Month: July 2018

Work from home benefits

Top 5 Benefits of Working From Home

Top 5 Benefits of Working From Home

Published

Written by

Filed under

Work from home benefitsSurveys indicate that businesses offering the flexibility of working from home increases overall productivity in employees and that’s not all! Read the latest VPLS blog for more information.

More and More People Working Remotely

On average, employees can spend between 3-4 hours a day to wake up, bathe, dress for work, and commute to and from work. And that time spent doesn’t include slow traffic jams, car accidents or lane closures. Not the best way to start off the day. For this and many other reasons, the trend of working from home is really picking up popularity with employees AND their employers.

Since 2017, the number of employers offering a work-from-home alternative has grown by 40% in the past 5 years. There are plenty of reasons for switching to a remote workstyle. Let’s dive into our top five reasons on why working from home is the better choice for you and your family:

Spend Less Time in Traffic

Imagine a world without traffic! Impossible, right? That’s ok. The option to ditch the daily commute to and from work is the next best thing. A work-at-home option also saves employees money that would normally go towards gas expenses and regular car maintenance. Avoid sitting in idle traffic or waiting for public transportation.

Switching is Easy

The ability to stay connected to important office documents and files has never been easier. Whether you’re connecting from home or through the WiFi at your local coffee shop, cloud storage with Microsoft Office 365 migration services makes storing and opening documents a simple task.

Worrying about saving your documents often or saving over the correct version is now a thing of the past! When users enable Microsoft AutoSave, the file is stored on the cloud and automatically saves as you continue working. Multiple users? No problem! AutoSave will update all current versions to display the most recent edits to all authorized users.

Fewer Sick Days

Going to work when you’re fighting off a persistent cold is a miserable experience. You’re uncomfortable, cold, and probably creeping out your co-workers with each sneeze or a cough. Even if you are feeling well enough to work! Avoid making yourself and others uncomfortable by opting to work from home, surrounded by warmth and familiar comfort. The option to work remotely will strengthen your chances at a quick recovery and reduce the need for unscheduled absences.

Work-Life Balance

laptop computer home office schoolVacation days were created to help employees avoid feeling burnt out from work. We all need time to take care of our minds and bodies. Interestingly enough, employees that opt to work from home feel less stressed and are not counting down the days to their next vacation period. Perhaps this is credited to working in an environment that feels familiar and not feeling cooped up in an office all day. Employees are also able to spend more time with their families and recharge their mind and body.

Happy Employees, Happier Boss

There’s no doubt: the ability to work from home improves employee satisfaction and that means businesses spend less time and energy retaining hard-working talent. Home is where most people feel the happiest and where you can truly be yourself. And a happy, refreshed employee means great news for overall productivity levels!

We hope that we have inspired you to ask for a work-at-home option!
If you want to keep up with the latest security trends and other IT related products and services, please visit the VPLS blog and stay current with the latest news!

Don’t forget! VPLS offers VMware Hybrid Cloud services that can seamlessly integrate data, applications, and functions up to the cloud!

Read More from this Author

New Hire Banner 1200x628

Sounds of Summer: Orange County’s Hottest Concerts-in-the-Park for Summer 2018

Sounds of Summer: Orange County’s Hottest Concerts-in-the-Park for Summer 2018

Published

Written by

Filed under

OC’s Local Concerts of Summer 2018

VPLS IT Support Services of Orange County and 2018 Summer Concert in the Park

Music soothes the soul and somehow even helps you forget about triple-digit temperatures, whether it’s listening to country, rock-and-roll, or even K-Pop!

VPLS has composed a guide to help you find upcoming, crowd-pleasing summer concerts that are available within Orange County at a location near you. Cue the music, maestro!

Concerts at Huntington Beach
VPLS Huntington Beach Concerts in the Park for Summer 2018

Huntington Beach Concert Band
Summer Series 2018

A short distance from the oceean at a nearby park, the City of Huntington Beach will host the 2018 Huntington Beach Summer Concert Series, a tradition that will be going on for its 45th year. Every Sunday evening, a different artist or band will perform music for the entire family to enjoy. Each performance hits a different genre, from jazz to vintage, from swing to band performances from local high schools; this concert series has a bit of everything for everyone.

Dates: Last show of the series is Sunday, July 15th.

Time: Shows will begin at 5:00 pm.

Location:
Thomas Ridley Central Park Bandstand
7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.

Price: Free

Concerts at Buena Park
Summer Concerts in the Park for City of Buena Park California 2018

Summer Concert Series of Buena Park
Leave it to the City of Buena Park to liven up the summer! The city is hosting, not one, but two venues for their fun summer concerts. The party kicks off with concerts at Boisseranc Park with a variety of musical acts that will engage even the stiffest friend in your circle.

For the latter half of the summer, the party continues in Downtown Buena Park. Many shops and eateries will keep you occupied while you wait for the music. Performances include tributes to well-known bands such as No Doubt, Beach Boys, and The Beatles. Did we mention that all events are free to attend? Be sure to add these to your weekend itinerary!

Boisseranc Park

Dates: July 18th

Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

1st Location:
Boisseranc Park
7520 Dale Street, Buena Park, CA 90620

Price: Free

Buena Park Downtown

Dates: July 25th – August 29th

Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

2nd Location:
Buena Park Downtown
8308 On The Mall, Buena Park, CA 90620

Price: Free

Concerts at Irvine
Irvine Park Summer Concerts in the Park for 2018

Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts
For OC locals living further down south, the City of Irvine embraces the heat with its Sizzlin’ Summer Concert series for 2018. Family-friendly performances include The Reflexx, Tijuana Dogs, and The Emperors. Additionally, festivities also include movie nights, pet adoptions, and much more.

Dates: July 14th – August 12th.

Time: Begins at 5:30 pm.

Location:
Mike Ward Community Park – Woodbridge
20 Lake Road, Irvine, CA 92604

Price: Free

Concerts for the Family & Dogs
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Loki Lokizeecorgi Orange County California Summer Concerts 2018 Image and Photography by Rob Bonner

Dog-Friendly Concerts of Orange County
It’s not a party if your best-friend can’t attend! If you are one of many people who view their pets as part of their family, then we have great news for you. Cities all over Orange County will offer free concerts for families and their beloved canines. As always, dogs must be leashed, but are free to explore and enjoy the beats of the summer nights. Each performance here has a specialized theme or era – 60’s-90’s rock, 80’s Hits, and 60’s Motown – that will guarantee to make everyone want to show off their best moves no matter how rhythmically-challenged they are!

The City of Fountain Valley will host live music and great food to match at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center and Sports Park.

The City of Fullerton will hold events at two different locations in Fullerton, the Fullerton Sports Complex, and Hillcrest Park. Must-see at the event: Beer & Wine Garden!

City of Fountain Valley

Dates: July 11th – August 8th.

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Visit the City of Fullerton’s official site for more information.

Location:
Fountain Valley Recreation Center and Sports Park
16400 Brookhurst, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Price: Free

City of Fullerton

Dates: July 11th – August 8th.

Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Visit the City of Fountain Valley’s official site for more information.

Location:
Fullerton Sports Complex
560 E. Silver Pine, Fullerton, CA 92831

Hillcrest Park
1200 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92832

Price: Free

Concerts at the OC Fair
Orange County Fair Grounds Costa Mesa 2018 VPLS

Live Music at OC Fair Grounds
When in doubt, go to the fair! This year’s line up at The Hangar (located at Orange County Fairgrounds) includes a variety of tributes to music legends, Michael Jackson, Elton John, George Michael, Queen, The Eagles, and many more.

The Pacific Amphitheatre (PACAMP) brings back hits from past eras, such as Kool & The Gang, Village People, and ToTo. For the modern crowd, check out artists Phillip Phillips, and Gavin DeGraw. As a bonus, your concert tickets can double as your OC Fair admission. And for classical music fans, PACAMP will hold performances by Orange County’s own Pacific Symphony, playing music by Tchaikovsky.

The Hangar @ OC Fair

Dates: July 13th – August 12th

Time: Varies on artist and show. Visit the official OC Fair – The Hangar site for dates, times, and ticket information.

Location:
The Hangar
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Pacific Amphitheatre

Dates: Concert Series begins July 12th – September 8th.

Time: Varies on artist and show. Visit the official OC Fair – Pacific Amphitheatre site for dates, times, and ticket information.

Location:
Pacific Amphitheatre
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

We hope these concert ideas will inspire you to be adventurous and check other music scenes outside of your usual tunes. Keep in mind that these concerts are only here for the season, so don’t miss your chance to dance summer nights away!

If you want to keep up with the latest security trends and other IT related products and services, please visit the VPLS blog and stay current with the latest news!

Don’t forget, VPLS offers IT Transit Services that provides high-performance Internet access through diverse upstream providers with over 200Gbps in transit capacity.

Read More from this Author

managed services MSP

Does Your Business Need A Managed Service Provider?

Does Your Business Need A Managed Service Provider?

Published

Written by

Filed under

managed services MSPIn this week’s VPLS blog, we discuss the what, how, and why of a Managed Service Provider and the many ways an MSP can help you manage your business technology through budget-friendly IT services and solutions. Take a closer look at how your business can benefit and why you should consider employing a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to fit all your IT Service needs.

What is a Managed Service Provider?

Managed Service Providers (MSP) exist to help businesses of all sizes, take care of day-to-day activities that are normally handled by the business’ IT department. Ask any IT director in the business and they’ll tell you the workload amount on any given day can stack up pretty high, pretty quickly. Not to mention any unexpected fires that may cause the entire department to spring into action.

MSPs help alleviate IT department workloads by taking over much of the tedious, yet essential tasks, that keep the business running smoothly.

Daily or weekly IT tasks may include:

  • Update and maintain daily performance of computer systems
  • Respond to technical queries posed by company staff
  • Draft and implement disaster recovery and solutions plans
  • Test and evaluate new technology
  • Implement and support new software applications
  • Assistance and support related to software and hardware issues

How can my business benefit from a Managed Service Provider?

As mentioned, MSPs can supplement an established IT department by focusing on maintaining, securing, and resolving any hardware or software issues that may arise on a day-to-day basis. MSPs are also beneficial to small businesses that do not have the budget for an entire IT department, yet still need the service and care of professionals to keep things running perfectly.

Depending on the scope and quality of the MSP, IT support may be available 24/7, assuring your business never leaves your customers in the dark. Additionally, MSPs can shield your confidential business and customer billing information by evaluating cybersecurity weaknesses and needs.

Why should I consider an MSP?

Now that we understand the importance that MSPs play in the business world, let’s take a look at why you should consider partnering up with a MSP to meet your business needs.

Don’t waste more time, energy, and resources battling daily IT tasks. With a MSP, the IT department can shift their focus on innovation and build momentum towards bigger profits.

No vacation days. No sick days. If and when a technical problem arises, you can trust your MSP to be on the job, or just a phone call away towards better news.

IT labor and staffing costs are expensive. Even small businesses with a single “IT” guy on staff can rack up heavy bills, especially with sophisticated technology and on-going training.

In today’s world, cybersecurity is of huge importance as hackers and their tools continue to evolve. Staying up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity vulnerabilities is a full-time job.
Consider partnering up with a quality Managed Service Provider that prides itself on customer satisfaction. VPLS offers a variety of options and flexible prices to fit all IT budget needs, with many years of experience in securing confidential data and maintaining security compliance.

Be sure to check out VPLS Managed IT Support Services or VPLS Co-Managed IT Solutions for more information. VPLS is a worldwide IT Solutions leader, located in Orange County and Los Angeles County, California. Questions or concerns? Email us and a friendly VPLS support team member will be in touch shortly!

If you want to keep up with the latest security trends and other IT related products and services, please visit the VPLS blog and stay current with the latest news!

Read More from this Author

New Hire Banner 1200x628

VPLS Essential Tips: 2018 Orange County Fair

VPLS Essential Tips: 2018 Orange County Fair

Published

Written by

Filed under

OC Fair of Costa Mesa California 2018 Guide

OC Fair of Costa Mesa California 2018 Guide

Technical Flair of the 2018 OC Fair

Summer is in full swing with the Orange County Fair in town! Prepare to indulge in fun rides, carnival games, petting zoos, live music and of course, mouthwatering food and treats! Let’s not forget a variety of hands-on activities and innovative showcases.

VPLS has crafted the perfect guide to satisfy your curiosity for science and tech at the OC Fair 2018.

A soldier with virtual reality glasses is holding a pistol in his hands. The concept of a virtual hologram. Simulation Games.
Heroes Hall: Bravemind Exhibit

Heroes Hall Bravemind Exhibit

Technology to discover at the OC Fair is the Bravemind Exhibit at Heroes Hall. Built by USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, Bravemind is a virtual reality experience that enhances pre-existing therapeutic techniques for post-traumatic stress. Individuals who are currently serving can also use this VR for resilience training before they are deployed.

The Bravemind exhibit will be held at Heroes Hall, a space dedicated to the veterans of Orange County. The VR segments of this first-hand exhibit consist of a virtual world of war along with other scenes designed to help veterans recover from PTSD. In addition to learning about the technical aspects behind Bravemind, visitors will also hear testimonies from those who were helped with the use of this technology, thus making it a valuable resource for helping military personnel and veterans.

Details:
Admission is free. Hours: 11 am – 5 pm, Wednesday through Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday). Closed holidays.

Did you know? Admission to the OC Fair is free for military & veterans!
Check out OC Fair General Information (below) for details.

2018 OC Fair Heroes Hall
OC Fair My Fair Selfie 2018

My Fair Selfie Exhibit

Is your selfie game on point? Score double the likes with OC Fair’s newest exhibit, My Fair Selfie!

This must-see attraction features dozens of creative artwork to give your photos that extra fun and unique flair. And the best part? Visitors can meet Conrad the Unicorn! One of the OC Fair’s most friendliest mascots, Conrad does his very best to bring smiles everywhere he goes. Can you blame him?

Pro Tip: Conrad loves popcorn! Tag and follow #myfairselfie for a taste of what you can discover at this year’s OC Fair.

Details:
The exhibit opens July 20th.

Orange County OC Fair Event Center

OC Fair General Information

OC Fair Hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 12 PM to Midnight
Saturday – Sunday, 11 AM to Midnight
Monday – Tuesday, Closed

Single-Day Admission Prices:
Wednesday – Friday
General Admission: $12, Senior: $7, Youth: $7, Children 5 and under: Free

Saturday – Sunday:
General Admission: $14, Senior: $7, Youth: $7, Children 5 and under: Free

Active Military & Veterans:
Receive FREE OC Fair Admission, as well as 50% off additional general admission tickets (up to six tickets).
Promotion is valid all 23 days of the OC Fair. Military ID required.
Visit the official OC Fair website for more details.

Parking:
General passenger car: $10, General buses and limos: $20
Parking is cash only.

For more information, be sure to visit the official site for the OC Fair 2018.

The OC Fair never fails to attract crowds of all shapes and forms. Whether you are there for the food, rides, games, music, or even technology – it is a feast for all your senses that will leave you completely satisfied.

If you want to keep up with the latest security trends and other IT related products and services, please visit the VPLS blog and stay current with the latest news!

Don’t forget, VPLS offers AirWatch services and has four affordable enterprise mobility management suites that can help your company streamline your enterprise mobility needs!

Read More from this Author

Scroll to Top