Macro Systems Blog

Running a small or medium-sized business means juggling countless priorities. You're focused on your customers, team, and bottom line… but what about the technology that powers it all? 

Usually overlooked, your IT infrastructure is far more than just the computers on desks. It's the complex web of network equipment, essential software subscriptions, cloud services, and even the personal smartphones and tablets your employees use for work. Keeping this entire ecosystem running smoothly and securely is a significant challenge for many SMBs.

It is great to have pride and confidence in your organization, especially in the team you’ve assembled… including your in-house technical support team. However, even the most capable IT team may not fully meet a business’ needs.

Listed below: an IT team's responsibilities and what can be done to correct any deficits they may encounter.  

It's common for many people to make up an answer that they feel seems plausible if asked something they don’t have an answer to. It happens all the time.

It turns out that this is a tendency that artificial intelligence has inherited from us.

Smart speakers have been around for a while, but they haven’t exactly changed the world. To be fair, they are good for playing music, setting timers, and answering random trivia questions, but beyond that? Not much has evolved. So, how did we get here, and what’s next? More importantly, can they actually be useful for businesses, or are they just another gadget collecting dust?

If I were to ask you what technology your business possessed and where it all was right now, could you give me an answer? If not, you’ve demonstrated the importance of keeping an accurate inventory of your business’ IT.

Listed below are some best practices to make managing your business’ IT inventory more effective.

No one really can tell the future, but it is both possible and vital to make predictions based on present trends and current events. Let’s look forward to the rest of this year to see what predictions we can make for business IT and the notes we should all take over the next few months.

Net neutrality has long been an embattled topic, with rules changing every few years depending on the opinions of those with influence. Recently, the Federal Communications Commission had its most recent net neutrality policy struck down by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals… in such a way that sets the concept back to square one.

Listed below: why this is a particularly dangerous decision, and very well could put small and medium-sized businesses at a distinct disadvantage moving forward.

For years, the telephone has been one of the most reliable business communications solutions, and that trend will continue into 2025. If you’re still using the phone solutions of the past, however, you’ve got some upgrading to do. Listed below is what you need to know about the best communications investment you can make: Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP.

Do you ever feel at home in your business’ server room? Assuming you have a server room, and it’s more than just a stuffy closet in an isolated part of your office, that is. If you’re not confident that you can provide your servers with the management, maintenance, and monitoring they require, we recommend you work with a managed IT company to ensure you get the most value you can from your server units.

Happy New Year! This time is usually dedicated to making plans and commitments to improve oneself over the coming months in the interest of the future. In the spirit of the holiday, listed below are some resolutions that can help your career or your business’ use of technology.

The Internet is, along with electricity, a completely essential part of doing business. Listed below is a look at the central metric of Internet usage: Bandwidth.

Computer problems can be very irritating, especially when they slow you down while working. Many times, it is something that can be fixed quickly, but then there are issues that an experienced IT professional has to address. Listed below are some of the most common computer problems professionals run into.

Software is critical for running a modern business. It helps with everything from managing schedules and paying employees to making and selling products. Essentially, businesses need software to run smoothly.

A compressed file (also known as a zip file) is a convenient way to accomplish various tasks, although many people may not know what they are or do. Let's fix that; listed below is what a compressed file is and how to make one.

Both the router and modem are vital components of any wireless network, yet many people are unsure about the distinct roles they play in a personal or organizational Internet connection. Listed below is a break down of the function of each device and how they work together to support your network.

One of the many tasks undertaken by the United Nations is to protect human rights around the globe while also working to develop more sustainable and climate-friendly development. As such, the UN has recently taken an interest in the development of artificial intelligence, hoping to create guidelines that allow us to get the most value out of AI without creating more significant problems.

AI has become a significant tool all throughout our modern economy. Businesses are utilizing technology with built-in AI because it enhances operational efficiency. Listed below are some of the benefits small businesses can take advantage of with AI.

Telephone systems are a critical part of any business. Voice over IP, or VoIP, takes telephone systems one step further by making the service more accessible, flexible, and affordable for SMBs. Listed below are some of the benefits you can expect from using a VoIP system.

Digital storage has erupted, in no uncertain terms, over the last few decades. While hard disk drives (HDDs) were the predominant storage format for most of that time, today’s faster and hardier solid-state drives (or SSDs) are becoming more affordable and popular.

That being said, there are still plenty of HDDs out there, all far more prone to breaking than their more advanced counterparts. So, how can you tell when a hard drive failure is pending?

We have frequently espoused the benefits of data backups, referring to how imperative they are should your business experience a disaster at any scale. That being said, there is always the concern that your backups could also be altered negatively. This is one reason that immutable backups exist.

Let’s take a few moments to examine the concept of an immutable backup and its benefits.