Identity, email, collaboration and device management
Microsoft 365 is our preferred platform for business email, Office applications, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, identity and device management.
Our technology platform
Technology standards that make businesses easier to support.
Q10 has a preferred technology platform for the systems we manage most often. Standardising the important parts helps us support people more effectively, reduce unnecessary variation and keep security and maintenance consistent.
What we prefer to support
A common foundation across the environments we manage.
The platform is less about a particular logo and more about choosing business-grade products that can be managed, secured, documented and supported properly.
Supported Windows devices
We prefer current business-grade computers running a supported Windows Professional edition, with suitable warranty coverage and enough performance for the role.
Wi-Fi, switching and routing
For ordinary business networks, Q10 commonly uses UniFi wireless access points, managed switches and gateways or routers. They can be centrally managed and documented without making an ongoing device subscription the default just to keep core network features working.
Business phones and headsets
Q10 commonly uses Yealink desk phones and headsets for business phone systems because they are straightforward to deploy, manage and support across everyday office and reception environments.
Independent recovery capability
Important business data should have an independent backup and a recovery process that can be tested, rather than relying only on retention inside the production platform.
Protection that follows the user and device
Identity, endpoint, email and device controls matter wherever the person is working, not only while the device is connected to the office network.
Security beyond the office network
A laptop should not become less protected because it left the office.
A business network is only one security layer. Team members also work from home, hotels, airports, client sites, mobile hotspots and public Wi-Fi, so we do not treat the office firewall as the whole security boundary.
IdentityAccess controls, MFA and sign-in policies continue to apply wherever the user connects from.
EndpointsManaged security, patching and device controls stay with the computer when it leaves the office.
NetworkBusiness-grade Wi-Fi, switching, routing and firewall controls still protect and separate the systems at the site.
Where more is requiredIf compliance or a genuine technical requirement calls for additional firewall, inspection or network security capability, we design for it.
Business computer baseline
Buy equipment that can do the job for its useful life.
Cheap consumer hardware often costs more to support and replace. For ordinary business desktops and notebooks, Q10 generally recommends a current business-class specification rather than buying to the bare minimum.
ProcessorIntel Core i5, AMD Ryzen 5 or an appropriate current business equivalent.
Memory16GB is a sensible starting point for most current business workloads.
StorageSolid-state storage, sized for the workload, with 256GB as a practical minimum for ordinary office use.
Operating systemA current supported Windows Professional edition rather than a consumer Home edition.
WarrantyBusiness warranty coverage, preferably three years with onsite or next-business-day support where available.
Why standardise
Less variation means fewer avoidable support problems.
When every site, computer and service is built differently, more time is spent rediscovering how things work. A sensible standard gives the support team a known starting point and makes documentation, security and replacement planning easier.
That does not mean every client has to look identical. Specialist applications, industry equipment and existing investments are considered on their merits. The aim is to make the environment easier to operate, not to replace working technology for the sake of standardisation.
Technology platform FAQ
What our preferred platform means in practice.
The platform is a support standard, not a requirement to throw away equipment that still makes sense.
Do we have to replace our existing computers and systems?
No. Q10 first assesses whether the existing equipment is supported, secure and suitable for the role. Replacement is recommended where there is a genuine support, security, reliability or lifecycle reason.
Do you only support products on this page?
No. Businesses often have specialist applications, industry systems and existing hardware that need to remain in place. We support and coordinate those systems where practical, while using preferred standards for the common parts of the environment.
Why does Q10 prefer Microsoft 365?
It brings business email, identity, Office applications, collaboration and device management into one platform that can be managed and secured consistently. It is also widely supported across the businesses and applications our clients use.
Why do you recommend business-grade computers?
Business models generally provide better warranty options, consistent hardware configurations and longer support lifecycles. That makes replacement, troubleshooting and fleet management simpler than relying on changing consumer models.
Can we choose a different brand of computer or network equipment?
Usually, yes. The more important question is whether the product is business-grade, supportable and fits the agreed management and security requirements. Q10 may recommend preferred models where consistency materially improves support.
Does Q10 use the same standards internally?
Yes. Where practical, Q10 operates on the same types of platforms and standards we recommend to clients. That gives our team direct experience with the environment we are asking clients to rely on.
Start with what you already have
We do not need a clean-sheet environment to support you.
Tell us what the business uses today. We can work out what should stay, what needs attention and where standardisation would actually make things easier.
Talk to Q10
1300 110 210Townsville & Cairns