PTCC Tech
Your Tech,
How It Works & What to Expect
What Tech sets you up with, how we keep everything secure, and what you can do to hold up your end.
Your Setup
What you get from day one.
Tech sets everything up before it hits your desk. You just show up.
Standard issue โ every staff member
๐ป MacBook
โจ๏ธ Keyboard
๐ฑ๏ธ Mouse
๐ Laptop Stand
๐ฅ๏ธ Monitor
Some roles โ Worship, Comms, Video, and Production โ get upgraded specs. Tech will let you know what applies to you. Need a dock, hub, or adapter for your workflow? Just ask.
5
Year Lifespan
After that, we'll get you a fresh setup before things get unreliable.
Security & What to Expect
We protect your device โ and everyone on it.
Your laptop has several layers of protection running in the background. Here's what they are and what you might notice.
๐
Device Management (MDM)
Lets us push updates and wipe your device remotely if it's lost or stolen.
Always on
๐ซ
Software Restrictions
Unapproved software can't be installed. Keeps the network clean. Need something? Just ask.
You may notice this
๐
Web & DNS Filtering
Blocks malicious sites and inappropriate content at the network level. Something caught incorrectly? Let us know.
You may notice this
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Email Security
Scans every email for phishing and malware. Low-risk flags go to your quarantine. Serious threats go to Tech.
Always on
๐ก๏ธ
Endpoint Protection
Watches quietly for malware and ransomware. You won't notice it unless it finds something.
Always on
๐ฑ
Multi-Factor Authentication
A second step on every login. The most effective protection against account takeover.
Required for all staff
๐
Geo-Block on Logins
M365 and your Mac block logins from outside the US. Traveling abroad? Tell Tech before you go.
Heads-up required
โ๏ธ
Cloud Backups
Our M365 environment โ email, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive โ is backed up daily and fully recoverable.
Always on
๐
Password Manager (Keeper)
Work passwords will live in Keeper โ not your browser or a sticky note.
Coming Soon
๐
Password Manager โ Coming Soon
Software & Tools
We're a Microsoft 365 organization.
PTCC runs on Microsoft 365. Before adding a new subscription, ask Tech first โ we likely already have it. We consolidate around tools everyone uses, and lean into Teams whenever we can.
๐ก
Need something new? Ask Tech first. A few great tools used by everyone beats a dozen niche apps used by one team.
๐ฌ
Microsoft Teams
Chat, calls, meetings, and file sharing โ our primary hub for everything
Primary platform
๐ง
Outlook
Email and calendar for all staff. Always use your @prestontrail.org address
Required
๐
SharePoint & OneDrive
Church files in SharePoint, personal work files in OneDrive. Not Google Drive or Dropbox
Required for file storage
๐
Microsoft Forms & Lists
Surveys, sign-ups, and simple data tracking โ already in your account
Already in your account
๐
Microsoft Office
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint โ fully licensed. Use these for shareable deliverables, not Google Docs
Fully licensed
๐ฌ
Clerk SMS
SMS for ministry and congregation outreach, integrated with Teams
Runs inside Teams
โ
Microsoft Planner
Task tracking and team boards built into M365 โ no separate tool needed
Already in your account
๐
OneNote
Shared notebooks for meeting notes, ministry planning, and team documentation โ syncs across all devices
Already in your account
๐
Microsoft Bookings
Online scheduling for appointments and staff availability โ connects directly to Outlook calendars
Already in your account
Buying Equipment
Before you buy anything โ check with Tech.
๐ค
All tech equipment belongs to the church and is shared. A ministry might be the primary user of a piece of gear, but Tech administers it, tracks it, and makes sure it can serve everyone when needed. Before your ministry buys anything โ check with us first. We may already own it.
If it plugs in, has a battery, or connects to a network โ it goes through Tech.
๐ป
Computers & Tablets
MacBooks, iPads, and any computing device
Talk to Tech
๐
Docks, Hubs & Adapters
Need a dock or adapter for your setup? Tech can provide these โ just ask before buying your own
Ask Tech first
๐ก
Networked Devices
Anything that connects to our Wi-Fi or runs an app
Talk to Tech
๐ฅ๏ธ
Displays & Projectors
TVs, monitors, projectors, LED walls
Talk to Tech
๐
Speakers
Portable, installed, and networked audio
Talk to Tech
๐๏ธ
Microphones
Handheld, lapel, headset, and audio interfaces
Talk to Tech
๐ก
Lighting
Fixtures, dimmers, LED strips, stage lighting
Talk to Tech
๐๏ธ
Presentation & Control
Clickers, mixers, control surfaces, smart home gear
Talk to Tech
โจ
Special Effects
Hazers, snow machines, fog, blacklights, disco balls
Talk to Tech
Buy whatever you want โ no need to ask
No approval needed
Earbuds & personal headphones
Desk decorations
Mouse pads
Ergonomic accessories
Monitor risers & laptop stands
Personal phone chargers & cables
Your Part
What you can do to help.
Tech handles the infrastructure โ but security and good habits are a two-way street. Here's what we need from you.
Your Device
โ
Tell us right away if something's wrong.
Slow, damaged, acting weird โ even something small. Small problems are easy to fix. Ignored ones aren't.
โ
Don't leave it visible and unattended.
A car seat, coffee shop table, or unlocked office is an easy target. Take it with you or lock it out of sight.
โ
Personalize with a case, not the device.
Stickers and colors are great on a case. The laptop itself stays clean so it's ready for the next person.
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Don't wait until it's a crisis to say something.
The longer a problem sits, the harder โ and more expensive โ it gets to fix.
Security
โ
Use strong, unique passwords.
Never reuse passwords or store them in notes, docs, or sticky notes. Keeper is coming to help.
โ
Don't open links or attachments you weren't expecting.
Even from someone you know โ if they didn't tell you it was coming, verify before you click.
โ
Report anything that feels off.
Weird email, unexpected prompt, something seems wrong โ tell Tech. Early is always better.
โ
Don't share your login with anyone.
Your account is yours alone. If someone needs access, Tech can set it up the right way.
Microsoft 365
โ
Keep church data in SharePoint.
Staff info, attendee records, and ministry files belong in SharePoint โ not personal drives, email, or anywhere outside M365.
โ
Don't use personal accounts for work tasks.
No personal Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud for church files. Your @prestontrail.org account is your work account.
Buying Equipment
โ
Ask Tech before buying anything that plugs in.
Computers, speakers, displays, cables with network capability โ we may already own it, and we need to track it regardless.
โ
Don't assume ministry-funded means ministry-managed.
Even if your budget is paying for it, all equipment belongs to the church. Tech needs to set it up and track it.