What Is Co-Managed IT?

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To be successful in business today you need technology and the expertise to manage it. Yet recruiting and retaining internal IT experts is challenging. Those who know how to support, secure, and scale technology assets are in high demand. That’s one reason many take advantage of co-managed IT.

Co-managed IT sees your internal teamwork alongside a managed service provider (MSP). Together, you improve agility and better manage complex IT environments.

You choose what roles and responsibilities stay in-house and outsource the rest. This is useful if you have an understaffed or overworked internal IT team or when you’re struggling to staff up.

The co-managed IT approach offers several advantages:

  • increased efficiency
  • external expertise
  • improved business offerings
  • cost-effectiveness
  • enhanced end-user experience
  • better retention of internal IT staff
  • security gains

We’ll discuss each in more detail next.

Increased efficiency

Co-managed IT service providers can take on a range of technology tasks. This includes upgrading software, backing up and protecting data, and troubleshooting. They can also add or provide security, support cloud migration, and maintain servers.

You might also turn to co-managed IT to help with regulatory compliance or to manage remote locations. This route is also an expeditious way to support a growing company and meet an immediate need.

When you have specialized requirements, adapt quickly by partnering with an MSP with those skills. This saves you the time and effort needed to learn that new area or to hire new people.

External expertise

Having another set of IT experts supporting your objectives can help you succeed. You don’t risk the tunnel vision of only internal people validating each other’s decisions; you get the benefit of an outsider’s perspective. Plus, the MSP experts can bring varied backgrounds. They’ll also have experience with many different clients, which could help identify fresh opportunities.

Improved business offerings

Established MSPs focus on cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. They keep current on emerging technology trends and the ever-evolving threat landscape. Their insights can help you install best practices. You can learn how to streamline processes and improve outcomes.

You also gain an IT partner that wants to take the pressure off your internal team. This can help you achieve a competitive advantage.

Cost-effectiveness

Instead of a break-fix model or a project basis, co-managed IT is typically long-term. This can provide cost savings with a consistent budget line item that you can plan around.

You also expand IT resources without having to recruit, train, retain, and pay benefits.

Enhanced end-user experience

When someone else is handling routine tasks, your IT can install top technologies. Giving your internal team freedom to innovate can also bring greater access to time savings and real-time insights for end users.

Co-managed IT can also provide your users with 24/7/365 support. There is a support system in place when your own internal IT staff members are sick or go on vacation.

Better retention of internal IT staff

By sharing IT responsibilities, you free your people up to focus on what matters most. Co-managing IT also provides a relief valve to take pressure off of overworked teams. Aligning with a partner to achieve goals can also enhance IT staff satisfaction.

Security gains

MSPs can help improve your cybersecurity posture by identifying unnecessary complexity. They provide a fresh look at your systems. Co-managed IT experts can monitor networks and install system protection, and they can handle security patches as well as software and hardware upgrades. These experts can also put preventative measures in place to avoid downtime, handle data backup, and prepare a disaster recovery plan.

Want to learn more about co-managed IT services? Talk to our experts about the role we can play in your business success today. Call us now at (515)422-1995.

Securing Your Legacy Architecture: Why and How

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Some business applications are so essential they are always on, 24/7. That makes them difficult to update or replace. You may also have hardware or software that has been getting the job done for decades. Taking an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” perspective, you continue to rely on this technology. But how secure is this legacy architecture? Convenience could be undermining essential cyber protection.

Legacy systems are common in many industries, including energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. Take this high-profile example of the dangers of relying on legacy architecture. American taxpayers got an extension on their 2018 filings due to a legacy tech outage. The Internal Revenue System’s critical systems went down for over 10 hours … on national tax day!

Legacy architecture includes software, hardware, and other tech that is not internet-enabled. It may all still work as intended, but that doesn’t mean it’s secure.

The Risks with Legacy Architecture

The longer you rely on an application, the more critical it may be to your day-to-day operations. This can make it more challenging to upgrade or replace. Downtime would be damaging, and costs could be prohibitive. It could be part of a custom deployment, making mapping what you need to update and secure as challenging as untangling all the electrical cords in the equipment closet.

Yet continuing to run legacy architecture leaves you open to many problems:

  • You could be running outdated software that you can’t control because the original developers are gone.
  • The technology may no longer be supported, so the vulnerabilities are growing every year it is left unpatched or not updated.
  • You risk noncompliance with industry or other cybersecurity regulations.

Your budget may not allow you to replace legacy equipment or overhaul it to provide more advanced cyber protection. Still, you can take action to protect legacy architecture.

Get to know the problem – Part of the issue with legacy architecture is that it has morphed beyond the original design. No one knows all its external dependencies and internal integrations with other equipment. That means you don’t know the threats or vulnerabilities and can’t design effective countermeasures and protections. Thus, protection begins with a deep dive to understand what that technology does and how it does it.

Build protections around it – Enhance security by making it more difficult for hackers to get at your legacy tech. It’s like putting a moat and high walls around a castle to protect it from marauders. Using firewalls can slow down the bad guys, plus, if you keep an eye on the security logs, you may be able to see them trying to break in.

Isolate legacy architecture – Another solution is to separate legacy equipment from other systems. This helps you limit the number of entry points a bad actor has to exploit vulnerabilities. You can also minimize collateral damage by keeping the attack contained.

Use multi-factor authentication – Better protect access to legacy systems with multi-factor authentication. This makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to get in. They’d need more than stolen access credentials for authentication.

Also, limit each user to applications or hardware that is essential for their role. This is a least-privileges-access approach. It keeps a bad actor from having carte blanche access to your systems.

Migrate workflow to modern systems – If part of a workflow doesn’t have to be done on the legacy architecture, move it to the more modern system. Transition to cloud technology to benefit from current systems with built-in redundancy. That can help you bounce back sooner if something does go wrong.

Develop a security mindset – Your people are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. When working with legacy tech, encourage your people to patch often and update always. Demonstrating you care about security can encourage caution. That can help you avoid costly mistakes or give the criminals a way in.

Partner with a managed service provider

By working with an external IT provider, you can enjoy a fresh perspective. An outsourced IT expert is skilled with legacy architecture and the latest tools, too. We can provide the know-how you need to protect what you want to hold on to a little longer. Contact us today at (515)422-1995!

Automated Data Backups Still Need Management

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Your business is backing up its data in case of a cyberattack or other disastrous disruption. Yes, you can pat yourself on the back for that, but don’t get too complacent with backing up. Automated backup still needs monitoring and management.

Having decided to back up data, you may feel confident you can withstand an attack or recover from unexpected downtime. But if you simply trust the backup to run at a certain time, you might be surprised. Automated backups can make the job easier. Still, you should be monitoring these backups and checking them, too. There’s nothing worse than finding out months later that something went wrong with your automated backup.

Why you need to monitor backup

A technician can set an automated backup to run on a set schedule. They select a time that causes the least interruption while ensuring up-to-date data. Yet this is too important a process to leave unattended.

Things change. The automated backup is set up for the technology configuration when originally installed. A lot can happen in the meantime as the IT environment evolves.

Blindly trusting automated backup could leave you unaware of problems such as:

  • an unplugged backup device;
  • an altered device letter, which means it isn’t found;
  • moved folders;
  • software updates that might have changed what needs to be done and how;
  • the original plan not accounting for new servers or migration from on-premises to the cloud;
  • insufficient capacity for the backup.

If no one is monitoring that backup, your business could assume it went smoothly. Then, when you need that backup, you could find out the hard way it didn’t go as planned.

Keeping an eye on automated backup

It’s not that you can’t automate backup, and there is convenience in doing so. Automating the backup of a computer, network, or IT environment can save time and money.

Yet you need someone to pay attention. Monitoring backups ensures that the process is running smoothly.

A managed service provider (MSP) will take a hands-on approach to your automated backups. If there is a failure, they have the skills to address the issue quickly and alert you of any bigger issues. Plus, with an MSP in your corner, you gain IT experts skilled at data recovery, too.

The MSP’s techs can even run data-restore drills, helping you to prepare for challenges such as ransomware attacks or accidental data deletion.

Process automation helps businesses, but don’t rely on it unattended. Optimize data backup by adding a human element. An MSP can ensure quality and fully protect your business. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

Avoid This Top IT mistake: The “Wait and See” Approach

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Patience is often a virtue, and being budget-conscious is also a plus in business. Yet taking a “wait and see” approach with business tech is a top IT mistake.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the current economy. You may be looking to save money to give your business more budget leeway. But if you don’t make ongoing investments in your IT, your business could suffer.

You might skip software upgrades, but that can put your business at risk from cyber bad actors, who look to exploit weaknesses when people don’t upgrade their systems.

Deciding to put off replacing older devices or legacy hardware, you may be thinking, “What’s one more year?” It can make a big difference, actually. Your systems may have vulnerabilities that cyber-attackers will leverage. Your hardware may not be able to keep up with your business during its busy times, and your people could be working on devices that are no longer supported by the manufacturer. If something does go wrong, you’re on your own.

Trying to get by with less when it comes to business technology can hurt your business. We’re not saying you have to throw all sorts of money at every new technology out there, of course; it’s about fitting the right technology to your specific business needs.

Business tech: Better now than later

Businesses today are undergoing digital transformation. Across industries, people see the advantages of IT. The right technology enhances the quality of work and boosts productivity. You have the tools needed to support faster processing and wider information distribution.

Thinking only short-term about technology, as in “it’s working fine for now,” could hurt you in the long run, however, and by not looking after your tech and keeping it current, you could be missing out on:

  • keeping your software and systems patched and protected against the latest cyber threats;
  • enjoying the greater efficiency that comes from streamlined workflows and business process best practices;
  • being able to collaborate seamlessly with team members or clients and customers via the latest cloud communications tools;
  • getting things done more easily with the hardware and software you need to keep up with your business;
  • scaling up or down as your business needs with the convenience of cloud technology;
  • having peace of mind that if there is a data breach or other system disruption, you have a backup to get your business back up.

Moving forward with an MSP

There is an inevitability to investment in business tech. You know you’re going to need it. But taking the wait-and-see approach simply puts you at risk of a cyberattack or other productivity drains. Keeping your IT current and investing in this essential area can benefit employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and your business’s bottom line.

Not sure what technology to focus on while working within your budget? Our IT experts can help. We’ll get to know your systems and your unique needs. Then, we’ll make suggestions about the smartest investment areas for your business. Contact us today at (515)422-1995!

Computer Down? You Need it Now. Now What?

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Ever met someone who responds to computer downtime with applause or relief? Neither have we. When a computer goes down, the individual inevitably needs it fixed fast. Yet, depending on your repair model, it could take longer than you hope. This article compares break-fix to managed services.

The break-fix model is a short-term one. Maybe you have someone you turn to on a consistent basis, but you may still have to wait. If you’re calling for help when it’s needed (and let’s hope it’s not that often), that IT repair guy might not be available. If they’re backed up, you’re going to be waiting.

If you don’t have someone you’ve used before, you’ll need to ask around. Look at reviews to find someone with expertise with your apps, services, or network. Then, you’ll probably need to make many calls until you find someone who can come out now.

But does their immediate availability mean they’re reliable? Bringing in external IT support means trusting someone else with your computer, which often entails letting them know your passwords. A business has good reason to be wary of giving that kind of access to someone they are hiring on a one-off basis.

On the other hand, the managed services model is a long-term one. When you work with a managed service provider (MSP), they get to know your setup and business needs. Yes, in the event of computer downtime their focus is on getting you up and running now, but they will pursue approaches that fit your specific overall objectives.

Why MSPs Make More Sense

In fact, your computer may not have suffered the downtime in the first place. After all, the MSP’s focus is on avoiding any technology disruptions. One of their jobs is to proactively monitor your systems. They want to help identify any issues before they happen.

If something does go wrong, your business has the peace of mind of knowing:

  • You are a priority customer as part of your contract with the MSP.
  • They can remotely access your systems to get started ASAP.
  • You don’t have to pay a premium for rush services. You’re covered by a fixed monthly fee (offering financial predictability, too).

The MSP will also have the advantage of already knowing your business systems and what you need them to do. As a trusted advisor, already supporting your tech, they can find the problem more quickly. They don’t have to learn your IT setup from scratch; they may even have set it up in the first place!

Your MSP partner will take precautionary measures when they know you’re coming up on a busy season. Knowing your tech needs to perform at its peak, they can test systems to ensure resilience. Alternatively, they’ll know when your business slows down, so they can schedule any time-consuming updates or system upgrades more conveniently.

Taking the Long-Term Approach with an MSP

Working with an MSP has benefits beyond dealing with downtime issues, too. When you partner with a reputable MSP, you’re gaining an IT partner invested in your business success.

A break-fix consultant is focused only on what’s gone wrong. The MSP can offer valuable input to improve your productivity and streamline processes. We can also help find budget efficiencies.

Don’t wait for a downtime disaster to seek out someone to get you back in business. Instead, partner with an MSP to avoid those problems in the first place. Enjoy many other benefits, too. Contact us today at (515)422-1995!

How to Expedite Your IT Support Request

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When your technology isn’t working, you want a fix right now. Whether it’s an inability to connect to your network or to open an important presentation file, you’re quickly frustrated by the need to file an IT support request. You can’t wait! We get it, so allow us to share some tips to help you get faster IT support.

Whether you’re working with an internal IT help desk or are supported by your managed services provider, you probably start out by filling out a support ticket. You might be able to call in directly or email, but your IT gurus are still going to need certain information from you to get started.

The more you can put on the help ticket, the more efficiently we can help solve your issues. The following highlights some of the critical info we need from you.

Extent of Issue

Outline the impact of the tech issue. Is that printer crisis you’re writing about happening only on the personal printer of one individual who doesn’t print often? Or is the entire floor using that printer and looking to print year-end reports today?

It helps to know who is affected, those individuals’ roles, and the scope of the problem. This can help IT to weigh your needs against those of others in the company for urgency.

Urgency

If one person is reporting a security breach and another is reporting a buzzing noise from their desktop, the response may be triaged. The IT support desk is going to weigh criticality:

  • What will be the impact of downtime while waiting for a fix?
  • Are company customers affected by the issue?
  • Is the entire company unable to work?

Detailed Description

The better you can describe what is happening, the more likely you are to enjoy timely and efficient support. Always provide, if possible:

  • the location of the affected technology;
  • the name of the affected workstation;
  • the name of the engineer who recently helped (if this has happened before);
  • when the error occurred;
  • what you expected to happen;
  • what, if anything, you did in an attempt to fix the problem.

There are a few common troubleshooting steps you may want to try before submitting an IT help request. These include:

  • asking around to see if anyone else is affected;
  • searching online to see if someone else has encountered and shared a resolution to the issue;
  • quitting and restarting the application;
  • rebooting your device.

Error Messages

If there is an error message associated with your issue, please share it with the IT team. Taking a screenshot of the message on your computer and sending it to us can help your tech experts more efficiently figure out what’s up. The best thing would be, where possible, to take a screencast of the process causing the problem.

Contact Information

Share the quickest way for the service desk to reach you. If you’re going to be in a meeting all day, maybe share a number where you can be texted with questions. If you’re traveling, provide your cell phone number instead of letting an IT support callback languish on your office voicemail.

IT Support You Can Count On

Please don’t let your sense of urgency detract from the need for this essential information. You may be frustrated and stressed, but you can help us help you by taking the time to give us all the information needed to troubleshoot effectively.

Cut downtime and get back on track faster with these tips for expediting IT support. Our tech team is always here to help your business be at its most efficient and productive. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

How to Choose Home Computer Repair

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It’s upsetting when a home computer breaks down: “My whole life is on there!” Then, you have to trust someone to take care of your device. It’s a lot to ask, and that’s why we’re sharing these five tips to help you feel better about your choice of repair person.

#1 Avoid the Big Brands

The big-box stores have name recognition, which may make you feel more secure, but the reason they advertise on TV and have big storefronts is to sell stuff. Their people are salespeople first, and their staff are not going to be as experienced with computer and device repair.

For tricky jobs, the big-box stores send your device to a remote, centralized location. That’s where the experienced staff are, so it’s good in that way. Yet you’ll now have to wait for your computer to ship to and from that location, which can mean a couple of weeks when you don’t know where your computer is or who is working on it.

#2 Consult Customer Reviews

You’ll probably start out by asking family, friends, and co-workers to suggest someone they’ve worked within the past. When you’re looking around for computer repair, read online reviews. Customer reviews can help you gauge whether you can trust the service promises.

You may also learn about any after-service support. It will help to have someone you can ask questions of in the future.

#3 Research Types of Support

It may help you to make your decision knowing that any work on your device is going to be done on-site. If they come to you, you’ll get to meet the person doing the work and keep an eye on them if you want.

Another option may be to have the IT tech remote into your computer to help solve your problem.

Then, there’s the option of drop-off and pickup from that repair shop’s own brick-and-mortar store. If you take this route, you might want to ask whether your device will remain on-site at all times.

You’ll also want to find out if that computer repair person has a particular area of expertise. Some companies specialize in working with certain brands, whereas others can handle all types of models or brands.

#4 Don’t Select by Price Alone

Who doesn’t love a bargain? But the cheapest computer repair may not actually be a better deal. Taking the budget approach, you could get an inexperienced tech with slightly more know-how than you. On the other hand, going for the most expensive repair company doesn’t guarantee the greatest service either. Ask the computer business what their experience is.

#5 Ask about Service Guarantee

Speaking of guaranteeing service, look for a service guarantee. A reputable repair company won’t charge you if they fail to fix your device.

They should also be able to cost out whether it makes more sense to make the fix or just replace the computer.

Our IT experts are here to help you repair any computer issues. We can work on-site, remote in, or you can bring your device to us for the professional attention it needs. Call us today at (515)422-1995!

7 Common Business IT Myths Debunked

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MythBuster programs on television never focus on business misconceptions about IT. Too bad, because believing these myths can be both costly and dangerous to your business. This article debunks seven common business IT myths.

Sometimes myths are harmless, but when it comes to business IT myths, not knowing the truth is damaging. Make smarter tech decisions with accurate information and a better understanding of IT.

Myth 1: Consumer PCs are interchangeable with business PCs.

Sorry, this one’s false. Selecting a business-grade computer can impact productivity. Don’t squander your competitive advantage by relying on consumer PCs to get the job done.

Consumer PCs are largely about getting the price point down by using lower-quality materials, whereas business computers are built to last, use higher-quality components, and go through more testing. They have business-appropriate features such as fingerprint readers or encryption tools, and better warranties and support.

Myth 2: Apple computers can’t get viruses.

Microsoft Windows users are targeted more often because there are more Microsoft users, and the payoff is bigger. Plus, Windows PCs run any program requested, regardless of danger, whereas Apple has steps in place to prevent unauthorized malware from running.

This myth is also untrue. In fact, in September, Apple released a security update to fix its phones, tablets, and watches. Victims didn’t even have to click on a malicious file to risk device infection. So, if you’re using an Apple device, go into Systems and make sure you’ve upgraded to iOS 14.8, macOS 11.6, and/or watchOS 7.6.2.

Myth 3: One backup is enough.

In the case of data backups, you are much safer taking a 3-2-1 approach to data backup. Have three data backups available on at least two different mediums, one of which should be off-site.

You might backup your data to:

  • a second hard drive;
  • an external hard drive;
  • a thumb or USB flash drive;
  • a cloud service.

Myth 4: Antivirus software completely prevents infection.

Antivirus software is valuable, yes, and your business should consistently upgrade its antivirus software. But no antivirus is going to protect your business from every threat.

Security programs do their best to keep up with new threats and vulnerabilities, but infections can spread across the internet quickly. Plus, bad guys are getting better at crafting variations to evade antivirus tools. As a result, make antivirus software only one piece of your cybersecurity strategy.

Myth 5: Cybercriminals only target enterprises.

Attacks on enterprises grab the headlines, but nearly half of the cyberattacks hit small businesses. The bad actors know that small businesses are more resource-constrained and don’t have cyberattack prevention plans in place. It is easier to go after the little fish than targeting the enterprises with IT teams as big as a basketball squad.

Myth 6: It’s OK to wait until the computer fails to replace it.

You can wait, but it’s not going to be the best thing for your business. Long before a computer fails it could be slowing down your business. Older PCs disrupt productivity and reduce employee satisfaction.

As the computer ages, you’ll lose time loading applications and dealing with crashes. You may also be leaving your systems vulnerable to cyberattack if you can’t upgrade the software.

Myth 7: IT outsourcing is not effective for small businesses.

Maybe you think your IT systems are too small to need ongoing maintenance or monitoring, or (Myth 5) that you’re not at risk. Yet, IT systems of any size need ongoing, consistent attention, and outsourcing can help free up your IT resources to do more value-add tasks.

A managed service provider (MSP) can monitor hardware and backups, streamline systems for speed, and keep security current. The MSP can also manage firewalls, and identify and protect against threats. Partner with us for business IT support today! Call us now at (515)422-1995

The Danger of IT Dashes for Small Business

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Few of us would think we could run a marathon, or even a 10-mile race, without training first. Yet the number of people who think they could successfully run a 50-meter dash jumps dramatically, especially if they were being chased by a criminal, cougar, or scary clown. Still, that short sprint would be much easier with proper training, too. So, what does this have to do with IT? A lot, actually – keep reading.

Many businesses are taking a “we’ll dash when we need to” approach to IT. The news of ransomware at a hospital or a data breach at a national mobile carrier gets them spooked, and they are immediately running to try to solve the perceived cybersecurity problem. They’ll buy the newest app or device available, because it must be the best, right? After that they plod along, not paying much attention to good security practices until the next spike in adrenaline has them dashing to ramp up IT infrastructure again.

But anyone who tries running without stretching or putting on proper shoes knows it is painful. If not in the moment, then the next day when the muscles say, “no way are we getting out of bed today.”

In the IT equivalent, it is more effective to put effort into identifying the best technology for you. Reliable IT isn’t about dashing for that latest device or running from the newest attack – it’s a marathon. You need to be working on it continuously.

Minimize IT Risk with an Integrated Approach

Consistent practices such as ongoing equipment maintenance and patching software provide security long-term. Updating IT to better address threats or improve efficiency beats a reactionary buy.

Plus, by taking the time to make considered purchases, you can be sure you buy technology that:

  • integrates with your existing IT environment;
  • solves problems specific to your business needs;
  • minimizes your cybersecurity risks in both the short and long term;
  • doesn’t overcomplicate your infrastructure.

Think about the marathon runner who sets out a training schedule 12 weeks before the big race. They’re a lot less likely to give up or get hurt. Taking a long-term view of your IT needs offers the same benefits. You’re less likely to let it slide after the dash or experience costly downtime.

Managed Service Provider as Running Coach

If you watched the Olympics, you’ll have seen sprinter and distance runner coaches. In your push to build up your cybersecurity muscles, a managed service provider (MSP) can be a big help, too.

Partner with an MSP to gain access to IT experts. They can maintain tech, consult on upgrades, and help secure systems. Instead of paying for an urgent fix, budget around lower, predictable fees for proactive care.

Yes, we can also help you if you have to dash. MSPs have the expertise to diagnose and solve tough IT problems, but we’d much rather run the race alongside you, helping to keep your IT environment in tip top shape mile after mile.

Signs You Aren’t Budgeting Enough for IT

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Generally, we like to make the argument that nothing about your small business is too small. We do say it a lot in relation to cybersecurity - no size of business is immune. Yet, there is the chance your IT budget is too small. Consider these indicators that you might need to invest more in your IT.

Every business wants to be cost-conscious. Saving money in one area can make funds available to expand, develop new products, or pay people more. That all makes sense.

Yet technology is the lifeblood of business success today. When you have the best tools available, you gain productivity, efficiency, and transparency. Plus, your people are likely to be happier, which helps retention, too. At the same time, with cyberthreats on the rise globally, IT isn't the best area in which to flex your thrift muscles.

How can you know you need to pay more now to avoid spending an exorbitant amount later? Look for these warning signs.

Employees Are Losing Time to Tech

The right hardware and software makes employees' jobs easier. Robotic process automation can improve workflow to avoid effort spent on mundane tasks. But people struggling with slow, outdated technology are wasting valuable time.

If your people have to find workarounds to get that project done on deadline, that's only a short-term fix. It is frustrating for them, which impacts morale and retention. Plus, the band-aid approach to getting the job done can backfire in the long run.

There are Important Things You Can't Do

You may be putting off upgrades to save on your IT budget. Yet in your effort to spend less on tech, you're undermining your business interests. You put off an operating system upgrade because your current system is working fine, except that choice could make you more vulnerable to cyberattack. You recognize the value of integrated customer relationship management (CRM) software but don't want to splurge on that valuable tool. Still, you don't want to save money on IT spend at the expense of business needs right now.

Customer Experience Is Suffering

You may not immediately connect IT budget and customer satisfaction, yet consumers today want convenience and personal attention. These can be difficult for the overworked human employee to do. Providing improved data and analytics makes it easier to offer individual attention. Plus, chatbots and mobile apps can transform the customer experience, because they save time and effort.

You're Struggling to Meet Industry Standards

Businesses face different industry standards to manage and protect personal and proprietary data. There can be requirements for backup practices, infrastructure testing, monitoring threats, and more. This can make the job of IT more complicated, but not spending to safeguard data or intellectual property risks a financial hit.

Improving operational efficiencies is a priority, of course, yet security spend needs to part of the IT budget, too. Address risk exposure with recurring risk assessments and a strategic security framework.

Better Budgeting for IT

Many businesses looking to bounce back from the pandemic are struggling with tight budgets. Still, technology can improve remote work, increase productivity, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Not sure where to direct that IT spending? Our IT experts can get to know your business and its objectives. We'll identify cost savings and suggest transformations for the best return on investment.

Call us today at (515)422-1995.

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