As millions of Brits optimistically plan their getaways, we have rounded up some of the best out of office messages that you need to try this summer.
Check them out below.

1. The Workaholic

We all have that one colleague who really struggles to switch off. Whether never taking a proper lunch break, or logging on at the weekend, it can be difficult for some people to truly take a much-needed break.

That is the case for venture capitalist, Josh Kopelman, who used this all too true OOO when he took a break:

“I am currently out of the office on vacation.

I know I’m supposed to say that I’ll have limited access to email and won’t be able to respond until I return, but that’s not true. My iPhone will be with me and I can respond if I need to. And I recognise that I’ll probably need to interrupt my vacation from time to time to deal with something urgent.

That said, I promised my wife that I am going to try to disconnect, get away and enjoy our vacation as much as possible. So, I’m going to experiment with something new. I’m going to leave the decision in your hands:

• If your email truly is urgent and you need a response while I’m on vacation, please resend it to interruptyourvacation@firstround.com and I’ll try to respond to it promptly.

• If you think someone else at First Round Capital might be able to help you, feel free to email my assistant, Fiona, and she’ll try to point you in the right direction.

Otherwise, I’ll respond when I return…

Warm regards,

Josh”

This comical out of office message leaves the decision in the emailer’s hands – is it really something that you should be disrupting someone’s holiday for?

Remember, everyone needs a break at some point, so, if you are on holiday, try to really switch off and allow yourself time to recharge.

2. The Snack Fiend

When taking a break from work, it is important to keep yourself well nourished and healthy. And while a tropical beach might be the perfect escape for some, a trip to the fridge is just as rewarding for others.

HubSpot shared this funny out of office message that you need to try:

“I’ll get back to you once I’m back from my long-awaited trip to the fridge.”

3. The Gambler

Everyone loves a good game from time to time and this trickster created a fun game of email roulette to deter repeat senders:

“I am on vacation from [MM/DD/YYYY] to [MM/DD/YYYY]. I will allow each sender one email. If you send me multiple emails, I will randomly delete your emails until it is pared down to one. Choose wisely. Please note that you already sent me one email.”

Make sure you choose wisely when emailing this individual!

4. The Brave One

Users of this out of office are either really brave, or they truly have lost interest for their role:

“I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position.”

While we would not necessarily recommend this out of office, it is an amusing take and would certainly make us smile if it landed in our inbox! Maybe untick the ‘internal’ option when using this OOO…

5. The Truth Teller

It is a well-known fact that some people will just delete your email. Whether they get too many messages in general or frankly just don’t want to hear what you have to say, the world is rife with serial deleters. In this case, we believe that honesty is the best policy, and we commend the individual who used this OOO message:

“I am out of the lab on extended leave until September 4th 2018 and uncontactable. Sadly, your email will not be read and will be deleted.”

If you are struggling to find the best out of office message for your break, check out HubSpot’s OOO Generator. It is a great tool for finding a unique – or humorous – out of office message.

The best out of offices are often informative, with a light-hearted touch. Make sure you include when you will be back and who to contact in your absence.

Once you return to the office, if you need any support with your emails, our team are on hand to help. Get in touch here.

Until then, we are out of the office until further notice…

The post The best out of offices for this summer appeared first on IT Support Services in Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

Many people have been working remotely for almost a year now as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Unsurprisingly, the concept of working away from the office is something that a diverse cross-section of businesses are considering introducing into their business models going forwards.

Remote working has a number of benefits, including a better work-life balance for employees, and lowered business expenses, such as the cost of office space and utilities.

If remote working is going to become part of your regular routine, then we highly recommend that you optimise your IT provision now in order to avoid any issues in the future.

Improve your connection

We’re all familiar with WiFi issues and, unfortunately, it is something that can ‘just happen’. There have been issues with the volume of users now connecting remotely, with bandwidths struggling to cope.

However, there are some quick and simple ways to improve your WiFi connection without spending a fortune.

It may seem like an obvious one, but being closer to your router actually does wonders for your connection. If possible, set up your workstation next to your router or even place it on the desk that you are working at.

If you’re still struggling, we recommend that you invest in a WiFi extender or booster, which can be purchased online at a reasonable cost.

You could also talk to your WiFi provider to see what options are available for you to update or increase your plan.

VoIP systems

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems are great when it comes to both remote and flexible working. It’s definitely something that we recommend you invest in (if you haven’t already).

A VoIP system converts your voice into a digital signal, allowing you to make a call directly from a computer.

These systems are powered by the internet, allowing devices to be moved around freely wherever there is WiFi. This is beneficial when scaling up or relocating as it eliminates lengthy downtimes and incurred maintenance costs. Simply plug in and connect to the internet, and voila! You’re ready to go!

VoIP systems are generally a more affordable option in comparison to traditional phone lines and require very little maintenance. And the majority of problems that do arise can generally be resolved remotely. It’s worth noting that traditional phone lines are in fact being phased out and will be completely replaced by VoIP by 2025.

We recommend that you switch to VoIP now to get ahead of the change.

Be resourceful

Use a second monitor. If you’re used to working with a bigger screen while in the office, a laptop might seem small in comparison, especially when working on tasks that require a keen eye.

Consider using your TV screen as your desktop or get a second monitor to connect to your laptop – all you need is an HDMI cable. Going wireless is also another option, and for this you could use Chromecast, AppleTV another streaming device.

Use headphones with a microphone. This might seem like a pretty obvious thing to suggest, but you will be surprised by the amount of people who use headphones without a microphone, or who don’t use headphones at all.

When you’re on a video call, try using headphones with a microphone to avoid any background noise interfering and ensure that you can be heard clearly.

Stay up to date

It can be easy to forget the importance of keeping your applications and software up to date when you’re out of the office.

Maybe your IT department usually takes care of this, or your work colleague reminds you to do them.

Don’t miss out on vital updates for any of your programs and devices. Ensuring that all updates are done as soon as possible means that your device will stay protected against hackers and cybercriminals, who are looking for weak spots to take advantage of.

It also helps to keep everything moving efficiently by staying up to date with the latest features and tools.

Protect your data

We recommend that you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to help protect your data. A VPN is essentially a secure tunnel to access the internet. Cybercriminals will look to exploit a range of areas, so it is important that your online activity is protected.

As employees spread out, so does your company data, making it an easier target for cybercriminals. Security is often cited as a major reason organisations are hesitant to allow remote working, but solutions and best practices are available.

Setting up extra cyber precautions, such as a VPN, can significantly reduce your risks and give your employer more peace of mind.

Having immediate and reliable access to company data is vital whilst working remotely. All members of staff need to be able to access servers and files easily, wherever they are. There are two main options when it comes to storing data, on premise or the cloud.

Cloud solutions are a great option for remote working as they can be accessed anywhere with the correct login credentials.

This means the security of a cloud server may be called into question; however, additional measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and better passwords will ensure your team can access files and data securely when working remotely.

On-premise refers to local hardware, which means all company data is stored on servers, computers and other devices within the company site.

One of the main advantages of an on-premise solution is the security, which is of critical importance today. Whilst no single method can ever be 100% effective at preventing breaches, storing data locally can help keep remote hackers out of a system. However, it is imperative that organisations implement safeguards to protect their on-premise devices.

A data centre is also an option for protecting your data. At its simplest, a data centre is a physical facility that organisations use to house their applications and data, incorporating software, firewalls and antivirus.

Additional benefits include round the clock monitoring and maintenance, constant accessibility and backup facilities.

For more information on our services and how they can assist remote working, get in touch with a member of our team.

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Trending in 2020

1. The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has seen a huge rise throughout 2019 (with even the egg trays in the fridge having a WiFi connection) and it isn’t likely to slow down in 2020. According to research by Software Testing Help, by 2021 there may be approximately 20 billion connected smart devices on the planet. That’s over double the world’s population!

So, what exactly is an IoT device and should your business invest in any this year? The basic principle of the Internet of Things is the ability connect everything via the internet, allowing it to be controlled and monitored. You may in fact already have some IoT devices in your home or office, such as a smart speaker.

2. 5G

5G is already set to be one of the biggest technological changes in 2020, even at this early stage in the year. Spiceworks project that two thirds of large enterprises plan to deploy 5G technology by 2021. A full 5G upgrade will see the complete overall of the existing wireless data system into a newer, cheaper, more sustainable model. This global project has been subject to ongoing political debate over the companies involved and their jurisdiction over the networks. But what actually is 5G and how will it affect your business from this year onwards?

In a nutshell the completion of 5G’s installation means that, if all goes to plan, once the systems are fully in place and operational, mobile and fixed devices can become fully wireless.

3. Multi-cloud

While most businesses will be familiar with cloud computing, the IT trend set to sky rocket this year is multi-cloud. Essentially, multi-cloud is just that, multiple cloud services working in unison. Businesses can now incorporate private, public and hybrid clouds into their networks. A multi-cloud system is defined by Avi Networks as ‘the use of multiple cloud computing and storage services in a single network architecture.’ So, why adopt a multi-cloud strategy? The benefits include:

• Vendor lock-in avoidance
• Multiple cloud services
• GDPR compliance
• Resilience

4. Industry 4.0

You may have heard of Industry 4.0 but do you actually know what it means? Tech Radar defines it as “the growing combination of traditional manufacturing and industrial platforms and practices with the latest smart technology”. Industry 4.0, hailed as the fourth manufacturing revolution, can support automation and lead to better communication across sites.

Industry 3.0 saw the introduction of computers, but this new revolution is seeing computers working together and communicating with each other to work without human direction. This digitally connected network of machines is set to revolutionise the industry this year. Watch this space!

Troubling in 2020

While there are many exciting developments in the IT sector for 2020, there are also a number of challenges that businesses will face in the coming year . . .

1. Ransomware

We may have all heard of ransomware, but in the coming months ransomware attacks are set to rise. McAfee reported that in the first quarter of 2019, ransomware attacks grew by almost 120%. These shocking figures are only set to increase.

2020 has already seen ransomware attacks target schools, legal agencies and currency exchange firms. However, if businesses are proactive when a threat is identified and keep on top of staff training and updates, they will be in the best position to avoid an attack.

2. AI is a Target

More and more businesses are taking on artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and why not? From autonomous vehicles to smart speakers and chatbots, most of us will interact with artificial intelligence on a regular basis. However, with these fantastic developments comes enormous risk. There are a number of ways in which AI can be dangerous; as these new systems are developed, effective and reliable safety measures aren’t always available straight away.

While we can programme AI devices to help with day-to-day tasks, these devices can be manipulated to act in a dangerous way. These devices do not possess a moral compass as humans do, they are simply following their code. This makes AI devices a prime target for hackers and cybercriminals.

3. Skills Shortages

While there are so many incredible discoveries and advancements being made in the IT industry every day, many businesses are struggling to adopt these new technologies due to a lack of skills.

Edge estimated that in 2018 there were 600,000 tech vacancies in the UK alone, with that figure set to total one million in 2020. A lack of skilled professionals could lead decision makers to automate roles, removing the need for skilled individuals altogether. Look at ways your business can develop the skills of your existing staff as well as ways to inspire young people to get into the industry. A fantastic way to do this is through school visits, work placements, apprenticeships or mentoring schemes.

4. Data Privacy is Just as Vital as Ever

While GDPR will celebrate its second birthday in May 2020, data privacy and processing are just as important as they were two years ago. With all these amazing updates to technology and systems, companies will need to ensure new methods are compliant. Technology plays a crucial role in collecting, processing, storing, accessing and monitoring data. Any changes to these systems will need to be fully compliant. We are still seeing massive businesses being handed huge fines due to improper use, storage or distribution of data. It is estimated that, since its introduction, EU regulators have dished out fines worth £97.29m for GDPR related issues.

All things considered, 2020 is set to be a fantastic year for the IT industry. Yes, there are challenges to tackle, but with new developments come new problems that must be addressed – this has and will always be the case.

If you have any concerns about what 2020 hold for your business’s IT, get in touch with a member of our team here.

The post IT Trends and Challenges for 2020 appeared first on IT Support Services in Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

The year was off to a brilliant start from quarter one as we reported a growth of 39% compared with the same period last year, against projected annual growth of 32%.

This year we have provided and managed telephony and IT services for over 40 clients on retained monthly contracts. We also offer training programmes, and throughout 2019 we delivered a series of FOC Cyber Security awareness events for the third sector and commercial clients.

As well as offering our services, we were invited to become a member of the University of Huddersfield’s Manufacturing Supply Chain Advisory Group as well as joining the National Physical Laboratory’s Manufacturer Measurement Network. Of course, all of this kept us busy and enabled us to take on two new members of staff, increasing our workforce by 50% to a team of six.

2019 saw us installing a number VoIP systems for our clients, six of which were installed in the last six months! This is an increasingly popular service as more and more businesses are moving towards a fully connected, flexible model of working.

Always striving to uphold our ethos of honesty, integrity, knowledge and excellence, our customer service is top of our list of priorities. We are thrilled to have received an average 94.88% ‘good’ rating from our clients for the entire year! We also processed 11,128 helpdesk calls throughout 2019, advising and supporting our clients.

We strive to do our bit and give back to the communities we work in, so over the last 12 months we have gifted services to Holme Valley Mountain Rescue, setting up a wireless communication grid which is now used during rescues. We have also worked with Inspire Oldham this year, joining other businesses in sponsoring their volunteers, attending the National Diversity Awards in September.

In 2019 we embraced social media and communications, working with an agency to help tell our stories and communicate our message. Since January, we have posted 13 blogs, helping to increase web traffic and gain a total of 6,356 page views this year, with a 144% increase from January to December.

We also posted 294 times on social media. Across Twitter and LinkedIn we received a combined total of 67,609 organic impressions and 1,047 engagements.

We’ve had a fantastic year here at Probado and can’t wait to continue in 2020. If your business is looking to improve your IT support and cyber security in the new year, get in touch with our team.

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Flexibility

With more and more businesses incorporating flexible working patterns, being able to work from home and on the move is essential. A VoIP phone system can help those who wish to work remotely, as additional call capacity can be added in minutes rather than the traditional week-long wait. VoIP systems will unify both field and office operations to ensure your business can operate as a whole.

Affordability

As they use an internet connection, VoIP systems are cheaper than traditional telephone lines so are an affordable option for businesses, even when calling overseas. As there is no need to purchase equipment and hardware installation from the start, VoIP significantly cuts the costs.

Another benefit of the reduced amount of hardware is the servicing and maintenance cost. Businesses won’t require as much support on the ground as most issues can be dealt with remotely.

Scalability

Due to the ease of flexibility with a VoIP system, an expansion in office space or total relocation would not be the chore it once was when it comes to transferring your phone lines. Unlike traditional phone systems, VoIP systems do not require extensive set-up, they just need to be plugged in and connected to the internet.

This means that VoIP systems can be easily transferred to a new location, allowing for growth and expansion of your business.

Connectivity

As VoIP systems are powered by an internet connection it eliminates any previous issues that extreme weather and power cuts once caused. A large concern for most businesses when considering switching to VoIP is the connection. What would happen if the internet connection was disrupted for a long period of time? In instances such as these, calls can be forwarded to other devices, allowing operations to continue smoothly until a connection is restored.

VoIP systems really are the future of our phone systems. As more and more businesses are introducing flexible working and moving away from traditional office set-ups, it is vital that our technology is adaptable and flexible in the same way to allow for these progressions. And, with VoIP being much more efficient and cost effective than traditional phone systems, making the switch should be a no-brainer.

At Probado we provide a free initial site visit to ensure your internet connection can support a VoIP line. Our completely tailored service incorporates purchase (or rent) of handsets, call handling, recording capabilities and maintenance.

To find out more about how VoIP can work for your business, get in touch today.

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Why not try these witty Autoresponder emails?

We can all agree, the most exciting part of leaving the office before jetting off on our summer holiday is the prospect of switching on our autoresponder email and hitting shut down. Here is a round-up of some of the best out of office emails that positively oozed wit.

Taking it back to the Eighties

Who remembers 1980s pop hit Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley? Well one guy decided to turn his OOO into a song that certainly got people singing along. It went a little like this:

“Never gonna give you up, Never gonna let you down, Never gonna run around and desert you, “Never gonna make you cry, Never gonna say goodbye, Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.

“I’m also never gonna reply to your message until 9th August as I’m off on holiday.”
Source: BBC

He admits his Rick Astley email rendition still makes him cringe to this day, but this hasn’t stopped him. In search of the perfect amusing auto response to counteract the serious nature of financial services, he is now in fierce competition with a colleague as they try to outwit one another via their out of office messages.

Email Russian Roulette

This person, decided to turn his auto response into a game of email Russian Roulette:
“I am on annual leave until dd/mm/yyyy. I will allow each sender one email and if you send me multiple emails, I will randomly delete your emails until there is only one remaining. Choose wisely. Please note that you have already sent me one email.”
Source: BBC

Thankfully, this auto response was only sent to internal colleagues – otherwise it could have led to some sticky situations with clients!

Simple and to the point

If you simply don’t have the time to insert that level of wit, because its 5.25pm and frankly you are itching to get out of the door, you can of course keep it short and sweet. However, here are a few amusing messages that made us smile:

“I am out of the office from mm/dd to mm/dd and will not be checking email. It’s likely your note will be swallowed in a sea of inbox banality, never to be seen again. If you require a response, please re-send your email after mm/dd.
On vacation. Hoping to win the lottery and never return.”

“I am away from the office right now. Unfortunately, I will be back tomorrow.”

“If you’re reading this, Doc Brown was unable to make lightning strike the clock tower, and I’m stuck in 1985. I won’t be able to respond to emails or voicemail until 9ish on mm/dd, or until email is invented – whatever comes first.”

“I am currently out of the office. I have a cell phone, but I will not be giving the number out. If you can guess the number, however, I will take your call.”

Whether it is to poke fun at the office atmosphere, or a tongue-in-cheek reference with the intention of making your colleagues insanely jealous, there are plenty of hilarious examples of people injecting some fun into their autoresponder emails.

Just remember though that at some point you will be returning to your desk so it’s unwise to use anything too cheeky if your clients will be on the receiving end of your message!

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It’s fair to say, digital communication and unified communication has come a long way in the past decade. Virtually all our daily tasks can be done at our fingertips.

In late 2015, mobile web traffic skyrocketed and surpassed desktop for the very first time. Since then, mobile technology has continued to evolve and adapt, rendering us increasingly dependent on our mobile devices, not just within our personal lives, but also in our professional lives.

A study carried out in 2017 by Asurion found that the average person checks their phone once every 12 minutes, this includes checking work emails and communicating with colleagues and clients alike.

Thanks to the introduction of clever applications, online communication has been streamlined and adapted to bring work to our fingertips. This integration is known as unified communications and more and more companies are seeing the undeniable benefits.

Unified communications nowadays are limitless. Voice, email, chat, video and web communications are brought together and accessible from almost anywhere using nothing more than a simple internet connection.

Whether we’re on the train or sitting in the comfort of our own home, we can participate in web conference calls, check emails and access work documents at the touch of a button without having to fire up our computers.

For business, this technological flexibility brings with it several advantages. Firstly, integrating unified communications allows tasks to be streamlined between locations and resources to be utilised to their full potential.

Unified communications mean a reduction in commute time which leads to greater productivity. There is also a significant increase in employee motivation as fewer distractions lead to reduced stress, and in turn lower sickness levels. Flexible working also has a positive impact on finances due to savings on office space and other facilities.

For employees, the main advantage to accessing work outside of the office is the increased work/ life balance. Employees with children can balance work with childcare and other home commitments. Calls, emails and important work documents can be seamlessly transferred to mobile devices and accessed anywhere.

Whilst to many of us, this seamless technology and working from home is a relatively new notion, the idea of unified communications has actually been around since the 1990s. However, as technology wasn’t as advanced as it is today, communications weren’t as streamlined and convenient. Everything had to be done via desktop with a wired internet connection.

Implementing unified communications into company policy doesn’t require much work. Firstly, every main email service provider used in business has an application that can be downloaded from both Apple and Android app stores. Once downloaded, all employees need to do is log in using their work credentials.

Secondly, work documents and filing systems can be accessed using remote cloud applications. The convenience of cloud storage cannot be underestimated, the amount of desktop storage is greatly reduced which is beneficial for the overall health of computer devices and employees can access work files from wherever they are.

It is clear to see that as technology evolves, we gain more and more flexibility in both our home lives and our professional lives – everything we need is at our fingertips, in our pockets and even on our wrists.

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