… until you understand your technology set up.
How many of you, when asking IT questions don’t feel satisfied with the answers you get?
You might feel stupid, or concerned about the cost (talking to professionals costs money), and trying to find out answers by googling online can sometimes make things more confusing.
I urge you to keep asking until you think you understand what is going on with your computer, your phone, your tablet…
Get a little notebook and write down what you don’t understand, write the answer, draw a picture, do whatever helps you to understand your data and files etc and how to access them easily and in an organised way.
You don’t need to understand every technical detail, but you should know the following
+ Your email address plus the backup email address, your password and where is it stored (e.g. Google, Apple, Microsoft…)
+ Your data places: where are they stored and backed up and how often?
+ Your website: Where did you buy your domain, where is your website stored and what are the logins?
+ Logons & passwords: Do we have a password safe and where is it? Or is it in a notebook, OK if kept under lock.
+ Do we have any automated workflows and where are they set up and controlled (not the technical details about how they are set up but where)?
+ Which software licences do we own and pay for? Under which name are they registered (tip here: never use an employee address and name)
Theis information is vital if you divorce your IT person (a contractor, the MSP, employee or business / private partner).
keep asking – yours helpfully – fraulein tech - claudia

“I don’t do computer; I don’t understand all these words” you might say but bear with me.

Let me draw a comparison: When getting your  driver’s licence you also learn some basics about the technology of the car; the fuel goes in here, and here the oil, the car needs water here and sometimes more air in the tyres, you have to keep the key close to you and remember where you parked the car. If a light starts blinking on your console you look up what it might means, or you call your mechanic and tell him the yellow waves light blinking. When the temperature goes into the red area you know you have to stop. There’s no need to understand every screw in the motor, how much torque the tire is attached with, the chemical components of your fuel or the 4-stroke cycle of the Otto motor.
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It’s the same with technology: How does one type, use the mouse, the WiFi modem, keep the password safe, my data location and how to get there. If something strange comes up and I ask Aunty Google or call the trusted IT support person and tell them that there is an error message “blah blah blah” when doing this and that. Who cares about CPUs, processors, Tera- Giga- Peta-, MHz, graphic cards and and and…

Yes, you are absolutely right in comparison to driving a car the computer is so much more complicated. But an average user doesn’t need to know the details but needs to be aware of some facts to be in control. The big difference: We all had to take driving lessons and pass a test. Most of us just started using a computer, tablets and smart phones without much introduction and training. And definitely no test passed.
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My suggestion: Get some help to drive your Information Technology and ask the questions until you feel safe on the road and can enjoy the benefits that come from using technology more effectively.

Stay safe & in control – yours helpful – claudia from fraulein tech