This document discusses demystifying small business IT. It addresses common questions that small businesses have about IT support. It defines hardware as any physical computer equipment that can be touched, such as computers, printers, and servers. Software is defined as computer programs and applications that cannot be physically touched, such as operating systems and office productivity software. The cloud is described as using software and services installed on the internet rather than locally, providing tools for more efficient business operations and being billed by subscription. Examples of cloud services like Office 365 are also provided.

1. Demystifying small
business IT
W E S P E A K H U M A N

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Stop feeling silly - this guide will help you
to demystify small business IT and the
support you need.

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With technology moving forward so fast,
it is hard to keep up. And the reality is
that no single person can keep up with
everything. The good news is that there is
no such things as a ‘silly’ question when it
comes to computing and small business
IT support. Here are some questions
which are anything but silly.

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What is hardware?

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Inevitably, you will hear some small business
IT support techie talking about hardware
at some point in time.

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Hardware is any physical computer equipment you currently
have in your offices, or that needs to be purchased to help
you grow. Items of hardware include:
Computers (PCs)
and servers.
Laptops,
Notebooks and
Netbooks.
Smartphones
and tablets.
Printers. Networks
switches.

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TIP: If you can touch it with your hand,
it’s probably hardware.

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What is software?

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Software is a term usually used to describe the computer
assets that you cannot physically touch.
Software includes the operating system that makes the PC on your desk work:
Microsoft Windows 7 or 8.
Apple Mac OS X.
Linux.

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Software also includes the programs you use to keep
your business running like:
Microsoft Office
(Word, Excel, Outlook,
Powerpoint etc).
Your accounts
system.
Your stock inventory
system.

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Any programs you use on your company computers
are items of software.

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TIP: If you can’t touch it, it’s probably software.

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What is the cloud?

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Everywhere you look,
someone is talking about the
cloud as the answer to every IT problem
ever imagined. That may be a slight
exaggeration, but the cloud does offer small
businesses some massive benefits.

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The cloud:
Uses software and services installed somewhere on the internet
(rather than on your desktop PC).

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The cloud:
Provides tools allowing your business to operate more efficiently.

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The cloud:
Is billed on a subscription basis.

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The cloud:
Never goes out of date as it is regularly upgraded as part
of the subscription.
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I still don’t get it. Give me
an example.

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Office 365 is the cloud-based version of traditional
Microsoft Office software.
In the past they would have
been restricted to just the
PC on which the software
is installed.
Businesses taking out a
subscription can access
the software any place, any
time, using virtually
any device

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The cloud may sound complicated, but the truth is that it
makes running your business easier than ever before. Ask
your small business IT support provider for more details.

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Can the cloud do anything else?

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The cloud can also replace certain items of hardware:
Your company file store could be moved to
a cloud equivalent.

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Files stored in the cloud can be accessed any place,
any time, making your staff more productive inside
and outside the office.

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Cloud storage can be added at any time without having
to buy new hardware for your office.

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Remember:
There’s no such things as a stupid IT question.
If you don’t ask the questions, your business could be missing out.
Embrace hosted technology; it’s proven to liberate business
and employees.
If your small business IT support provider won’t (or can’t) answer
questions, you may have a problem.
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There’s No Such Thing as a
Silly IT Question, Stupid!
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