The Case for Managed IT Services: Shared IT Priorities to Minimize Risk and Maximize Performance

 Managed Services provides peace of mind and positions a company to focus on what it does best; attention to the business at hand and serving clients. Protecting your company’s data (including your clients’ and your vendors’ data) is a full-time job in today’s world and it requires a cooperative effort of your team and of ours. Our job is to support your IT infrastructure so that all your company’s applications run smoothly, with minimal disruption, and with rapid recovery to any disaster that may strike.

Shared IT priorities are important in managed IT services because they help to minimize risk and maximize performance. By sharing IT priorities, companies can better identify potential risks and take steps to mitigate them. Additionally, shared IT priorities help to ensure that all members of the IT team are on the same page and working towards the same goals. This can help to avoid confusion and duplication of effort, and ultimately lead to more efficient and effective IT management.

Savvy IT professionals and business leaders strive to manage risks and leverage opportunities using technology more so that ever, and there are many strategies and steps for limiting vulnerabilities from both internal technology issues and from cybersecurity attacks. Much can be done to limit exposure, including:

Smart Cybersecurity Practices and Awareness Training

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, cybersecurity becomes more and more important. Online criminals are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities, and it can be difficult for even the most tech-savvy individuals to stay ahead of the curve. That's why businesses need to provide on-demand education and awareness training for their employees. By making sure that everyone understands the basics of cybersecurity, businesses can make themselves much less inviting targets for attacks. Furthermore, employees who are aware of the latest threats are more likely to spot suspicious activity and report it to the IT department. On-demand education and awareness training is essential for any business that wants to protect itself against cybersecurity threats.

Asset Protection: data backup and recovery

Asset protection is a top priority for any business, and data backup and recovery are essential components of a comprehensive asset protection strategy. By protecting corporate information, businesses can mitigate the risk of data loss and ensure that critical information is always available. Backup and restore policies should be designed to protect against all types of data loss, including hardware failure, software corruption, and user error. To maximize data protection, businesses should regularly test their backup and recovery procedures to ensure that they are effective. By taking these steps, businesses can safeguard their assets and ensure that they are always able to access the information they need.

End User Support, Monitoring and Access Control

In order to ensure remote and mobile users have secure access to corporate networks and IT resources, organizations must implement a comprehensive end user support strategy. This strategy should include a robust system of monitoring and access control. By tracking user activity and setting strict permissions, organizations can ensure that only authorized users are accessing sensitive data. In addition, by monitoring IT performance, organizations can identify and resolve issues before they cause major disruptions. By implementing these measures, organizations can provide remote and mobile users with secure access to corporate networks and IT resources.

Best In Class, Latest Generation WiFi Routers and Firewalls

The new generation of WiFi routers and firewalls are the best in class, providing wireless access and security that is unrivaled. With new technology, these devices can provide a higher level of protection against hackers and malware. In addition, they are able to properly configure firewall settings to ensure that your network is secure. As a result, you can rest assured that your data and devices are safe when you use the latest generation of Wi-Fi routers and firewalls.

Software Patch Monitoring and Management

In today's business environment, software patch monitoring and management is critical to ensuring the security of company data. With the ever-present risks of malware and ransomware, it is essential to keep software up-to-date with the latest security patches. Automated updates can help to take the burden off of IT staff and ensure that all systems are updated in a timely manner. However, it is important to monitor update activity to ensure that vital systems are not disrupted. By keeping on top of software updates, companies can minimize the risks associated with security vulnerabilities.

Endpoint monitoring and end user support

In today's digital world, endpoint monitoring and end user support are essential for any organization. Endpoint devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, are often the first point of contact for users when they access corporate networks. As a result, it is critical that these devices are properly monitored and managed. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a key component of endpoint security. It involves monitoring endpoint devices for signs of malicious activity and responding quickly to any incidents that are detected. An endpoint management platform can provide comprehensive visibility into all endpoint activity and helps to streamline the EDR process. By deploying an endpoint management platform, organizations can improve their overall security posture and better protect their end users.

Endpoint monitoring is the practice of monitoring the activity on a device that is connected to a network. This can be done in order to troubleshoot issues, assess performance, or keep track of compliance with policies. End user support is the provision of assistance to individuals who use an organization's products or services. This can include providing training, answering questions, or resolving problems. In many cases, endpoint monitoring and end user support are provided by the same team or individual. However, it is becoming increasingly common for organizations to outsource endpoint monitoring to specialist firms. This is often seen as a more cost-effective way to ensure that devices are properly monitored and maintained.

Server performance monitoring and remote support

Server performance monitoring is a critical task for any business that relies on a network of computers to function. By tracking server performance, businesses can identify and solve problems before they cause major disruptions. Additionally, remote support can be used to resolve issues quickly and efficiently. Remote support allows businesses to connect to servers remotely in order to troubleshoot and repair problems. When combined, these two tools can help businesses keep their servers running smoothly and avoid costly downtime.

IT Compliance requirements for your industry

Depending on the industry in which your company operates, there may be specific IT compliance requirements that must be met in order to do business. For example, companies in the healthcare industry are subject to HIPAA compliance regulations, which govern the way patient data is stored and transmitted. Financial companies are subject to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance regulations, which govern financial reporting. And companies that handle credit card transactions must comply with PCI-DSS standards. While meeting these compliance requirements can be a challenge, it's essential to ensuring the security of your data and protecting your company from legal liabilities. By working with a qualified IT consultant, you can ensure that your company is in compliance with all applicable regulations.

Latest hardware in place, including servers, storage, and end user devices
In today's business environment, having the latest hardware is essential for success. With servers, storage, and end user devices that are constantly being updated, it's important to have a plan in place to keep your business up-to-date. By staying on top of the latest hardware trends, you can ensure that your business is using the best possible equipment. This not only helps to improve efficiency and productivity, but it also helps to reduce costs. In addition, by keeping your hardware up-to-date, you can help to ensure that your business is always able to take advantage of new technologies as they become available.

Remote and mobile user device security, access control and monitoring

The remote and mobile user device security landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years, as remote and hybrid work environments have become the norm. This new reality has created significant security challenges for organizations of all sizes, as they strive to protect their assets and data from a variety of threats.

As more and more businesses move to remote and hybrid work models, the need for effective remote and mobile user device security has never been greater. Security challenges posed by remote and mobile workers include protecting assets from unauthorized access and ensuring that data is properly encrypted during transmission. To meet these challenges, organizations must implement effective remote and mobile user device security policies and procedures. These policies should include provisions for authentication, authorization, data encryption, device management, and activity monitoring. By taking these steps, organizations can protect their assets and ensure that their data is properly secured.

Call to Action - Partnering for IT Support and Security

Together, let’s focus on doing all we can to protect your network, your company assets, and ensure all appropriate IT best practices are in place to keep your business running smoothly and securely.
Trust and confidence are the cornerstones of any successful business relationship. IT support and security are critical for any business. Trust and confidence are essential in any partnership, and that's especially true when it comes to IT. We're here to help you ensure business continuity and plan for future growth. We'll work with you to identify your specific needs and develop a customized solution that meets your unique requirements. Contact us today at 508-528-7720 to learn more about how we can help you protect your business.

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