EasyOffice: Q & A
Here are some questions we frequently hear during initial conversations with clients. If you have other questions please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Q: This sounds like fancy, new technology. Is it dependable?
A: This is nothing new. Most Fortune 100 companies have been using this technology for their own computing needs for 15 years. The only thing that is new is that we have built the data center specifically for medium sized businesses like yours. Our clients depend on this platform every day and find it is more dependable than anything else they have used before.
Q: Isn’t this going to be slow because it’s coming over the Internet?
A: No. This technology has been in use for decades and utilizes a low-bandwidth link that makes your programs seem as if they are running right on your desktop computer. Seeing is believing: contact us for a free demo.
Q: Is my data secure?
A: Yes. Communications between you and the data center are encrypted. This protects your data and personal information.
The security of your data within the data center will be much greater than it would be in your office. It is well known that the key threats to data security are:
- premises incidents such as water and fire damage
- physical security breach (access to your office by unauthorized persons)
- system crashes, power failures, computer viruses
Q: What does SAS70, Type II Certification mean?
A: SAS70, Type II is an AICPA certification. The certification is only awarded to service firms that show great effectiveness in internal controls and data security safeguards.
Q: Will I still need desktop support?
A: Yes, but far less than what you need today. Your needs for desktop support will be reduced due to the simplicity and consistency of the EasyOffice platform. Our EasyOffice support staff is available to you 24 hours a day for help with application access, but you will still need someone to do your local workstation installations and for application training. Local workstation installations will be much simpler since all your programs come to you from our data center.
Q: What if my connection to the Internet goes down?
A: The EasyOffice platform depends on an Internet connection. Most business Internet connections are very dependable these days. If yours goes down regularly, we recommend installing an inexpensive backup Internet connection. In most cases, the savings from adopting EasyOffice more than offsets this additional cost. We are quite familiar with this technique and will be happy to help during your EasyOffice installation.
Keep in mind that, with EasyOffice, even if your connection to the Internet goes down, you will not lose any data. When you reconnect, all your programs will be just the way you left them.
Q: Do I still have to pay for and renew all the Microsoft licenses?
A: No. The cost of all Microsoft licensing for packaged programs is included in the EasyOffice monthly fee. You will, however, need to maintain licenses for any additional “Line of Business” programs that we host for you (like QuickBooks, Peachtree, Sage, Drake etc.).
Q: Can I add and delete user accounts as my company grows or contracts?
A: Yes. This is one of the greatest benefits of the EasyOffice service. New employees can be added very easily and quickly. If your business is seasonal, add accounts when staff expands, and delete these accounts when their work is completed. This keeps your expenses in line with your headcount.
Q: I have files that I only want certain people in the company to access. Can EasyOffice handle this?
A: Yes. The EasyOffice platform is designed to accommodate this. We can configure restricted access to files and programs to meet the needs of your business. Our service consultants will advise you on the best way to set this up.
Q: Is it complicated to configure my workstations for EasyOffice ?
A: No. There is one very small access program that is installed on your desktop. We assist you with this during your service start-up. This installation takes less than 10 minutes.