune to secure and manage laptops and mobiles.
  • Data protection: tools to control access, encrypt information and wipe lost devices.

What does Microsoft 365 Business Premium cost?

Business Premium is priced per user per month, typically on an annual commitment, and at the time of writing sits at around £18 to £19 per user per month. Microsoft adjusts pricing periodically, so always check the current figure, but as a rule Premium costs a few pounds more per user than Business Standard while adding the whole security and management layer, which is where its value lies.

Business Premium versus Standard

Business Standard gives you the apps, email and Teams. Business Premium adds Defender, Intune and data protection on top. If your business handles sensitive data, has staff working on the move, or wants to meet standards like Cyber Essentials, the extra security in Premium usually justifies the small price difference. If you only need the productivity apps and have security covered elsewhere, Standard may be enough.

Who is it best for?

  • Businesses that want productivity and security in one plan.
  • Teams with laptops and mobiles that need managing and protecting.
  • Organisations handling customer or financial data.
  • Anyone working towards Cyber Essentials or similar standards.

Getting the most from it

Business Premium is powerful, but the security features only protect you if they are set up properly. Multi-factor authentication, Defender policies and Intune all need configuring for your business rather than left at their defaults. That is where a good IT partner adds real value, turning the licence you are paying for into genuine protection. A free cyber security audit is a good way to check yours is configured well.

How ATS Connection can help

We license, set up and manage Microsoft 365 for businesses across West Sussex, configuring the security properly and supporting your team day to day as part of our managed IT support. Get a quote or call 01903 255 159.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium?

It includes the Office apps, business email, Teams, 1TB of OneDrive per user, plus advanced security through Microsoft Defender and device management through Intune, and data protection tools.

How much does Microsoft 365 Business Premium cost?

It is priced per user per month, usually on an annual plan, and at the time of writing is around £18 to £19 per user per month. Microsoft updates pricing periodically, so check the current figure.

What is the difference between Business Standard and Business Premium?

Standard gives you the apps, email and Teams. Premium adds advanced security (Defender), device management (Intune) and data protection, making it better for businesses handling sensitive data.

Is Microsoft 365 Business Premium worth it?

For most businesses handling important data or with staff working on the move, yes. The security and management tools usually justify the small price difference over Standard.

How many users can Business Premium support?

Microsoft 365 Business plans, including Business Premium, support up to 300 users. Larger organisations move to the Enterprise plans.

Turn off focused inbox in Outlook

Posted on by Jake Boase

Are you tired of your Outlook app automatically sorting your emails into a “focused” inbox and an “other” inbox? While some people find this feature helpful, others prefer to have full control over their inbox organisation. If you fall into the latter category, you’ll be pleased to know that turning off the focused inbox in Outlook is a simple process.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to disable the focused inbox feature in Outlook across various platforms, including Windows, web, Mac, and mobile. So let’s get started and regain control of your email workflow!

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Windows
  3. How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Web
  4. How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Mac
  5. How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Mobile
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQ

Introduction

Outlook, a part of Microsoft Office suite, automatically categories your incoming emails into two sections – a “focused” inbox for important emails and an “other” inbox for less important ones. While this feature can be beneficial for some users, it may not align with everyone’s preferences or workflow.

Fortunately, Outlook provides an option to disable the focused inbox, allowing you to view all your emails in a single unified inbox. In the following sections, we will guide you step-by-step on how to turn off the focused inbox feature in Outlook across different platforms.

How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Windows

If you are using Outlook on a Windows computer, follow these steps to disable the focused inbox:

  1. Launch the Outlook application on your Windows computer.
  2. Click on the View tab located at the top of the Outlook window.
  3. In the View tab, locate and click on the Show Focused Inbox button.
  4. By clicking on the Show Focused Inbox button, the “Focused” and “Other” tabs will disappear from the top of your mailbox.

It’s that simple! You have successfully turned off the focused inbox feature in Outlook for Windows.

How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Web

If you prefer to use Outlook on the web, here’s how you can disable the focused inbox:

  1. Access your Outlook account through a web browser.
  2. Click on the Settings button, usually represented by a gear icon, located at the top right corner of the Outlook window.
  3. In the settings menu, click on Display settings.
  4. Locate the Focused Inbox section and select the Don’t sort messages option under the When email is received subtitle.
  5. Click on OK to save the changes.

Congratulations! You have now turned off the focused inbox feature in Outlook for the web.

How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Mac

Mac users can follow these instructions to disable the focused inbox feature in Outlook:

  1. Open the Outlook application on your Mac.
  2. Navigate to the Organise tab located at the top of the Outlook window.
  3. Under the Organize tab, select the Focused Inbox option.
  4. Once you click on the Focused Inbox option, the “Focused” and “Other” mailbox tabs will disappear, leaving you with a single unified inbox.

Well done! You have successfully disabled the focused inbox feature in Outlook for Mac.

How to Turn Off Focused Inbox in Outlook for Mobile

If you primarily use Outlook on your mobile device, here’s how you can turn off the focused inbox:

  1. Launch the Outlook app on your mobile device.
  2. Tap the menu button, usually represented by three horizontal lines, located at the top of the screen.
  3. Select the Settings button from the menu.
  4. Locate the Focused Inbox option in the settings menu and slide the toggle switch to the Off position.

Great job! You have now turned off the focused inbox feature in Outlook for mobile.

Conclusion

In summary, the focused inbox feature in Outlook can be a useful tool for organising your emails, but it may not suit everyone’s preferences or workflow. If you find that the focused inbox is causing more hassle than convenience, you can easily turn it off.

Whether you are using Outlook on Windows, web, Mac, or mobile, we have provided step-by-step instructions to help you disable the focused inbox feature across various platforms. By following these instructions, you can regain control of your email organisation and view all your emails in a single unified inbox.

FAQ

Q: Will turning off the focused inbox affect how my emails are sorted? A: Yes, disabling the focused inbox feature will remove the “Focused” and “Other” tabs, and all your emails will be displayed in a single unified inbox without any automatic sorting.

Q: Can I enable the focused inbox again if I change my mind? A: Absolutely! If you decide to give the focused inbox another try, you can easily re-enable it by following the same steps outlined in this guide, but selecting the appropriate option to turn it on.

Q: Will turning off the focused inbox affect any other features or settings in Outlook? A: No, disabling the focused inbox only affects how your emails are organised and displayed. All other features and settings in Outlook will remain unchanged.

Q: Are there any alternatives to the focused inbox feature in Outlook? A: Yes, if you prefer a different way of organising your emails, Outlook offers various features and tools such as rules, filters, and categories that can help you customise your email management according to your preferences.

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Sharepoint: Empowering Collaboration and Streamlining Workflows

Posted on by Jake Boase

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected business environment, efficient collaboration and streamlined workflows are essential for success. To meet these demands, businesses are turning to Sharepoint, a powerful collaboration platform offered by Microsoft.

SharePoint enables teams to work together seamlessly, share information, and automate business processes, ultimately boosting productivity and driving business growth.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the fundamentals of Sharepoint, its benefits, and its various applications.

We will also delve into the latest features and updates in Sharepoint 2019, highlighting its enhanced capabilities and improved user experience.

So, whether you are new to SharePoint or looking to optimise your existing implementation, this guide will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to leverage the full potential of Sharepoint in your business.

What is SharePoint?

Sharepoint is a collaboration system that empowers business teams to work together effectively. It utilises workflow applications, “list” databases, and other web parts and security features to facilitate seamless collaboration and information sharing across the organisation.

SharePoint also offers robust access control mechanisms, allowing businesses to control who can access specific information and automate workflow processes across different business units.

Microsoft offers Sharepoint in both on-premises and cloud-based versions. SharePoint Online, the cloud version, is part of the broader Office 365 suite, which integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft applications. This integration provides users with a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance collaboration, communication, and productivity.

Benefits of Using SharePoint

Implementing SharePoint in your organisation brings numerous benefits, empowering your teams and driving efficiency. Some key benefits of Sharepoint include:

Increased Productivity and Visibility

SharePoint provides a centralised platform where employees can access and collaborate on documents, projects, and tasks. With features like document co-authoring, version control, and real-time updates, SharePoint enables teams to work together more efficiently and effectively. It also offers visibility into project progress, facilitating better coordination and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Secure Sharing and Content Management

SharePoint’s robust security features allow businesses to control access to sensitive information and protect their data. It enables secure sharing of documents and files within the business, ensuring that only authorised individuals can access and edit them.

Sharepoint also offers extensive content management capabilities, allowing businesses to organise, categorise, and tag documents for easy retrieval.

Workflow Automation

SharePoint enables businesses to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks through its workflow capabilities. By defining custom workflows, businesses can automate document approvals, notifications, and other routine processes, saving time and reducing the risk of errors. This automation streamlines business operations and enables employees to focus on more strategic tasks.

Customisability and Scalability

SharePoint is highly customisable, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs. It offers a wide range of templates, web parts, and integrations that can be customised to match the organisation’s branding and requirements. Sharepoint is also scalable, accommodating organisations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Sharepoint Use Cases

Sharepoint has been widely adopted across various industries and sectors, serving as a versatile platform for collaboration and content management. Some common use cases of SharePoint include:

Intranet and Document Management

SharePoint serves as an efficient intranet platform, enabling businesses to create a centralised hub for company-wide communication and information sharing. It allows employees to access important documents, policies, and announcements, facilitating seamless knowledge sharing and improving internal communication.

Project Management and Team Collaboration

SharePoint provides a collaborative environment for project teams, enabling them to share documents, track project progress, and communicate effectively. With features like task lists, shared calendars, and discussion boards, Sharepoint empowers teams to work together efficiently and ensures everyone is aligned towards project goals.

Records Management and Compliance

SharePoint offers robust records management capabilities, allowing organisations to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. It provides features like document retention policies, version control, and audit trails, ensuring the integrity and security of important records.

Business Process Automation

SharePoint’s workflow capabilities enable organisations to automate business processes, reducing manual effort and improving efficiency. By defining custom workflows, organizations can automate tasks like document approvals, contract management, and employee onboarding, streamlining operations and minimizing errors.

External Collaboration and Client Portals

SharePoint allows businesses to collaborate with external stakeholders, such as clients, partners, and suppliers. It provides secure external sharing capabilities, ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to authorised individuals. Sharepoint’s client portals enable organisations to provide a personalised and secure platform for clients to access relevant documents and communicate with the organisation.

SharePoint Apps: Extending Functionality

SharePoint offers a wide range of apps that can be integrated with the platform to extend its functionality and cater to specific business needs. These apps can add features and options that are not available in the standard Sharepoint platform. Some popular Sharepoint apps include:

Document Management Apps

Document management apps enhance SharePoint’s document management capabilities by providing additional features like advanced search, metadata tagging, and document analytics. These apps facilitate better organization, retrieval, and analysis of documents, making it easier for employees to find the information they need.

Workflow Automation Apps

Workflow automation apps enable businesses to automate complex business processes and streamline operations. These apps provide intuitive interfaces for designing and deploying workflows, allowing non-technical users to automate tasks without relying on IT support. They can automate processes like document approvals, employee onboarding, and contract management, improving efficiency and reducing manual effort.

Communication and Collaboration Apps

Communication and collaboration apps enhance SharePoint’s collaboration capabilities, enabling teams to communicate and work together seamlessly. These apps provide features like instant messaging, video conferencing, and virtual whiteboards, facilitating real-time collaboration and fostering teamwork.

Custom Development Apps

Custom development apps enable organisations to build custom solutions on top of SharePoint. These apps provide development frameworks, APIs, and tools that allow developers to create tailored solutions that meet specific business requirements. Custom development apps empower businesses to extend Sharepoint’s functionality and integrate it with other systems and applications.

SharePoint 2019: Enhanced Features and Updates

SharePoint 2019 introduces several new features and updates that further enhance its collaboration capabilities and user experience. These updates cater to the evolving needs of modern workplaces, empowering employees to work more efficiently and effectively. Some key features of Sharepoint 2019 include:

Modern Team and Site Pages

SharePoint 2019 introduces modern team and site pages, allowing users to customise their pages with modern web parts. Users can embed videos, incorporate feeds from external sources, and add documents and images to create engaging and interactive pages. These modern pages provide a visually appealing and user-friendly interface for sharing information and collaborating with team members.

Improved Lists and Libraries

Lists and libraries in Sharepoint 2019 have a modern look and feel, providing a faster and more intuitive user experience. Users can easily manage columns, interact with lists and libraries on mobile devices, and gain informative insights from data. The improved lists and libraries also offer advanced features like conditional formatting, making it easier to highlight important information and drive data-driven decision-making.

Enhanced Communication Sites

SharePoint 2019 introduces communication sites, which serve as a platform for sharing news, stories, and announcements within the business. These sites provide a customisable and visually appealing interface for showcasing content and engaging employees. Communication sites can be easily created by users, empowering them to share information and collaborate with colleagues without relying on IT support.

Mobile and Desktop Experience

SharePoint 2019 enhances the mobile experience for users, allowing them to access and engage with the business’s group from anywhere, on any device. The improved Sharepoint mobile app provides a seamless and intuitive interface for accessing documents, sites, and lists on the go. SharePoint 2019 also offers improved sync clients for OneDrive for Business, enabling users to sync files and access them offline.

Expanded Customisation Options

SharePoint 2019 provides expanded customisation options, empowering organisations to tailor the platform to their specific needs. Integration with Power Apps and Power Automate (formerly known as Flow) allows organisations to create custom workflows and automate business processes with ease. Sharepoint 2019 also supports SharePoint Add-Ins, providing a flexible and scalable approach to extending Sharepoint’s functionality.

Hybrid Solutions and Integration

SharePoint 2019 enhances its hybrid capabilities, enabling seamless integration between Sharepoint Online and Sharepoint Server. The improved search function offers an intuitive layout and real-time search results, improving the user experience. Sharepoint 2019 also supports hybrid taxonomy, allowing organisations to maintain a centralised managed metadata term store across both cloud and on-premises deployments.

Compliance and Security Enhancements

SharePoint 2019 extends its compliance capabilities, enabling organisations to effectively manage sensitive content and ensure regulatory compliance. The new version provides automatic content detection, central reporting for incidents, and enhanced sensitive content types. Administrators can search for sensitive information in real-time and apply policy templates to control and monitor content, aligning with industry standards and regulations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SharePoint is a powerful tool for businesses looking to enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and improve data management. Its potential is truly transformative. However, realising the full benefits of SharePoint requires expert guidance and support, which is where ATS Connection’s IT Support services come in.

Our team of experienced professionals can help you leverage SharePoint to its maximum potential, ensuring a seamless integration into your business processes.

Whether you’re just starting with SharePoint or looking to optimise your existing setup, ATS Connection is here to provide tailored solutions, ensuring that your technology works for you, not the other way around. Contact us today to explore how we can elevate your business with SharePoint and comprehensive IT Support.

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The importance of cyber security

Posted on by Jake Boase

In today’s digital age, businesses of all sizes rely heavily on technology to operate. While technology has revolutionized the way we work and do business, it has also created new vulnerabilities and threats. Cyber security is more important than ever, and businesses need to take it seriously to protect their assets, reputation, and customers.

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of cyber security for businesses and why it’s crucial to implement effective cyber security measures.

Cyber attacks are on the rise

Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, and businesses are often the primary targets. Hackers are constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit, and they can cause significant damage to businesses in the form of financial loss, reputational damage, and legal liability.

According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime is expected to cost businesses £6 trillion annually by 2021. This is a staggering number, and it’s a clear indication of the scale of the problem. As such, businesses need to take cyber security seriously and ensure that they have adequate protection in place.

Protecting customer data

Customer data is one of the most valuable assets that businesses have, and it’s often a primary target for cybercriminals. If customer data is compromised, it can have severe consequences for businesses. Customers may lose trust in the business, leading to reputational damage, and businesses may also face legal action.

As such, it’s essential for businesses to have robust security measures in place to protect customer data. This includes implementing encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular security updates to ensure that vulnerabilities are patched promptly.

Compliance with regulations

Many industries are subject to strict regulations concerning data protection and privacy, and businesses must comply with these regulations. Failure to do so can result in significant fines and legal action. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes severe penalties for non-compliance, including fines of up to £20 million or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is greater.

As such, businesses must implement effective cyber security measures to ensure compliance with regulations and avoid penalties.

Protecting intellectual property

Businesses invest a significant amount of time and money into developing intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. Cybercriminals may target businesses to steal this valuable information, which can have severe consequences.

Protecting intellectual property requires robust cyber security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data loss prevention software. It’s also important to educate employees about the importance of data protection and ensure that they follow best practices to minimize the risk of a breach.

Rebuilding after an attack is costly and time-consuming

Finally, it’s important to note that recovering from a cyber attack can be costly and time-consuming. Businesses may need to invest in new equipment, software, and security measures to prevent future attacks. Additionally, businesses may need to spend significant amounts of time rebuilding their reputation and regaining customer trust.

Prevention is always better than cure, and investing in cyber security measures upfront can save businesses a lot of time and money in the long run.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cyber security is of utmost importance for businesses of all sizes. Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, and businesses must take adequate measures to protect themselves and their customers. By implementing robust security measures, businesses can safeguard their assets, reputation, and customers, comply with regulations, protect intellectual property, and avoid the costly and time-consuming process of recovering from an attack.

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What is Cyber Security?

Posted on by Jake Boase

Cyber security is the defence against cyber threats for systems connected to the internet, including their hardware, software, and data. Individuals and businesses both utilise this technique to prevent illegal access to data centres and other digital systems.

A strong cyber security plan can offer a good security posture against malicious assaults intended to gain access to, alter, delete, destroy, or extort sensitive data and systems belonging to a business or user. Security measures are essential in preventing attacks that try to take down or impair a system or device’s functionality.

Why is cyber security important?

The importance of cyber security is only going to increase as there are more people, devices, and programmes in the modern business, along with an influx of more data, most of it sensitive or confidential. 

The issue is made even worse by the increase in the quantity and level of sophistication of cyberattackers and attack methodologies.

What are the elements of cyber security, and how does it work?

The subject of cyber security can be divided into a number of distinct parts, and it is essential for a company’s coordination within that field to have a successful cyber security programme. The following is a list of these sections:

  • Application security
  • Information or data security
  • Network security
  • Disaster recovery/business continuity planning
  • Operational security
  • Cloud security
  • Critical infrastructure security
  • Physical security
  • End-user education

For many businesses, maintaining cyber security in a threat environment that is continuously changing is difficult. Traditional reactive strategies, which focused resources on defending systems against the most significant known threats while leaving less significant threats undefended, are no longer an effective method.

An approach that is more proactive and adaptable is required to keep up with shifting security dangers. A number of significant cyber security consulting bodies provide direction. 

For instance, as part of a framework for risk assessment, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) advises adopting continuous monitoring and real-time assessments to protect against both known and unidentified threats.

What are the different types of cyber security threats?

It can be difficult to stay on top of emerging technology, security trends, and threat intelligence. It is required to safeguard data and other assets from many types of cyberthreats. Some examples of cyberthreats are:

  • Malware – A form of harmful software known as malware allows any file or programme to be used against a computer user. Worms, viruses, Trojan horses, and spyware are included.
  • Ransomware is also a type of malware. It entails an attacker encrypting and locking the victim’s computer system files, then demanding cash to decrypt and unlock them.
  • Social engineering – An attack known as social engineering uses human contact to persuade users to circumvent security measures in order to obtain sensitive information that is ordinarily protected.
  • Phishing –  A type of social engineering in which phoney emails or texts are delivered that appear to be from reliable or well-known sources. These communications, which are frequently random attacks, aim to steal sensitive information like credit card numbers or login credentials.
  • Spear phishing – A type of phishing attack that has an intended target user, organisation or business.
  • Insider threats – Security lapses or losses brought on by people, such as staff members, subcontractors, or clients, are referred to as insider threats. Insider threats can be malicious or careless. 
  • Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) – Involve several systems interfering with the operation of a targeted system, such as a server, website, or other network resource. Attackers can slow down or disrupt a target system by flooding it with messages, connection requests, or packets, blocking legitimate traffic from accessing it.
  • Advanced persistent threats (APTs) – Targeted attacks that last a long time and involve an attacker infiltrating a network and avoiding detection for a long time in order to collect data.

Botnets, drive-by-download attacks, exploit kits, malicious advertising, phishing, credential stuffing assaults, cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, SQL injection attacks, business email compromise (BEC), and zero-day exploits are additional frequent forms of attacks.

What are the cyber security challenges?

Hackers, data loss, privacy concerns, risk management, and evolving cybersecurity tactics all present ongoing threats to cybersecurity. In the near future, it is not anticipated that the number of cyberattacks would decline. 

Additionally, the emergence of the internet of things (IoT) has added attack access points, necessitating a greater requirement for network and device security.

The fact that security dangers are constantly changing is one of the most challenging aspects of cyber security.  New attack routes are created as a result of the emergence of new technologies and their use in novel or unconventional ways. 

It can be difficult to keep up with these constant changes and advancements in assaults and to update procedures to defend against them. 

Concerns include making sure that all cyber security components are regularly updated to guard against any vulnerabilities. 

For smaller companies without the workforce or internal resources, this can be particularly challenging and a reason why they should look at outsourcing their cyber security.

Additionally, businesses have access to a wealth of information on people who use one or more of their services. The risk of a cybercriminal wanting to steal personally identifiable information (PII) increases as more data is gathered. 

For instance, a ransomware assault may target a company that saves personally identifiable information in the cloud. Businesses ought to take all reasonable precautions to avoid a cloud breach due to costly fines and penalties.

End-user education should be a part of cyber security measures, as staff members may unintentionally introduce malware onto the premises on their laptops or mobile devices. Employees who regularly receive security awareness training can help protect their business from cyberthreats.

Lack of qualified cyber security staff is another issue facing cyber security. Businesses need cybersecurity employees to assess, monitor, and respond to problems as the amount of data they gather and utilise expands. The shortage of security experts in the workforce, according to (ISC)2, is projected at 3.1 million.

How is automation used in cyber security?

Automation is becoming a crucial part of keeping businesses safe from the numerous and sophisticated cyberthreats that are on the rise. Cyber security can be enhanced in three key areas by utilising artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in sectors with high-volume data streams:

  • Threat recognition –  Platforms powered by AI are able to evaluate data, identify known dangers, and forecast new ones.
  • Threat reaction –  Platforms powered by AI can also design and automatically implement security measures. 
  • Human augmentation –  Security professionals frequently have too many warnings and boring duties to complete. By automating large data analysis and other repetitive operations, AI can assist reduce alert fatigue by prioritising low-risk warnings automatically and freeing up human labour for more complex tasks.

Automation in cybersecurity also helps with attack and malware categorisation, traffic and compliance analysis, and more.

Cyber security tools

Cyber security suppliers frequently provide a range of security goods and services. Typical security devices and platforms include:

  • Identity and access management (IAM)
  • Firewalls
  • Endpoint protection
  • Antimalware
  • Intrusion prevention/detection systems (IPS/IDS)
  • Data loss prevention (DLP)
  • Endpoint detection and response
  • Security information and event management (SIEM)
  • Encryption tools
  • Vulnerability scanners
  • Virtual private networks (VPNs)
  • Cloud workload protection platform (CWPP)
  • Cloud access security broker (CASB)

Conclusion

There is much to be discussed when it comes to cyber security, and it can come across quite daunting when you read the full aspect of it. Here at ATS Connection we try to help businesses be mindful of the rising cases of companies being hacked by talking about the subject of cyber security in hope that it can help you be more cautious.

We offer cyber security management services to take this all of your shoulders and protect your company and it’s data.

If you would like to know more then please fill in the form below and one of our cyber experts will be in touch.

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The Benefits of White Label IT Support

Posted on by Jake Boase

White label IT support services can benefit your businesses’ growth, whether you’re selling your own products/ or want to add IT support services to your current white labelled products you offer. White label IT solutions allows you to scale at a pace that suits you and has no outlay financially until you are making money yourselves.

What is white label IT support?

White label IT support allows you to offer your end users IT services with the benefit of you not needing to hire any staff members as the services are carried out under your identity and performed as if they were in-house IT staff.

White label IT support services come in various forms:

  • White label IT help desk – With this option, your white label partner provides technical support to your end users. They answer questions, troubleshoot problems, and offer general help to your IT customers via phone, email or remote it services.
  • On-site IT support – With on-site services, IT engineers go to your client’s location to fix IT problems, maintain systems, or replace hardware.
  • Telecoms – This involves communication services like VoIP phone systems, broadband, and mobile data plans.

When should you consider white labelling IT?

You can increase the scope of your services without hiring more people by white labelling IT solutions.  White labelling is something to consider if you lack the resources to provide effective IT solutions, either because you’re a small business or because it is growing quickly. Here is why white labelling is worthing looking into in these circumstances:

  • The more complicated issues affecting your end customers might be better handled by a third party with a diversified team of experts.
  • You can provide service around-the-clock, which can be a significant selling factor for your company.
  • White labelling is cost-effective. Without having to hire a large workforce or worry about managing or training your IT staff, your business can make use of experienced IT professionals.

Is white labelling IT profitable?

This is the big one! Is White Labelling even going to have a chance of making your business profitable?

Yes!

With white label IT support you get to offer our services at a set fee and in return you choose what to charge your clients! On average, our white label IT partners make around 50% – 70% profit on each end user.

The key? Finding an IT partner you can trust

Finding the right white label IT partner is crucial to any partnership working. Both parties need to work in unison and ensure they are on the same page at all times.

When you partner with ATS Connection, you can select the type of partnership that is best for your business. 

You can exert as much control as you like on the procedure, branding, and client experience thanks to our flexibility. 

Find out more on our white labelling IT solutions here or contact us on 01903 357002.

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Cloud vs On-site Servers

Posted on by Matt Jones

More and more businesses are looking to move away from server infrastructure, replacing it with cloud computing. Why? Well theres lots of reasons and we’ll be covering only some within this article explaining the advantages and dissadvantages of each.

Money

Cloud server:

Having a cloud server costs a lot less, it doesn’t demand a special room with air conditioning. All it requires is an internet connection, whether they is standard broadband or 4G/5G.

All you’ll pay for is what you need and the storage grows as you grow. No more continuous running costs, only a monthly flat fee based on what your business needs.

Cloud servers are essentially a VPS stored in a compliant data centre. A typical situation is an IT provider (in this instance ourselves) will own some servers which we would segment up for individual clients. This way we know that the servers are protected 24/7 in a UK data centre which is constantly managed.

We take where we get our servers from very seriously and that is why we have partnered with a UK based company running servers from 100% renewable energy.

A typical cost for a cloud server can range between £50 – £200 pcm depending on your storage size.

On-site server:

Naturally one of the main reasons going against on-site servers is cost, businesses want to receive a good product for the cheapest price. Sinking money into an old on-site server is not the way to do that.

On-site servers have an extremely high running cost. 

They take up space, usually a separate locked room something that some small businesses might not have access to.

Servers also get hot, they require air conditioning and to be kept at a stable temperature. Running air-conditioning units costs a lot of money and they don’t stop running even when the office closes.

Servers consume a lot of power just by themselves without the addition of air-con. Something that can’t be turned off which constantly drains power while upping your bill.

Also if that server is in your building it becomes your problem if something goes wrong. Maintenance bills can be pricy especially if you haven’t been taking care of your server with regular checks and upgrades. If your server goes down your team might not be able to work until its fixed.

So how much do servers cost? On average you are looking at a minimum of £1000 for a basic server going upwards to £25,000 for a high end server.

Responsibility

Cloud server:

With cloud servers you are more than likely protected by the IT provider you are getting the cloud server from. There is also a lot less responsibility in general with cloud servers due to their set up.

On-site server:

With your on-site server ultimately everything is your responsibility unless you pay an IT provider. Uptime, maintenance, security and backups, each of these components holds a cost, if that cost isn’t met then it carries a risk, if the server goes down then how are your employees going to work? If your server gets hacked, how detrimental will that be to your company?

Often overlooked security is one of the most important subjects, if an invader gains access they can wreak all sorts of mayhem. If your company stores customer information then theres a good chance that you’re going to receive a massive fine from the government.

If your server is managed by someone else then ultimately everything above is their responsibility, and ultimately they are experts in their field when it comes to this. These people know what they are doing so your server is in safe hands.

Enterprise features

Cloud server:

The bulk of this is handled for you in the cloud, and for the typical small or medium business, the redundancy, resilience, and reliability are considerably higher than they would be with an on-premises solution.

Take email as an illustration. One or two servers might support an on-premises email service used by a typical small or medium-sized business. These will be backed up, and in more sophisticated circumstances, they might have copies elsewhere that might be brought online in the event of a breakdown.

On-site server:

Large businesses spend a significant portion of their IT spending removing single points of failure as a follow-up to shared responsibility. Redundancy is first introduced by adding more servers, firewalls, switches, and internet connectivity, but in many circumstances, this leads to one or more completely duplicate infrastructure sets.

Smaller firms are just as dependent on working IT as any large corporation, but they rarely have the resources or room to provide that type of resilience.

Conclusion

This is only a small sample of what cloud solutions might be able to do for your company. The main takeaway is that in order to realise the benefits, it’s crucial to look beyond the up-front or continuing charges and analyse your present solution’s total cost of ownership before comparing it to the new benefits and risk reductions. You’ll probably discover that taking the risk will benefit you more in the long run.

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Utilising RMM in Business

Posted on by Tobias Gillott

What is RMM?

Remote Monitoring and Management software is one of the most useful and important software programs that we use as an IT company.

It lets us support our clients wherever we are, and wherever they are.

RMM allows us to support our clients faster and address problems with minimal user interruption. Support-wise, RMM allows us to remotely control the computer, we can see the screen and perform inputs such as typing. This means we don’t have to always go on-site to resolve an issue, reducing callout charges.

More than a remote

RMM does so much more than just letting us control a computer. We can completely review the workings of the computer such as how hard certain components are working, storage space, fan speed, heat generated, and more. With this information we’re alerted to problems before something can go critically wrong, we can take actions to stop an issue progressing.

Scripts and Automation

Scripts and automation give us more time to focus on the important things. We can set certain alerts and severity scaling to warrant appropriate scripts. Usually used on low to medium scale alerts an automatic response can be made, scripts can be sent and run through the RMM to fix small issues.

We run scheduled thorough audits on many of the devices we cover to scan for problems where we can then take action based on the output. Security audits are also performed via script deployment, which return detailed security reports.

Quick jobs are also very helpful in performing pre-written scripts, this can let us administer patches and updates without interruption. We can also install some apps, which makes deploying software over a large company much quicker.

Policies

Polices can be applied globally or to certain sites, depending on how managed a company wants their devices. Policies can also be configured with scripts and automation, some companies may always require a certain software in their devices. With policies, software can automatically be downloaded and kept up to date if it were removed or if a new device was added.

Policies are also great for making sure that software programs and operating systems are up-to-date, improving the security of devices and their performance.

Reports

When requested by the client or needed by us, reports globally or per site can be generated and give us an outline of;

  • Usage over a period of time.
  • Current status of installed software programs and versions.
  • Storage capacity.
  • Average lifespan of the device.

Want more control over your business IT system?

ATS Connection can offer your business fully and partially managed IT Support. All our retainer business clients are enrolled to our RMM software, so there’s no extra costs. We always stay proactive with our clients systems, and RMM makes that easier and more precise.

View our Business IT Support
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What Is Business IT Support?

Posted on by Jake Boase

Business IT Support is in essence a fully managed proactive IT support solution that delivers bespoke IT support services within suitable and agreed timeframes. This means that as well as making provisions to protect against online cyber threats, specialist IT support staff are available to help in day-to-day IT issues, including server failure, software failure, and telecommunications outages.

Types of business IT support

Business IT Support is provided as a comprehensive IT support solution as well as a number of compartmentalised support packages that are designed to deliver the necessary level of Business IT Support for particular business areas.

Any relevant internal IT personnel and equipment are effectively replaced by the business IT support team, which transforms into an external IT department.

The nature and size of the business will determine the specific IT support needs. As a result, determining the appropriate package of customised business IT support will inevitably involve an initial discussion about client needs and expectations as well as an evaluation of the current IT infrastructure (upgraded infrastructure may be required to rollout changes).

Types of IT support include:

And much more!

An agreed-upon monthly price is charged for the services. There is the option of an annual IT support evaluation, as well as regular reporting on the efficiency of all provided Business IT Support services.

What are the benefits of business IT support?

There are many significant advantages to choosing to outsource your Business IT Support needs to a specialised remote IT support team.

One of these advantages is that businesses can divert resources (both in terms of employee time and financial resources) from addressing IT difficulties and instead concentrate all efforts on accomplishing key business objectives.

Some benefits include:

Boosted productivity – The purpose of the specialised Business IT Support team is to offer prompt, professional IT support for a variety of IT problems. This means that current employees who may have previously been charged with performing IT support services may be released from such responsibilities, allowing all internal employees to instead concentrate on other business functions.

Threat detection – Any inbound files with possibly dangerous intentions will be quarantined by the service provider as part of the Business IT Support function offered by the outsourced off-site team. This provides greater security for the company network and any on-site servers in addition to lowering the danger of file corruption to specific workstations.

Proactive maintenance – Proactive maintenance from an expert Business IT Support company can help to increase business continuity levels, ensuring that incoming threats are analysed and stopped.

24/7 IT management – An IT Support company can ensure you systems are fully managed 24/7. Ensuring issues are stopped before they become a real problem, meaning less downtime.

The vast majority of businesses use IT, and it is extremely uncommon to find a business that doesn’t use computers in some capacity. While you may be familiar with what you’re doing on a computer and how to take advantage of all the necessary tools, the technical details can still be a mystery.

It is also quite challenging to stay current with all the most recent developments in technology, which is still evolving quickly. An IT support company offers technical help to other businesses by repairing difficulties with their technology, such as computers and networks, and by keeping an eye on the systems for any problems.

Supporting your business

Our support agreements are completely customised for your company. We will evaluate all of your equipment and talk about your needs to develop a completely customised plan.

Give us a call on 01903 357002 if you’d like a free, no-obligation quote for IT support for your company.

Looking to outsource your IT?

The importance of investing into IT is vital. With more advanced threats happening each day, can you afford not to?

5 reasons to outsource your cyber security

Posted on by Matt Jones

For the majority of businesses, maintaining a solid security position is a significant challenge. All businesses are at risk of becoming victims of the advanced cyberattacks that are growing more prevalent. Businesses often use new technologies that concentrate on prevention, detection, and remediation to lower this risk. 

But this technology alone won’t stop a cyberattack; it needs to be used by knowledgeable security experts. To make sure their business is as secure as possible, many companies opt to outsource this to a reliable third party. This post will go over 5 reasons for outsourcing cyber security by businesses.

Access to cyber security experts

Many businesses rely on their internal departments to manage both their infrastructure and cyber security. This can be a daunting endeavour, leading to a weak security posture and a stressed-out workforce, depending on the size of the business and the workload of the IT department. 

This is made worse by the fact that there is now a scarcity of cybersecurity professionals, which makes it challenging for organisations to hire them.

A business has access to a group of cyber security experts when they outsource their cybersecurity to a reliable third party. 

Their expertise guarantees that they will be able to precisely identify and address weaknesses in a business’s security set up, and most significantly, they are knowledgeable about the most recent cyberthreats and the most effective defences against them.

Reduced costs

Employing a new security specialist or retraining existing staff may be very expensive for businesses of all sizes. 

It might be challenging to justify hiring someone specifically for security for smaller businesses. A business will still have to pay for cyber security solutions in addition to the expense of hiring or training personnel. 

While the cost of outsourcing a business’s cybersecurity is often a fixed monthly sum that covers the technology as well as access to the team of cyber security experts.

Anytime a business weighs the expense of outsourcing security, they should also take into account the typical cost of a cyberattack because this can help determine the return on investment.

Decrease workload

If your business has internal IT staff, there’s a good chance they’re already swamped with support requests and managing the IT infrastructure. 

They frequently end up having insufficient time to focus on finding the ideal security solution or monitoring threats once the solution has been put in place. 

When cybersecurity is outsourced, a third-party supplier is in charge of the solution’s strategy, execution, and monitoring. As a result, internal IT departments have more time to devote to developing IT solutions that advance the company and enhance the experiences of both customers and other employees.

Improved incident response time

It is essential for a business to act swiftly after being the target of an attack to limit further damage and downtime. An internal IT team might not be aware of a cybercriminal entering a network or system over the weekend until Monday am. 

The threat actor will have enough time as a result to migrate laterally via a network and cause greater harm. For instance, Russian nation-state hackers can penetrate a network in under 18 minutes.

Numerous cybersecurity service providers provide protection, detection, and remediation around-the-clock to guarantee that, once an assault happens, someone is prepared to act quickly. 

Additionally, it is less expensive than hiring an internal crew to work on the weekends and through the evenings to provide round-the-clock security.

More advanced technologies

Numerous cyber security technologies, such as endpoint protection, email protection, autonomous detection, and many more, are made to perform particular tasks. 

Because it would be too expensive and time-consuming to provide training for every available option, an internal IT staff would not have experience with all of these cutting-edge technology. 

If a business outsources their cyber security requirements, it will be protected by a team of experts with knowledge of a variety of cutting-edge cybersecurity tools. This team will be able to reliably provide insights into which technologies are worthwhile for a business to invest in.

FREE cyber security audit

Looking to outsource your Cyber Security?

The importance of investing into security is vital. With more advanced threats happening each day, can you afford not to?