At Flyte, we believe the best productivity tools are the ones that fit naturally into your day. That thinking shaped the creation of Ping, a Microsoft Teams app that helps you stay on top of follow-ups, reminders and without disrupting your workflow.

Why We Built Ping

Most workdays involve juggling chats, channels and threads in Microsoft Teams, each carrying different requests and action points. Even with the best intentions, it is easy for something important to be missed or forgotten about into the flow of messages.

Ping was created to solve that problem in a simple and reliable way. Instead of trying to remember which message needs attention later, you can turn it into a reminder directly from Teams. Ping handles the follow-up so you can focus on the work in front of you.

What Ping Can Do

One click reminders

Set a reminder on any Teams message in seconds using quick preset options.

Custom scheduling

Choose a specific date and time when you need something to resurface.

A clear tasklist

All reminders appear in Ping’s built-in tasklist, giving you a single place to view and organise your follow-ups.

Works across devices

Ping supports Teams on both desktop and mobile, so your reminders stay with you wherever you work.

Reduced mental load

Ping removes the pressure of trying to recall everything you need to do. It is a simple system you can trust to keep track of tasks.

Who Will Benefit Most

Teams who rely heavily on chat and need an easy way to keep track of action points.

Project managers who want confidence that nothing has been missed.

Hybrid workers who switch between devices and need consistency.

Anyone who feels overloaded by message volume in Teams and wants a calmer, more structured workflow.

Ping is free to download today

We are excited to make Ping available today. Whether you want to try it for yourself or introduce it to your whole team, you can get started right away.

Download Ping for Microsoft Teams:

Download Ping on AppSource

The post Introducing Ping: Your New Reminder App Inside Microsoft Teams appeared first on Flyte.

However, many organisations are struggling to implement employee wellbeing initiatives, particularly when employees are based in different locations. When employees are working remotely, it can be difficult to remain connected and monitor the morale within the team. Failing to take action can result in serious consequences, including disengaged employees, widespread low morale, and increased absence rates.

Our app gauge.it was created to overcome this challenge and offer organisations a simple, user-friendly solution. Available on Microsoft Teams, gauge.it helps foster employee wellbeing by helping leaders stay connected to their employees, regardless of location. It empowers employees by giving them the ability to share how they are feeling openly and honestly on a daily basis, providing leaders with valuable insight into team morale and wellbeing.

Our Head of Technology, Alasdair Gauld, recently hosted a webinar discussing the importance of employee wellbeing and demonstrating how gauge.it can help improve it. You can watch the full video below:

If you have any questions regarding any of the topics discussed during the webinar, please feel free to email sales@cloudcoverit.co.uk .

We are currently offering a 30-day free trial of gauge.it. Simply visit www.gaugeitteams.com to get started!

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gauge.it creates a safe space for employees to communicate important aspects of their wellbeing safely and anonymously, giving leadership critical insights into employee morale – all within Microsoft Teams, the most used business communication platform with over 270 million users.  gauge.it allows business leaders to automatically send a daily card to their team allowing them to rate their day by selecting the emoji that best represents their mood and adding an optional, anonymous comment.  The power of the system is in providing leadership with a simple breakdown of the team’s input, allowing changes and trends in morale to be identified within localised and remote teams. 

“The concept of gauge.it was created in 2021 as we were finding it increasingly difficult to monitor the wellbeing of the team, who had moved from office-based working to working from home.” Cloud Cover IT’s Head of Digital Transformation Alasdair Gauld explains. “We recognised the consequences that can result from employees feeling isolated and wanted to create a simple solution that would allow us to remain connected to our team, regardless of their location. Since the launch of an early version of gauge.it, we have received excellent feedback from leadership teams who report feeling more connected to their employees and see real value from daily reporting revealing trends in wellbeing across their team. With this full version release, we are excited that gauge.it now has more powerful reporting and new tools to assess employee morale.”

“Through Microsoft AppSource, customers around the world can easily find tailored line-of-business partner solutions that work with the products they already use,” said Toby Bowers, General Manager, Business Applications Group, Microsoft Corp. “We’re happy to welcome Cloud Cover IT’s solution to the growing AppSource ecosystem.”

Established in Glasgow in 2012, Cloud Cover IT empowers clients worldwide with innovative IT solutions that allow them to improve productivity, efficiency, and collaboration through technology. The company has two apps available within the Microsoft Teams App Store and Microsoft AppSource: gauge.it and check.it. To learn more about gauge.it, visit www.gaugeit.co.uk .

Watch the short video below to see gauge.it in action:

The post A New Focus on Employee Wellbeing; Cloud Cover IT Announces the Launch of gauge.it for Microsoft Teams appeared first on Flyte.

The last 18 months has further expanded the marketplace’s insatiable appetite for cloud-based solutions, and Microsoft did not disappoint at Inspire.  

Introducing Windows 365; hybrid Windows for a hybrid world

For me, the most exciting update from the event was the introduction of Windows 365 which is scheduled to officially launch in early-August. 

Being dubbed ‘desktop as a service (DaaS)’ – because what’s new technology without a new acronym – it looks set to be another huge enabler for the compounding snowball which is hybrid-working.  

So what actually is it?  

Simply put, it’s a virtualisation service which provides windows desktop, and first and third party applications to users with both PC and non-PC hardware. Even simpler, its streaming of a Windows 10 (or soon Windows 11) powered PC.  

This can support BYOD (bring your own device) policies, and due to its ‘zero-trust architecture’ organisations can do this with piece of mind that it’s been secured by design from the ground up. With Windows 365, people can work from anywhere, on any device, as long as you have an internet connection.  

Microsoft talked a lot about Windows 365, but never talked price. Very rarely does a corporate behemoth with a $2 trillion dollar market cap do this because you’re going to be wowed by the cost-efficiency later. However, with pricing due to be confirmed in the coming days we hold out hope that the price won’t deter organisations from utilising this potentially game-changing platform.  

Microsoft also announced further enhancements to Microsoft Viva and several key security service additions amongst other things. You can access a full round-up via the link below: 

In a time where the appetite for technological change has never been greater, Microsoft continue to lead the pack. As always, reach out for a chat about how the Cloud Cover IT team can help you leverage technology to achieve your goals.  

The post Microsoft Inspire 2021: One man’s opinion appeared first on Flyte.

The goal of hav2vpn is to provide an easy to deploy and lightweight solution to enable effective remote working for SME and Non-Profit sector users. This directly addresses productivity issues by reducing bandwidth requirements to access business systems and applications. 

Supported by Innovate UK, we understand that working from home has represented a real challenge for SME and non-profits. Utilising the WireGuard protocol, hav2vpn provides an interface to effectively view and manage VPN access, ensuring your business has a robust and secure solution in place to support effective remote working with an innovative solution and security for business continuity.  

But what exactly is hav2vpn? 

Hav2vpn is an interface and administrator toolkit for VPN to improve business continuity and productivity to for SME and non-profit organisations.  

How does hav2vpn work? 

It connects to the WireGuard server via the web-based interface.   

How can it support my business needs?  

We’ve built hav2vpn with SME and non-profits in mind. We want to enhance the ability to work from home or anywhere and recognise this has presented a significant business challenge.  

The administrator toolkit enables you to: 

• enhance business centric management capabilities 
• enable visibility, reporting and access management of VPN  
• support the integration of Active Directory users for authentication and configuration 
• provide easy deployment to any office environment – home or central hub 

How do I set it up? 

Our solution is incredibly easy to install and deploy no matter how big or small your business is. 

Hav2VPN is supplied as a virtual disk image suitable for deployment on any Microsoft hypervisor, eliminating any hassle in getting the system set up or the need for expensive additional hardware.  

Once the virtual machine is up and running, all setup and configuration is performed through an intuitive web interface. 

Why should I use a VPN?  

A VPN is an added layer of security. It hides your personal information when you access the internet. It acts as an encryption tool, hiding data and your IP address to protect you and your business.  

We always recommend a secure VPN and multifactor authentication when working from home or in a remote environment.  

Interested in introducing hav2vpn to your IT toolkit? Why not speak to us today about how we can help your business: 

Contact our Sales Manager, Owen, on +44(0) 7964 291 970 or OSmith@Cloudcoverit.co.uk 

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By Owen Smith, Sales Manager, Cloud Cover IT

Two weeks ago, I tuned in to the first ever fully online and free-to-attend version of the annual Microsoft Ignite conference. During the event, Microsoft launched several brand new features that are designed to empower users and organisations as we navigate the new world of work in the COVID-19 era. Never one to blindly follow the crowd, myself and the team here at CCIT have taken some time to consider these new features and to identify what we think will benefit our customers the most. 

Supporting employee wellbeing

We’ve been through a lot this year. According to a survey by healthcare charity Nuffield Health, around 80% of British people working from home feel lockdown has impacted negatively on their mental health, whilst a quarter of those surveyed said that they were finding it difficult to cope with the emotional challenges of isolation. Microsoft has made tackling this issue a priority, introducing a set of experiences designed to mimic those aspects of in-person working that many of us (myself included!) are missing.  

The daily commute may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering what you miss from pre-COVID-19 times. But studies from Microsoft Research have shown that a commute is an important bookend of the working day; an opportunity to process, relax, and recharge. 

With this in mind, Microsoft has partnered with Headspace, a global leader in mindfulness and meditation, to develop a virtual commute experience for smoother transitions between work and home life. Morning ‘commutes’ will give time to plan out your day or even go for a walk, whilst evening commutes can be customised with prompts to reflect emotionally, celebrate accomplishments, and even partake in meditation sessions  to fully disconnect.

Set to go live natively within Teams in the first half of 2021, this will ensure that everyone can make time and space for their wellbeing.

Monitor your mood

Personally, I’m really missing the collective buzz of being surrounded by talented people and working on exciting projects in the same physical space. I pride myself on being a high-energy, positive person but at times I’ve felt my mood and productivity dip as a result of reduced face-to-face interaction. So I’m a big fan of the new ‘emotional check-in experience’, which allows you to log and track your mental wellbeing at work, as it will give greater visibility of your mental state and signal to your colleagues that you could benefit from some support. The ‘stay connected experience’ will make it easy to collaborate and catch up with colleagues, as well as to praise each other for strong work, encouraging a positive mindset and combating feelings of isolation.

Bring meetings to life in Together Mode

Microsoft have also set their sights on adding value to daily team meetings, as well as bringing in a bit of fun. Together Mode, arriving October 2020, will give a choice of scenes for meetings, including coffee shops, conference rooms, and even outdoor spaces, setting a custom tone depending on the meeting type. This tool promotes engagement and team spirit, creating an immersive and realistic experience, so participants in meetings feel like more than just a face on a screen. I’m looking forward to trying this one out for myself.  

Also available this month is the much-anticipated Breakout Rooms, which allows meeting organisers to divide participants into smaller groups, facilitating focused discussions and work groups. Where appropriate, organisers will be able to drop into the breakout rooms and make announcements to return attendees to the main meeting.  

These were just some of my highlights from Ignite 2020 – to find out more about how Microsoft 365 can facilitate the new way of working for you and your team, get in touch with a member of the CCIT team.

The post Microsoft Ignite 2020: Our reflections appeared first on Flyte.

VPNs are a necessary first step to enable remote working – but lack the unique benefits of fully cloud-based solutions, argues Lance Gauld

If you’ve recently installed a VPN to allow your team to begin working from home, that’s great – you’ve prevented your business from coming to a complete standstill. By allowing you to create a secure connection to your work network via the Internet, your VPN has you back at walking pace – but now it’s time to get running again.

Cloud vs VPN: why Cloud wins every time

Migrating your data to the Cloud is the kick-start you need to empower your team and take back pole position for your business. Personally, I recommend the industry-leading Microsoft stack, comprising Teams, SharePoint and Office 365 (amongst others) as the best way forward. I promise you: communicating via Teams, editing documents in Office 365 and sharing them across your organisation via SharePoint is unparalleled in its convenience and security.

Teams acts as a central hub, allowing all staff members and invited guests to chat, call, and meet via video conferencing at the touch of a button – anywhere, at any time.The Office365 suite is integrated seamlessly within Teams, allowing users to access, share, and edit Word docs, PowerPoint, and Excel files in real time. Whilst benefiting your workflow, this convenient solution also keeps your team connected – especially important given the current crisis.

If you’re worried you’re handing your precious work files over to a third-party, don’t be: you are the sole owner and controller of your data. Advanced security controls within Teams include data loss prevention, information barriers, and retention policies to ensure a rigorous level of privacy and security.

I wouldn’t offer you a solution I wouldn’t use myself…

Moving your data to the Cloud is a future-proof decision that will boost your productivity, secure your data and keep your employees smiling. The team and I here at Cloud Cover IT should know; the Microsoft stack has been the backbone of our operations for over five years now and is only becoming more crucial to us in these unprecedented times.

Our Head of Cloud Development Alasdair Gauld and his team will soon be leading a series of Platform Immersion Seminars to guide anyone interested in making the move to the Cloud through the process. These sessions will be open to the public and completely FREE of charge. If you’d like to learn more and get involved – or if you would prefer a private seminar for you and your team – please contact me directly or get in touch with our Helpdesk team at +44 (0) 141 280 2882 or info@cloudcoverit.co.uk.

Don’t mess around; get your data on the Cloud – and make the change to get ahead of your competition.

The post Moving Your Data to the Cloud is the Logical Step Up from a VPN appeared first on Flyte.

Studies have linked remote working with a range of advantages, from reducing stress to increasing productivity. But there can also be drawbacks for some: disconnection from workmates means loneliness can start to creep in, as well as a lack of motivation and morale.

At Cloud Cover IT, we have long been advocates of technology’s power to simplify and enhance business operations and working life, and to reduce the need for face-to-face contact. Investing in technology that enables collaboration and unity between employees, on and off site, is a necessity when managing a remote team.

Many of our apps and services address the challenges many face when they or their staff members are working outside the office. The CCIT Remote Workforce app makes it simple to track employees’ location and activity, with times and date stamps creating a complete report of every working day. With the app right there in their pocket, employees will feel connected, supported and secure, wherever they are.

Here are Cloud Cover IT’s top five tips for making the most out of remote working, whether you’re working from home for managing your employees from afar.

1. Communication is everything
2. Create space for work
3. Keep a record
4. Maintain workplace etiquette
5. Reap the benefits

1. Communication is everything

Regular correspondence between team members and leaders will keep morale up and motivate employees to meet their targets for the day. A conversation with a colleague can make a huge difference to your mood and mind set, whether it’s to talk through a project or just for a catch-up. Microsoft Teams is a great tool for keeping in touch with colleagues on an interactive and accessible interface. If you’re an employer, be sure to check in regularly with your remote workforce; this will help you keep up with the activity of your out-of-office employees and ensure they feel like a valuable part of the team.

2. Create space for work

A blurred boundary between work and home makes it difficult to ever fully switch off – and this is only amplified if you are totally confined to your home. If possible, dedicate an area of your home as your home office space. When you are outside of working hours, stay out of that area to avoid the temptation to check work notifications. This will also help you avoid distractions whilst working.

3. Keep a record

Working from home means you’re less restricted by office hours. You have the freedom to take breaks when you please, making up for hours in the evening. But a less structured day can also leave you feeling listless and lacking in motivation, so keeping a consistent log of your work helps keep you on track. The Time Recording app from CCIT is a great tool for this, allowing users to log their hours and assign them to different projects, feeding into a central system. This way, managers can easily monitor where time and resources are being allotted and reallocate as necessary.

4. Maintain workplace etiquette

When your commute is a matter of metres, it can be tempting to work in your comfiest clothes, but this can have a negative impact on your mind-set and attitude to work. Equally, keeping your working environment neat will de-clutter your mind and cut out the distractions of domestic life. Keeping things professional will boost your productivity – plus you don’t want to answer a conference call and get caught in your pyjamas.

5. Reap the benefits

Working from home can be a blessing. You cut out the gruelling commute, get as much peace and quiet as you want, and have more time with your family and your pets. Make the most of the liberties and advantages that come with remote work, whilst following the above tips, and you’ll find that your work will be all the better for it.

The post Working from home? Here are five tips on how to stay positive and productive appeared first on Flyte.

On 7th November, I had the pleasure of attending the sixth CENSIS Tech Summit and Conference at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. The annual event brings together thought leaders in the tech industry to share knowledge of state-of-the-art advancements in sensing, imaging and the Internet of Things (IoT). For me, it was also a fantastic opportunity to network and meet vendors, and to consider the ideas and technologies that could be brought back and applied to our work at CCIT, for the ultimate benefit of our clients.

IoT in Scotland

The event reiterated to me just how rapidly the Scottish IoT sector is growing, with new solutions being launched almost daily. CENSIS took the opportunity to announce their exciting ‘IoT Cyber Accelerator’ initiative, which is set to boost the adoption of IoT technologies in Scotland through the development of new products and approaches to cyber security. The news was announced by Kate Forbes, MSP and Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, who highlighted in particular the significance of sponsorship by the Scottish Government in placing Scotland at the forefront of IoT development. Ours is a highly collaborative sector with a wide scope for working with others – and events like the CENSIS Tech Summit are a great way to spark conversations, generate ideas, and form new partnerships. It is fantastic to see that the government are backing this movement.

The day kicked off with an opportunity to walk around and speak to the vendors, and after that we sat down for about an hour and a half of presentations.

Harnessing knowledge

At CCIT we see a great opportunity to benefit from embracing the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) – to harness its power to transform business processes across numerous industries. My overarching aim for the event was to hear about the latest developments in the IIoT, the system that is propelling businesses into Industry 4.0. I found that many of the vendors had fully furnished IoT sensor kits – these have the potential to be linked into the solutions that we offer. There is the option to buy in third party sensor kits that can link into any platform, whether that is a native app solution, Office365, or another service. There are numerous ways to approach the introduction of IoT, and it all depends on the needs of the client.

Our SharePoint developments take input from population by the user – data that was once-upon-a-time confined to ledger books and filing cabinets. The shift has now begun from mere digitalisation to automation, and the next phase is to pull more data into the system through sensors. With many different options out there, we have the expertise to be able to select the right solutions for our clients. We are integrating new technologies with our existing products that combine manual input and automatic sensor input, with the ultimate goal of improving efficiency and productivity for our clients.

We are harnessing this knowledge about the future of the IIoT and sensor data, so that we can go out to businesses and consult in the best way for our clients. We will do this by looking at their current IT system and offer a vision of where they could take it. We support businesses in many different sectors that rely on various different kinds of sensors, from building maintenance to on the factory floor. Their needs can vary quite dramatically, which is why we make it a priority to stay up-to-date with the latest news in IoT technology and the products available – and the CENSIS Tech Summit 2019 was the perfect opportunity for this.

The post CENSIS Tech Summit 2019: realising the future of technology appeared first on Flyte.