Category Archives: Manage Service

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics and How to Identify Them

Phishing Scam Tactics
Cybersecurity, How To, Phishing, Security, , , ,

Phishing has been a common hacking method for over two decades now. You would think that everyone would already know how it works and how to avoid becoming a victim, right? Sadly, that is not the case for these Phishing Scam Tactics. There are more victims now than ever. In 2022, there were more than 300,000 victims in the US alone, with damages amounting to over $52 million!

The thing is that phishing scams have evolved over the years. Hackers are now more adept at hoodwinking unsuspecting victims, and they also have easy access to modern technology that helps elevate their phishing tactics.

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics

To protect your data and your business, you must build awareness of these scams at all levels of your organization. Here are the top 8 indicators of phishing scam tactics and what to do when you encounter them.

Spoofed Emails

Upon getting an email from a trusted source, many people would open the email without a second thought. Hackers know this and use it for their Phishing Scam Tactics. They make the email look like it came from a reputable source by indicating a trusted sender name, although the email address is not correct. Before opening an email, check that the sender and the address are the same.

Sense of Urgency

Receiving a message that threatens to close your account or bring you legal action can easily cause you to freak out. Because of your panic, you could rashly click on the links as instructed in the email. Of course you would…you don’t want to be sued or go to jail! Stay calm when you receive such emails. Verify the information before taking action.

Malicious Links as a Phishing Scam Tactics

Malicious links are among the oldest phishing methods, but they are still very effective. Sometimes, these links appeal to a person’s natural curiosity, and at other times, they come with the promise of a reward. Either way, it led the unwitting victim to click the link or open the attachment. Again, always check before clicking.

Password Requests

Have you ever received an email from your bank or credit card provider asking for your password or other sensitive data about your account? Never! Legitimate companies do not ask for these kinds of data from clients. In case you get such a request, this is a phishing scam tactics so make sure to block and ignore it. They are almost certainly hackers trying to get into your account.

Misspellings and Poor Grammar

Although many hackers have sharpened their grammar skills by now, many phishing emails are still easily identifiable by wrongly spelled words and typographical errors. Yes, they make you cringe, but these emails can wreak serious havoc on your business. Therefore, you must not even reply or make grammatical corrections.

Personalized Content

It sounds like a legit email if they address you by the correct name and position, right? Hackers are very resourceful. They can get their hands on publicly known information with little effort. They can also access so much more if you engage in their attempts. So before you take any action, make sure to verify the source of the message.

Fake URLs are used in Phishing Scam Tactics

Using fake website URLs is another phishing scam tactic with a very high success rate. Hackers send out emails that look like they came from a trusted source, like a service provider, containing a link to what looks like the actual page of the provider, and they will ask you to log in. Of course, thinking that you are at a legit site, you enter your login details, unknowingly giving them full access to your account.

Unexpected Emails

If you suddenly receive an email out of nowhere that raises an alarm, be immediately wary because this is likely to be a scam. Do nothing they are asking you to do. Don’t even reply. Verify the source of the email to see if it is legit.

Final Thoughts

If anyone in your organization receives any form of these phishing scam tactics, encourage them to speak out so others will be doubly vigilant. If someone thinks someone has already hacked them, it’s not necessarily too late. There are things you can do to minimize the damage. We have outlined the steps in an infographic called “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked”. You can download it by clicking right here.

To learn more about protecting your business from phishing scams and improving your company’s cybersecurity, call us. We will be happy to set you up for a free consultation!

How Do MSP Mergers and Acquisitions Impact Your Business?

MSP Mergers
Manage Service, Security, Technology, , , , ,

We have seen a significant rise in the number of MSPs and solution providers selling out to larger corporations. They are also selling to hedge funds in recent years. This trend of MSP mergers has been going on around the world. With this trend, there is no sign that it is going to turn in a different direction anytime soon.

Why Are Big Corporations Buying out MSP Companies?

Large IT companies are actively gunning for mergers or acquisitions because the MSP business is currently highly lucrative. The market is currently at a value of $223 billion and said it will reach $330 billion by 2025. Corporations recognize the strong growth potential of the MSP industry, but they don’t necessarily want to start a new company themselves. Indeed, why build one from scratch when MSP Mergers can find many MSPs out there willing to sell?

Also, these corporations are banking on the illusion of choice and keeping their current customers. They take control of multiple MSP companies while retaining their original names. People mistakenly believe that they have a wide selection of MSPs to choose from when, in reality, the majority of them belong to the same conglomerate.

Take Accenture, for instance. In 2023 alone, they will have acquired 8 different IT provider companies. It appears to the public that these MSPs are industry rivals. In truth, they are all bringing in revenue for Accenture. Trailing at a close second is The 20 MSP, which has already acquired seven MSPs so far this year.

Why Are MSP Owners Choosing to Sell Their Companies?

From the MSP owner’s perspective, selling the company could indeed be the best course of action considering the situation at hand. The most common reasons that they cite for doing so are burnout, health, retirement, partner disputes, or shifting to a different line of business.

It does seem like a win-win situation for everyone until you take a look at how the situation impacts the client companies of the MSP that has just been bought. Yes, we are talking about businesses like yours. Where does it leave you if a sizable corporation suddenly acquires the MSP you had chosen to work with?

Effects of MSP Mergers on Client Businesses

IT companies have their valid reasons for selling out; oftentimes, it has to do with money. But regardless of what good it might have done for them, the acquisition typically leaves their clients in the lurch. Of course, the big corporation promises to take care of all the clients in the same way that they have always been taken care of. But the truth is that everything will change, and not necessarily for the better.

As a business owner, you rely heavily on your MSP to take care of your digital operations. You’ve probably been staying with them all this time because they provide excellent service. You are happy with the IT guy working for you, and their location is near you.

But what if you wake up one day and everything is different? It is pretty normal for service quality to drop after an acquisition. You might go from being a highly VIP client to just one of the hundreds or even thousands.

With the change of management, you will likely have a completely new IT team that did not work with you before. But what’s even worse is that these professionals are usually miles away from your physical location and can only serve you remotely. They can go to you but their travel expenses will go on your bill. That is something you do not want at all with MSP Mergers!

What to Do If Your MSP Is Getting Bought Out By MSP Mergers

There are two main choices you can make once you find out your MSP is up for acquisition. One is to stay with them and hope things settle down quickly. In all likelihood, the new owners will want to hear your feedback because, after all, they want to keep your business. Take this opportunity to air your concerns and give them time to make adjustments to better serve your needs.

Now, if things have changed to the point that you are no longer satisfied with the service, you can always switch to a new provider. Despite the continuing M&A trends in the IT industry, there are still plenty of local MSPs that have not sold out.

Check out a few and see what else is out there. Here at our company, we would be very happy to help you sort things out, discuss your needs, and maybe even provide you with the services that you are looking for. Check out the MSPs that big businesses have acquired just in 2023. It will surprise you if you find out where these large corporations’ locations are. It’s no wonder why small businesses are suffering from acquisitions. 2023 MSP Acquisitions

And if your agreement confuses you and want to know how you can get out of it, call us today, and let’s talk!

For Better or For Worse: How Your IT Company Affects Your Customers

How Your IT Company Affects Customers
Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Security, Technology, , , , ,

How Your IT Company Affects Customers is very important to keep your business operations in good hands. Most processes today rely on technology, so you need a provider to keep up with the times and ensure everything goes smoothly.

But do you realize how your choice of IT company also affects your customers? The level of customer satisfaction might be one of the most revealing gauges of how efficient your IT company is.

How Your IT Company Helps Affect Your Delivery of Better Service to Customers

Although your IT provider does not have direct contact with your customers, the tasks they take on influence the quality of service you can provide to your clients. Here are some examples of how your IT company can enable you to deliver better customer service.

Multichannel Communications

Accessibility and convenience are vital factors for better customer service. When a customer wants to get in touch with you for any reason, they should be able to do so through multiple options. Make sure your IT provider offers many communication channels, including email, live chat, text, social media, and SMS.

How Your IT Company’s 24/7 Customer Response Affects Customers

When customers reach out to you, they expect timely responses. Of course, it wouldn’t be too practical to have someone come in to answer calls in the wee hours of the morning. You can use chatbots to handle customer concerns outside of regular business hours.

Customer Relationship Management Software

Employing a CRM or customer relationship management software gives your customers a much more pleasant experience. Why? Because with it, you don’t have to keep asking them to repeat the same information every time they get re-routed to a different agent, which can be extremely frustrating.

Faster and More Efficient Transactions 

Customers dislike waiting in long lines at the grocery checkout, when ordering fast food, and so on. There are many solutions that an IT company can provide for all these situations, like better POS systems, automated order-taking, self-service portals, and many more. Incorporating these features into your business will lead to much better customer service.

How Your IT Company Personalized Recommendations Affect Customers

Advertising emails or marketing offers sent to potential customers at random can be very annoying. Most of the time, they will just get ignored or deleted. With the help of an IT company, you can easily tailor recommendations to your target market’s specific needs and wants. This increases the chances of them taking notice and taking you up on your offer.

Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR)

The risk of online attacks is very prevalent these days. In addition, there is also the danger of other disasters that can lead to system failures and data loss. Such events can compromise the safety of customers when their data is exposed.

To keep this from happening, you should have a proper backup and disaster recovery plan in place, courtesy of your IT provider. With a reliable BDR, your customer’s data is protected. This will give them peace of mind, and they will have no qualms about putting their business in your hands.

Find the Right IT Company that can affect Better Service to Customers

Your IT provider can provide a variety of services for various aspects of your business. But in the end, all of it has something to contribute toward better customer service. So if you want to draw more customers and give them the most pleasant experience, you must establish a long-term partnership with a reliable IT company.

Here at our company, we have mastered optimizing business processes so that they lead to the best customer service possible. We can assist you with anything from communication and sales transactions to transitions to a Hybrid workplace. By calling us, you can give your customers the most pleasant experience, and your business can enjoy continued growth and success.

How Small Businesses Attract Large Enterprise Talent

how to attract large enterprise talent
Cybersecurity, Manage Service, Technology, , , , , ,

It is a goal for all companies, big or small, to attract and keep large enterprise talent that is suitable for the different areas of the business. After all, the more competent your workforce is, the more chances you have of successfully growing your business. But attracting talent is not always easy, especially for the SMB sector.

The Challenge of Attracting Large Enterprise Talent to SMBs

For large, multinational corporations, there is no problem because everyone is eager to work for them. These companies usually offer attractive benefits. We are not just talking about monetary compensation. There are also many other perks, like a prime office location, free training, travel opportunities, and many more.

For the SMB sector, it can be a big challenge to attract and keep large enterprise talent. The main reason for this is the limited funds. As a small or midsize business owner, what can you do to pique the interest of enterprise talent and get them to work for you? It will please you to know that there is a lot that you can do.

Effective Ways of Attracting and Retaining Large Enterprise Talent

While you might not have the prestige of working for a multinational company, you can build a highly competent workforce through other means. Here are some ways to help attract large enterprise talent.

Partnership with Local Institutions

One of the most effective ways to attract large enterprise talent is to partner with local institutions, particularly schools or community projects. You can launch a mentoring program or an internship and invite top students from the local college to sign up. Fresh minds have much to offer and can be a precious addition to your company.

Make the Hiring Process a Wonderful Experience

If you hope to lure and attract large enterprise talent into signing with your company, you must give them a wonderful experience throughout the hiring process. From the interview to onboarding, you need to make them feel valued. This increases the odds that they will want to work with you and stay with your company for a long time.

Maintain Communication with Qualified Candidates

A lot of the candidates that show up might be qualified, and you can only hire so many. In that case, keep in touch with the ones you did not hire. Let everyone know you are expanding and there might be open positions available soon. By doing so, you are essentially creating a filtered talent pool that would be precious for future hiring.

Offer a Hybrid Work Environment

One of the silver linings of the COVID pandemic is that most employees got to experience the many perks of a remote work setup. Because of this, it is now a smart move to offer a hybrid work environment, which is a mix of both remote and in-office work. Candidates will find this highly attractive because of the flexibility and improved work-life balance.

How a Managed Service Provider Can Help Attract Large Enterprise Talent

As you can see, there are plenty of things that you can do to attract and keep large enterprise talent. Some of these things need more preparation, and others might require the help of a professional. Switching to a hybrid workforce, for instance, might cause changes in your network and data infrastructure. No worries because a reliable managed services provider can take care of all that for you.

Here at our company, we have specialists that can help make the acquisition of top talent for your business a much easier task. We can set you up so well that the best candidates will soon swarm to you like bees to honey. Call us and we can talk more about how we can help you build the workforce of your dreams.