The Benefits of IT Support with Andromeda Solutions

If you’ve been on a news site recently, you might have seen one of the plethora of articles about the shift in business IT services. It seems that many companies are now outsourcing many of their computer needs; in fact, in the second quarter of 2023, the amount of money spent on outsourcing or ‘managed services’ by European organisations rose by 15%!

The question, then, is why are so many companies outsourcing, and isn’t dealing with everything in-house much cheaper and more convenient?

Well, no. We’d argue that using IT support is much better! This article will talk you through why. 

What are the benefits of IT support?

We might be biased, but partnering with IT support services can be one of the best things your business can do! Some of the best benefits of outsourcing your IT needs are:

  • Save money: Outsourcing IT support can help you reduce expensive costs in a number of ways. First off, you won’t have to spend thousands recruiting IT staff. You also won’t have to pay for the salaries, benefits, and training either. And it’s not just staff — you won’t have to invest in costly IT infrastructure like servers, storage, and software. Andromeda Solutions is upfront about all of our prices, and whatever price we quote you includes an unlimited number of callouts!
  • Access to expertise: Using managed services gives you access to a team of experts who can handle all of your IT needs. This can be especially beneficial for businesses that don’t have the in-house expertise to manage their IT infrastructure. Andromeda Solutions is fully staffed with friendly experts, and when you call, you get right through to them. No middle men! We handle it all: computers, servers, printers, the cloud; firewalls, switchers, routers; Voice over Internet Protocol — you name it.
  • Increased focus on your core business: Outsourcing IT support allows you to focus on your core business activities. You won’t have to worry about managing your IT infrastructure or resolving IT problems, which is time-consuming and headache-inducing. Andromeda Solutions will never sell you anything you don’t need, as we don’t like headaches, either. So why not save your time and resources and focus on growing your business instead.
  • Improved security: Andromeda Solutions has the expertise and resources to implement and manage security measures for your business. This can help you protect your data and systems from cyberattacks. Good thing, too, as cyber security is a hot topic right now. Attacks are increasing in complexity and number every year, and 31% of UK businesses are attacked at least once a week. Don’t leave it to chance — let us help!

We hope by now we’ve convinced you that investing in IT support is worth the effort. And you couldn’t ask for a better partner than Andromeda. We’ve won countless awards for our customer service, with some of our recent wins being the Global Excellence Awards 2023 and Best IT Support Services Provider 2023 – Middlesbrough. Read about our services and get in touch to see how we can help you and your business today.

Grow your business with advanced IT support from Andromeda 

IT Support Services Teesside

When you want to take your business to the next level, you will almost certainly find that there are many aspects of your enterprise that will need to be expanded or upgraded. These range from taking on more staff, moving to larger premises and, of course, making sure that your crucial IT infrastructure is ready and able to handle the increased demands that your growth will place on it. 

You Can Trust Andromeda Solutions To Support Your Business

Here at Andromeda Solutions, we have all of the knowledge and expertise needed to create a bespoke solution for your growing business. Our award-winning IT services and support spans every aspect of corporate IT, from helping your business to get up and running with the latest cloud software, through to setting you up with VOIP telephony to ensure you stay in touch with those new clients. 

We are proud to take a different approach to providing IT solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, in which we take a corporate-style method and apply it to the SME market. At Andromeda Solutions, we adhere to ITIL, the Information Technology Infrastructure Library, which is the world’s most widely accepted approach to IT service management best practice. The result is an IT support solution that is always efficient, cost-effective, and transparent. There will never be any confusing jargon to baffle you when you work with us!

A Host of IT Solutions to fit every need

We offer a comprehensive range of technical services, covering all of the IT areas that your business may rely on. These include networking and connectivity, security, servers, cloud connectivity and more. We can even provide your business with fully outsourced IT support, removing the need for you to employ an in-house team. With both pay as you need, and ongoing contracts available, we offer a flexible solution to any IT issue. 

As an SME client, you can be assured that here at Andromeda Solutions, we make it straightforward to deal with us, so you can get back to focusing on your business. When you call, you will be connected straight through to one of our trained IT consultants, rather than leaving you dealing with a call handler. This ensures that we can get to work on providing you with your ideal solution at once. Our pricing is always transparent, too, and we can tackle your problem at a time that suits you, thereby ensuring the minimum of disruption to your business. Calls are answered with 3 seconds, on average, with 98% of cases resolved within just an hour. 

Choose Andromeda Solutions For IT Support In Middlesbrough 

When you choose Andromeda Solutions for your growing business’ IT needs, you are placing it in the very safest of hands. Our many awards attest to the outstanding quality of both our technical and customer services, as do our glowing testimonials from our happy customers.
We even offer a 30 day free trial for SMEs, so why not discover for yourself how we can help your business?

IT Support Specialists in the North East – Andromeda Solutions are moving to larger offices in Queensway Business Centre 

Here at Andromeda Solutions, exciting changes are afoot! After having a successful time building our IT services and support business over a period of several years, we are now expanding our operation’s headquarters, and moving into a larger space.

An Exciting New Era for Local IT Company – Andromeda Solutions

Whilst Andromeda IT Solutions remains in the Queensway Business Centre, our upcoming move sees us taking on a much larger space. This change reflects the growing success of our company, which has gone from strength to strength over the last few years. 

Indeed, Andromeda Solutions has won many prestigious awards, recognising our skilled technical support IT team for the superb service they deliver to both our business and domestic customers. Already this year, Andromeda has added to its trophy cabinet, by winning the coveted “Best IT Support Services Provider 2022 – Middlesbrough” title in the 2022 Global Excellence Awards, “Best IT Company Of The Year 2022 -UK” in the EMG Publishing awards, in addition to nods at the Prestige Awards and Northern Enterprise Awards. 

Find An Award-Winning IT Support Engineer At Queensway

The Queensway Business Centre is the ideal location for our growing IT solutions company. It’s a modern, purpose-built complex that combines offices, workshops, and light industrial premises, making it the perfect place for Andromeda to carry out all of our award-winning IT support activities. As well as providing a range of IT solutions (such as cloud services, VOIP telephony, networking and cyber security), we also carry out customer PC repairs and health checks. 

And we’re easy to find if you ever need to visit us, as the Queensway Business Centre is conveniently located just off the A66 and A171 in Middlesbrough, and can be accessed from the Queensway bus stop in under three minutes’ walk. Rail passengers can find the South Bank Railway station just under 1.5 miles away. 

Discover The Andromeda IT Difference

Andromeda Solutions stands out from the competition thanks to our unique approach to IT services. We take a corporate approach to SME IT needs, which means that we deliver an effective, cost-efficient IT solution that adheres to the industry standards of best practice. Furthermore, we pride ourselves on giving a clear, transparent service that’s totally free of confusing jargon. 

When you call Andromeda IT Solutions, you will be put straight through to an IT support engineer, rather than having to waste time dealing with a call handler. And with options for appointments at your home or workplace, and at times that suit you, our service is as flexible as you need. So, if you need IT support in Middlesbrough or the surrounding areas, please give Andromeda a call.

Advanced Email Security – Protect Your Business

Protect your business with advanced email security

Protecting your business in the modern world means focusing on creating a robust set of cyber defences, and achieving this starts with looking at your email. Today’s cyber criminals often use emails as an effective route into the networks and IT systems of an organisation, with the intention of stealing or corrupting sensitive data. With new threats emerging all of the time (approximately one million new malware threats every day) [1], it’s essential that businesses take the right steps as soon as possible. 

Andromeda Solutions Recommends Hornet Security 

There are a number of IT strategies that can work well in the face of these threats, and here at Andromeda Solutions, our team of experts are fully up-to-date on all of the latest cyber security approaches. That is why we recommend that our clients make use of the highly effective tools from Hornet Security. This suite of security software tools can provide the stringent defences needed to secure email accounts, with a range of advanced features including fraud and ransomware protection mechanisms. 

As a cloud-based solution, the Hornet Security product offers key advantages for businesses, too. The email spam and malware filter technology is able to detect 99.9% of spam and 99.9% of malware that is introduced via emails – these are the best detection rates available. The result is an email inbox that is free of irritating spam content, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing every email you open has already been checked for signs of DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) or phishing attacks. As a whopping 50% of email traffic is estimated to be spam content, this feature is certainly well worth having. 

The software from Hornet is smart, too, with its Advanced Threat Protection product providing a robust defence against even blended attacks, which use multiple types of malware in a single attack. It also eliminates the dangers posed by malicious encrypted email files, by decrypting and analysing suspicious emails and scanning them for viruses. And if the software does detect signs of malware, it automatically sends an alert and provides a full analysis of the incident for your system administrator. 

Enjoy Email Security With Andromeda Solutions

By making email protection your priority, you can spare your business the dangers posed by hackers, which can include devastating financial losses as well as reputational damage. At Andromeda, we pride ourselves on providing transparent, friendly IT support, making us the ideal partner for your cyber security needs. Our team of specialists take a corporate style approach to SME IT support, ensuring that you receive the best possible solution for your unique IT needs. Our service is flexible, too, so we can create the best email security strategy for your business, at a time that suits you. 

Why not get in touch with Andromeda Solutions today, and discover how our award-winning service can protect your business?

Multi Factor Authentication with Microsoft 365

We are living in a time of unprecedented levels of cyber threats, and any wise organisation will be making it a priority to scrutinise their current security protocols. After all, with recent high profile cyber-attacks targeting everything from local councils and educational establishments, through to large utilities providers, no organisation can afford to remain complacent.

Fortunately, there are many great ways in which you can make your organisation more secure, and, even better, you don’t need to be a tech genius to implement them. Simply upgrading to the Microsoft 365 suite for your company can provide valuable cyber security tools, including the ability to enable multi factor authentication.

What Is Multi Factor Authentication?

A popular security buzzword, multi factor authentication is a means of providing access to your systems that requires more than one method of identification or verification. Such methods usually fall under three categories (“something you know”, “something you have”, or “something you are”), and, in practice, this means that instead of simply entering a password in order to gain access to your company’s files and data, a user will also be asked to verify their identity by providing extra details. This can take the form of a fingerprint scan (as seen in many mobile devices), or entering a unique, one-time code sent by text message to an authorised number. In this way, your systems are far offered far greater protection than a password and username combination alone can provide.

The Benefits Of Microsoft 365 Multi Factor Authentication

When you enable Microsoft Authenticator on Office 365, you can enjoy all the security benefits that multi factor authentication can offer. This useful app is extremely quick and easy to use, and is perfectly suited to modern working life. When you or your team wish to access your work account, the first step will be to enter your username and password as normal. The next step will be to open up the Authenticator app on a smartphone and see the six-figure code which has been generated just for you. Enter this number too, and you will have successfully verified your identity and be able to access your work account. This is because your smartphone meets the criteria of “something you have”, which, coupled with the username and password log-in component (“something you know”), comprises an effective multi factor authentication process.

A Smart Move

It’s clear, then, that opting for Microsoft Authenticator with Office 365 is a straightforward and smart means of helping to protect your organisation, by providing a more rigorous and secure log in method. Alongside other cyber security measures, using this app can help to provide the valuable protection your organisation needs in today’s world.

For more information on this, please contact one of the experts at Andromeda Solutions today.

Best IT services in Middlesbrough for the third year

It’s official – for the third year running, Andromeda Solutions has been awarded the coveted prize of being one of Three Best Rated’s Best IT Services in Middlesbrough. This new award is yet more recognition of our company’s outstanding commitment to delivering the very highest standard of IT support to both business and domestic customers around the North-East.

A Prestigious Title

Three Best Rated was created back in 2014 with the aim of giving people a clear indicator of the best businesses in their local area. Covering a wide range of trades and services, Three Best Rated look carefully at firms providing everything from plumbing to restaurants in a number of towns and cities. They have developed stringent selection criteria which whittle down the contenders, meaning that only the finest businesses are recognised with a title.

Being named one of Three Best Rated’s Best IT Services in Middlesbrough is truly an achievement to shout about. The judging process is extremely rigorous, as Three Best Rated use a 50 Point inspection checklist, which covers every aspect of a business, from customer reviews to trust ratings, and price to trading excellence. Therefore, it’s no wonder that Andromeda Solutions are immensely proud to have been awarded this accolade for the third time, consolidating our achievement in this category in both 2020 and 2021. We have also been awarded Three Best Rated’s coveted five-star rating, another impressive honour for our team of dedicated IT experts.

The best IT services in Middlesbrough

There are plenty of reasons why Andromeda Solutions stood out to the judging panel. Not only are we Cyber Essentials Certified and registered with the ICO, but Andromeda Solutions also have the edge when it comes to delivering a superb service to our customers. When you call Andromeda, there is no intermediary or call handler to deal with: instead, you are put straight through to a senior engineer, ensuring that your solution gets started straight away.

Indeed, if your organisation is facing a business-critical tech problem, we will respond within the hour. We also offer a same-day home visiting service to domestic computer users. Our policy is to always provide a transparent, friendly service, and we pride ourselves on building long-lasting relationships with our clients.

A host of IT support services

If you are a home user wanting a computer health check, advice on which new software is right for you, virus removal or a system upgrade, then Andromeda Solutions is the ideal choice. And for business owners, our unique approach sees us take the best practices of large-scale corporate IT systems and apply them to the SME environment, reducing costly downtime and boosting efficiency.

We specialise in everything from server technology and cyber security, through to VOIP telephony and Cloud services, and can provide both one-off troubleshooting or ongoing comprehensive IT support. Why not get in touch and discover the Andromeda experience for yourself?

Happy New Year From Andromeda Solutions

With the New Year fresh out of the blocks, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our customers and employees a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2022. Following a very successful 2021, we would like to thank you all for trusting us with your IT support, it is truly a pleasure doing business with you. We look forward to working with you in 2022 and beyond.

A year of awards for our outstanding IT services

In 2021 we had yet another incredible year. Our award-winning IT company went from strength to strength, we introduced new members to our growing team and gained a few more coveted titles too. Most recently, we were delighted to be named the winner in two categories at the Northern Enterprise Awards 2021, scooping the top spot in both ‘IT Company Of The Year – North East’ and the ‘Customer Service Excellence Award’ categories.

A huge thank you to our fantastic staff

Of course, these amazing achievements would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our talented team. Here at Andromeda Solutions, we are proud to say that our staff are truly passionate about IT, and committed to delivering a first class, friendly service to our customers. With no intermediaries to deal with, our customers are put in touch with an expert as soon as they call with a problem to be solved, speeding up the process of finding the best possible solution. And our team work hard to build great relationships with every customer, to ensure that everyone has a personalised and happy experience.

We wish you a happy and successful 2022!

From our entire team, we wish you all a wonderful 2022. We hope that you meet all of your goals for 2022, and as ever, we are proud to partner with you for expert IT services and support, as you make these dreams come true. Best wishes to each and every one of you!

Andromeda Solutions wins best IT support service of the year

The awards just keep on flooding in for Middlesbrough IT support company Andromeda Solutions. Their latest accolade sees the company named as ‘IT Support Service Of The Year- North Yorkshire’ by Prestige Awards.

Recognition for excellent IT services

This new award is yet another indication that Andromeda Solutions delivers an excellent service time and time again. The Corporate Livewire North Yorkshire Prestige Awards, which have bestowed this latest honour on the firm, aims to shine a spotlight on the small and medium-sized businesses who have shown to be superior in their industry over the past year. With all the shortlisted companies requested to back up nominations with evidence of their excellent work (including evidence of great feedback from their customers, and details of previous accreditations and awards), as well as shining a light on the most impressive parts of their organisation.

It was then the task of the judges to choose their winner, basing their decision on factors such as service excellence, quality of the service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical or sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance. And as the winner in the North Yorkshire division, Andromeda Solutions has clearly demonstrated that it excels in all of these areas.

A history of success

Andromeda Solutions has previously been awarded a host of other coveted business awards. The firm won Three Best Rated’s ‘Best IT Services Middlesbrough’ prize in both 2020 and 2021, as well as being granted its exclusive five-star rating, making it through a highly competitive and demanding set of judging criteria in the process. Andromeda has repeatedly proven that it provides great value IT services with the highest standards of customer experience.

The best choice for IT Support

It’s clear then that anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of award-winning IT support in the North Yorkshire region should look no further than Andromeda Solutions. Delivering a comprehensive range of IT services and support to both home and business customers across the North East, Andromeda Solutions has the experience and expertise needed to handle any problem or project. And right now, a risk-free 30-day free trial means that there has never been a better time to discover the Andromeda experience for yourself. The offer is open to SMEs only and is subject to terms and conditions. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with Andromeda Solutions today.

Second Apprentice Joins Andromeda Solutions

We are very pleased to announce that we have welcomed another apprentice to our growing team here at Andromeda Solutions. Jake Ding has joined us to complete an Infrastructure Support Engineer Apprenticeship and is the second apprentice to join our company. Jake joined our team on 21st June and is settling in well to his new role. We wish Jake the best of luck on his Apprenticeship journey with us.

Why did we choose to take on another IT apprentice?

After successfully hiring Ryan Headlam through Baltic Apprenticeships in April 2021, we decided that taking on another apprentice was the right decision for our business. Baltic have once again helped us find another suitable candidate to join our company, and we are extremely grateful for their support and expertise during this process.

The excellent Apprenticeship funding currently available has enabled us to further grow our business and provide another amazing opportunity for a local person seeking employment. Hiring another IT apprentice is not only a cost-effective way for us to expand and meet our business demands, but it is also a great way for us to train new employees and shape them to fit our business needs.

Apprenticeship Funding

The Government and the Tees Valley Combined Authority are still offering incentive payments to employers who take on new apprentices. The Government fund between 95% and 100% of all training costs, and the Tees Valley Combined Authority offer a Tees Valley Apprenticeship Support Grant to qualifying SME’s. Thanks to these Grant Schemes we are able to offer another Apprenticeship at our company, providing another opportunity for someone looking to start their career in the IT sector.

Supporting a local charity with free IT services and IT support

Andromeda Solutions are delighted to be supporting the National Animal Sanctuaries Support League (NASSL) by offering free services, including IT Support. This wonderful local charity was established 30 years ago and works tirelessly to rehome abandoned and unwanted animals.

What do the National Animal Sanctuaries Support League do?

Everything NASSL do revolves around caring for animals in need, including working with local social services to take in and look after the pets of people in crisis, for example, those requiring support from women’s refuges. For the past 25 years, NASSL have been operating from premises in County Durham, however, due to the recent death of the landlord, they now find themselves with just 6 months to find a new home.

The good news is that the charity has been given the opportunity to purchase a plot of land so they can continue to carry out their amazing work and improve the lives of the animals they care for. They are currently fundraising to make up the shortfall of the purchase price.

IT Support by Andromeda Solutions

Andromeda is very happy to be supporting them in their mission and have offered free consultancy to help set up the GoFundMe page so supporters can easily pledge their donations. Andromeda have also provided work on the social media promotion for the launch, including the Facebook ad campaign, plus offered IT support and management oversight throughout the process.

All the animals cared for by NASSL are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before being rehomed. They also offer a low-cost service for pet owners who are unable to afford these procedures, along with transport to and from the PDSA if their pet needs medical treatment and they have no means of travel.

A female cat who hasn’t been spayed, can give birth to large litters up to 4 times a year, risking both her own health and that of any unwanted kittens. Male cats, who haven’t been neutered, are likely to get into fights with other cats and spray in the home, making them difficult to keep, plus they can regularly go missing in their hunt for a female to mate with. By offering these simple procedures, the NASSL protect hundreds and thousands of animals each year.

Andromeda Solutions hope their IT services and support contribute to the continuation of NASSL and the successful purchase of the new site, so they can keep up the fantastic work they do. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit their GoFundMe page and give what you can.