News

IT News and Updates from Hightrees

Can VoIP help with getting a better work-life balance?

Can VoIP help with getting a better work-life balance? 150 150 Small Business IT Solutions

Getting a good work-life balance is important, especially if you run your own small business.

Finding the right tech tools which allow you to operate your business with as much flexibility as possible, yet don’t control you is half the battle.  It is important to be connected to your customers, but it is also important to know when to not be available. read more

How to get a work-life balance as a small business owner.

Why is work-life balance important if you run a small business?

Why is work-life balance important if you run a small business? 1366 768 Small Business IT Solutions

Owning a small business is a big undertaking that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. It can be very rewarding, but it is important to get the work-life balance right so that the business is manageable and you have the time to enjoy your life outside work.
read more

Google Analytics - Time to upgrade to GA4

Upgrading to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) on your website

Upgrading to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) on your website 1366 768 Small Business IT Solutions

Google Analytics 4 (also known as GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics and is replacing Universal Analytics in July 2023.
If you have logged into your Google Analytics account you will have noticed the ‘nag’ banner if you haven’t already upgraded to GA4. read more

What is Website Consent Management image

Consent Management – its not as complex as it sounds.

Consent Management – its not as complex as it sounds. 940 788 Small Business IT Solutions

Why your website needs Consent Management.

Your website should allow your users to control the type of data being transferred to third parties.
Third-party sites are the likes of Google, Twitter, Facebook and other services, i.e advertising, that are used on your website.
Consent management allows the website visitor to opt-in or opt-out of the services you use on your website. read more

Free Cloud VoIP Trial Account

Get your free Cloud VoIP Phone system now

Get your free Cloud VoIP Phone system now 940 788 Small Business IT Solutions

Fancy a no-cost, no-risk trial to try out our Cloud VoIP system?

Here’s what you can expect when you sign up for our free 14 day VoIP trial.

Not signed up? Head over to our VoIP Portal to get your free VoIP trial account.

What does my business get in the VoIP Trial?

Once you’ve confirmed your account details, your free VoIP trial account will be ready to use – no payment details required.

  • You get a free phone number (for the duration of the trial) which can be used with our VoIP apps or linked with a SIP user from your dashboard for use with a VoIP desk phone.
  • You get three SIP users, each with their own extension, for internal calling. Each user can be assigned to a separate device and all three users can be linked to your free VoIP phone number for incoming calls by creating a new call route.
  • A call route will already be setup to get you started, as well as the first SIP user in your account. When someone calls your trial account’s number, this call route will direct the call to the device linked to your first SIP user. If there’s no answer, it will be sent through to your voicemail mailbox (also configurable within your account). This call route can be edited to fit your call handling preferences and can be as complex or as simple as you like.
  • You can create as many call routes as you like and assign them to your three users either singly or by combining your users into a hunt group, i.e a group of users that can be treated as a “single object” from within your dashboard.

What you can’t do with the VoIP Free Trial

During your trial, you’ll notice some of the VoIP features such as integrations, cloud storage and unlimited call recording are not available.

  • You won’t be able to add any more users to your trial account or any new phone numbers without upgrading to a full plan.
  • The other restriction is the number of minutes for outbound calls you’ll be able to make. You’re limited to five minutes per day of outbound calling on a trial account (this restriction obviously doesn’t exisit on our normal VoIP plans!)

We’d recommend spending time with your free trial to explore the Cloud VoIP platform. You may be surprised as to how powerful a phone system you’ll be able to create for your business with a small configuration.

If at any time you need help with your trial of the Cloud VoIP System, or would like a particular feature or section of the platform explained to you in detail, please get in touch.

 

Microsoft NCE - What is it

What you need to know about Microsoft NCE

What you need to know about Microsoft NCE 1366 768 Small Business IT Solutions

What is NCE ?

The New Commerce Experience (NCE) is the latest pricing model for Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Windows 365, and Power Platform subscriptions.

read more
BT Telecoms Switch Off

What is the 2025 Switch Off?

What is the 2025 Switch Off? 1366 768 Small Business IT Solutions

BT Openreach is stopping, or “switching off” the PSTN and ISDN service in December 2025.

This doesn’t just mean they won’t sell these services anymore. BT Openreach will stop selling ISDN at what’s known as the Stop Sell date at the end of 2023.

Calls will be routed over broadband using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, rather than using “traditional” phone lines.

BT Openreach has already started switching its customers. This began in December 2020 and will continue at various trial sites across the country.

By 2026, then, every UK phone line will be digital.

read more
Time for a break

Back after the break

Back after the break 940 788 Small Business IT Solutions

Hightrees is taking a week off 9th-16th August as after checking the calendar we’ve not taken a break since January 2020!

The signal/data is a bit iffy and there may be some very loud bands and a modicum of alcohol but we’ll be contactable-ish. if needed.

The Role of Human Cyber Risk

The Role of Human Cyber Risk 150 150 Small Business IT Solutions
Human Risk Report Example

How long would it take an attacker to breach your business?

This is how your data can potentionally expose your small business – its not rocket science, but sometimes covering the basics is often overlooked.

You or your users’ credentials are exposed on the Dark Web

Millions of stolen data records, including usernames and passwords, are added and sold on the Dark Web every year. 63% of businesses reported the loss of sensitive data in 2019.

Compromised credentials are used for phishing & social engineering

Users often re-use the same password for multiple accounts, making it easy for attackers to conduct business email compromise (BEC). 88% of companies faced targeted phishing attacks in 2020.

Human error is exploited and your business is breached

Criminals prey on unwitting users and human error, such as downloading malicious attachments, as a gateway to corporate data. 95% of successful data breaches come from human error.

Did you know you can calculate your human cyber risk and help boost your resilience ?

Get your free report to learn:
» Your users’ overall human risk score
» Their resilience to social engineering
» Your company’s ‘time-to-breach’
» How to tackle your human risk areas

Reclaim your personal time + phone number !

Reclaim your personal time + phone number ! 150 150 Small Business IT Solutions

Many small businesses start by giving their home or mobile numbers out to their customers. Keeping the costs down initially helps and new business so using a phone number you already have makes sense.

Your number is put on business cards, social media and websites – you need people to be able to contact you. 

Roll forward a few months……

  • The phone rings when you are on holiday
  • Calls come in outside your normal working hours
  • You already on a personal call and another one comes in
  • Taking a trip overseas – mobiles costs can be expensive

Can you afford NOT to answer your mobile, it may be a new client or a long-standing customer?

Do you give up your personal time to answer a call on the offchance ?

Reclaim control of your phone and your time

Control your phone, not the other way around

Our VoIP telephone system allows you to easily get a phone number for your business in 5 easy steps

  • Choose your a telephone number – keep it local or go national
  • How many users do you need (i.e who needs to be able to make/receive calls)
  • Choose a PAYG Tariff or get unlimited calls per month for each user.
  • Setup what happens when someone rings you & when you are available
  • Install the free VoIP app on your mobile or desktop

That’s it ! 

When someone calls your new telephone number, your app will ring – you know it is a business call and you can choose how to deal with it.

Clease check out all of our VoIP system features or contact us about our VoIP telephone system.

If your mind is already made up – head over to our VoIP Portal to get started.