Managed Services

Do you need an Managed Service for your Business?

Technology, while integral to every business, is one of the most challenging aspects of business operations to manage. This is especially true for small to medium businesses, where margins are thin and people are often employed to do more than one job. One option owners and managers can employ in order to better manage their technology is partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

What is a Managed Service Provider?

In the IT industry, a Managed Service Provider is a company that offers small to medium businesses the ability to outsource the management of their day-to-day technology and IT needs.

In other words, an MSP is essentially your IT department. If something technology-related breaks, they help fix it. If you need an app devised or want to upgrade hardware and software, or take a look into virtualization, they can often help in these complex areas too. Many of these organizations act as your business partner to help increase the effectiveness of your business operations, and achieve your overall goals.

Do I need an MSP?

While there are a wide variety of IT partners out there, you might be unsure as to whether you actually want or need to work with one. To help make the decision easier, we have come up with a list of five signs that your business could benefit from outsourcing your IT management to an MSP.

1. You don’t have a dedicated IT department or staff

A commonality many small businesses have is that employees often wear more than one hat. The problem with this is that those who are not necessarily IT experts, but are perhaps more tech savvy than others, are tapped to look after the company’s IT needs. Businesses can suffer from gaps in knowledge of the latest IT developments. It is also a challenge to balance IT needs while also running a business and remaining productive.

While for some small businesses having a knowledgeable tech person look after the IT on top of their main job works, the chances are high that they aren’t planning for a future in IT and may not be able to carry out complicated upgrades or even ensure that your systems are secure beyond the current environment. This can undoubtedly lead to increased problems in the future, which are likely not going to be fixed.

Instead of hiring a full-time IT staff member, you could look into using an MSP who can offer the same services, but at a fraction of the cost. This allows your employees to focus on their main roles, while also allowing you to rest easy knowing that your IT demands are being adequately taken care of.

2. You have continuous tech problems

At first glance, many of the systems we use on a daily basis are relatively simple. That is, they are simple when they are working. But, when systems breakdown business owners quickly come to realize that the technology utilized in their businesses and the systems that support it are not only complex, but are becomingly increasingly so.

Complexity aside, all technology will eventually break. When it does, you need to factor into your budget resources to make replacements and repairs. If the technology incorporated into your business is constantly experiencing problems there is a good chance this is having a negative impact on profits and productivity.

By partnering with a quality MSP that looks after your technology, you can be assured that a team of experts are running your technology and systems efficiently and that you are able to meet IT demands and scale to meet future needs. Decreased maintenance and replacement costs can help improve your overall productivity and even profits.

3. The people looking after IT are overwhelmed

Any growing business needs technology to be able to scale to meet and support growth. This often overwhelms even the most seasoned IT professionals. Even if your business has a dedicated IT role or team there is a chance that they can become overwhelmed.

When the pressure is on important issues may not be addressed and corners may be cut in order to meet current demands. This can lead to increased costs and problem issues down the road, resulting in an even more overwhelmed Technology department.

The great thing about quality IT partners is that you often don’t have to outsource all of your IT needs to them. If, for example, you have an employee who is a whizz with building computers but does not have the time to oversee the whole of your technology needs, then outsourcing some functions can free up their skills or allow them to work more effectively in their main roles.

4. Your IT budget is unpredictable

The cost of technology is ever changing. Some months you may have to replace a computer while others may see a new server needed or a security issue that needs to be dealt with immediately. Because of this, actually budgeting for technology is incredibly hard, especially for small businesses.

Most IT partners offer their services on a flat-fee, monthly basis. This makes it easy for companies to budget for technology. The upside to this is that while your budget is predictable, overall costs and overheads are often reduced because your systems are kept in better working order and will last longer.

5. You have trouble prioritizing your IT needs

It can sometimes seem like a new system is needed on a near monthly basis. From servers to email systems; computers to mobile devices; your business will almost always require ongoing technology. The problem many businesses face is that they simply are not equipped with the skills and the knowhow to recognize what their IT priorities should be.

Do you update a server, or look for a new email solution first? And in what order do you need to implement updates? It is not always obvious what the answers to these questions are, especially when everything seems urgent. If you outsource the management of your technology, the companies you partner with can take the time to get to know your company’s needs and demands and prioritize. This will make your organization more efficient and better able to reach business goals.

If you are struggling with technology in your business, contact us today to see how as your IT partner, we can work with you to ensure that your technology is working for you.

By compuville 0 Comments

Public WiFi Security: 3 Tips to Protect Your Company Data

Use of public WiFi is increasing at an exponential rate as virtually all hotels, airports, coffee shops, phone companies, libraries and public transportation spaces are offering free Internet hot spots to attract more customers. While having free Internet access on the go may appear as a convenience for our increasingly mobile lifestyles, it is important to understand that not taking precautions may lead to identify and personal data theft.

This trend also affects the security of small businesses around the country. A survey of 1,000 US office workers reveals that 95.6% of daily commuters acknowledge the use of public WiFi connections at least once a week to perform work-related tasks. Some survey respondents indicated that they connect even more than 70 times per week, which means that they increase the risk of malicious hackers to catch sensitive company data and passwords through packet sniffing and other forms of traffic interception.

While nobody can deny that mobile devices increase your productivity and that of your employees, it is important to take precautions to keep your company data safe. Here are 3 tips to protect your company data when using public WiFi.

1. Beware of Fake Hotspots

Creating a WiFi hotspot is very easy and several devices are able to create one. Hackers often lure victims by creating fake hotspots that request sensitive data such as credit card information or a combination of personal identifiable data (e.g. phone number, zip code, credit card information). Don’t fall into these traps and exit those connections immediately. Only connect to official WiFi connections that have been officially confirmed.

2. Consider Setting Up a Virtual Private Network

If you or your employees need to do some work while commuting and need access to the office network, then it is a good idea to look into setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts all traffic in a way that hides your data and hides the identity of the servers to which you are connected. While there are different kinds of VPNs, they all will protect the connection against other devices in the same public WiFi network.

3. Install and Update Antivirus Software

Installing antivirus software is the first step in protecting your company data against viruses, malware and spyware on public Internet connections. The second one is to keep it constantly updated so that it has the latest data from the developers. Nowadays there are even antivirus programs for tablets and smartphones, for example Norton offers mobile security apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Take Action Today

Did you know that a survey by the Identify Theft Resource Center indicated that 44% of respondents didn’t’ know how or didn’t believe that there are ways to protect their private information? Educate your employees with these 3 tips to increase their public WiFi security and avoid data theft.

If you have any questions about making your company data available to your employees off-site while maintaining high levels of security, contact Compuville Systems and we will show you how. Please contact us at (905) 842-6548 or (866) 300-5151

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10 things to look for in an IT Support Company

1. Do they have the broad experience to help you with your Vision?
If they offer cloud services or onsite services but not both, look elsewhere. You need to know that you are getting the best mix. And let them justify their design. Ask for a reference from an existing client.
2. Do they log everything that is done in a system that is accessible to you?
Good IT companies make sure that there is a complete record of the work performed.
3. Does the company understand your business? Can you speak to the business owner?
No matter how big the IT Company is, the business owner or someone who can make decisions on behalf of the business owner should be accessible to you.
4. Does the data always belong to you, no matter what?
Make sure that the contract stipulates that YOU own any data that is generated, even if the data is generated a third party. A note of caution, in the case of Xero the Xero subscriber owns the data, even if you are the owner of the business. Ensure that you have full admin rights to your account.
5. Does the company cover the very important basics? – BACKUP, DISASTER RECOVERY AND SECURITY!
The IT Company needs to set systems up so that you are confident about the functionality of your backup. Always and without fail! Recovery and security plans should be in writing. It does not have to be much, but from time to time you have to be assured that the most important things are in place.
6. Is an engineer available after hours and can they work remotely?
Without expecting engineers to work 24×7, there will be times where you wished that you could get hold of an engineer. IT engineers should be available at reasonable hours after 5pm and before 8:30am.
7. Do you hold licensing information and password credentials?
Your IT Company should be guarding this information vehemently and there should be a process in place for handing information of that nature over to any party. At no time should you be dependent on the IT Company for this information.
8. Does your IT Company use remote monitoring of your systems?
Remote monitoring ensures that the IT company can pre-empt any problems occurring are react before they occur. This potentially saves your business considerable downtime.
9. How does the company charge for services? Do they have a fixed fee option?
With a fixed fee option the onus is on the IT support company to ensure that your IT environment is economical and reliable.
10. Look at a monthly maintenance report.
Maintenance reports must be understandable to non-IT staff and show information that is targeted to the business. An automatically generated report from a monitoring system is useful, but never complete. If you don’t understand the maintenance it is useless.

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Top 5 Signs You Need a Managed Services Provider

In today’s environment, the management of IT is important to a business operation that your systems have to function properly 24/7.   Keeping up to your IT operations can be difficult and expensive while taking time away from you acheiving your business goals. Therefore what are the signs that you may be ready to outsource to a managed service provider?

1: The IT problems just keep on coming
The IT industry employs the most in-demand set of specialized skills in the corporate world. As a result, with constantly changing technologies and new methods to master, IT departments are struggling to keep up with their daily workload. By hiring a managed services provider, you’ll help to relieve the burden on your staff and achieve more efficient operations.

2: Your current IT department can’t keep up with service demands
Most companies are finding it is more prudent to hire a staff that has generalized technology knowledge rather than a staff with specialized IT skills. When the demand for support solutions expands beyond what your staff can provide, managed services providers are necessary to keep your IT department from straining under the added demand.

3: You deal with sensitive information.
For businesses that need to store, access, or transmit critical data—such as personal details, financial information, and medical records—managed services help ensure that it’s protected at all times.

4. Your technology budget is fluctuating and unpredictable
If you find that your IT costs vary widely each month, it may be time to shift to managed services. With an outsourced support model, you’ll pay a fixed fee no matter how much support you utilize. This allows you to create—and stick to—a predictable budget. And when something goes wrong, you won’t be stuck paying sky-high emergency support

5. Your service needs will have top priority.
When you contract with a managed services provider, your IT needs will be prioritized around the clock. Your systems will be monitored 24/7, and if an issue arises it will be identified and resolved before it can impact your business operations.

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When Is Your Business Ready for Managed Service?

If you are a small business owner and considering whether or not managed services will benefit your company, the answer is almost always- yes. There is little doubt that most small businesses can benefit from managed services, yet that in itself does not always justify the cost of bringing on a third party provider. Accepting that managed services providers can offer solutions to common problems found in small business operation, the real question is when does it make sense to switch from in house IT solutions to the next level which includes managed services.

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