The Information Technology department is usually the first to get overloaded and stretched thin. This is largely due to the fact that IT departments are also not just responsible for maintaining computers and servers, but also for supporting users by giving them access to software and hardware. Despite their increasing workload, IT professionals still need to find ways to boost their productivity in order keep up with all of the demands on their time. Luckily, there are plenty of tools out there that can help you stay on top of things without destroying your sanity. Read on for 10 of the best IT tools for boosting your productivity as an IT professional.
Dropbox
A cloud-based service for file hosting, sharing, and collaboration, Dropbox has quickly become an essential tool for many IT departments. If you haven’t already implemented a file sharing solution in your company, or you need to reach users who don’t have accounts on your company’s file server, Dropbox is an excellent alternative. It comes with a web interface that works with any computer or mobile device, so you can store and share files with team members who might not otherwise have access to your internal systems. It’s also extremely useful for sharing large files and documents with clients remotely. You can also integrate Dropbox with other services and software, including Google Drive, and many productivity and project management tools.
From
From is a simple email management tool that makes it easy to track email communications and organize your inbox. If you frequently deal with large volumes of email, From can help you more easily organize and manage your communications. From allows you to create email “folders” for individual emails, and then move them out of your inbox into these folders so that you can keep your inbox clean and uncluttered. You can also add notes to emails and set reminders for follow-ups, and create rules that move incoming communications into folders based on who they’re from, their subject line, or the email address at which they’re sent from. From also integrates with other services and software, including Google Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook, so that you can keep everything in your communications neatly organized and in one place.
Google Apps
Google Apps is a cloud-based collaboration and communications suite that many companies, including many IT departments, are starting to use as their primary communication and collaboration tool. It comes with a wide range of functionality, including email, calendar, access to a shared documents library, and much more. If your company is moving to Google Apps, the IT department will be able to use tools like Google Groups and Google Drive to better support your teams while also improving communication and collaboration throughout your organization. Google Apps come with single sign-on functionality, so you can use your existing corporate user accounts, and you don’t have to add any new people to your communications and collaboration systems.
Google Drive
Google Drive is Google’s file hosting service, which you can use for file sharing and collaboration. It comes with a built-in real-time collaboration tool, so you, your team members, and your clients can easily work together on documents, images, and spreadsheets. It’s also simple to set up shared drive folders, so you can easily share documents with clients who don’t have Google accounts. Google Drive can also be integrated with other tools, such as Google Apps and productivity tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Screen-sharing Apps
If you need to give clients remote support, or your team members need regular remote assistance, screen-sharing tools can help. Screen-sharing apps can be used to share remote screen images and screen videos with others, while also allowing you to control another person’s screen remotely. Screen-sharing apps can be useful for troubleshooting computer issues or teaching new software or hardware skills, and they can also help you when you need to provide remote support. Screen-sharing apps can be especially helpful if you often deal with clients in different time zones, or if you work with remote team members who could benefit from regular remote assistance from you or your team. Some screen-sharing apps are browser-based and others are apps that can be downloaded to your computer.
Virtual Networking
Virtual network connections are a type of remote access tool that allow you to connect to another computer or device remotely over a network. Virtual networking tools are very useful for IT departments that regularly need to support clients who don’t have IT staff, or who need to support remote team members. Virtual networking tools often come with a wide range of functionality, including screen-sharing, file transfer, and other remote access tools. They also usually allow you to create multiple login accounts, so you can give different team members different login credentials, while also managing their access. Virtual networking tools also come with security features that can be set up to protect both the computers being accessed remotely and the computer doing the remote access.
Video Conferencing Apps
If you regularly need to hold meetings with clients or team members who are at a distance, or if you’re part of an organization with multiple offices or team members who are distributed across various locations, video conferencing apps are useful tools. You can use these apps to host video meetings, including audio and video calls, webinars, and online trainings. Video conferencing apps allow you to share your screen, mute or unmute yourself, control audio volume, and share your computer’s screen during video calls. They can be used on computers and mobile devices, and they can be integrated with other tools like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook.
Cloud Storage for Backups
Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox are useful for sharing files with your team members, and for collaborating on documents. However, they’re not very useful for backing up your data and protecting it from data loss. If you need to protect your data from data loss, including your data in your cloud storage account won’t do any good. You can use a third-party cloud backup service for backing up your data and protecting it from data loss. Cloud backup services can be used to back up your computer and/or smartphone, and they can be extremely useful for protecting your data from data loss.
Conclusion
The information technology department is the most important department in any business and getting the most out of your team is crucial. These IT tools can help you boost your productivity and expand your capabilities so that you can keep up with all of your various responsibilities.