In our recent guide Wi-Fi Extender to improve your Wi-Fi coverage, we looked at what a Wi-Fi extender is and how it can improve productivity in the office by increasing internet speed and coverage.
A new product the D-Link AC1200 Mesh Wi-Fi range extender, the DAP-1610, took our fancy as it ticked all of the boxes we mentioned in our guide. The only exception being that it does not support Wi-Fi 6, but most readers will not have Wi-Fi 6 products yet.
If you struggle to get Wi-Fi in areas of your business, then for $125, this will be a game-changer.
3 key features to buy a D-Link AC1200:
This extender can be used as a wireless access point. This means you can go to Officeworks, buy a 25-metre ethernet cable ($45) and connect one end to the extender and one to the router. Assuming you can run this cable to the area you are having trouble getting Wi-Fi, you now have a Wi-Fi network in your blackspot on the same network.
Support for a Mesh network means that if you have a Mesh router and the extender is in range, you can increase your Wi-Fi coverage using the same network name and password. Thus your smartphones, PC etc., will just work without further configuration.
Simple setup with a signal strength indicator. Start by pushing the WPS button on the router and extender. Your extender is now active. Now try the extender in different locations taking note of the three signal strength lights on the front of the unit. This makes the placement of the extender simple to get the best results.
Other features that tick the boxes include Dual-band (2.4& 5GHz) support for speeds up to 867Mbps and foldable antennas, which means the unit is just as happy plugged into a wall socket as a power board. If you register the product with D-Link, you get a 3-year warranty, and 24/7 Technical support is available.
This simple Wi-Fi fix is available now from major electrical retailers.
Synology, the leading NAS storage vendor talks to small Business Answers about their 3-2-1 backup strategy.
To understand more about why you need to backup read Small Business Answers Guide to backup first.
Have at least 3 copies of your data
Keep these copies in 2 different types of media
Store at least 1 copy offsite
A backup in your place of work is the 1st step in protecting your data. To improve this further, store copies on different drives (media – hard drives, storage cards or thumb drives) to protect against any single point of failure. For example, backing up your PC to a Synology NAS.
The final step is having a copy of your data offsite. Have a copy of your data at home or at someone else’s home. This is extremely important, as local backups do not protect against fire, natural disaster, or theft of all your hard drives. Simple ways to backup include having a copy of your data on a portable hard drive or back up to cloud storage.
If using a Synology NAS, the backup strategy procedure would be as follows:
Step A — Back up your devices to a NAS
Start by backing up your documents, photos, and videos. A Synology NAS is easy to set up and maintain and a great place to back up all of your devices.
To back up a Windows PC to a NAS, you have two options:
Select and protect individual files or folders. You don’t need to protect the entire computer. Using Synology Drive software, you can synchronise folders and add backup and restoration points to your most important files. Meaning you can easily roll back any accidental or malicious modifications.
Back up your entire PC. With Synology Active Backup for Business, you can protect your PCs with full-device backups of your files, programs, and settings. Flexible restoration lets you recover only files and folders or replicate the entire device onto a new one.
Step B – Back up your NAS to another location
Now that you have centralised your backup, you must add one more level of protection. A Synology NAS is designed to maintain data integrity and security; natural disasters or theft can still impact you. Thus the need for an offsite backup solution. Options include:
To another Synology NAS. Here your data is duplicated to a second remote location as an exact copy. You will have options of whether this is real-time or periodically.
To cloud services. The likes of Google, Amazon, Dropbox and Synology themselves offer commercial backup solutions to duplicate your data on their servers.
To external devices. The cheapest solution is a USB connected hard drive. Which can be configured to trigger a backup of your NAS anytime it is plugged in. (Remember to take the drive offsite and bring it back for regular updates)
Synology is offering a free webinar to learn more about Upgrading your backup solution to meet modern backup challenges Thursday, 7 October 2021 | 14:00 – 15:00 AEDT (Sydney, UTC+11) Register Now
What would happen if a laptop was stolen or, more commonly, if a hard drive failed in your PC. A backup strategy of your critical IT gives you protection when something goes wrong. Consider what the cost to your business would be of losing that data. Backup of data can also be combined with data sharing, so the relevant people in your business can share and work on the same files. In this guide, we will look at the ideal solution in buying a small business NAS. This guide will cover why you need a NAS, what you need to understand about a NAS, and how to decide which small business NAS.
A NAS or Networked Attached Storage is a computer attached to your IT network that provides storage for files that- can be shared with multiple PC’s on your business network or via the internet for authorised users.
WHY should buy a small business NAS?
NAS technology and simplicity have come a long way over the years. A NAS solution will provide you with a robust method to keep your data secure and share files easily amongst your business.
Very simply, a NAS is like a local Google drive replacement. Any PC or client device on your network can connect to the NAS to backup data and share files.
This will ensure that you can restore data to continue to run your business in the event of a disaster. It also allows your employees to be more productive by sharing files and collaborating on projects.
WHAT does a NAS do?
A NAS is an appliance which means it is designed to do one thing very well. Although it is a computer, it is not an extremely powerful computer. It is not intended to have a monitor or keyboard attached to it. From a business perspective, it can potentially be used to do additional tasks, including video streaming, website and email hosting or photo management.
NAS File Sharing
A folder will appear on your computer with files stored on the NAS that you and other authorised uses can access and edit.
NAS Data Backup
A backup of your PC is made onto the NAS. Enabling you to recover files in the event of a disaster. Note that a NAS can further secure data by duplicating its data internally and or externally to the NAS box.
Advantages of a NAS vs Cloud Storage
A NAS solution will more likely cost more than using a cloud subscription but:
Data is all in your control and secure within your business. Versus being on the cloud most likely hosted in another country
A NAS makes sharing a large file easy. Large files on the cloud will take longer to load and will cost you more to store.
Total control of your backups. You control your ability to restore data.
Fixed upfront cost versus variable unknown.
A NAS is a long-term solution that can grow with you.
Photo’s, videos, and presentations can be stored in their full resolution without making quality sacrifices to keep them on the cloud.
Remote access is possible from any internet-connected location. Still, it is possible to switch this functionality off if you have any security concerns.
HOW do you decide which NAS is right for you?
You should consider the following features when making your decision on which NAS will suit your business:
Number of drive bays – This is the number of slots available to insert a hard drive. For redundancy, we suggest you have a minimum of two bays with a recommendation of 4 for a small business allowing expansion.
Hot-swap trays – if your NAS supports hot-swap, it means a disk can be removed whilst the NAS continues to run. Depending on how the drives are configured, you could exchange a faulty drive with no interruption to the NAS file serving.
Type & Size of drives – Drive come in two physical 2.5 or 3.5 inches sizes. These drives are where your data is stored and could be a Hard disk drive or the much more expensive Solid State Drive (SSD), which is faster finding data. The capacity of the drives is measured in TB. You should buy based on your capacity needs.
Drive configuration – This should be a choice as part of your setup. You may hear the technical terms RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) or JBOD (Just Bunch Of Disks). Your ideal setup is RAID with two or more drives, where data is duplicated onto both drives; thus, you still have all your data if one drive fails. This means two 8TB drives will only give you 8TB total storage. Adding additional drives will add storage to your existing storage array.
Cache acceleration – Some units offer the ability of a solid-state drive in the form of an NVMe SSD. These SSD drives are expensive, but when used in the NAS can considerably increase performance by acting as a buffer and caching system to speed up file transfer.
Memory expansion – Some NAS units will allow additional memory to be added. This will improve the multitasking performance of the unit. This will future proof your needs for this box. If you add more users (PC’s), extra memory will improve performance.
Lan port – This is the ethernet port on the unit for connecting to your router or switch. Its speed will be measured in Mb or Gb. Look for a unit that supports 1Gb as a minimum. The throughput of a 1Gb port can transfer up to a 125MB file in one second. A wired NAS will give you better performance and reliability than one attached by W-Fi
USB ports allow a printer to be shared, additional drives to be attached, and backing up data for offsite storage.
Tamper-proof – If the NAS has no power or drives have been removed, the unit will not function. Any safeguards like lockable storage bays will reduce accidental downtime.
OS support – Ensure the NAS will work with your PC or MAC and the application you want to use it with.
Wizard setup – Setting up a NAS does require some IT knowledge. Vendors supplying setup wizards will make the setup process far easier. This is a very powerful and productive tool for your business, and extra help can be obtained by talking to an IT professional if it is beyond you.
Security – Does the solution have comprehensive built-in security tools to protect your NAS against evolving threats. Does it support data encryption if you require that level of protection?
Software – Included software tools can be very powerful. This might include deduplication software that only saves duplicates of files once, thus saving space. Backup software that allows you to manage all your PC’s backup from a single console giving you extra peace of mind.
Backups – Review what software is provided and can do both scheduled backups and real-time backups. A single management console to monitor your staff backups will help you ensure backups are complete to aid business recovery if required.
HINTS
Document version control. Some NAS solutions allow you to recover previously saved old versions of a document for when you deleted information that you should not have.
Synology is the brand with the highest reputation for small business NAS requirements. Small Business Answers is using a Synology DiskStation DS420+ NAS. This 4-drive server can support up to 108TB of storage and is ideal for a small business at an affordable price. It does not come with any hard drives. These can be purchased based on your needs. You can add extra storage (drives) and memory as your business grows to meet future needs. The set-up wizard and included software make this a simple solution to implement and deliver more than most small businesses require.
SUMMARY – Small Business NAS
A NAS will give you business peace of mind that employees can easily collaborate. Also, their data is backed up, meaning you can recover files easily and ensure business continuity.
A business-appropriate NAS solution will make implementation simple with little ongoing maintenance.
A NAS for small businesses can be purchased at leading electrical retailers, office supply and IT resellers.
Synology is offering a free webinar to learn more about Upgrading your backup solution to meet modern backup challenges Thursday, 7 October 2021 | 14:00 – 15:00 AEDT (Sydney, UTC+11) Register Now
ePac Flexible Packaging (ePac), the industry leader in digital printing for small run food packaging, has launched in Australia, with its first manufacturing facility opening in Melbourne in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Built entirely on breakthrough digital printing technology, ePac serves local brands of all sizes, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized businesses producing snacks, confections, coffee, natural and organic foods, pet food, and nutritional supplements.
ePac provides a five to 15 business day lead time, focuses on small and medium run-length orders, and enables brands to order to demand and avoid costly inventory and obsolescence.
ePac’s first production facility will open eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, at the new Newlands Road food manufacturing hub, located in the heart of Coburg’s thriving industrial district.
Jack Knott, ePac Flexible Packaging CEO, said, “We’re very excited to be expanding ePac’s growing international footprint into Australia. We are focused on bringing the same great ePac experience to our customers, helping small and medium-sized businesses grow and achieve big brand presence.”
Jason Brown, ePac Flexible Packaging Managing Director, Australia, said, “ePac helps local brands grow into major contributors within the community, with a unique offering for brands to rapidly go to market with great packaging. Opening our first facility at Newlands Road is an exciting milestone for ePac Australia, and we’ve already had a great response from the community.”
ePac was established in the US in 2016 to provide locally-based consumer packaged goods companies with the ability to compete with large brands with great packaging, give back to the communities it serves, and contribute to creating a more sustainable, circular economy. Since the opening of the company’s first manufacturing facility in 2016, ePac’s mission has been clear – to help small brands obtain big brand presence and grow.
About ePac flexible small run food packaging
ePac is the first company created entirely on breakthrough digital printing technology from Hewlett Packard, the Indigo 20000. This technology platform enables the company to provide fast time to market, economical short and medium run length jobs, customization, and the ability to order to demand to avoid costly inventory and obsolescence. By harnessing the true power of digital printing, ePacConnect enables brands of all sizes to take advantage of the growing trends in connected packaging. ePac’s digital platform is inherently eco-friendly while offering several sustainable film options.
As the quality, reliability and security of Wi-Fi becomes increasingly important, D-Link A/NZ has launched their new DAP-1610 AC1200 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extender and DAP-1530 AC750 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extender, both encompassing the latest WPA3™ wireless encryption.
The DAP-1610 is a portable plug-in wireless extender that lets you extend an existing wireless network, giving you powerful Wi-Fi throughout your home and eliminating Wi-Fi dead zones.
With high-speed, dual-band 802.11ac wireless speeds of up to 1200Mbps – that’s 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 900Mbps on the 5GHz band – the DAP-1610 ensures a fast and stable Wi-Fi experience for all of your connected devices.
The DAP-1610’s dual-band technology also helps reduce interference from any nearby wireless transmitters and provides backwards compatibility with older connected devices that run on previous Wi-Fi standards. What’s more, if you wish, you can use its Gigabit Ethernet port and your home’s existing wired Ethernet cabling to extend wireless coverage without having to worry about signal strength.
The DAP-1610 also provides you with flexible Mesh choices for your home network when you pair it with a compatible D-Link Wi-Fi 5 Mesh Router to create a seamless whole-home Mesh Network built on industry-standard Mesh technology. The DAP-1610 seamlessly picks up the same Wi-Fi name as your existing network and allows you to enjoy a Mesh connection throughout your entire home
Meanwhile, Mesh Smart Roaming allows your devices to intelligently switch to a stronger Wi-Fi signal as you move around the house. You can also pair with other Routers or Extenders which support the 802.11k/v standard to enjoy Mesh Smart Roaming throughout your home at all times.
Setup of the DAP-1610 is simple, either via the single-touch WPS button to join the Extender to the existing network, or alternatively, you can set up and manage the DAP-1610 just as easily with the free D-Link Wi-Fi app directly from your smartphone or tablet.
The DAP-1610 also has a useful LED signal strength indicator that allows you to identify where the strongest and weakest Wi-Fi signal spots are around your home, helping you find the best possible location to place the extender for optimal network performance.
Like its bigger sibling, the DAP-1530 AC750 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extender is a plug-in Wi-Fi repeater that lets you extend an existing wireless network. You can place it anywhere in your home to increase the range of your wireless network. It may be tiny, but it is powerful, supporting wireless AC speeds of up to 750Mbps, despite fitting neatly in the palm of your hand.
Like the DAP-1610, the DAP-1530 enjoys dual-band 802.11ac technology, an LED Signal Strength Indicator and a one-touch configuration making it both easy to set up and easy to use. The DAP-1530 will also automatically configure itself and even includes a built-in setup wizard should you want finer control of either wired or wireless settings.
You also still get flexible Mesh choices for your home network and the ability to pair with other Routers or Extenders which support the 802.11k/v standard to enjoy Mesh Smart Roaming throughout your home when you need it.
Pricing D-Link DAP-1610 and DAP-1530
The DAP-1610 and the DAP-1530 are available now from www.dlink.com.au (RRP AUD$129.95 and RRP AUD$99.95), and from all authorised D-Link Partners and Retailers.
To understand more read Small Business Answers guide on Wi-Fi Extenders.
Leading global Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) company, Zip Co Limited (ASX: Z1P), has today announced the official launch of Zip Business ‘Tap to pay’, a new feature enabling small business owners to buy now, pay later anywhere that accepts Visa and shows the Contactless Symbol at checkout.
Zip Business Trade Plus already provides SMBs with access to a simple, interest-free and flexible line of credit of up to $150,000, which can be used to pay any bill or invoice, or can be spent at its network of more than 35,000 merchants including Tradelink, Holcim Australia and Paramount Liquor. In an extension of the ‘Tap to pay’ consumer feature launched in 2020, Zip Business ‘Tap to pay’ significantly expands the number of places Trade Plus customers can use their credit, for an easier and smarter way to pay.
In line with social distancing mandates and the rise of contactless services, use of digital wallets has skyrocketed. In the 12 months from March 2020 to 2021, the number of monthly digital wallet transactions increased by 90 per cent, with the number of transactions rising from 36 million to 68 million. Over the same period, the total dollar value of digital wallet transactions more than doubled, with the value of monthly transactions rising to $2.1 billion, up from $1 billion.
While the global pandemic saw a huge uptake of business-to-consumer (B2C) pay-by-installment services, there continues to be a substantial gap in the business-to-business (B2B) BNPL market. Zip Business ‘Tap to pay’ addresses and solves this crucial customer need for Australian SMBs.
With over two million small businesses in Australia, the universal pain point is cash flow and access to capital – this has only been compounded by the pandemic. Some of the industries hit particularly hard include on-premise retail, hospitality and construction. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Business Conditions and Sentiments Report revealed that 25 per cent of Accommodation and Food Services and 23 per cent of Retail trade businesses are finding it difficult to meet their financial commitments.
‘Tap to pay’ harnesses the latest digital wallet technology for contactless payments, so Zip Business customers can pay for goods and services beyond the Zip merchant network, enabling both SMBs to pay easier and a world of new merchants to accept Zip payments.
Geof Alexander, General Manager of Zip Business, said:“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Australian economy with entrepreneurs taking incredible risks to create a business around what they are passionate about. Now facing the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, entrepreneurs are fighting hard and putting everything into finding a way forward – and at the moment, they need support.
“At Zip Business, we’re building the pieces to help Australian entrepreneurs to manage cash flow – supporting them with fair, transparent and flexible payments options to give them longer to pay and make their lives easier.
“Adding another layer of functionality to our Zip Business Trade Plus product, ‘Tap to pay’ brings award winning experiences to small businesses, helping to boost cash flow and fund growth, whatever the world decides to throw at them. In the first week since launch, we’ve seen Zip Business customers use ‘Tap to pay’ 4.5 times on average.
“We know what it’s like to grow from being the little guy and we want to give our customers the tools to fulfil their business dreams.”
In order to be eligible for a Zip Business Trade Plus account, businesses must have an active ABN or ACN, have been in business for six months and generate at least $5,000 in sales per month. Small business owners can apply for a Zip Business Trade Plus account here. Zip’s lending criteria applies.
To understand more read the Small Business Answers guide to BNPL.
EPOS, the premium enterprise and gaming audio and video brand, has announced the launch of the IMPACT D Series – a lightweight range of comfortable headsets designed to provide peerless audio performance and powerful wireless reach. This headset Series is optimised for Unified Communication and has a streamlined, functional design suitable for all-day use.
Perfect call clarity for 100% focus
Even in modern times, with customers increasingly embracing many different digital interactions, automation, and self-service, the human voice remains the most trusted form of communication. The IMPACT D Series has been developed to meet the requirements of professionals in energetic office and contact centre environments where clear audio, comfort, and ease of mobility are an absolute must.
Making full use of EPOS’s unique in-house technologies, such as EPOS Voice technology™, which focuses on the human voice to produce a rich, natural sound experience, the IMPACT D Series helps business professionals communicate effectively throughout their working day by eliminating the frustrations and distractions caused by bad audio.
Our cutting-edge solution augments the conversation experience, reducing the prominence of unnecessary ambient noise and allowing for 100% customer focus, whatever the situation.
A secure solution
In today’s digital world, companies are more exposed than ever to hostile online threats. Wireless networks offer great potential for exploitation, so security is paramount when choosing a wireless headset solution. The IMPACT D Series keeps data safe and secure with protected pairing– meaning company security is never an issue.
Streamlined functional design
Keep desks tidy with a streamlined design ideal for hotdesking when agents need plug and play functionality at every workstation. With one base station that serves both monaural and binaural wearing styles, a superior docking experience and single connectivity to PC or phone, the IMPACT D Series makes high-quality wireless DECT headsets accessible to all.
Wireless freedom
No one wants to be chained to their desk, surrounded by tangled cables. The IMPACT D Series has a powerful wireless range so that users have the freedom to walk and talk and be mobile without compromising on perfect call clarity.
With simple, single connectivity to PC, hybrid users can connect their headset wirelessly and enjoy the mobility of a powerful wireless DECT headset throughout their working day.
Theis Mørk, Vice President, Global Product Management at EPOS comments: ‘‘The IMPACT D Series uses cutting edge technology to give professionals in energetic work environments true wireless freedom. With enhanced security features, powerful wireless reach, superior audio and natural listening experience, the IMPACT D Series is the premier solution when talk matters.’’
Synology® the NAS/SAN computer storage provider is launching Synology On-Site Replacement Service in Australia. The service is powered by Computergate, a renowned Australian-based service provider, as well as Synology long-time official post-sale service partner.
The launch of the service aligns with Synology commitment to provide first-class service to pair with its corporate and enterprise-level solutions. The On-Site service pack is fulfilling the increasing demand from Synology users for a hassle-free replacement process. After purchasing and completing the registration, users could contact Computergate directly when experiencing downtime. An experienced technician would arrive in time together with the replacement unit to install the chassis.
“We’re excited to take this step forward into the Australian market,” said Stephen Antonius, Sales Manager of Synology Inc. “As a company, we take our users’ demand seriously. Our products and services are always tuned to keep up with the latest market demand. And today we announce this service which we believe will help our Australian business users to have a better Synology experience,” he added.
Synology On-Site Replacement Availability
The service pack is now available for purchase for all newer corporate and enterprise-level NAS and SAN[1], covering the metro area of Australia major cities: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. Please purchase the service pack directly through local resellers if needed.
About Computergate
Computergate is Australia leading hardware service provider with years of experience dealing with Synology products. Synology has collaborated with Computergate in the past to deliver Synology Replacement Service (SRS) and is happy to continue this strong partnership to deliver a better experience for Synology users.
For more information on storage backup, solutions see Small Business Answers Guide.
When the CRM salesperson told you how this database would improve customer relations and boost sales, you had no reason to doubt the claims. Is your database disappointing? Now that you have implemented it and see the monthly costs, are you sure that the investment is the best use to drive sales? Unfortunately, a CRM does not solve the internal challenges around resource constraints, skillset, and building a customer database if you do not know who your customers are. Many organisations see a CRM as a means to overcome resource constraints. Surely this latest generation tool will save person-hours, thus freeing up resources. Yes, it will, but only after you invest many marketing and sales hours into making it work. Unfortunately, this bus does not drive itself. Thus, resources must be dedicated to running the database to reap its benefits. Modern database solutions have exceptional power but are only as good as the customer data entered by sales and marketing and the time required to make the best use of that data. Once the information is available, it requires the right marketing programs to resonate with customers and the sales follow-up to close deals. If I asked 5 people to produce a spreadsheet of results with the same data, I would get 5 very different looking sheets with varying degrees of expertise in the spreadsheet. Any new software application needs experts. Thus, it is important to have skilled resources to take advantage of the CRM and have the right skill set, education, and execution. A business that sells direct knows its customers. Still, if you sell through a retailer, channel partner, or distributor, chances are you don’t know who your customers are. Your channel partners own the customer data and are reluctant to give up that information. Thus, to build out a database, you need to find other ways to find your customers.
Is your CRM database disappointing? If you don’t have the resource, the skills or the customer list, a new solution has been developed by the Australian company Tonic called RegisterToday. This low-cost solution solves the businesses problem of finding their customers and building out their first-party database. Customers can be consumers, businesses or trade salespeople. It can then help with the right content to resonate with customers needs and wants to drive the right sales outcomes. The solution also helps deliver the communication to the right customer versus all customers. If you would like to know more, please get in touch with Angus@tonic.com.au
Read Small Business Answers Guide to understand more about CRM’s.
eftpos welcomes the announcement from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this morning stating that the Morrison Government is committed to lowering costs for small businesses through the implementation of default least-cost routing in the debit transactions card market.
The Government wants the RBA to mandate “least cost” routing for tap-and-go debit transactions. So business merchants can avoid typically higher fees charged by international schemes and default to the usually cheaper domestic eftpos system.
eftpos CEO Stephen Benton said the Treasurer and the Federal Government should be commended for this decision which demonstrates a strong commitment to competition and lower debit transaction costs for struggling small businesses which are doing it tough during the COVID pandemic.
“Mandating least-cost routing as a default for merchants on mobiles and online as well as for the physical use of cards will be a major boost for local small businesses, jobs and communities as well as a key driver of the digital economy,” Mr Benton said.
“It is essential that we guarantee our nation’s businesses access to competition and low-cost payments in a new, post-COVID world dominated by debit cards, mobile apps and eCommerce.
“The gradual adoption of Least Cost Routing at physical stores has already resulted in merchant fees on debit card transactions being reduced by hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
“However, as we move boldly into the new digital economy, this type of debit card competition is not currently available on platforms like mobile and eCommerce.
“The urgency of effective regulation in this area in a post-COVID economy is amplified by just how fast Australians have shifted to online and digital transactions in recent months.”
