Author: Stuart Crawford

In 2018, Dropbox announced it was shifting away from cloud-based services in favor of managing some of its data storage and application hosting itself. The company noted that while Amazon Web Services (AWS) initially allowed Dropbox to delay the purchase and maintenance of its own infrastructure, there were limitations and obstacles that prompted the switch.

In its IPO filing, Dropbox noted that the company has no operational control or access to the AWS or other cloud facilities that host its content. If there were to be an issue with that data, Dropbox, which hosts information for its customers worldwide, would have little control of the situation.

Why is it that Dropbox and other companies are moving away from the cloud, which is touted as a service that alleviates the burden of monitoring, maintenance and upgrading what’s stored there? Are there times when it makes more sense to move away from the public cloud?

How Many Companies Are Moving Out of the Public Cloud?

In 2018, IDC reported that 81 percent of companies surveyed reported migrating applications or data that had been stored in the public cloud to a different environment, including a private cloud host, a hybrid cloud and local solution or a complete on-premises infrastructure. The companies that repatriated data and apps reported doing so the following solutions:

• Hosted private cloud (41 percent)
• On-premises private cloud (38 percent)
• On-premises non-cloud (22 percent)

The survey also reported that 85 percent planned to migrate services in 2019.

Why? The most-cited reasons were:

• Security (19 percent)
• Performance (14 percent)
• Cost (12 percent)
• Control (12 percent)
• Desire to centralize or reduce shadow IT (11 percent)

What’s Behind the Cloud Repatriation Push?

Munish Manrao of Belmont, California-based ePC Solutions noted that there can be many factors that influence a decision to move to the cloud or move back.

“Every IT decision should be based on a combination of factors: security, cost, compliance, stability, productivity, and compatibility,” Manrao said. “In some instances, a company may move an application to the cloud and then decide to pull that application out of the cloud and return it to an on-premises data center. Although this can be disruptive, any one or more of the reasons listed above could be the determining factor.”

Jason Simons of Houston IT solutions company, ICS, agreed, noting that control, performance and regulatory mandates are often the key factors to move away from the public cloud. He cited specific issues that may prompt, or force, the decision for businesses:

• Poor performance of the application once it was virtualized in the cloud
• A desire for ultimate control of the software or data, including upgrade management, outage scheduling and access management. Because the public cloud is a shared resource, there are often limitations and restrictions on what a company can do and when.
• Concerns about regulation. If a company finds out that its cloud provider is no longer certified to meet the security standards of regulatory agencies, the business is responsible. Companies take on great financial risk for non-compliance.
• The wrong provider. Companies may choose a smaller provider initially that cannot meet their business needs. Instead of moving to a larger provider, some businesses prefer to bring apps and data back in-house.

Speed is a frequent reason for moving away from the public cloud.

“Businesses that rely on public cloud servers often run into trouble if local bandwidth is unreliable, or if internet access is lost resulting in downtime or data loss,” noted Andrew Schira with Oklahoma City IT service provider, Easton Technology.

Another is the cost.

“On-premise servers are generally a one-time purchase,” Schira continued. “Moving applications can reduce operating costs and result in improved security.”

Those insights echo the reasons cited in an IDC survey of multi-cloud infrastructure among European businesses. The top data-management priorities were:

• Managing and controlling cost (42 percent)
• Regulatory compliance (34 percent)
• Provisioning and management capabilities (32 percent)
• Data portability and workload seamlessness (32 percent)
• Retrieving data if a provider goes out of business (27 percent)

Over the next 12-18 months, 49 percent of those businesses listed data protection, including backup and recovery, replication archiving and business continuity, as a key data challenge. Another 43 percent cited security and compliance.

What Applications Are Most Likely to Move Away from the Public Cloud?

Manrao noted that there are certain applications that are prime suspects for repatriation if they have one of the following characteristics:

• Database applications that require high I/O speeds (the rate at which data is transferred between the hard disk drive and RAM)
• Graphics-intensive applications
• Applications that should be accessed outside the network
• Applications that are not cost-effective to host
• Applications that are necessary to control local access
• Applications that cannot be dependent on ISP speeds

“Applications that are candidates for repatriation to a business’s on-premise servers are mature, highly integrated, mission-critical applications where concerns about exponential growth are not an issue,” Schira said.

Regulatory concerns are a growing concern, too. Companies face complex and mounting data management requirements due to the passage of GDPR for European Union residents, growing U.S. state-specific privacy mandates, and the continuing presence of requirements for HIPAA, PCI and other legislative obligations.

What Are the Benefits to Rolling Back from the Public Cloud?

Companies that switch from the public cloud will see many benefits, including:

• No risk of providers changing terms or costs
• No threat of potential deletion of data by a provider with little or no warning
• One-time server expenses
• Full company control of its own data, including its use and its storage

How Can I Prepare for a Switch?

Manrao recommends that whenever an application is moved to the cloud, there should be a roll-back procedure in place. Companies should keep their local infrastructure in place for a while in case the decision is made to roll back the application to internal hosting.

These procedures should ensure the company has complete access to the database and user accounts. The cloud host should be able to export all the data in a format that’s usable to the business. These procedures also should be tested often.

And if you decide to roll back data, Simons has some advice.

“The best way to do this with minimal downtime is with proper backups and pre-planning and testing,” Simons said. The key steps are:

• Pre-install the application at your facility and thoroughly test
• Complete a backup or screenshot of the cloud application and load it into your on-premises version
• Continue running the application on the cloud server until the backup is restored to on-site equipment
• Shift users seamlessly to the on-site server
• Make another backup of the changes that occurred in the cloud while doing the migration
• Restore these interim changes to your on-site server

Cloud solutions continue to be valuable for many companies, especially those with small or understaffed IT staffs. However, as with many new technologies, some businesses are finding that the public cloud is not the ideal solution for their unique needs.

There’s no better means of promoting a professional business today than the use of online reviews. Positive third-party online reviews can take your law firm to the next level. Personal referrals and word of mouth have their place in drumming up new business, but they will never come close to the exposure you can receive through online reviews. Positive online reviews across multiple platforms and search engines could very well be the key to the success of your legal firm.

How Important are Reviews for Attorneys?

When consumers are looking for an attorney to represent their interests in a legal matter, where do they turn to first? Modern technology has made the Internet the number one source of information for just about any business inquiry consumers may have. This makes it essential for law firms to have a strong online presence in order to compete. Your online presence should include a fair amount of positive online reviews.

Positive online reviews can help establish your law firm as experts in the legal field. Studies show that in 2017 alone, over 97% of consumers turned to online reviews to help them choose a company to do business with. Approximately 85% of consumers acknowledged they trusted online reviews more than a referral from family or friends.

When it came to searching for an attorney, 75% of consumers indicated they used online resources to find the lawyer they needed. Approximately 65% of these said their decision to hire a certain attorney was influenced by online reviews. If perfect strangers can have such a major impact on people’s decision to hire an attorney, imagine the potential you have of increasing your customer base by petitioning your clients for reviews.

Effects of Online Reviews on a Law Firm

Positive online reviews can give your law firm greater standing in your local community as they reveal what fellow residents have to say about their experience with your firm. Positive reviews from former customers can put your name on the top of the list when people need an attorney to handle their legal affairs.

With so many people resorting to online reviews to help them find an attorney, it’s to your advantage to make reviews readily available to your online target audience. The more positive reviews your firm has, the greater your chances of being selected over your competition.

Naturally, you want to avoid having bad reviews posted online. But few or no reviews could be just as detrimental to your cause as it gives consumers the impression that your law firm is inexperienced in its field.

The goal is to encourage former clients to write positive reviews that make a good impression on individuals who are in the process of selecting an attorney to represent their legal interests. With so much competition among law firms today, people aren’t willing to settle for just an “ok” attorney- they want an attorney who stands out in his field. They’re even willing to travel to the next town to hire an attorney with excellent reviews.

Review Count and Scores

In a recent survey regarding the use of online reviews for hiring attorneys, 264 people out of the 316 interviewed indicated they would only hire law firms that received, on average, a 4- or 5-star rating on their reviews. This shows how much consumers value reviews in selecting a lawyer. If your firm’s rating falls short of these expectations, you could very well be losing clientele. Poor reviews obviously have a negative impact on people looking for the services of an attorney. To get top reviews, your law firm needs to provide top services to your current clientele.

Keep in mind that third-party reviews across various platforms will carry more weight than reviews placed on your website. Consumers expect you to post positive reviews on your site. Third-party reviews, however, generate greater validation and trust.

In addition to good ratings, consumers want to see a fair amount of reviews from former customers as this gives them a more accurate picture of how people view the services you provide. The combination of review count and review score influence consumers in selecting an attorney.

Where Should You Collect Reviews?

Quite frankly – everywhere you can! By collecting reviews across multiple platforms, you’ll reach a greater audience. You could also narrow your prospects to the most effective platforms, i.e. Google and Facebook, as these two sites are where the majority of people wind up when doing business searches.

Google reviews carry a lot of weight when consumers search for law firms due to the company’s reputation for providing relevant content. Google is well aware of the influence ratings have on consumers searching for an attorney online. For this reason, Google prioritizes law firms that have a substantial amount of positive reviews in their search results.

How to Increase Your Firm’s Reviews

Knowing the influence that positive reviews can have on your law firm should motivate you to solicit as many reviews as possible from former clients. If you’ve provided exceptional services to your customers, positive reviews shouldn’t be so difficult to obtain. Most consumers are happy to comply. In fact, the best time to request a review is immediately after services have been rendered, assuming your customers are happy with the services they received.

Once you start receiving reviews, take time to monitor what people are saying about your firm. This gives you a better idea of how you’re doing, from the perspective of your valued customers. Make an effort to respond to as many reviews as you can – positive and negative – to show you’re interested in what your clients have to say.

Never ask employees for reviews and never pay or offer incentives for reviews, as this goes against Google’s policy.

How to Handle Negative Reviews

When you ask for reviews, there’s always the chance of getting negative reviews along with the positive ones. Although negative reviews can lower your overall rating, they can also provide you with opportunities to see where you need to improve. A few negative reviews here and there can even make your law firm appear authentic.

By handling negative reviews in a positive manner, you can earn customers’ trust. Always make an effort to address issues brought up in negative reviews. Apologize to your client to wipe the slate clean. If you can rectify the problem, do so, even if it’s at your own expense. Your sincere efforts to make things right can convert an unhappy client into a satisfied client who will let others know what you have done.

In Summary

The success of your law firm depends on providing exemplary services to your current clients and drawing in more clients who are in need of legal help. Positive Google reviews will play a key role in accomplishing this goal.

In late February 2019, Toyota Australia was hit by a major cyber attack that knocked out its online presence and email systems. For days, the automaker had its ability to connect with customers significantly compromised.

The Toyota incident is yet the latest reminder of the disastrous impact of cyber attacks and why companies of all sizes and in all industry sectors need to be vigilant. Systems, users and devices all need constant monitoring and robust security measures in place to prevent such incidents from having significant consequences.

What happened at Toyota?

On 21 February, it was reported that Toyota Australia had suffered from a cyber attack. The company issued a statement that confirmed the attack, which reports indicate Toyota first learned about the day before. The statement noted that the initial analysis showed that no private customer or employee data had been accessed.

The company’s IT teams were working with “international cybersecurity experts to get systems up and running again,” according to the statement.

Four days later, the company’s website continued to display a stark message detailing its effort to recover from the attack. The company created an emergency call centre to address inquiries from customers.

The company has reported it has “no further details about the origin of the attack.”

What impact is the disruption having on Toyota customers?

The web message made note of several important issues affecting its customers. The company reports having only “limited capabilities to respond” to customers. The Toyota VIN Checker function is down, for example.

Of more significant concern is the impact on two important recent recalls facing Toyota customers. One recall, begun in 2018, affects airbags inflators in Corolla and Avensis models. As the airbags age, high temperatures and humidity can cause the airbag to activate with an explosive force that could send metal fragments towards car passengers, leading to serious injury or death.

In December, the company also recalled 2,640 Corollas, this time to replace a transmission assembly that could detach, resulting in a loss of power.

How big a problem are cyber attacks in Australia?

Cyber attacks cost the Australian economy $1 billion annually. Here are some other statistics on the effect on Australian businesses (2017 numbers unless indicated otherwise):

• 516,380 small businesses were victims of a cybercrime
• The average payment was $4,677 for a small- or medium-sized business to recover their data after a ransomware attack
• One in four enterprises suffered 25 hours or more of downtime after being hit by a cyber attack
• Only one in three small- and medium-sized businesses have continuous system backup practices in place
• It cost medium-sized companies $1.9 million to recover from a cyber attack.

In the first six weeks after enacting the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme in February 2018, the Office of the Information Commissioner received 63 notifications. Those numbers have grown steadily, with 242, 245 and 262 breaches reported in the last three quarters of 2018, respectively.

Malicious or criminal attacks accounted for the largest number of data breaches reported in the fourth quarter – 64 percent of all reported incidents. Of those malicious or criminal attacks, 68 percent involved cyber incidents, including:

• Phishing (43 percent)
• Compromised or stolen credentials (24 percent)
• Ransomware (10 percent)
• Brute-force attacks (8 percent)
• Hacking (8 percent)
• Malware (7 percent)

A closer look at the fourth-quarter statistics gives a clearer picture of the sources of attacks, types of attacks, data affected and sectors being targeted (with percentages):

Source of attacks

• Malicious or criminal attacks (64 percent)
• Human error (33)
• System faults (3)

Information disclosed due to human error

• Personal information sent to wrong recipient-email (27.1 percent)
• Unauthorised disclosure via unintended release or publication (17.6)
• Loss of paperwork or data storage device (14.1)
• Personal information sent to wrong recipient-mail (11.8)
• Failure to use BCC when sending email (10.6)
• Unauthorised disclosure-failure to redact (9.4)
• Personal information sent to the wrong recipient (3.5)

Type of data affected

• Contact information (85 percent)
• Financial details (47)
• Identity information (36)
• Health information (27)
• Tax file number (18)
• Other sensitive information (9)

Top industries attacked

• Health services (21 percent)
• Finance (15)
• Legal, accounting and management (9)
• Private education (8)
• Mining and manufacturing (5)

What companies can do to protect themselves?

The Reserve Bank of Australia warned in October 2018 that Australian businesses were vulnerable to cyber attacks and the catastrophic losses that could ensue.

The Cisco 2018 Asia Pacific Security Capabilities Benchmark study noted that Australia was most under attack of the 11 countries evaluated. The numbers are stunning. Ninety percent of Australian businesses report facing up to 5,000 threats daily. Of those companies, a third face between 100,000 and 150,000 daily attacks and 7 percent see more than 500,000 attacks per day.

What can Australian companies do? Here are some of the most critical areas of need.

Comprehensive protection

Companies need to invest in a multilayered approach to protection of hardware, software, systems, networks, access points, devices and users. As seen in the data above, the attacks can come from a deliberate attack by an outside source, but often come from simple human error.

A comprehensive approach includes sound policies, technology and awareness. Together, these tools give your business the right protection to combat attacks.

Firewalls

A next-generation firewall protects your computer network. Firewalls help detect, contain and eradicate unwanted intrusions before serious harm can come to your systems. They also can be used to inspect information sent to and from the company and block access to and from risky URLs.

Anti-virus software

To protect users from spam, phishing attempts, viruses and malware, your devices need installed software that automatically scans and quarantines suspicious emails and activity. These tools should be automatically updated in the background to ensure continuous protection from threats new and established.

Monitoring

Tools can be deployed that continuously monitor networks, devices, access and usage, using pre-established rules about what is and is not allowed. Automated monitoring tools can detect and detain threats while issuing alerts to key personnel about identified issues.

Business continuity and disaster recovery

Companies need to develop the policies and procedures that will allow for little to no interruptions should a natural disaster or cyberattack occur. These guidelines establish chains of command, protocols and roles (which may be different from typical job responsibilities) during a crisis. These plans should be tested to ensure all components work smoothly and plans should be modified as needed.

Employee awareness and training

It is important that companies invest in their employees to further an understanding of what cyber attacks are, what damage they can do and how workers can prevent them. Showing employees examples of suspicious emails, making sure they understand data privacy policies and testing their responses builds resilience and understanding.

The Toyota Australia incident will not be the last high-profile example of cyberattacks to hit businesses. But preparation can go a long way to reducing the number and impact of such attacks.

Business executives, business owners, C level executives, and business managers share Blockchain information. One of the outstanding leaders of IT service companies across the globe is known as Infiniwiz. Our IT service strives to educate and train professionals in the business arena who seeks knowledge of the newest, most up-to-date trending IT technologies.
Through the combined efforts of our team of professionals, companies across the globe realize a significant increase in profitability. Infiniwiz increases the efficiency of companies; thus they see a vast improvement in staff morale. The businesses we cater to report improved communication between business owner and employees. This higher technology is improving all levels of customer satisfaction. The outcomes we see are essential to business owners, CEOs, presidents, and technology decision makers.

The Blockchain, Changing Technologies

Our computer technology is forever changing and with these changes come more elaborate digital technologies to learn and adapt to. Business owners must keep up with current and trending digital changes to keep their businesses profitable. Even though the public arena adopted Blockchain in or around 2008, many novice computer users never heard of this form of encrypted records storage. This article targets business executives, business professionals, industry specialists, or executives of any company with a 10-250 employee base who seek knowledge about a relatively new and vital step towards the storing of essential digital data. There is now a mass collaboration over the same network on a global level.

A Bit of History

This highly technological concept came into being through the work of someone known only as his alias Satoshi Nakamoto, in 2008. The original consensus was that blockchain was to serve in the function of a ledger for the bitcoin cryptocurrency. This technology came into being with one focus in mind; to solve the problem of spending without the need for trust in another individual or a central server. The design of the bitcoin prompted the invention of other applications that could be widely used and easily read by the public using cryptocurrencies. In the beginning, the blockchain, developed for business use only, is not commonly used in the public domain but fast gaining momentum due to its incorruptible design. Cryptology is the process by which an ordinary text converts into unintelligible text and vice versa or the digital technology of the Blockchain

The Definition of The Blockchain

In the simplest of terms, the Blockchain is a growing list of digital records that link together, using cryptography that contains three elements; cryptographic hash, timestamp, and the transaction data. According to Don and Alex Tapscott of Blockchain Revolution, the Blockchain is just a chain of blocks forming digital information in each block and data stored in a digital chain; the Blockchain offers as an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transitions. According to reports from Blockchain Revolution, the Blockchain is programmed to record not just financial transactions but everything of value. The Blockchain allows senders to transfer information from a plain text to an encrypted document to the receiver with a single shared key. The Blockchain is a decentralized and distributed public ledger. There are no retroactive alterations; it’s an independent form of verification, with autonomous management.

The Blockchain, for instance, has a network with no centralized point and operates within that network. Imagine thousands of computers in the same network system receiving the same spreadsheet with the same daily updated information. This information comes as shared encrypted data over many computers in the same network with one single point of storage for the data. A Blockchain is merely a chain of blocks containing digital information in each block. Transition information, participant information and distinguishing information comprises the Blocks in a chain.

This Technology Offers Heightened Security

This data is for public use and easily verified. The great thing about this is that hackers cannot hack into the information because there is no centralized point, as millions of people share the host computer.

• Blockchain has a decentralized network.
• No one person controls the information in the chain.
• There is no single point of failure.
• Everyone in a network is accountable.
• No one can miss a transaction.
• There is no such thing as a machine error.
• This system verifies transactions through the recording of that transaction on a main shared ledger.
• This process is secured.
• This technology offers transparency.
• This technology offers automatic ten-minute checks by the system.
• This system is self-auditing
• Information is uninterruptible, non-altering, in which data cannot be manipulated or overridden inside or outside the network.
• This new technology offers a more accurate way in which to verify transactions using an encryption technology versus the traditional username and password that is so vulnerable to hacker attack.
• This technology is incorruptible.
• Offers no infinite reproducibility
• Single transfer confirmation
• Maintains title rights
• Compels offer and acceptance

How does Blockchain Work?

There must be a transaction that occurs. That transaction must be verified and stored, and the block must have a hash. The advent of a blockchain used extensively in the financial industry on a global level demands the education and training of more developers for this technology. Soon, we shall see the ability to decentralize sensitive and personal identity information. Sensitive data currently held in a central location is at risk for hackers. However, the blockchain eliminates those risks because there are no centralized locations. Confidential information before the Blockchain remains vulnerable to hacker attack due in part to substantial security problems.

How Does One Access Their Blockchain?

A Public Key

This system allows for public and private keys of entry. A key is a random group of numbers automatically generated for the individual. This group of numbers becomes one’s address within the blockchain. These numbers identify each recipient as the owner.

A Private Key

This system requires a private key to gain access to personal digital information. When individuals store sensitive information in the blockchain, hackers cannot gain access. The block protects all the digital data and assets such as stored bitcoins, safeguarding the information with your private key. This storage is known as a paper wallet.

The Future of The Blockchain

2017 was the year that saw a massive launch of blockchain technology for large-scale use, dispelling a considerable amount of public skepticism. This technology increased to nearly 650 percent since 2015! Advancements and strides continue in this field every day; even though this technology is in its early stages and so far shows new concepts changing the way the world does business. There are many other options that blockchain offers private citizens and companies. The following list is just a very few ideas that utilize the Blockchain.

• Sharing sensitive documents
• Crowd-funding
• Auditing
• Predictions of markets
• Intellectual property
• Identity management
• Smart contracts
• Data management
• Stock trading
• Sharing economy
• Government entities possibly starting at the voter booths
• Smart contracts
• Crowdfunding
• Supply chain auditing
• File storage, decentralizing traditional file storage
• A new incorruptible, safe, hack-free network
• A total internet made up of only decentralized websites
• Securely protected intellectual properties
• Now the Disadvantages of The Blockchain

Contact Infiniwiz of Chicago to become your quality IT service provider. We have a staff of genius high-technology professionals working hard, 24/7 for businesses across the globe.

With the ever-increasing rate of digital interconnectedness and accessibility, IT systems are more at risk of attack by hackers and spies than ever before. Yet, many companies still haven’t seriously addressed the issue of cybersecurity in their organizations. If you have concerns about the preparedness of your business, now is the time to start taking steps to protect your data.

A Growing Threat

The last few years have seen the largest data breaches in computer history. Billions of people have been affected by having their personal and financial information exposed and in many cases, used in criminal activities. The Equifax breach in the fall of 2017 compromised the data of over 143 million Americans. Attacks skyrocketed in the first half of 2018, with 765 million occurring from April to June alone. Many other large breaches have been reported since then. Almost every individual has been affected in one way or another, and businesses have lost hundreds of millions of dollars to cybercrime. It’s become so common that people have become complacent and fatalistic about it, accepting that their information is out there somewhere, or soon will be. Nevertheless, despite such a high risk, in 2017, a major survey revealed that more than 58% of companies failed to effectively measure their vulnerability to cyberattacks. Businesses simply can’t afford to be so indifferent.

Addressing The Risk, Finding Solutions

Decision-makers and leaders in the top echelons of every organization need to make identifying and addressing their cybersecurity needs a top priority. You can begin by starting a conversation between your IT team and managers and employees at all levels of your company about information security and how best to protect sensitive data, but you need to know the right questions to ask. Here are four questions to ask to get the discussion started and moving in the right direction.

4 Questions Every CEO Needs To Ask About Cybersecurity

How informed is your team about the vulnerability to and potential impact of cyber attacks on your company?

It’s important to assess the current awareness of everyone in your organization about cyber threats and the potential damage from data breaches. It’s likely that everyone has heard of the many well-publicized breaches that have occurred over the last several years, but possibly haven’t considered them within the context of their own organization. This is the first step to developing an educational initiative to get everyone up to speed on the problem and identifying the at-risk areas in your system. After that, you can begin to develop a chain of communication to take immediate action in case of a breach and set protocols and expectations for response times. A fast and effective response is critical to limiting data exposure.

What are the specific risks to your infrastructure and what are the best steps to take to address them?

Have your IT team prepare a comprehensive risk assessment at all levels of your organization and prioritize the most urgent areas. Remember that the threat isn’t limited to just hackers. Many breaches occur because lower-level employees click on a link in a phishing email, leave a password lying around where it’s easily seen, or by unknowingly becoming a victim of a social engineering scam by giving it to someone over the phone who is impersonating a company employee. Then they can begin to identify the resources needed to protect your data, including third-party security software and updated equipment. Simply informing your employees of the threat of such low-tech risks can greatly increase your cybersecurity. If you don’t already have one, you should assign a dedicated security manager within your IT department.

How many security incidents are detected in your systems in a normal month or week, what type are they, and how we’re others informed about them?

You should have a system in place to detect, monitor, analyze, and record any type of potential security incident no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, and disseminate that information to the appropriate personnel, or perhaps to all employees to raise awareness. You should discuss hiring a managed services provider or buying software to do this, and identify which ones would best serve your needs. You should also consider a cloud-based solution.

Does your company have an incident response plan? How effective is it, and how often do you test it?

The only way you can quickly react to prevent or limit the damage from a breach is to have a clearly defined response plan in place. It should document how every pertinent department in your company should react in the event of an emergency from the top down, including your public relations team and your attorneys. This plan should be available to all employees. It should be tested on a regular basis, at least once each quarter, and updated whenever significant changes are made to your IT infrastructure.

Cyberattacks are just a fact of life these days, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. But by asking your team the right questions, starting a dialogue about how to address the threat, raising awareness and implementing training, and having a response plan in place, although you’ll never completely eliminate them, you can reduce your risks significantly.

The sudden development of IT problems can quickly throw your team’s workday off track. Even simple login issues can prevent you and your employees from getting any work done until you can fix the problem. To do so on your own, you may have to spend hours troubleshooting, sometimes without getting anywhere. If you have managed IT services, however, resolving the issue could only take a quick phone call to a team of dedicated professionals on standby.

The rapid resolution of IT issues is worth its weight in gold alone, but there are many other benefits of managed service arrangements. With their ability to handle everything IT, from preventing issues in the first place to dramatically increase your network security, managed service providers bring immense value to the table.

To get the most out of this type of service, you will need to select the managed service options that support your daily operations best. Here’s what you need to know.

Range of Managed Service Options

Managed service companies offer a full range of services to support business operations of all kinds. You can acquire everything from basic help desk support to data recovery services from these professionals. They can also handle network security, system backups, computer maintenance and IT planning for your company. Managed IT providers can also help with the creation of custom software solutions and the management of your local servers.

You will need to reflect on your business needs to find the best level of service to acquire. With an understanding of your business operations and tech requirements, your managed IT provider can help you build a plan that will help you achieve great results.

Benefits of Acquiring Comprehensive Managed Services

When you elect to work with a managed IT service provider, you can boost the efficiency of your operations while decreasing expenses. Your team will have the support they need to stay on track with their daily tasks. Explore these benefits of acquiring managed services to see why this is a great option for businesses of all sizes.

IT Issue Prevention

With oversight from skilled computer techs, you can actively prevent IT problems from developing. These experts utilize protective software and techniques to keep IT issues from disrupting your workday. They may use ghost imaging, for example, to restore a fresh version of your operating system on every PC each day. With this approach, you do not have to worry about slowdown and data corruption that can occur otherwise.

Decrease in Expenses

Depending on the level of service you select, you may be able to minimize your expenses by acquiring just the services you need, when you need them. You can build your tailormade service plans by selecting only the services that pertain to your company. If you do not have local servers in need of management, for example, you can leave that service out of your plan. With this arrangement, you do not need to attract, acquire and retain a full team of IT professionals of your own. You can save on the costs of talent acquisition, benefit plans and other human resources tasks needed to build and maintain a team of skilled IT experts.

Data Security Improvements

When you have a managed IT service plan, you can keep your data safe by utilizing the newest technologies as efficiently as possible. Using high-tech security tools and practices, your IT team can protect your network from attacks and preserve the integrity of your data. You can also receive the assistance you need to remain in compliance with any data security regulations in your industry.

Potential Impact of Unresolved IT Issues on Your Business Operations

When computer and network issues keep your team from working, your company starts to lose money. Each minute your systems stay down could end up costing hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on your company size and operations, if you cannot source a swift resolution.

Unresolved IT issues can cost even more if they allow security breaches that compromise your data. You have to stay on top of the latest software updates and hardware upgrades to keep your data secure and uncorrupted, for example. Data security breaches that leave you out of compliance with the regulations in your industry have the potential to be even more devastating.

Thankfully, by partnering with a managed IT service provider, you can keep computer and network problems from affecting your company’s bottom line.

How to Find a Skilled Managed Service Provider

You can find a skilled managed service provider to partner with by looking toward the thought leaders in the industry. The professionals that share their industry knowledge and expertise online give you an idea of their service quality and approach. You can narrow down your options by looking at the websites and blogs of the top companies on your list. Although you can check that their services match your company’s needs, it is usually a lot more helpful to speak to someone directly about that.

Once you find your ideal managed IT service provider, you can schedule a consultation and discuss your company’s exact needs. You can have a custom service plan built to your specifications to ensure your company receives the support it needs. With this level of service, you can rest assured that time-consuming or outright unsolvable IT problems will be a thing of the past for your organization.