If you collect customer information from other sources – like a partner, a database, or even Google – there’s a change in the Privacy Act you need to be across. It’s called IPP 3A, and it kicked in on 1 May 2026. What’s the change? Previously, if you got someone’s details from someone else (rather…
Australia already does it. New Zealand’s about to follow. In a few months, company directors here will be personally liable for cyber security failures – even if they’ve never written a line of code in their lives. The Government dropped the clues in February when it released its critical infrastructure cyber security framework. Buried in…
On 22 June 2026, the heads of the Five Eyes cyber security agencies – including our own National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – issued a blunt call to action: AI is transforming cyber risk faster than most organisations are prepared for. This isn’t hype. The timeline they’re talking about is months, not years. What’s changed?…
Introduction Anthropic’s Claude can be a useful AI tool for businesses, but like any platform that processes company, customer, or employee information, it needs to be reviewed carefully before use. Based on Anthropic’s Privacy Policy, here are the key security and compliance considerations businesses should be aware of. Note that while this article is specific…
Why This Matters Now Artificial intelligence is transforming how we work. But according to recent research, 34.8% of inputs into public AI tools contain sensitive data, and 47% of organisations have no formal AI security controls in place. Every day your team uses AI without guardrails, you’re accepting significant risk. The Personal Account Problem We…
Is Tech Holding You Back? Many organisations don’t realise their technology is slowing them down until growth stalls, teams feel frustrated, or risks start to surface. This article explores the key signs your business needs a better IT strategy and how a modern approach can support long-term growth, security, and scalability. Clear Signs Your Business…
Top 5 IT headaches solved by managed servicesIf you’re running a business in Auckland, chances are you’ve experienced your fair share of IT headaches. Managing IT in a fast-moving business environment is no easy task — especially when you’re facing unreliable systems, rising costs, and constant security concerns. For many Auckland businesses, these recurring IT…
[vc_headings title=”External Managed IT Services vs Internal IT Staffing” align=”left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal” titlesize=”48″][/vc_headings] URL has been copied successfully! Maximising Business Potential with Strategic IT Management Imagine your business as a high-speed train. IT management is the track it runs on—without smooth, well-maintained rails, even the fastest engine can derail. Today, businesses rely on technology for everything:…
[vc_headings title=”The Benefits of Managed IT Services for Kiwi Businesses” align=”left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal” titlesize=”48″][/vc_headings] URL has been copied successfully! For many New Zealand businesses, managing IT can feel like juggling too many balls at once. Unplanned downtime, sluggish systems, and mounting cybersecurity threats can turn technology from an enabler into a source of frustration. Add the…
Imagine this: you leave your house for vacation. You live in a shady neighborhood but feel confident your locks are secure, but you also don’t checkthem daily. Are they really locked and safe? A tiny crack or hidden weakness could have occurred. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. That’s the risk of neglecting continuous cybersecurity…
Staying ahead of threats is a challenge for organizations of all sizes. Reported global security incidents grew between February and March of 2024. They increased by 69.8%. It’s important to use a structured approach to cybersecurity. This helps to protect your organization. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) created a Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).…
Microsoft Copilot has been heading up the business AI charge. It’s used in Word, Excel, Edge, Windows, and more. This genAI-powered app is also showing up invarious function-related activities. The latest of which is finance processes. Microsoft Copilot for Finance is a game-changer. It injects the power of next-generation AI into the heart of your…
This article takes you through 6 simple steps you can take to improve your cyber security and stay safe online. But why would we care about something like this? What is the point? Last year IBM reported US$4,500,000 being the average cost of a data breach1. Another article from Forbes reports that data breaches have…
Let’s face it, iPhones are amazing devices. But even the sleekest, most powerful iPhone can succumb to the dreaded slowdown. Apps take forever to load and scrolling feels sluggish. Pretty soon, simple tasks become frustrating ordeals. If your iPhone has gone from speedy sidekick to sluggish snail, don’t despair! We are sharing some easy tips…
Envision beginning your workday with a cup of coffee in hand and prepared to take on your responsibilities on your laptop. Nothing goes wrong when you log in and launch your work apps — no security alerts, no access problems. The effective team behind the scenes, Mobile Application Management (MAM) and Mobile Device Management (MDM),…
Shiny new tech can be exciting! It promises increased efficiency, happier employees, and a competitive edge. It’s also necessary to stay competitive in today’s technology-driven business world. But that promise can turn into a financial nightmare if you neglect two important things. These are employee training and change management. You can end up losing money…
Cyberattacks are a constant threat in today’s digital world. Phishing emails, malware downloads, and data breaches. They can cripple businesses and devastate personal lives. Employee error is the reason many threats get introduced to a business network. A lack of cybersecurity awareness is generally the culprit. People don’t know any better, so they accidentally click…
Working in a Cloud IT environment, we are faced with regular prompts for multi factor authentication (aka MFA, two-factor authentication, 2FA) and when faced with deadlines or large workloads – the need to find your mobile and approve an MFA request can be annoying. To help me overcome this frustration, I felt it was a…
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was an exciting one this year. It left us with a mind-blowing glimpse into the future of technology. CES 2024 showcased a smorgasbord of cutting-edge gadgets. Including transparent TVs and robot pet buddies. These gadgets promise to revolutionize our homes and the way we interact with the world. With…
Imagine a world where your lights turn on automatically as you walk in the door. Your coffee starts brewing before you even crawl out of bed. A simple voice command adjusts the temperature to your perfect setting. This is no longer just something out of a sci-fi movie. Today’s smart technology seamlessly integrates with your…
Data is the lifeblood of modern businesses. It fuels insights, drives decision-making, and ultimately shapes your company’s success. But in today’s information age, data can quickly become overwhelming. Scattered spreadsheets, siloed databases, and inconsistent formatting. All these create a data management nightmare. This hinders your ability to leverage this valuable asset. Let this guide serve…
Cyber threats are a perpetual reality for business owners. Hackers are constantly innovating. They devise new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. For businesses of all sizes, a proactive approach to cybersecurity is essential. One of the most crucial elements of this approach is regular vulnerability assessments. A vulnerability assessment is a…
Zero Trust security is rapidly transforming the cybersecurity landscape. It moves away from traditional perimeter-based security models. In this approach, every connection attempt is continuously verified before granting resource access. 56% of global organizations say adopting Zero Trust is a “Top” or “High” priority. This approach offers significant security advantages. But the transition process presents…
What are some of the key differentiators that can propel small businesses forward? They include efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Microsoft has expanded the availability of one of its most dynamic tools to SMBs. A tool that can be a real game-changer for growth. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a powerful new addition to the M365…
Calendars, task lists, and project planning are important business tools. Many people use Microsoft’s apps to power these processes. Including Planner, Microsoft To Do, and Project for the web. These tools help keep processes on track and enable task accountability. But they’re separate apps. Switching between apps can be cumbersome. It adds more complexity to…
The Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a futuristic concept. It’s rapidly transforming industries and reshaping how businesses operate. IoT is a blanket term to describe smart devices that are internet enabled. One example is smart sensors monitoring production lines. Connected thermostats optimizing energy consumption is another. Experts project the number of connected devices…
With cyber threats evolving at an alarming pace, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. It’s a must for safeguarding sensitive information. Data security threats are becoming more sophisticated and prevalent. The landscape must change to keep up. In 2024, we can expect exciting developments alongside persistent challenges. Over 70% of business professionals say their…
Have you been hearing more about email authentication lately? There is a reason for that. It’s the prevalence of phishing as a major security threat. Phishing continues as the main cause of data breaches and security incidents. This has been the case for many years. A major shift in the email landscape is happening. The…
Have you ever seen a video of your favorite celebrity saying something outrageous? Then later, you find out it was completely fabricated? Or perhaps you’ve received an urgent email seemingly from your boss. But something felt off. Welcome to the world of deepfakes. This is a rapidly evolving technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI). It…
Back when you were a kid, living in a “smart home” probably sounded futuristic. Something out of Back to the Future II or The Jetsons. Well, we don’t yet have flying cars, but we do have video telephones as well as smart refrigerators and voice-activated lights. But even the most advanced technology can have analog…
It can be challenging to keep up with the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. Companies need to process large amounts of data. As well as respond to incidents quickly and effectively. Managing an organization’s security posture is complex. That’s where Microsoft Security Copilot comes in. Microsoft Security Copilot is a generative AI-powered security solution. It provides…
Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses operate. It offers scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. But cloud services also come with a downside: cloud waste. Cloud waste is the unnecessary spending of resources and money on cloud services. These services are often not fully utilized or optimized. About 32% of cloud spending is wasted. This can…
We are living in an era dominated by digital connectivity. You can’t overstate the importance of cybersecurity. As technology advances, so do the threats that lurk in the online world. Often, it’s our own actions that leave us most at risk of a cyberattack or online scam. Risky behaviors include weak passwords and lax security…
Something we were talking the other day in the office about was the different types of IT security concerns that are very hard to mitigate. One of those concerns was a little USB key device called a Rubber Ducky that when plugged in to a computer, can wreak all sorts of havoc. We’ve written an article…
This morning, Lucidity presented a security workshop for patrons of our local business association. We delivered a presentation on how to improve your Cyber security position, and we demonstrated a little piece of technology called a Rubber Ducky. I thought this is probably worth writing about, as it’s a very real way hackers can get…
Microsoft Azure provides a user-friendly platform for managing your IT operations. With just a few clicks, you can deploy a wide range of IT resources to support your business strategy. However, navigating Azure’s financial landscape can be daunting. A single misstep, compounded over time, can lead to unexpectedly high costs. Choosing the wrong virtual machine…
QR codes are everywhere these days. You can find them on restaurant menus, flyers, and posters. They’re used both offline and online. QR codes are convenient and easy to use. You just scan them with your smartphone camera. You’re then directed to a link, a coupon, a video, or some other online content. With the…
Recent changes in Citrix and VMWare licensing have left organisations with an obvious choice for a cost-effective desktop and cloud computing platform to run business server infrastructure – Azure Virtual Desktop. Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is leading the way in the Gartner Quadrant for Desktop as a Service and has proven to be a secure cost-effective…
Smart home devices are becoming more popular and convenient. But they also pose some serious security risks. Hackers can target these devices to access your personal information. As well as spy on your activities or cause damage to your home. Often the dangers of smart home devices fall under the radar. Seventy-five percent of people…
Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field. There are new threats, technologies, and opportunities emerging every year. As we enter 2024, organizations need to be aware of current and future cyber threats. Businesses of all sizes and sectors should plan accordingly. Staying ahead of the curve is paramount to safeguarding digital assets. Significant changes are coming…
Microsoft Edge continues to redefine user experiences. This is due to Microsoft’s commitment to innovation. The latest updates bring a host of features. These are designed to enhance productivity, security, and browsing satisfaction. Chrome may have been number one for years. But Edge has been steadily gaining popularity. It is now the third most popular…
A personal review of the new Microsoft 365 Copilot AI assistant by Lucidity Technology Alignment Manager, Adam Saberton.
There are several Active Directory options in today’s cloud-centric world. This article demystifies and provides guidance on your best option.
This article summarises your Azure Virtual Desktop Domain join options – ADDS, Azure ADDS, Azure AD/Entra ID.
Endpoint Manager (Intune) will support Azure Virtual Desktop & Windows 10 multi-session, a more cost-effective approach to virtual desktops.
This article takes you through some of the differences between Azure Virtual Desktop Classic vs ARM, Microsoft’s upgrade to AVD.
This Azure Virtual Desktop review reveals a virtual desktop solution ready for the modern workplace. It’s modern, fast, and scalable.
This article details the Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 licencing requirements.
Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 are both cloud-based virtual desktop technologies provided by Microsoft. In this article we’ll look at some of the key Azure Virtual Desktop vs Windows 365 differences.
Lucidity has been at the forefront of remote desktop technology for over two decades. Until 2019, we operated our own hardware platforms hosted in New Zealand data centers. However, with the advent of Azure Virtual Desktop in 2019, we made a strategic decision to migrate all our customer platforms to Microsoft Azure over the next few years. At that time,…
Cloud computing is no longer a luxury for the significantly tech-savvy. It’s ability to streamline operations, boost collaboration and foster resilience in the digital world are only some of the reasons it’s a growing necessity for a growing number of businesses. Stating that migrating to the cloud isn’t optional for many businesses is now no…
Lucidity have a long history of partnering with Non – Profit Organisation’s throughout New Zealand to help with their important work. We were privileged to recently host an online webinar providing an overview of the discounted offerings relating to M365, Azure & Lucidity Cyber Security reviews for new and existing customers in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga…
Lucidity has been successfully migrating customers to Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and OneDrive for several years. During this time, we have developed robust processes to assist our clients in transitioning from outdated on-premise file servers and shared drives to modern, cloud-centric file systems that provide secure access from anywhere. One common challenge we encounter during file…
When natural disasters strike, the effects can be devastating, and the damage can be felt for years. One area that is particularly vulnerable to such events is our communication networks. In New Zealand, extreme weather events have exposed the fragility of the fibre network, which runs everything from voice calls to mobile data and broadband.…
Office 365, Teams, Exchange, SharePoint and OneDrive have quality of life & feature updates available and coming soon. See the list below for a more detailed breakdown of what each entails. Teams updates: New Teams Rooms licenses Microsoft Teams Rooms Standard ($21.79) and Microsoft Teams Rooms Premium retired Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic – $0 per…
It seems that nearly as long as passwords have been around, they’ve been a major source of security concern. Eighty-one percent of security incidents happen due to stolen or weak passwords. Additionally, employees continue to neglect the basics of good cyber hygiene. For example, 61% of workers use the same password for multiple platforms. And…
Project Background: Throughout the supply chain of Fresh Produce, from field to fork, Freshmax drives innovation and efficiency and manages commercial relationships across 87 countries spanning seven continents. Annually Freshmax handle more than 36 million boxes of fresh produce.The Freshmax Group comprises one of the largest fresh produce marketing and distribution operations across the Southern…
Project Background: During the Global Covid 19 Pandemic, a vast majority of industries had to work remotely very suddenly. New Zealand Travel Brokers had an important role in the repatriation effort, and so Lucidity offered substantially discounted Microsoft services to ensure that their businesses could continue to operate in a remote capacity and bring our…
Patrick Gower looks at the human toll of cyber crime Fearmongering or a new harsh reality? Patrick Gower’s latest documentary is a deep dive into the current state of cyber-crime and how it affects not only individuals, but businesses and organisations. You can watch the documentary on ThreeNow. “If you are anything like me you…
A story by one of our founders, Paul O’Brien, on how Lucidity came to be. I hadn’t given this too much thought until the other day… but crikey… it’s just dawning on me – we’ve been doing this 20 years! On the 1st August 2002, we signed a 60 month $100k contract to deliver a…
Whilst our team at Lucidity continue to work as an essential service, I was wondering how many other businesses where still working flat tack or sitting waiting and hoping for a reduction in Covid restriction levels. I recently broke my glasses and had been to the optometrist days before the level 4 lockdown had been…
Tasks in Teams Microsoft have recently deployed a new feature which integrates your Planner and To Do tasks in Microsoft Teams. Microsoft first announced this at the Microsoft Ignite conference last year and this exciting development is now upon us, bringing a cohesive task management experience to Microsoft Teams users. The Planner and To Do…
Our Lucidity 365 platform has some awesome new features which we released this week in our October update. We are excited to share these updates with you and work with our customers to develop their workspaces to drive collaboration and productivity. You can display YouTube videos in your workspace to share company news, provide helpful training, share success stories and more. The new YouTube tile allows you to easily embed YouTube videos on…
Lucidity are delighted to announce that last week, after 7 long years away, Andrew Morpeth has rejoined the Lucidity team. Andrew is a 7-time Microsoft MVP – this is an annual award for community contributions to Microsoft technology. Needless to say, but Microsoft MVPs are fairly thin on the ground here in New Zealand, so this…
As Bob Dylan once famously said “The times they are a changing (in the way we consume IT)” or something along those lines anyway… The ‘Modern Workplace’ is here, and remote/flexible working has become even more of a priority with recent global events. The IT Model of the Modern Workplace In 2020, the way people…
Protecting the legitimacy of your mailbox is essential in 2020 and email protection is now an integral part of the Managed Service Providers toolkit. When we talk about email protection, this comes in 2 flavours: Protection of the email coming in against mail born threats like spam, viruses, malware & phishing etc Protecting your domains…
Leading a team to deliver a project within a defined timeframe, whilst ensuring the goals are achieved and success criteria are met, is just the start of the many responsibilities of managing a project. With the changes COVID-19 has brought to our country, businesses have had to rapidly adjust to new ways of working. Managing…
Businesses that understand the importance of data and base business decisions on that data have a significant advantage over their competitors. One of the primary challenges to getting to this state is how you get this data and make it accessible to decision makers. Microsoft Power BI is a data visualizer. You provide it with…
Here at Lucidity, we’ve been delivering Remote Desktop Solutions for coming up on 20 years. Remote Desktop Solutions (and Cloud Telephone and Conferencing solutions) are what we call time-critical services.They are ‘real-time’ and require a solid, reliable, consistent internet connection to perform at their best. Poor internet, bad Wi-Fi connections and not enough internet bandwidth…
Last week we released a new video highlighting some exciting new features in our Lucidity 365 Workspace service. Check out the video below, or read on, as we highlight the new features in this blog post. The Lucidity 365 workspace continues to offer a range of modern workplace features like: Single Sign-On for Cloud Applications…
Microsoft Teams is a great productivity and collaboration tool that can bring your business together when you have staff working remotely or in disparate locations. In this handy guide, Lucidity breaks down how to get started with Teams and some tips on how to maximise your productivity using Microsoft Teams. In this quick-start guide…
This time last week, COVID-19 was rampant elsewhere in the world, but New Zealand still had under 10 known cases. We are now closer to 40 cases and businesses, including ours, are implementing their Business Continuity Plans and working out how to continue business as usual in these unprecedented times. As of right now, Lucidity…
According to an online Stuff Business article, BusinessNZ has told employers how to prepare for an outbreak of coronavirus. Want VS Need It’s in times like these, that the need for remote working and business continuity planning becomes highlighted as a need rather than a ‘nice to have’. It’s all well and good being told…
On the 5th of February, Lucidity rolled out the next incremental update to the Lucidity 365 product. This was a major update with a number of new features being rolled out. New features include: Shared Spaces It is now possible for admins to create Shared Spaces in Lucidity 365. Shared Spaces act as separate dashboards…
Lucidity has placed Microsoft technology at the heart of the design and development of a solution that is successfully delivering a truly modern workplace.
We are always developing new training workshops – tell us what interests you. If other people are interested too, we’ll build it for you.
Lucidity has created a new training workshop for Microsoft Teams, designed to ensure you’ll leverage the full capability of Teams, ranging from Voice to collaborating across continents.
In late July I had the opportunity to attend the Fortinet 2019 PartnerSync event in Bali. This was a 3-day event hosted by Fortinet for its partners where Fortinet deliver the latest network & cybersecurity trends & insights from top industry experts. Over the 3 days there were presentations, live demonstrations by Fortinet engineers and…
A couple of weeks ago Lucidity’s CEO, Paul O’Brien and I commenced our 15-hour journey to the Nevada Desert for Microsoft Inspire which was hosted in Las Vegas. Both being first time attendees, Paul and I weren’t exactly sure what to expect, and I think I speak for both of us when I say that the…
Lucidity is flying a senior member of its network engineering team to an advanced network and cyber security conference being held in Bali this month.
Lucidity is on the ground at Microsoft Inspire, soaking up high-level breakout sessions on Windows Virtual Desktop, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Power BI and much more.
Lucidity is now delivering training for the most popular Microsoft applications, in our new dedicated training room or at your place.
The Lucidity team has successfully completed one of the very first implementations of Microsoft Teams voice in New Zealand – with the solution now live at our long-time customer Professionals Real Estate.
Entering passwords is old school: Introducing a modern way of working. Lucidity 365 is a powerful new way to see all of your apps in one place – on any device – with all passwords pre-verified. No more remembering different passwords or searching for the app you need!
We all have a number of accounts online these days; our social media platforms, our email, internet banking, and that weird news site you once signed up to just because they wouldn’t let you read that article about puppies if you didn’t. Each of these accounts have one thing in common – login credentials. The…
Over the past few years, Wi-Fi technology has improved greatly, however it isn’t a case of one-size fits all. The requirements for a business in a large office space with continual traffic utilisation from many devices is very different to the Wi-Fi needed at home for casual internet access. What is an Access Point? An…
Acquisition announcement: Specialist cloud services company Lucidity Cloud Services has acquired managed service provider XSYS IT in a cash deal that adds 77 new customers and grows staff numbers to 32. Lucidity’s founder and CEO Paul O’Brien (pictured) says no job losses will result from the acquisition. Former XSYS IT CEO Simon Rowan takes up…
This blog is a follow-on of sorts from the current information available about our product called ‘Cloud Cover’, before reading the below I would suggest visiting the following link to give you a bit more context: Cyber Security As part of our Cloud Cover product, Lucidity uses a couple of tools to ensure that machines…
Over the past few months Lucidity have started making a bit of noise about our new product Lucidity 365. Paul, our CEO has written a blog about how excited he is about bringing a new modern way of working into the New Zealand market and I also did a blog post introducing the product in…
The May 2019 updates for Lucidity 365 will simplify the permission management, allowing admins the option to restrict users from customising in their workspace. Furthermore, there are new features which will make it easier to collaborate with your colleagues or others. New: Restrict users from editing the workspace It’s great when people can edit and…
Many issues that users and businesses face are often caused by DNS, as illustrated by one of my favourite troubleshooting tools on the internet – https://isitdns.com/ Mail failures, websites not loading, or even an inability to get into your Managed Desktop, most of the time it’s typically DNS. What is DNS? DNS stands for Domain Name System…
Lucidity will be ending support for Windows 7 Devices on the 30th of September 2019. This may result in Windows 7 devices being unable to connect to Lucidity services such as Managed Desktop. This is in preparation for the end of Microsoft’s extended support for Windows 7 Devices which ends on the 14th of January,…
Here at Lucidity we endeavour to provide our customers with the best service possible. If our customers start having issues with their Lucidity services we carry out several checks to help identify the root cause. The first series of checks is looking at the infrastructure which these services run on. Once these checks have been…
This is the third blog in our series about malicious emails. You can read the first two blogs, How to identify malicious emails and Is the mail really malicious by clicking on the links. What to do with a suspected malicious email The answer to this is quite simple: delete the email. You can ignore…
Following on from yesterdays blog, How to identify malicious emails, today we will look at whether the email is actually malicious and some techniques scammers use to make it seem legitimate. Is the mail really malicious? Please note that you need to weigh all the red flags in yesterday’s blog if you want to rule…
We all get our share of spam, some more than others. But how do we differentiate between simple commercial spam and the types of emails that are sent with malicious intent? The unsolicited commercial spam email is generally easy to recognise, report, and discard, but what about more dangerous types of spam? How can you…
Ben Williams, one of the stars of the Lucidity Service Desk, was announced as a winner of the inaugural 30 Under 30 Awards by Reseller News. He was one of the winners of the Technical Category. The requirements for this category were as follows: This award honours individuals who possess superior technical expertise and innovation…
Lucidity is pleased to announce the first range of updates for the Lucidity 365 product. These changes are going to be implemented on Wednesday night this week and will apply to all new and existing Lucidity 365 tenants. Announcement Centre The new Lucidity 365 Announcement Centre will allow you to create an announcement (including text,…
Recently we have been talking to more and more of our customers around the integrity of their data within cloud services, most notably Microsoft Office 365 but the concepts discussed here are also transferable to other cloud services. Office 365 is ubiquitous within business and Lucidity are constantly migrating customers and their data into the…
Five weeks ago, we had a desk move and reality struck me re: how much paper I had collected on my desk over the last 2 months (I recall cleaning my desk before Christmas). It was a personal shock to me so I set myself a goal to try going paperless and break the habit of printing…
On July 9th 2019, Microsoft will officially end extended support for the Microsoft SQL 2008 and 2008R2 products. This SQL version was a mainstay of databases for several years, particularly for the Web edition that made SQL more accessible to mainstream developers with its affordable pricing and powerful database engine. What does this mean…
A brief history recap Over the past 10 years there have been a lot of changes in the delivery of broadband internet within New Zealand. Just 10 years ago the vast majority of homes were still on dial up internet with broadband being delivered using ADSL v1 (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology. Next came ADSLv2…
My name is Paul O’Brien, and I am the founder of Lucidity. I started this business way back in 2002 as an IT engineer with an idea to use the Internet to deliver applications to users and eradicate onsite servers. We started with delivering Virtual Desktop solutions right back with Citrix v1.0 – we’ve been…
Day one on the front lines of desktop support for Lucidity, I was handed a headset with a smile and a “Good luck” from my new-found team. I gripped my headset tight in the trench anticipating the first call to come flying through. The phone line rings! The ringing echoes in my stomach, churning up…
With the launch of Lucidity’s Teams Voice service imminent, we decided to treat ourselves and get a new conferencing solution for our boardroom. We identified the Yealink CP960 Conference Phone as the device for us and this week it finally arrived. Paul, our CEO, was extremely excited about the new toy and almost as soon…
Over the past year we have been working hard on delivering a new product and a new way of working to the New Zealand market. With NZ having one of the highest adoption rates of Office 365 in the world, it was only a matter of time before a Kiwi business took the bull by…
At one of my first IT jobs working as a technician, I remember a lady running up to our helpdesk and desperately pleading with us to help her recover documents of a personal nature from an external hard drive that had broken. The documents? Her only copies of wedding photos and pictures of her first…
Here at Lucidity, we take network security seriously. The number of threats to your data is increasing daily, you just need to read the news to hear about another innocent person falling victim to digital degenerates, so to protect yourself and your data, you need to invest in good network protection systems. This is where…
In the world of collaborative online working, there are many different solutions that all claim to do the same thing. The problem with these is that they are usually disjointed and finicky to get up and running before or during your meetings. Introducing Microsoft Teams. Teams is a fantastic piece of kit to have in…
Update your password before you go so it doesn’t expire Our password policy means that if you are lucky enough to have a few weeks of leave and have not recently changed your password – there is a high chance that your password will expire over the Christmas period so please try and update your…
After my most recent blog – Not All Phone Systems are Created Equal – I figured I would do a follow-up piece on another feature of the Lucidity Cloud PBX platform. Contact Centre functionality doesn’t typically come cheap. I have experienced this first hand when looking to find a Contact Centre solution for Skype for…
Not so long ago, the majority of businesses purchased Microsoft licensing on a perpetual basis – a number of licenses are purchased based on user volume. If you added more users you then purchase some more, if your user numbers went down then you kept some spares on the shelf. Alongside this, you then paid…
In the Lucidity office, we have everything from obsessive desk tidiers who keep a never-ending supply of hand sanitizer on their desk, to me. I’m personally trying to improve my workspace. I had 3 monitors, laptops to repair, screwdrivers – the lot, all over my desk. Absolute chaos! I’ve now got rid of two of…
Office 365 is now a mature product that has enjoyed exponential growth over the past few years. With the release of Microsoft Office 2019 back in September 2018, now might be the time to consider the future of Office perpetual license products in your business. Cloud services have been around for a long time, but Microsoft…
There are many different options for VoIP phone systems out in the New Zealand market. The majority of these will come with a very similar set of features, stemming from the days of more traditional phone systems. For example, hunt groups, auto attendants or IVRs and hold music have all been around for years. In…
The internet is full of wonders. There are many interesting, useful or simply for fun websites that many people don’t know about. In this article, I will be covering some websites that may have useful archives, improve your productivity or simply have some fun. 1. https://combinepdf.com This helpful tools will help you combine multiple PDF…
Our support team have seen a few different types of malicious emails floating around over the last few weeks targeted at some of our customers so we thought we’d send a quick update out to address these types of emails and what you can do to keep them at bay. We have touched on many…
As a triage agent, our duty is to make sure that everything is prioritised and going to the right team, so we can resolve our customer’s issues as efficiently as possible. When the times are quiet, we are able to go through existing tickets and see if we are able to help out or follow…
We have all heard the horror stories in the media, companies big and small having their data held to ransom, or CFO’s & Finance teams being tricked into releasing large sums of money as payments requested by somebody masquerading as a CEO or GM. In my previous blog post, I mentioned that typically the first…
By Colin Williams, General Manager, Lucidity Here are 10 reasons why I believe Lucidity’s Managed Desktop offers the best technology of its kind in New Zealand. 1. No need to install any software If you have a Windows PC, you’ll be able to connect to the Managed Desktop without needing to install anything. This platform has been built…
Computer maintenance – A boring task that nobody enjoys, but it has to be done. Like checking the oil in your car, it needs to be checked, and if it’s time to change your filter, you change the filter. If you are going on a road trip, all the wheels on the car need to…
We are very lucky here in New Zealand as we have some of the best internet connectivity in the world. According to Ookla, we have the 16th fastest fixed broadband in the world, and the 13th fastest mobile internet. Having a fast, reliable internet connection is now a must for any business, and with the…
Office 365 has been very well received by organisations, and the platform has been an integral stepping stone to the cloud for many businesses. However, there are many features in Office 365 which are underutilised or not utilised at all. We live in a world where business-critical information is stored in emails, financial documents can…
Data security is more important than ever, but where does the responsibility lie?
Migrating to the cloud is hard! Make sense of the Cloud “alphabet soup” in this blog from Tony Campbell.
Prioritising tasks both at work and in day to day life is essential
Addressing human error can be a tricky task for your business.
A brief summary on some of our troubleshooting questions and why we ask them.
Explaining the benefits of an Endpoint Protection strategy vs solely antivirus
Learn how Lucidity’s print solution can save money for your business.
What is whaling and why should your business be wary of it?
Some quick hints and tips to use your Managed Desktop more effectively.
Irfaan explores the new data privacy regulations coming into effect in the EU and the impact it may have on Kiwi businesses.
In this blog, Zach Dickson checks whether any of his email addresses have been compromised in a data breach, and shares some top tips for ensuring your password is secure.
Lucidity has launched a new version of its flagship product, Managed Desktop. In this video, Zach Dickson goes through what he thinks are the 10 best new features.
Lucidity, an award-winning New Zealand managed services provider, has today announced the release of the latest version of Managed Desktop, a cloud-based remote desktop solution providing benefits including remote working options, reduced IT infrastructure costs and improved IT security.
Lucidity has been announced as a finalist in the 2017 Reseller News ICT Industry Awards nominated for the title of ‘Cloud Partner ‘.
We’re all familiar with the old school Microsoft tools available as Office 365 applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook — but some of us are not so familiar with the new ones. To help explain what apps are on offer, we’ve constructed an infographic
Around the world, cyber-crime is costing $600 billion of damages a year. It has affected many different sectors from hospitals, manufacturing, government agencies to schools and small businesses. No specific business sectors are left out from cyber-attacks. New Zealand is a small country and geologically somewhat isolated, but we are not immune from cyber-attacks
Lucidity is just starting out on our Veeam partnership journey so it was great to hear about other similar businesses that have already gone before us and begun successful partnerships with one of the leaders in the backup and recovery solutions sector.
Two years ago, following considerations around how to best meet its constantly changing business and IT requirements, along with costly IT infrastructure and a need for advanced disaster recovery capabilities, Cavalier Bremworth decided to undergo an IT transformation and move to a cloud-managed IT services model.
When I made the big jump from the Telco industry into Cloud Services, one of the things I was most looking forward to was getting to learn about, and play with, new technology. One of the technologies I was most excited about was Skype for Business…
So another round of ransomware cyberattacks has broken out and infected and caused havoc to businesses around the globe. The virus spread very quickly across Europe and has now arrived in New Zealand.
Last week saw me attend the Exclusively NZ Data Centre disruption event hosted by Alex Teh and his team at Exclusive Networks. I received an extended invitation by Alex to be part of a discussion panel covering topics around Data Centre transformation in the form of Hyper-Converged Hardware technologies.
Distribution companies are responsible for the flow of products from producers and manufacturers to consumers. Among the biggest challenges for distribution companies is reducing operating costs. System up-time and resilience of services is critical and margins can be slim.
In 2016, New Zealand cloud-services company, Lucidity, redesigned its database service using Microsoft SQL Server 2016. With every element of database management – including specialist DBA support – bundled into a single subscription, it can provide an economical, all-in-one, managed data-platform service to small and medium-sized business, radically re-shaping its own market.
With IT productivity and security ticked off in his previous blogs, Zach runs through the cloud readiness of Windows Server 2016.
Find out what Colin has to say about Microsoft Teams – a new collaboration platform integrated into Office 365.
Lucidity, a leading New Zealand provider of cloud services, has won the Managed Service of the Year award category at the annual Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards 2017.
The blog of an Account Manager and IT pro specialising in managed IT services, including Managed Desktop, Office 365, Exchange and Skype for Business.
Seating To Go is benefitting from improved staff collaboration following adoption of Lucidity’s cloud services including Microsoft Office 365
Read on to learn about the security advantages and migration techniques of cloud-based tools. You may have heard a lot about the benefits of the cloud, but do you know why — or how— it can help elevate your business?
With so many options for collaboration and productivity, how do point solutions compare to an all encompassing suite? See how Office 365’s collaboration platform fares in a side by side comparison with standalone enterprise tools.
Here are 5 key reasons to use a Managed Service Provider, such as Lucidity, to assist you with your Office 365 migration.
Lucidity today announced it has been named a finalist for the Managed Service of the Year Award for the 10th annual New Zealand Partner Awards 2017.
This week, Lucidity launched an amazing Office 365 autumn promotion. Businesses who purchase subscriptions for the Office 365 Enterprise E3 plan can benefit from a free ‘Introduction to Office 365’ course for up to twenty users.
After discussing the security features of Windows Server 2016 in his previous blog, Zach discusses the second main feature of Server 2016,Improving IT Efficiency and Productivity.
Amazon’s S3 web-based storage service has been having some major issues today (1 March, 2017), and while this doesn’t affect Lucidity’s customers in any way, we are all watching on with interest to see how this impacts the overall cloud-service discussion.
A customer since 2007, Paul Borrie, Director, explains why helloworld Lower Hutt, initially chose Lucidity to bring all its disparate IT systems together…
With the release of Microsoft’s latest server platform, Windows Server 2016, Microsoft is leading the way in terms of both keeping up to date with existing threats, as well as planning ahead to neutralise attacks in the future.
Office 365 has been around for over five years since its full release in 2011, highlighting not only the maturity of the service itself, but of cloud services in general.
When choosing a provider to host your data on their cloud file storage platform, the first questions you should be asking is what level of security they have in place to look after your data. If it is anything less than banking grade levels of encryption & security, you should run and not look back!
A review of Microsoft New Zealand Partner Connect 2016 Conference
Lucidity has recently provided support to Accelerating Aotearoa, a charitable entity that focuses on increasing digital capability in underserved communities.
This year’s Microsoft Ignite conference was filled with lots of great sessions. The keynote kicked things off with a wide range of technologies being showcased from bots you can use to easily interact with Azure…
Auckland based cloud services provider MHA Cloud Computing, a Microsoft Gold Hosting Partner, has unveiled a new company name as part of a rebranding initiative to position the company for strong future growth.
Fortis Travel, Auckland’s leading corporate travel agency specialising in Business, Holidays and Group travel has decided to adopt Lucidity’s cloud based Managed Desktop service.
News story is work in progress….
Several IT businesses have closed down in recent times, highlighting the importance of carrying out checks on your provider before closing the deal.
Lucidity was proud to be shortlisted as a finalist for the 2016 Reseller News ICT Industry Awards, that took place in the Langham Hotel on October 12 in Auckland.
Lucidity has been working with Microsoft and Enterprise IT to offer a suite of high performance, highly available SQL Server database options which come fully bundled with support and service.
Once you are onboard with CloudOS and your own Private Cloud has been set up by the team at Lucidity, you can use the Tenant Control Panel Portal to administer your Virtual Servers and Networks and securely connect to Server Desktop Consoles and resources.
The key first step to setting up your CloudOS tenant is to configure the networks you want to build your services on.
Long standing NZ Cloud Services Provider Lucidity, has today launched a new Infrastructure as a Service offering in the NZ market.
Now in its eighth year, the annual Microsoft Partner Awards event recognises excellence in the IT sector from within the Microsoft partner network.
Lucidity today announced it has attained Microsoft’s Gold Hosting competency, which demonstrates a best-in-class ability and commitment to customer service and the best in hosting solutions.
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If you are interested in IT Solutions or Managed IT Services, fill the form below and we will be in touch
