Monthly Archives: January 2022

What Does Downtime Mean for Your Business?

Manage Service, , , ,
Two IT technicians having difficulty repairing IT system in a server room - a concept of business downtime.

Your IT system could be the main culprit behind your frequent downtime.

Many business dictionaries agree on the definition of downtime to mean the period in which your equipment, machinery, or workforce is not working. The reasons why you experience it can range from maintenance to technical failure.

This definition of downtime can apply to mainly labor-intensive industries such as construction, distribution, or manufacturing. However, it can also apply to the systems at the heart of your business operations.

Your IT system could be the main culprit behind your frequent downtime. How does this happen? Let’s take a look.

 

Hardware Failure

Wear and tear are inevitable forces when it comes to moving parts of any equipment or machinery. It is not a stretch to imagine that those parts are going to fail at one point or another. This is why routine maintenance is important to keep your equipment in good working order.

Sometimes, though, some of these components can experience a catastrophic failure. Your IT system, which has been monitoring operations all this time, could force your entire operation to shut down. This is to prevent any further damage from destroying your hard work.

The result is unplanned downtime.

 

Software Updates

You’ve probably heard of this statement before, whenever the likes of Microsoft release a new Windows version or major update; let the guinea pigs test out the new software updates before upgrading your own. The purpose is to suss out whether there are bugs that can disrupt your operations or experience.

You may not have that luxury when it comes to enterprise and industrial software. Even with numerous test runs before installation, some bugs may appear during actual operations. The bugs can have various effects on your operations, from silly mistakes and slowing down operations to downright causing havoc.

 

Employee Error

Most modern systems have an IT structure baked into them. It is responsible for the control and monitoring of the myriad components that make it up. While this kind of automation has been important in terms of automating and streamlining production processes, it still needs human input now and then.

That’s where the major weakness lies; with the operator. It is not uncommon to have an employee enter the wrong information into the controls. Depending on the operation parameters, the mistake the worker makes could range from a minor inconvenience to an expensive breakdown both in time and money.

 

Internet Outages

The IT systems running your operations are superb. The level of convenience they offer your company is unparalleled, and frankly, you wouldn’t have it any other way. The best part is, you can monitor operations over the internet, and even make changes when needed.

An internet outage occurring at the wrong time can mean loss of access to information crucial to the running of your operations. Not only does this affect output, but it can also lead to downtime when the system is waiting for input from you.

 

You Don’t Have to Suffer Downtime.

Some things can inevitably go wrong from time to time. However, how quickly you get back up is a great determinant of success. Not only is downtime a loss of productivity, but it also means you have less output for the market. It ultimately ends up impacting your company’s bottom line.

What you require is a team of qualified and experienced experts monitoring your IT systems, and being proactive to prevent your systems from experiencing downtime. That is where we at SystemsNet come into play.

We have designed packages that can suit various small and medium enterprises such as yours. Are you interested in such a program, but have no idea where to begin? Get in touch with us. We’d love to help you succeed.

Rise of VoIP

VOIP, , ,
Headset and VoIP system placed on an office desk showing virtual interface of futuristic symbols

Adapting a powerful development in the business world.

Do you need an updated phone solution? Well, VoIP is the new trend when it comes to making calls efficiently. Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a phone solution that enables an organization to place and receive calls over the internet. VoIP is an alternative to the traditional phone line. Mobile VoIP is a part of the VoIP technology dealing with voice-oriented services via a mobile phone.

How Does VoIP Work?

With the increase of remote teams, a landline or desk phone is no longer efficient. Businesses are evolving to meet the requirements of staff members that work from home frequently. VoIP operates by transforming analog voice calls into digital data over private or public internet protocol (IP) networks. If you have internet access, you can make calls without the local phone service. You can use VoIP for services like instant messaging, video calls, and file sharing. Numerous VoIP applications are accessible as stand-alone products or bundled with well-known web browsers.

What Are the Benefits of Using VoIP Telephony Services?

1.    Cost Savings

Since VoIP telephony services use Internet Protocol to place calls, all communication data is converted into packets and sent over the IP network. The IP network used is your internet connection. This reduces the running costs by eradicating the need for numerous telephone lines. VoIP costs are your monthly charges from your Internet Service Provider. Moreover, multiple service providers provide inexpensive or free calls to specific areas.

2.    Call Center Benefits 

For organizations in the customer service center industry via the phone, VoIP is suited for the needs of a contact center of any capacity, from a handful of customer service representatives to hundreds of agents. With VoIP, contact care agents can operate 24/7, enjoying services such as;

Unified Communications (UC): Contact care representatives can communicate with clients through chat, email, and phone.
Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR): Customers can speak out their needs; your reps can do away with traditional old-school push-button phone tree and direct calls to the right specific person or department.

Monitoring and reporting: Most VoIP services for contact center solutions provide quick access to the metrics and oversight you require to make more innovative training and staffing decisions.

3.    Add-on Features

Hosted VoIP can scale to your needs. Your business may require some features to unlock efficient communication with your customers. VoIP can transform your business communication by offering add-on features such as call queues, voicemail to email, unified messaging, and custom caller ID.

4.    Reliability

VoIP telephony services are very reliable. VoIP has been built over many years, with applications like Face-Time and Skype leading the invention. VoIP has been adopted by numerous companies internationally and is advancing, making it a reliable telephony technology.

5.    Easy Management

Installation of a traditional phone system requires scheduling an appointment with a technician to install the kit and run the wiring for the phone system. It isn’t easy when you intend to make substantial modifications to your phone lines to meet the needs of your business. With VoIP, all you need are handsets that share similar wiring and switches to your Local Area Network. Getting your company connected to a VoIP service requires a minimum of internal skills and expertise.

6.    Productivity

A business can boost its productivity when using hosted VoIP since it helps unlock mobility. You and your staff members can easily access transcripts of voicemails through email, enabling you to satisfy customer needs instantly. You’ll deal with fewer missed calls and data integration, eradicating the risk of confusion.

VoIP is a powerful development in the business world, gaining prominence as millions of teams go remotely across the globe. Contact us today to further explore the potential of VoIP for your business, your team, or for personal use.

What does downtime mean for your business

Manage Service, , , ,
Employee working in an office showing frustration over their company's system downtime.

Losing productivity due to device misconfiguration any other system downtime issues?

Nowadays, most companies rely on cloud-based networks to offer their products and services. It is, therefore, crucial to have a solid IT infrastructure. Unscheduled downtime can affect your business in many ways, including reduced productivity, lost customers, reputational damage, and high remediation costs. Whenever the IT system gets downtime, your small business will suffer.

According to research by Gartner, the average cost of downtime per minute is $5,600. For one hour, the cost can go up to between $14,000 and $540,000. However, the cost varies depending on business size and industry. It is crucial to understand how a system downtime affects your organization’s operations.

Causes of downtime

Let’s begin by looking at the causes of downtime. Here are some main causes.

Human error

Human error is a common cause of unplanned downtime. Employees can unplug cables, or delete data accidentally, which could lead to downtime. Fortunately, you can reduce human error through regular training of your employees.

Hardware or software failure

If you are using obsolete hardware or software, you increase the chances of a system outage. Applying patches without testing them first can cause the entire application to become corrupt.

Natural disasters

Floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes can affect the power supply, which can lead to damage. Natural disasters can lead to downtime if they extend for longer.

Device misconfiguration

Configuration errors create security gaps in the network and thus make it vulnerable to cyberattacks. You can avoid misconfiguration errors by automating the process. Make sure you test the configurations in a last before you implement them to your system.

Consequences of downtime

When you are unprepared, you’ll have to deal with the consequences of downtime. The effect of the downtime can either be long-term or short-term, depending on the frequency. Here are some consequences of downtime.

Lost productivity

Losing network access in your business could bring your workplace to a stop. If you are like most companies, then you rely on online communications. Critical systems will become unavailable when there is downtime. You use task management systems, virtual chat software, email, and customer support systems. Your employees will not have work to do when your business experiences downtime. You’ll end up paying rent and salaries even though there was no meaningful work due to the downtime.

Data loss

Downtime not only affects your business but your clients as well. When there is downtime due to cyberattacks, it can result in stolen or damaged data. Any unexpected downtime can expose your customer’s data to cybercriminals. Most companies back up their data to avoid unexpected data loss. Organizations that rely on big data analytics to make their decisions can lose their data resources when downtime occurs.

Lost business opportunities

If you do substantial business online, loss of network means that your customers will be unable to find your products or services. Fewer customers means your revenue will be reduced. A downtime makes it impossible to connect with your customers. Employees will be unable to offer support since they don’t have the necessary tools. Therefore, a downtime can drive away your prospects and existing clients.

Damaged brand image

Customers expect a seamless experience every time. Downtime is unacceptable and delays are just intolerable. All it takes to damage your brand’s image is a single downtime event. When you get repeated downtime, your customers will be unhappy and they’ll leave bad customer reviews.

One way you can minimize downtime is by taking a proactive approach to operations and systems maintenance. With the necessary backups, redundant and rollover, you can easily eliminate downtime. You can get help from a team of experienced individuals monitoring and being proactive to prevent downtime and that is where SystemsNet comes into play. Contact us today.

Benefits of Perch Security Within the Small to Medium Size Business

Security, , , , ,
Employee's hands typing on a computer keyboard, showing a concept of company cybersecurity using Perch Security solutions.

Enhancing your company’s defense against cybersecurity attacks.

Advanced technology has brought numerous solutions for organizations. At the same time, it has developed a tremendous potential for cyber-attacks within companies. Cybercrime is constantly rising, and many medium-sized businesses are significantly in danger due to inadequate cyber security.

Businesses need to focus closer attention on protecting sensitive data. Perch Security provides everything required to mount a cyber-defense with curated community intelligence and automates Intel consumption. The Community Defense Platform makes cyber threat intelligence accessible to everyone with dedicated threat analysts on employees. Read on to learn the benefits of Perch Security within small-medium-sized businesses.

Enhanced Defense

Many businesses will increase analyst hours or staff as a measure to counter cyber-security threats. The Perch Security Operation Center prevents all that through investigating any alerts on your network, notifying you of actual incidents, and helping you eradicate the threat. Perch customizes what and how they escalate to suit your preferences.

Perch Security Operations Center (SOC), incorporated with your service, works around the clock to triage every alert, escalate real dangers when identified, and support you through the response process.

Identifies What’s Eluded Your Defenses

Perch identifies what’s getting through the firewalls of your network. A Perch sensor smashes threat intel against your network to detect prospective dangers, creating alerts. You can interact and view the signals on the Dashboard while Perch SOC is triaging and escalating them as required.

Helps Prevent Data Corruption or Loss

Medium-sized businesses can have several Terabytes worth of crucial data stored away. Data can be rendered unusable by malware or, in the worst-case – intentionally stolen by malicious individuals. All your files and valuable data are at significant risk of being lost. Those files containing sensitive data could be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Perch Security can detect and notify you of any suspicious activity in your network. A simple notification helps you take action and helps escalate any malware. Your business reduces the risk of losing valuable data.

Helps Prevent Any Disruption to Business

A data breach incident interrupts your daily trade activities. Cyber-attack may cause you not to serve your customers or prevent your employees from carrying out their duties. Business disruption may cause significant financial concerns. Perch security has sensors that help you identify and escalate real threats during your lunch break, not causing any major business disruptions.

Boost Your Business Reputation

Having Perch Security will improve your business’s brand reputation. You’re more likely to be able to enter new business ventures with customers with a greater level of comfort and safety in knowing that you’re educated enough in the discipline of cybersecurity to invest in the proper technical security. Your company is less likely to be attacked when you have Perch Security. Perch Security has the ideal tools to identify cyber-incidents that have gotten through your firewall immediately. This helps you eliminate attacks before they have access to sensitive data.

Cybersecurity challenges for small to medium-size businesses can be massive if the right cyber-security actions are not implemented. Perch Security can track all your systems and networks. They can leverage advanced security methods. This includes adaptive risk modeling and predictive analysis to protect your business from severe threats. Perch Security allows you to correlate all of your threat intel with a full packet assessment. Perch’s managed Elastic-search passes enriched alert data to your SIEM.

At Perch, we connect you to all of your best sources of intel and automate and centralize it so you can focus on your business. Backed by our in-house Security Operations Center (SOC), Perch can launch your cybersecurity program or add depth to the visibility you already have. Request a demo to see how Perch protects you while providing transparency.