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Armstrong Bell Blog

Partnering with Arrow enables Armstrong Bell to streamline its supply chain

Partnering with Arrow enables Armstrong Bell to streamline its supply chain

19 August 2023

With its expertise and knowledge, Arrow is equipped and ready to support Armstrong Bell to deliver a wide range of products and expertise to our customers.


Armstrong Bell has completed its acquisition of Control & Shift

Armstrong Bell has completed its acquisition of Control & Shift

05 July 2022

Armstrong Bell is pleased to announce that we have completed our acquisition of Control & Shift.  Control & Shift provide a range of IT services including local IT support, Microsoft 365, and web and server hosting.


Armstrong Bell Celebrates 12 Year Relationship with The Sweet Project

Armstrong Bell Celebrates 12 Year Relationship with The Sweet Project

10 May 2022

Armstrong Bell has cemented our long-term relationship with local social enterprise The Sweet Project by providing more services and assisting them to move to new premises.


IT in odd places

IT in odd places

11 March 2022

I am sure you enjoy it when a project comes along that's a bit different to your day-to-day. It's an opportunity to use your existing skillset and likely to learn something new at the same time....


Microsoft 365 price rises

Microsoft 365 price rises

24 February 2022

We’ve been aware of a price rise coming on Microsoft 365 subscriptions since last Autumn, but they have only now confirmed the details – less than a month before the new prices come...


You've got 45 seconds...

You've got 45 seconds...

26 January 2022

At our BNI networking group we give a 45 second presentation each week on our company - yes, just 45 seconds! It used to be called an 'elevator pitch' (in the 1980's I think...) - the idea being...


How long are IT issues taking to be resolved?

How long are IT issues taking to be resolved?

05 January 2022

Have you had an IT issue that affected your operations for days or even weeks? Maybe the internet is down, or  email, but the resultant effect that’s it had on business is tangible....


Two are better than one

Two are better than one

21 October 2021

Two is better than one – if you’ve ever temporarily lost the use of a part of your body like an arm, leg or eye, then you can likely attest to that! At Control and Shift we’ve...


Too many IT cooks spoil the business broth

Too many IT cooks spoil the business broth

01 October 2021

In any sector, when there are multiple suppliers involved problems can arise. Nowhere is that more true than your technology with internet providers, hardware manufacturers, software developers,...


Still running your own office server? Why?!

Still running your own office server? Why?!

17 September 2021

Now for some companies, there can still be good reason to have your own server running, but in 2021 that’s an ever-decreasing list. The option to move your business onto the cloud is...


Business Networking

Business Networking

05 September 2021

We have been involved with BNI networking groups since 2007 and they have been a valuable source of new business. Since June 2020 Control and Shift has been part of the Rainbow BNI group based in...


The perils of long IT contracts

The perils of long IT contracts

02 September 2021

I got a call yesterday from a new client that things were not going smoothly with them giving notice to their current IT. They sent me all their current contracts and asked for advice. Looking...


What's in our name?

What's in our name?

13 August 2021

We get a lot of compliments about our name, but a bit of confusion too: “Hello is that Shift + Delete” (nope) “Hi, is that Shift + Control” (getting closer) “Hi is...


IT Support focussed on service not sales

IT Support focussed on service not sales

21 July 2021

It was a couple of years ago now, but I was shown a quote from another IT support provider to a company I was in talks with. Their solution involved a new server for this 10 person business...


You may be surprised at what you find

You may be surprised at what you find

16 July 2021

When we speak to businesses who have somehow made it through to the year 2021 without any IT support, they often say “we’ll just need some help for a couple of months, until it settles...


Why outsource your IT Support?

Why outsource your IT Support?

05 July 2021

We provide outsourced IT support services – which we feel can be an improvement on a number of fronts when compared to employing an in-house IT admin. Pricewise we compare very favourably...


Keeping your data safe

Keeping your data safe

28 June 2021

Financial investors are often advised to ‘only invest what they are prepared to lose’ – and that’s a good adage for your company’s data too, only I would suggest...


Less is not better

Less is not better

10 June 2021

I once stayed in a hotel in London owned by one of the big chains. In my room were stickers everywhere assuring me that the reason I had no coat hangers/drinks glasses/hand towels was because they...


How much IT downtime is acceptable?

How much IT downtime is acceptable?

04 June 2021

How long is acceptable for your business to be without an internet connection or without access to email? With a 4G backup connection there is no need for you ever to be without a connection now,...


Support for businesses with only 1 or 2 users

Support for businesses with only 1 or 2 users

04 June 2021

We’ve always been very open about our pricing. It’s on our website - £45.00 per user per month. And that’s because that’s exactly how our service works - once the...


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