Is your business computer system safe from Hackers?

You may feel that your business data is secure – but is it really safe from hackers?

In the same week that a 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the TalkTalk hacking scandal, is may be wise to seek advice from ACE Computer Support to make sure that information stored on your company’s computer systems is as safe as possible.

Last week, the broadband and telephone services giant, TalkTalk, suffered a "significant and sustained cyber-attack", with bank details and personal information being potentially accessed.

With over four million customers in the UK, that’s a lot of information – Talk Talk said that it didn’t know how much customer information had been encrypted.

Business leaders have been calling for urgent action to tackle cyber-crime as a result of the TalkTalk incident; hacking is certainly something should be taken seriously as this recent debacle proves.

Backing up computer data is also crucial for every business, however large or small - the loss of vital systems and data can be fatal, sometimes even resulting in closure.

To find out more about ACE’s Computer Support’s Fully Automated Data Backup, or for a free of charge computer system and data security consultation, call ACE Computer Support today on 01902 375304!

Windows 10 Review

If you are being prompted to upgrade to Windows 10 and are unsure about whether to do so, it makes sense to understand the changes to the system and also to consider carefully whether the transformation will suit you.

Windows 10 is free of charge for most people and it offers plenty of new features. From our corner, we think that the new Start menu, new apps, Edge browser and Cortana make Windows 10 the best version to date.

In terms of features, Windows 10 is very much like a refreshed and improved Windows 7. It's tough, easy to use and don’t forget – it’s free.

Pros and Cons of Windows 10

Windows 10 Pros:

·         We love the useful Action Centre features

·         The Start menu is top-notch

·         The Universal apps are much better quality

·         The Settings app is a Control Panel replacement at last

·         Sorry to say it again, but it’s free to most!

Windows 10 Cons:

·         Some Windows 8.1 users will miss some of the elements

·         If you can’t upgrade for free, Windows 10 is expensive

·         There are questions as to whether developers will welcome the Universal apps

Should I upgrade to Windows 10?

Now that Microsoft has realised that people can choose other operating systems, it's allowing apps from other platforms to be easily ported to Windows.

Windows 10 is now not just operating system for PCs - it will also run on the ARM platform for smartphones and smaller tablets. Windows 10 is also planning to run on phones with a new version of the Windows Phone, although but it's not that clear if it will be branded as the 'Windows 10' phone at this stage.

Although many consider that Windows 10 is a finished product, Microsoft is committed ongoing development of the OS – who knows where this could take it!

As to the question of whether you should upgrade to Windows 10 well, of course, this is your choice, but do hope that we have helped you make that decision. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @ACECompSup – we would love to hear your comments!

Home IT Support for Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands

It’s not just businesses that rely on computers – these days, individuals rely on their PCs to access the internet for many reasons.

Whether it’s the online shop, catching up with friends and staying in touch via social media, or for general research and internet shopping, it is very problematic when computers break down.

Many individuals also use their home computers for work purposes, meaning that PC problems can prove costly.

Home computer support

ACE Computer Support offers full a full range of computer support services for home users in Wolverhampton, Telford & Bridgnorth.

Our affordable service is also super-reliable, meaning that if you encounter any problems with your home computer, we are on hand to get you up and running in no time!

·         Software and Hardware problem-solving

·         Removing computer viruses

·         Setting up emails & troubleshooting problems

·         Setting up wireless networks

·         Computer data backup assistance

·         Laptop computer and PC repairs

·         Hardware installation and procurement

·         General computer training

Whatever your computer problem is at home, our skilled technicians are here to fix it and also provide advice.

Call 01902 375 304 today if you need our services – ACE Computer Support is ready to provide help whenever you may need it!

5 top tips for your business social media strategy

Social media isn’t going anywhere – it is how 1000s of people communicate and stay in touch with each other across the globe every day. This means that no business can afford to ignore it.

Yes, it may be time consuming but in the long run, it will pay dividends. And here are five reasons why:

Firstly, have a think about what your goals are before planning out your social media marketing strategy.

If your business has weaknesses, could social media help you strengthen them? And your business strengths could really shine through.

1. Be specific

Ensure that the area of business that you want to develop is precise – this will enable you to plan out what platforms will get the message across and to what audience.

2. Assign job roles     

                               

Don’t leave your strategy to chance! Make sure that someone is assigned to each role and sticks to your planned timetable of updates, shares and other activities.

3. Be Realistic

Think about your budget and time and be realistic about what you will achieve from your efforts. A lot of the time, social media is about branding and helping with your SEO – very often, paid advertising on certain platforms will gain business but in general, people don’t like to be ‘sold to’.

4. Add website content

Every website needs to be updated regularly with relevant, well-written content. This content can be shared across the social media channels to help draw traffic to your website. Make sure that all of your updates are good quality and consistent.

5. Monitor your performance

You need to be able to monitor your social media strategy progress.

Obviously, good social media management and planning is all about time – it will take a few months for you to start creating a community. When you do, your business should stand out from the crowd - if it is done properly, of course.

If you would like help with your social media management, ACE Computer Support can help – with an expert team and prices from just £50 + VAT per week including regular website content, we can take the planning and the worry away!

For more information or for a free of charge initial consultation, call us today on 01902 375304 or click here and we will get straight back to you!

Does your website do your company justice?

Nowadays, websites aren’t just an afterthought. After all, the first thing that people are likely to do when researching any sort of service provision or company is go straight to the internet.

We know that if a site is poorly designed, it is often likely that potential customers leave the landing page without even investigating further.

If your website is out of date, it doesn’t look good. If it is poorly optimised, they may not find you at all. And if your social media presence is non-existent, it is a sign that your business may not be keeping up with the times.

We also take into account that people are often viewing on devices like smartphones and tablets, so all of our sites are mobile-friendly.

Ace Computer Support provides a bespoke web design and development service for businesses – both small and large – across the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire. We take the pain and worry out of the design and optimisation, working closely with our clients to make sure that the end result gives the right impression when any prospective customer visits site.

Bespoke Web Design from ACE Computer Support

Whatever your requirements, our skilled team will create a website that delivers your message in the best way possible - every site we build is carefully designed to meet clients’ requirements.

Search Engine Optimisation from ACE Computer Support

We want your website to be found when people search! Search engine optimisation is crucial for getting your website noticed; we make sure that all of the sites we design are search engine friendly, with the right key words and phrases that are required by the customer.

Domain and Website Hosting from ACE Computer Support

If you are looking for a cost-effective and reliable hosting service, then look no further - Ace Computer Support can help. This also brings everything together for our clients and effectively means that everything is kept “under one roof” – and hassle free!

For more information, or for an initial free of charge consultation, call us on 01902 375 304!

Tweet us @ACEComputerSup or follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all of the latest computer news and updates!

Ace Computer Support Data Backup

Ace Computer Support Data Backup

Ace Computer Support Data Backup 

What would you do if your business lost its data and vital systems? In some cases, this event could prove to be fatal, closing companies completely.

It doesn’t make sense to rely on inefficient - and human dependant - tape technology alone when it comes to the matter of protecting your data.

The Ace Computer Support Data Backup system is fully automated – it is a backup appliance that backs up to its own internal disk system before copying the backup offsite without any human intervention.

It can then restore at LAN speed straight from the local disk in the event of data loss.

Our daily backups are also encrypted and made to internal disks inside the Ace Computer Support appliance.

MSExchange and MSSQL servers are easily protected and Individual mailbox restore protection is also an option for MSExchange. Desktops and notebooks can also be protected, individually or as a whole.

Remote users are also able to securely backup to the appliance that can be restored either remotely or via head office; protected data is replicated automatically to a secure data silo.

Whatever your requirement, ACE Computer Support will keep your company’s data safe and secure – call 01902 375 304 today for your free on-site appraisal!

Tweet us @ACEComputerSup or follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all of the latest computer news and updates!

Google’s New Look

Google has changed its logo just a few weeks after the company’s restructuring through their new parent company, Alphabet. Incidentally, Google’s new font is “Product Sans” – this is the same font as Alphabet’s.

You can take a look at the officical Google blog announcing the change by clicking here.

Of course, not everyone will like it, but that’s life and something every established business considers carefully before changing. Google wants its new logo and “identity family” to reflect the reality of Google and show users “when the Google magic is working for you, even on the tiniest screens”.

This is understandable given the fact that internet surfing is often carried out on small devices such as smartphones and tablets.

In their blog, Google stated that they had “taken the Google logo and branding, which were originally built for a single desktop browser page, and updated them for a world of seamless computing across an endless number of devices and different kinds of inputs (such as tap, type and talk).

“It doesn’t simply tell you that you’re using Google, but also shows you how Google is working for you. For example, new elements like a colorful Google mic help you identify and interact with Google whether you’re talking, tapping or typing. Meanwhile, we’re bidding adieu to the little blue “g” icon and replacing it with a four-color “G” that matches the logo.”

What do you think of Google’s new image? We would love to hear your comments – why not tweet us @ACEComputerSup or follow us on Facebook and join in the conversation!