Top Zoom Meeting Best Practices: IT, Security and More

zoom meeting best practices

Key Takeaways:

  • Ensure Meeting Privacy: To maintain the confidentiality of Zoom meetings, make them private by sending invite links directly via email and adding a password for an extra layer of security.
  • Optimize Audio and Camera Quality: Improve meeting effectiveness by asking participants to mute their microphones when not speaking to reduce background noise. Enhance video quality by adjusting the camera placement to eye level.
  • Choose the Right Zoom Format: Understand the difference between Zoom meetings and webinars. Meetings allow all participants to share their video and audio, while webinars restrict these features to the hosts.

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Microsoft Teams vs Slack: Which is Best for Your Small Business

microsoft teams vs slack

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft Teams vs. Slack: Microsoft Teams is generally more cost-effective, offering a lower price point with more features in its free and paid versions compared to Slack. Teams also excel in online meeting services, supporting larger video meetings and better integration within the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • Third-Party Integration: Slack has a significant advantage in third-party app integrations, supporting over 1,500 applications, making it a better choice for businesses that rely heavily on external tools not tied to Microsoft Office 365.
  • Data Security: Microsoft Teams provides a higher level of data security with advanced encryption and compliance features, making it a more secure option compared to Slack, especially for businesses with stringent security requirements.

Collaboration platforms have become more important now than ever before, as businesses continue to run off-site, and employees take their jobs back to the home office instead of the traditional workplace. With modern business constantly changing, it is important for you to invest in a collaboration software platform. There are a handful of platforms dedicated to professionals such as yourself, but two of the most popular services are Microsoft Teams and Slack. (more…)

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What Is The Average Server Lifespan and How Often Should It Be Replaced?

what is the average server lifespan

Key Takeaways:

  • Server Lifespan and Replacement Cycle: Traditionally, servers last three to five years before needing replacement or upgrades. Upgrading to more recent technology can extend this timeline further.
  • Impact of Aging Servers on Business: As servers age, they become more prone to crashes that lead to loss of productivity and potential downtime. Older servers may struggle with technological advancements that impede business expansion and customer relations.
  • Considerations for Server Warranties: Although extended warranties may be optional, it’s highly advised that businesses invest in at least an initial warranty period of at least several years to cover replacement parts and ensure prompt repairs, thus minimizing downtime.

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Considerations for Remote Working: Technology, Team Building and Beyond!?

remote team building

In the last few years, people have made a rather seismic shift in their business’ overall daily operations. This likely included the move from in-person work to mostly online, remote work. If you already had software and protocols in place, this may have been a smooth transition.
However, if you didn’t, you likely hit a few snags along the way.

Thanks to some video conferencing programs like Zoom, many businesses, just like your own, may have found an initial footing in this strange new world of business.

One area you might be struggling with is managing your remote team. Instead of having everyone there on hand, your team members are now scattered throughout the region, making in-person communication difficult, and company-wide in-person gatherings all but impossible.

That is why you need to understand how to manage a remote team effectively.

It’s a form of management you may not have been forced to learn prior, but now that you’ve had a bit of time to experiment with the approach, it’s time to take a more formal approach to future proof your organization.

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Why Is IT Budget Planning Critical To Business Success?

IT budget planning

There are a few ultimately inevitable things when it comes to each new year: new resolutions to keep, new technology to catch up on, and new budgets to plan. 

Depending on your organization’s culture and the value of technology to your finance department, the latter can be a very daunting process. 

Whether you’re excited about the technological prospects or you’re already looking forward to the next new year, we’ve gathered a few tips to help you be more successful through the IT budget planning and approval process with your financial decision-makers. 

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