renowned-tech

Put Your Tech Foot Forward

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 06:00:04 GMT

How to Build a Better Tech Team

What makes an IT team Exceptional?

This is the type of question that started Renowned Tech. Here are a few things we've found that make great IT teams stand out.

Someone Who Gives a #%&*

Nothing is more frustrating than being told in an email or phone call to put in a ticket; then following the process to submit a ticket, only to be left wondering for days (or weeks) if anyone is doing anything about your problem.

Great IT teams take responsibility for the issue, and follow up so you don’t have to. It’s not just about solving the issue ASAP (though that’s important), it’s about taking the baton of ownership, communicating about an ETA, and then following up once everything is working again to close the loop.

No Friendly Fire

Too often it’s the IT group vs the users. Tech-teams need to remember that the person at the end of the mouse is the reason that technology matters, then take the time to really understand the needs of those people. Once the tech-team and the rest of the team become the same team, everyone’s experience gets better.

On time is 15 minutes late

Things always seem to break at the worst times, and when they do they slow everything down - usually just before a deadline. Intentional planning, management software, and replacement schedules minimize critical downtime, with the added benefit of forecasting costs and scheduling expenses.

With all of the demands of business, it’s easy to forget (or ignore) the things that are working. And it takes discipline to spend time, money, and resources to solve problems that haven’t happened yet. But with IT and management working together to be ahead of potential issues, the result is more predictable cost and less downtime.

Begin with the End in Mind

Being proactive is about building a roadmap, so every replacement is an upgrade that aligns with the future vision of the organization. Taking the time to learn what the future looks like means that when something unexpected happens, there is already a plan in place, and any cost or downtime is not wasted with a band-aid solution.

How can your IT team get better?

If your tech-team is in-house, take the time to ask these questions about the user experience and the use of resources. If your organization uses a 3rd party tech-team, take some time to sit down with them and ask the same questions. If you could use someone to manage your technology resources, reaching out to Renowned Tech. We would love to find out if our services and processes are the right fit for you.

The Best Email Service!

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:44:22 GMT

Businesses Run on Email, but Which One is The Right One?

Google vs. Microsoft has been the great email debate for a decade or so, and both sides have strong cases to make for their favorite. With the advent of Microsoft 365 and the evolution of Google Workspace, the competition continued to escalate. Then COVID hit and pushed work-from-home to the masses, which upped the ante again. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of these two behemoth platforms, starting with the core feature of business email.

Microsoft is the OG in the email game, with its tried and tested Exchange system, its Outlook client and the .PST email database format. Everything from the quirky suggested contacts to its database size limitations plagued users and techs alike, but its integration with Active Directory’s single-sign-on kept Exchange in the top spot for medium to large businesses.

Microsoft’s 365 cloud hosting freed client companies from building and maintaining on-premises servers in exchange for a regular monthly subscription, and put Microsoft in direct competition with Google’s cloud-first architecture and easy anywhere access. With Microsoft’s Office suite already the business standard, it was tough to leave the Microsoft ecosystem entirely in exchange for Google’s more minimal Office suite.

With the urgent move to WFH in 2020, Microsoft rapidly leveled up its virtual meeting game by pouring resources and features into the then-fledgling Teams app to keep companies from jumping to the more established Google Meets. With this last addition, Microsoft rounded out its offering quite well.

Google is the unlikely contender; a company who started as a minimalist search engine, but moved into the email market with a refreshing and forward-looking product in the early 2000’s that quickly put Microsoft on the defensive with features like grouping email conversations, blurring the line between email and instant messaging, and maintaining an industry leading spam filter that worked out of the box and was easy to manage.

Google saw the cloud revolution coming and led the way with large storage allocations for access-anywhere documents, easy sharing, and simultaneous editing long before Microsoft had answers for that kind of accessibility and versatility. Google pioneered video conferencing, and paired all of its offerings with great mobile apps and maintained a connection to its roots by integrating high-quality search options into each of its products.

While businesses entrenched in the older Microsoft platforms raced to get up to speed when 2020’s WFH move pushed knowledge workers almost entirely to the cloud, Google users continued with business as usual.

Who’s the winner? With these two tech powerhouses duking it out for market share, we the customers are the real winners as they push each other to refine and evolve their product offerings. Each platform has their ideal applications and cultural appeal, as well as unique limitations and quirks. With over a decade in IT and extensive experience with both platforms, Renowned Tech is comfortable with both, and happy to discuss the merits of each as they apply to your company’s unique needs and culture.

What about a hybrid option? Administratively and financially speaking, trying to keep a foot in each of Microsoft and Google’s platforms is not ideal. Organizations end up paying twice, IT administrators have to manage both, and users have to carry multiple apps and logins. So while both platforms have benefits, trying to capture both ends up canceling them out because of the hassle of management. We recommend identifying your organization’s core features and choosing the ecosystem that best meets your high-value needs.

Can we survive switching platforms? It’s true that switching email and storage platforms is time consuming and costly, but any change is difficult, and the sooner you make it, the easier it is, and the sooner you benefit from the increased efficiency. Renowned Tech has proven processes and software to ease the transition. In the words of Scotland’s first billionaire, Sir Tom Hunter, “If you were running a marathon, would you wait until the 22nd mile to take out a stone in your shoe?”

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 21:46:49 GMT

A Comprehensive Productivity Software Comparison for Small Businesses

In today's digital age, small businesses need reliable and efficient productivity tools to thrive in a competitive market. Two of the leading contenders in this space are Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) and Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). Both suites offer a range of applications designed to streamline business operations and collaboration, but they have distinct features and functionalities that cater to different needs. In this article, we'll explore the key differences between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, helping small businesses make informed decisions about which option best suits their requirements.

Productivity Applications:

Microsoft 365: Microsoft 365 includes a comprehensive suite of applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. These applications are widely known and have long been the industry standard for document creation, spreadsheets, presentations, and email communication. Additionally, Microsoft 365 offers powerful desktop versions of its applications alongside cloud-based versions, ensuring seamless integration across devices.

Google Workspace: Google Workspace's core applications include Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, and Drive. These applications are entirely cloud-based, encouraging real-time collaboration and document sharing. Google's suite also emphasizes simplicity and ease of use, making it a popular choice for businesses that prioritize web-based workflows.

Collaboration and Communication:

Microsoft 365: Microsoft Teams is a standout feature of Microsoft 365, providing a robust platform for team collaboration, video conferencing, and instant messaging. It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft applications, making it a preferred choice for businesses heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Google Workspace: Google Meet and Google Chat (formerly Hangouts) are Google Workspace's counterparts to Microsoft Teams. Both applications facilitate video conferencing and instant messaging. Google Workspace shines in real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously within Docs, Sheets, and Slides, fostering efficient teamwork.

Storage and File Sharing:

Microsoft 365: Microsoft OneDrive offers cloud storage and file-sharing capabilities in Microsoft 365. Users can store files in the cloud and access them from anywhere, making it convenient for remote teams. OneDrive also integrates well with other Microsoft applications and Windows devices.

Google Workspace: Google Drive is Google Workspace's cloud storage solution, allowing users to store and share files online. It offers a generous amount of free storage and is highly compatible with Android devices, providing easy access to files on-the-go.

Security and Privacy:

Microsoft 365: Microsoft has made significant investments in security features, including data loss prevention, threat protection, and encryption. Additionally, Microsoft complies with various industry standards and regulations, making it a robust option for businesses that prioritize data security.

Google Workspace: Google has also implemented strong security measures, such as two-factor authentication, data loss prevention, and encryption. Google Workspace complies with several security certifications and standards, ensuring data protection for users.

Pricing and Plans:

Microsoft 365: Microsoft offers a range of plans, allowing businesses to choose the most suitable option based on their needs. Plans often include access to both desktop and web versions of Microsoft applications, making it a compelling choice for organizations that require offline access.

Google Workspace: Google follows a simple pricing structure with various plans tailored to different business sizes and requirements. Many small businesses find the flexible pricing and web-based applications in Google Workspace to be a cost-effective solution.

Conclusion:

When it comes to Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace for small businesses, the right choice depends on the specific needs and priorities of the organization. Microsoft 365 caters well to businesses deeply ingrained in the Microsoft ecosystem, while Google Workspace excels in providing web-based collaboration and simplicity. Both suites offer powerful productivity tools, seamless cloud integration, and robust security features. Small businesses should carefully assess their requirements and consider factors like collaboration preferences, existing software compatibility, and budget constraints before making a decision. Ultimately, with either Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, small businesses can enhance their productivity, communication, and collaboration, driving growth and success in today's competitive market.