The best advice on how to find a trusted IT consultant

Finding a great IT consultant that you can trust is the bane of many a company director. Just how can you know whether you’ve found the perfect fit for your organization. It’s not simply a case of choosing the nearest IT consultant to your business or trusting the first IT consultant that you find. IT is becoming more important and more crucial to the effective running of a business. That means these people will play a critical role in the ongoing success of your business. You don’t want to trust that responsibility to someone who isn’t up to the task. Choosing the wrong consultant means putting your business, your livelihood and the livelihoods of your employees at risk.

If you want to find the best IT consultant for your company here’s what you should and shouldn’t do.

 

What to do when looking for an IT consultant

 

Have a clear brief

It’s hard for IT consultants to provide an accurate quote or give your business an accurate appraisal if you aren’t sure why you need an IT consultant or what you want them to do. Make sure your IT budget is clear, your goals are laid out and that every stakeholder is in agreement on the direction you want to take.

 

Search far and wide for the best fit

It may sound like common sense but you’d be amazed how many people stop looking for IT consultants after they’ve spoken to a couple. There are hundreds of IT consultant near you, so don’t stop until you’ve found several that you think you could be happy with.

 

Don’t pin everything on your IT guy

Some businesses have a tendency to pin everything that goes wrong on the IT guy. This is a bad mindset to have and one that can see you run through several great IT consultants. The truth is that sometimes things go wrong for no reason. The important thing is that your IT consultant has a backup and recovery plan for when things do go awry.

 

Make sure you cover your lack of skills

There is no point hiring a yes man IT consultant who is going to agree with everything you say. Instead, look for someone who has a complementary set of skills to your own so that they can add serious value to your business. You want them to offer advice, not to do what you say.

 

What not to do when hiring an IT consultant

Don’t think that your IT consultant will do it all

When some companies hire an IT consultant, they think they can absolve themselves of all IT-related responsibilities. This isn’t the case and it can quickly lead to a breakdown in the relationship if you aren’t willing to take charge of certain matters.

 

Go for the cheapest option

Yes, IT can be expensive. But it is one of the most critical parts of your business. It’s worth paying for quality professionals. Picking the cheapest option is almost certain to end in failure.

For more information on managed IT support and we can help protect your business’ digital assets, get in touch with our team. Call our sales and support team on 281-768-4800 today.

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How to protect your business from ransomware

As a small and medium-sized business, you are just as much at risk of a ransomware attack as large enterprises. In fact, you may be even more susceptible. That’s because hackers know you have limited resources with which to defend the attack, making your business a much easier target.

Don’t be an easy target. Here’s how you can protect your business from ransomware.

 

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a computer virus that will threaten to delete your files unless you a fee (the ransom). Hackers download software onto your device without you or your employees knowing about it, which will automatically start encrypting files. This is usually achieved through a phishing email.

 

How you can protect your business

Here are several steps that you can use to make sure your business is protected against ransomware attacks.

Back up your files

The entire threat of ransomware is that businesses are unable to access their files. But this isn’t a problem for businesses who have backed up their files in the cloud or on separate devices. Either way, these files won’t be affected by the attack meaning you can wipe your machines and download the backed up data.

 

Update everything

Yes, updating every piece of software you use can be a huge pain, but there is a good reason for it. A lot of updates are patches to security issues that make them vulnerable to attacks. It can be tempting to leave updates until the program stops working, but you should always update as soon as one is available.  

 

Use an antivirus software

Antivirus software is essential for any business. A robust antivirus solution will automatically block some malware or ransomware downloads. The better the solution, the more ransomware attacks it will block. Of course, you’ll need to keep this updated, too.

 

Keep your staff informed

Small and medium-sized businesses often make easy targets for ransomware attacks because they don’t train staff on the dangers of opening unsolicited emails or visiting unsecured websites. Regular training is essential to avoid your employees accidentally downloading ransomware onto their computers.

 

Don’t pay the ransom

Do you know what paying the ransom does to hackers? It encourages them to target your business again and to target other businesses like yours. Besides, if you have followed the advice above they’ll be no need to pay the ransom as all of your files will have been backed up.

If you’re at all concerned about ransomware, the most important thing is to seek professional advice. For expert information on protecting your business from a ransomware attack, get in touch with our team. Call our sales and support team on 281-768-4800 today.

 

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How managed IT support can protect your business’ digital assets

It’s not unusual for business owners to think that managed IT support isn’t necessary for them. In some cases, such as small local mom and pop stores, they are absolutely correct. Managed IT support isn’t essential. But for larger businesses, ones that rely on computers and networks to generate revenue, managed IT support can offer essential help and guidance.

The need for managed IT is getting more important for SMBs by the day. The more businesses rely on technology for day-to-day business operations, the more crucial having IT support to hand is. What happens if your network goes down? What happens if a natural disaster results in your business losing all of its data? What happens if your business comes under a cyber attack?

All of these problems can be planned for and resolved by working with a company that provides managed IT support. By working behind the scenes, a company like ours can make sure that all of your business’ critical digital assets are protected so that you can focus on the work that matters.


Here are three ways we can help your business.

 

A proactive approach to IT maintenance

When it comes to IT issues, nine out of ten SMBs take a reactive approach rather than a proactive approach. When something goes wrong, they ring up an IT company to help. It gets fixed and they don’t think about IT again until something else goes wrong. This is completely the wrong attitude to take. An IT support company will take a proactive approach to IT monitoring and maintenance This means that a company like us will keep a close eye on all of your systems, update those systems where necessary and ensure that you are much less likely to suffer an IT problem than if you had continued to bury your head in the sound.

 

Threat reduction and management

Your business is at high risk of suffering a cyber attack. Yes, even if your business is relatively small, it is at risk. In fact, smaller businesses are more at risk than corporate entities because you have fewer resources to tackle these attacks. But not if you trust a managed IT support company watching your back. We can ensure you are protected by enterprise level software like firewalls and antivirus programs, as well as educating your team on how they can reduce the threat of cyber attacks.

 

Data backup and recovery

Data backup is essential for small and medium-sized businesses. Yet so many SMBs have no backup system in place. One reason is that developing and implementing such a system is incredibly time consuming and requires a significant amount of skill. Luckily, a managed IT support team can take care of this for you and create a comprehensive backup system that ensures your data is protected and recoverable should you ever need to access it.

For more information on managed IT support and we can help protect your business’ digital assets, get in touch with our team. Call our sales and support team on 281-768-4800 today.

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How cloud computing can enhance your business

The cloud has completely changed the way that many businesses operate. Offering a cheaper, easier and more effective solution to onsite servers, more and more businesses are deciding to switch to a cloud solution. If your business isn’t leveraging the cloud, you should definitely consider it. Here are three major ways that cloud computing can transform and enhance your business.

 

The cloud is much more cost-effective

The cloud can cut costs significantly for your business. On-site servers are incredibly expensive to set up and run. And they aren’t scalable, either. So when you need a tiny bit more storage space, you have to pay for significantly more than you need. Cloud storage, on the other hand, is incredibly cheap and it’s scalable. You can add or remove storage facilities instantly whenever you need. There’s no paying for storage that you don’t need or continuing to pay for storage when your business no longer needs it.

 

The cloud is incredibly diverse

Data storage is probably the first thing that businesses think about when you ask them about the cloud. But that’s just one facet of a cloud solution. There are several other ways that businesses can leverage the cloud such as through Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications such as Google Docs and Slack. These digital services don’t require a significant amount of space on your machine and they aren’t locked to single machines either. That enables your employees to take these apps with them wherever they are and whatever machine they are using.

This also makes it much easier to backup, recover and access your files, work and apps remotely. It doesn’t matter what happens on-site. Even if your building burns down and all of your computers are destroyed, you’ll still be able to access your work on another machine.

Finally, it also facilitates collaboration within companies and between businesses. The cloud makes it easy for employees and businesses to quickly and securely share files without having to rely on email or USBs.

 

The cloud can offer greater security

The cloud isn’t perfect and it won’t make your data and files completely secure — it can even open you up to more security issues — but it is almost certainly more secure than the current IT setup of most SMBs. With cloud computing, everything is kept securely offsite, normally in an encrypted format. That means you can limit access to the data and ensure that people can’t download it or access it without permission. Employees, clients and competitors can’t steal data without you being alerted to it first.

For more information on managed IT support and we can help protect your business’ digital assets, get in touch with our team. Call our sales and support team on 281-768-4800 today.

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How a remote managed service provider can manage your network

Business owners have more than enough on their plate without having to worry about keeping their business’ IT network in shape. Yet this is the responsibility that tens of thousands of small business owners across the country take on when they choose not to hire an IT support company to manage their network.

When you outsource your IT to a managed service provider, tasks such as updating software, implementing firewalls and backing up data are taken off your plate for good. Even better, you don’t have to have IT staff in your office. IT support can be carried out remotely so you get the peace and quiet you need to work.

If you’re considering a managed IT service provider, here are three ways we can help manage your business network.

 

Constant up-to-date and secure systems

It can seem like a system or a piece of software has to be updated every single day. That’s why many business owners simply ignore these messages whenever they appear. Doing so is putting the business at risk, however. When you don’t apply updates promptly, you put your systems at risk of exploitation or failure. Patches are created whenever a fault with a piece of software is identified. So the longer you leave your systems unpatched, the greater the likelihood of your business suffering an attack.

When you hire an IT support company, you don’t have to worry about keeping your systems and software up-to-date. Your service provider will do everything remotely and as soon as possible. This doesn’t just make your business more secure, it also gets rid of the annoying warning messages that appear every time you start your machine.

 

No annoying site visits

Having IT teams buzzing around the office can be a big distraction to staff. Distractions cost money, which is why managed IT services will always be carried out remotely where possible. Thanks to the technology of today, there isn’t much that can’t be completed remotely, meaning you will rarely have to see your IT team at all.

Some IT management providers will charge extra for on-site fees and do everything they can to ensure on-site visits are necessary. But with a respectable and reliable IT service provider, this issue isn’t a problem. In fact, the reverse is true. These companies will want to keep on-site visits to a minimum in order to ensure expenses are as low as possible.

Of course, no on-site visits whatsoever isn’t a good thing either. Some things have to be taken care of in person. That’s why when site visits are necessary an effective IT support company will make sure they are there to do the job properly.

 

Remote monitoring and threat detection

While having up-to-date systems will keep threats to a minimum, it won’t remove them completely. That’s why managed service providers will also provide a remote monitoring service that can track, identify and eliminate threats as soon as they appear.

For more information on managed IT support and we can help protect your business’ digital assets, get in touch with our team. Call our sales and support team on 281-768-4800 today.

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Why Small Businesses Should Outsource IT Support

Small businesses that were once hesitant have started to integrate tech into their structure. Their lowering costs, improving features, and increasing accessibility help fuel their adoption.

However, it’s only a matter of time until these small businesses get overwhelmed. Technology doesn’t run itself. It requires trained professionals who can manage your hardware and software. As such, small businesses that depend on technology should consider getting support from a third-party provider.

 

Here are 4 reasons why you should outsource IT support.

 

Reason #1 – Spend less on staff

An IT manager will cost you tens of thousands each year on salary alone. You still need a whole team to meet your company’s technology needs, whose salaries, training, and benefits also have to be paid for. To make matters worse, your in-house specialists won’t be able to give you 24/7 IT support unless you rotate your staff or hire more people.

Outsourcing reduces your business expenses without compromising the support you need. You can get an entire team of IT consultants at less than a fraction of hiring a single IT manager.

 

Reason #2 – Run your business more efficiently

Wherever there’s technology, you can expect problems to come up once in a while. Unless you have a team of specialists who are ready to help, your employees will waste hours trying to fix tech issues which they are neither knowledgeable in nor trained for. Incidents like these can reduce the productivity of your staff and cause major setbacks in operations. Ultimately, it would be detrimental to your business goals.

An outsourced IT support team can monitor for problems before they even happen. Should issues arise, they can take care of it as well, thus enabling your staff to focus on their tasks and other key aspects of business. Both can ensure smooth running operations with minimal setbacks. Your small business will also have better chances of achieving its goals in a timely manner.

 

Reason #3 – Get professional guidance

Adopting technology with little know-how can be problematic, especially for small businesses with a limited budget. The slightest mistake can cost you money and negatively impact your business. But if you choose to outsource to an IT provider, you can count on them for an expert opinion.

Remember that an IT support team is comprised of specialists in their field. They can improve your infrastructure by advising you on the latest technology and strategies, making sure they fit your needs. We recommend choosing a service provider that has your best interest in mind and shows the willingness to help grow your business.

 

Reason #4 – Ensure your long-term survival

A 2017 survey by Small Business Trends reveals that nearly half (43%) of cyber attacks are targeted to small businesses. With most small businesses shutting down from data loss, this should give you reason enough to outsource IT support.

An IT support company can secure your business data and protect it from cyber criminals who may try to steal it. In turn, you get to have the assurance that your business will be able to recover in the event of data loss.

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What Every Small Business Should Know About Outsourcing IT

Business owners are now starting to realize how important technology is. Close to half of businesses (44%) now offer their services online. Most (85%) already run a blog or website to represent their company.

Small businesses that adopted technology have grown in recent years. Unfortunately, so have the threats to cybersecurity. It’s time for business owners to protect themselves against these online dangers and consider outsourced IT. So we’ve listed down everything you need to know about cybersecurity – and how outsourcing to an IT provider can help your small business.

 

Fact #1: Cyber attacks costs small businesses billions each year

Surveys by the Federation of Small Businesses reveal the startling impact of cyber attacks in the UK. Based on their findings, 5.4 million small businesses experience cyber threats at an average of 7 million times a year. At least 66% were attacked by cyber crimes in the past 2 years, costing them a total of £5.26 billion in losses.

Why you should outsource: According to a government report, 58% of small businesses outsourced their IT needs in response to these threats. Unlike in-house staff, it provided the added benefit of 24/7 cybersecurity.

 

Fact #2: More than half of businesses seek help on cybersecurity

A 2017 survey by Cyber Security Breaches found that half of UK businesses were targeted by cyber crimes in the past year. To counteract the problem, 58 percent of small business owners seek professional help. Furthermore, two-thirds of all business firms spend an average of £2,600 a year on cybersecurity. However, this also means that one-third of businesses are completely vulnerable to cybercrime.

Why you should outsource: Crowd Research Partners reported that 45% of UK businesses view the lack of skilled professionals as the biggest hindrance to reliable cyber security. The workaround? Outsourcing to a professional IT support company.

 

Fact #3: Small businesses that use the cloud have nearly doubled

In 2016, only 39 percent of businesses were using a cloud platform. By 2017 this number grew to a whopping 61 percent.

Why you should outsource: Cloud is an extremely cost-effective technology capable of multiple functions. Among the benefits of the cloud are:

  • Platform development
  • Computing infrastructure (i.e. data storage)
  • Managing and sharing applications

The best feature of the cloud is that everything is accessible over the internet. And it helps that most IT companies offer cloud support.

 

Fact #4: About half of IoD members don’t know where they stored their data

The Institute of Directors (IoD), which comprises of key personnel from various companies, surveyed its members. Surprisingly, as much as 43% of them didn’t know where their data was being stored. Understanding the technology behind it is important for any business since it’s the primary target of cybercrime.

Why you should outsource: The real-world consequences of data loss is devastating. Diffusion Group studied small businesses who suffered data loss from a security breach. They discovered that 60 percent of them closed within 6 months following the attack.

 

Fact #5: All employees are vulnerable to cyber crimes

From customer service to CEOs, everyone in your company is vulnerable to these threats. Countless staff have fallen victim to phishing emails. High-level personnel are often the target of whaling scams, resulting in up to £2.4 billion worth of losses.

Why you should outsource: A third-party IT company can equip your small business with a wealth of knowledge and best practices in cybersecurity.

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What Every Business Should Know About IT Support

Technology is crucial to any modern-day business. It’s just that some companies rely on it more than others. Businesses which depend heavily on technology need help from information technology (IT) specialists.

 

Hiring vs Outsourcing IT Support

Now there are two ways to go about this.

The first option is to hire IT support staff who will work in-house for your company. This means you have to spend on hiring and maintaining an entire team, which includes paying for their benefits. Even if you get the most qualified personnel, you likewise have to invest in continuous training.

The second option is to outsource IT support to a managed service provider (MSP). The responsibility of maintaining and training the staff falls on them – not you. It also eliminates the need for hiring and the expenses that come with it, which is why it’s cheaper.

 

Five More Things You Need To Know About IT Support

1. Each business has unique requirements

The need for IT support varies across businesses. You should take the time to identify what these needs are. Factors such as the type and size of the business, along with the use of hardware and software, can help you narrow it down. Knowing the results you want to achieve is also a good approach to determining your business needs.

As a general rule, the more money you’re bound to lose for every hour of downtime, the greater your requirements. Some examples of IT needs include:

  • Setup of computers and networks
  • 24/7 network management
  • Data backup and recovery
  • Cybersecurity

 

2. You can have the best of both worlds

It’s possible to have an in-house team and IT support from an MSP at the same time. Your staff can be assigned strategically to critical operations, and the managed service provider can lend an extra hand.

 

3. IT support is not a one-trick pony

When choosing to outsource, keep in mind that not all companies are capable of meeting your needs. Each of them offers different types of IT services.

Some MSPs provide 24/7 support which includes round the clock assistance for any technical issues you may have. If you take this route, you’d have to include it in your monthly expenses. Other IT support companies provide break/fix solutions. Whenever you have a problem, they can take care of it for a fixed fee.

 

4. Don’t cut costs at the expense of poor service

Saving money wherever possible is an admirable trait for any business. But you shouldn’t be too cheap either. Only work with an IT support company that truly understands your needs and is more concerned with supporting your goals.

 

5. Meeting your IT needs lets you focus on business

Whether you decide to outsource to a third-party service provider or work with an MSP and in-house staff at the same time, there’s only one takeaway. As long as you can ensure that all your IT needs are met, you can focus on key aspects of your business.

Many business owners will find that outsourcing their IT needs to a managed service provider frees up their time. In turn, this allows them to redirect their energies towards business growth.

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What Are The Biggest Technology Challenges For Small Businesses?

Startups and small businesses usually get the short end of the stick. Considering their limited budget, the struggle to keep up with technology shouldn’t surprise you. Of course, technology is just a catch-all phrase for various innovative solutions. Lumping them together doesn’t give an accurate picture of what they have to deal with.

Below, we’ll look at the biggest technological challenges faced by small businesses – and how these challenges affect them.

 

1. Outdated hardware and software

Any small business needs both to manage its own operations and compete against rivals. It could be as simple as a smartphone with business apps, or as complicated as a computer with dedicated programs.

With technology evolving at exponential rates, small businesses get left behind on necessary upgrades. Hardware and software that’s out-of-date can severely impact how you run a business. Performance issues and limited features can slow you down and reduce your overall efficiency. Bugs and security holes will leave you vulnerable to cyber attacks and data loss.

 

2. Inadequate data security

Speaking of data loss, small businesses are usually lacking in cybersecurity measures. According to a survey by Duo Security, nearly half of these businesses (45%) don’t even think they’ll be targeted by cybercriminals.

In reality, as much as three-quarters of small businesses were threatened by security breaches at some point. The latter is based on findings by the Government Security Breaches Survey. What these numbers tell us is that small businesses are at greater risk due to inadequacies in online security.

 

3. No data loss recovery plan

Besides having limited cybersecurity, small businesses aren’t prepared for digital disasters. More often than not, they do not have a data backup and recovery system in place.

Keeping data secure is only a preventive step. Preparing for the worst, which is data loss, is just as important to the long-term survival of a business. The Diffusion Group highlights its relevance in a survey. They discovered that 60% of small businesses shut down no more than 6 months after experiencing data loss.

 

4. Missing out on cloud

Staying up-to-date on the latest technology is important for small business owners. Due to budget restrictions, they will need to innovate more if they want to compete. However, many don’t even know about cloud computing or how they could take advantage of it.

Missing out on cloud is a huge setback for small businesses who want to save money but don’t want to be left behind on the technological race. It is a cost-effective medium for data infrastructure, from storage and security to data backups.

 

5. Doesn’t have IT support

Businesses which rely on technology need help from IT professionals. Larger companies are usually able to afford their own in-house team, whereas smaller businesses skip them altogether.

Information technology (IT) support should be seen as a necessity, not a luxury. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have to be expensive. You can outsource and hire an IT resource company so you can save on infrastructure and other costs while enjoying the perks of IT support.

 

With the help of an IT support company, small businesses no longer have to worry about technology or the challenges that accompany it.

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What Are The Advantages Of A Managed Firewall?

Cyber attacks are on the rise, and so are the ways you can protect your business. Your first layer of defense against these threats is called a firewall.

 

What is a firewall?

A firewall is a hardware or software program designed to protect a private network and its stored data. It is an entire security system on its own, capable of two basic functions:

  • Identifying suspicious traffic (incoming and outgoing)
  • Blocking unauthorized access to the network

How it performs these functions depends on the predefined set of rules. Without one, you are essentially leaving your security open for hackers and cybercriminals.

 

What is a managed firewall?

A firewall is a great first step towards systems and data protection, particularly among businesses that connect to the internet. But it’s not something you could set up and forget about. Simply put, a firewall isn’t capable of running on its own.

A managed firewall is a third-party and outsourced service that keeps a firewall in check. From setup to monitoring and upgrades, companies which provide this service can help you throughout the process.

Now, let’s look at five good reasons why you need it.

 

Top 5 Benefits of a Managed Firewall

 

1. Saves money

Firewall setup is expensive. You will need to invest in hardware, as well as a team of IT professionals who could set it up.

Opting for a managed firewall service takes off the need for equipment and staff. They will be responsible for providing both remotely, thus reducing your upfront expenses. You get the advantage of having a dependable firewall and experienced specialists, both at the fraction of a cost.

 

2. Better protection

Threats to cybersecurity are not only increasing in number, but also in complexity. Cybercriminals are constantly on the lookout for security holes they can take advantage of.

This is why it’s important to have software that’s up-to-date. It ensures your firewall is better equipped against newer forms of cyber attacks. A managed firewall service can keep your system updated with the latest security patches.

 

3. Well-rounded security

Believe it or not, this type of service does more than protect your business with a firewall. They will send you detailed reports of actual and potential threats to your business. You can use them to establish additional security measures on top of the firewall you already have.

 

4. Low-cost management

As previously mentioned, a firewall is not a standalone solution to cybersecurity. It requires long-term maintenance and monitoring, as well as dedicated staff to look after it. Outsourcing to a managed firewall service is going to reduce your monthly expenses. You can use savings to fund other aspects of your business.

 

5. Disaster preparedness

A managed firewall service will do their best to protect your business against threats to cybersecurity. But they can also prepare you for the worst should an attack take place. If there is a data loss and downtime, they can assist you with data recovery and getting your business back on track.

Minimizing downtime is of utmost importance. E-commerce businesses can avoid significant losses in revenue. Other businesses can likewise maintain their good reputation among customers.

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