At Maidenhead Computer Services we see a lot of self-employed people whose IT setup is in a rather poor state. They are in a situation that if their computer died or was stolen then they would lose everything. They have documents stored all over the place with no regular backup. Their emails are not backed up either and are strewn across several devices with no synchronisation. What makes me really cringe is self employed people who have a Gmail or Yahoo email address representing their business.
In this post I’m going to outline what I consider to be the perfect IT setup for a self-employed person. It doesn’t matter if they are a plumber, an accountant or yoga instructor because the same principles apply. And when you have a good setup you’ll find it much easier to run your business.
Microsoft Office 365
We are huge fans of Microsoft Office 365 for several reasons:
- You get full versions of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more.
- You get 1TB of online cloud storage to backup all your important documents and photos.
- The software can be installed on up to 5 computers.
Kaspersky Internet Security Suite
Kaspersky has won numerous awards for their internet security suite and we can see why. It runs in the background keeping your computer safe without hindering its performance. We recommend Kaspersky Internet Security Suite which can be installed onto 3 devices for just over £40.
A professional website
Every business needs a website and it doesn’t need to cost a fortune either! If you are willing to put a bit of work in yourself it’s perfectly possible to create your own website for less than £100. With our expert knowledge and eBooks we can help you get online. Find out more by reading our website services.
A professional Email account
Every business needs to be able to send and receive emails. Look at the two email addresses below:
jamesplumbing54@gmail.com
info@jamesplumbing.co.uk
Which one looks more professional to you? We hope you agree that it’s the second one.
Furthermore, it’s important your emails are stored in the cloud using IMAP protocols. This means you can setup email on your computer, smart phone and tablet and have everything synchronized.
A Desktop computer with 2 monitors
Personally I think having a desktop computer with 2 monitors is the best way to work! Having a full size keyboard and separate mouse is far more comfortable than using a laptop keyboard and trackpad. And having 2 monitors will considerably increase your productivity – why not read our blog post to learn more. However, we fully appreciate that the nature of your business might require you to have a laptop and we can advise on which one will best suit your needs.
Conclusion
By adopting all the above then you are in a strong secure and safe position. If anything were to happen to your computer such as it malfunctioning or getting stolen then you would know that everything is safely backed up online.
At Maidenhead Computer Services we love to help people get the most out of IT so they can make a success of their business. We also work really hard to make sure it doesn’t cost them more than it needs to.
Find our more how we can help you by calling us now on 01628 298 820 or email us at info@maidenheadcs.co.uk