Cjn It Solutions Claimed

News / Updates

• 

  A simple guide to IT support

  A simple guide to IT support

  9 Questions to ask when considering an IT services provider. In making your final decision regarding the appointment of an IT services provider to manage your IT environment, we suggest considering the following questions, & consider the impact the answers will make on the value of the service provided, & ultimately the value added to your business. 1. How & when will I be charged? - Fixed monthly amount or per incident? Fixed price is a better option for budgeting purposes. Per incident options can lead to confusion & disputes. This can also be made to look like a fixed-price agreement by selling a fixed amount of hours. However, this may exclude things like work on-site or certain work hours only, thus charging you extra for these services. - TIP: Check that the pricing is transparent & watch out for any hidden extras. 2. What is the primary factor to take into account when deciding on an IT service provider? - You should identify exactly what it is that you are looking for. - TIP: Go for a one-stop shop that offers hardware, software, networking & support. This will avoid the need for multiple suppliers & often the blame shifting that occurs between them. 3. Does bigger mean better?  - Many larger companies do not offer the personalized service SME businesses require, you are mostly just another “number” to them. Their support processes are often over complicated, increasing time for problem resolution. You end up talking to a different support agent every time, many times starting the entire troubleshooting process from scratch. In contrast, small support businesses with one or two employees, often a business where only one person offers support, are usually much cheaper & lacks the skills & reliability of larger companies. - TIP: Go for a small - medium-sized supplier that offers breadth & depth of skills as well as personalized service with familiar points of contact. 4. Is a service-level agreement (SLA) important?  - There should be an SLA, & it should clearly state the deliverables which are expected from both parties. For instance, response times for problem management & resolution. Some service providers may not react to a problem as quickly as they could because their SLA states they have 24 hours in which to respond. 5. What contract length should I go for?  - There is no reason at all why you should get pushed into a long-term contract. However, if you prefer a longer timeframe, ask what benefits will come from signing a longer contract, such as a price reduction. - TIP: Go for a service provider that is looking to build long-term relationships instead of long term contracts. 6. What about dedicated account managers?  - These are important, as you need someone that understands your business & knows what you are aiming for in terms of growth plans & company direction. - TIP: Having an account manager will provide a familiar single point of contact. 7. Is the service provider proactive?  - The key to good IT support is preventing problems before they arise. However, the supplier is not only there to stop problems & should also plan for IT changes in advance. A good provider will regularly visit their clients to help identify how they currently utilize their IT infrastructure & what improvements can be made. - TIP: Avoid the "fixer." They will only offer problem fixing, rather than trying to avoid them in the first place. 8. Does the provider offer remote management & monitoring?  - This is a fundamental part. With today's remote management tools, service providers should be monitoring all of your PCs & servers, & installing upgrades & packages remotely. - TIP: Remote management & monitoring offer you support without impacting your productivity or disrupting the business. 9. What is the customer retention rate over the last 7 years?  - How long has the service providers average client stayed with them, especially over the past 7 years. The bottom line is, if the IT Support company that you are considering is really good, their customers will stay with them. Of course there are always issues & problems with any computer network, but if the company is good, they will resolve these issues in a timely manner & within a reasonable time frame. Advantages of using CJN IT Solutions to support your IT infrastructure - Maintenance of your entire IT infrastructure - Continuous improvement of your computing systems - Minimal downtime by providing telephonic, on-site & remote support - Enhancements to current IT infrastructure - Economical solutions for your working environment - Guaranteed same day response with fast turnaround times - Proactive system maintenance & problem prevention - Test backups to prevent disasters - Fixed cost IT support CJN IT Solutions easy 3 step process: 1. Analysis of computer infrastructure 2. Provide feedback 3. Take action Tel: 087 809 3516 | Email: [email protected] | Website: https://cjn.co.za/

  
• 

  CJN IT Solutions Computer Cleaning Tips

  CJN IT Solutions Computer Cleaning Tips Week 1 Of 2

  LCD Monitor Cleaning. How and why you should clean your LCD Monitor? Why? Dirt, dust and fingerprints can cause the computer screen to be difficult to read. Procedure: Unlike a computer monitor, the LCD or flat-panel display is not glass & requires special cleaning procedures. When cleaning the LCD monitor it is important to remember to not spray any liquids onto the LCD directly, press gently while cleaning & do not use a paper towel since it scratches the LCD. To clean the LCD screen, use a non-rugged microfiber cloth, soft cotton cloth or a Swiffer duster. If a dry cloth does not completely clean the screen, you can apply rubbing alcohol to the cloth & wipe the screen with a damp cloth. Rubbing alcohol is used to clean the LCD before it leaves the factory. Disc Cleaning. Why & how: Why it is important? Dirty CD's can cause read errors or cause CD's to not work at all. - Procedure: Use a cleaning kit or damp clean cotton cloth to clean CD's, DVD's & other discs. When cleaning a disc, wipe against the tracks, starting from the middle of the CD or DVD & wiping towards the outer side. Never wipe with the tracks; doing so may put more scratches on the disc. Tip: If the substance on a CD cannot be removed using water, pure alcohol can also be used. Next week in week 2 of 2 of computer cleaning tips we will cover Headphone & Desktop keyboard cleaning. Contact Sonja Nagel at [email protected] when you want to upgrade your computer hardware or software, our prices are very competitive. Just let us quote you and you will see for yourself. CJN IT Solutions - The smart choice. https://cjn.co.za/

  
• 

  CJN IT Solutions Computer Cleaning Tips

  CJN IT Solutions Computer Cleaning Tips Week 2 Of 2

  Headphones Cleaning. Why it is important. Why? Headphones used by different people may need to be frequently cleaned to help prevent the spreading of germs & head lice. Procedure: If the headphones being used are plastic or vinyl, moisten a cloth with warm water. Then rub the head & earpieces of the headphones. Headphones that are being used for a library or school, do not use any disinfectant or cleaning solvent. Since some people / children can have allergic reactions to the chemicals they contain. Headphones that have cushions also have the availability of having the cushions replaced. Replacing these cushions can also help keep the headphones clean. Finally, regarding headphones spreading head lice. If many different students use the same headphones, consider having the students using their own headphones. Place bags over the headphones, or using headphones that can be wiped with warm water after each use. Desktop keyboard Cleaning. These steps are for desktop keyboard cleaning. Dust, dirt & bacteria: Desktop keyboard cleaning is usually the most germ infected items in your business. It may even contain more bacteria than your toilet seat. Cleaning it helps remove any dangerous bacteria & keeps the keyboard working properly. Procedure: Before cleaning the keyboard first turn off the computer or if you are using a USB keyboard unplug it. Not unplugging the keyboard can cause other computer problems. You may press keys that cause the computer to perform a task you do not want it to do. Many people clean the keyboard by turning it upside down & shaking. A more efficient method is to use compressed air. Compressed air is pressurized air contained in a can with a very long nozzle. Aim the air between the keys & blow away all of the dust & debris that has gathered there. A vacuum cleaner can also be used. Just make sure the keyboard does not have loose "pop off" keys that can be sucked up by the vacuum. If you want to clean the keyboard more extensively remove the keys from the keyboard. After the dust, dirt and hair has been removed, spray a disinfectant onto a cloth or use disinfectant cloths. Rub each of the keys on the keyboard. Never spray any liquid onto the keyboard. Substance spilt into the keyboard: If the keyboard has anything spilt into it (e.g. Coke, Beer, Wine, Coffee or milk), not taking the proper steps can destroy the keyboard. Procedure: Below are a few recommendations that can help prevent a keyboard from becoming bad after something has spilt into the keys. If anything is spilt onto the keyboard turn the computer off immediately or at the very least disconnect the keyboard from the computer. Once done flip the keyboard over to prevent the substance from penetrating circuits. While still upside down, use a cloth to start cleaning the keys. After cleaned, leave the keyboard upside down for at least one night allowing it to dry. Once dry, continue cleaning the keyboard with any remaining substance. If after cleaning the keyboard & you have keys that stick, remove the keys & clean below the keys & the bottom portion for the key. If after doing all the steps the keyboard still does not work, we recommend buying a new keyboard. How to remove the keys on a keyboard: Note: This document is for traditional computer keyboards & not laptop keyboards. Caution: Before removing any of the keyboard keys, unplug it from the computer of turn off the computer. We also suggest not removing the space bar key unless absolutely necessary, since many keyboards use a retention spring that can be very difficult or impossible to put back into place. Many people need to do this when they need to clean the key itself or get below the key to clean it. This is often necessary especially when a drink is spilt in the keyboard. Removing a standard keyboard key is simple. Start by pressing down on the key in front of the key you want to remove & insert a flat object such as a car key or a small flathead screw driver below the key. Once below the key twist it or push down until the key pops off. If you want to remove more than one key, repeat this process until all keys are removed. (take a picture of the keyboard so you know where all the keys should be if you remove more than one key) Once the key has been removed you'll notice the hair, dust, dirt & food particles under the key. This substance can be removed with compressed air, damp cloth or cotton swabs. If you're removing the key because a drink was spilt into the keyboard, make sure to not only clean below the key but also the shaft that holds the key & the bottom of the key. Once everything has been cleaned position the key back into the normal position and snap it back into place by pressing in on the key. Contact Sonja Nagel at [email protected] when you want to upgrade your computer hardware or software, our prices are very competitive. Just let us quote you & you will see for yourself. CJN IT Solutions - The smart choice.

  
• 

  Group Chats with Microsoft Teams

  Group Chats with Microsoft Teams

  5 ways to make group chats the best place at work. Whether you have teams telecommuting, collaborating remotely, or just working across the office cubicle, business chat software and apps are the latest must-have workplace essentials. Boasting the ability to merge a number of different collaboration tools into a single web, desktop, and mobile application—it’s no surprise they’re growing in popularity. In fact, the adoption of team chat applications skyrocketed in the past year, rising from 2.4% to a whopping 33.3%, according to a recent survey. Whether you’re a small, medium or enterprise organization, team chat is a tool that should not be overlooked. Here are five ways to make group chats the best place at work, offering an array of time- and money-saving solutions, including: 1. Honing in on unnecessary emails. If you’ve been on the receiving end of an overflowing inbox, you understand that they’re a big problem for today’s workers. So, it’s no surprise that 22% (more than one-fifth) of working professionals surveyed found that half or more of the work emails they receive are irrelevant to them. Even worse, 11% (more than one-in-10) report as much as 75% or more of their inbox is jam packed with unnecessary emails. That’s a big drain on time and resources. The right office chat solutions allow you to create different chat channels for each team based on work streams or topics—perfect for targeted one-on-one chatting, messaging and ad-hoc conversations. 2. Creating a go-to hub for teamwork. The ability to build functional team workspaces not only cuts down on exploding inboxes, it also means you can bring all the right people together to quickly access key documents and tools, explore data, and get updates from the apps your teams use every day. You can also customize notifications so you don’t miss important activity and information. Now, all your content, tools, people and conversations are available in the appropriate team workspace. Be sure to choose a team chat solution that gives you built-in access to popular tools like SharePoint, OneNote, and Microsoft teams, which can turn a quick chat into an instant face-to-face conversation. 3. The ability to add some personality to the workday. Did you know that when we see a smiley face online, it stimulates the same parts of the brain as those activated by a real human face? Teams should be able to add some fun and humanity to their digital conversations within group chat—not with just emojis— but with stickers, GIFs and more. For an added personal touch, be sure to choose a meme/macro-builder that lets you pick an image and then customize it by overlaying text—to truly make it your own. 4. Collaboration without sacrificing security. When choosing a business chat solution, be sure to choose one with the best enterprise security and compliance features, including eDiscovery and legal hold for channels, chats and files, plus data encryption at all times (at-rest and in-transit), and multi-factor authentication to enhance identity protection. 5. Find an integrated chat hub at no added cost. Finding a solution that is already included in your Microsoft Office experience is a cost-effective and smart way to try out business chat. For example, Microsoft Teams is a chat-based workspace in Microsoft 365 that keeps all your content, tools, people, and conversations together in one place. Best of all, it’s included at no extra cost with: * Microsoft 365 Business Basic (was Office 365 Business Essentials), * Microsoft 365 Business Standard (was Office 365 Business Premium), * Microsoft 365 Business Premium (was Microsoft 365 Business), * Enterprise F3, E3, and E5 plans, making it easy for you to give it a try. Microsoft Teams runs on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and web platforms. Teams supports the web client on Microsoft Edge 12+, Internet Explorer 11+, Firefox 47.0+, and Chrome 51.0+. CJN IT Solutions provides a complete IT solution: * IT maintenance. * IT support. * Backup solutions. * Microsoft Office 365. * Cloud Computing. * Disaster recovery. * Data Recovery. * Network design and implementation. * Hardware and software repairs, upgrades and sales. * Internet. * Removal of viruses and spyware. * Server support, deployment and related services. Contact us for a quote on Microsoft 365 solutions for your business. Call us at 087 809 3516 or email Sonja Nagel at [email protected].

  
• 

  Looking for a backup solution?

  Looking for a backup solution?

  What do you do in case anything goes badly wrong with your computer / server or your entire network? Do you have your most important information backed up & saved in a remote location? All companies have mission-critical data which they cannot afford to lose. If you lost ALL your data today how long will it take to be operational again? Hours, days, weeks or never? What about the legal requirement & the associated risk of keeping data? The risk of losing it could be substantial. This is where CJN IT Solutions is your backup solution! We help you formulate & implement a comprehensive backup strategy. We offer off side backups which mitigate the risks brought about by fire, theft or sabotage. Advantage of our backup solutions: • CJN IT Solutions is an Acronis Backup & recovery silver partner. We test all our client’s backups to prevent disasters, & we have (have you tested your backups lately?) • We provide our clients with an effective & secured backup strategy & disaster recovery plan. We encrypt all our client’s backups to ensure that their data doesn’t get stolen. • We schedule automated backups daily, if we notice that the backups weren’t successful we let our clients know that there was a problem & we quickly resolve those issues. • CJN IT Solutions wants to protect your business from disasters & ensure that you are up & running in no time at all with our backup strategy. CJN IT Solutions provides a complete IT solution; o IT maintenance. o IT support. o Backup solutions. o Disaster recovery plans. o Data recovery. o Network design & implementation. o Microsoft 365. o Cloud Computing. o Repairs of hardware & software. o Internet connections, domain, website & email hosting. o Hardware & software upgrades. o Removal of viruses & malware. o Server support, deployment & related services. Do not wait for it to be too late! Contact Sonja Nagel NOW at 087 809 3516 / [email protected] for a FREE review of your current backup solution. https://cjn.co.za/backup-solutions/

  
• 

  Microsoft Teams - CJN IT Solutions

  Microsoft Teams - CJN IT Solutions

  Work, meet and collaborate safely and securely without leaving your home. Empowering your team's productivity and efficiency can seem like a challenging task at the moment. We're here to offer you Microsoft Teams and all you have to do is complete the form and we'll help you get set up ADVANTAGES OF MOVING YOUR BUSINESS TO MICROSOFT 365> * Working Remotely: With Microsoft 365 and Teams, you take your office with you, enabling you to work remotely with confidence. * Easily find documents: Save documents straight from your inbox to OneDrive, search for documents across any device and using optical character recognition (OCR) even images and PDFs can be searched. * Work collaboratively: Work with files that automatically sync you and colleagues in other locations that work on documents together. CJN IT Solutions recommends Microsoft. Collaborate without compromising privacy and security Now more than ever, people need to know their virtual conversations are private and secure. At CJN IT Solutions, privacy and security are never an afterthought. It is our commitment to you—not only during this challenging time, but always. Here is how we are working to earn your trust every day with Microsoft Teams. The hub for teamwork in Microsoft 365: Invite everyone you work with to chat, meet, call, and collaborate from anywhere all in one place, no matter where you are. • Chat: Share your opinion and your personality. Send gifs, stickers and emojis in a group chat or in one-to-one messages. • Meet: Instantly go from group chat to video conference with the touch of a button. Teams of 10 or 10,000 can meet in 1 place, no matter how many places they’re in. • Call: Never yell “who just joined?!” ever again. Use Teams calling, Phone System, Calling Plan or Direct Routing to take the stress out of conference calls. • Collaborate: Never do that frantic, searching-for-files thing ever again. In Teams you can access, share and edit Word docs, PowerPoint and Excel files in real time. Nothing can stop a team: Achieve more together with Microsoft Teams. Contact Sonja Nagel at [email protected] / 087 809 3516 for a quote. For more information, visit: https://cjn.co.za/microsoft-teams/

  
• 

  Microsoft Teams Guide

  Microsoft Teams Guide

  Quick Start Guide to Microsoft Teams New to Microsoft Teams? See this guide to learn the basics. https://cjn.co.za/microsoft-teams-guide/