All posts by SystemsNet

Why Choose a Managed Service Provider Over a One-Man Organization for IT Support?

Manage Service, ,

solutionsIT support is one of those things that you don’t appreciate until something goes badly wrong. There are two options for IT support.

You have Dave the computer guy. This is the one-man firm that supports you. You normally have to conform to their schedule to get support. Managed IT services, on the other hand, involve multiple professionals running the operation. These tend to be available 24/7.

So why should you choose a managed service provider instead?

Better Service

According to Small Business Computing, 9 out of 10 small business owners said that they had received better service by working with a managed service provider. And it’s not hard to see why

A one-man organization relies entirely on a single person. If the person running it isn’t particularly customer friendly, or they’ve simply had a bad day, you won’t get the service you deserve.

This isn’t the same as an organization run by multiple people at the same time. You’re far more likely to always get someone who treats you in the right way.

Time Constraints

A one-man organization can only remain open for so long. They have to sleep sooner or later. This always puts them at a severe disadvantage when comparing them with managed providers.

Managed service providers can set their staff to work through the day and through the night. For a business, this is crucial because it gives them access to support 24 hours every day.

Another important point to remember is you’re going to get a far quicker resolution to your problem. They can also work on the problem around the clock. Remember, it’s not just about initial response times. It’s about how quickly they can solve the issue you’re contacting them about.

Evolution of Services

A large company specializing in IT support can evolve and change all the time. They can send their staff members away on courses without having to shut everything down and disappoint their customers.

One-man organizations can’t learn and provide their services at the same time. There are simply not enough hours in the day. The technology industry constantly changes, and you need your service provider to keep up with you.

Let’s look at the evolution of cloud computing as an example. Today, over half of all businesses in North America use cloud computing in some form. Go back two or three years and you have less than a quarter of businesses actively using cloud computing.

It requires a quick evolution to keep up with what’s going on in the world of technology and business. Managed IT support is setup in such a way as to make it easy to keep up with what’s going on.

Overall, it’s clear that one-man IT support is completely inferior. It hamstrings your business and makes it much harder to acquire a speedy resolution to your IT problem.

 

Why a Hardware-based BDR System Could Save Your Business

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bdr backup recoveryThe Backup & Disaster Recovery Solution (BDR) is something every business should have. You never know when the worst could happen and your data could crash into the void. If you have a hardware-based BDR solution in place, you’ll be able to return to a point in the past before your data disappeared.

Now the unrecoverable is recoverable. BDR solutions come in two forms; online and hardware-based. We’re going to discuss some of the reasons why you should search for something hardware-based, as well as why a good BDR solution can save money.

Additional Safety

Online BDR solutions are still vulnerable. A hacker can attack the BDR solution itself and take it offline. If this happens, you’ll have no way of retrieving your files. Hardware-based solutions don’t have the same problems. In many cases, your files can be transferred to a piece of hardware not connected to the Internet.

Sharing the Servers

If you’re operating with an online BDR, you’re sharing the server with everyone else. In the event of a major problem that affects multiple users, expect to have to deal with slow retrievals. Hardware-based solutions will retrieve your data in a matter of hours, as opposed to a matter of days.

And this is essential. A business that goes offline for a few days is liable to file for bankruptcy. 50% of businesses will file for bankruptcy immediately, according to the National Archives & Records Administration in Washington.

Cheap Solution Expensive Solution

The cheaper BDR solution will not be as effective as a more expensive BDR solution. This doesn’t mean a company should opt for the most expensive solution available. It means price shouldn’t become the main consideration. Opt for quality over everything else.

Quality means you’ll have your data back and your site online as soon as possible. In terms of business, this can save you thousands. Customers who can’t find your website immediately will turn away forever.

Your regular customers might also become disillusioned if your website disappears for a few days. They might think you’ve closed your doors.

And if you have employees, they won’t be able to do their jobs, but you’ll still have to give them a salary. So, you have no money coming in, you still have to pay for the upkeep of your company, and this could last for days. These reasons alone are why it’s worth spending more on a hardware-based solution.

Pay Now Profit Later

Always start by paying more for a better hardware-based solution now. With an investment like this, you have to look at the potential long-term circumstances. For the vast majority of companies, they’ll get value for money over the length of a few months and years.

The Anti-Virus Solution and its Importance for Businesses

Security,

anti-virusViruses have evolved since the Internet first came into being in the 1990s. In the past, viruses were merely annoyances used by people to show off to their friends, or in many cases irritate them. Today, cybercrime is an entire industry.

Viruses steal information and can sell it on to third-party criminal groups who can empty bank accounts and steal customer details.

Let’s take a look at why every business needs some sort of anti-virus solution.

The Cost of Not Having an Anti-Virus Solution

About 17% of all computers in the world today lack any basic virus protection when browsing online, according to the anti-virus protection provider McAfee.

TrendMicro estimates on a global scale the cost of cybercrime could be up to $1 billion USD, and at least $300 billion at a bare minimum. Whilst it’s impossible to know the exact cost of business cybercrime, we can conclude it’s rampant, so an anti-virus solution is the minimum a business should have.

Stopping the Tide

The risk of not having anti-virus software is simply too great. Your average anti-virus program will block thousands of different viruses every month. And this is just for someone who doesn’t visit potentially malicious websites.

Viruses exist on even the safest websites. It’s impossible to browse safely without some sort of protection.

Covering for Everyone Else

A business with paid employees needs to be extra careful. You might see yourself as someone who knows how to browse safely. You already know the basics of not clicking on suspicious email attachments and staying away from dangerous websites. Do your employees know the same, though?

There’s no guaranteeing your workers are as careful as you, and you don’t want to take the risk. A virus that hits any access point on your network is a potential threat to your entire business.

Your Customers and Yourself

It’s not just protecting your website that’s a priority. To truly understand the dangers of a virus, you need to look at the chain reaction of an attack. If someone gets into your network, they can take the personal and financial details of your customers.

Criminal gangs can use this information to assault their bank accounts and cause untold misery. You aren’t just protecting your company, you’re doing your best by your customers. Some would argue it’s incredibly selfish to not invest in strong anti-virus protection.

Paid Software and Free Software

Free software already installed on your machine will rarely work. This is the most basic of all protections and won’t keep out stronger viruses. Don’t waste your time listening to the salesperson. The chances are they don’t have any clue what they’re talking about.

Paid software will provide you with regular updates and will save you money in the long-term. Keep customer confidence high and prevent any messy situations in the future by paying for an anti-virus solution.

 

Malware Protection and Your Business – Why You Need a Defence

malware symbol
Security, ,

Malware is a malicious entity that can attack computers and business networks. They’re generally used to steal personal and financial information. The person behind the virus will take this information and use it to steal money, or they’ll sell it on to criminal gangs who will do the same thing.

As a business, it’s your duty to possess some sort of malware protection. The cost of cybercrime to businesses is massive. The UK Government compiled a study that revealed cybercrime costs the IT services industry $1.6 billion per annum. And the figures are relatively similar for other industries, including the aerospace and chemical industries.

Extending Further

The main threat to a business is not what it can do to your operation. It’s how it can extend to the people you serve. Let’s say you get into a position where malware has infected your network and has taken the details of your customers.

All their personal information, such as where they live, can be used for the purposes of identity fraud. Any financial information, such as credit card details, can be used by criminals to empty bank accounts.

Your Reputation

A business lives or dies based on its reputation. If you gain a negative reputation because you didn’t secure your network, this is going to impact the number of sales you make. Your reputation will impact whether customers turn away from you. And this can cause your business to go bankrupt.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 6 in 10 businesses who sustain a major malware attack in the U.S. will go bankrupt within a year.

Security is a big issue for customers. They want to know their online transactions are safe. It’s the main barrier to eCommerce, and it’s why so many people still won’t shop online.

Reopening the Doors

Practically, recovering from a major malware solution is tough. You have to perform a security audit, invest in new security software, provide any compensation due to customers, and might even have to fight off legal cases.

For a lot of companies, this is too much hassle and they close their doors. You don’t want this to happen to you. The cost isn’t just financial (which is what everyone seems to focus upon), it’s also a major time sink.

The longer you’re closed the more customers you’ll lose. If your site is offline, or the shop doors are closed, your regular customers will assume you’ve closed forever. Very few people will check back twice. It can take years to recover lost ground following a major malware attack.

Go for Quality over Cost

And here’s a final word on the type of malware solution you should invest in. Invest in the solution that works, not the solution that happens to be exceptionally cheap. The savings you’ll make from going for the cheaper option will pale in comparison to the cost of a malware file slipping through the cracks.

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