Open-concept offices are the trend these days, allowing employees to work more efficiently and collaboratively.

But with the benefits come the negatives, including noise and space intrusion.

Here are some tech tools that will ease the difficulties associated with working in an open environment:

• Noise-canceling headphones: These are essential for anyone who works in the hustle and bustle of a busy, open office space. They allow employees to tune in and out of the environment around them, increasing productivity and allowing them to focus on their own work when needed.
• Portable devices: Portable devices are much less bulky and take up less space than the typical desktop staples. Plus, bringing in the devices you do need and leaving the ones you don’t frees up space that unused equipment would take up. And if escape is needed from the bustling open-concept office environment, portable devices are ideal to go back and forth from the office and home.
• Smart tech: Smart tech allows you to switch from one task to another quickly and seamlessly, comes with multiple ways to stay connected simultaneously (multiple USB ports, for example), and ultimately decreases tech troubleshooting, increasing work productivity in an open work atmosphere.

Benefit from these advantageous tech tools that help keep work productivity high and interruptions low.

Contact IntelliSyn to learn more about how you can increase work efficiency in an open office environment.

Using the cloud for data storage or transfer is becoming more and more common today.

And many worry that because it’s accessed through the internet it’s unsafe.

But be assured, the cloud is secure.

Through encryption, the cloud is made secure, whether in transit to or at rest in the cloud server. Cloud users can also choose to control their encryption keys and who can and can’t access their data and applications.

The way data is encrypted, by being split into chunks and separately encrypted and stored for maximum security, ensures data and application safety and security.

With a good cloud provider, your data and applications will be safe and secure from attackers and in disasters.

IntelliSyn offers desktop-to-cloud design and deployment of public, private, or hybrid cloud networks. All our cloud networking solutions are backed by complete network administration, maintenance, and reporting that simplifies network, data, and application management. And, our cloud networking solutions are designed to ensure all your business data is accessible by employees, partners, suppliers, and customers whenever they need it, from wherever they are.

Get the right balance of on-premises and virtual networks with our cloud networking solutions.

Contact IntelliSyn today for more information on storing your data on the cloud.

Technology has allowed for increased productivity in many aspects of life, especially work. And there are ways of using technology that work better than others.

But what are the three best ways to increase work productivity using technology?

1. Use the RIGHT tech: Figure out which tech tools and brands work best for you and become familiar with them for optimal time saving and productivity.
2. Use automation tools: Automation tools automate everything from scheduling to bill payments to emails. Automating as much as possible frees you from having to remember and tend to all your organizational needs.
3. Use browser extensions: Extensions are available for every browser and save a lot of time by speeding up browser tool access and use. Useful browser extensions can remember all your passwords to every site for quick login, block ads, and so much more to save you time and increase your productivity while working.

With these three ways to increase productivity using technology, your work and time will be managed properly and optimally for maximum efficiency.

Contact IntelliSyn for more ways to use tech to increase your work productivity.

Routers from a range of manufacturers have been infected with malware linked to a hacking group called Fancy Bear.

The malware, infecting from Russia, blocks web traffic, collects information that passes through home and office routers, and disables devices entirely.

Here are three things to do to safeguard your small business or home router against this malware:

1. Reset your router: This will temporarily disrupt this malware if it is present.
2. Upgrade firmware/new password: Ensure the latest firmware is in place and select a new, secure password.
3. Disable remote-management settings: The F.B.I. suggests disabling any remote-management settings.

These quick tips will keep your router and devices safe from this malware, which has infected hundreds of thousands of routers so far.

Contact IntelliSyn today for more information on how to keep your business or office data and devices safe from harmful malware.

—Chris Stratton

More and more businesses are reaping the rewards of having their employees work remotely, as it produces an array of advantages over working in an office — especially for employees who travel for work.

But, if employees working remotely aren’t equipped with technology that optimizes their time and productivity away from the office, working remotely can be counterproductive.

Check out some of the reasons why working remotely is king:

1. Less stress: Being able to work the way that suits each employee best reduces stress and creates happier employees.
2. Flexibility: Working remotely enables employees to be flexible in the hours they work and allows them to decide which times of day work best for them.
3. Convenience: Working remotely is convenient in that it makes balancing work and personal life easier.
4. New job creation: New ways of working allows for new roles at a business, creating more jobs.
5. Time optimization: Commuting to and from work can take upwards of 2-3 hours a day for some people. Working remotely eliminates commuting, saving you time and increasing productivity.

All this is only possible with the right tools and technology.

IntelliSyn mobile office solutions offer crystal-clear voice and desktop-to-cloud unified communications and collaboration tools that keep your business moving with you.

Provide all your employees with secure anywhere, anytime, any device access to business information and communication services with our mobile office solutions.

Contact IntelliSyn today to take advantage of our mobile office solutions and get your employees working remotely.

The debate about whether Microsoft or Apple computers are superior has been ongoing since the dawn of the two suppliers’ existence.

With advantages for both over the other, which one is better suited for your small business?

• Microsoft computer hardware is more accessible, making it easier to replace parts than Apple computers, if necessary.
• Apple computers tend to run more smoothly than Microsoft computers because all parts are built by a single manufacturer, whereas Microsoft uses multiple.
• Microsoft Windows has better software availability because it is more widely used than Mac OS.
• Apple computers are often more aesthetically pleasing, and easier for all ages to use.

It ultimately comes down to which advantages are more important to your business needs.

IntelliSyn finds that most of our clients find success with Microsoft systems.

IntelliSyn offers all-in-one turnkey systems for Microsoft computers that provide end-to-end, hassle-free business communications networking. They eliminate the challenge of selecting, configuring, deploying, and managing the right combination of hardware and software you need to get your business operating efficiently.

Contact IntelliSyn today to learn more about how our turnkey systems can benefit your business.

When going away from your office for a holiday or vacation, you want to ensure your tech is prepared for you to be away.

From out-of-office messages to virus protection, there are a few things you should do before you leave your office, whether for a short or extended period of time.

1. Cybersecurity: Protect your devices and networks by implementing secure, strong cybersecurity so that you won’t have to worry about your data and files while you’re gone.
2. Backups: Back up your important business data and files so that if there are any issues while you’re gone, your data and files won’t be corrupted or lost.
3. Updates: Ensure your devices are up-to-date before you go, and enable automatic updates while you’re gone to come back to fully optimized devices.
4. Power off: For devices that don’t need to stay running, turn them off. It will not only save you money but will also prevent any data or file corruption or deletion.

With these foolproof office tech prep tips, your office will be safe and sound while you’re away.

Contact IntelliSyn today to learn how you can best protect and prepare your devices when away from the office.

Public Wi-Fi is a great tool for those who want to work or surf the internet on the go.

Although it’s of great convenience, it can be unsafe — if precautions aren’t followed.

Don’t take the chance of assuming your data and files are secure and safe from access on a public Wi-Fi network.

Check out four safety precautions you can do to prevent your data from being at risk when using public Wi-Fi:

1. Turn sharing off: Sharing files at home on your private, password-protected network is fine. But turn sharing off when using public Wi-Fi to prevent anyone else using that network from accessing your computer, data, and files.
2. Enable firewall: Enabling firewall on your computer keeps your data protected from viruses and is especially important when using a public Wi-Fi network.
3. Use HTTPS and SSL instead of HTTP: Using HTTPS when visiting websites and SSL when using applications that access the internet encrypts the data passed between your computer and the internet, keeping it secure and inaccessible, unlike the typical HTTP connection.
4. Turn Wi-Fi off when not in use: Guarantee you’re protected by simply turning Wi-Fi off when not needing internet. It’s the most foolproof way of ensuring your computer, data, and files remain safe.

Contact IntelliSyn for more information on how to protect yourself when using public Wi-Fi networks.

Where you work and how organized your space is affects how well you work.

A well-organized workspace emits a sense of control, reduces the possibility of distractions, and, ultimately, provides a productive environment.

Here are four ways to organize your workspace for increased productivity:

• Purge and Keep Clear: Throw away anything that isn’t work-related or is unnecessary to the workspace. Less on your desk, less distractions.
• Rearrange: Switch up the positioning of your office furniture for a feeling of newness. Also, the arrangement of your office is important to the flow of how you work — if you can’t reach or access important documents, files, or tech equipment because of the layout of your office, your productivity isn’t being optimized.
• Create two zones: One for tech work and one for non-tech work. Keep your computer, cords, and any other tech in one zone while paper documents, writing utensils, and other non-tech items are separate in the second zone. This will allow one zone for primary computer work and the other for secondary work tools, making swapping between the two seamless.
• Create a filing system: File all physical papers and documents in a filing system that has a labeling or ordering structure — to access important documents easily.

Allow IntelliSyn to streamline the tech part of your office with IntelliOffice.

IntelliOffice gives you desktop-to-cloud managed office services including installation, ongoing management, maintenance, and support for all hardware, software, and cloud networking elements.

All you have to add is power.

Contact IntelliSyn today to optimize your office workspace for productivity.