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What is Microsoft Microsoft 365 Planner?

Introducing Microsoft Microsoft 365 Planner. Microsoft 365 Planner offers people a simple and highly visual way to organize organizations complete teamwork.

Microsoft 365 Planner makes it easy to create new plans, organize, assign tasks, share files and allow teams to collaborate chat about projects. Microsoft 365 Planner can be used to manage a marketing event, brainstorm new product ideas, track a school project, prepare for a customer visit, or just organize your team more effectively.

Microsoft will started rolling out a Microsoft 365 Planner to those participating in the Microsoft 365 First Release program. Microsoft 365 Planner is a further step into Microsoft integrating everything within Azure and cloud services. This business tool will allow for project management with an organization so you can now organize, assign tasks, create plans, share files to mention a few. Some cool features include the ability to divide and overarching plans as well as set goals into separate company boards.

Microsoft Microsoft 365 Planner is to following subscriptions:

  • Microsoft 365 Enterprise E1
  • Microsoft 365 Enterprise E3
  • Microsoft 365 Enterprise E4
  • Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5
  • Microsoft 365 Education
  • Microsoft 365 Education E3
  • Microsoft 365 Education E4
  • Microsoft 365 Business Essentials
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium

If you are an Microsoft 365 administrators, you must have opted into First Release so you can install the Planner preview after receiving an initiation email from Microsoft. Microsoft Office 2016 users can use it to, plan vacations, engage in creative projects, and more.

How can my business use office 365 planner?

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365 iT SOLUTIONS is Toronto’s leading IT consulting firm delivering industry leading services including Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services.

Connect with our 100% Canadian IT services support team to get access to our complimentary network assessment.

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Microsoft Ends Support for Internet Explorer

Microsoft ends support for Internet Explorer so if you are still using Internet Explorer 8, 9 or 10, it is time to migrate over to Microsoft Edge.

Even thou Internet Explorer is not supported, older versions of Explorer will remain functional however they will no longer receive Microsoft technical updates or security updates. Microsoft will release one final patch for the browser versions and it will deliver an ‘End of Life’ notification, which will strongly encourage users to switch browsers.

For companies or users stuck in their ways, using an unsupported browser will make your company vulnerable to security breaches, hackers and cyber criminals. It is important that you consultant with your IT department or IT consultant to discuss your options and create a plan. Most managed IT services companies would have already put a proactive plan in place to protect your business.

Microsoft is still shipping Windows 10 systems with Explorer but Microsoft encourages users to switch to Microsoft Edge. Another positive is that the new browser will give visitors have a much better experience when visiting your business online.

Microsoft ends support for Internet Explorer but the new Microsoft Edge browser hopes to take Internet Explorer to the next level. Microsoft has stated that the new Microsoft Edge Browser is the Windows 10 answer to Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox.

Will Microsoft Edge live up to Microsoft promises?

To learn more on how to do more with Microsoft Edge and the new user experience, visit the official Microsoft Edge website.

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365 iT SOLUTIONS is Toronto’s leading IT consulting firm delivering industry leading services including Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services.

Connect with our 100% Canadian IT services team to get access to our complimentary network assessment.

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Why your business needs proactive Managed IT Services?

So why does your business need proactive managed IT services? Simple, you should have one source for all your IT services needs presented using a proactive approach.

Proactive managed IT services understand that technology can be expensive and unpredictable in a reactive business environment. On the IT side of your business, this can mean network downtime, failed hardware and unpredictable monthly technical support. On the other side this can mean loss of employee productivity, loss of profitability and business.

By working with a reputable managed IT services provider, they will be able to proactively eliminate unpredictable issues such as tech support issues, hardware failure and surprise IT budget expenditures.

Your managed IT service provider should be seen as a long term business partner as they will cover all your IT support and IT services needs including:

  • Predictable flat-fee monthly IT support services plans that are flexible with no long term contracts, commitments and measurable service level agreement.
  • Proactive IT maintenance and IT monitoring using Remote monitoring and management (RMM) and professional services automation (PSA) tools.
  • Complete vendor management to procure IT hardware, software and services.
  • 24/7/365 Help Desk Technical Support available via multiple methods including phone, email, online, or from the RMM tool on every system.
  • Proactive remote IT maintenance and IT management from their internal 100% Canadian technical team.

Outsourcing your IT technology management and support is increasing in popularity due to the proven ROI and the ability to access to enterprise-grade technology, expert-level knowledge and industry leading technical support, all at a fraction of the cost to implement and maintain an in-house IT department.

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365 iT SOLUTIONS is Toronto’s leading IT provider and IT consulting firm delivering industry leading services including Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services.

Connect with our 100% Canadian IT services team to get access to our complimentary network assessment.

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Compromised user credentials are a top concern for businesses

A recent study from a world leading cybersecurity firm shows that compromised user credentials a top concern for businesses. Is your business safe?

The study produced some interesting numbers when it comes to top security concerns for businesses.

  • 90% of organizations are concerned about compromised credentials
  • 60% of organizations are not capable to detect these types of cyber attacks
  • 62% of organizations are receiving security alerts than they can manage.

Companies are struggling to keep their technology up-to-date and secure. IT departments are struggling to detect and investigate incidents as they do not have the resources or security monitoring solutions available. Organizations are trying to mitigate risk in ever expanding environments as remote employees are now accessing networks from any place around the clock. This can include cloud services, mobile devices and workforce’s spread out globally. This makes a sole security strategy effectively obsolete and preventative It security cannot protect against many common attacks including breaches, phishing and compromised user credentials. Organizations as well as their IT department or It consultant are facing the following three challenges when it comes to IT security of their infrastructure including no visibility into user risk, more security alerts than their IT department can handle and security investigations that take too long.

Some further security methods can include the following for stronger IT security.

  • One-time passwords using by a software or hardware device
  • SSL client certificates stored in the entrails of the system
  • Biometric systems which can use finger, retina scan or face recognition.
  • Two-factor authentication.

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365 iT SOLUTIONS is Toronto’s leading IT consulting firm delivering industry leading services including Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services.

Looking for a complete picture of your IT infrastructure and IT security? Connect with our 100% Canadian IT services team to get access to our complimentary network assessment.

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Is Your Business Ready? Plan, plan, plan

Your business ready? Or do you face the difficulty to prepare your business for unexpected bumps down the road?

Technology is core to all businesses and IT consulting can help avoid “unknowns” or even “gotchas” that are critical but in the end it takes planning and the right team to make it happen.

Here are four key factors to know is your business ready?

  1. Plan for Disaster.

Disaster planning revolves around preparedness. Businesses should ideally cover their business for any event that could cause your business to lose valuable data and productivity. This can range from a failure of your backups or disaster/weather that prevents your employees from working locally or remotely.

  1. Plan for Internet Connectivity.

Internet is your business life line to the outside world. Your business uses many applications and systems including email and phone that may rely on internet connectivity. Losing your Internet connection can throw a serious wrench in your business operations. Avoid signing on with a cheap internet service provider to save money and if your business is heavily reliant on internet, consider getting a redundant internet connection such as wireless for emergency.  This will help keep your business up and running and avoid frustrated clients, employees and downtime.

  1. Plan to work with knowledgeable IT professionals.

Large companies have the benefit of being able to have a full time IT department or IT professional on staff.  For smaller businesses, you may not have the need or budget for full time but that does not mean you should not hire experts when you need them such as reputable IT consultants or managed IT services providers. Your company need a technology professional team who knows how to set up, maintain, and grow your network tailored to your company’s specific needs and business goals.

  1. Plan with key employees.

Disaster recovery and business preparedness plans are great but there are some key items every business need to understand. You need to test every plan to ensure it works properly. Your business should not rely on one person but on a team as it is common for that employee to become expert. You need understand what would happen to your company if that person quit or became too ill to work for a long period of time. By using the team approach, you can train your entire staff what needs to happen in case of emergency.

 

Nothing is guaranteed but planning can ease stress when issues arise. With proper planning, you can head off trouble in many instances if you follow these simple rules for staying prepared.

What plans do you have in place for ensuring that your business stays up and running?

Is your business ready?

Connect with Toronto’s leading IT consulting boutique firm to get access to our complimentary network assessment.

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365 iT SOLUTIONS delivers industry leading services including Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services.

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What Can You Learn From Your Competitors and IT Support?

Like every business leader, you wonder can you learn from your competitors but have you ever thought about how their IT support is keeping them ahead?

In today’s competitive economy, technology and IT support play a pivotal role in your business effectiveness, productivity and profitability. When choosing the right IT support company or managed services provider (MSP), it is a tough decision as this should be measure as a complete picture and long term partnership.

Everyone has fallen into a trap like this before. You know, the deal that is too good to be true. You were promised “X” for the price of “Y” but in the end they give you “Z” and it is going to cost you extra.

The sad fact is that many companies state to be managed IT services providers however they reactive tech support companies. There is a big difference here since we are comparing apples to oranges. Also remember that managed IT services providers use enterprise class tools to proactively manage your network which come with costs associated with it.

We have put together some questions when interviewing your future IT provider before entering a long term partnership.

  1. What is the IT provider’s sole focus? Managed IT Services, Tech Support, etc.

There are IT consulting companies out there who offer exclusively managed services and others that offer it as a sideline of their business. Ideally you want to partner with true managed IT services provider that will be there 24 x 7 supporting your company and experts in their fields.

  1. Who will have access to your company data?

Privacy and data security is the biggest concern of all businesses. Managed IT Services providers will have the ability to see your data however you will need to ensure that their service agreement has controls in place that will prevent them from reproducing or sending your data in any form.

  1. What Kind Of IT Support Does the IT Provider offer?

This is wide area to cover and you have to keep in mind that the only limitation to technology is your budget. You will need to know what kind of IT support your company requires and does the IT provider offer business hours or 24/7 tech support? Are their employees located in Canada or offshore? Are they flexible and scalable if your business grows in the future? There are no bad questions so dig deep.

  1. How Can You Make My Business More Competitive?

Time to listen. If they are as experienced as stated, they should have a plan on how to make your business more productive, more secure and increase your ROI. They should offer a free network assessment as well as a NDA agreement. This is the area where you can learn from your competitors and excel making technology work for your therefore allowing your business to increase business, manage growth and gain market share.

365 iT SOLUTIONS is a leading IT consulting boutique in Toronto delivering industry leading services including Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services.

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What Can You Learn From Your Competitors and IT Support? Connect with Toronto’s leading IT consulting boutique firm to get access to our complimentary network assessment.

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How does Managed Services boost productivity?

Yes, the target of all business leaders, how do we increase productivity? Of course the other business key area is profitability. So how does managed services boost productivity?

The fundamentals behind productivity is focus. When it comes to technology and your IT infrastructure, managed IT services takes proactive preventative measures to ensure your IT is always running at its optimal level. Just like you, we don’t like breakdowns, distractions, loss productivity or surprises.

When your IT infrastructure is up and running, it will not resolve all your productivity problems such as employee productivity when surfing Facebook on their smart phones at work but it will resolve all of those tech support issues directly related to technology.

Managed Services will give your IT support services that save you time and money.

If you too are planning to interview and partner with a proactive managed IT support services firm, there are several areas you have to address before committing. The managed service provider should be monitoring your network 24/7 with a written commitment to service level agreement. Your entire team should be able to request help at any time of the day from their internal tech support team. Their team should have excellent communication skills as well as access to state-of-the-art tools and technology to give them the ability to secure your entire network from cyber threats and internal threats.

365 iT SOLUTIONS is a leading IT consulting boutique in Toronto delivering industry leading services including Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services.

How does Managed Services boost productivity? Connect with Toronto’s leading IT consulting boutique firm to get access to our complimentary network assessment.

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Happy New Years from the entire team at 365 IT SOLUTIONS

Happy New Years from the entire team at 365 IT SOLUTIONS.

New Year is the Ravishing year in which aim to fulfill their dreams, desires and strive to achieve something big in their life.

With 2015 coming to a close, 2016 promises to be that year for many.

New Year is the beginning of a fresh year, new hope and dreams plus the ending of the present year which is welcome by many people all over the world. The inspiration behind celebrating New Year is that everyone looks forward to the new opportunities and surprises that they are going to get in the New Year.

Many people flush all their sorrows and look towards the brighter year going to come. People wish each other and exchanges Gifts and Greetings which is a sign of showing love and respect to each other.

Happy New Years and we wish everyone a year of happiness, love and hope.

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What is Proactive IT Management?

Managed Services is not new and it has been around for decades however proactive IT management has been catching on in recent years.

Proactive IT management and preventative IT maintenance is not a priority for many organizations however as the business landscape changes rapidly, many profitable companies have been turning to managed services providers to provide them proactive IT management to increase their productivity, security and market effectiveness.

By using enterprise management protocols and procedures, you avoid the issue of when preventable problems are ignored long enough to the point that they cause catastrophic failure. A company network crash to your business’s IT infrastructure is the same as a trip to the emergency room for a neglected health problem.

True proactive managed services providers offer proactive IT management and preventative IT maintenance to prevent catastrophic IT issues and downtime. No surprises, simple networks and better bottom line.

365 iT SOLUTIONS is a leading IT consulting boutique in Toronto delivering industry leading services including our Complimentary Network and Security Assessment.

With our Managed IT ServicesIT Support ServicesIT Outsourcing ServicesTech Support Services and Cloud Services, we deliver a complete picture of your IT infrastructure including how your technology matches your business goals, gaps in security and how technology can help increase profits and productivity.

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Merry Christmas from the entire team at 365 IT SOLUTIONS!

The entire team at 365 IT SOLUTIONS would like to take a moment and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season.

We hope it was a great year for you, your business and employees. As we close this spectacular year, we hope everyone is able to set time aside from their busy schedule to relax, spend time with family and spread the holiday cheer.

As the year draws to a close and we take time with our families and loved ones, we would like to say thank you to all of our clients and business colleagues with whom we have worked throughout the year and will continue to work in 2016.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

365 IT SOLUTIONS Team

If you are looking to support a local Toronto Charity, please check out this website dedicated to charities and non-profit organizations in the city of Toronto.

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