What is Microsoft OneDrive and should it be used for online backups?

What is Microsoft OneDrive?

Microsoft’s OneDrive (previoulsy SkyDrive) is a cloud storage service that allows you to upload and synchronise files across all your devices including PCs, Macs, tablets and smart phones, from anywhere, anytime, both online and offline.

OneDrive comes pre-installed on Windows 8.1. OneDrive is not supported on Windows XP. Plans start at 15Gb of storage for Free.

OneDrive for Business is part of the Microsoft Office 365 collaboration and productivity tools delivered in the cloud an provides a massive 1Tb of storage per user.

For more information refer to https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-au/ and for a Getting started with OneDrive Tutorial http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows-8/getting-started-onedrive-tutorial

Should OneDrive be used for online backups?

OneDrive is a great tool that is designed to be used as online storage of documents files, pictures and videos that can be worked on and shared with other people. OneDrive uses “SharePoint” as its backend. It synchs files to a SharePoint Document Library, not directly to a hard drive. SharePoint Document Libraries have size limitations and limitations regarding characters that can be used in file names. OneDrive is not marketed as or meant to be a online backup your hard drive(s) as it does not have many features that online backup solutions should have, including:

• OneDrive only synchronises files. If you accidentally delete something on your local machine, it will be deleted from the OneDrive cloud. If you make a mistake in a file on your local machine, that mistake with by synchronised in the One Drive cloud.
• OneDrive does not retain multiple copies (version history) of all files. In a Online Backup solution, you should be able to retrieve earlier version of files, say up to 30 days ago. At present OneDrive can maintain version history for Office documents only but not other files.
• OneDrive does not have the ability to recover all files from a particular point in time.
• OneDrive does not include automated email alerts and logs functions.

For more information, please refer to the following forum posts:

• http://community.office365.com/en-us/f/172/t/254667.aspx
• http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/forum/sdfiles-sdsync/one-drive-data-backup-and-storage/288a0814-e718-448f-8064-ce7be9d19207

Ask us about our Online Backup and Remote Data Storage IT Solutions.

When Is Your Business Ready For Proactive Managed IT Support Services?

If you are a small business owner and considering whether or not Proactive Managed IT Services will benefit your company, the answer is almost always- yes. There is little doubt that most small businesses can benefit from Managed IT Services, yet that in itself does not always justify the cost of bringing on a third party provider. Accepting that Managed IT Services Providers can offer solutions to common problems found in small business operation, the real question is: when does it make sense to switch from in house IT solutions to the next level which includes Managed IT Services?

There is a good chance if you are already considering Proactive Managed IT Services the time might be near when you are ready to make the switch. Small business owners do not have the luxury of a never ending IT budget, therefore it is very important to recognize when your current IT management is no longer cost effective. For most small businesses this occurs when the business grows to the point of needing either a contract with a local service provider who is “on call” for IT needs or hiring a full time IT person to remain on staff. There is of course another option for small business owners to consider and that is hiring a Managed IT Services Provider to oversee their IT needs.

If you are still unsure that your business is ready for the switch, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you find IT costs are continually increasing?
• Is it difficult to find and retain quality IT staff?
• Is your network and workstation performance and speed decreasing?
• Are your employees spending more time dealing with IT issues than focusing on job they have been hired to perform?
• Do you have problems with viruses, spyware and other security issues that could threaten the confidentiality of proprietary information?
• In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, would your network be at risk? Would recovery be a concern?
• Do you find network downtime is increasing?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, then your business is ready for Proactive Managed IT Services.

Now that you have determined Proactive Managed IT Services are right for your business, the next challenge is finding the right provider of these services. This is a decision that should not be made lightly or rushed as the wrong provider can end up costing your company more money than your current situation. Before you begin the search for a Managed IT Services Provider you should first consider your IT budget as well as issues or problems you want to be addressed. It is important to remember that Proactive Managed IT Services are not a one-size-fits-all type of solution to business problems. Each business and industry has their own issues to contend with and a qualified Proactive Managed IT Services Provider will work with you to find the solutions that will benefit your company the most. If a potential provider is more intent on selling you services and not listening to the needs of your business, move on to another provider who is willing to listen to your concerns and offer customised solutions that address these needs. The point of outsourcing your IT management is to save money while freeing up time to focus on other business operations. For this reason it pays to put forth the effort to find the best Proactive Managed IT Services Provider to oversee your technology needs.

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Is an iPad tablet Useful as a Mobile Computing Device for Businesses?

Some businesses have jumped on the tablet (eg. Apple iPad or Android) wagon and are finding creative ways to use the tablets as a mobile computing device.  For example:

• iT and Beyond client FareShare developed an iPad app to allow the food charity’s van drivers to obtain real-time updates on food collection points and feedback on stock collected and delivery times to the charity’s chefs, improving the quality and speed at which food could be cooked and donated to over 100 charities in Melbourne.
• The Global Mundo Tapas restaurant in Sydney, Australia uses the iPad as an interactive menu.
• Budget airline, Jetstar Airways, uses the iPad for in-flight entertainment, rented for $10 a flight.
• A luxury sedan by Hyundai comes with an iPad instead of a user manual.

Other than these extreme cases, how can an iPad be used to increase productivity or convenience by the average business owner?

Conventions and Workshops

Do you travel to conventions and workshops for your business? Many people bring their laptop to these events. While laptops are of course very convenient compared to a desktop personal computer for travelling, Tablets weigh less and could be even more convenient if you’re travelling from room to room at a convention or workshop. These events are also often designed for networking – so you’re not just sitting at the table all day, glued to your laptop. The smaller, iPad Mini could be slipped into your pocket or a small bag while you walk around the room, or even carried in your hand for easy access as needed, but without being cumbersome.

Flights and Traveling

It’s true a laptop can go on a flight with you, but even the smaller netbooks and laptops add to the weight of your carry on bags and can be frustrating when in the small seats of the plane. If you’re sitting in coach, you know every time the person next to you has to get up to use the bathroom you’re trying to balance the laptop and whatever else you happened to have out in your hands with turbulence knocking you around the aisle. The iPad could be slid into the pocket of the seat in front of you if you have to get out of the way for the passenger next to you – it’s about the size of a magazine.

The same holds true on trains, in taxi cabs, or as a passenger in someone else’s car. Just don’t try to use your iPad while driving, yourself.

Presentations & Sales

Do you travel to client offices to give presentations? How sleek would it be to whip out your iPad and give a sales presentation or demonstration? Apple reports that iPads can connect to the majority of projectors, so you could even broadcast that presentation over a large screen for a larger audience if necessary.

Replace Your Briefcase

Sure, the iPad has a word processor and spreadsheet. Those are always useful for business people. It would be much more convenient to read and edit documents on an iPad over your iPhone while on the road.

But what about the stack of magazines and newspapers you lug around with you in your briefcase? You could have all of your reading materials ready for you on the iPad and skip the briefcase. Use it as an ebook reader, newspaper subscription, and file storage and you’ve literally got everything at your fingertips. With the use of third party Apps, there’s little you can’t do with the iPad for as a mobile computing device for your business.

Click here to learn how [contentblock id=company] can help you get the most out of your iPads, Smartphones and other mobile devices with our Mobile Computing Services for your business in [contentblock id=location].

5 Reasons to Implement a Proactive Managed IT Support Services

Information Technology services are essential to the success of every organisation, large or small. With increasingly competitive business environments, CEOs and small business owners are under great pressure to maintain a highly qualified staff and to make sure their technology is obtaining a better ROI than their competitors’.

These goals are not easily achieved, particularly for young or small businesses with less financial resources and time available. Having your own successful information technology department can eat up too much of the company’s budget and time resources, and eventually cause a loss of its competitive edge. These disadvantages of maintaining an in-house IT department are why companies of all sizes have turned to using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to either assist their existing IT department or become their Virtual IT Department, handling all of the technology involved in keeping their businesses running at optimal levels.

The benefits of using a Proactive Managed IT Support Services solution are numerous, but the top 5 benefits for business include:

1. Benefit from the expertise of a specialist, without having to spend time and financial resources training your staff to become experts
2. Decrease your technology risks with Proactive Managed IT Support Services. Your company doesn’t have to worry about losing and trying to replace trained staff members, or about repairing, implementing or replacing complex technology solutions with Managed IT Services
3. Enjoy access to the most up-to-date, sophisticated technology solutions without having to invest in expensive equipment.
4. Experience ultimate control over your business technology without having to manage an information technology department. This gives you the time you need to focus on what you do best: your business functions.
5. Reduce stress and improve efficiency of your staff. When you make good use of Proactive Managed IT Support Services resources, your staff aren’t tied up with IT concerns and they have more time to focus on tasks that are productive for the business.

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