It’s a typical working day for business owners all over the world – catching up via video from your home-office computer, updating spreadsheets on your laptop, checking presentations on your tablet, and replying to emails on your smartphone. And whilst the many benefits of having such accessible technology are obvious, it is important to remember that every computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone is at risk of a cyber attack at any given time.
Now multiply this risk by the number of employees you have who are each logging on and accessing customer data and exchanging sensitive business information, and it’s clear why cyber security needs to be a top priority for every organisation. Because just one wrong click could lead to a virus or cyber attack that could have a devastating effect on your business.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to enhance your cyber security and protect your business. Read on as the IT experts at incovo share their top tips and tricks…
1. Educate your team: If your business involves any kind of online technology, cyber security should form part of every new recruit’s induction. Remember, cyber threats are constantly evolving, so never assume employees are up to date with the latest best practices – instead make it your priority to train them up and provide regular refresher sessions to remind them of the importance of online safety.
2. Update your software and hardware: Make sure you update to the latest version of any software. Not only will this update features and fix bugs, it will also help to protect you against cyber threats. If your hardware is too old to support the latest update, it’s time for an upgrade.
3. Implement mature cyber security solutions: Having the correct cyber solutions in place is essential in this modern threat landscape. It will minimise your risk of an attack, protect your devices, help to prevent data from being stolen, encrypted or deleted, and it is also a necessity for cyber insurance.
4. Never open a suspicious email: Even if it looks like a legitimate email from a well-known brand, it always pays to look a little closer. Check the sender address, then check the content itself – poor spelling and grammar are often a giveaway. Finally, if the email asks you to open an attachment or link, don’t!
5. Use a password manager: It’s hard work remembering a different password for every online account, so use a password manager to securely store and manage your passwords.
6. Enable two-factor authentication: For an extra layer of protection, opt for two-factor authentication via Authenticator apps as standard practice to verify access.
7. Check if the website is secure: When spending time on any website, click the padlock icon in the address bar to check if the SSL certificate is valid. This is especially important if you are submitting any data or completing an online transaction.
8. Back up important data: Make a habit of regularly backing up your data to ensure all is not lost should the worst happen and you fall victim to a cyber attack. Backing up to the cloud is the safest and most resilient way to do this.
Why choose incovo?
Here at incovo, we make it our business to ensure your organisation stays one step ahead of ever-more sophisticated cyber threats.
As a Sophos Managed Security Services Provider with Silver Sophos Partner status, we take a professional approach to all we do. Our IT team consists of six highly qualified IT technicians, three of which are fully certified Sophos Consultants, and each one has valuable experience in monitoring devices and systems, responding to threats, and averting crises.
We offer a full range of managed cyber security services and our proactive support will ensure your infrastructure is always up to date. We provide comprehensive cyber awareness training and can tailor sessions to suit your organisation.
And now, thanks to our new communication platform of choice, Syncro, there’s an even easier way to keep in touch with the incovo IT team.
Discover more
For more cyber security advice tailored specifically to your organisation, call 0345 450 8400 or email presales@incovo.com to arrange a chat with one of our IT experts.
Amidst the IT outage chaos, you can rely on incovo
On Friday 19th July, much of the world awoke to chaos. More than 3,300 flights were cancelled and countless others were delayed, many TV channels including Sky News and MTV were off air for hours, GP surgeries were unable to provide appointments, trains were cancelled, shops were unable to accept payment, the list goes on… As a result, Tesla and X boss Elon Musk described it as the “biggest IT fail ever”. So what happened and why should it act as a wake-up call to businesses everywhere? Read on as the IT experts at incovo offer their perspective…
A bug in the system
Cyber-security firm Crowdstrike claimed full responsibility for Friday’s IT outage and explained it was caused by an update to its Falcon antivirus software, which is designed to protect Microsoft Windows devices from malicious attacks. Crowdstrike CEO, George Kurtz released a statement to reassure all those affected that “The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed” and he was keen to stress that the issue was not caused by a security incident or a cyber attack.
Fixing the problem
Reassuringly, Crowdstrike was quick to react and was able to issue an effective fix for the problem. However, the problem for businesses everywhere is that this fix could take some time to take effect as it will have to be applied separately to each and every device affected. Every machine will require a manual reboot in safe mode. It is also important to note that there is likely to be a lingering knock-on effect from this IT outage, with delays to payroll expected by many businesses, for example.
A much-needed wake-up call for businesses
Given the sheer scale of the disruption caused by this IT outage, it goes to show just how vulnerable every online business and organisation can be. With that in mind, the IT experts at incovo believe it should act as an important wake-up call for three key reasons:
1. Connectivity matters: The IT outage served as an important reminder of just how reliant businesses and organisations of every size are on having a safe and dependable internet connection. We at incovo understand the need for reliable, dedicated, fast, high-quality connectivity. Our range of solutions – including full fibre, broadband and assured voice connectivity – can transform your day-to-day business operations for the better.
2. Cyber security has never been more important: Whilst this IT outage was not the result of a cyber attack, it serves as a clear example of the scale of the impact that a cyber attack could have on everyday business operations. Cyber security threats are constantly evolving, with new and ever more complex attacks continually emerging. Organisations of all sizes and across all sectors are vulnerable to ransomware, crypto jacking, data breaches, phishing, malware and brute force attacks if they don’t have sufficient protection. The cyber experts at incovo are committed to remaining one step ahead of the latest threats, going above and beyond to keep your business, your team and your customers safe.
3. Business continuity and disaster recovery is essential: Data loss can happen at any time, and if your business is not prepared, the consequences can be catastrophic. The solution is simple – back up your data with incovo. Store almost unlimited amounts of data across geo-redundant servers, and access it from anywhere at any time. Should the worst happen, you can rest assured your data is protected, enabling your business to bounce back and recover from disaster as quickly as possible.
Is it time to ramp up your protection?
If the IT outage has made you reassess your business’ approach to connectivity, cyber security or disaster recovery, get in touch with the team at incovo and we’ll be happy to discuss your options. Simply call 0345 450 8400 or email support@incovo.com to arrange a chat with one of our IT experts. As the disruptive knock-on effects of the IT outage continue, we’re here to provide you with a first-class level of service that you can rely on.
Protect your business from phishing scams
We’ve all received emails that are so obviously dodgy, you can’t help but laugh. They’re usually from someone claiming to improve your bank balance or your love life, and contain so many glaring typos you wonder how anyone ever falls for them.
But not all phishing scams are so obvious. Cyber criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated, making it harder and harder to decipher which emails are genuine and which are not. Many now appear to come from trusted brands and feature convincing looking branding, logos and links. Others appear to come from personal contacts and colleagues. But the reality is that clicking a link or downloading an attachment in any of these emails could lead to serious consequences for your business.
Paying the consequences
In just one click, you could be unknowingly directed to a phishing website. It may look legitimate, but here you can easily fall victim to revealing private and confidential information such as credit card numbers, bank details or passwords.
According to the latest UK government figures, 38% of micro and small businesses identified a cyber attack in the last 12 months. Of these, 20% resulted in a negative outcome for the business.
These negative outcomes can be devastating to your business:
Avoid the threat
Here are three things to look out for to avoid falling for a phishing scam:
Ramp up your security with Sophos Email from incovo
If you’re serious about protecting your business, Sophos Email from incovo has got you covered. Sophos Email is a cutting-edge synchronised security system that can protect your business’ sensitive data whilst keeping you safe from spam, phishing attacks and malware, including the latest ransomware. The software is fully optimised for Microsoft 365, so you can make the switch and hit the ground running knowing you’re fully protected.
Top features of Sophos Email include:
Enjoy all this protection and more for just £2.70 per mailbox per client. Sophos Email – simplicity, with zero compromise on security.
Get in touch
For more cyber security advice, call 0345 450 8400 or email support@incovo.com to arrange a chat with one of our IT experts.
New IT packages available now
When it comes to IT support, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Every business is different. But whatever your size, sector, needs or goals, incovo is committed to helping your business communicate smarter and interact better. That’s why we have introduced four brand new IT packages – so you can choose whichever level is most appropriate for your business. What’s more, we’re giving you the option to supplement any of these packages with a range of additional bolt-on services to create a completely bespoke package that addresses all of your unique business needs.
Introducing four brand new IT packages
Each of our four new tiers come with the following services included:
1. Pay as you go
This affordable support contract is an ideal choice for small businesses and comes with all the services listed above as standard.
2. Basic
This cost-effective support contract for small businesses covers up to 25 devices. It comes with all the above services, plus Monthly Service Reporting and Annual IT Service Reviews.
3. Standard
This robust support contract for small businesses covers up to 50 devices. In addition to the services listed above, it also provides businesses with Monthly Service Reporting, 10 hours of IT Support per year, plus Quarterly IT Service Reviews.
4. Premium
This gold standard support contract offers exceptional coverage for small businesses. As well as all the services listed above, it also provides your business with Critical Incident Management, 20 hours of IT Support per year and Monthly IT Service Reviews.
Tailor each package to your unique business needs
At incovo, we take the time to get to know your business – your processes, challenges and goals. And we offer a range of bolt-on services for you to pick and choose from, enabling you to completely customise your package.
Bolt-ons include:
IT support, right when you need it
Thanks to our innovative reporting platform, Syncro, you can rest assured that you’ll always get the help you need as soon as possible. This real-time monitoring system means we receive immediate notification alerts any time a support request ticket is submitted so we can proactively respond to your needs by logging it, triaging it, and assigning it to an appropriate member of our team ASAP. It also runs patches and updates automatically, making it a real cost saver for businesses like yours.
Plus there’s more!
Don’t forget, incovo also provides market-leading Cyber / Security Protection, Telephony Services and Network Services – making us your one-stop-shop for all your essential business communication needs.
Not sure what’s right for your business? Simply call 0345 450 8400 or email support@incovo.com to arrange a chat with one of our IT experts.
Is your business ready for the PSTN switch off?
When it comes to technology, it is essential that your business keeps moving with the times in order to remain in the game. And there’s one major technological development on the horizon that could be a real game-changer for your business.
BT Openreach will shut down the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) by December 2025.
Before this date, every phoneline in the UK will need to move to a fully digital network that uses Internet Protocol (IP) across a fibre-based service.
What does this mean for your business?
Any equipment that currently uses the PSTN will stop working. From phonelines to security alarms, door entry systems to CCTV – all could be affected.
What is the solution?
The best way to ensure your business stays one step ahead is to move to the latest IP technology. That’s where incovo can help.
We offer a range of fibre and cloud telephony solutions, capable of meeting all the demands of 21st century communications. We can also ensure that the switchover is completely seamless, so your business can carry on operating as usual with zero disruption.
Our top tech recommendation
Want to know what’s best for your business? The technology experts at incovo recommend switching to 1Gb Fibre. This will give your business:
👉 Faster speeds to meet cloud demands
👉 Considerable monetary savings
👉 More resilient options
Plus, the engineers at incovo can install, manage and maintain all the hardware that accompanies your new fibre circuit.
Be Sophos secure to be sure
Sophos MDR Complete is a fully managed 24/7 security service delivered by experts. It has been specially developed to provide a high level of protection against cyber attacks, covering your computers, services, networks, cloud workloads, email accounts and more.
It is a flexible and customizable service with different tiers and threat response options available – you can choose to let the Sophos MDR operations team execute full scale incident response, work with you to manage cyberthreats, or notify your internal security operations team any time threats are detected.
Included in the Sophos MDR Complete service is a Breach Protection Warranty which covers up to $1million in response expenses for organisations. The warranty covers endpoints, both Windows and Mac devices, as well as servers.
Data is most secure in the cloud
incovo has proudly partnered with Microsoft to provide businesses with Microsoft Azure Cloud storage. These powerful cloud services utilise Microsoft’s highly secure Data Centres and enable organisations to securely store and access files with ease.
Ensure your business stays one step ahead with Microsoft Azure – a cloud computing platform and online portal that enables you to access, manage and monitor cloud services and resources provided by Microsoft in one unified hub.
Discover more
If you’d like to find about how the PSTN switch off could affect your business, speak to the technical team at incovo and we’ll guide you through all your available options.
Simply call 0345 450 8400 or email support@incovo.com.
Ramp up your cyber security with new Sophos MDR service
Each new year brings fresh possibilities and opportunities for business to thrive and prosper. It is, however, an unfortunate truth, that cyber criminals continue to look for new ways to target businesses, hack data, and extort money. Thankfully, the experts at Sophos, one of the leading names in cyber security, have launched their new Managed Detection and Response service, Sophos MDR Complete, which offers businesses the comprehensive protection they need. Read on to discover what it is and what a difference it could make to your business.
The biggest threats to your business in 2023
Sophos recently released its 2023 Threat Report, the findings from which showed ransomware continues to pose one of the greatest cyber threats to businesses.
Joe Levy, chief technology and product officer at Sophos explains; “Organizations are struggling to keep pace with well-funded adversaries who are continuously innovating and industrializing their ability to evade defensive technologies alone.”
Thankfully, however, Sophos is committed to staying one step ahead and has developed what has been described as an industry first – Sophos MDR Complete, which Levy says can discover and intercept threats “Before they result in a data breach, ransomware or other type of costly compromise.”
What is Sophos MDR Complete?
Sophos MDR Complete is a fully managed 24/7 security service delivered by experts. It has been specially developed to provide a high level of protection against cyber attacks, covering your computers, services, networks, cloud workloads, email accounts and more.
It is a flexible and customizable service with different tiers and threat response options available – you can choose to let the Sophos MDR operations team execute full scale incident response, work with you to manage cyberthreats, or notify your internal security operations team any time threats are detected.
Extra peace of mind with Breach Protection Warranty included as standard
Included in the Sophos MDR Complete service is a Breach Protection Warranty which covers up to $1million in response expenses for organisations. The warranty covers endpoints, both Windows and Mac devices, as well as servers.
Discover more
More than 13,000 organisations already rely on Sophos for 24/7 threat hunting, detection and response by an expert team as a fully-managed service. If you would like to find out more, call incovo on 0345 450 8400 or email presales@incovo.com to arrange a chat with one of our IT experts.
Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Overview from Sophos on Vimeo.
5 ways a cyber security breach could damage your business
A cyber security breach can have devastating consequences for any business, no matter the size or sector. The negative effects of data theft, for example, can be far-reaching and long-lasting. Here, the IT experts at incovo discuss the top five ways a cyber security breach could damage your business and reveal how we can help protect your business, data, customers, profits and reputation.
Businesses can spend years building a customer base, forming a reliable reputation and earning the trust of their clientele. Yet all that can be gone in just a matter of minutes. Failure to protect customers’ personal data from cyber criminals can result in a significant loss of trust in the brand. And when consumers lose trust, they move their custom elsewhere, resulting in a direct impact on the business’ bottom line.
The financial resources needed to rectify the damage resulting from a cyber breach can be significant. The knock-on effects, in terms of things such as increased insurance premiums, can also be costly.
Cyber breaches can take considerable time and effort to rectify, during which time the day-to-day operations of the business can be severely disrupted. This can cause a great deal of frustration for all concerned – employees and customers alike.
Failure to comply with data protection legislation can result in a hefty financial penalty. In May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect in the EU. As a result of this legislation, fines for data violations can reach up to €20million or 4% of a firm’s global annual revenue (whichever is larger), per violation. In 2020, European data agencies issued a total of €159million in fines for violations of GDPR, the highest single penalty being that imposed by French authorities to Google who were ordered to pay €55million.
Intellectual property, trade secrets, copyrighted material and sensitive data need to be protected at all times. A cyber security breach can result in data being accessed by hackers and sold for considerable sums of money on the Dark Web.
Protect your business
Here at incovo, our highly skilled IT team have extensive experience in protecting businesses monitoring devices and systems, responding to threats, and averting crises. Businesses from across Scotland and the UK rely on incovo because:
Proud to be a fully accredited Sophos Partner status
incovo is a fully accredited Sophos partner, enjoying exclusive Silver status. We therefore have full access to their range of managed Threat Response (MTR) services.
MTR is a 24/7 service which continually searches for online threats. If and when they are detected, a team of cyber security experts can respond to them immediately – containing and neutralising them to prevent damage to your business.
Sophos provides some of the best MTR services available on the market. In fact, MTR from Sophos was crowned the winner of the ‘Best Managed Security Services Offering’ award at the Channel Partner Insights Innovation Awards 2020.
Discover more
For more cyber security advice, call 0345 450 8400 or email presales@incovo.com to arrange a chat with one of our IT experts. We can carry out a full cyber audit of your organisation, highlight any potential areas of weakness, make recommendations to ensure you’re fully protected, and deliver cutting edge solutions to protect your business.
We’re upping our game to bring you an even better service
We are fast approaching the end of 2022, so we wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been a milestone year for incovo – our 20th year in business! We also wanted to keep you up to date with the continual improvements we have been making to incovo – to our team, our services, and our operations. We are confident that these positive changes will stand us in the best position to continue to offer you the most innovative solutions and support in 2023 and beyond.
A successful acquisition
Back in April 2022, we announced the acquisition of Edinburgh-based IT services provider, RGB Solutions. Six months on and the merger is now complete. The RGB Solutions team members have successfully integrated into the incovo team, bolstering our numbers and our capabilities by working as one to respond to your business needs. All RGB Solutions clients are now being supported by this expanded incovo team, who are committed to helping you communicate smarter and interact better.
A people-first approach
We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Purpose HR which is now managing incovo’s Human Resources department. We saw a natural synergy between incovo and Purpose HR – the latter being a values-driven organisation, with trust, empathy and equality at the heart of everything they do.
We are excited to work with the Purpose HR team to continue to develop incovo’s inclusive, diverse and purpose-driven workplace and culture.
Introducing our new reporting platform
All support requests are now logged on Syncro, our innovative new reporting platform. This ensures each task is triaged and assigned to the appropriate member of the team so you can get the help you need as soon as possible.
Adopting Syncro has helped to significantly streamline our processes to help give you the best customer experience. The real-time system monitoring means we receive immediate notification alerts any time a support request ticket is submitted, so we can proactively respond to your needs.
Our team continues to grow
In response to the increased demand for our services, we are actively recruiting for new faces to join our team and support our growth.
Continuing to do what we do best
For two decades we have worked hard to build a reputation for our services. Our highly qualified team bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience and we are proud of our position as one of the most trusted Managed Security Service Providers, IT, telecoms and print solutions providers in Scotland.
Whether you need support or consultancy, we can help your organisation by delivering transformative solutions – from cyber security, IT and connectivity, to cloud telecommunications and managed print.
If you would like to discuss any of these options, you can email us at presales@incovo.com or call 0345 450 8400.
Cyber security: Top tips and tricks
It’s a typical working day for business owners all over the world – catching up via video from your home-office computer, updating spreadsheets on your laptop, checking presentations on your tablet, and replying to emails on your smartphone. And whilst the many benefits of having such accessible technology are obvious, it is important to remember that every computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone is at risk of a cyber attack at any given time.
Now multiply this risk by the number of employees you have who are each logging on and accessing customer data and exchanging sensitive business information, and it’s clear why cyber security needs to be a top priority for every organisation. Because just one wrong click could lead to a virus or cyber attack that could have a devastating effect on your business.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to enhance your cyber security and protect your business. Read on as the IT experts at incovo share their top tips and tricks…
1. Educate your team: If your business involves any kind of online technology, cyber security should form part of every new recruit’s induction. Remember, cyber threats are constantly evolving, so never assume employees are up to date with the latest best practices – instead make it your priority to train them up and provide regular refresher sessions to remind them of the importance of online safety.
2. Update your software and hardware: Make sure you update to the latest version of any software. Not only will this update features and fix bugs, it will also help to protect you against cyber threats. If your hardware is too old to support the latest update, it’s time for an upgrade.
3. Implement mature cyber security solutions: Having the correct cyber solutions in place is essential in this modern threat landscape. It will minimise your risk of an attack, protect your devices, help to prevent data from being stolen, encrypted or deleted, and it is also a necessity for cyber insurance.
4. Never open a suspicious email: Even if it looks like a legitimate email from a well-known brand, it always pays to look a little closer. Check the sender address, then check the content itself – poor spelling and grammar are often a giveaway. Finally, if the email asks you to open an attachment or link, don’t!
5. Use a password manager: It’s hard work remembering a different password for every online account, so use a password manager to securely store and manage your passwords.
6. Enable two-factor authentication: For an extra layer of protection, opt for two-factor authentication via Authenticator apps as standard practice to verify access.
7. Check if the website is secure: When spending time on any website, click the padlock icon in the address bar to check if the SSL certificate is valid. This is especially important if you are submitting any data or completing an online transaction.
8. Back up important data: Make a habit of regularly backing up your data to ensure all is not lost should the worst happen and you fall victim to a cyber attack. Backing up to the cloud is the safest and most resilient way to do this.
Why choose incovo?
Here at incovo, we make it our business to ensure your organisation stays one step ahead of ever-more sophisticated cyber threats.
As a Sophos Managed Security Services Provider with Silver Sophos Partner status, we take a professional approach to all we do. Our IT team consists of six highly qualified IT technicians, three of which are fully certified Sophos Consultants, and each one has valuable experience in monitoring devices and systems, responding to threats, and averting crises.
We offer a full range of managed cyber security services and our proactive support will ensure your infrastructure is always up to date. We provide comprehensive cyber awareness training and can tailor sessions to suit your organisation.
And now, thanks to our new communication platform of choice, Syncro, there’s an even easier way to keep in touch with the incovo IT team.
Discover more
For more cyber security advice tailored specifically to your organisation, call 0345 450 8400 or email presales@incovo.com to arrange a chat with one of our IT experts.
Why it pays to outsource your IT support to incovo
A recent study by YouGov showed 70% of UK businesses outsource to third parties. Interestingly, according to these findings, the most common area for UK businesses to outsource is IT support, with more than a third of British businesses (34%) choosing to hand over this responsibility. Here at incovo, we predict these figures will continue to rise in the coming months.
Having endured a global pandemic, and now with an energy crisis and cost of living crisis on the horizon, many businesses are keeping a closer eye than ever on their bottom line. The monetary savings to be made from outsourcing IT support are undeniable, therefore making it a greatly appealing prospect for many businesses. But the benefits of outsourcing your IT support extend far beyond financial savings. Read on as the IT experts at incovo reveal all…
Topping many business’ priority lists right now is the need to save money. Opting to outsource an IT department rather than hire an in-house IT manager or team can save you a significant amount, considering how much you would typically spend on advertising the positions, hiring and training the staff members. Add to that the ongoing expenditure covering their salary, bonuses, holiday, and sickness pay, plus overheads such as office space. Now compare that figure to affordable monthly fee you would pay incovo and it makes complete financial sense to opt for the latter.
With incovo, you essentially have a ‘plug and play’ team of IT professionals on-hand, ready to assist your business from day one. No need to wait around until the right IT manager has been interviewed, hired, and trained up – just give us a call and we can get started right away.
By outsourcing your IT support to incovo, there is no need to supervise an in-house IT team. Instead, you can put that time to better use and focus on the things you do best – whether that be coming up with new business development ideas, improving your service, or finding more efficient ways to operate. In business, time is money – so use yours wisely.
As demand for your service grows or as your customer needs change, your outsourced IT support from incovo can respond accordingly. We can give you the flexibility to scale up your support if and when required as your business grows and evolves.
The IT experts at incovo are highly qualified and undergo continual training to ensure they remain at the top of their game. We make it our priority to stay ahead of the latest technological developments, so you can be confident that your equipment and software are kept up to date and your network security and data management are never compromised. Our team have years of IT industry knowledge to ensure you remain compliant with all necessary laws and regulations such as GDPR.
A typical in-house IT team will work Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm – with time off for holidays as well as unpredictable sick days. However, we all know that an IT problem can occur at any time. A data breach or a cyber-attack – there’s no convenient time for them to happen! But if the worst should happen, rest assured that incovo’s IT team can offer immediate 24/7 help and support.
Discover what a different outsourcing your IT support could make to your business
Our team of experienced and professionally accredited IT experts are passionate about helping businesses like yours succeed by lightening the load and taking full responsibility for all your IT needs, so you don’t have to.
For 20 years, incovo has been transforming the way businesses communicate. As technology continues to evolve, we remain at the forefront of innovation. Partnering with some of the world’s most widely recognised names in IT services, incovo holds exclusive accreditation with the likes of Sophos and Microsoft.
To find out more about the many benefits of outsourcing your IT support to incovo and what a different it could make to your business, call 0345 450 8400 or email enquiries@incovo.com.
Make your business more disability inclusive with Microsoft Teams
Awareness of the need for businesses to become more disability inclusive has grown in recent times, but many companies still have a long way to go. Far too many people with disabilities are being held back from reaching their full potential.
The team at incovo are passionate about diversity in the workplace – in fact our CEO Chris Thomas finalised for the ‘Diversity Hero of the Year Award‘ last year – and we are proud to provide the technology and support to help businesses achieve it.
Here, our IT experts discuss the latest advances in accessibility technology from Microsoft Teams – each one an important step towards bridging the disability divide.
First, ask yourself – is my content accessible?
Microsoft Teams is a great way to share content – through meetings, calls, and messages. But before sharing any content, it’s a good idea to use the Accessibility Checker, available in most Microsoft Office apps such as PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. This useful tool reviews your content and flags up any potential accessibility issues. Crucially, it explains why each issue might pose a problem for someone with a disability and gives clear suggestions as to how you can resolve the issue.
Helping those with visual impairments
For the visually impaired, switching to the high contrast mode can make a real difference, helping you to see text and images on your screen more clearly, and helping to prevent eye strain.
For anyone using Microsoft Teams to connect with someone who is visually impaired, it can be helpful to change to a blurred background. This helps to reduce visual distractions, making it easier for the visually impaired person to focus on the person speaking.
Finally, add alt text to visuals in chat messages. Briefly describe the image and a screen reader, supported by Microsoft Teams, will then read the text to the user.
Helping the deaf and hearing impaired
For the deaf and hearing impaired, turning on live captions can enable you to read exactly what people are saying, so you can join the conversation without missing vital information.
If you’re using a sign language interpreter in your Microsoft Teams meetings, you can ‘pin’
their video on your screen so they are always visible, regardless of who is talking. The meeting organiser can also ‘spotlight’ this video which pins it for everyone in the meeting.
Remember, people who read lips need to see the speaker’s lips clearly, so make sure everyone due to speak has adequate lighting.
For anyone speaking during a Microsoft Teams meeting, be aware that background noise can be very distracting. In Microsoft Teams for Windows desktop, you can choose from three levels of noise suppression to help everyone focus on what’s being said.
Finally, it is possible to capture the text version of a Microsoft Teams call and save this transcript to read through later.
Helping those with cognitive disabilities
Recording your Microsoft Teams meeting, watching it back, and pausing when needed can be a great way of enabling you to take things at your own pace.
Microsoft Teams chat and messages can be made easier to read and understand by using the built-in heading styles and lists, as well as emojis.
Speak to incovo about making your business more disability inclusive
incovo can provide comprehensive Microsoft Teams training to your whole team to ensure everyone is fully utilising its innovative features. Many of these features can make all the difference to disabled people – enabling them to connect, contribute and thrive. Just call 0345 450 8400 or email enquiries@incovo.com to make it happen.