DP Solutions named on CRN’s 2022 MSP 500 List
for 9th consecutive year
DP Solutions is proud to announce that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named DP Solutions to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category for 2022.
See the Full Press Release Here
Welcome New Clients!
5 Ways Technology Can Take You To The Next Level
It’s nearly impossible to run a business in today’s climate without using up-to-date technology. This doesn’t necessarily mean bringing in the best computers, printers and other pieces of hardware needed to run a successful business. Instead, it means you should utilize the most current software and programs to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
If you’re just starting your own business, or even if you’ve been in business for years, it can be difficult to figure out what programs and websites will help you stay ahead of the pack. One of the biggest concerns that has plagued businesses lately is productivity. It can be difficult to ensure your employees are staying productive, especially if your business is operating remotely right now. Luckily, many apps and websites out there are designed to boost productivity in the workplace.
It can be difficult to figure out which apps and websites will work best for your business, so we have created a list of the five best apps and websites that boost employee productivity.
TimeCamp
TimeCamp, an incredibly useful productivity app, is able to track how much time your team is spending on any given project. It will provide a breakdown, showing specific apps and websites, so you can see where most of their time was spent. You’ll also get analytics so you can determine how they are performing. TimeCamp will even assist with keeping your budget in check to ensure that no task or project goes over budget.
If clocking time has been an issue in your business, TimeCamp can help there too. This program can be used as an easy attendance-tracking tool, as it has functions for clocking in and out, tracking overtime, automating payroll and reporting leaves. It’s simple to use and comes with endless benefits.
Digital Assistants
While it would be nice for every employee to have an assistant, it’s just not financially feasible. With the influx of technology over the last decade, nearly every person who works in your company has access to a digital assistant at all times. Siri, Cortana, Alexa and Google Assistant all exist to help you and your employees get through the day.
If you have employees who continually miss meetings or deadlines, have them set up reminders with their digital assistant. It can be as easy as saying, “Remind me that I have a meeting in three hours,” and your digital assistant will remind you when it’s time.
Slack
If your company operates remotely, or if you have certain employees who aren’t working in the office, how are you communicating with each other? Using e-mail can become tedious, and e-mails are frequently missed. Texting is also not the best option unless you supply everyone in your company with a mobile work phone. That’s where Slack comes in.
Slack is a group-messaging system designed to increase productivity. This program will keep employees up-to-date on recent developments within the company. You can also create specific groups if you need to get a message out to a specific team or group of people. Slack has been a lifesaver for many companies during the pandemic.
Asana
Asana is one of the best project management tools on the market. With this program, you’ll be able to plan projects way in advance and plot out what should be completed first. There are also messaging options for every task and project so you can keep your team informed of any developments or changes. If you’re overseeing a team that is working on the same project, then Asana is a must-have for your company.
Microsoft 365
There are few things more frustrating than scheduling a meeting only to find out that you overbooked or the person you were supposed to meet with was double-booked. With Microsoft 365, you’ll never run into this problem again. The calendar-sharing feature on Microsoft 365 allows you to see everyone’s schedule so you can plan out meetings when everyone is free. You’ll also have improved communication, secure cloud storage and automatic upgrades with Microsoft 365.
If you plan to grow your business until it’s considered elite, you must make the necessary technological adjustments. If you’re unsure about where to start, give these apps and websites a view. They could really bolster your productivity.
Remote Work Is No Joke
Not long ago, I read an article in The New York Times titled We’re Kidding Ourselves That Workers Perform Well From Home, which I felt urgently needed a counterpoint. The article discussed the Houston-based law firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing as they navigated the pandemic, avoided layoffs and achieved their best year on record. It’s an inspiring story, and I don’t mean to take any credit away from it.
That being said, the heart of the story is that Zavitsanos attributed the success of his business to when his colleagues returned to the office during the pandemic. He stated that “ambitious lawyers at firms like ours simply couldn’t thrive in a virtual setting.” That’s true for your firm, but I fear your case might scare off leaders who are considering a more flexible work arrangement for their workforces.
I want you to consider the alternative experience that my company, ghSMART, saw when we offered flexible and remote work before and during the pandemic; we produced similar results! At ghSMART, every employee has worked from home since day one, and we have never doubted that ambitious professionals can function with remote and flexible work.
At ghSMART, we achieved record revenue and profits throughout the pandemic, completing a 10-year average annual revenue growth of 21% and profit growth of 24%. Client-satisfaction metrics reached all-time highs. Our clients are board members and CEOs of some of the largest companies in the world, as well as government leaders and private equity investors of the largest funds.
If you think a remote firm can’t build a successful culture, you’d be wrong. ghSMART recently won an award for being the best management consulting firm to work for. This was out of 100,000 firms and was based on overall employee satisfaction. We also hold a Glassdoor culture rating of 4.9 out of 5, which is #1 in our industry.
You’d also be mistaken if you thought a remote firm would struggle to attract top-tier talent. We have four New York Times best-selling authors and two Rhodes Scholars — and many of our colleagues have performed at the top of their peer groups. It’s clear that you can attract and retain top talent at a remote firm.
For the leaders of those organizations who are considering flexible and remote work, I say give it a chance. It offers a level of freedom and flexibility your employees will be incredibly grateful for, and you may even see an uptick in productivity.
Dr. Geoff Smart is the chairman and founder of ghSMART, a leadership consulting firm that exists to help leaders amplify their positive impact on the world. Dr. Smart and his firm have published multiple New York Times best-sellers. He stays active in his community and has advised many government officials.
The “Human Firewall” consists of people on your team who are acting in ways that contribute, rather than diminish, your organization’s security risk. We believe the Human Firewall is as important as any other security tool protecting your business.
A strong human firewall acts in concert with your technical security tools by making good decisions and acting responsibly while using technology and interacting with sensitive data.
Watch our TechTips video to go over a few key things you can do to help create a strong Human Firewall within your business.
Watch the Video Here:
What can people learn about you from social media and how can they use it against you?
While social media provides a way for us to connect and communicate with others around the world, it is also a double-edged sword.
Social media is an open, often free space that allows people to share and engage. I use social media all the time to educate people on technology and security information.
However, using social media also creates an online profile on you which is both good and bad.
Your online presence can help promote your business or give you new career opportunities by sharing your insights. But a cyber-criminal can also try to use this information against you with Social Engineering.
When I do phishing tests, for example, I can look at public information on businesses and individuals to learn their interests, hobbies, etc. I can then use that information to develop fake content that’s tailored to them for their phishing tests. Since I’m creating content that is most likely of interest to them, I have a much higher chance of catching them. Well, if I can do it, what’s stopping an actual criminal?
You can’t just drop your presence on social media, and you wouldn’t want to if you could. It provides many more benefits than risks. But you should know what kind of information people may be able to find on you using a Google search or checking out your social media, which can then be used to create misplaced trust for a phishing attack or other crime.
