The High Cost of Recovery From a Security Breach
Small to medium size businesses are what keep this country moving. Unfortunately, for many of these business owners, budgetary needs force them to make cuts that the mammoth corporations do not have to consider. These budget cuts can often result in reduced security and sub-par IT services that in the long run can end up costing the company even more money. Reacting to; and the recovery from, a security breach or attack always costs more [...]
4 Reasons Your Company Needs an Email Policy
Email is an important and necessary part of your business. It provides an economical and instant means of communicating with staff, customers, and vendors - that's both simple to use and enables increased efficiency. An email policy is required to protect this necessary business tool. An email policy is a legal document that details your organization's definition of acceptable use for the company email system. It should indicate who emails can be received from or [...]
5 Tips for Creating a Business Continuity Plan for Your Small Business
Is your business prepared for any type of disaster? Even though small businesses may not have as many employees or as much equipment, they are still as vulnerable to disaster as a large corporation. If your business office were to be destroyed by a fire or flood, you could lose valuable business if you don’t plan ahead. Many businesses don’t want to take the time and the expense to prepare a business continuity plan, but [...]
4 Ways Technology Increases Small Business Profitability
While the US and its trading partners are experiencing strong current demand for products and services, and economic growth is still on an aggressive upward trajectory, we cannot ignore the fact that there will be future times of economic struggle that will force businesses into making cuts and changes to keep their businesses in the black. From laying off staff to decreasing business travel, reducing marketing efforts and ending bonuses and raises temporarily - there [...]
4 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Technology Investment
How many times have you purchased new software or hardware, and avoided the help menu or user manual? Experts reason that about 90 percent of all features included with software go unused! Much of this comes down to lack of training for individuals using the technology - they use what they know and need most, and avoid anything that would require study or practice to implement. Its human nature to take the path of least [...]
The Importance of Communication, Messaging and Collaboration in the Workplace
With so much technology and messaging and collaboration solutions at our fingertips, it is difficult to believe that there are any communication problems in any business today. In the course of a busy workday, the importance of good communication can be something that can be easily forgotten. If you are noticing that it is difficult to get your employees to work together cohesively, that morale is very low, or worse, that your business is losing [...]
4 Ways to Save Time and Money with Managed IT Services
If there is one thing most small businesses can agree on it is that time equals money. Small business owners are in a position where they have to be a jack-of-all-trades, often spending most of their day wearing different hats. This is the nature of the small business and while expected it is not always the best use of one’s time. In order for a small business to be successful and remain competitive in an [...]
When Is Your Business Ready for Managed IT Services?
If you are a small business owner and considering whether or not Managed IT Services will benefit your company, the answer is almost always- yes. There is little doubt that most small businesses can benefit from Managed IT Services, yet that in itself does not always justify the cost of bringing on a third party provider. Accepting that Managed IT Services Providers can offer solutions to common problems found in a small business operation, the [...]
Can Small Businesses Afford Managed IT Services?
When determining the affordability and ROI of engaging with a Managed IT Services Provider, small business owners often find themselves in a position of trying to balance a limited budget while making sure they have the proper tools to grow their business. It is a challenge many business owners face, in that they recognize the need for additional products or services that will allow their business to continue to thrive. However, funds may be in [...]
4 Ways Small Businesses Benefit from Managed IT Services
From start-ups to multi-billion dollar businesses, everyone is looking for ways to cut costs while turning a profit. In fact, many companies are just trying to keep things in the black, however, that does not eliminate the need for practices that will improve and grow these businesses. Since few people have the expertise to manage much of today's technology, a certain percentage of their budgets should be allocated to IT and software applications maintenance. Here [...]
How to Roll a “Lucky-7”: Play and Win the IT Outsourcing Game
These are the Top 7 reasons (not in any particular order) why companies outsource their critical applications and infrastructure to a proven managed service provider (MSP): Cost reduction – By leveraging the economies of scale of the MSP’s technical support team, companies can reduce their internal staffing budgets and shift current IT team resources towards forward-looking, business-driving projects. Technical support and consulting services are contracted at an hourly rate reducing the need for expansion of permanent IT [...]
Ransomware: Healthcare is in the cybercriminals’ cross-hairs
We all receive numerous emails warning us of the dangers associated with clicking on links within emails from parties we are not familiar with. Unfortunately, many of those links are shrouded within advertisements or other seemingly beneficial statements which entice us to view that great promotional offer or track that Amazon product shipment we know we had ordered a few days back. International scammers are sending millions of emails every day that look like courtesy messages from [...]
New York State Cybersecurity Regulations
NYS DFS 23 NYCRR 500 Regulations (Effective March 1, 2017) New York State Department of Financial Services, Governor Cuomo Announces Proposal of First-in-the-Nation Cybersecurity Regulation to Protect Consumers and Financial Institutions. Insurance companies and other organizations regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS),effective March 1, 2017, are subject to strict and specific cybersecurity regulations as outlined below. The following table summarizes each section of the cybersecurity regulations, which requires a DFS [...]
Should You Hire or Outsource to an External IT Service Provider?
Most small business owners handle all aspects of their businesses, including acting as the Information Technology department. This will work for as long as you remain a small business without employees. When you grow and start hiring staff, will it make more sense to use your business-building time on handling IT issues or outsource to an external IT Service Provider? Unless you are an Information Technology Service Provider yourself, chances are your time will be [...]