Research on enterprise data breaches from various countries indicates that costs related to data security hacks rose to $4 million in 2021. More alarmingly, along with the rise of ransomware attacks (an attack happening every 11 seconds, Cybersecurity Ventures), the cost of downtime is also increasing. Veeam’s 2022 Data Protection Report found the average cost of downtime to be around $88,000 per hour or $1,467 per minute. SMEs now find themselves in a quandary where they cannot afford to spend as much as big businesses on data security and neither can they not afford to. A single serious enough breach may be enough to wipe out an organization altogether. While it might be tempting for organizations to opt for cheap data backup solutions and hope for the best – it might be the costliest way out. A cheap data backup solution is only good for the short term. Eventually, it will become too expensive or incapable of protecting your data, leaving you with no choice but to switch to another option. For comprehensive security solutions for your local business, please refer to IT Support Redding.

Not Secure Against Cyber Threats

As the threats from cyber-attacks are increasing, it is important to protect your data. Your existing backup solution may not be able to withstand a cyber-threat. For instance, if you’re infected with ransomware and cannot recover your data through backups, you could lose months’ worth of critical business documents or financial records — resulting in major losses for your company!

To protect yourself from these types of attacks, look for solutions designed specifically for this purpose. When choosing a cloud service provider, it’s important to consider the security of your data. Look for a provider that offers features like top-notch encryption, along with other tools to protect your files. In addition, consider investing in in-house data backup methods for extra protection.

Increased Bandwidth Cost

Bandwidth can become a bottleneck in your business if not used strategically. If you are using cheap data backup solutions, it might not be able to handle the amount of data that you need it to. Bandwidth is expensive, so you will need to pay for more bandwidth or move onto the next solution for a better one that meets your needs. ISPs rarely advertise upload speeds (that you need in order to effectively back up all your files), because higher upload speeds nearly always cost more. With a cheap backup solution, the process might be even slower resulting in more bandwidth usage.

Storage Technology May Not Be Secure

Cheap data backup solutions are often not secure. Cheap storage technology can be easily hacked, corrupted and lost, putting your files at risk. Such storage is also a privacy risk as they make it easier for third parties to access your data without your knowledge. Such solutions can also land in legal problems if you’re using cloud solutions that improperly store personal information, such as credit card numbers or social security numbers. Finally, cheap storage increases the likelihood of data loss from disasters and cyberattacks. For cost-effective and secure storage solutions for your business, consider reaching out to Managed IT Services Fresno.

File Sync Cannot Replace Proper Backups

File sync (also called “cloud backup”) may not be all that you hope for it to be. It can’t replace a proper backup solution for your business, and you shouldn’t trust your data to it.

The problem with file sync services is that they’re designed to only protect the most recent version of a file. If you make changes to that file again at any point in the future, then those changes will be overwritten by the new version and there is no way for you to recover them. This means that if something happens to your computer or phone—or even if an attacker gains access using malicious software—they’ll have access not only to your current working files, but also all previous versions of them too!

Data Restoration Issues

In order to ensure your data is restored in case of a catastrophe, it is important to understand how to restore your data. One factor that differentiates cheap from premium software is the ability to test a backups restore functionality. If you cannot restore your data, you will not only damage your brand but also run the risk of incurring penalties due to compliance violations. Manual restoration could take hours to complete, but it offers many advantages. Additionally, you can make up for the shortcomings of automated restoration testing. When performing manual restoration testing, it is important to test application, data, and operating system integrity; scan for viruses before and after restoration; restore your backup in an isolated environment; build a report based on findings etc. Cheaper services will not give you these options; however, if you have pricier software that offers automation options and if you manually perform these tests once in a while then you’ll have a more reliable restoration process. Some cheap data backup solutions may not be able to restore your data at all.

Unable to Protect Sensitive Data

When you’re choosing a data backup solution, it’s important that you choose one that can protect sensitive data. Sensitive data includes any type of information that would be damaging if stolen or made public. This includes employee records, medical records, financial information such as credit card numbers and social security numbers, trade secrets and other intellectual property like software source code for your company’s apps or website.

The solution should encrypt all of this sensitive data so that it is protected from breaches and hacks by malicious hackers. The solution also needs to be able to prevent ransomware attacks against your network in order to protect all of your valuable files. The solution that you choose must be capable of handling high-end security to keep your data safe from breaches, hacks, and data theft. The ideal tool will have multiple layers of protection that can withstand cyber threats. Cheap data backup solutions may not be able to secure your customer/ user information effectively, jeopardizing their privacy, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft and a host of other issues. Failure to protect sensitive information will also attract serious regulatory ire and hefty penalties for your organization. If you have faced data privacy issues in the past, IT Consulting Fresno will be able to help.

About George:

George Passidakis is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Apex Technology Management, providing IT Consulting Sacramento, Redding & Sacramento. George has 30+ years of experience as an Information Technology professional. He also has extensive knowledge of Microsoft technology and other SMB IT products and solutions. Stay connected via LinkedIn.

The post 7 Ways That Cheap Data Backup Solutions Fail Your Business appeared first on AppTrawler.

Business continuity refers to a company’s ability to recover from an event that causes disruption. This is vital for any organization. A business continuity plan can help prevent significant losses and ensure that operations return to normal as soon as possible in the event of a disaster. A BCDR plan designed by niche service providers such as IT Support Houston also minimizes downtime so that you can continue providing your services to customers during a disaster or outage. The Business Continuity (BC) aspect of Disaster Recovery (DR) refers to the processes for preparing for and responding to sudden disasters. These include those carried out before, during, and after the incident to ensure that the company can continue operating its business functions without interruption. Business continuity also involves all aspects of an organization—its staff members, buildings, business partners, etc. Unlike Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR) is primarily concerned with restoring computer systems and applications after a disaster has occurred.

Disaster recovery is getting more expensive for businesses, and business continuity is no longer guaranteed. Within just three years, between 2018-2020, 50 disaster events resulted in $237.2 billion in damages in the U.S. alone. 2021 was another rough year with 20 disaster events that resulted in over $1 billion in damages. The average cost of a single hour of downtime is now over $1 million for nearly 44% of enterprises. Experts estimate that downtime costs have increased 32% in the past 7 years. With rising ransomware attacks, companies are experiencing more downtimes than ever, with the average downtime from ransomware attacks ranging around 16.2 days. Add to this; the NOAA/NCEI data estimates that 2021 was also one of the busiest years for climate disasters. Despite all the sobering statistics, FEMA estimates that 75% of SMBs do not have a disaster recovery plan.

Why Is BCDR Important?

Improved Business Resilience

Business continuity and disaster recovery plans help businesses survive a disaster. Without a strategy, you risk sinking into oblivion if the worst happens. Wide-scale disasters happen more often than we like to admit. In 2019, 45% of businesses had a pandemic response prepared as part of their business continuity plans. This means more than half of all companies were left vulnerable to the pandemic’s catastrophic effects. Effective Business continuity and disaster recovery planning from experienced service providers like IT Consulting Houston help businesses prepare for unplanned incidents. In cases of severe disasters, without a proper strategy, a company might never recover. As a business owner, you need to take a hard look at your preparedness and ask yourself if you are willing to suffer the consequences of being overwhelmed or caught unawares.

Lower Downtime

A Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) plan can help you minimize the time your services are down in the event of a disaster or outage. This is because having one in place means you can get your most essential services back up and running as soon as possible, helping keep your business running smoothly.

Better Employee Safety

As a business, one of your chief priorities should be the safety of your employees. To ensure this, you should have a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plan. The plan should include procedures for evacuating employees safely, as well as providing critical services or support if a natural disaster strikes your premises or employees’ homes.

Secure Sensitive Information

Failure to create regular backups of your data, accidental deletion of files, or disruption of the network resulting from cyberattacks can have serious consequences. Most cases of significant data loss can be traced back to human error, cyberattacks, or server outages. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) plans help you stay compliant with data security and privacy laws by ensuring that you have the proper measures in place to protect your data, as well as the ability to recover it if needed.

Empower Employees

Creating and testing business continuity and disaster recovery plan will help your employees know how to behave in the event of a disaster, what their roles and responsibilities are, and what objectives they are expected to aim for to return service to an average level. A surprising number of employees are underprepared for disaster. A recent study uncovered that 16% of SMB executives did not know their recovery time objectives (RTOs)—even though 24% expect to recover data in less than 10 minutes if disaster strikes. Regularly testing your plan is also a critical component of BCDR planning. If your employees know how to act accordingly during a disaster, they can restore your services as quickly as possible. Disaster Recovery Houston can help local businesses implement practical employee training in disaster recovery.

Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Organizations in the health and finance industries, among others, must comply with laws and regulations mandating disaster recovery planning. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA) requires hospitals to have data backup and disaster recovery plans and can levy steep fines for non-compliance. In addition, FINRA and PCI DSS Requirement 12.10.1 need organizations to have robust plans laid out to maintain compliance.

About Scott Young:

Scott Young is the president of PennComp LLC; a managed IT Services Houston company. Being a CPA, Six Sigma Master Blackbelt, Change Management Certified, and Myers Briggs Qualified, Scott’s expertise is reflected in PennComp as a leading IT company for computer services and network integration. PennComp utilizes Six Sigma methodologies and practices in their service delivery and offers their clients state-of-the-art monitoring and management tools.

The post BCDR Planning and Its Importance for Your Business appeared first on AppTrawler.

Phishing refers to using email, voice, video, or text messages to trick users into giving sensitive information about themselves or the organizations they work for. Scammers always look for sensitive information such as passwords, account numbers, or social security numbers. If they get that information, they could access a user’s email, bank, or other accounts and even commit identity fraud. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks daily, and they’re often successful. The Ponemon Institute estimates a business’s average total data breach cost is around $3.86 million. Scammers frequently update their attack strategies, but there are subtle yet consistent signs that can help users recognize a phishing email or text message. Consider reaching out to cybersecurity experts such as IT Support New Jersey for advanced defensive security strategies and advice.

Phishing emails and text messages are designed to inspire trust – they’ll appear to be from companies or people you know or/ and trust. They may look like they’re coming from your bank, credit card company, social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online store. But they all try to lure you into clicking on links or opening attachments that will give the hackers access to your personal information. As phishing attempts have got more sophisticated than Nigerian princes bequeathing you a million dollars, it has become harder to track them. However, most phishing attacks still carry subtle but consistent cues that users can learn to recognize. These include messages that contain elements such as:

• Proclaim to have noticed suspicious activity or log-in attempts in your account(s)
• Highlight a problem with your account/ billing/ payment information
• Ask you for personal information for an (elaborate) purpose
• Fake bills/ invoices
• Contain suspicious links
• Contains an offer that seems too good to be true, such as hefty government refunds
• Offers free stuff

Quick and Easy Steps to Protect Yourself from Phishing Attacks

Be aware of phishing strategies

While phishing scams come in many forms and may be more difficult to spot than ever, it’s important to remember that these attacks are not new. Phishing has been around since the early days of the internet when hackers would trick people into giving up their login credentials by posing as a famous brand or service (like PayPal). Today’s scammers use similar techniques but now target employees at large companies instead of individuals—and often impersonate companies’ CEOs for their email to appear more trustworthy.

As with any scam or fraud, you are educating yourself on how phishing works is essential to protect yourself from falling victim to an attack.

Be wary of links

Generally, you should never click on links from unknown sources. This includes email, text messages, and social media posts. Regarding emails, it’s always best to hover your mouse over the link to see where it goes before clicking. If an email is legitimate, there should be no reason for the sender to ask you to click on anything for them to send you something.

If someone you don’t know sends an unsolicited message with a link or attachment (especially if they’re using one of those generic email addresses like “info@”), don’t open it! Chances are good that it contains malicious software that infects your computer with viruses or ransomware.

If something looks suspicious when reading an article online (for example, a bunch of ungrammatical sentences), do not click on any links within the article! Instead, copy-paste each section into Google Translate and check out what comes up—if nothing shows up right away, proceed with caution before clicking on anything else!

Always check the website security

• Check the URL. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is where you can find the website’s web address.
• Look for the lock icon. On most browsers, you will see a little green or gray padlock next to the website address if it is safe and secure. This means that a trusted third party has verified the SSL certificate, and your information is encrypted when sent to this site.
• Get a second opinion from someone who knows about technology and security, like your IT department, or contacts an expert in cybersecurity such as Managed IT Services New Jersey.

Disable or limit pop-ups

Pop-ups, like phishing attacks in general, are a common tactic used by scammers to get you to click on a link. These pop-ups can be hard to close and may require multiple clicks before disappearing. If you see one of these pop-ups and it looks suspicious or unfamiliar, do not click on it!

Pop-up ads usually appear as if they were an advertisement for something you were searching for or clicking on elsewhere online. Often, they include images that look identical to legitimate advertisements but contain malicious code underneath them. Fortunately, getting rid of pop-ups is easy. All you have to do is disable pop-ups in your browser or only allow ones from websites you trust entirely.

Always use a good antivirus

If you’re looking for a way to protect yourself from phishing attacks, installing reliable antivirus software is the most important thing you can do. Ensure your antivirus software is up to date, installed, turned on, and running. If you aren’t sure how to do these things, consult someone with experience installing and using antivirus software. Experts at Cybersecurity New Jersey are always available to help local businesses with all cybersecurity-related issues.

About Chris:Chris Forte is the President and CEO of Olmec Systems, which provides specialized IT Consulting New Jersey, Atlanta, and New Your City area. Chris has been in the MSP work space for the past 25 years. He earned his Master’s Degree from West Virginia University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In his spare time, Chris enjoys traveling with his family. Stay connected via LinkedIn.

The post How to Avoid the Most Common Phishing Scams? appeared first on AppTrawler.

Today’s workplace is a very different experience from the one we had before the COVID-19 virus struck. Both the old-fashioned 9-to-5 workday and the old-fashioned idea of working in an office are gone. Many workers now create their schedules and routines, often working at home with frequent interruptions from family, pets, and daytime soap operas. Since many people work around the clock on their computers, having 24/7 access to your network is essential. As a result of this new “always open” society, businesses need secure and reliable access to their networks day and night. Companies require reliable managed services providers, such as IT Support Joplin who are available 24/7/365 to streamline complex remote/ hybrid workflow processes.

Here are the Most Common IT Issues

Forgotten Passwords

Many businesses and organizations find themselves dealing with forgotten passwords on a day-to-day basis. Having to reset or change passwords every time employees forget their login credentials is disruptive, mainly when it occurs right before a major project is due. To avoid this situation entirely, it would be a good idea to follow a strategy that would decrease the chances of users forgetting the password in the first place. Alternatively, you may want to eliminate the problem by investing in reliable password management software like Last Pass, which allows users to generate hundreds of strong passwords and secure them in a special vault. Password managers can be a godsend for forgetful users as they offer users multiple recovery options. Password software can be incredibly cost-effective, too, with plans beginning as low as $4 per month.

Accidentally deleting an important file

Accidental deletions are more common than we think. If a user accidentally deletes a file, there are many ways to retrieve it.

• Hard Drive: If your hard drive is still working, it’s possible to recover the files. However, this won’t be possible if the hard drive has crashed or stopped working entirely.
• Memory: The same applies to computer memory. If the memory is still functioning correctly and hasn’t been damaged by malware or viruses (which could cause permanent damage), then there may be a chance that you can recover some or all of your lost document(s).
• Recycle Bin: If you have emptied one particular folder without emptying its corresponding Recycle Bin (which appears on most Windows computers as soon as new folders are created), then it should be possible for those files to be recovered from there as long as other files didn’t overwrite them before being put into this location!

To provide additional layers of protection against accidental file deletion, you may benefit from using syncing software such as OneDrive or Drobox. These programs automatically sync files on your computer to the cloud. If you accidentally delete a file from your hard drive, the most recent version can still be retrieved from the cloud. Although deleted files can be recovered from synced files on the cloud, files can still be permanently lost through cyber-attacks which is why Managed IT Services Joplin strongly suggests having backup solutions in place to eliminate this risk.

Computer slow in performance and lagging

If your computer is slow and lagging, there are a few things you can do to fix this problem. You can try doing a clean boot on your system, which will help remove unnecessary processes running in the background. If this doesn’t work, try uninstalling some of the applications you no longer use or need on your system; this will free up space on your hard disk drive (HDD). If neither option works for you, then defragmenting your HDD may be the solution to getting rid of laggy performance issues.

Overheating, fans making noise, and slowing down the system

• CPU temperature – The first thing you should check is the CPU temperature, which can be done using a utility like CPUID Monitor.
• GPU temperature – If your system has a dedicated graphics card, it’s imporessentialeep an eye on its temperature. You can also use the same software for this task, but you will have to make sure that it supports monitoring GPU temperatures.
• PSU fan speed and noise level – Since power supplies usually take up most of the space inside a computer case, they tend to get quite hot while running at full load. This is especially true if they’re not actively cooled by other fans in combination with them being placed at one of the exhaust positions on top or rear side panels. To avoid overheating issues caused by such setups, we recommend checking whether all fans are spinning smoothly without any rattling sounds coming from within. You can continue working if there’s no sign indicating something terrible might happen soon. Otherwise, fix this problem before continuing!

Slow internet connection and network issue

• Check your Internet speed

If you’re experiencing slower than expected speeds, there may be issues with your network or computer. Some common causes for slow internet include:

• A faulty modem and router
• Malware on the computer (such as viruses and spyware)
• Interference from another device or appliance that uses Wi-Fi near the computer (e.g., a wireless printer)
• Check for any interference from other devices

USB Plug & play problems

Sometimes the computer may not recognize USB ports, or they may not function at all, or they don’t charge the connected device, etc.  USB problems can arise from the device, the port, or the laptop. The first thing to do is check if the device works on other devices. If so, this narrows it to either the port or the laptop. The first time you use a USB device, it may need to auto-install drivers to allow it to work efficiently; likewise, an updated version of your USB driver may fix these problems. IT Consulting Joplin has the right solutions for various computer problems/ issues. Local businesses looking for a reliable IT support vendor to manage their hardware/ software issues should consider getting the best solution for their problems from the experts.

About James:

James Richards is a serial jelly bean eater with over 30 years of experience in the Information Technology industry. Growing up around the first generation of home computers, he always had a strong interest in technology and is continually grateful to be in a profession that he honestly enjoys. James is a problem solver whose vision to provide quality is the foundation of Stronghold Data. His goal is to deliver solutions for customers that genuinely impress them with the outcome. His authenticity and compassion for his team and clients extend into the community with his active leadership roles.

The post 5 Common IT Support Issues & Solutions appeared first on AppTrawler.

A cybersecurity risk assessment is a process that helps organizations identify and prioritize security risks. This covers security controls, policies, procedures, infrastructure, employee training, and technologies used to protect company users and data. This is usually performed by leveraging third-party cybersecurity frameworks, compliance, or regulatory standards to compare an organization’s security stance with time-tested industry standards and best practices. This comprehensive assessment will take him to account all current security mechanisms, compliance with industry regulations, the cumulative account of the company’s digital assets, and descriptions of potential threats. A practical risk assessment performed by an expert managed services provider such as IT Support Vancouver can help organizations better understand their current state of cybersecurity while identifying areas for improvement. MSPs can also help companies prioritize these requirements based on how they align with the organization’s business objectives.

Why Small Business Needs Cybersecurity Risk Assessment

Meet and exceed evolving cyber security demands

A risk assessment is the first step in assessing your cybersecurity efforts, vulnerabilities, and budgets. You can examine employee permissions, devices, software, and backup solutions as part of this process. Such extensive analysis can help companies stay ahead of evolving cyber security demands and future-proof their security processes.

Improve employee cyber-awareness

Cybersecurity risk assessments are usually performed by a third party to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities within your network. But they can also be harnessed as an ideal opportunity to teach employees how to avoid cyber threats in the workplace. As part of the assessment process, you’ll find out which areas of your network are most vulnerable to attack. A well-managed service provider (MSP) can also connect you with training resources to help plug up these holes in your system.

Improve your security stance through a comprehensive cybersecurity plan

A cybersecurity assessment can identify security gaps and opportunities for improvement, including the need for more training or security programs. You may need to upgrade or update devices, change your business continuity plan, or adjust permissions for employees. Most companies overlook one or more areas of the broader security framework that reliable MSPs can help identify and patch quickly.

Stay compliant even with stringent regulatory frameworks

The importance of data security is an ongoing concern for businesses. Your organization must comply with laws such as HIPAA and FISMA or risk facing fines or lawsuits. Managed IT Services Vancouver can help you develop written policies and secure your company’s computer networks.

Secure your bottom line

The loss of customer information, the theft of a product design, or any other data breach can have severe financial consequences for a business. Not only will you lose customers, but you could also be subjected to lawsuits, fines and penalties, and damage to your reputation. Some executives have been forced to step down after a serious breach. For example, Target’s CEO Gregg Steinhafel “stepped down” following a 2013 data breach; Equifax’s CEO Richard Smith “retired” shortly after the breach affected his company. The fallout doesn’t stop there. Data breaches have become so sensitive that companies can become blacklisted by various stakeholders and, most importantly, their customers if they are deemed negligent with their data security practices. Some insurance companies now offer cyber liability insurance for businesses to help them settle their finances after a breach.

Improve employee confidence in your cyber security stance

A cybersecurity assessment can help identify software and hardware vulnerabilities and many other risks. These vulnerabilities can affect employee productivity. Older hardware, incompatible software, and many other outdated systems can drastically slow down your network and result in unplanned downtime and clunky business processes, hurting employee morale.

With rising awareness about the importance of data security, employees are also worried about the company being able to protect their sensitive personal and professional information. Confidence in the company’s ability to secure its data assures employees that they won’t become victims of identity theft or financial fraud when company servers are breached.

Establish clear standards of security to build upon

Information gathered during the first cybersecurity risk assessment will help you understand where your endpoints are, employee access permissions, and other essential details. Once you have this information, you can tighten security, address potential issues quickly and efficiently, and ensure that your IT team is prepared to address network issues in the future. IT security Vancouver can help local businesses tighten their security stance and stay vigilant and compliant even with evolving and sophisticated cyber demands

About Andrew:

Andrew Dalman is the President of ActiveCo Technology Management – an IT Consulting Vancouver company. Andrew comes from an operational perspective; his tenure at ActiveCo emphasizes working with customers to closely understand their business plans and successfully incorporate the technology component into those plans. Under his leadership, ActiveCo has developed expertise that enriches the extensive customer relationships by integrating strategic and operational focus areas through consulting. When Andrew is not in the office, you can find him spending time with his wife and daughter getting outside, traveling, and pursuing adventures together. LinkedIn.

The post 7 Reasons You Need a Small Business Cybersecurity Risk Assessment appeared first on AppTrawler.

There are many reasons behind the meteoric rise of remote work. Remote work not only results in improved savings (estimated to be around $4,000 per year in personal expenses) and work-life balance for employees but also significant savings for the employer. Forbes found that employer savings from remote work per employee averaged around $22,000 per year. All the savings from diverse factors such as reduced overhead and office space and increased productivity cumulatively added to significant savings.

However, facilitating remote work doesn’t just mean allowing employees to stay at home during work hours. Remote work poses unique challenges for companies not equipped to handle them. Employees must be provided with the right tools and processes to maximize productivity. Companies must go out of their way to allow employees to accomplish day-to-day tasks and access tools for effective collaboration and productivity. Managed IT services can be an ideal solution for companies that struggle to maximize their employees’ productivity while working remotely.

Benefits of Utilizing Managed IT Services with your Remote Workforce

Data and Systems Security

Keeping sensitive information secure through effective data and systems security is a top priority for companies of all sizes. Remote work adds to the complexity of the challenge.

It involves multiple parties—internal and external to your business—working together to ensure that data is safe from breaches.

• Shared responsibility: Data security is often seen as solely an IT problem, but employees must understand their role in protecting company data. Employees can use encryption software or avoid public Wi-Fi networks when accessing sensitive information on their computers or mobile devices.
• Top concern: Data breaches can have serious financial consequences for businesses, including losses due to fines and legal actions taken by government agencies after unauthorized access (think Equifax). It is becoming increasingly common for employees with personal information stolen due to poor security practices at work to suffer from serious fallouts such as identity theft.

Managed IT services protect businesses using multiple security solutions, such as anti-virus software for all workstations and devices. Ransomware attacks and malicious emails are no longer a concern thanks to managed IT services’ solution of monitoring your network for threats 24/7. Additionally, reliable managed service providers – MSPs like Managed IT Services Los Angeles understand the seriousness of data recovery. They work with clients to routinely back up data and establish a protocol for speedy data recovery if necessary.

Better Collaboration and Communication

Remote employees don’t have direct access to their manager’s office during business hours unless there’s a reason for them to be present (like meetings). Remote workforces often struggle with building trust between employees and their managers because there might not always be face-to-face interactions that build respect between those individuals. When an employee’s actions are monitored through digital means (such as phone calls or emails), managers can get an accurate glimpse into who is doing what behind closed doors—or, more importantly—who might be slacking off or facing difficulties.

The importance of having the right communication tools and processes in remote work environments cannot be overstated. You need to know who in your organization can be trusted with sensitive information or if they will pass it along to someone who shouldn’t have access. And if they share sensitive data, you want a record of when and by whom it was shared. Managed IT services can help your business implement the right tools and processes to facilitate all this and more.

Support

Each remote employee requires the same level of support your on-site employees are used to. Managed service providers offer 24/7 IT helpdesk services to their customers. You can always access their team of IT experts regardless of the time or the issue. Remote monitoring will provide extra support to help you catch problems before they cause any damage. Working with a managed IT provider enables you to Adopt a more proactive approach to support services. Your provider will work as your virtual IT team, assisting with your remote workforce’s complex and straightforward issues. Most importantly, they are always available for your remote workforce, helping them solve their problems.

Flexibility

Desktop infrastructure enabled by MSPs ensures that telecommuters can access their data from anywhere in the world. Office 365 also offers mobile apps for Android and iOS devices so that users can get business calls on their phones. Office phones already come with call forwarding and hoteling features, allowing remote workers to forward their calls to internal phone numbers or transfer them to other users. IT Helpdesk also includes call-forwarding services, which allows remote employees to receive calls from clients easily. Managed IT service providers also offer cloud tools that remote workers can use for enhanced flexibility, collaboration, and productivity.

Compliance

Compliance is becoming increasingly important to all organizations in today’s regulatory-heavy business environment. However, remote workers can face unique challenges when it comes to compliance. Managed IT services can help your remote workforce stay compliant by providing a secure and reliable infrastructure that keeps their data safe and ensures they follow industry regulations.

Managed IT service providers are often more familiar with the ins and outs of complying with government regulations than small businesses are—not only because they work with lots of different types of clients but also because they have experience with these issues themselves as enterprises in their own right. Many managed IT solutions include tools like encryption or two-factor authentication that help keep data secure from hackers, which also helps ensure that your employees stay in line with federal regulations regarding information security (like PCI DSS).

Additionally, managed IT services often provide customers with tools for tracking how much time is spent working on company business versus personal matters (for example: checking Facebook at work). That makes it easier for managers to enforce policies about what kind of usage is acceptable during business hours or other times when you may want productivity from your employees instead of distractions such as social media sites!

MSPs understand the importance of security practices and industry compliance. They can help your company meet all regulations by using multiple security layers and separating the desktop environment from the physical device. The “virtual desktop” will contain all necessary data, files, and information your employees need to efficiently and effectively complete their jobs. IT Consulting Los Angeles Can you help your local business implement VDEs.

Conclusion

The ability to trust your company’s data and systems to be secure and the ease of access that these services provide through their interfaces and collaboration tools will help ensure your team stays connected and on the same page. With all of these benefits, plus the flexibility they offer in terms of cost structure and support availability, managed IT services are one of the most attractive options for businesses looking to implement remote work.

About Brent:

Brent Whitfield is the CEO of DCG Technical Solutions LLC. DCG provides specialist advice and Managed IT Security Los Angeles area businesses need to remain competitive and productive while being sensitive to limited IT budgets.

Brent has been featured in Fast Company, CNBC, Network Computing, Reuters, and Yahoo Business. He also leads SMBTN – Los Angeles, an MSP peer group focusing on continuing education for MSPs and IT professionals. https://www.dcgla.com was recognized among the Top 10 Fastest Growing MSPs in North America by MSP mentor. Stay connected via LinkedIn.

The post Use Managed IT to Boost Your Remote Employees’ Productivity appeared first on AppTrawler.

What are the Benefits of Using a VoIP System?

The most significant advantage of switching to a VoIP cloud solution for small and midsize businesses is cost savings. Small businesses can reduce costs with cost-effective hardware, free software upgrades, less maintenance, free long-distance calls, and other features. VoIP also allows you to bundle your office phones, mobile, and data services together. Updates are simple, managed through the software, and provide the most current technology and security available to your business, employees, and customers. VoIP technology provides features like automated attendant services, call recording, call screening, device transfer, CRM integration, conference bridge services, and video conferencing to help individuals and teams manage and record important information with a click of a button. Additionally, if there’s an internet connection, remote phones will work anywhere, giving your workforce flexibility for where they work.

Effective Ways Upgrading to VOIP Can Improve Your Business

Remote Options

Remote options can save you money and time by reducing the need for travel, office space, expensive equipment, and furniture. If you are thinking about expanding your recruiting power with the option to telecommute, you must consider how to communicate with remote teams. VOIP solutions offered by reliable providers such as IT Consulting New Orleans let employees connect to the office over the Internet from anywhere. Computers become phones, complete with an extension or private office number reserved solely for business.

Remote options also reduce the number of people needed for projects. For instance, if there are only two people at one site but three at another location, one person can be assigned as an “on-site supervisor” remotely via voice over IP (VoIP) technology. This ensures that nothing gets missed as well as ensuring that everything runs smoothly across all sites.

Scalability

VoIP solutions are easily scalable. This means that the solution can keep pace with the growing demands of your business. As an example, let’s say that you start out having one location but then decide to open up another one. A traditional phone system would require another physical phone line and all of the associated costs (e.g., installation fees). However, with a Virtual PBX, adding an additional location takes just a few minutes and no additional hardware costs.

The same goes for adding employees – as each new person joins your team, they’ll have their own extension number that’s connected directly to the existing communications hub—no middlemen necessary. The entire system is designed so that any feature can be added individually without affecting other parts of it which ensure hassle-free upgrades.

Collaborate better

VoIP systems can help you keep in touch with your team, clients, and suppliers. VoIP is not just a great way to save money on phone bills, but it’s also a convenient way to get work done using mobile devices. You can use VoIP as an important part of your mobile office by setting up mobile applications that let employees connect from anywhere. This allows them to be more productive irrespective of where or when they want to connect.

Communications Savings

VoIP systems can help your business reduce the cost of all your communications.

• Phone calls: VoIP systems have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of making phone calls. They offer substantial discounts over traditional landline services, as well as some free calling options that may be available in your area. This can help you save money on every call you make, whether it’s an international call or a local one within the town.
• Data: Traditional data plans are often expensive and don’t always provide enough bandwidth when you need it most—especially if there are multiple people using your computer at once. One way to solve this problem is by switching from a traditional internet service provider (ISP) or cable company to one that provides connectivity via VoIP technology instead. This will allow everyone in your office space access without having to pay for multiple connections and less bandwidth usage compared to traditional landlines.

Comprehensive Cloud Solutions

Cloud solutions are more secure, flexible, cost-effective, scalable, and efficient. Cloud solutions can be easily scaled up or down based on the needs of the business. They also give you 24×7 access to your data using any device or location. This means that you will always have access to your important information and documents without having to worry about server downtime or maintenance issues.

Customized VoIP Solution for Your Business

When it comes to VoIP, you can choose the features that are right for your business. For example, you can get VoIP Business Phone Solutions that provide the features needed by your business and select those that will make it easier to do business with your customers. You also have the option of choosing a provider who will customize its packages according to what is needed by each individual customer.

About Bridget:

Bridget Juelich is a sales & marketing manager at CommTech based in Metairie, Louisiana. CommTech offers best-in-class IT Support New Orleans & Gulf State’s businesses for three decades. Bridget holds Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication/Public Relations from Loyola University New Orleans. Connect via LinkedIn.

The post Upgrade Your VoIP Systems to Grow Your Business appeared first on AppTrawler.

Cloud Services

Cloud computing is one of the most popular services to start investing in to develop your business. It helps companies save on hardware, software licensing costs, and maintenance. The claris filemaker cloud, for example, has many advantages over traditional IT systems due to its scalable nature. In addition, you can add or remove it without any downtime for users or interruption of work processes. 

Best of all, there is no hardware to maintain or software licenses to buy.

Furthermore, companies can access their information from any device. The cloud service providers ensure that data security is taken care of by offering a wide range of services such as backup storage and secure servers. As a result, cloud computing allows you to focus on your core business rather than IT operations. It also provides you with an opportunity to reduce operational costs.

Logistic Services

Investing in a company that can provide you with transportation services is critical when it comes to business. Whether you need your products transported from one place to another, choosing a reliable logistics provider will ensure that everything goes smoothly and according to plan. In addition, these companies offer a wide range of services that will help you out in case something goes wrong.

The logistics industry is currently experiencing a boom, which means many companies are looking to offer their services and products at competitive prices. However, it can be overwhelming to choose between all these different options by yourself, especially if you only have limited time or experience on your hands.

Marketing Services

Marketing services are essential if you are running a business. They will help to promote your brand and increase traffic and revenue. Whether it’s search engine optimization or social media marketing campaigns, hiring an expert who knows how to increase the visibility and credibility of your company will help you grow exponentially.

Production Services 

There are many services that you can use to develop your business, but there is a specific set of them that will benefit any company. These ones, called production services, include printing and designing companies – everything from leaflets and posters up to entire catalogs with customized design or even packaging.

There are also photography studios. These will provide you with print materials, and they can also take photos of your products for your website, catalog, or even social media.

Customer Services 

Customer service is the process of ensuring that customers are satisfied with their purchases. Once you have a customer, it doesn’t mean they’ll be happy for life; this means that many companies must continue to strive harder to provide better services. If you want to develop your business further, you may consider investing in customer services.

Customer service is essential for any business because it allows the company to maintain a good relationship with its customers, which will increase sales and, more importantly, customer loyalty. 

Conclusion

Now is the time to start investing in marketing your business as quickly as possible because if you wait too long, someone else will do it. Of course, you can always grow a little bit at a time; however, with every month that passes by, there’s more competition and less space to play in.

The post Services To Start Investing in if You Want To Develop Your Business appeared first on AppTrawler.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at some of the mistakes people often make when it comes to technology and how they can improve their efficiency.

Technology is meant to make things easier, not more complicated

Technology usually comes with a learning curve, but that doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. Many people get this idea that the more convoluted a process is, the more “professional” it is because you need to have specialized knowledge in order to understand what’s going on. In reality, that’s the opposite of what technology is about.

Using technology should involve making things easier for everyone. If it makes something more accessible, then it’s a success. If it simplifies a task so that more people can do it, it’s a good thing. If it gives more flexibility in how people work, then it’s great. Things like collaboration solutions are great examples of good technology to invest in because they make things much simpler when you need to work remotely. It’s all about making things easier for you and your staff, not harder.

So the next time you consider hiring a consultant or installing something new in your business, make sure it’s something that eases your business instead of making it more complex.

Technology doesn’t need to be expensive if you approach it correctly

The correct approach to technology depends on your current circumstances and your budget. It’s easy to just say “hire a professional” but this isn’t always the optimal approach. For a larger business that has a lot on the line, it makes sense to get a professional involved so you can utilize their skills and expertise. However, a smaller business can’t really afford to hire an expert and they have other ways to pick the right technologies and approach them in the right way.

If you’re thinking about using new technologies in your business then you should start by looking at free trials and cheaper plans. This is a great way to test the waters with new technology. It gives you an idea of what something is capable of and it gives you and your staff time to collect feedback on how it integrates with your workflow. Once you’ve chosen something that suits your needs, you can then start investing in it.

You can also reduce the costs of adopting new technologies by learning about them yourself. There are plenty of great resources on the internet that are made to help people learn about hardware and software, and this can make it a lot easier for you to maintain those technologies and utilize them to their full potential.

The post Technology Improves Your Business, but Only if You Use It Correctly appeared first on AppTrawler.

“Effective communication has taken place when the sender of the message and the receiver of the message enjoy the same understanding of the content”.  This is a very useful standard-setter for the kind of communication you should be pursuing in the work environment.  Frankly, in your personal life besides, because this statement speaks to the duality of “communication” in that it implies that more than one person is required to achieve its self-evident goal.

But how can you do this better and what are how the attempt to do so can be foiled?

BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

Let’s start here.  Before we can begin to formulate plans to improve our communication, we first have to know what constitutes bad communication.  More often than not, “bad” communication doesn’t happy purposefully so, therefore, it can be done better.  Some of the more obvious communication barriers are:

• Differences in language.
• Differences in nationality or cultural identification.
• Attempting to communicate in a loud or disruptive environment.
• Having a workplace that is frequently the site of labor complaints, could indicate much bigger problems.

Conduct a quick test on your employees and see if you can find out where all of them come from, whether they’re all domestic or not doesn’t much matter when you think that from one State to the next in America, differences in spoken English means that what’s true or funny in one State isn’t necessarily the same in the other.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

It’s very important to acknowledge where problems exist and to then formulate plans to fix them.  When it comes to inspiring an open and calm environment that is committed to improving communications standards, you will also find that your staff will take you a lot more seriously too.  People want to be heard and will seldom argue their data, so if you value your business you’ll make reasonable investments in training and development with a solid focus on effective communication.  Nothing is going to change when you discover problems without a solid plan to get you there and once you’ve identified all the areas where you can do better.  Business has to be ahead of the game to stay relevant.  Not just in communications but productivity too.

THE RIGHT TECH, FOR THE RIGHT JOB

We simply cannot overstate it enough, more has changed in the last 25 years than in the 100 before it and now we have dozens of options at our disposal to enable open and effective communication in the workplace.  We have wearable devices, mobile telephones with a million apps, automatic translation software, and video calling.  All of which are geared towards improving the quality of communication between humans.  Sometimes you don’t always need the best and latest to achieve highly effective communication.  In the United States as in most countries, our emergency services all use radio communication devices like these Motorola police radios that allow for instant communication between public health and safety officials at a fraction of the cost of massive data installations for mobile phone communications.  So making sure that you know what your specific needs and goals are to achieving optimum communication.

The post Analyzing Communication At Work appeared first on AppTrawler.

While small businesses will often not have the same level of cyber protection as a large company will, there are still multiple ways to protect yourself. 

What sort of attacks are there?

There are multiple types of attacks that happen to businesses and individuals. Some of the following may include:

Hacking

This is one of the most common methods that can be a bit more difficult to prevent. Hacking is what often happens to large companies where a data breach happens. Cybercriminals will gain access to computers and from an unknown location anywhere around the world. This is used to get bank information, personal information such as identification numbers, and credit card information.

Ransomware

Ransomware is software that will usually be downloaded to the computer by accident. This could be from opening up a legitimate email and downloading files online usually. Once the file is downloaded, the criminal can then lock you out of your computer until you pay a certain amount of money or cryptocurrency.

Malware

Malware is multiple types of software such as ransomware, spyware, and viruses. This is used for theft, spying, and other crimes too. This is usually one of the most common attacks as well.

Phishing

Unfortunately, online scammers are becoming far more clever when it comes to making legitimate-looking emails and web pages. You’ll receive an email that looks real and may even have a real email address on it. This phishing technique is used to give out sensitive information such as personal info, login info, and banking details.

What can I do to protect my business?

Keep Software Updated

Cyber security monitoring software needs to be updated regularly to ensure it has patches for any loopholes and vulnerabilities that are logged, so always switch your software to ‘auto-update’ whenever you can. Manufacturers will often release updates whenever they find weak points in their software and send out updates automatically.

Talk with a Cybersecurity company

Some companies and contractors can help keep you safe from cyber attacks. This alone will immensely help in securing your data by enforcing authentication, special protocols, and putting up firewalls.

Train employees

Training yourself and training your employees for something such as an ITIL 4 certification, can be very helpful for learning more about IT and cybersecurity. Staying on top of this and truly understanding all that is happening will immensely help with preventing attacks.

Authentication Login

While learning to code would make things a lot easier, another method to protecting your business would be restricting information unless there is a sort of authentication process. This can be something such as two-factor authentication. This alone will help limit access to cybercriminals.

The post What Small Business Owners Need to Know About Cybersecurity appeared first on AppTrawler.

Protecting your information

First and foremost, the most important thing you should be focusing on is how you set your passwords. Not all websites and domains require you to have a very secure password, and it’s important that you know what makes your password secure. Using things that can be tied to you are risky examples of passwords, especially if it’s public knowledge – and using numbers relevant to you is also risky. For example, if you’re someone who is known to be into cars – and having your password as “carlover” is not secure. Putting your birthday or birth year next to it doesn’t help either! Having a randomly generated password might be the ideal way to go about it, so long as you write it down somewhere.

No matter what you sign up for, you should know that your password will never be asked of you. If you ever are asked to give over your password, it should be a signal to you that the person is not who they say they are and are trying to get access to your personal information. If you’re signed up for Gmail, and someone claims to be an official working for Google, you should decline their request immediately.

If you are on the edge about giving away your physical address to an individual or a business online, you can avoid that too! There are services like physicaladdress.com that can prevent you from needing to give out your address to sites and individuals that you don’t trust. This way you get to still receive your mail and packages, but through an anonymous postal service that won’t give away your physical address. You never know who you can trust online, and this is sometimes a necessary step in protecting your information.

Using trusted websites

When it comes to browsing sites that are new to you, you should always make sure you can trust them before you give away your information. Sites that are well-designed are typical, though not always, more trustworthy. This is because websites are expensive to have designed, and it’s generally only sustainable to businesses that are legitimate. Some sites that are poorly designed might be riskier for you to give your information to and should be avoided if you’re not sure whether or not you can trust them. It’s better to be safe than sorry when handling private information.

The post Keeping Yourself Safe Online appeared first on AppTrawler.

Lack of Funds

Some businesses can be started with very little money, but others require more investment. An app business certainly needs some money for development, promotion, and more. If you don’t have the money to start a business, there are multiple ways to find the funds you need. A lender like Buddy Loans might make it possible for you to borrow the money that you need. Your friends and family might be willing to invest in your business idea. Or you might look for investors from elsewhere who can put some money into your business.

No Time

Starting a business is very time-consuming. Finding the time to do it when you already have other commitments, from a full-time job to family, is difficult. However, what you need to realize is that you’re in control of your time, at least to some extent. Even if you’re busy, you can decide how best to use your time. That might mean using your evenings or weekends or even spending time during your lunch break to get a little extra work done. You need to be willing to sacrifice some free time to start a business.

No Business Skills

You might have a killer app idea and maybe some app design and development skills, but what do you know about running a business? A lot of people have a good business idea but don’t really have any business skills or knowledge to back it up. Fortunately, this is something that you can solve. You can learn the business skills that you need to build and grow a business. Some skills are important to learn and some knowledge important to have before you get started, while some is possible to pick up as you go. For example, if you decide to rent or subscribe to services such as IT, you’ll need to be aware of GASB 96 accounting. This standard addresses the accounting treatment of government subscriptions to IT services and other subscription-based technology arrangements. It is unlikely that you would know about GASB 96 before starting your business, but if you are offering subscription-based tech agreements, you will need to learn about it at some point. The best time to start building on your business skills and knowledge is right now.

Fear of the Risks

Starting a business comes with a lot of risks. It’s impossible to create and grow a business without dealing with risk, although you can make choices to mitigate risk. It’s important to accept that you need to make risky choices if you want your business to work, both in your personal life and the business itself. The best thing to do is to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong and to know what your next step would be if you don’t get your desired outcome.

There might be several barriers making you hesitant to start your business. But they can all be overcome or faced to make your business possible.

The post Break Through the Barriers Stopping You From Launching a Business appeared first on AppTrawler.