IT Support

What Managed IT Support Really Means

As a business owner, you’ve probably heard the term “managed IT” more times than you can count, but there’s still a good chance that you don’t know what it really means or even how expert managed IT can help your business succeed. Below, you can learn more about what managed IT really means – and what it could mean for your business, too. The Definition of Managed Services By its very definition, the term “managed services” refers to a business offloading many of its operations to an outside provider. Instead of the business owner constantly monitoring and managing his or her network and the other IT systems driving his or her business, the managed service provider handles it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For small business owners without the ability to hire a dedicated IT team, or for those who have a need to maintain an IT infrastructure but who only have a few employees, managed IT services can be a huge boon. Why Businesses Choose Managed IT Today’s businesses choose managed IT services for a wide variety of reasons, but ultimately, it has to do with a company’s need to have access to the latest technology in order to operate with any degree of efficiency. What’s more, companies that do not have access to the latest technology tend to fall behind their competitors; without modern IT, they simply cannot connect, collect data, and process data in such a way that allows them to maintain relevant in any industry at all. Business owners also find themselves busy – incredibly busy – and unable to keep up with the routine maintenance that goes into IT. They forget to run backups as frequently as they should, and they may forget about downloading the latest security fixes and patches designed to keep their data (and their customers’ data) safe. As a result, these businesses are at risk of losing access to things like financial applications, email servers, and other things that are critical for everyday operations. Managed IT is Not a Break-Fix Service Finally, it is important for all business owners to remember that managed IT is not a classic “break-fix” service. This means that it is not a service you employ when something goes wrong; rather, it is a service you employ to prevent something from going wrong in the first place. In today’s connected world, losing your connection for even a few hours can lead to unrecoverable business issues. Rather than waiting for something to happen, then calling an IT professional to resolve it while your business suffers significant downtime, managed IT support is always there, always watching, and always protecting your data and your network. With managed IT support, business owners can stop worrying about things like backups, security patches, and even the latest antivirus definitions. By offloading these operations to an outside company that specializes in IT infrastructure and security management, business owners can spend less time with these simple but time-consuming tasks and more time running their businesses the way they originally intended.

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Can Weekly Meetings Improve Internet Security in Your Place of Business?

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Network security in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. This means that every employee who has access to your company’s network must be well-versed in cybersecurity and understand all the risks out there on the world wide web. One of the absolute best ways to make sure your network is secure involves hosting short weekly meetings with your employees to discuss any problems, concerns, or tips you might have. What a Weekly Meeting Should Accomplish Hosting a weekly security meeting should accomplish one primary goal – ensuring that your employees understand today’s threats and that they have the tools they need to protect themselves and the company from attacks. Meetings should be short and to the point, and they should allow you to address any concerns you might have about email and/or network security with the people who access the network every day. The Five Things to Cover During a Internet Security Meeting The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, has created a simple framework that businesses should use in order to facilitate network security. You can utilize this same framework during your short weekly meetings to ensure that everyone’s concerns are being address and your network is being protected. The steps include: Asset Identification: This involved determining which bits of data and/or information are most important to the success of your company. These assets are almost always the ones that are most valuable to criminals, too. Protection: You can also talk about the protections you have in place to defend these assets and discuss further measures you could take for better protection. Detection: You should be sure to use this opportunity to allow employees to talk about any potential security concerns they might have – including any potential threats they may have experienced in the prior week. Response: Be certain that you have a response plan set up and that your employees know what to do in the event of an attack. Recovery: Finally, everyone in the organization should know exactly what they must do to in order to avoid as much downtime as possible after a breach. They should also know what their legal obligations might be. Email Security Implementation Weekly meetings are also ideal for discussing the implementation and efficacy of email security programs, which include managed anti-spam and more. You can use this time to gauge whether the actions you have taken to protect your employees and your business are effective by talking with the people who are affected the most – the employees themselves. These meetings are crucial for truly understanding the sort of problems your company faces every day, and they also give you ample opportunity to help your employees better understand the basics of cybersecurity and the impact their actions can have on the company as a whole. In the long run, weekly internet security meetings can go a long way to help reduce your operating costs, boost productivity, decrease risk and potential downtime, and ultimately protect your most important assets from the criminals who work hard to access them. By incorporating these meetings alongside managed internet security support systems, it is possible to protect your company from spam, phishing, viruses, and ransomware.

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The 4 Most Important Qualities and Skills for an IT Professional

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Information technology is a huge industry these days. In fact, almost every single company in existence – from one with only one or two employees to one with thousands spread across the globe – relies on accurate information and a secure network in order to thrive. Before you hire an IT professional for your company, look for the following qualities and skills to ensure the perfect match. Problem-Solving Skills Information technology is fraught with problems. Things simply stop working, networks go offline, and hardware decides to simply stop functioning properly. However, an IT professional should be able to not only remain calm when these types of failures occur, but he or she should also be able to preemptively plan for such things to prevent any disruption to your business. Any IT professional you hire should demonstrate outstanding problem-solving skills for this reason. Otherwise, you may find yourself dealing with far more downtime than you anticipated. Effective Communication Keep in mind that IT professionals must be able to communicate issues with other departments, and failure to do so appropriately could lead to trouble. Maintenance is just a part of information technology, and that means rebooting servers, checking network health, and more. These things should always be done outside of peak hours, but it is still important for other people or departments to be aware of when they will happen. It is also crucial that your chosen IT professional can explain complex networking issues in such a way that people in other departments can understand them. A Love for Technology Some people have a love-hate relationship with technology, but for an IT professional, technology is life. These individuals not only appreciate everything technology has brought to the table over the last several decades, but they are also passionate about keeping up with new trends and technologies that could help your company thrive. Sometimes, a simple new technology is all it takes to help your company get a leg up on the competition, and this is far more likely when you choose an IT professional who is passionate about technology. Self-Discipline For the most part, when you hire an IT professional (whether in-house or remotely) you will not be able to supervise around the clock. For this reason, choose an IT professional who is a self-starter and who can work on projects alone without supervision. This is the very definition of “dependable”; someone you can rely on to get the job done even if you are unable to answer questions or provide guidance. When combined with all the other qualities above, this individual should be perfectly capable of making decisions in the best interest of your company, as well. Hiring an IT professional can seem like a daunting task, and this is especially true if your own knowledge of IT is limited. However, whether you choose to hire someone in-house or outsource your IT needs to a company you can trust, these are all important qualities that you should look for. Ultimately, they can have a tremendous impact on your company’s success.

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Understanding Managed Anti-Spam and What It Can Do for Your Business

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The effects of spam on small businesses are evident, and in some cases, they can be devastating. Fortunately, there are people on your side who want to help you avoid spam and all its risks. This is done through a service called “managed anti-spam,” which greatly reduces the risk of clicking a malicious link, propagating a virus, and more. Spam is a Leading Source of Viruses and Malicious Code These days, the criminals developing and placing things like ransomware and other types of malicious code are not just targeting big business. In fact, they increasingly go after the smaller business owners who are much less prepared to deal with these threats and who are far more likely to pay a ransom out of desperation to access their data. Spam email is a very common source for ransomware, and with every passing year, the criminals developing it seem to get smarter and smarter. They make these emails look exactly like an invoice from a client or a bill from a service provider. How Does Managed Anti-spam Work? Managed anti-spam is designed to filter out many of the tens of trillions of spam mails sent out around the world every single year. It goes far beyond the “junk mail” filter built into most email clients and instead prevents the potentially malicious email from ever even reaching your company’s network. The goal is to prevent unwanted spam, viruses, code, and other unwanted emails from reaching a place where it can do harm – your network. How Can You Benefit from Managed Anti-spam? The benefits associated with managed anti-spam are many. Reduced Operating Costs/More Productivity: When your company is not constantly fending off attacks, you and your employees can get your jobs done. You can also save money on wasted time and ensure your assets are being put to their best use. Save Storage and Bandwidth: Most companies limit email storage and bandwidth, so the more emails you have filing in during the day, the more difficult these become to manage. With managed anti-spam, the amount of bandwidth and storage you can save is astounding. Reporting: There’s a good chance you will want to know which emails are being filtered and why, so managed anti-spam comes with reporting services that can help you see in a very detailed way exactly what you are getting for your money. You’ll be shocked at the number of emails you won’t get. Aside from this, managed anti-spam indirectly protects your company’s most critical assets and information. Once some of this gets out into the world, there’s simply no recovering. By protecting yourself from spam before it ever reaches your network, you can better protect your company and help facilitate its success. Most managed anti-spam is cloud based, and the good news is that it can be tailored specifically to your industry and company needs. No matter how small your company, and no matter how long it has been operating, it is absolutely critical that you take the time to protect your email accounts today.

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What Does Managed IT Support Do for a SMB?

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As a small or medium business, there’s a very good chance that you prioritize your company’s ability to operate efficiently. Such efficiency is the key to your revenue, after all; the more you can do, and the faster you can do it without sacrificing quality, the more you can earn. Unfortunately, not all SMBs have the equipment and personnel for that efficiency, and that’s exactly where managed IT support comes into play. What is Managed IT Support? To put it simply, managed IT support is designed to help small to medium businesses by providing them with access to the IT resources they need to succeed. Those resources may include human IT professionals, access to cloud-based servers, software and even hardware as a service, and much, much more. Back in 2016, some 64% of organizations used some sort of managed service, and by 2020, that number is expected to increase by 12.5%. Managed IT support can help small companies grow without huge investments in employees, equipment, and more. Round-the-Clock Care Back in the old days, when the internet was brand new and data storage was in its infancy, if a server or a computer crashed and a company couldn’t access its database, there was only one solution, and it involved calling a professional, waiting for that professional to arrive, and hoping that professional had the knowledge to get things up and running again quickly. Today, managed IT support not only prevents downtime associated with server and computer crashes, but it also helps to resolve these issues no matter the time of day. How They Do It You will get access to a variety of services when you choose managed IT support. These include: Assessment and optimization – First things first, your network will be examined for security issues, which will then be resolved. Your computer network and data will also be optimized. Support and management – Remote support software makes it incredibly easy for outsourced IT professionals to watch over and manage your computer infrastructure. Constant monitoring – You won’t have to stay up all night keeping an eye on things. That’s exactly what managed IT support is for. Not only do they watch, but they also resolve issues as they happen. Plentiful maintenance – Many of the tasks required for maintaining your servers and computers can be automated, which means you can proactively keep your network up-to-date and help your equipment last longer at the same time. Helpdesk access – If you have an issue, the remote help desk is just a call or an email away. Asset management – Inventory and asset management can be time consuming, so leave that to the professionals. Antivirus management – Last, but most certainly not least, managed IT support also includes a complete antivirus solution that includes best-in-class comprehensive security that is remotely maintained. At the end of the day, managed IT support benefits small and medium businesses by providing them with a bevy of services that would otherwise require several onsite employees. Everything from assessments and implementation to monitoring and security response comes with managed IT services, and when these things are managed remotely, business owners can focus on other things – like growing their businesses and boosting their revenue.

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Important Questions to Ask when Hiring an IT Support Company

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Whether you are hiring your very first IT professional for a new business endeavor or you’re simply interested in moving to a remote IT support solution, there are many options out there in the world. Below are some of the most important questions you should ask an IT support company before you make your hiring decision. How Will We Communicate? The most common issue associated with IT support companies according to business owners is a lack of communication – or a lack of viable ways to communicate. For this reason, make sure you take the time to learn as much as you can about hours of operation, communication methods, and more. If you have an issue, what do you do? Will you be required to submit a ticket online? Can you pick up the phone and call someone? What about sending an email? If that issue occurs after hours, such as late at night or even on a holiday, will there be someone available to help you? These things are very important, so be sure you have the answers before you hire. What is the Process for Handling Requests? Once you’ve determined how you will communicate your need for IT support with the company you choose, the next question you should ask is fairly straightforward: how do you handle requests once you get them? A ticket system is the best way to go, and the system should be reliable enough that the IT support company can see the details, assign the best person for the job, and get that issue resolved quickly. Structure and workflow are crucial, so get a feel for these things before you make your decision. What Other Services Can the IT Support Company Provide? Though you may only need basic IT support services for now, this may change a great deal as time goes on. You might find yourself in need of a complete network overhaul, and in this case, hiring someone to assist with network design or network cabling can benefit you for many years to come. Try to find a company that offers you a variety of other services that you can take advantage of when the need arises. Cloud storage, telephone and VoIP, and even security cameras with remote access are all beneficial in their own way, especially as your company grows. How Do You Keep my Network and Data Secure? Finally, it is important to determine the steps your IT support company will take to keep your network and all its associated data secure. Do they utilize state-of-the-art firewalls? Are their cloud-based systems encrypted and protected? What antivirus do they use, and what are the steps for resolving a breach? Do they offer backup and disaster recovery services? How do they protect your email? Do they offer security awareness training or mobile device management? It’s also important to find out whether the company will run a network analysis to determine where your biggest security risks lie and then make recommendations for resolving them. Though there are certainly plenty of other questions you can ask an IT support company before hiring them, these are by far the most important. Above all else, communication, request processing, and security are the three most important factors, so learning how these work will help you make the best hiring decisions possible. If you are in need of an IT Support Company, please contact us for a free network consultation and see how Pennyrile Technologies can help your business.

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Onsite vs. Remote IT Support – Pros and Cons of Each

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If the time has come for your small to medium business to have some dedicated IT support, you have two options: onsite or remote support. Each one comes with its own unique set of pros and cons, as well. Exploring these benefits and drawbacks can help you make the best possible choices for your business. Onsite IT Support Onsite IT support is still by and large the most common route for small to medium businesses to get the support they need. It requires hiring one or more people to oversee and maintain your company’s IT infrastructure. You might choose to hire someone who will work for your company, or you might choose to hire a private contractor who provides his or her services to numerous companies in the local area. The benefits associated with onsite support include: Immediate Resolutions: If you have a support person on your staff, if you experience an issue, he or she can address it immediately. You won’t have to worry about your IT support person being busy helping another client if he or she works for your company, though there may be a bit of a wait if you choose a contractor, instead. Controlled Costs: By putting someone on your payroll, you won’t have to pay extra for help when and if disaster strikes. Your IT person’s salary remains the same regardless of whether issues exist and no matter how much your tech might need to be adjusted for growth in the future. Just as there are benefits associated with onsite IT, there are also a few drawbacks to consider: Unexpected Costs: Although you can control your costs to a degree because your IT professional is salaried, there are times when you may have to pay for things you didn’t expect. What’s more, many businesses simply can’t afford to hire a full-time (or even part-time) IT professional who works onsite. Limited Expertise: Small and medium businesses typically only hire one IT professional, so unless that professional is the best of the best, his or her expertise is likely to be somewhat limited. What’s more, if your professional calls in sick or has a family emergency, you’re left without any IT support whatsoever. Remote IT Support More and more often, companies choose remote IT support. In this scenario, one or more individuals located anywhere from an office downtown to a company across the globe provide all the IT support you need remotely. This is perfect for many companies, but just like onsite support, it has its own unique set of benefits and challenges. The benefits include: Cost-Effectiveness: Small and medium businesses almost always find remote IT support is far more cost-effective than hiring a full-time IT professional. What’s more, there are no training and/or certification costs to worry about. 24 Hour Help: Perhaps the best benefit associated with remote IT is the fact that you can get help at any time of day. An onsite professional will spend eight hours at work, and he or she may not be able to be reached after that. There are a few downfalls, though. These include: Less Collaboration: Because your remote IT support is not employed by your company directly, they will not be privy to what’s happening in your business, which means you may have to spend some time explaining things. You can get around this with managed IT services, which requires the remote support team to better acclimate themselves with your company’s culture and needs. Language and Cultural Barriers: If there’s a lack of communication between your staff and your remote IT support team, this can cause some serious issues. Fortunately, more and more companies work hard to provide access to professionals who are fluent in numerous languages. As you can see, there are benefits and downfalls associated with both onsite and remote IT support. For the most part, though, small businesses will reap the most benefit from remote IT support – especially managed IT support. It’s affordable, it’s convenient, and it’s available around the clock should issues arise.

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What Managed IT Support Really Means

Can Weekly Meetings Improve Internet Security in Your Place of Business?

The 4 Most Important Qualities and Skills for an IT Professional

Understanding Managed Anti-Spam and What It Can Do for Your Business

What Does Managed IT Support Do for a SMB?

Important Questions to Ask when Hiring an IT Support Company

Onsite vs. Remote IT Support – Pros and Cons of Each

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