Back Office Computing

Memo to: everyone who looks after the office computers

The unglamorous computer jobs that keep a small office running.

Backups, passwords, laptops, software terms, account records and invoice fraud, written for people who have other jobs too.

Drawer 1 · BackupsA Backup Routine a Small Office Will Actually KeepMost small offices have a backup plan on paper and gaps in practice. A simple routine, written down and tested, beats an elaborate one nobody follows.
Drawer 2 · PasswordsPasswords and Shared Logins in a Small OfficeSmall teams share logins out of convenience and then lose track of who knows what. A password manager and a few house rules fix most of it.
Drawer 3 · HardwareChoosing an Office Laptop Without OverspendingA laptop for office work does not need to be the fastest on the shelf. It needs to be reliable, comfortable, supported for years and easy to recover when it fails.
Drawer 4 · ContractsReading Software Terms Before You Click AcceptNobody reads every licence in full, but a few minutes on the right clauses tells you what you are paying for, how to leave and what happens to your data.
Drawer 5 · RecordsKeeping a Record of Your Office's Online AccountsA small office can easily use dozens of online services. An account register, kept up to date, turns a scramble into a five-minute lookup.
Drawer 6 · EmailSpotting Phishing Emails and Fake InvoicesSmall offices are a favourite target for fake invoices and payment-change requests. A few habits stop most of them before money moves.

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