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When is In-house IT Not Good Enough?
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Managed Services

When is in-house IT not good enough?

Does your firm have “a guy” who is responsible for managing your IT? Maybe it’s a manager who is also tasked with human resources, bookkeeping, or marketing? Maybe the job landed with someone who just knows a little bit more than everyone else in the office.

In many Boston area law firms, the heartbeat of their practice – their infrastructure – is under the purview of someone who doesn’t consider it as their primary focus.

Think about it.

Would you undergo heart surgery with someone who had a few more biology classes than anyone else? Your infrastructure is the heart of your business and powers everything else. It’s controls access to your accounting software, to your clients’ files and their private information, to payroll, to email, to discovery data, legal settlements and negotiations. Why would trust your IT to anyone but an IT professional – someone whose only priority is keep you, your firm, your staff, and your clients safe?

Is it time to get serious about IT? If you can’t answer these questions with confidence, the time is now.

  1. When was your last healthy backup? If you don’t know when or if your answer isn’t “today”, you need the expertise of a qualified MSP. Penalty points if you don’t know what a healthy backup is.
  2. Where is your backup stored? For maximum security, your backup should be stored off premises. If you have a data breach, fire, or theft, you are at risk of losing everything if your backup is stored on premises or on the same infrastructure as all your other data.
  3. How often does your staff undergo cybersecurity awareness training? Employees are the No. 1 risk factor for security breaches. If you’re not continually educating your staff on what to look for, what to be aware of, and what to do if a breach happens, you need an IT expert.
  4. Is every software program you use up to date? Have all the most recent patches been installed? Patches don’t just update products but also include security features to maximize your protection. Without the most current version of any program, you are putting your firm at risk.
  5. Are you using a quality antivirus software? Are you receiving alerts on malicious or suspicious activity? What are you doing with them? If you’re not tracking and monitoring potential breaches, you could already be at risk.
  6. Do you have a WISP? Is it stored off premises? A Written Information Security Plan is your roadmap to restoring business continuity in the event of a disaster. If you don’t have one in place, an IT expert can help.
  7. How much IT downtime do you have each month? What is it costing you? A file was deleted in error, a password needs to be recovered, a computer is frozen. These issues add up and cost money. From unproductive staff members to neglected clients to missed deadlines. Having a fully staff Help Desk available to quickly address these issues and get business back on track can save you thousands of dollars annually while minimizing employee frustration and unhappy clients. A good MSP is just a phone call or email away from restoring productivity.

These are just a few questions to consider. When it comes to IT, there’s no question that you owe it to your business, your staff, your clients, and yourself to have the best solution.

Get in touch today for a free assessment.

Debby Thompson, (617) 420-1244, dthompson@tekdocsolutions.com

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Questions to ask your next MSP
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Making the Right Decision.
20 Questions to ask your next Managed Services Provider

1. How big is the staff? There’s no one best answer to this question but their size should match your needs. Whether you are too large for them to handle or too small to get recognition, you will be underserved. Ask the prospective MSP what their ideal client looks like and see if you fit the bill.
2. Who are their partners? No service provider can do everything by itself. One that has high-quality partners to call on for specialized tasks will get you through tough situations better. Their connections are also a sign that other tech businesses take them seriously.
3. Do they have references? Any company can say good things about itself. What you want to know is what others say – ideally clients with first-hand knowledge. If you can’t, that’s a red flag. No time to chase down references? Check their Better Business Rating and Google reviews for objective third-party information.
4. What is the pricing structure? Does the meter start every time you call? Does every request for help incur a charge? It’s important to have a very clear understanding of what is and isn’t included in your service so that each monthly bill won’t be a surprise or worse, a shock.
5. What are your cancellation options? Cancellation options are a critical aspect of any MSP contract, and not all contracts have the same terms. Whether it’s short term or a longer duration, be sure the terms are clearly spelled out before signing any agreement.
6. How is support initiated? You need to understand how support requests get made. Does the MSP respond to email and phone calls or is there a service portal for opening tickets? Is it a simple process or a lengthy one? Do all service requests have to come from a designated person in your organization or can any user request support?
7. How is support provided? You should understand how the MSP will address those requests. Is support given via telephone or will consultants come on-site? Can the MSP remotely access your infrastructure and workstations so repairs can be made without interrupting your day or workflow?
8. When is support provided? Is the help desk available when you need it? After-hours support is also a crucial factor. Some vendors only offer support during typical working hours, some offer complete 24/7/365 support, and some fall somewhere in between. And be sure to get familiar with rates for emergency service.
9. What is the response time for support? Look at what the MSP is committing to in terms of response times before you sign on. Response times are different than resolution time frames – the latter refers to how long it will take to resolve an issue, and certain IT issues can be complex and unpredictable.
10. How does priority impact response times? If your issue is mission-critical, do you move ahead in the line? Or are tickets resolved in the order they are received? You should understand how priority and response times are defined and assigned. You’ll also want to know how you can communicate urgency when something is critical.
11. How does the MSP handle patching and upgrades? Patching is something most MSPs can do, but implementation strategies differ. Will there be server downtime? Or can they perform work behind the scenes without interrupting your workflow? The MSP should be willing to balance your needs against the security needs of regular patching.
12. Will you have an Account Manager? This feature is too often overlooked when assessing an MSP relationship. Are your requests just referred to a large support pool, meaning you are just a number? Or will you have someone dedicated to you and your account that you can go to for things like billing questions?
13. What is the plan for initiation and onboarding? It’s of critical importance that there be a strategic onboarding plan in place, and you should have a very clear understanding of that process before you sign up. Specific dates, duration, and downtime should be addressed and agreed upon.
14. Does the MSP understand your industry? Most MSPs’ engineers understand the standard technologies. But what about your business-critical systems? Do they know your particular vertical and specialized software? Do they have the deep knowledge and experience needed to get you back up and running with little to no downtime?
15. What compliance frameworks do they support? How important this question is, depends on your business. If PCI, HIPAA, or GDPR compliance is important, you need a managed service provider with the tools and certifications to assist and support your requirements.
16. Are they able to scale? If you have big plans for growth, you need a provider that can keep up. A provider that prides itself on its small-company culture might be fine for some kinds of customers, but one that even hopes for exponential growth should look for an MSP that can deal with the challenges that will offer.
17. What outside services will you need to have? This may not be a problem; you just need to know if you’ll have to go elsewhere for certain things. If they don’t have relationships with recognized vendors, you may be responsible for sourcing your own laptops and other hardware.
18. What do they do internally, and what do they outsource? No one provider can do it all. It shows good sense if they outsource some tasks, but you have to be comfortable with what they share with a third party. In some cases, such as contracts which deal with classified data, the arrangement might not be acceptable.
19. How will the MSP reduce your company’s workload? The right answer to this question depends on your expectations and willingness to pay for them. What tasks do you want the provider to take over? Will it provide full network maintenance, or will your in-house staff retain important responsibilities? There’s no one right answer, but there’s a right answer for you.
20. How will they improve your company’s efficiency? You want more than a “break-fix” service; if that’s all they do, it’s not managed services. You need to know what kind of help they’ll offer for long-term improvements in your technology. The MSP should anticipate and prevent problems so that you have fewer crises and less downtime.

There are many MSPs out there today, but if you take the time to ask the questions outlined above, you’ll find the right one that aligns with your needs and goals and will help you succeed.

65 Newburyport Turnpike, Newbury, MA 01951
dthompson@tekdocsolutions.com (617) 420-1244
TekDocSolutions.com

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Ransomware attacks have more than tripled in the past year, with a business being attacked every 11 seconds.
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Most of us are familiar with SaaS – software as a service, but have you heard of the growing industry of RaaS – ransomware as a service? Developers are building ransomware systems that they in turn sell to bad actors who may not have the technical know-how to do it themselves. This malicious service has helped the industry grow in size and scope, making businesses of all sizes a potential target. Unfortunately, many law firms are lax with security protocols, thinking that they are not in anyone’s crosshairs because of their size but that misplaced feeling of obscurity is exactly what makes them vulnerable.  Law firms make especially good targets because they typically have sufficient cash flow to pay a ransom.

Additionally, law firms rely heavily on having a reputation of trust, security, and reliability, making them very willing to pay a ransom to keep a breach quiet and out of the press. How can they protect themselves, their data, and their clients? There are a lot of elements that go into building ransomware resiliency and prevention so it can be complicated but partnering with the right IT professionals can take out the guesswork.

Watch our webinar to learn how an employee at a Massachusetts firm put the practice in jeopardy and how having the right tools in place before the attack saved the day!

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May surprise you when you hear what TekDoc employees have to say about WFH
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WORKING FROM
HOME:OUR EXPERIENCE

HOW TEKDOC HAS OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND
CONTINUED TO SERVE OUR CLIENTS

Fostering a New “Normal”

WRITTEN BY ALEXA RONSIVALLI

Like so many of our clients, the team at TekDoc solutions has faced the highs, lows, and everything in between during such an unprecedented time in our world. As life has slowly dipped its toes back into a sense of normalcy, we wanted to share with you some insight from the team’s perspective on how this has affected our company as well as our clients over the past few months and likely in the near future.

Each employee was asked a series of quesitons, there were definitely some trends found in the answers.

Question 1: What skills have you been learning?

Most of the team mentioned learning time management, finding the best ways to stay connected virtually, and keeping a routine even while stuck at home. Many
working professionals can likely attest to needing to work in ways they never have before. Working at home, you may feel as though you have all the time in the
world to complete your work/life tasks, so teaching oneself better time management skills is crucial for anyone’s success.

Question 2: How has TekDoc shown that they care about employees’ health and wellness?

Tekdoc’s management team very quickly reassured us that they are here for us and value our opinions on how we best handle the COVID situation at hand. A couple of things that stand out is that we were sent a survey asking us a series of questions regarding how we felt about returning to the office and when we would feel most comfortable. Most of us did not feel the need to return right away as we are wellequipped to work from home and hold the health of everyone around us to a high regard. Additionally, TekDoc is already prepared with extensive amounts of PPE supplies for when we return to our office and while our engineers slowly begin to do client onsite project work again. Now whenever an engineer is scheduled to go onsite to implement a project, it is ensured that the client is on the same page with following a safety protocol we have established. Finally, the company has always and will continue to encourage employees to use their time off, even if it is simply for a mental reset.

Question 3: How has TekDoc invested in you professionally during COVID-19?

During a time where the industry has slowed down a bit, at least in the first few months, professionals have had more time than ever to take a step back and utilize their time for professional development. This is no different at TekDoc. Some employees have been given new project opportunities they may not have had prior such as prepping our office for a safe return or purchasing training programs to further understand software they need to be using day to day. During these past couple of months, leadership’s attention has been directed towards development and coaching. These coaching sessions ultimately trickle down to the other team members, leading to overall company progress.

Question 4: What is working better for you as a result of working from home?

Many members of our team mentioned being able to work more efficiently with less interruptions, not having a commute, which leads to improved energy and additional time in the day we would not usually have. These are all things that most professionals working from home likely experience. Something that stands out at TekDoc is that because we and all our clients had been working from home, it allowed our support team to gain further knowledge and understanding of people’s home office setups. Home offices tend to be setup very differently than corporate offices which leads to different kinds of issues such as remotely connecting to an in-office server, or working off of an old personal laptop because your main work computer is a desktop sitting in the office. These and many other factors have allowed our team to learn new innovative ways for our clients to work from home comfortably and sufficiently.

Question 5: What is not working as well for you as a result of working from home?

While there are many benefits to working remotely, there are of course factors that make it more difficult. Until recently, we were not sending engineers onsite to client’s offices to implement projects. This of course was to protect the safety of everyone; however it was still a challenge being limited to what we could do for our clients. With a safety protocol in place, we now can send engineers onsite strictly for projects that cannot be completed remotely. Another aspect that we have missed is face to face interactions with coworkers and customers. There is something to be said about inperson communication.

Question 6: What is working better for the company’s customers as a result of working from home?

With the strong decrease of client on sites, we have had more engineers available to take helpdesk tickets. This has led to a great improvement in response time. Working from home has also allowed us to connect with our clients on a more personal level as we can all relate to the changes in our world and work life. We have also seen our customers become more confident in their ability to work from home.

Question 7: What is not working well for the company’s customers as a result of working from home?

Unfortunately, projects have had to be delayed as well as the supply chain. We have seen severely pushed out ship dates for hardware which has been tough on our clients if they need something quickly. We have always managed to find alternate solutions in these scenarios. TekDoc employees as well as our clients have also had to share workspaces with family members which can cause disruption in work.

Question 8: What have we stopped doing or started doing that are making processes, procedures, systems, etc. even better?

TekDoc is always reworking internal processes to positively affect the company and our clients. Some changes we have made include, keeping email conversations within our ticketing portal for improved documentation/accountability, holding more internal meetings such as a daily morning huddle, and revising our weekly social hour format to be an open discussion to ask questions to leadership about our company and operations.

Question 9: Have you been asked to take on new responsibilities while working from home?

Some key responsibilities that have been added are writing policy documents, client offboarding, management of the helpdesk, and leading more internal meetings.

Question 10: What are some things that you have done to your own workspace that have made it work well for you?

Many of us have dedicated a room in the house where it is quiet and we can take calls. Most employees have also been setup with multiple screens for improved efficiency, some have even purchased a standing desk for better comfort level. Everyone has created their own way to be setup for success in a less conventional workspace.

Question 11: What things are the most challenging for you in working from home?

The biggest pattern I saw in everyone’s answers was staying focused. Being at home opens up the door to many different distractions, whether it be your kids being home and needing to assist them with school or the temptation of the kitchen being so close by that has you feeling distracted. These are certainly common and I think as we have gotten used to this new routine, a lot of these challenges have become less troublesome.

As mentioned earlier, here at TekDoc we are experiencing similar trials and tribulations as many others in the same scenario. At the end of the day, we all strive toward a common goal which is to maintain transparency with each other and our clients, adapt to our changing work environment, and staying safe. While this was a challenge to adjust to in the beginning, slowly but surely we are becoming better because of it. We are here for our clients as they adjust every step of the way

View PDF Here

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Why Your Business Needs a vCIO to Succeed
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If you have plans to expand your business, your technology needs to scale with you and support your growth. But, your IT team is too busy with day-to-day tasks to perform comprehensive assessments, research the newest tech innovations and create a strategic roadmap for the future. Hiring a costly executive to oversee your IT might be out of the question, but you’re not out of options. Enter a virtual CIO, or vCIO – an expert or team of experts focused on managing your high-level IT needs, for a fraction of the cost of an in-house CIO.

Here are four reasons your business needs a vCIO to succeed:

Creating a Plan for the Future

Your IT might be keeping pace with your needs today – but, without a strategic plan for growth, the technology underpinning your business gives you headaches or fails altogether. A vCIO assesses your current technology infrastructure and consults with you about your business goals to develop a detailed roadmap for the future. This ensures that your hardware, software, applications and other technology solutions align with your needs, and that you’re not wasting time and money on technology that won’t bring you closer to your goals.

Ensuring Business Continuity

Do you have a backup and disaster recovery plan in place? Do you know where your data is stored and how to access it if your primary systems fail due to a natural disaster, cyber attack or employee error? A vCIO designs a disaster recovery strategy tailored to your business, so you’re protected from every angle. They monitor your network 24/7 for potential disruptions and resolve them before they impact your business. Additionally, a vCIO mitigates the risk of downtime and data loss while updating or migrating systems.

Making Smart Investments

New products and services always sound good – but, how do you know if they’ll actually provide a strong return on investment? Virtual CIOs stay up-to-date on tech innovations and understand which ones will support your business now and into the future. Your vCIO can also help you prepare for aspects of the transition that would otherwise cause unexpected hiccups. Make decisions with confidence, knowing that you’re choosing the best investments for your business.

Meeting Industry Requirements

Whether you’re in healthcare, retail, financial services or another industry, you face a long list of regulations – and failing to comply results in crippling fines. Virtual CIOs develop industry-specific experience, so they can help you meet regulations such as HIPAA and PCI, stay current with standards and protect your customers’ data – and your reputation. They can also make recommendations on the best software programs and applications for your specialized business needs.

Virtual CIOs help you achieve success by adding value to your operations – without the full-time salary, benefits and office space of an in-house CIO. Interested in learning how a vCIO can impact your business? Contact us today to find out.

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Why Should You Consider IoT? The Good, the Bad and the Integration
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As technology progresses, we’re finding new ways to keep all of our devices connected for a seamless user experience. This idea is called the Internet of Things (IoT), and it works for more than just computing devices – it also includes mechanical and digital objects.

From microwaves, washing machines and lamps to televisions, projectors and security systems, connecting your technologies is a powerful concept. Gartner predicts that IoT will be a $1.9 trillion industry by 2020. So, what do you need to know to take advantage of this trend to grow your business?

The Good

The IoT helps you track behavior in real-time and enhances situational awareness, but what does that actually mean for you? Imagine it’s 6 pm, and you’re cooking dinner while listening to music. You connect your mobile device to your surround-sound television. Your technology keeps track of your activity, and IoT uses that information to analyze what you’re doing, viewing or listening to in real-time. Using that data, you’ll gain a customized experience. You skip a slower song, and your devices react by adjusting algorithms to produce fewer slow-tempo songs. Now, imagine how you can use IoT to enhance your customer’s experience. You can use the data you collected to figure out when their technology needs updated or to identify breaches based on location and trends.

The Bad

It’s important to note that the more devices connected to the Internet, the more vulnerable your information is to unauthorized users. By connecting your mobile device to your home security system, your business’s Wi-Fi, your email and more, you open up a variety of entry points for hackers and other cyber criminals to access and manipulate your systems. But, even the bad isn’t all bad – a reliable IT partner can keep your endpoints protected by multiple layers of security.

The Integration

When considering an IoT approach, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

  • What are the goals of my business?
  • What is my realistic budget?
  • Which solutions make the most sense for my business?
  • Should I integrate technology all at once or in stages?

A managed service provider can help you answer these questions while ensuring IoT devices are properly integrated and secured. Integration begins with identifying your needs, determining which solutions work best for your business needs, then deploying those solutions, testing services post-deployment and protecting your endpoints.

Adopting the IoT approach impacts your business significantly. The vast amount of data and services available can shape your daily workflow. For more information on how IoT can affect your business, or to start implementing IoT, contact us today. We’ll help you work through the good, the bad and the integration.

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5 Lessons 2017 Taught Us About IT Disaster Recovery
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We can look back on 2017 as the worst of times – when it came to disasters, at least. Severe weather, data breaches and global hacking attempts affected thousands of businesses, costing them an estimated $926 to $17,244 for every minute of unplanned downtime. Instead of letting the unthinkable damage your business, fight back with these five strategies:

  • Back Up Your Data to the Cloud

Following Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria, hundreds of businesses found their physical equipment and servers submerged in water. Storing data on-site is convenient, but an unexpected disaster can wipe away years of information in the blink of an eye. Migrating your data to the cloud means your information is protected and readily available – and you’ll never have to start from scratch.

  • Prepare for a Remote Workforce

Even after the Thomas wildfire in California was contained, smoke and poor air conditions made it impossible for many employees to return to their offices. Anything from a severe storm to surprise pest control treatments can force employees out of their workspaces, so have a plan in place that will allow your team to access necessary tools from any Internet-enabled location.

  • Monitor for Breaches and Respond Quickly

A massive breach of data from Equifax – one of the three largest credit agencies in the US – lasted from May to July and wasn’t reported publicly until September. The Social Security, credit card and driver’s license numbers of more than 145 million consumers were compromised, and victims rushed to protect themselves against potential identity thieves. Avoid losing your customers’ trust by proactively monitoring for breaches, shutting them down promptly and providing a full inventory of the damage to those affected.

  • Don’t Underestimate Human Error

People are unpredictable – that’s why 90 percent of cyber security issues stem from human behavior. Employee negligence is the number one cause of data breaches at small to medium-sized businesses. Comprehensive training can close the gap, but it’s not foolproof. Combine your team’s efforts with strong cyber security policies.

  • Update Outdated Software Programs

The WannaCry Ransomware Attack, which resulted in hackers taking control of more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries, targeted a weakness in outdated software for which a patch was already available. Hospitals, airlines, police departments and more were brought to a halt, and paying the ransom did not result in the return of data. Update your software regularly to fix vulnerabilities and avoid becoming an easy target for hackers.

Don’t panic. A solid IT disaster recovery plan will protect your business and get you back up and running with minimal – if any – hassle and downtime. Unsure where to start? We learn the ins and outs of your business to develop and implement a customized recovery plan. Contact us today to get started.

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Four Ways Cloud Computing Can Future-Proof Your Business
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We hear a lot about the cloud and cloud computing lately. Some businesses don’t actually know what the cloud is, what it can do for them or where they can even find it – let alone start using it. The cloud isn’t just a passing fad – cloud computing is here to stay and it’s quickly become the best way to future-proof your business.

So what is the cloud, exactly? At its intrinsic level, it’s a collection of computers, servers, and databases that are connected together in a powerful way that users can lease access to share their combined power. Cloud computing is scalable so that buyers can choose to increase or decrease the amount of computing power they need.

Sounds a bit intangible, doesn’t it? Send your company’s precious data up to this “cloud” in the sky, and then what? “Is it worth it?” “Will it help my business grow?” “Is it safe?”

Yes, yes and yes. Major business owners are comfortable enough with cloud computing to future-proof their business, and the impact is global. Media giant Forbes, whose focus is business and IT, has projected that cloud computing will be a $162 billion industry by the year 2020. As it stands now, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is at 19% meaning more and more industries are making the cloud business-critical. Their report also stated that 74% of IT CFOs attribute the most measurable growth to cloud computing.

So what does this mean to you and your company? If you’re looking to ensure your business has longevity in this economy – no matter your niche – then you need to seriously consider making the move to cloud services. Here are five ways that cloud computing will future-proof your business:

  1. Security for your data – The cloud’s security architecture is multi-layered, and safeguards against the weaknesses that allow cyber attacks to occur. There are different types of security controls employed: deterrent controls, preventative controls, detective controls and corrective controls. All of these things work in tandem to protect your sensitive information and intellectual property, especially where federal compliance regulations are an issue.
  2. Unlimited mobility – Self-hosting your legacy software and platforms for years places a major stressor on already overworked network servers. The time spent maintaining your hardware and its performance can cost you both productivity and dollars. Application hosting in the cloud gives users the real-time ability to access data from any device, anywhere and at any time. Your staff could be spread across the globe and still collaborate in real-time on projects.
  3. Scalability – The cloud grows with you. The combined computing power of users in the cloud is scalable so that buyers can dynamically increase – or decrease – the amount of computing power they lease. That flexibility is quite a cost-saver when you consider the impact on your IT budget if you have to upgrade your on-premises servers after you have outgrown your old network.
  4. Cost reduction – Given the speed of cloud growth and accessibility, it’s been easier, faster and less expensive for software developers to roll out applications as compared to traditional onsite platform development. That cost savings gets passed on to users. You don’t have to buy hardware until you need it, and you don’t have to plan for peak capacity, since most traditional servers are only used at 15% of their capacity. You only pay for what you use.

Lost production hours are a killer when you’re trying to migrate data from one network to another. Firms that handle their own migration on average take 2 months and up to $3,000 to do it. Partnering with a managed IT services provider (MSP) to handle your move to the cloud reduces – and even eliminates – downtime and speeds up deployment by managing your data with new integrated tech solutions, upgrading your performance seamlessly. That’s where we come in.

Moving to the cloud is power. Power to give your company future longevity. And the best way to harness that power is by partnering up with a great MSP, one whose expert team can handle the entire process from start to finish. Give us a call and let us help move you into the future with cloud computing.

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What? You’re Not Using Office 365? Five Reasons Why You Need to Start Right Now
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If you missed your invitation to the party, here it is. Chances are that your competition is already using the Microsoft Office 365 suite of tools to maximize their productivity and grow their business, so why aren’t you? This is a powerhouse of a platform that will change your business culture and deliver immediate results, and now it’s more affordable than ever.

 

O365 is more than just another software product – it’s an integrated experience of applications and services with a familiar face. It encompasses Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive – available on ALL of your devices, no matter the operating system. That’s right – O365 is OS-agnostic and works on Windows-based PCs, Android devices, Mac OS and iOS. It also offers the options of these services: Exchange, SharePoint, Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams. Overwhelming, isn’t it? We’ve got a solution for you. (Hang in there, we’re getting to that.)

 

Microsoft has been providing solutions for some of the biggest companies in the world for decades. Now, with O365, they’ve raised the standard for business growth. Imagine bringing together all of your people, processes and technology and being able to manage all of that productivity seamlessly, all through cloud computing. Office 365 makes that a reality. And if you’re not onboard with it yet, here are five reasons you need to be:

 

  1. Ramp Up Your Productivity

Giving your staff the tools to produce their very best work not only raises morale but positively affects your bottom line. The 2018 “Forrester Consulting Report on the ROI of O365” concluded that the group of applications and services that make up O365 cut support time by 50%, saved mobile/field employees at least one hour per day and afforded analysts, managers and sales people the opportunity to make better and faster decisions because they had information in real-time. More productivity means better revenue and happy clients.

 

  1. Worry-free IT Performance

O365 integrates seamlessly with your existing system and network. With 24/7 support available, you don’t just add O365 to your productivity tool box, O365 becomes your tool box. To get every last drop out of all the services that make up Microsoft Office 365, you need a great partner to manage it. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

 

 

  1. Cost Reduction

Office 365 is more affordable than ever (subscriptions start at $12.50 per user per month) with all monthly updates and service packs included, and also 1 TB of cloud computing storage per user. Small to medium businesses will love the reliability and security, but even the largest of firms will benefit from this powerful suite of tools. Forrester also concluded in their report on O365 that the delivered 3-month ROI was a whopping 378% (source: 2018 Forrester Research “The Economic Impact of Microsoft Office 365”).

 

  1. Increased Data Security

Worried about your data’s safety when it comes to cloud computing? Don’t be. Microsoft Office 365 offers choices, like Hybrid Cloud Computing, and incorporates exclusive, proprietary security features to protect your sensitive data. They have also added in a Compliance Manager to help you meet the standards necessary to keep you in business.

 

  1. Real-time Collaboration with Ease

Dream it, design it, create it – then edit and share it in an instant with anyone on any device to any device in real-time. With features like multi-party HD video conferencing, content sharing, team chat and shared calendars, your people can collaborate with the person in the next room, next regional office or across the world seamlessly. Think of all the time and resources wasted in the past trying to get everyone on the same page for a project, using the same processes and technology. With O365 implemented, those days are long gone.

 

We mentioned before that all of the tools, processes and services encompassed within Microsoft Office 365 can be overwhelming if you don’t where to start. And if you’re not properly managing it – or it’s beyond the scope of your IT department – you’re not getting the full benefits or tapping its complete potential. You need a solid managed IT services provider in your corner.

 

Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We can offer you seamless integration with your existing servers and network, 24/7/365 assistance, transparent fixed monthly billing (so there aren’t any surprises) and show you and your staff how to wring every last drop out of O365’s platform. You concentrate on running your business, we’ll handle your Office 365.

 

What are you waiting for? Give us a call today, and let’s discuss how O365 can grow your business!

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5 Reasons You Need Unified Communications
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As Told by Our Experts

Communication is essential to the success of your business. Whether you’re collaborating with team members or meeting with new customers, it’s imperative that you optimize the communication process. But, you knew that. Not because some fancy corporation told you it was crucial, but because 95% of people in the workforce say that face-to-face interactions are essential to building long-term business relationships. But, did you know that unified communication solutions are your best chance of boosting the way you collaborate? We asked our experts and here’s why they said it’s your best option:

  1. Gives You Call Control | When someone contacts you, whether they’re looking for more information on your products or looking to purchase your services, are they instantly connected with the right person? Maybe… sometimes. But, what about those other times – the times when someone calls and becomes frustrated with the back-and-forth of call transfers and hold time? Unified communications (UC) puts you back in control. When someone calls, you’ll know precisely why they’re calling before you say “hello,” helping them get to the right person the first time.
  2. Integrates Your Platforms | Deploying a new process and system is difficult if it doesn’t work with your current software solutions. That’s why integrating with existing platforms is an essential part of the decision-making process. UC connects with your instant messenger, fax machine, web applications, video conferencing devices, CRM and more to leverage efficiency and minimizes downtime.
  3. Enhances the Way You Conference Call | There’s just something about meeting customers and team members face-to-face that helps drive conversations. The majority of communication is nonverbal, between facial expressions and tone of voice. That’s why video conferencing has a ton of benefits for the workplace. UC makes conversing in real-time feasible. By using IP addresses, you can talk with, and see, multiple people from all different locations without skipping a beat.
  4. Increases the Availability of Your Team | When conversing with your team, you probably find that it’s easier to get your answer quickly when you go see your colleague in person. But, did you know that you’re wasting more time looking around the office than if you were able to contact them directly? With UC, you can instantly message or call your colleague to get the answer you need quickly and efficiently. Whether someone is working from home, in a meeting or gone for lunch, you’ll reach them without stepping away from your workspace.
  5. Places Accountability Where It’s Due | One of the largest downsides to traditional phone systems is that you never know which employee is talking to which customer (unless you ask). With UC, you trace every call from dial to “end call.” If you’re talking to customers, you’ll know with whom they’ve previously conversed, and if you’re talking internally to your team, you can track and record your conversations with colleagues.

Deploying unified communications is only one way to make communication easier. Are you ready to ramp up the way you conduct conversations?

 

Contact us today to learn about our other telecom and managed services – let’s optimize your productivity.

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