The ACCENT Learning Hub

Kenny Riedell’s eleven years at Accent Computer Solutions have been anything but boring. Starting right out of IT trade school as an apprentice, Kenny has worked his way through different positions before arriving at the role that he now fills as Senior Technology Architect. The primary goal of his position is to build, train and enforce standardization of client IT systems. Each day Kenny has opportunities to learn something new which means that he never stops expanding his knowledge and skillset.

As we move closer to the end-of-life date for Windows 7, Microsoft support for this popular operating system will be going… going… gone before we know it. January 14, 2020 might seem like it’s a long way off, but hopefully you’re already convinced that you need to upgrade. Here at Accent, we’re feeling a sense of urgency to get the word out that the transition process to Windows 10 needs to begin ASAP, and here are the two biggest mistakes that we don’t want you to make.

Do you ever have trouble finding the time to push a big project forward? Despite the project’s importance and your desire to do the tasks involved, it just never gets off your back burner. Because the project never gets your attention, you don’t move forward towards your goals. That’s what it’s like in your business when your internal IT team gets locked into day-to-day tasks and responsibilities that completely take over their time and attention. Unfortunately, in this situation, the technology innovations you envision never see the light of day, and no matter how determined you are to reach your goals, they remain out of reach.

May is normally one of the more forgettable time periods of the year. The rush of the new year is over, tax season is behind business owners, and summer is coming but not quite here. Typically when executives reach out to me, they’re nonspecific about what they need. They say they “just want IT to work,” or that they “don’t want to think about IT at all.” Those calls usually result in a meeting with the executives where we discuss the specifics of IT and how it can help advance the company if managed well. The calls this month were much different.

Have you ever wanted your work days to be a little easier, or to get things done just a little  faster? Technology makes us more productive in a lot of cases, but it can also slow us down if we aren’t familiar with the best ways to use it. Luckily, many time-saving features are built-in and easy to use.

There are many reasons why you might be looking for a new IT support company; you’ve outgrown your current provider; your IT manager is leaving; you’re not confident about your security; technology is a constant frustration. Whatever your reason, don’t overlook managed IT services as an option because of preconceived ideas about how your company may not be a fit. To help you have an open mind, let’s get rid of these myths and misconceptions:

Trying to keep up-to-date on how to stay safe from cyber criminals these days can be nearly impossible. Most have no idea how or where to even begin. There are plenty of security measures to consider, but a good place to start would be to run the suggested updates on your computers and mobile devices. I know it’s tempting to push the “Maybe Later” button when they pop up, but these updates are for your own safety. Sometimes they add software features, but many times, they’re fixing bugs and plugging security holes. Installing these updates when they come out can help avoid major security problems, such as the one Microsoft is doing its best to fix right now.

No one wants to pay for more IT than what you really need to, but unfortunately costs have a way of creeping up if you’re not effectively managing all aspects of IT. Here’s how it can happen. Let’s say you need more server space. You buy a new server. That one gets maxed out so you add more space. Then it happens again. Pretty soon, you’re trying to manage a crazy big network, and it’s so complicated and burdensome that it’s causing problems in all areas of your infrastructure.

If you go to a restaurant and there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, you’re probably not going to be able to get four plates of food, and then fill a to-go box for lunch tomorrow. Why? Because there are limits to what the restaurant is providing. If the restaurant has had trouble with customers taking “all-you-can-eat” literally, you might find a disclaimer to this effect on the menu, but often it’s implicit. Managed IT Services isn’t exactly like a buffet, but when you’re getting ready to sign a contract, you should make sure that you understand exactly what’s included and what's not included so you’re not surprised later.

During her four years at Accent Computer Solutions, Sarah Crofutt has seen many changes, both in her role and in the company as a whole. The job she’s doing today as Resource Coordination Specialist is very different from where she began four years ago as a Dispatcher, and the company has undergone a major shift in its organization. This reorganization was so dramatic that it’s referred to internally as “Evolution”. Sarah has never been as involved in company change as she has at Accent, nor has she ever had an employer that requests and welcomes employee input like Accent does.