The server is down. A computer has a virus in the office. You have ten deadlines to hit to meet your boss’ expectations. Just to name a few. Many IT professionals feel like they are on edge at all times and cannot find a moment to unplug even when on vacation. Lifestyle diseases are more common among IT professionals than any other field. Overeating, sleep deficit, alcohol use and more are just a few health care issues that are prevalent in the IT industry.

 

Job Stress can lead to burnout and turnover, costing IT organizations countless dollars in replacement costs, and making methods for measuring and minimizing stress a business benefit.

 

A recent survey done by Careercast, lists these as the top 10 most stressful jobs in Tech:

 

1. CIO’s – Often have to be available at all times and motivating their team is on the top of their priority list.
2. IT Procurement Specialists– Tight schedules and working around client’s needs often result in high levels of stress.
3. IT Managers and Directors– 24% of most IT Managers/Directors work more than 50+ hours a week. They do not work a typical 9 – 5  job when maintenance updates and migrations often occur after hours or on the weekends.
4. Operation Specialists– Work on tight deadlines and need to troubleshoot problems at all hours. Any mistakes they make can impact a whole company’s access to data.
5. Software Engineers– Demand for this job is in high demand and is expected to grow by 17% by 2024. A lack of talent in this position adds more pressure for these jobs.
6. Application/Software Developers– Around one-third of developers surveyed reported they do not have sufficient time to do quality work. Over a quarter couldn’t plan tasks because of time limitations.
7. Database Manager– Tight deadlines, multi-tasking, constant pressure are just a few of the demands of this job.
8. Web Developer– Job growth for this position is 27% by 2024. Skyrocket demand adds to the pressure.
9. Network Administrator– Demand is on the rise as businesses invest in better systems. Need to often be available 24/7, multi-task and be an effective communicator with all staff.
10. IT Security Specialists– This position often has to make decisions on the spot and frequently variables around them are things that they cannot control.

 

 

Reasons for Stress

 

Security and Email Specialist GFI, put together an infographic to show their results from a survey they did on the stress IT professionals experience.

 

 

 

How To Reduce Stress?

 

For most IT professionals, they truly enjoy their job and what they do. What can one do to alleviate some of the stress from their jobs. Here are a few suggestions from a neurobiologist and other professionals in the field.

 

1. Just Breathe – It may seem simple enough but it does work when you concentrate on changing your breath. Deep breathing exercises, meditation and more can help induce a state of calm in your life.
2. Take a Break – A majority of us spend our workday in front of a computer and most likely are dehydrated. Set a timer on your phone to take five minutes of every hour to get up and walk around, get a drink of water, etc.
3. Set Your Priorities: Daily, make a list of the top three things that you want to accomplish that day. Prioritize your responsibilities by importance, size or deadline. Break larger tasks into smaller ones that are easier to accomplish. Cross things off your list at the end of the day to give you a sense of accomplishment.
4. Delegate and use Time Efficiently: Distribute tasks amongst your team based on strengths. Determine when meetings are necessary and consider whether or not all parties are needed to be at a meeting.
5. Make Time for Sleep: Remember when you used to take naps as a kid? Well, your body still needs it. Make sure you get in your z’s. Don’t sacrifice much needed sleep.
6. Use Your Senses: In most offices, there is constant outside noise and distractions. Try to switch off the outside noise by using headphones, shutting your door or whatever works best for you. Is there a certain smell that puts you at ease? It’s been proven by studies that familiar smells can put a person at ease when they are experiencing high levels of stress.
7. Minimize your screen time: This is probably the hardest thing for an IT Pro to do. Avoiding the thing that reminds you of work will hopefully allow you to relax and unwind. Anything that reminds you of work can trigger an emotional reaction of stress. Go for a walk, take up another hobby that does not remind you of work, or whatever that allows you to forget about the pressures from work.
8. Be Grateful: When things get rough, it may be hard to be grateful. Take the time to make a gratitude list  or start your day with a Post-It note of things that make you happy. It’s easy to get caught up on the things that are causing frustrations and pain in our life. A grateful and positive person often has less stress and attracts positivity around them.
9. Use Your Vacation Hours: Americans are terrible at using their vacation time and taking a break from their jobs. In IT, it is hard to disconnect from work while on vacation. Even if its a staycation, take the time for you to not think about work or your responsibilities.
10. Just Say No: If you are off the clock, on a break, at a social event, etc., you have the right to tell some that asks about an IT issue to say no. Set up boundaries in your life when you are off the clock.
11. Invest in You – Spoil yourself and feel  no shame. Take up a new hobby, a new outfit, workout, etc. Find those things that bring you joy. Put you first!

 

Reducing stress is easier said than done. The demand of new technology, rise in cyber attacks and security breaches, and digital transformation are just a few things that will be a part of IT professionals lives for years to come. HR Departments and CEO’s are realizing the demands put upon IT teams and are looking for ways to improve the lives of their employees.

 

Zunesis is here to help your business and IT departments with problems they may have that they cannot solve on their own. Our experienced professionals are here to help alleviate your stress. Contact us today to find out how we can help!

 

In April of 2015, Microsoft officially launched Skype for Business. Microsoft’s instant messaging and conferencing program has become more and more useful over the years, making it easier to do things like share documents, give presentations, and video chat.

 

One benefit that more companies are using or looking into using is utilizing Skype to replace their business’ existing phone system. Zunesis moved their phone system to Skype last year and has only begun to use some of its functionalities.

 

How Does it Work?

 

Skype’s Cloud PBX system does almost everything a regular PBX system does, but it also integrates with Office 365, allowing you to do things like send voicemails as an email, eliminating the need to ever check voicemail again. It does everything a landline does, such as hold and transfer, but it also has many features landlines don’t have.

 

 

 

 

 

As part of the Office 356 suite, Skype centralizes all administration in the cloud. This simplifies all administrative tasks, and allows users to make and receive calls anywhere, as long as they have the Skype app running on their laptop or mobile device. No longer do employees need to be tethered to a desk phone during business hours, and in a world of increasing mobility, this is incredibly useful. You don’t even need to get new phone numbers to replace your current system, Skype allows you to port any phone numbers, allowing you to keep your business number. No need for new business cards, or any emails to customers telling them your phone number has changed.

 

Another perk of using Skype instead of a traditional phone line is the flexible subscriptions. You can add or subtract users as you go so you never have to pay for more than what you are using. You can set permissions by giving some users the ability to make international calls, while only allowing others to make domestic calls.

 

Skype integrates VOIP capabilities with instant messaging and conferencing, making it a great communications tool. One can send instant messages, screen share, or make calls all from the same place, using the same contacts. You can dial by name from any office 365 app, or use the traditional dialer in Skype, which is a welcome familiarity for many users. It also comes with 5 licenses per user, so you can make calls from any device.

 

Some other features include:

 

 

Enterprise calendar call routing:  where you can enable or disable call forwarding by using your exchange calendar business hours.

 

Support: Microsoft offers 24/7 support, so you never have to worry about phone lines going down. Anyone already using Office 365 should definitely be looking to replace their current phone systems with Skype. It offers so much for so little, costing around $8/user, it could end up saving your business money.

 

 

Additional Resources on Deployment, Licensing and Features of Skype Business Phone System:

 

• Set up Calling Plans: This article has step-by-step instructions to get set up with your phone numbers or to transfer your existing phone numbers to Skype for Business.
• Plan your Phone System in Office 365 (Cloud PBX) solution: This TechNet article lays out all of your deployment options. It also has information about planning an entirely cloud-only solution.
• Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams add-on licensing: Learn which licenses you need to buy to get the Phone System in Office 365.
• Set up Phone System voicemail – Admin help
• Discover Skype for Business: Help the people in your company learn how to use Skype for Business features.

 

 

As of September 2017, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Teams will replace Skype for Business and will add more functionality. The transition will occur over the next three years and Zunesis will keep you updated as further announcements are made.

 

 

If you are interested in learning more about using Skype for Business for your phone system, contact Zunesis for more information on how we can set up your company with licenses.

As the CEO of Zunesis, I am fond of saying “get beyond talking and PowerPoint slides and find some way to take action”.  Everyone can talk a good game, but far fewer can actual design and implement successful IT solutions on-time and within budget.  I feel like customers are tired of watching our lips flap and instead want IT Solution Providers to show them actual tangible value.  It seems that all customers are from Missouri these days “the show me state”.

 

In 2015, Zunesis made the decision to invest heavily in a Technology Lab so we could show our clients and prospects actual infrastructure solutions, software solutions and management platforms.  The ability to show technology working, instead of just talking about it, has been a big benefit to our clients.  Building out a professional technology lab has been expensive, but the rewards stretch beyond just show and tell.  The Lab has also proven beneficial to our Solution Architects who constantly use the Zunesis Lab to hone their skills on newer technology and test specific upgrade paths for software.  The IT world is always changing and we want to make sure that we have tested specific technology and integration paths before we recommend them and before we go on site for an implementation.

 

 

 

 

Zunesis has been a Platinum Partner with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) for 13+ years.  As a result, most of the technology in our lab is HPE.  Today we have 3 different 3Par Storage Arrays, a Nimble Array, a C7000 Chassis that includes a variety of HPE Servers (Generation 7, 8 and 9) and OneView for overall systems management.  The Lab has several Brocade Fibre Channel Switches and Moonshot servers.  Within the Lab, we run VMware and Veeam software and have connections to the Microsoft Cloud – Azure.  In the coming months, we will be installing new technology in the Lab including:

 

• Simplivity 2 node
• HPE Gen10 servers
• Aruba switches top of rack
• Extreme network top of rack switches

 

In the not too distant future, we will replace the C7000 Chassis with an HPE Synergy frame.

 

Our plans are to continue to invest in our Lab so we can show clients and prospects the actual technology, instead of just talking about it.  Furthermore, the Lab is another way we can invest in the on-going technical training and proficiency of our Solution Architects at Zunesis.  If you would ever like to stop by for a technology demonstration or just to talk about what you are trying to accomplish in your business, Contact us and would be happy to have you come by for a visit.

 

 

From the wise words of Vanilla Ice, “If you got a problem, yo I’ll solve it.” Zunesis wants to help solve your IT problems for your business. Zunesis offers for all new clients an opportunity to work one-on-one with one of our Solutions Architects on a focused effort at NO COST. This is our Customer Connect Program. We hope to give you the opportunity to see what it’s like to work with Zunesis and provide real value to your company.

 

So how does our program work?

 

STOP

 

Take the time to choose a part of your IT infrastructure where you may need help. Do you need to assess a best practice compliance? Scope a project? Review an application or data availability? Or troubleshoot a problem? Zunesis is here to help with any area where you may need some extra help.

 

We cover the following Competencies:

• Microsoft (AD, Exchange, O365)
• Virtualization (VMWare, Hyper-V_
• Backup/Recovery
• Business Continuity/ Disaster Recovery
• HPE ISS
• Data Storage
• Networking

 

 

COLLABORATE

 

After you provide Zunesis with the area you want us to focus on, our team of experienced solution architects will set up a consultation time with you and your company to discuss and analyze your current setup. At Zunesis, we have a history of building long term partnerships with our clients. We invest in our clients by working to understand each client’s environment and the unique challenges their businesses present.

 

You may ask, why collaborate with another company when we can figure it out on our own? A recent post from the website the balance gave some reasons why collaborations can help grow your business.

 

1. It Can Inspire You: Sometimes you may get lost in your day-to-day operations and forget that there could be a better way to do something, different tools you can use or different techniques you may want to utilize. Communicating with someone from the outside, may allow you to look at things differently.
2. Helps Grow your Network: In IT, we all can use some help finding resources out there that we can trust. Zunesis is partners with many vendors in the industry including HPE, Microsoft, Veeam, Zerto and many others. We can introduce your company to the contacts they may need for future projects.
3. Education: As the saying goes, knowledge is power. At Zunesis, we keep up with the latest certifications and trends in the market and can keep you informed on how your company can integrate that latest developments in your infrastructure.
4. Save Money: As a small company, we understand the need to save money. We will look for solutions that will save you money for the long term as well as the short term. We are also offering our Customer Connect program to you at no cost. You are getting the advice from seasoned professionals without the charge of consulting fees.
5. Solves Problems: The harder the problem is, the more you can benefit from outside help. When you add new viewpoints and experience to the mix, the end result may end up solving more problems then you expected.

 

LISTEN

 

After our consulting session with you, we will schedule a one hour follow-up meeting to review our findings and provide recommendations.

 

You will receive documentation that you can keep for your own use. Its a great tool to possibly show your upper management that you are on top of the needs of your business and have solutions to resolve any of these issues. Don’t worry, you can take all the credit!

 

 

Contact Zunesis today to find out how we can solve your problem this year!

 

From the wise words of Vanilla Ice, “If you got a problem, yo I’ll solve it.” Zunesis wants to help solve your IT problems for your business. Zunesis offers for all new clients an opportunity to work one-on-one with one of our Solutions Architects on a focused effort at NO COST. This is our Customer Connect Program. We hope to give you the opportunity to see what it’s like to work with Zunesis and provide real value to your company.
 
So how does our program work?
 

STOP

 

Take the time to choose a part of your IT infrastructure where you may need help. Do you need to assess a best practice compliance? Scope a project? Review an application or data availability? Or troubleshoot a problem? Zunesis is here to help with any area where you may need some extra help.
 
We cover the following Competencies:

• Microsoft (AD, Exchange, O365)
• Virtualization (VMWare, Hyper-V_
• Backup/Recovery
• Business Continuity/ Disaster Recovery
• HPE ISS
• Data Storage
• Networking

 
 

COLLABORATE

 
After you provide Zunesis with the area you want us to focus on, our team of experienced solution architects will set up a consultation time with you and your company to discuss and analyze your current setup. At Zunesis, we have a history of building long term partnerships with our clients. We invest in our clients by working to understand each client’s environment and the unique challenges their businesses present.
 
You may ask, why collaborate with another company when we can figure it out on our own? A recent post from the website the balance gave some reasons why collaborations can help grow your business.
 

1. It Can Inspire You: Sometimes you may get lost in your day-to-day operations and forget that there could be a better way to do something, different tools you can use or different techniques you may want to utilize. Communicating with someone from the outside, may allow you to look at things differently.
2. Helps Grow your Network: In IT, we all can use some help finding resources out there that we can trust. Zunesis is partners with many vendors in the industry including HPE, Microsoft, Veeam, Zerto and many others. We can introduce your company to the contacts they may need for future projects.
3. Education: As the saying goes, knowledge is power. At Zunesis, we keep up with the latest certifications and trends in the market and can keep you informed on how your company can integrate that latest developments in your infrastructure.
4. Save Money: As a small company, we understand the need to save money. We will look for solutions that will save you money for the long term as well as the short term. We are also offering our Customer Connect program to you at no cost. You are getting the advice from seasoned professionals without the charge of consulting fees.
5. Solves Problems: The harder the problem is, the more you can benefit from outside help. When you add new viewpoints and experience to the mix, the end result may end up solving more problems then you expected.

 

LISTEN

 
After our consulting session with you, we will schedule a one hour follow-up meeting to review our findings and provide recommendations.
 
You will receive documentation that you can keep for your own use. Its a great tool to possibly show your upper management that you are on top of the needs of your business and have solutions to resolve any of these issues. Don’t worry, you can take all the credit!
 
 
Contact Zunesis today to find out how we can solve your problem this year!