IT Relief

What I do

I'm a generalist on purpose. Small offices don't need a specialist for each piece. They need one person who understands how the pieces connect and can be reached when something stops working.

Email and accounts

Email has been my most constant job for over twenty years.

  • Microsoft 365, Exchange, Google Workspace and Gmail
  • Mailbox setup, migrations and moves between providers
  • Outlook profiles, sync repair, shared mailboxes and delegation
  • Domain and DNS records that make mail arrive

Computers, Macs and printers

  • Windows PCs and Macs: setup, upgrades and replacement
  • Moving people to a new machine without losing anything
  • Network printers, scanners and scan-to-folder workflows
  • The small daily annoyances that slow people down

Networks and Wi-Fi

  • Routers, firewalls and office Wi-Fi
  • Office moves and new internet service
  • Working with internet providers and building management
  • Remote access for staff and outside vendors

Backup

  • Layered backups: local images plus off-site cloud copies
  • Monitoring so a failed backup is noticed
  • Test restores, because an untested backup is a hope

Security and scams

  • Malware cleanup and recovery after a scam call or phishing email
  • Password manager rollouts for offices and their staff
  • Two-factor sign-in on the accounts that matter
  • Calm advice when something looks suspicious

Phones and tablets

  • iPhone, iPad and Android setup
  • Mail, contacts and calendars that stay in sync
  • Moving to a new phone without losing data

Cloud services and business software

  • Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace setup and licensing
  • Dropbox and shared file storage
  • Multi-user accounting software and line-of-business databases
  • Working with software vendors' own support teams

Servers and remote support

  • Windows Server and file servers, from 2003 to 2022
  • Hyper-V and VMware virtual machines
  • Remote management and monitoring, so many problems are fixed without a visit

How the work has changed

When I started, most of my time went into the equipment in the office: servers, cabling, routers. Over twenty years the work has shifted toward accounts, cloud services, phones and security, and much of it is now done remotely. Servers and networking made up over 40% of my work in the early 2000s and about 20% today. Cloud services went from almost nothing to about 15%. Backup and security have stayed steady throughout, and email has always been the biggest single need.

More of the job today is coordination. I work with corporate IT departments, software vendors, internet providers and building managers so my clients don't have to translate between them.

What I refer out

I don't design or build websites, and I don't take on work I can't fully support afterwards. When a client needs a specialist, I find a good one and stay involved for the technical side: hosting, domains, DNS and certificates.