Tag: technology

  • A chat with Mike, our Technical Director

    A chat with Mike, our Technical Director

    Mike, our Technical Director

    Following on in our meet the team series, we introduce you to Mike. Mike is our Technical Director here at The Unite Group and mostly focuses on the IT side of the business.

    We recently had a chat with him to find out a bit more about him and his role…

    Growing up, what did you want to be?

    I never really knew what field I wanted to go into when I was younger. However I did always enjoy engineering and problem solving. So naturally I ended up doing tech & sciences which led me into discovering a passion for IT and business. I was told by a careers advisor at school that as I was an early riser and liked the outdoors I should be a farmer, so I’m glad I didn’t follow that advice!

    What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

    I am one of the directors within the group and oversee most technical IT aspects of the company and IT projects. I have worked in IT for 23 years. In roles ranging from IT helpdesk, support desk team leader, IT consultant and GIS analyst. After starting SMT Technologies with Dean we later merged our business with Unite Communications. This formed The Unite Group, combining the IT expertise of SMT Tech with the comms expertise of Unite landing me here amongst a great team.

    What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

    As we service a whole host of companies for comms, IT and social media we don’t really have a typical day in the office. I  can end up working on any project if the team escalates issues to me. This is one of the exciting parts of the job! Although to summarise a standard week I will mostly be working on planning projects and meeting with clients to discuss the IT options available to them, working with the team on any escalations and trying to fit in work on the groups IT and systems also.

    What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

    I most enjoy planning and deploying new solutions and systems to overcome issues for clients and our own business, it’s like solving a puzzle!

     As for the least favourite part I would have to say, and Lorraine would probably agree, I don’t like completing the finance paperwork we need to keep on top of so I often cause her a headache chasing me to complete or submit information she needs.

    What is your greatest achievement?

    I would have to say it would be the hard work put into our company which saw us grow from a small 2 man firm into the group we are today. It’s a great source of pride and we really have a great team throughout which delivers a great atmosphere!

    What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

    Simply try your best and don’t give up, something instilled firmly by my family as a youth and as a married adult and its very much the theme of my favorite poem, IF, with the line “Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

        And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools very much instilling the fact that at times you will hit hardship and see a dream dashed but if you just keep on you can make something better. I think most people can relate closely to that with all the tragedies and hardships recently.

    Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

    We have some exciting plans to scale and grow the group and the offerings we deliver so I very much see myself still here, maybe with a 4 day week if I’m lucky! I don’t like having nothing to do so the hustle and bustle of the business is great.

    How do you unwind outside of work?

    I enjoy zoning out to music. I listen to anything from classical through to country and heavy rock & metal depending on my mood. My current favourite playlist is leaning very heavily to Pink Floyd and Creedence Clearwater Revival for a bit of a retro kick. I also enjoy cooking (when it’s not a rush just to get dinner out) and we as a family enjoy traveling when possible.

    To arrange a chat with Mike, or if you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on 0191 466 1050.

  • Six common IT challenges for fast-growing businesses

    Six common IT challenges for fast-growing businesses

    Extended periods of rapid growth are positive for most businesses. It means that the business is acquiring new customers, which is driving increased revenue and better business outcomes. These periods are exciting and necessary for the longevity of a business, but it also creates new challenges. We often see this regarding IT and technology. In this blog we will delve into 6 common IT challenges for fast-growing businesses. In this blog, we will look at how these problems can be solved with the help of a trusted IT provider.

    Budgeting for Scaling Up

    As businesses grow, they will also need their IT systems to grow with them. This includes everything from software licenses to cloud servers. If businesses are not careful, their IT spending can get out of control. This can leave them with a large invoice, exceeding their budget and eating into their profit margin. Often, fast-growing businesses are not getting the most value from their IT spend and deployment and implementation of technology is reactive, rather than proactive.

    If a business partners with a third-party IT provider, the provider will typically be able to give a simple monthly cost per user, with everything included for the set-up. IT providers can also proactively forecast the cost of larger projects, making it easier for businesses to stick to their IT budget.

    Receiving Adequate IT Support

    As businesses grow, they have different requirements regarding IT infrastructure, as well as IT support. For businesses that already have an internal IT department, the team typically is forced to dedicate their time to research, and then setting up the new systems to support the growth. This results in less time dedicated to actioning support tickets which can decrease productivity within other departments and slow business growth.

    If businesses involve a third-party IT provider, they can either outsource the implementation of new technologies or outsource their support desk. This gives IT departments more time to do what they do best to support the continued growth of the business.

    Onboarding New Employees

    Hiring new employees on short notice is always a challenge. However, this is only made more difficult due to the current chip shortage. Hardware procurement can be a lengthy process, and even if a business already has the device, it still needs to be reimaged and set up for the employee. If onboarding is not a smooth experience it can give a poor first impression of the company.

     A trusted third-party IT provider can assist with the onboarding of new employees through the procurement and deployment of new devices. This ensures that every employee receives the right equipment and it is ready to use from day one.

    Safeguarding Against Cyberthreats

    Most cyberattacks that we hear about in the news are high profile multi-national enterprises. But we find that small businesses and fast growing businesses are just as likely to be targeted. This is due to the fact that cybercriminals view these companies as easy targets as they typically have invested less in security. If a business does get attacked, not only can it harm its reputation, but it can also lead to a large amount of downtime.

    This challenge can be solved by looking into a strong security solution. Such a solution typically includes multiple layers of defence to ensure that even if a hacker gets through one layer, there are still many more to stop them from accessing confidential data. Most security solutions also include backup and disaster recovery functionality to ensure swift recovery after an attack.

    Lacking Capital Expenditure

    In the early stages of rapid growth, businesses may not have sufficient liquid cash to invest in upgrading IT systems. This is particularly true for infrastructure such as servers, which require a significant capital investment. Thankfully, with the rise of cloud servers, businesses can move away from capital expenses and move to operational expenses. As there is no upfront investment, but rather businesses only need to pay for what they use.

    Managing Customer Relationships

    Whilst small businesses can get away with using spreadsheets, this is not feasible once a business reaches a certain size. This can be solved through building in a customer relationship management solution. This is not a quick process, businesses should invest in a CRM solution early, to prepare for growth. This is something we as a company can help support with.

    How we can help

    For any business that is currently growing, or looking to grow, you don’t want IT to be holding you back. Our role as a third-party IT provider is to ensure that your IT works as intended. If you want to find out more about how The Unite Group can help your business, contact us today.

  • A chat with Chris, one of our Senior Service Engineers

    A chat with Chris, one of our Senior Service Engineers

    chris meet the team

    Continuing on in our meet the team series, next up we introduce to you Chris one of our Senior Service Engineers. Chris joined us just over a year ago and is often out the office working on our customer sites solving any IT issues. We recently had a chat with him…

    Growing up, what did you want to be?

    Growing up I wanted to be a rally car driver. Clearly this dream never became a reality, however, I am so happy with where I have ended up. Each day is very different and there is never a dull moment.

    What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

    My role here at The Unite Group is a Senior Service Engineer. My career started out in an apprentice role, after which I then worked in IT for 18 years. Back in May 2021 I joined the Unite Group and am really enjoying being part of a team that works so well together.

    What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

    There isn’t a ‘typical’ day, the good thing about my role is I get to experience many aspects of IT. From spec’ing and quoting bespoke IT solutions to meet a client’s requirements. To fully installing and supporting them. Everyday is different for me and that’s why I love my role!

    What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

    My most favourite part of the job is when everything comes together, and a project is completed to the highest standard possible making our clients happy. However, my least favourite part of the job is when stock levels are low as it makes it very difficult to supply hardware, as you can imagine in the world we are in at the moment this makes things more challenging.

    What is your greatest achievement?

    My greatest achievement has got to be buying my first home and my 2 children.

    What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

    Take pride in what you do and try your best!

    Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

    In 10 years’ time, I hope to be successful and to have worked through many new and exciting projects. I wish to have expanded upon my skillset and knowledge within my role. I also see myself making many more fun and exciting memories with my beautiful family.

    How do you unwind outside of work?

    Outside of work I like to spend time with my family and friends. Also on the rare occasions when I get “me time” I like to watch football or play video games. 

    If you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on, 0191 466 1050.

  • Lloyd vs. Google: Have you got your Cookie Policy?

    Lloyd vs. Google: Have you got your Cookie Policy?

    Have you got your cookie policy? Google are currently under the microscope; this is because Richard Lloyd has made a legal claim against Google in relation to the ‘Safari Workaround’.

    The Safari Workaround allowed Google to bypass default privacy settings in iPhones. This then allowed Google to track browser-generated information to sell for advertising purposes.

    The facts of the case are as follows:

    “The respondent (Lloyd) has issued a claim alleging that the appellant (‘Google’) has breached its duties as a data controller under the DPA to over 4m Apple iPhone users during a period of some months in 2011- 2012, when Google was able to collect and use their browser generated information. The respondent sued on his own behalf and also on behalf of a class of other residents in England and Wales whose data was collected in this way. He applied for permission to serve the claim out of the jurisdiction. Google opposed the application on the grounds that (i) the pleaded facts did not disclose any basis for claiming compensation under the DPA. And (ii) the court should not, in any event, permit the claim to continue as a representative action.“

    The on-going legal battle has highlighted the importance of GDPR and Cookie policies on the internet.

    Meaning that if you’re a business owner, this case is something you should be aware of and comply with accordingly.

    What can you do?

    As a business owner, you are responsible for the data. This for example includes the data that you collect, store, and use when your website is visited.

    Your website should have a Privacy Policy and a Cookie Policy. This policy must explain what details are collected and where you store them.

    Users should have the option to accept or decline your Cookie Policy when entering your website.

    The Cookie Policy should also contain information on how users can opt out of cookies or change their cookie settings.

    You must check that you are compliant with the current GDPR/DPA 2018 guidelines.

    A Cookie Policy deals with the use of cookies on your site. Whereas a Privacy Policy is a general document regarding all the data processes on your website.

    Privacy and Cookie policies are mandatory. If you do not have one of the policies on your website you can refer directly to the ICO to amend this.

    If this is something you are struggling with why not get in touch with Social+ (part of The Unite Group) They can help ensure that your website is fully compliant with these guidelines.

    How can we help?

    Social+ offers website maintenance as part of their services. Their team would be more than happy to take you through the requirements step by step.

    If this is something that you would want to hear more about give us a call. 0191 466 1050 or email on hello@social-plus.media.

  • Hosted telephony and the BT Switch off explained…

    Hosted telephony and the BT Switch off explained…

    BT has recently announced that they are switching all their customers from PTSN and ISDN services to a fully digital network, as Openreach are discontinuing the old phone analogue lines by 2025.

    This therefore concerns all small to medium-sized businesses, and even affects home services too. If you are a business, this affects everything that uses old phone networks including alarm and door entry systems.

    By switching to digital phone services, you are able to make calls from any device in any location, using the same phone number.

    This allows you to be able to link business applications and systems with video chat, calls and collaboration – which is a necessity in the workplace since the pandemic.

    The technical term for this digital phone service is hosted telephony.

    Hosted Telephony means that your phone system is hosted in the cloud. This is instead of physically in your office.

    The installation process is simple, there are no physical cables to install and connect. All that is required is an internet connection.

    Hosted Telephony provides a flexible and reliable way to manage your communications in the workplace.

    One of the benefits of hosted telephony is that once it is installed, it can be easily managed and tailored to your business. You will also have the option of adding extra features.

    Calls can be made and received across multiple devices including your phone and desktop.

    The flexibility of hosted telephony allows small and growing businesses to scale up. You also then don’t have phone numbers that are tied to one location.

    Advanced features of hosted telephony include SMS messaging, voicemail, Microsoft Integration, call recordings and more.

    Hosted Telephony also reduces maintenance and IT costs for your business.

    How can we help?

    At The Unite Group, we use Voice 365 to provide our customers with hosted cloud telephony service.

    Voice 365 provides a range of features including, call centre and remote working, receptionist software, call management, and more.

    We provide Voice 365 phones with no purchase cost. All of the payments are billed monthly, this allows you to spread out the cost for your business.

    If this is something you might be interested in learning more about, why not give us a call on 0191 466 1050. Or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk.

  • How does being ISO certified benefit your business?

    How does being ISO certified benefit your business?

    Here at The Unite Group, we have recently achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification!

    This achievement is something to celebrate. Having this ensures that we are providing an excellent standard of service to our loyal customers.

    ISO 9001 is a quality management system and ISO 27001 is an information security management system.

    Meeting the standards of an ISO certificate provides your business with a number of benefits. These will improve the validity of your company’s management processes.

    ISO certification sets a standard for businesses and the daily processes which ensure customer requirements are being met.

    This also means that each business has a set of high standardised procedures. By having these procedures in place it means any new employees can easily follow them.

    Businesses that have been granted ISO certification are regulated by the BSI to ensure that any changes that have been made are still meeting the standards of the certification.

    The ISO 9001 standards was updated in 2015. It is the world’s most popular quality management system standard.

    Over one million organisations are ISO 9001 certified. Survey results have found that there is a 60% reduction in the likelihood of mistakes.

    Results have also showed that, products and services provided by these organisations have improved by 66% since being certified.

    Some customers may require that you are certified before agreeing to pay for a specific service. Therefore, showing that being certified can cause an increase in revenue.

    ISO Standards

    The ISO standards are compatible with other certifications, for example ISO 9001 is compatible with ISO 27001.

    This allows businesses, like us, to improve the quality of their management and security processes at the same time.

    This has a knock-on-effect and improves customer acquisition and retention.

    ISO 27001 minimises the risk of a security breach which could have legal implications for your business.

    By following the procedures put in place with the ISO 27001 certification, risk assessments are conducted, and security information is protected from any pre-anticipated risks.

    71% of businesses feel more protected since being ISO 27001 certified.

    BSI will work with you and your business to help you achieve improved management processes and integration with corporate risk strategies.

    In order to continue meeting the standards of the certification, you must regularly risk assess your business and its procedures.

    You must establish correct procedures throughout the company and implement internal reviews regularly.

    By being certified, we have greater protection and confidence in our management procedures, ensuring that we are providing our customers with the best possible service.

    You can call us on 0191 466 1050 or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk for more information.

    The Unite Group, to book your free consultation.

  • The Cloud – What is it and How will it Transform Hybrid Working?

    The Cloud – What is it and How will it Transform Hybrid Working?

    We always hear people talking about the cloud, iCloud, the ones in the sky – it can be somewhat confusing.

    Therefore, here at The Unite Group, our aim is to remove all the jargon and to make understanding technology simple.

    The cloud is essentially like a filing cabinet, with all your business’ files inside. Except there is no physical cabinet and everything is accessed via the internet.

    Therefore, it enables multiple users to access the same files and applications across a number of devices.

    Using a cloud computing service allows companies to stop making use of physical servers and allows them to migrate their data and files onto an online server that can be accessed from anywhere.

    As long as you have internet access, your company’s files and data will be readily available to be accessed from the cloud.

    By migrating your data to the cloud, hardware costs are reduced for small to medium sized companies. Therefore the need for these businesses to maintain and update their own servers is removed.

    Not only is the cloud so easily accessible, 94% of businesses report to have seen improved online security since they migrated to the cloud.

    Microsoft 365 is a widely used example of an app which allows you to store your files in the cloud.

    Likewise, Google Drive is an example of a cloud computing service. Consumers often use Google Drive to store their files, photos and more.

    So, now the question is how will it transform hybrid working?

    Well it already has. At one point, everyone except essential workers were working from home and computing services, like the cloud, were an essential.

    The past year the cloud has been vital to helping companies tackle one of their greatest challenges yet.

    Hybrid Working Life

    Office workers are now adjusting to a life of hybrid working models. Individuals may find that they spend two days in the office and three days at home.

    Due to employee expectations since the pandemic, we are very much expecting hybrid working to stay.

    But in order for this new working model to work both effectively and efficiently, businesses need a service like the cloud.

    Cloud computing services make alternating between remote working and office working a smooth and simple process.

    The main benefit being that the files and applications stored in the cloud can be accessed anywhere so long as there is a strong internet connection.

    How can The Unite Group help?

    Here at The Unite Group, we can migrate your data from your current mail server to the cloud. We can make sure that you take all your emails and contacts with you to avoid disruption.

    Our specialist service allows collaborative working from any location to be immediately available for you and your business.

    If you choose to migrate your data with the Unite Group, we will do all the hard work for you.

    We will create and implement a seamless migration plan with little disruption to your working day.

    If migrating to the cloud sounds like something you and your business would be interested in. Get in touch and contact The Unite Group today on 0191 466 1050 or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk.

  • How the COVID-19 Pandemic Boosted Microsoft 365

    How the COVID-19 Pandemic Boosted Microsoft 365

    Microsoft 365 is the go-to software for every business. However since the global pandemic, collaborative working that is both accessible and easy to navigate is an essential for your work-from-home needs.

    Microsoft 365 is home to several products and services including SharePoint, Teams, Outlook and much more.

    The software combines a number of Microsoft apps. This provides your business with everything you need for a successful working day.

    Why should you use Microsoft 365?

    By utilising Microsoft 365 in your workplace, you can transfer all your data to the cloud. Making your documents and files easily accessible no matter where you are working from.

    Your data can be found across a number of devices, from your mobile to your desktop.

    This became particularly beneficial during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    As we are all very much aware, our spare bedrooms became our home offices. This meant we had to very quickly learn how to adapt to this new working environment.

    The Monday morning meeting had to be completed online and the first 10 minutes would be spent trying to explain to someone how to turn their camera on. We do not miss it!

    The usage of most online platforms – but especially Microsoft 365 – increased massively. People who thought Teams was a reference to the football were suddenly using it religiously!

    Due to this, Microsoft Teams became one of the fastest growing apps of the pandemic. Adding 95 million users in 2020 alone! Teams generated an estimated 700% increase year-on-year.

    Remote working has never been so simple. Microsoft can manage a range of devices including Windows, Mac and Android.

    Teams allows you to work productively with your co-workers from the comfort of your own home. Whilst also having that quick 5-minute catch up on the soaps from the night before.  

    And the best part – the blur feature, allowing you to hide the unflattering family photo hanging on the wall behind you, or your lockdown puppy that just won’t leave you alone!

    The pandemic has transformed the way we work in a so many ways, but Microsoft 365 has really helped us along. And now that we are back in the office, we can continue to make use of this software on a daily basis.

    Making that one day you work from home a luxury, not a hassle!

    How can we help?

    Here at the Unite Group, we can help your business migrate your data to the cloud, so that you too, can begin to use Microsoft 365 seamlessly.

    With our help, migration has never been so easy, moving all your contacts over with you.

    Collaborative apps such as Teams and SharePoint are available immediately, allowing your staff to work from any location, at any time.

    If this is something that your business would be interested in, get in touch today by giving us a call on 0191 466 1050 or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk.