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Blog Articles from ATS Communciations

Streamline Business Operations with Help Desk

February 1st, 2024 by admin

A group of employees with headsets answering calls

In today's fast-paced business environment, where customer satisfaction is a key determinant of success, companies constantly seek ways to streamline their operations and enhance customer service. One integral solution that has proven to be indispensable...

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Posted in: Support

The Time Has Come for Toshiba VIPedge Cloud Users to Migrate to a Current Cloud Platform

October 30th, 2020 by admin

Man Getting Alert Message on Tablet

60-Day Notice As ATS has previously communicated in blogs, emails, and personal conversations, Mitel has slowly been implementing their end of life strategy for the Toshiba product line since their acquisition in 2017. We applaud Mitel that they have...

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Posted in: Support

5 Things Businesses Need for a Successful Long Term Remote Workforce

June 30th, 2020 by admin

A man in a suit working on a tablet and a laptop, with his hands and technology being connected with bright orange dots and white lines that have a sphere in the center of it.

As the mandates for isolation and closure are slowly lifting, many business are finding themselves presented with a new challenge. What do they do with their newly founded remote workforces? While some choose to transition them back into the office...

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Posted in: Support, Services, Security, Solutions

ATS is Your Business Technology Partner – Use Us!

April 9th, 2020 by admin

Man Working Remotely on Laptop in Coffee Shop

As we face together the reality of needing to work remotely for an extended period, rely on the ATS team to help you make the best total decisions for your company and your staff. We can help navigate all the technical offerings being made by multiple...

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Posted in: Support, Services, Solutions

Tips to Stay Productive, Cyber-Safe, and Get the Fastest Service

March 30th, 2020 by admin

A hooded figure representing a hacker is coming out of a laptop screen

ATS has collected tips and actual client experiences & lessons about how to stay productive, cyber-safe, and get the fastest service from us right now. What's Happening Right Now The support load continues to be heavy. Some clients did not shelter...

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Posted in: Support, Security, Solutions

Coronavirus (COVID19) Update - Our Concord Office Remains Open and We Are Here to Help!

March 16th, 2020 by admin

Businessman opening door and walking into an office full of people

To our valued clients: The spread of the COVID19 (Coronavirus) is requiring us to rapidly adapt and change our work routines and our personal lives. This afternoon the Contra Costa County has issued a mandate...

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Posted in: Company News, Support

The Cybersecurity Workforce Gap and How It's Affecting Businesses

November 21st, 2019 by admin

eyes on a blue background with technology concepts

As cyber-attacks continue to intensify, businesses are having a hard time finding skilled cybersecurity workers to protect their operations. The cybersecurity industry has taken a significant hit with the labor shortage causing many companies to fall...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Support, Services, Security, Solutions

Stay on Top of Your Operations with the Technology Optimization Program (TOP)

November 8th, 2019 by admin

IT professional checking systems using a tablet

Are you experiencing an influx of operating costs due to maintenance and upgrades for your IT and phones? Or are you a small business looking to avoid paying for unnecessary IT costs? It may be time to rethink your IT investment strategy and join our...

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Posted in: Support, Services, Solutions

The Risks of Operating Windows 7 After 2019

August 30th, 2019 by admin

Safety donut on keyboard

On May 2017, over 300,000 victims worldwide were affected by the WannaCry ransomware attack that lasted four full days. The attack blocked data from users until a ransom was paid via bitcoin cryptocurrency and affected businesses and individuals alike...

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Posted in: Support

Preparing Your Business for Windows 7 End-Of-Life

August 21st, 2019 by admin

Windows desktop background

Windows 7 is coming to an end, so what does that mean for businesses still running on the platform? It may mean complex migrating, tons of time and resources that will be spent on training, configuring, and an added expense to install the new system....

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Posted in: Company News, Support

How Rapid Growth Can Negatively Impact Business.

June 25th, 2019 by admin

Business building

During the beginning stages of operations, demand can be slow at first and then gradually start picking up, but what happens when small demand increases to significant demand in a short period? When a company is experiencing expansion, it is usually...

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Posted in: Support

Get a Reliable 24/7 Support Team for your IT Service

June 24th, 2019 by admin

Technicians working on network servers

Having available ongoing support for your IT services is vital for your business to thrive, and we want to ensure that your business stays on top of its operations. Should questions arise or unexpected issues happen, you need responsive experts to resolve...

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Posted in: Support

Lowering the Bottom Line: IT Management Support and Cost-Saving Benefits

June 27th, 2018 by admin

Close up of two businessman shaking hands

Shifting to IT management support services can make a huge difference in reducing your business' operational bottom-line. IT management goes a long way to streamline both infrastructure and support while providing access to a larger knowledge pool than...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Support

Making the Switch to BYOD? Pros, Cons and Security Implications to Consider First

June 26th, 2018 by admin

Sleek, slim laptop on a gray business desk

Making the switch to a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) business environment extends well beyond the decision to let employees choose their devices. Your business should look at the pros and cons of the concept before deciding how to approach it and to what...

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Posted in: Support

Key Strategies to Boost IT Security in the Workplace

June 20th, 2018 by admin

Conference room

Businesses have more to worry about than ever when it comes to dealing with new forms of cyber-attacks. The shift to a BYOD workplace adds even more challenges to protecting your digital assets. While hardware and software solutions continue to improve...

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Posted in: Support, Security

What Changes in Net Neutrality Could Mean for Your SMB

April 19th, 2018 by admin

Close up of Ethernet cables going into a switch

The FCC net neutrality 3–2 repeal vote of December 2017 could lead to major concerns for IT staff at small and medium businesses. As of February 2018, the FCC is continuing to move toward the net neutrality repeal, but actual business changes will take...

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Posted in: Support, Services, Solutions

Offering Professional IT Help Desk Support

January 18th, 2018 by admin

ATS knows all too well the troubles that many IT teams have, balancing daily troubleshooting support with the management of service providers, technology projects, and network management. Why not free up their time to focus on the work they’re best at?...

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Posted in: Support

Latest Popular Smartphones Significantly Dip in Drop Test Performance

November 22nd, 2017 by admin

iOS device with cracked and broken screen in the bottom left side

After years of improving smartphone glass durability, a shift design is bringing back the perils of dropping the device only to discover the glass has cracked on impact. The newly released iPhone 8 and iPhone X aren’t doing well in drop tests, with screens...

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Posted in: Support, Solutions

Don't Neglect Surge Protectors in Your Workplace

November 16th, 2017 by admin

Isolated black surge protector strip with 6 outlets

Businesses use surge protectors every day without thinking about them; however, they are an incredibly important piece of technology that can make the difference between a $20.00 and a $2,000.00 equipment replacement. While uncommon, a power surge can...

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Posted in: Support, Solutions, Knowledge

Important Support Updates for your Toshiba Phone System

August 7th, 2017 by admin

We want take a moment to share with you some updates and provide some clarification with regards to your Toshiba system(s) currently installed. As we shared with you in late spring, Toshiba announced their plans to stop operations in North America of...

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Posted in: Company News, Support

79% of Businesses Were Hacked in 2016. Was Yours One of Them?

June 27th, 2017 by admin

Stylized graphic of a computer monitor with a pane of glass shattering in front of the screen

Getting caught off-guard in a cyber security attack is a disaster for any business, large or small—and the frequency of attacks is only getting worse. According to the CyberEdge 2017 Cyberthreat Defense Report, hackers successfully compromised...

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Posted in: Support, Security

Android and IOS: Is the Device Just Old, or Is It Obsolete?

May 23rd, 2017 by admin

Relief drawing of a pocket watch with roman numerals I through XII

When trying to determine if a piece of technology is simply old or completely obsolete, keep in mind that there are different criteria for Android and iOS devices than for desktop and laptop computers. An employee stuck using an obsolete device is likely,...

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Posted in: Support, Solutions

Recent Ransomware Attacks

May 19th, 2017 by admin

cyber attack

As you may have already heard, there was a major ransomware attack across the globe recently. On May 12th, WannaCry/WCry 2.0 infected thousands of computers, taking the user's data hostage and demanding bitcoins to release it. We can't know how many...

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Posted in: Support, Security

Important Announcement for Our MAS Clients

April 10th, 2017 by admin

Dear Valued Client; As you have already been informed by ATS, Toshiba has announced they are "winding down" their operations for the telecommunications division as part of their global restructuring. ATS continues to stand committed to offering and maintaining...

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Posted in: Company News, Support

Toshiba Corporation Winds Down US, Canada, and Mexico Telecom Divisions

March 20th, 2017 by admin

Dear Valued Client; As your trusted advisor, it is our responsibility to proactively communicate with you when events take place in the business technology community. We have received a letter this past week from Toshiba Telecommunications Systems Division...

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Posted in: Company News, Support

Breathing New Life into Middle-Aged Computers

February 8th, 2017 by admin

Stylized depiction of an old-style CRT monitor

Your employees' computers may not be up to speed anymore after two or three years of use, but in many cases your staff can upgrade or tune up these devices to keep pace with work demands. Upgrades can often be purchased and installed for under $100 a...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Support, Solutions

Boost Productivity and Security with Google's Cloud Applications

January 11th, 2017 by admin

For anyone unfamiliar with the Google Applications platform, Google Docs et al. are a Cloud-based spin on mainstay office suite programs that can help your staff work better together. With a zero-dollar price tag (compared with Microsoft Office's...

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Posted in: Cloud, Support

Looking at Data Storage Longevity

August 2nd, 2016 by admin

Oblong view of a depiction of the internal workings of a mechanical hard drive

Not all storage devices were built to stand the test of time, so it’s important for every business to ensure its data is backed up on a reliable platform. If you’ve ever needed to reference financial records or court cases from a decade ago, you’ll...

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Posted in: Data, Support, Solutions

Are “Bandwidth Hogs” Slowing Your Network?

July 26th, 2016 by admin

Dials on a modern car showing a speedometer, tachometer, and other information

Last time, we talked about several handy do-it-yourself online tools to measure your office broadband speed. If your online connections aren't quite as fast as you expected from your service provider, don't be afraid to show them the "hard numbers"...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Support, Solutions, Knowledge

Is Your Broadband Fast Enough? Here’s How to Check

July 19th, 2016 by admin

Simple representation of a wireless signal: a circle with 3 waves emanating from it

How fast is your company's broadband Internet speed compared to ten years ago? Chances are that while your online connection at work back then was faster than your first home Internet service (think of that annoying dial-up modem noise), if you tried...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Support, Knowledge

The “Seven Deadly Sins” of Ransomware

June 29th, 2016 by admin

Large, shiny red '7' in a blocky format

Readers of our blog over the past few years know we were among the first in the Bay Area to warn our customers about the growing threats of ransomware—from the emergence of CryptoLocker and CryptoWall to our federal government's startling admission...

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Posted in: Support, Security, Knowledge

Windows 10 Free Upgrade Window Comes to an End

May 24th, 2016 by admin

Stylized depiction of the modern Windows start menu with a blue '10' overlaid

Those “Upgrade to Windows 10” notifications seem to be showing up everywhere, even in the middle of a weather forecast on Iowa television. What would’ve otherwise been an embarrassing interruption turned into a watercooler moment that anyone who used...

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Posted in: Support, Knowledge

URGENT: Uninstall QuickTime for Windows NOW

May 3rd, 2016 by admin

Red and yellow depiction of a ringing alarm clock with hands at 12:15

Today we'd like to pass along a critical security advisory to all our customers: If any of your company's Windows systems still retain Apple's QuickTime for Windows software, uninstall it immediately—as soon as you finish reading this post (if not...

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Posted in: Support, Security, Knowledge

Are Your Smartphones Properly “Containerized”?

April 26th, 2016 by admin

Cartoon of a brown picket fence with green grass in front and shrubs on the other side

Earlier today the cashier at the local drive-thru miskeyed the amount of cash I gave him into his register. Somewhat sheepishly, he asked if I had a smartphone so I could verify the correct amount of change. Fortunately, I never leave home without it....

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Support, Knowledge

BYOD Is Here: Where’s Your Company Policy?

September 11th, 2015 by admin

Android phone displaying an orange 'Google Play' screen, resting on a gray table next to an Apple keyboard

Once upon a time, IT administrators offered company-issued hardware to employees based upon something akin to Henry Ford's "Model T" approach: "You can have any equipment you want, as long as it's whatever we have for you." In light of the...

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Posted in: Support

Solid Support Team

October 8th, 2013 by admin

We realize the importance of a strong and solid support team to ensure a quality installation and continued satisfaction with your new business technology solution. That's why we have built an outstanding reputation by providing top quality support to...

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Posted in: Backup, Company News, Data, Managed IT Services, Partners, Support