News about BCS Voice & Data in Virginia Beach

Back to School Checkup

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Almost every parent has a back-to-school checklist for their child: annual physical, new clothes, school supplies, etc. But what about the school? Many schools, both public and private, have been operating for a long time. This means that throughout the years, they have had their own checklist to run through to make sure every part of the building is running smoothly when students return – including technology.

For schools, the most important system is the phones. Parents need to be able to contact administrators without worrying about getting disconnected or a busy line, and administrators need to be able to connect to the right classroom to reach teachers quickly. For your back-to-school checkup, make sure your phone system is still working for you.

Another important system to check is the one you use to teach students. Is your school still running on old, roller cart projectors? To make use of all of the amazing tools out there for students and teachers now, and encourage participation through interactive tools, update your technology with new projectors or smart boards!

Finally, you’ll want to check your computers for updates, and double check your network security. With the amount of online programs used to log grades and assign upload homework, keeping your student’s information protected is important, and keeping your network updated and secure will make the school year a breeze for teachers, parents and administrators.

However, we know that busy teachers and administration don’t have time to manage technology and troubleshoot issues as they come. That’s why outsourcing IT strategy, maintenance, monitoring and repair is a smart choice for many schools and school divisions. For more information and expert advice on choosing the best options for your school, contact BCS Voice & Data at (757) 497-3100.

IT is Your Friend

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Navigating technology and IT solutions can seem overwhelming, especially for employees who have no direct involvement with your company’s network. Many choose to leave the technical side of things to the outsourced company, and others may not trust an outside company with their information at all.

However, your IT company doesn’t have to be just a stranger – IT can be your friend! Getting to know your IT company can make you feel better about keeping your data secure, and help things run smoothly when problems arise. Here are a few ways to create a better relationship with your IT company:

  1. Get to know your technician. If your outsourced IT company has employees assigned to your company, be sure to get familiar with the technician assigned to your account! This will make things easier when you need to contact someone about your data or security by knowing who is familiar with your account.
  2. Ask questions. Become familiar with how your data is stored, where it is stored, who has access to files and what the plan is when it comes to a data breach or needing access to a backup by asking questions. There are no dumb questions, and becoming familiar with these procedures will help you trust your outsourced company and make you more knowledgeable about your own network and how IT support works.
  3. Know your services. There may be a service you need that you are unfamiliar with or aren’t sure is right for you. Talk with your IT company to find out every option and set up a service that is tailored to your type of business. For instance, companies who store customer’s personal information will need more backups and security.

If you’re interested in IT Support or Network Monitoring services, Call BCS at (757) 497-3100 today to learn more about how we can help your business run more efficiently and with a greater degree of security, leaving you worry-free during future data breach scares.

Why BCS?

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With so much information available online today, it can be tough to make the decision to outsource IT solutions. You may also find that with there are a plethora of companies offering similar services and wonder, “Why BCS?”

Our mission has always been to provide our clients consulting, hardware and services that maximize the value and effectiveness of their business technology. We share in the responsibility of achieving business objectives but never sacrifice ethics or integrity, and our dedicated, qualified employees always deliver professional service.

This means that not only do we provide you with phone systems, video conferencing systems, IT support, structured cabling, digital signs and digital whiteboards, but that we also work with you to assess your company’s needs to make sure you are getting the right product. We want to make sure that your business is running smoothly and efficiently because of the products you choose.

Our service doesn’t stop after you’ve purchased products for your business. Whether you’re signed up for our managed IT support services, or just need equipment repair or computer networking, BCS is here for you! With an impressive fleet available, our support team responds promptly to address your technical needs. Once we are alerted of your emergency, on-call technicians and their managers are notified simultaneously to ensure a timely and satisfactory response to your call.

We also continuously follow technological developments to introduce the best possible products. If a new version of a product is released, we do our research to make sure it is going to be useful and cost-effective for our clients. For instance, our blog post on the new StarLeaf updates will give you all the information you need to install their new app!

Find out how a quality, knowledgeable IT support company can provide you with a high ROI and provide the best possible solutions and services.  Contact us today to learn more and for select case studies relevant to your industry.

Why Use Digital Signs in Restaurants?

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If you’ve gone to a counter-service restaurant or coffee shop recently, you may have glanced up at the menu to order and realized something is different – the menu has changed. No, there aren’t any new items, and no, nothing was removed from the menu. However, the menu itself (the material it’s made of) is completely new, and it’s digital!
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What Technology Does a School Need?

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With so many students and employees in one system working to direct information and communicate, both public and private schools require a lot of time, detail and attention. We’ve written before on the blog about the things you need to make your business run, but what do you need for a school? Surprisingly, the two are very similar:

Reliable infrastructure: If your school has a computer room, smartboards, projectors and televisions, you’ll need a well-though-out cabling strategy in place. Nothing is more frustrating to a teacher when a planned lesson falls through because of slow technology or downtime!

Network monitoring: The above statement applies to your network as well – a failed network in the middle of a lesson can mean hours of work lost. Most schools don’t have an IT department ready to handle these situations, so having a network monitoring service could save you from stress.

Business phone system: Communication between faculty in schools is essential, and phone systems are the easiest way to contact each other and be sure the other end will answer. An older or unreliable phone system can lead to disconnected calls or calls that are transferred to the wrong person.

Interactive tools: Students are more excited about classroom lessons with the prospect of using the technology themselves. Interactive tools create a fun and focused learning environment, while also cutting back on paper waste and time at the copy machine. Interactive whiteboards can be great for educational games and activities in which students can directly engage with the material and interact with their peers. Students can also present their own ideas, and will be more motivated about assigned presentations and group projects!

Busy teachers and administration don’t have time to manage technology and troubleshoot issues as they come. That’s why outsourcing IT strategy, maintenance, monitoring and repair is a smart choice for many schools. For more information and expert advice on choosing the best options for your school, contact BCS Voice & Data at (757) 497-3100.

Who You Gonna Call?

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Earlier this month on our blog we wrote about how important it is to protect your data from hackers through Network Monitoring. Losing time and stored information can be devastating for a business, and there are great services available to prevent that from happening. But what do you do if your entire server crashes? What if your desktop breaks? Broken equipment can bring all of your business operations to a halt, losing time and hard work if items weren’t saved.

Does your company have a plan in place for when equipment breaks? If you don’t have an internal IT department or outsourced service lined up, equipment repair can sometimes take days and even weeks – not good for a busy business that relies on technology for day-today tasks! So, next time your server crashes or your computer freezes, who are you going to call?

BCS Voice and Data Solutions, in addition to IT support and network monitoring, offers our customers fast and reliable equipment repair services through our 24/7 live answering service. Our certified engineers are ready for any kind of setback, including email malfunctions, downed network segments, router malfunctions, server outages, and telephone failures. Each HP warranty certified technician has a fully-equipped vehicle ready to go within a 4-hour response time. This means they have an onsite spare parts inventory, so you’ll get the service you need the first time around instead of waiting for additional visits.

Next time you’re experiencing broken or failing equipment, call BCS at (757) 497-3100. However, if you’re having frequent problems with equipment, it may be time to replace them! Be sure to ask about our IT solutions, A/V solutions, business phone systems and structured cabling services.

Protecting Your Data

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If you’ve been keeping up with tech news so far this year, you may be aware of new insight that Google provided on who may have access to your data. They found that hackers could find your stored information in cloud services through your device’s processors. If your business, like many others, relies on computers, tablets and phones to store important information and communicate with clients and employees, this news may be frightening.

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Is a Digital Sign Right for Your Business?

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Digital signs are a more versatile, interactive way to capture and keep the attention of your intended audience. Whether you’re a business using it for a billboard or a dentist office using a smaller sign in the waiting room, digital signage can provide a form of entertainment for customers and show a wider variety of content than a standard sign. But how do you know if a digital sign is right for your business?

Almost every business can use a digital sign with an understanding of your audience and the space your company occupies. For instance:

  • A company that has little in-office interaction with customers may make more use out of a digital billboard that advertises their expertise in a location with more visibility.
  • Counter-service restaurants like coffee shops can use digital signs to display rotating menus and food items to give customers an idea of what they offer or current specials.
  • Medical offices often use digital signs to offer patients in the waiting room informative information about procedures and care.
  • Companies with larger offices can use digital signs in lobbies for general company information and introductions, directories and upcoming events.

Whether you’re looking to sell a product or provide important information about your company, a digital display sign is the perfect format to use. These signs are easy to update, and can be a great marketing tool with the ability to change content for the time of day, even off-site. Digital signs are perfect for businesses who wish to frequently change the information they display and save money at the printers.

Digital signs and displays from BCS Voice & Data are highly customizable to meet all your advertising and communication needs. We’ll work with you closely to design the perfect solution for your operational requirements and aesthetic tastes.  Contact us today to learn more about options for your business.

Keep Employees Focused and Connected During the Holidays

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During the holidays, our focus tends to shift from completing the year’s goals at work and maintaining client interaction, to holiday travel plans, gifts and family matters. November and December are also important for completing business goals, setting new ones, and planning budgets. Keeping employees focused and connected during the holidays can be tough, so here are a few tips to help keep them on-task:

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2018 Planning: Budget and IT Goals

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October is here, which means the busy holiday season is about to begin. Employees will be leaving for vacations throughout November and December, and the general focus around the office will shift. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to examine your remaining budget and create IT goals for 2018.

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