Mathew Timlett

Mathew Timlett
15th June 2020

Affordable Cloud Storage Solution. Access Your Files Anywhere! No Need To Outsource!

Are you a business with a premises, or even have a small set up at home? Do you have a file sharing solution amongst your staff? Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a personalised cloud storage solution like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive that you can host yourself from within your own IT infrastructure? Well you can! I like the idea of being able to host my own cloud storage for a number of reasons, firstly if you are using a platform such as Dropbox or iCloud… do you actually know where you data is being stored? Larger hosting companies have servers all over the world that constantly replicate you data, I’m sure if you asked them they would be able to tell you where your data is stored but you still have to trust that your data is safe with these corporate giants. Companies who hold sensitive data may be bound by policies and regulations specifically around G.D.P.R to what applications they can use in the workplace that may help them become more dynamic, which is a shame because let’s face it, Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive are all great platforms and real easy to use.

What we can do?

We can provide you with a hosting solution that you can run from your existing IT infrastructure, and will give you the same file sharing facilities across all major OS’s listed below:

Microsoft Windows
Mac OS
Linux
Android
IOS

Just like Dropbox, iCloud Drive, and OneDrive, a small client program will run in your system tray and automatically sync your selected folders. You can have a personal drive, or a shared space where public documents are kept or you can lock down specific files or folders using permissions very similar to Active Directory. With this system in place you can install the application on your smart phone and gain access to all your files stored within your company anywhere you go… all you need is a server of some sort.

There are many pro’s and con’s around hosting your own cloud storage solution, on one hand it can save you money, if you’re running an existing file and print server or have a spare machine in your office then you can utilise your existing hardware to get online. You’re not limited to space, when you sign up to a cloud online storage solution, you pay per GB or TB, I know these are not that expensive but that brings us back to “where can I legally store my data”. There are some con’s, the first one that springs to mind is who’s responsible for back up or fall over? Well you the business are, most businesses already have off site backup solutions or even replicate data between sites if they have more than one premises to get around this. The second one is “who will maintain it?” We can maintain it and look after it for you on an AD-HOC basis or with a support contract, or alternatively we can train you on how the system works, and what to do if you have a problem.

We can provide you with the initial install and setup, training and ongoing maintenance if you feel you need it. If you would like to know more, then feel free to contact us for more information.

Starting a New Business? Going Self Employed?

With more and more people building and creating businesses from home in a world that actually makes it really easy for anyone to do, we have at our fingertips all the necessary tools we all need to get going. Marketing online for example can be achieved from just a few simple clicks of your mouse, and so many readily available resources we can refer to for free!

I remember years ago I looked into what it takes to start a new business, and I don’t know about anyone else but I just found it either mind boggling or just simply too expensive to get started. It’s just easier to give up and jump into something that’s PAYE because let’s face it there is stability there. Normally when we look at becoming self-employed, we are usually at a time in our lives where we may be struggling to find a full time job and starting up on your own is potentially your last option for some kind of regular income, you could be on the other side of that scale and have planned it out well, invested a lot of time and money and worked hard, it always depends on your circumstances at the time.

Starting a new business was way out of my comfort zone but after really wanting it I searched my available options to get a basic understanding of it all and did it exactly how I wanted. Now this is where I get to my point… it was important to us to be able to have the freedom to do this exactly the way we wanted it, and that’s how we feel about our customers. We can provide you with so many avenues from designing your website, discussing how to get your site out there, manage all your blogging for you, and of course look after your IT equipment.

Below is a summary of some of the different services we can provide you:

Website Design & Hosting
A website to front your company needs to look the part if you want to be taken seriously. We can give you access to 100’s templates to choose from or as mentioned before we can provide you with a tailor-made experience. Need a domain name? Don’t worry about that, we can sort that out. Need somewhere to host your website? That’s included too. Email addresses, everything related to your website or any kind of online hosting, we have covered.
Blogging & Content Writing
Not everyone has the time to be constantly updating information on their website, it is important to keep content on your website and social media pages fresh in order for you to become more visible online. As part of our packages we can provide you with an optional solution to keep all your social media marketing tools and website up to date with the latest activities and information about your company in the form of blogging. This can be a powerful tool for promoting your services and getting your company name out there into the market place.
Advertisement Video & Media Production
So as well as creating your website, we can also create the media for it too. Commercial product photography is a popular one and also web clips (the annoying 30 second ads you get at the beginning of a YouTube video for example). It’s like I said earlier, we’ll tailor make any package that you require to get you started or even a little something to give your existing business a boost. Our video and photography services provide you with the initial shooting, editing, and publishing which can be very useful if you require a more bespoke solution. All media production services are in association with Knebworth Park Photographic.
S.E.O (Search Engine Optimization)
Would you like to be found on Google in the top searches? We can advise on the practises used to get you a better ranking when someone searches for a business like yours on Google.
IT Support
So you have your business up and running, and you got all the kit you need to make your life easier… what if your laptop breaks and you need a fast turnaround to get it back up and running again? Our services will you give On-Site Visits, Remote Support, Hardware & Software Support (PC’s, Laptops, Apple MAC’s, MacBook’s), and Training. We can be your IT Support helpdesk providing you with remote support for any issue you may have. We have knowledge on virus removal, clean up’s, and troubleshooting any issue that may crop up on the fly. If you need help with your setup to ensure that all of your data is safe, or you need someone to manage your infrustructure then we’ll be more than happy to pick up the workload.
IT Equipment Upgrades
Let’s say you’re using a PC or laptop you have had for years! It still works but it’s just not as quick and reliable as it used to be… you have 2 options in this case, you can either upgrade the hardware in the PC or laptop, or buy a new machine all together. We understand that people who run small business don’t necessarily like change, but if you’re already manging yourself at optimum level and you’re happy with that, then why shell out for brand new IT equipment? Upgrading the hardware in your machine is a cheaper solution but please note this is only really good for the short term. There are scenarios where you have an awesome machine already but you just want it running like a beast, again an upgrade option is better. No matter the setup you have, we can certainly advise you on the best option given your situation.
Off-site Backup Solutions (Cloud Backup)
I know from experience that losing all your data in one go is like someone tearing off your arm. It can be really damaging to your business, if you’re not already backing up all your files… shame on you! It’s a disaster waiting to happen. This is the one thing I stress to all of my customers and that is to make sure they backup everything! We appreciate that failure rate in more modern day storage solutions are a lot more reliable than they used to be, but there are many other scenarios that cannot be avoided that can also cause data loss, such as theft of equipment or fire. The safest way to ensure your data is safe is by taking it out of your possession… fact, pass the responsibility on to us. We have an online backup solution that doesn’t require any interaction from you, your data is backed up and when you make any changes to your files. You will still be using your documents save on your computer, however a new copy will be uploaded instantly to your secure personal space hosted from our very own Cloud Service.

We appreciate that all these things take time out of your day to setup and maintain, we like to think of ourselves as a one stop shop for all… well most of your marketing needs. I find that with multiple services under one roof makes for better communication with our customers and allows us to be as streamline as possible. We like promote “Smart Working”, and that’s what we’re here to help you achieve.

Thats all from me for now, stay safe during these hard times, and good luck!

Social engineering… What is it? How can we protect ourselves?

Most people have a basic understanding of social engineering, knowing that this is a method used by hackers to infiltrate our computer systems or online accounts. Social engineering is the scam which allows hackers access to your personal life without using an icky complex code. The social engineering scam may seem a complex one but scarily it can be quite simple. The attacker will use an array of methods to attempt to extract relevant information which can be key for stealing your identity or financial information. Ever seen those Facebook posts which say “Your porn star name is the name of your first pet and the street you grew up in”? Do these questions seem familiar? You may have set up standard security questions and answers as a safety net in case you are locked out of your account, however being too truthful can be a bad idea, especially if certain information is readily available about you online such as your address or date of birth, the address issue really mostly affects small business owners who register their business against where they live, then of course that individuals date of birth is available to view on Companies House! Yikes!

You should always be wary of the information you are posting online but it can be exhausting to always be switched on. It is important to be vigilant with the information you share, even to family and friends. Your security answers do not have to be the name of your first pet, it just needs to be an answer you won’t forget. Put a country as the answer for your first pet or answer ironically. Be sure that you remember these and don’t write them down anywhere…..

We all know you’re going to forget your passwords, memorable data, and any other relevant information around any of your online accounts, its human nature, and majority of us will forget over time, this is where MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) comes in. With MFA you can use more than one method to log into your account, i.e password, and email or SMS authentication. Some online accounts such as Microsoft and Google can provide you with authenticator application for your smart phone or tablet, which will provide you with a time based or one time passcode (MTP or OTP) so that you will need both your account password and the generated passcode provided by your authenticator app. You can find out more information about these authenticator apps below:

Google Authenticator – https://google-authenticator.com
Microsoft – https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/account/authenticator

You can enable Multi-Factor Authentication within the security settings of your Google or Microsoft accounts, other online resources such as Amazon, Facebook, and Dropbox can also utilise Authenticator Apps so be on the lookout and enable MFA where possible.

UnknownGeeks provide a range of services, from hardware repair, upgrades, custom builds, and more. We can also audit all your online security to ensure that your accounts are secure and safe. For more information please contact us on 07926 102124.

www.unknowngeeks.com

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