Our software recommendations for SMEs

What goes into our software recommendations for SMEs?

With over 25 years’ experience to our name, we’re known for helping businesses in and around Leicestershire find the right IT solutions for them. Whether it’s more secure ways of working, application licences that grow with your team or remote and hybrid software that gives employees greater flexibility, here are our software recommendations for SMEs – and why we trust them.

Microsoft Business 365

Think of this as a cloud-based subscription to all the apps you’re used to using – like Outlook for email, Teams for collaborating and apps like Word and PowerPoint. One of our top software recommendations for SMEs, it’s the leading alternative to competitor business suites, like Google Workspace and Apple’s iWork. Here’s more about it:

• There are three tiers to choose from, with Premium having the most features and benefits. 
• Premium also comes with the most robust security measures, including protection against viruses and phishing; the ability to classify information; and enterprise-grade endpoint protection.
• You’ll have 1 TB of storage per user, whichever subscription you choose. 
• On the Premium tier, you’ll get access to all of the applications we’re recommending below in this article.

Intune

Keeping tabs on your employees’ equipment can be costly and time-consuming. And what happens if a device is lost or stolen? These are just some of the problems that Intune aims to solve by remotely managing access to company devices, be they smartphones, laptops or tablets. 

As software recommendations for SMEs go, endpoint management can be one of the most useful. With Intune, you’ll be able to view and control all your devices in one place, and manage  updates and patches; access and security; and apps and features. Some examples of what you can do with Intune include wiping data remotely or locking a device; troubleshooting app settings or connectivity issues; and controlling file saving, sharing and access.

Defender for Business

Imagine if your cyber security solution could be both proactive, and reactive. That’s exactly what’s on offer with Defender, a software recommendation for SMEs that’s all about your online safety. 

Defender guards against the three main types of threat: vulnerabilities, phishing attempts and malware – malicious software which itself covers ransomware, viruses, spyware, worms and adware. It also acts across the board as prevention, maintenance and mitigation. So, not only can it proactively patch systems and applications, but it can spot threats and stop them in their tracks, and investigate and remediate anything that does slip through the net. 

Of course, there’s a lot more to cyber security than leaving Defender running in the background. Discover more about our cyber services and how they can help.

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)

These days, employees demand more flexibility than ever. They may stay at home, use a local co-working space, or flex between hybrid and remote workplaces. This means that your software and applications need to meet your workforce where they are. 

Enter a key software recommendation for SMEs: AVD. It’s a cloud-based service that allows you to run standard and line-of-business applications within a virtual desktop, without the need to directly install them – even when they’re from different operating systems (such as Linux or Windows). In other words, you’ll have the ability to access your familiar line-of-business applications that aren’t otherwise supported in a cloud environment, such as Sage 200. Best of all, your employees can log on from almost any location (providing they have good internet access), and from any device (whether that’s a Windows PC, Mac or Linux tablet) and collaborate in real-time. We’ve covered AVD in more detail in this blog article.

Talk to us today

From a handful of employees to a few hundred, our software recommendations for SMEs can scale with your business and be tailored to what you need, when you need it. Get in touch with our Leicester office by calling 03450 099 099, or visit our LinkedIn profile, website blogs or service page for more information about our IT support in Leicestershire.