Tag Archive for: Managed IT Services

How to find the best IT provider for your company

Introduction

Choosing the right IT provider is critical to your business. It’s never easy to make the switch so it’s incredibly important that you make that switch after carefully weighing your options. At Brock IT, from the time we meet someone to the time they start with us, it averages about 8 months. That’s why we have very low client turn over. Not only are we cautious about taking on clients, but we encourage our potential clients to be cautious as well.

The importance of choosing the right IT provider.

Why the right IT provider is essential for your business

The right IT provider can make a big difference for your business. They can help you save time and money, and avoid potential problems down the road. Here are some of the reasons why it’s important to choose the right IT provider:

They can help you save money. A good IT provider will work with you to find ways to cut costs and improve efficiency. They’ll also be able to offer discounts on software and other products that your company needs.

They can help you avoid problems. Choosing a reputable IT provider means that you’re less likely to run into problems down the road. A good provider will have a track record of providing reliable service and will be able to resolve any issues that do come up quickly and efficiently.

They can help you save time. Working with a good IT provider can save you a lot of time and hassle. They can handle all of the technical details so that you can focus on running your business.

How to know if you’re choosing the right IT provider

There are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing an IT provider, such as reputation, cost, and customer service. Here are some tips on how to choose the right IT provider for your business:

Do your research: Be sure to research different providers before making a decision. Check out online reviews and compare pricing plans to get an idea of what each company has to offer.

Check references: When you’ve narrowed down your options, be sure to check references from each company’s past clients. This will give you a better idea of their level of service and whether or not they’re reliable.

Consider your budget: It’s important to consider your budget when choosing an IT provider. Make sure to get quotes from several companies so that you can compare costs before making a decision.

Customer service: Customer service is another important factor to consider when choosing an IT provider. You want to be sure that they have someone available 24/7 in case there are any issues with your service.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when choosing an IT provider. By doing your research and taking your time, you can be sure to find the best possible provider for your business.

How to find the best IT provider for your company.

Researching IT providers

When you’re looking for an IT provider, it’s important to do your research. You should start by looking at the different options that are available and then narrow down your choices based on your specific needs. There are a few different ways to research IT providers, including online directories, customer reviews, and referrals from friends or business associates.

Once you’ve compiled a list of potential IT providers, take some time to learn about each one. Find out what services they offer and what their rates are. You can also check out customer reviews to get a better idea of the quality of their services. When you’re doing your research, be sure to keep your budget in mind so that you don’t overspend on IT services.

Checking references and reviews

After you’ve done some initial research on potential IT providers, it’s time to start checking references and reviews. This is an important step in the process because it will help you weed out any providers that don’t have a good reputation. Start by asking friends or business associates if they have any recommendations for IT providers. Then, check online directories and customer review websites for ratings and reviews. Once you’ve read through a few reviews, you should have a good idea of which providers are worth considering further.

Considering your budget

As you continue your search for an IT provider, be sure to keep your budget in mind. When you’re comparing different providers, find out how much they charge for their services so that you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your company. In general, it’s best to choose an IT provider that offers competitive rates without sacrificing quality or service levels.

Making your decision.

Comparing your options

When you’re looking for an IT provider, it’s important to compare your options. There are a few things you should keep in mind when you’re comparing providers. First, consider the services each provider offers. Make sure the provider you’re considering offers the services you need. Then, compare the prices of each provider. Be sure to get quotes from multiple providers so you can compare apples to apples. Finally, read reviews of each provider. See what other people have said about their experience with the provider.

Choosing the best IT provider for your company

Once you’ve done your research and considered your options, it’s time to make a decision. When choosing an IT provider, be sure to choose one that will meet your needs now and in the future. Consider factors such as price, services offered, and reputation when making your decision. Also, be sure to get everything in writing so there are no surprises down the road.

Conclusion

The right IT provider is essential for your business because they can help you stay competitive, improve productivity, and save money. To find the best IT provider for your company, do your research, check references and reviews, and consider your budget. Once you’ve compared your options, choose the IT provider that best meets your needs.

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How to Create a Disaster Recovery Plan for Your Business

Introduction

A disaster recovery plan is a crucial part of any business’ operations. By having a plan in place, you can ensure that your business can continue to function even in the event of a major disruption.

While the thought of creating a disaster recovery plan may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. By following a few simple steps, you can develop a comprehensive plan that will help keep your business up and running no matter what happens.

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan.

Why Do You Need a Disaster Recovery Plan

A disaster recovery plan is a comprehensive document that outlines how an organization will recover from a major disruptive event.

The plan should identify the resources needed to resume or continue operations, establish priorities and timelines for recovery, and provide guidance for decision-making in the aftermath of a disaster.

A well-crafted disaster recovery plan can mean the difference between getting your business up and running again quickly after a disruption, or being forced to close your doors permanently.

There are many reasons why you might need a disaster recovery plan. Perhaps your business is located in an area that is prone to natural disasters, such as floods or hurricanes. Or maybe you rely heavily on computer systems and data storage, which makes you vulnerable to data loss in the event of a power outage or cyber attack. Whatever the reason, if there is any chance that your business could be impacted by a major disruptive event, then you need to have a plan in place.

Creating a disaster recovery plan may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By following some simple steps, you can create a comprehensive and effective plan that will help keep your business up and running in the face of adversity.

What Does A Disaster Recovery Plan Include?

A complete disaster recovery plan should address all aspects of how your business would function in the wake of a major disruption. This includes everything from backup power generation and data storage to employee communication and relocation plans.

Some of the key elements that should be included in every disaster recovery plan are:

• An assessment of risks: This should include an evaluation of both external threats (such as natural disasters) and internal vulnerabilities (such as outdated software).

• A continuity strategy: This outlines how you will keep your business operational in the event of a major disruption. It should address issues such as alternative work locations, employee communication plans, and supplier arrangements.

• A data backup and recovery plan: This details how you will protect your critical data from loss or damage, and how you will restore it if necessary.

• An incident response plan: This outlines how you will respond to different types of disruptions, including fires, power outages, and cyber attacks.

• Test & exercise schedule: This details when you will test your disaster recovery procedures (and how often), as well as what type of exercises (such as tabletop or live) you will conduct.

How to Create a Disaster Recovery Plan.

Step 1: Conduct a Risk Assessment

The first step in creating a disaster recovery plan is to conduct a risk assessment. This will help you identify what could happen, how likely it is to happen, and the potential impact on your business.

There are many ways to conducting a risk assessment, but one common method is to use a SWOT analysis. This involves looking at your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can learn more about conducting a SWOT analysis here.

Another way to conduct a risk assessment is to create scenarios. For each potential disaster, ask yourself what would happen if it occurred. What would be the consequences for your business? How likely is it that this scenario would occur?

Once you’ve identified the risks, you need to prioritize them. Ask yourself which risks are most likely to occur and which would have the biggest impact on your business. These are the risks you need to focus on in your disaster recovery plan.

Step 2: Develop a Business Continuity Strategy

The next step is to develop a business continuity strategy. This will help you keep your business running in the event of a disaster.

There are many different components to a business continuity strategy, but one of the most important is having an emergency response plan. This should detail who needs to be contacted in the event of an emergency and what specific tasks they need to carry out.

You should also have plans for alternate locations and transportation in case your usual premises or methods are unavailable. Make sure you have contact information for all critical suppliers and customers so you can stay in touch even if regular communication channels are down.

It’s also important to think about how you will keep employees safe and how you will communicate with them during an emergency situation.

Step 3: Create a Data Backup and Recovery Plan

Data loss is one of the biggest risks to businesses, so it’s important to have a robust data backup and recovery plan. This should include both on-site and off-site backups.

On-site backups are copies of your data that are stored locally, either on an external hard drive or in the cloud. Off-site backups are stored at a different location, such as with a backup service or at a friend or family member’s house.

Ideally, you should have multiple copies of your data in different locations so that you can recover from any type of disaster. You should also test your backups regularly to make sure they’re working properly.

Step 4: Put Your Disaster Recovery Plan in writing

Once you’ve created your disaster recovery plan, it’s important to put it in writing. This will help ensure that everyone knows what needs to be done in the event of a disaster.

Your disaster recovery plan should be clear and concise, and it should be reviewed and updated regularly. Make sure all employees have access to the plan and know how to implement it. In the event of a disaster, time is of the essence, so having a well-documented plan will help ensure that you can get your business up and running again as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

A disaster recovery plan is an essential tool for any business. By taking the time to assess your risks, develop a continuity strategy, and create a data backup and recovery plan, you can ensure that your business is prepared for anything.

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Do you need Managed IT Services?

Do you need Managed IT Services?

For many small business owners, cyber security does not top their day-to-day priorities. With so many business processes to manage, it is easy to fall behind on your security requirements. To make matters worse, many breaches can go undetected long before a crisis rears its head.

When an IT crisis hits, however, it can be paralyzing to your business. Your client’s information can be compromised, your credentials can be stolen, and critical files can be held ransom. Without proper backup measures, you may not even be able to completely recover from a disaster.

If you have been considering sustainable options for keeping your business safe, Managed IT Services like the ones we offer at BrockIT might be the solution. The following are signs you may need to consider Managed IT Services for your business.

“Frankenstein” IT support

Many small businesses get by with a “Frankenstein IT support” model. This is basically when your IT needs frequently change hands with no accountability. Maybe you have a tech savvy intern or contact who helps you set up your network or troubleshoot your issues.

This type of IT support leads to sloppy and inconsistent attention to network security. Even worse, it leaves your data security at the mercy of whoever is helping you at the time.

When dealing with your business’s cybersecurity, you need proven experience and consistent dedication to ensure you are as safe as possible from malicious actors.

Reactive measures

One of the biggest advantages of a dedicated IT service is that it makes you proactive, not reactive. When dealing with an IT disaster, you must consider the following questions:

  • How long did it take to find the problem?
  • What has been affected?
  • How long until a solution is implemented?
  • How can you recover?
  • How can you prevent this problem from reoccurring?

A temporary IT contractor will be invested in your downtime. That is, after all, how they will make money. A dedicated IT professional, on the other hand, will be invested in your uptime. The latter will therefore take steps to mitigate risk and will be invested in more sustainable solutions when problems arise.

Information drought

Do you know what your IT costs will be for the year? What is your game plan for recovering from a disaster? Are your business credentials being sold on the dark web?

There is a plethora of questions relating to your cyber security. As a small business owner, you probably do not immediately know the answers. You should, however, have someone to turn to with these questions.

Having an IT point person who understands your businesses specific needs and vulnerabilities will help keep you one step ahead of attackers.

Having the right Managed IT Service will give you consistency in your IT budget.

Crisis to catastrophe pipeline

From breaches to natural disasters, there is no 100% way to keep you free from an emergency. A lack of proper planning and best practices, however, can escalate these emergencies. By having a dedicated IT professional craft your policies and test your staff’s readiness, you can mitigate risk and avoid turning a crisis into an all-out catastrophe.

Unnecessary stress

One of the most valuable things Managed IT services can provide you is peace of mind. As you grow, you need to be focusing on satisfying your customers. Having an unstable IT support system is an unnecessary stress that can pull your attention and resources from where they need to go.

Managed IT Services can meet the unique security needs of your business. It brings you decades of IT experience at a reasonable and dependable price.

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Remote Work: VPN FAQs

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Remote Work: VPN FAQs

If you are planning to establish a remote work policy, a VPN is essential. This project should be undertaken by your IT Administrator to ensure your network’s security.

While VPNs are becoming mainstream, they are still confusing to general audiences. If not properly introduced, your workplace may see this as a nuisance rather than a critical precaution.

When establishing your VPN, you should consider addressing the following FAQs with your staff through a training program.

Why do we need a VPN?

With regular cybersecurity talks, this question is a lot easier to address. For newcomers to cybersecurity, a commercial VPN gives workers secure access to your network. Essentially, a VPN is your workplace’s private tunnel to your network. This allows them to funnel all your computer traffic through their commercial firewall and security appliances to keep you and them safe. If your company doesn’t have a corporate VPN to a security appliance at the office, we recommend using reputable consumer VPN services.

How do I set this up?

Have your IT Administrator create or approve a step-by-step guide to using your VPN. This document should cover everything from setup and operation to your IT support’s contact information.

Test this guide by having a few employees attempt to set up and use your VPN. Gather feedback and fine-tune your guide until it is as user-friendly as possible.

Can I use my home VPN?

Some workers may already have a personal VPN. However, home and business VPNs serve different purposes.

Home VPNs are typically used for anonymity and bypassing regional restrictions. They were not designed for business security. Business VPNs are used to securely connect to your business’ network and allow access to files and services you would normally have in the office.

What if I run into difficulties?

Any questions should go to your IT team. Some employees may want to seek fast answers online, but this can pose a security risk. Your IT Administrator needs to know how your workers are using the VPN and what issues they are having.

VPNs are crucial to remote work security. They are not, however, a replacement for your established cybersecurity measures. Make sure your workers are always following your business’s cybersecurity policies and best practices.

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