Making Smart IT Purchases with an MSP

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There is no shortage of business technology out there to choose from. The sheer volume of options is overwhelming, and it can be challenging to identify the right solution for your business. This article provides ideas to help you make smart IT purchases.

You want to get the most out of your IT budget in 2023, but these common factors can derail smart IT purchases:

  • Many small and medium-sized business owners don’t have a lot of technical expertise.
  • Making buying decisions based only on a budget can lead to getting tech that won’t suit your needs.
  • People get drawn in by marketing appeals or salesperson charisma.
  • Buyers want to simplify their lives, so it seems to make sense to go with the same supplier or brand. But that’s not always the best answer.

All this means that even the best-intentioned buyers can choose the wrong technology. Maybe that new system isn’t compatible with existing software and hardware. You make things more difficult for your employees instead of improving productivity. Or you can end up wasting money on something you don’t need, or getting the perfect product but at an exorbitant price.

Strategies to Support Better Tech Purchases

When it’s time to buy technology, several strategies can improve your results.

Establish your requirements

This is more than thinking, “I want X to do this and that.” Map out your current technology to see what might already meet those requirements. Plus, learn what compatibilities will be essential to effectively use the new tech.

Talk to your employees

Ask about what they would change and what they like best about the tech you’re replacing. They’re the ones who are going to be using your tech purchases on a daily basis. Buying decisions made in isolation could saddle staff with IT that frustrates them.

Think long term

This can prevent you from getting caught up in glitzy marketing or salesperson enthusiasm. Yes, it’s human to want that cool, shiny gadget with all the bells and whistles, but it may not be what your business needs, either today or down the road.

In fact, if you’re oversold technology, you could face IT budget woes in the future. On the other hand, you don’t want to buy something that you’re going to have to replace soon. That’s setting yourself up to do this all over again. You want to make a choice that is the right fit for your current requirements but that can also scale with you.

The Solution to Tech Purchase Miscues

Of course, all this takes time – a long time if you lack IT expertise. That’s time away from running your business and revenue-generating activity. Partner with a managed service provider (MSP) to simplify the process. We can look at your existing setup and learn what you need. Then, we’ll use our experience and vendor connections to get you the best deals on smart tech purchases. Call us today at (515)422-1995.

What to Do About the Widening IT Skills Gap

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The importance of information technology in meeting business objectives continues to grow. Regrettably, the shortfall in professionals who can manage business tech is also growing. Learn what the IT skills gap means for you.

  • Technology helps businesses meet strategic priorities. This includes:
  • implementing new systems or work processes to enhance efficiencies;
  • innovating and cultivating new ideas;
  • identifying new customer segments and markets;
  • launching new products or services.

In CompTIA’s research into the “State of the IT Skills Gap,” the skills disparity is widening. And it’s doing so at a worrying rate. Nearly half of CompTIA’s respondents said the skills gap had grown in scope/depth over the past two years. That’s 46%, indicating significant or moderate growth in their businesses.

That may not even capture the problem accurately. Only 44% of CompTIA’s respondents felt they had the know-how to identify and assess IT skills gaps on their own.

IT skills gap issues

The IT skills gap affects strategy and also impacts staff productivity and customer service/customer engagement. The shortfall in IT savvy individuals also impacts security, particularly:

  • data loss prevention;
  • firewalls/antivirus safeguards;
  • cloud security;
  • network monitoring/access management.

Plus, the IT skills gap can slow the adoption of emerging technology. This sees businesses struggling to upgrade existing hardware and software. They aren’t able to use artificial intelligence, automation, or the Internet of Things.

The shortage also hurts data integration, management, and analytics. Software or app development can also suffer.

How to address the gap

There are many ways businesses can improve the IT workforce pipeline. Providing on-the-job experience through internships or apprenticeships may work, as might encouraging IT employees to pursue new certifications and credentials.

Investing in tech talent is another way to promote your business objectives. Without the right IT support, you could end up buying the wrong technology or struggle to deploy it. Instead of adding agility and efficiency, you’ll slow things down and may compromise security, too.

With the IT environment constantly evolving, it’s difficult for businesses to keep up. Many firms can’t keep up with the rising compensation requirements, keeping internal IT trained is expensive, too. Then, if IT talent leaves, they take their business infrastructure knowledge with them.

The solution? Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP). With an MSP you gain experts that always stay on top of the latest events and are always trained up. Yet you don’t have to pay for their conferences and ongoing training. You typically pay a consistent set fee for the services you need.

Our experts can help update your infrastructure, deploy new systems, and secure IT. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

Onboarding an IT Provider: What’s Realistic?

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When you hire a managed service provider, you want instant results: you want all your technology to run faster and more smoothly, and everyone to be more productive. And there will be no problems again, ever, right? But that’s not realistic. Managed service providers are pretty great (even if we do say ourselves), but we’re not miracle workers. So, let’s discuss what you might realistically expect when onboarding a new IT provider.

Sometimes, quick wins are achieved. The managed service provider (MSP) may be able to immediately get that server powered up again or fix that printer on the second floor that’s only been taking up space for the past three months. Yet there is no magic wand that allows these IT experts to solve every issue instantly.

What should you expect?

If there is a pressing issue, the MSP will start there by looking into what has gone wrong. Then, they’ll be able to make plans for addressing the concern. Maybe a part failed, or your hardware has reached the end of its life. They’ll look into how you use that technology and provide suggestions to make a fix.

Otherwise, if nothing is immediately wrong, your MSP will begin the engagement by learning about your business tech. They’ll want to talk with your stakeholders to discover:

  • where you are now;
  • where you want to be the future;
  • how you use your IT;
  • what your IT budget looks like.

In getting up to speed, this outsourced IT team should be making a great impression on you. This is the beginning of your relationship. They have won your business, but you can expect them to be proving that you made the right choice. Still, this doesn’t mean they can get everything perfect right from the get-go.

The timeline depends on the context.

There could be issues that will take longer to resolve. They may need to do diagnostic work to get to the root of the problem. Solving the issue could take creative problem-solving and a lot of research legwork.

We’d love to say that every business we work with comes to us with pristine IT. Everything is in great shape, and we can immediately step in and make everything work even better. But there can be lingering or unidentified concerns. The business may not have the IT depth to recognize the problems that the MSP will quickly diagnose. Perhaps you’ve been ignoring security warnings or network errors or you’ve been bombarded with access requests from malicious IPs. The MSP is going to have to take on those outstanding concerns.

Again, there is no magic wand. The MSP can’t instantly turn the ship around if it’s been sailing toward a massive iceberg for the past year.

Expect to give your MSP team some time to learn your business and get up to speed with your IT. However, don’t give them forever. If it has been six months, and they’re still “figuring it all out,” you may want to reconsider that partnership. But be aware that cutting those ties means starting from scratch to build a relationship with a new MSP.

The better approach is to expect ongoing, informative communication from your new MSP. They should be letting you know what they are learning about your technology needs along the way and making suggestions to improve usage, boost security, increase productivity, and drive efficiency.

One thing you can realistically expect? Your MSP will make a real contribution. These experts should be more than a vendor and more like a partner in your business success.

Contact us at (515) 422-1995.

What IT Services Should You Outsource?

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Every successful small business owner reaches a point when they need to tap others’ talents. When it comes to IT, depending on your skill set, that point could come pretty soon. Yes, there are IT services you can do in-house, but there are others that are beneficial to outsource.

When you started, you might have been dealing with one computer in your home office. As the business grows, so will your IT footprint. Eventually, it could make more sense to outsource your IT infrastructure. Managing your own hardware could prove too costly and time-consuming. In particular, a cloud service provider allows you to take advantage of economies of scale.

There are umpteen options for outsourcing your cloud computing. Once you settle on the provider, someone else can manage updates, handle backups, and track security.

Even if you keep your hardware infrastructure on-site, you can outsource its management, as it can grow too complicated for you to handle alone. Bring in an IT expert to source, manage, and troubleshoot your hardware. You can return your focus to other business areas that better suit your skills.

Other IT areas to outsource

If your business sells to customers online, you might outsource your e-commerce. There are many excellent e-commerce operators out there. They focus on ensuring your customers are always able to shop and buy from a secure online shop. You don’t want to risk losing sales because you’re trying to manage e-commerce as well as all other areas of your business.

Security is another key area for IT outsourcing. Cybercriminals are not slowing down. In fact, security agencies from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom reported in February 2022 on the increasing threat of ransomware. One of their findings? No one is immune, no matter the size of their business.

As a single-computer shop, you could do automatic updates and change Wi-Fi passwords. But, as your operations grow, there are many more entry points to protect. Identifying vulnerabilities becomes more difficult, and you can’t spend all your time monitoring cybersecurity threat feeds. There’s other work to do, too.

Cybersecurity can’t be set and forgotten. Sometimes, updates can’t wait until the next one you have scheduled. You may need to react quickly to a major event or move proactively to identify whether you are at risk. Outsourcing to professionals who track new threats can help you avoid the worst. When updates are due, they can schedule them at the least disruptive time for your business. Plus, if there is an infected file or malware issue, you have someone on call to deal with that issue immediately. That can help cut costly downtime.

Outsource to IT experts

You may be brilliant in your business area, but that doesn’t mean you’re also skilled at IT. By outsourcing some IT tasks, you can gain peace of mind about your business tech reliability. Instead of trying to recruit and train your own IT people in a tight labour market, you can let the experts in. Then, you can get back to focusing your attention on the other core elements of your business.

Outsourcing IT can lower your tech costs, increase your productivity, and provide peace of mind. By turning to our experts, you can be more productive and enjoy a higher level of IT services. Contact us today at (515)422-1995!

How to Save on Hardware Refreshes

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Your business may have an established hardware refresh cycle. Good. Or you might refresh hardware every few years when you feel it’s needed. OK, so you like the casual approach. That can work, too. You don’t refresh your hardware? Not a great plan. Yet, no matter what, you’ll want to read this article about how to save on IT hardware refreshes.

What is a hardware refresh?

Let’s not confuse a hardware update or upgrade with a hardware refresh. When updating hardware, which you should do consistently, you patch any security vulnerabilities. You’ll also address any other issues the manufacturer may have discovered post-release. Then, in the case of an upgrade, your hardware stays in place, but you might add drives or RAM.

Next, there’s the hardware refresh. This sees you replacing the hardware you have with new technology. You’ll replace outdated equipment with the newest versions. Read on to learn why you’d do that.

Why is a hardware refresh needed?

Business relies on technology to function and offer a competitive advantage. Yet your hardware can reach the point at which it slows you down. Or, worse, it becomes an actual security risk, which could lead to devastating downtime.

There is no one magic bullet to remove all risk of cyberattack or difficulties with your business IT, but refreshing hardware helps you combat:

  • performance issues;
  • capacity issues;
  • security vulnerabilities.

Plus, you gain any new functionality built into the equipment since you last bought it.

Many businesses have a set hardware refresh cycle; perhaps every three to five years. Yet that timeline is only a general suggestion, and it may not suit your particular business needs. Upgrade too early, and you’re not getting full value for your technology investment. Upgrade too late, and you risk productivity and security.

Knowing when to upgrade, repair, or refresh helps ensure return on investment. You can also save on the refresh itself. More on that next.

How to save on hardware refreshes?

It’s a good idea to have a hardware refresh process, yet allowing the calendar to dictate server unit, workstation, or networking component changes can waste resources.

Reduce hardware refresh costs by doing an IT and network audit. This audit helps you understand what is currently used, how it is being used, and whether or not it is up to the task. This can also help you identify areas where you are over-equipping your employees. For example, a design firm’s administrator won’t need the same amount of RAM as the designers need to run graphics programs.

You can also save on hardware refreshes with virtualization. Instead of replacing legacy technology with another physical machine, host it in the cloud. Take a server unit. Doing away with the on-site server unit provides access to the server’s resources online. You gain the flexibility of being able to run multiple operating systems on the same device. Plus, you’ll save on electricity, cooling, and maintenance costs.

Help with your hardware refresh

Refreshing business equipment brings both labor and infrastructure expenses, but failing to refresh hardware can overburden IT, slow employees, and risk security. Optimize your hardware refresh by knowing business needs, auditing current technology, and exploring alternatives.

Partnering with a managed service provider to help you establish a refresh plan can help, too. Our experts can determine what equipment needs to be changed and what is still viable. We can help you evaluate options to get the most cost-friendly solutions. Plus, we can help with upgrades and updates, too. Contact our team today at (515)422-1995!

Could the Business You Work for be More IT Savvy?

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Working for a small business, you can be asked to wear many hats. Even if one of your many roles is not IT, you may need to speak up about your business technology or cybersecurity.

It’s easy to think cybersecurity is someone else’s responsibility, but IT may not be getting the attention it deserves, and that could be damaging to the business, your career, and your identity.

A data breach can destroy a business. Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that 60% of small businesses close within six months of a breach. It’s easy to calculate why. In Ponemon’s annual Cost of Data Breach report, the average cost was $161 per record. That adds up. If you’re at a business that can’t recover, you could be out looking for work again.

Of course you care about your customers. You don’t want their personally identifiable information (PII) getting out to criminals. But their information isn’t the only thing at risk. Your employer has a lot of PII about you, too. They’ll have your name, address, salary amount, and bank account details. Plus, they may have health information related to your benefits. They probably also have copies of your government identification.

Not only about protection, prevention

If your business tech is out of date, you’re at greater risk of cyber vulnerability. But improving IT isn’t only about protecting data and preventing downtime. Having the right technology to suit your business can also help you be more productive. Speaking up about IT could see the business improve, grow, and gain resiliency.

Working with a good MSP can help both you and your business:

  • If your company isn’t as protected, IT experts can help with data security or backup and disaster recovery.
  • Frustrated by network failures, lagging conference calls, or error messages? Trust the MSP to make sure the business technology is up to the task.
  • When the devices you’re working with aren’t doing what you want them to do, the MSP can suggest the right tools for the job.
  • Feel like you’re wasting time on repetitive or mundane tasks? An MSP partner could help you embrace automation. Allow machines to take on the routine and leave you free to focus on the more challenging and innovative work.

A slow system is painful to use. Having to wait even a few minutes for a computer adds up over a 40-hour work week. Worrying about the security of your data doesn’t help your focus at work either.

You don’t have to be an IT expert to understand that there is room for improvement with your technology. Connect us with your employer to schedule a consultation for your business needs!

Contact us at (515)422-1995.

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