MSPs can focus on issues you don’t have time for Every business relies on technology to function. From simple things like email, VoIP, and the internet, all the way to predictive analytics for inventory and sales, digital technology is at the root of every business. Unfortunately, no matter how much small- to medium-sized businesses may rely on their IT infrastructure to operate, they often try to “get by” with their in-house IT staff to keep things running. In this blog, we will discuss the value a Managed Service Provider brings to an SMB: a value that cannot be replicated in-house. First, it is important for a business owner to realize that an IT infrastructure is not a static entity. Nothing is “plug-and-play” in today’s business environment. There is no “build it and forget it.” Because everyone relies on technology that must be running 24/7, businesses need to be proactively monitoring the performance and availability of critical infrastructure, such as servers and networks. ...

Marketing and AI Suddenly, everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI). It is constantly in the news now. It suddenly is looming like some intimidating Terminator. However, AI is not a toggle switch that was suddenly turned on one day this year. AI is everywhere and has been around for far longer than most of us are aware. We just didn’t realize it. Ever think about how Instagram shows you reels based on your past views? Youtube does the same. Amazon makes recommendations based on your browsing and purchase history. By the newest standard, that is old hat AI, but it is AI. Lately, significant advances have been made that increased the power of these learning algorithms exponentially. The new tools Chat GPT, BARD, Well-said are examples very widely covered in the media. Why are businesses so interested? There are a wide variety of uses for AI in the business space, from project management to customer service. A bit of background, it might be helpful to take a quick s...

Why Migrate to the Cloud If you haven't already considered migrating your data storage to the cloud, you are probably in the minority of businesses. While it may seem intuitive that somehow your data is safer if it is stored “ at home,” on location at the site of your business, that probably is not correct. Given the ability of skilled cloud service providers to provide redundancy and a level of security unattainable by a small business, storing all your crucial business data on site using in-house support is probably akin to keeping your money under the mattress instead of a bank. In this blog, we’ll explain what cloud data storage means, and some reasons why it may be a good business decision. In addition, we’ll quickly note some reasons some people get nervous about the security of cloud storage. What is cloud data storage? In an earlier time, a business would store all of its data on-site. Individual employees might keep all of their Word and Excel documents filed on their PC. ...

Protecting Your Data on the Cloud Cloud storage has transformed the way businesses store and manage data, but for some, it also raises concerns about data protection. This blog post discusses a few security measures that can be deployed when using cloud storage. Data Encryption One of the fundamental security features of cloud storage is encryption. It ensures that your data remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access. Cloud storage providers use encryption algorithms to protect data both during transit and when stored in their servers. This means that even if an attacker intercepts the data in transit or gains access to the storage servers, the information remains unreadable. Encryption adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that your data remains confidential and secure. Access Controls and Identity Management Concerned about access to data? Cloud storage providers offer access controls and other mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to your data. These feature...

Your Cloud Questions: Answered The cloud is now the preferred method for data storage. However, justified or not, there are a few worries you might have about migrating to a cloud solution. Isn’t my data safer at home? While cloud storage offers enhanced security measures, organizations may still have reservations regarding the privacy and protection of their data. Somehow keeping it in your own location sounds safer. To overcome this concern, an MSP can help you fully understand the security measures implemented by most cloud providers, including encryption methods, access controls, and data isolation. Also, they can help determine that your cloud provider’s protocols meet any regulatory standards you are required to meet, such as federal, state or international data security laws. Network Connectivity and Bandwidth Reliance on internet connectivity is inherent in cloud storage. The cloud isn’t useful if you cannot access it. Organizations need a stable and robust internet connection ...

Cloud storage can save you money? In this blog post, we will explore how cloud storage can support your firm. For SMBs, data loss or system failures can be catastrophic, leading to significant financial losses, brand damage, and even business closure. Having reliable backups and disaster recovery solutions is essential to protect critical data and ensure uninterrupted operations. Traditional backup methods, such as local storage or tape backups, can be time-consuming, costly, and prone to human error. And a backup hard drive or server stored in the same location as the original data? Not very foolproof. This is where cloud storage comes in. Cloud storage provides SMBs with a solution that overcomes many of the limitations of traditional methods. By using the cloud for storage (and thus, backups) businesses can benefit from: Automated and scheduled backups: Cloud storage platforms offer automated and scheduled backup options, eliminating the need for manual backups and reducing the ris...