Tag: IT Support North East

Benefits of IT Support as a Service

Posted on by Peter

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent lock downs, businesses have forever changed the way they operate. With staff members all over the country forced to carry out duties from home, higher management and company owners have realised the benefits attached. Today we’re investigating the advantages of outsourcing IT Support as a service.

Onsite & Remote IT Support

Remote IT support involves troubleshooting and fixing computer related issues directly from another location. Technicians have the ability to remotely connect to a device when needed. If onsite help is required, a specialist will travel to the required location.

Will my business benefit from remote IT services?

Outsourcing IT support is not a service reserved for larger businesses. Smaller companies will save time and money when opting to outsource. Remote IT services provide a cost effective solution to gaining the same support levels received by corporate giants. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of remote IT support and Help Desk services.

You’ll Experience a Rapid Response

If experiencing issues, your remote specialist can jump on the problem immediately without having to travel to your place of work. This process ensures maximum uptime and uninterrupted workflow.

Operational Costs are Reduced

The savings a company makes when opting to outsource IT support is potentially rather large. Because the cost of a dedicated support contract is significantly lower than hiring a specific individual, companies are able to manage cash flow much more effectively whilst passing these savings onto customers.

Productivity Increases

Because remote IT support means there’s always someone on hand, productivity naturally increases. Updates, changes and fixes can be actioned at any time so employees are free to focus on daily tasks without interruption. With the right support contract in place that’s bespoke to the needs of your business, less time is required managing employee schedules.

Employee Benefits

Giving employees the option to work in the office, from home or using the hybrid method offers trust and respect. Creating an efficient, relaxed environment where people can work where they feel most comfortable means productivity increases alongside loyalty. Giving employees such freedom reduces staff turnover whilst creating a solid work environment.

Knowledge is Shared

With inhouse IT support, employees bring problems directly to the responsible specialist who will make the fix alone before moving on. With remote support services, knowledge is shared between the contractor and employee, helping improve staff’s overall ability to restore or maintain operations.

Early Access to New Technologies

It’s easy to rely on exissting technologies whilst carrying out the same processes over and over again. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it right? Becoming stuck in your ways means you could be missing out on not only utilising some of the newest technologies but creating further time and monetary savings. Specialist IT support companies receive all the necessary training and guidance regarding brand new technology. In turn, applications worth considering for your business are offered quickly and sometimes with discounted access.

Patches, Updates & Maintenance

Outsourced IT support services cover everything required for a safe and smooth user experience including cyber security. The provision of regular maintenance means downtime decreases whilst viruses and cyber threats are closely monitored. In addition, the risk of data breaches is reduced alongside compliance violations and damage to brand value. When researching IT support companies, choose one that provides managed security services. With cyber threats at an all time high, this is the ideal solution for smaller companies without an in house IT team. Specialists have the ability to manage integrations, permissions and more.

Andromeda Solutions Wins 2022-23 North England Prestige Award For IT Support!

Posted on by Peter

Andromeda Solutions has triumphed yet again, this time at the North England Prestige Awards, where the company has scooped a prize recognising superb performance in delivering IT Support and relevant services.

What Are The Prestige Awards?

Introduced by Corporate LiveWire, the Prestige Awards have a long and highly impressive global pedigree, having handed out plaudits all around the world. From Australia, Africa and Iceland to the USA and UK, Prestige Awards have spent a number of years dedicating their work to the recognition of the very best businesses making standout achievements in their industry or sector.

The Prestige Awards are designed to highlight that often it’s the smaller to medium-sized enterprises which are making a big impact; a category of businesses all too often overlooked for the big international prizes. As a result, the team behind Prestige Awards hones attention on varying regions and cities, choosing locations where communities of independent SMEs are thriving. Recent awards in the UK have focused around Oxfordshire, Wales, Scotland, Bristol, Central England, and, of course, the North of England, for which Andromeda Solutions was nominated.

Why The Focus On SMEs?


The Prestige Awards focus on recognising the achievements of SMEs (small to medium sized enterprises) as opposed to rewarding bigger names that may have a national or even global presence. This decision to focus on SMEs was born to the belief that independent companies are the real backbone of a nations economy whilst also reflecting unique strengths and other qualities that stem from their local environment.

Nominations for standout small businesses are invited from each region with the aim of finding the enterprise which has represented the best in its particular field over the previous twelve month period. In order for the judges to make the right decision, each nomination must be backed up with evidence of the business’s excellence, including positive testimonials from clients, details of any awards received or accreditation’s earned, as well as demonstrating how the company goes above and beyond their competition.

We are delighted to say that winning this coveted Prestige Award, Andromeda Solutions has proven it has fulfilled all of these requisites, showing yet again we provide the very highest quality of IT services in the North of England.

Andromeda Solution Delivers Standout IT Support

Our many glowing testimonials from delighted customers have proven the quality of our IT services and support, time and again. With praise for “outstanding”, “honest”, and “efficient” services, it’s no wonder we have coveted 5 star ratings on Facebook, Yell, and Google. Indeed, we’ve already been recognised by several other awarding bodies, earning an impressive array of titles from Three Best Rated, the Global Excellence Awards, and the Northern Enterprise Awards, to name but a few.

Working with both domestic customers and SMEs we’re able to help with every aspect of IT. From networking and security systems, VOIP telephony and servers, through to getting you set up with the most advanced Cloud software, Andromeda takes a corporate-style approach to small and medium-sized enterprise solutions, ensuring the most efficient and effective results. We also take care of routine maintenance and repairs at a time that best suits you or your business (many problems can even be dealt with remotely for maximum convenience).

Discover Andromeda Experience For Yourself

Andromeda Solutions is so confident your small to medium-sized business will love our award-winning IT support and services that we are offering a 30 Day Free trial, subject to terms and conditions. Why not get in touch to learn more about our incredible range of services. Your call will be put through to one of our skilled IT consultants straight away, rather than leaving you to deal with any call handlers. With transparent pricing and clear communication every step of the way, isn’t it time you tried our IT services for yourself?

Choosing Cloud Storage As Part Of Your IT Services: How does it work?

Posted on by Peter

In recent years, more and more organisations have expanded IT Support Services, embracing the latest cloud technologies, for very good reason. The cloud delivers incredible data analytics and processing power whilst offering unlimited rapid scalability. This is done at highly cost-effective prices.

Offering superb storage solutions is another of the Cloud’s strengths. Read on to discover more about what cloud storage actually means and how it works.

What Is ‘The Cloud’?

When people talk about “the Cloud”, it’s easy to imagine our data simply being held vaguely in the atmosphere somewhere. Perhaps in the very same elusive ether that provides other modern technologies, such as wireless internet connectivity or 5G. In truth, it’s a little more down-to-earth.

The cloud is a generic name for thousands upon thousands of computers linked to the internet which can be drawn upon to deliver the processing power required by its clients. The largest “clouds” can be made up of computers distributed over a number of data centres (vast premises which store and manage these machines) in a number of different locations. By offering shared computing resources in this way, cloud computing opens up incredible performance to users whilst keeping costs low.

So rather than enduring the expense of purchasing and maintaining relevant hardware to store all company data, using the cloud allows you to simply subscribe to a storage service.

What About Cloud IT Storage?

When you choose to store your business data (which can include user, organisational, or application data) in the cloud, this means that in physical terms, data will be held on servers at a data centre location, where it will be managed securely. The data centre operators are responsible for ensuring company data remains accessible.

Accessing the data can be achieved in a number of ways, too: such as through an API (application programming interface), a CMS (content management system), or a cloud storage gateway. There are three main options when it comes to adopting cloud storage services. There is the public cloud option, the private cloud option, and the hybrid cloud option. Understanding the differences between the three will help you to make the best choice for your organisation.

Public Cloud

Public cloud is the easiest to get started with and makes a good choice for small to medium-sized businesses, or where it is largely unstructured data which will be stored. In this provision, the data is kept on machines owned and operated by the service provider (such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon, or Google). This means your company’s data could be held across a number of different data centres, or even different countries. This is useful, however, as it reduces the chance of substantial data loss should a disaster such as fire or flood affect a single data-holding location. In this type of storage service, you will usually “pay as you use”, making it a very cost-efficient choice, although transaction charges may also feature.

Private Cloud

The private cloud option allows a business or organisation to create their own in-house cloud, keeping data securely behind a firewall. This option is better suited to larger companies, as it requires stringent security and managed IT services, and of course, taking on the expense of both purchasing the necessary machines and maintaining them.

Hybrid Cloud Model

Finally, a hybrid cloud model blends public and private clouds to create a bespoke environment that can deliver high levels of flexibility and data deployment options. However, the task of administering a hybrid cloud can be extremely challenging because it is important to ensure that both public and private platforms and applications work together properly.

Practicalities of Cloud Storage IT Services

Whilst it’s clear that choosing to store your organisation’s data in the cloud can offer some superb benefits, it’s still important to assess whether it’s the right choice for your needs. Assess the costs of cloud storage, including the expense of setting up and running your own machines if you want to create a private or hybrid cloud environment, likely requiring a dedicated IT services team. Be sure to create a cloud safety policy for all staff to follow, in order to ensure that accessing data in this way is managed securely. That being said, for purposes such as backing up files, DR (disaster recovery), or archiving “cold” (infrequently used) data, the cloud is an invaluable tool to have at your disposal.

Our expert team here at Andromeda IT Solutions will be very happy to understand your organisational needs and offer appropriate cloud-based solutions to ensure you achieve a truly cost-effective solution.



Discover The Benefits Of IT Support For Small Businesses

Posted on by Peter

There’s no getting away from it: these days, no matter what industry your business may be operating in, the chances are that it will be dependent on an ever-growing complement of technology. From managing your cloud services and maintaining your brand’s website, through to managing equipment and staying on top of cyber security, this means that there are plenty of tasks to be added to your “must do” list.

Furthermore, the recent Covid pandemic has accelerated this trend for digitisation, meaning that more and more organisations now have remote working to facilitate, or a greater range of online services to offer to their customers, increasing the pressure on business owners to keep everything running as it should.

Of course, having the latest technology will bring a host of benefits to your organisation, from happier staff, better engagement with customers, and improved productivity.

However, maintaining it all can prove challenging, particularly if you aren’t technology-minded. That’s why IT support services can be a valuable addition to your company’s armoury of experts.

Outsource IT Support & Save Money

Thankfully, even small businesses operating on a shoestring budget can enjoy the benefits of a digitised organisation. Rather than employing an in-house IT support team, many IT companies offer a cost-effective solution in which you outsource your needs to their specialists. As a result, not only do you save money on salaries (which can be high for an experienced and skilled IT technician), but in many cases, you can pay simply for the support you need, when you need it. This makes an ideal solution for firms which may only occasionally run into tech problems, or which need assistance when new hardware or software is being set up.

There When Your Business Needs IT

There are countless times when your business could need technical help, and fast. Whether it’s a broken desktop, or a malware attack that’s stopping your usual operations, it’s imperative that a solution is found quickly if you want to minimise disruption to your business, as well as loss of income.

There are many options when it comes to IT services, meaning that whatever your business needs, you can find the perfect solution. From hiring a consultant to get you set up and running with a brand new infrastructure, through to simply paying for a backup and recovery service which is well worth investing in to protect your business against data loss, there are almost no limits to the type of service you can choose.

You can have a service that sees the third party IT firm completely take over the day-to-day running of all your IT, or simply cherry-pick the IT services that you need the most, such as setting up email, providing networking solutions, or delivering virtual desktop provision and management. Many IT companies will be able to provide remote assistance, or work at evenings or weekends, ensuring that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.

You may decide an IT audit is a good idea, especially if you are expecting to grow your business soon. Here, an expert can assess what you may need to change or adopt in order to achieve your business objectives. Such an audit can also reveal issues such as inadequate security measures, thanks to the use of advanced diagnostic tools.

Furthermore, these professionals will also be able to train your in-house team so that your technology investments are fully optimised – another reason why choosing IT support services makes for a cost-effective decision.

It’s a good idea to talk to a few IT companies in the first instance to find out just what is available and get a quote for the kind of support you want. Be sure to ask for testimonials from their existing clients before committing, too.

A Smart Choice for your IT Solutions

In the past, even the smallest of businesses have realised that bringing in outside expertise can be unavoidable (think accountants and lawyers, for example). And in the modern world, this means that having access to specialist tech support should now be considered equally essential. When you think of the havoc that IT problems could wreak on your business – anything from lost sales due to your website going down, through to the potentially ruinous financial and legal repercussions of a data breach – it certainly makes sense to be prepared, and let the experts take care of your IT services.

With so many different options available, there’s sure to be a support solution that’s perfect for your business. Why not speak to the friendly experts here at Andromeda IT Solutions today to find out more?

Discover award-winning IT support with a 30-day free trial

Posted on by Peter

If you have a small to medium sized business, you will know all too well how essential it is to have a smooth-running IT infrastructure backing you up. And with the growing prevalence of cloud computing, VOIP and other new technologies taking a major role in running everyday operations, it’s vital to have the right IT support by your side.

Award-winning IT services

Here at Andromeda Solutions, our team of friendly IT specialists are here to help, whether you have a one-off project or are looking for an ongoing solution. We can create a bespoke package that meets your organisation’s unique needs, covering a comprehensive range of IT solutions. From servers and cyber security, through to networks and Office 365, our computer experts deliver the results you need, while following industry ITIL best practice protocols. Our service is always transparent, keeping you in the loop with clear explanations at every step. The price you’re quoted is always the price you’ll pay.

When you get in touch with Andromeda Solutions, you’ll be connected to an IT consultant straight away, so there’s no lengthy waits before we start to work on your project. We can work remotely or on-site, at a time that suits you, making our IT service one that truly prioritises our customers. It’s no wonder that we’ve been recognised by the prestigious Three Best Rated as the best IT services provider in Middlesbrough in 2021, and have a five-star rating on Google, Facebook and Yell.com.

Try our IT support for yourself – free for 30 days

Now SMEs looking for IT support in Teesside can discover the Andromeda Solutions experience free for 30 days, subject to terms and conditions. This risk-free offer is the perfect opportunity to see the difference that our unparalleled IT services can make to your IT infrastructure. We focus on tailoring the best corporate IT approaches to the specific needs of SMEs, and the glowing testimonials of our current clients show our proven track record in this area. Why not get in touch today and start discovering our range of services for yourself?

Effectively Managing Remote Teams

Posted on by Peter

The pandemic has normalised working from home, changing the way businesses operate and potentially revolutionising the way we work forever. With many businesses now adopting a remote working culture, managing remote teams has never been so important. Working from home provides many benefits, offering flexibility, cheaper operational costs, and giving employees a better home life balance. Remote working also comes with new challenges and limitations, such as lack of supervision, distractions, and possible security threats. Employee monitoring software is designed to increase productivity, improve IT security, and identify potential issues early.

Benefits of Monitoring Remote Employees

Employee monitoring software is an effective way to manage your workforce, boosting workflow and keeping your employees on track. Using employee surveillance systems allows managers to track and supervise their team’s IT usage live, or from the past. It’s a reliable way to monitor employees work computers, including search history, attendance, activities, emails, application usage and productivity levels. This information lets managers to identify which employees are performing to a high standard, and which employees are not meeting expectations, allowing them to offer support, feedback, and additional training.

Surveillance systems also increases the company’s IT security, offering both legal and employee security. Accessing employees work devices can protect your business from potential security breaches, suspicious behaviour, and insider threats, whether they are done maliciously or accidently. Employee monitoring offers employees safer working conditions, protecting them from cyber harassment, bullying and sexual harassment, and protects the business from legal issues from people accessing illegal content or conducting illicit behaviour on company property. 

Implementing Employee Monitoring Software

Our team can quickly and remotely implement reliable solutions to help you effectively manage your workforce.  Our experts will also demonstrate how to use and understand the new software remotely using Microsoft Teams, providing you with the relevant information needed to successfully monitor your team. Andromeda Solutions will be on hand to provide you with IT support and assist you with any issues or queries you have.

Contact Andromeda Solutions today on 01642 903810 to see how we can help your business effectively manage your remote employees.

The best IT services provider in Middlesbrough

Posted on by Peter

Andromeda Solutions is honoured to be awarded the best IT services provider in Middlesbrough 2020 – what an amazing way to end the year!

We have been awarded this incredible title by the experts at Three Best Rated. Three Best Rated complete a comprehensive 50-point inspection, ensuring they recommend trusted, reliable and professional businesses to their customers. Three Best Rated found Andromeda Solutions to be the best local IT company in our area in their inspection report, receiving top scores in areas such as responsiveness, accuracy, and standards. We are extremely thankful for the recognition and privileged to be presented with the title of best IT services provider in Middlesbrough.   

We could not have received this award without the support and loyalty from our incredible customers. Providing outstanding customer service and exceeding customer expectations is very important to us. We are humbled by the kind words left on our social media pages and very grateful for your recommendations. Thank you for taking the time to review and rate our business, we are appreciative of your honest feedback.

 What is Three Best Rated?

Three Best Rated was created in 2014 with the primary goal of identifying the top 3 local businesses in each specific field, helping their 4 million customers per month find the best organisations near them. They use a vigorous 50-point inspection to score each business, checking everything from the company’s history and ownership, to legitimate reviews and responsiveness. They check the businesses reputation, complaints, ratings, customer satisfaction, proximity, trust, cost, and overall general excellence. Three Best Rated believe that local businesses provide better services than big corporations as they know the local area and understand the needs, wants and expectations of local customers.

Here is what they have to say about Andromeda Solutions:

“Their team specialises in secure, reliable, server technology, offering comprehensive solutions to all your business needs. If there’s a business-critical problem – such as the company server going down – they’ll respond within an hour. You can track their progress online. Their well-designed networks are fast and reliable, with maximum uptime. Andromeda Solutions creates everything from a primary network using a single internet link to a complex network with 100% uptime and seamless failure. They can run checks to find out how your PC is running and diagnose any problems. At Andromeda Solutions, they offer PC health checkup for free.”

-Three Best Rated, 2020

Thank you again to all our customers, and our amazing team for continuously providing exceptional IT services in the North East.

Choosing IT Support in Middlesbrough

Posted on by Peter

The importance of IT services for business cannot be overlooked. Today we are investigating how to find the best IT Support in Middlesbrough and the surrounding areas.

Defining IT Support & Consultancy

IT support and consultancy differ and it’s important to highlight the variations. IT support covers a multitude of factors including the purchase and management of equipment, cyber security, networks, connectivity and more. A support contract means company owners and management are left to concentrate on running the business. Should any IT related issues crop up, help is a mere phone call away.

In contrast, the consultancy service provides a sounding board to discuss the right IT processes and procedures relevant to the business. This service is ideal for companies on a limited budget and with some level of IT knowledge. A consultant will listen to your thoughts and ideas before providing the best way forward and information on implementation.

What to look for in the Right Support

Your quest for the right level of IT support should always begin with an adequate level of research. Take a look at online reviews, specifically Google and Facebook. Whilst a handful of positive reviews are good, multiple testimonials evoke confidence in a supplier. Make sure each comment differs and refer to numerous services as opposed to just one. 

Reviews Look Good, What Now?

Head across to the website. Does it look professional? Is information easy to find and does it make sense? Can you easily find the contact details required to make an enquiry? These are all the questions you need to ask whilst researching.

Website Looks Professional, What Now?

Take a look at the service section. Is IT support provided in Middlesbrough or the area your business is located? Does the company cover evenings and weekends as well as 9am – 5pm? IT can encounter issues at any time of the day and it’s important you’re fully covered in case of an emergency.

Take Note of Response Times

Should you be faced with downtime or an IT related emergency you need to be confident in response times. Ideally this will be clearly stated on the website, but if not we recommend getting this in writing prior to any conversations. An emergency taking you offline and stopping a business from functioning warrants action within one hour. Less urgent problems should be fixed within a maximum of four hours. If these timescales are not feasible it’s better to look elsewhere. 

A good IT support company will provide you with only the services required. Whilst smaller companies may only need access to one off, quarterly or even yearly support, medium to large may require a monthly contract. If you’re looking for the best possible IT support in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington and the North East, begin your research with Andromeda Solutions.