From Charles Rand JAMF Software
Do you use Apple devices for your small business? Everything is centralized and organized, how you want it? Maybe things will be in order and to make just a little better. Whatever, effectively moving your situation, spring is the perfect time to assess what you have now, what works, what does not, and to clean up some of the confusion, so you concentrate on the rest of the year , Here are some tips previous spring cleaning can be implemented in order to get the most from your Mac, iPad and iPhone investments.
Charles Rand
(Photo courtesy of JAMF Software)
1. Close the accounts that you no longer need,
All accounts or services that do not use the account for a monthly cost, which accumulates over time. It may be a small amount, but every time I see a charge, you will notice that there are better ways to spend the money. Relieve stress through your mind to clear. get the focus on the things that you want to use, and end services not used. You can always come back later, or if you do not use a service, you can always find one that works for you best in the future.
If you use the services in-app subscriptions, you can cancel it by opening the Settings application and go to the iTunes Store and App Store option, you play with your Apple ID, then "View Apple ID" and enter your password. From here, and press to disable any "subscription" or the automatic renewal option for anyone.
2. Remove duplicate services
Inevitably as a company more than one year is growing, new opinions, experiences, and finally, as the tasks are added. Often this leads to two workflow to turn certain services. Look for these services and applications not in use in your company. Already have an account Dropbox and Box? Do you have Microsoft Office and Google Apps? Your employees use both? Why? Sometimes, one does not need two, but as a rule. Streamline the workflow that has the least number of requests for a possible task. This is not only a little money, but also reduces confusion and the amount of time it takes for the personnel on board again!
3. remove applications you no longer use
Every time you or your staff to see to see a splash screen and an application that a fraction of a second of time is used wasted. Each point of possible confusion is an opportunity to optimize the workflow. too many applications not only hides consider what a user really needs to do, but also provides the possibility of a potential business process errors. Too many applications can also use the space required on their mobile devices. Take the time to go through all applications on their devices with their staff (so micromanage not). The process will better understand the workflow of their employees, and that could have in the interruption of business processes to follow. Some of these changes may ratify, while others can be prevented.
The workflow verification provides a perfect time to centralize the application of the property and arrange them in a single purchase program for Apple account volume (VPP). In this way you can centralize applications for device management, which means some simple following years check.
4. Organize your files
Google Docs, Dropbox, Box, and other services stores files in your home directory in OS X or any application on an iPad or iPhone. Centralize your files is to organize one step in an application. Then you can move to a hierarchy of files to create and organize files in a way that makes most sense for you. a folder for each client, one for accounting, one for marketing, sales and create within each department or employee hierarchies that manages a business function, is always a good start. Consider the picky to find the office for help. Make sure that you are looking for a quick meeting with your staff to inform them where everything else not know where to find the files!
5. Remove no longer needed sources
Sources can be a disadvantage in a number of ways. First, it should be allowed. Any unauthorized use represents a breach of an agreement, impose a fine or damage. Secondly sources can cause your brakes or cause applications to crash. OS X has an application called Font Book, which can be used to remove unnecessary fonts. Despite the built-in OS X and iOS should alone, always outside sources should be left to be used sparingly.
6. Clean up your e - mail
Spam can easily suck for a while, as the sort here may take a few minutes through them and there every day. Anti - applications such Unroll.me you can access from spam - lists and set all spam - suspect you get to decide where you can all check in once a daily digest.
7. Connect your applications
Something crazy in the modern application-based workflow is the fact that the data are in silos. Fortunately, there are a number of tools to help you communicate your data, as if so , what . The free application allows you to flow incredibly complex work to configure how to send data from your planning tools for your Dropbox, sending information from an e-mail to tables see a blog post Salesforce - the possibilities are endless! Other useful applications can connect to each of its cloud services, and Workato is another excellent solution you loosen slightly to help the automation and integration of your company.
You 8. Remove the drivers and devices that you no longer use to devices
They still have this hard drive that has not really been turned since 2008, but believes it could one day return to work? How about printer toner has recently made it through two years or lose the Wacom tablet pen? Become your garbage to get rid of, and if this device necessarily delete disposal all data devices and the appropriate drivers on your computer. This could mean looking online distance remove a printer in the system settings for OS X, or forget a Bluetooth device on your iPad. This could take some domain Google, but it can make your computer faster and less error-prone!
9. Change your passwords
In an ideal world, the unit must change password at least once a month, but can be difficult for a small business. Fortunately, as tools Celemin you can automatically configure devices and iPads OS X and the central management of passwords for secure wireless networks. to send through the new settings on each Apple device, the pain is WEP, WPA less and configure WPA2 security standards that the configuration of Wi-Fi to enable safe. While this does not contribute to other devices like Roku, Apple TV, and wireless printers, you will probably use anyway more iPads, iPhones and Mac. The result is that most devices are covered, which saves a lot of time the password to other devices on the network set.
10. Verification of the safety device
adequate security means something different for everyone - a computer password have FileVault allow. clean Take time OS X user (with the system settings of users and groups), and disable all shared services that absolutely need (System Preferences Sharing). You can download a special care of basic security in my view point , or one of the many safety guides on Apple.com.
This means security for you, the backup will always be important. This spring, make sure that the files are stored, and test a recovery of some of the most important questions of your company. And if you do not have a tool to have backup, CrashPlan is great from Code42.
11. Update Device Inventory
Here - you can not simply subscriber units pursue your company bushel , it's easy to keep an eye their iPhones, iPads and Macs, with export information such as the number of devices, the model number, the number unit, purchase date and some other details. This is to calculate a useful foil for the impairment of assets in the timing. You can still enter as printer data devices, but covered with Apple devices much of the field work is done.
12. Check the individual orders
It is worth having your monthly cost centers checked - if your bandwidth provider of business credit card or mailer processor. Your service provider may propose 10 surprise their renewed contract to 20 percent. Definitely check the competition, even if it does not go through the hassle of switching to another provider. It can not hurt, and that gives your current service provider and incentives to keep your business!
13. Make more money
Finally, the objectives of your company stay focused. Use found in the previous steps gained time to improve your business - if you tweet more to improve their organization, or to push the envelope in the quality of their products and services. Ultimately, a better use of time when your mind of clutter Team free, which is built on the last year!
This article was written and performed by Charles Edge. Charles is the Director of Professional Services at JAMF Software , where he directs bushel , a solution of Mobile Device Management (MDM) for small organizations and users with limited computer experience. He has nearly 20 years of experience as a developer, manager and technical director, and shall be managed by a passion for helping everyday users and to make the most of their mobile devices.
The views, opinions and expressed in this client positions represent those of the author and not the pulse CBS CBS Corporation or small businesses. The accuracy, completeness and timeliness can be made of the statements in this article only examined by the author.
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