When the time is right for your business to bring on a Managed IT Services provider there are several things to consider before signing a contract. Businesses both large and small have certain needs that are better managed by professionals. Contracting with a managed service provider allows owners and upper level management to focus their attention on growing and managing the business. Teaming up with a managed service provider has several benefits if you choose the right partner. Conversely bringing on a managed service provider that doesn’t understand your needs or one that is unable to provide the level of service required can be an expensive mistake. Here we look at the things you should consider before signing on the dotted line.*

1. Does the Managed IT Services contract support the goals of both parties? When it comes right down to it, every business is in existence to turn a profit. When you select a Managed IT Services provider you want to find one that will work with you to help your company achieve its goals. A Managed IT Services Provider that is interested in selling services or products that don’t match the needs of your company, just for the sake of making money is one that should be avoided. You are contracting with a provider that will maintain vital company systems, therefore you want someone on your side who is able and willing to create a package and price that reflects your needs and not their bottom line.

2. Will Managed IT Services be cost effective? When you enter an agreement with a Managed IT Services Provider, you are agreeing to pay a predetermined amount of money for their support and services. This can be very cost effective versus paying an hourly rate for IT support. In most cases hiring a Managed IT Services Provider is the best way to go if you have sufficient need for the services provided. Traditionally companies who pay hourly rates tend to spend less money on IT support which may improve profit but decrease services or support that are needed. When you have a Managed IT Services Provider in your corner, you can feel confident all vital areas are being covered regardless of the number of hours needed to do so.

3. Compare several Managed IT Services companies before making your final decision. It is easy to get lost in the mumble jumble of the IT world when you don’t understand the language being spoken. While this can be discerning, don’t let a language barrier lead to a poor business decision. You are hiring a Managed IT Services Provider to cover technological areas outside of your expertise, however you don’t want to be completely unaware of what is going on within your company. Research several companies and look beyond savvy marketing to find a company that is the right partner to help grow your business. This includes carefully reviewing services included in the contract as well as customer service, availability and the capacity to handle changes within the industry. If you don’t understand something, ask questions or you might find yourself paying for services you don’t really need.

Signing a contract with a Managed IT Services Provider ties you to that provider according to the terms of the contract. Once you have taken this step it is important to remain in the loop regarding services provided. Review progress on a regular basis to ensure the needs of your business are being met. If you have done your homework and signed on with the right Managed IT Services Provider, you will have one less thing to worry about when it comes to managing your business.

*Sources: SPC International Online, Inc.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

You’ve heard all the talk about Office 365. Your employees have been dropping hints about it. You’ve even taken a look at all the tools and features and now you’re wondering if Office 365 really is the solution for your small business. The answer is yes. Office 365 can help your employees work together in new and more efficient ways. But, Office 365 is more than just a set of tools. It’s a new way of working. Here are seven reasons small business owners should consider using Office 365.*

1. Stay up and running, no matter what happens. Let’s face it. If your in-house system crashes or your office building is destroyed by a fire or flood, you’re stuck. You have no data, servers or website. Statistics collected in 2015 by the U.S. Institute for Business and Home Safety showed that 25% of small businesses do not reopen following a major disaster. If you send your data to the cloud, all your business documents and applications, such as email, will always available. You’ll be up and running, no matter what happens.

2. Data security and control. Data security in the cloud is no longer an issue. Office 365 has built-in security and continuous compliance so small businesses can focus on the right things. You always know where your data is and who has access to it. You can also remotely wipe all data if you lose your mobile device. So, go ahead and store your data safely in the cloud. Storing your data online also keeps it safe in case something happens. Imagine losing your laptop or breaking it? Thanks to 1TB of OneDrive online storage, your data is safer than ever before.

3. You can work anywhere at anytime. Working remotely used to mean you needed help from an IT friend or cousin to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) so you could access your files from the office. With Office 365, this isn’t necessary. You don’t need any special configuration or IT skills. All you need is an internet connection and you can start working. It’s that simple!

4. Get Organized. Meetings, email and contact management are a big part of everyday life in a small business. When you use Office 365, email, calendar and contacts are all synchronized to work together. Update a contact on your mobile phone and it will be automatically updated across all your devices. This is a really cool feature to help small businesses get the most from Office 365. You can also access the same data from any device. Save a document on your PC and continue working on it on your mobile or tablet.
 

5. Predictable Monthly cost. This one is pretty cool for small businesses. Forget about upfront costs! Office 365 has a flexible monthly billing process that lets you add or decrease the number of users to suit your needs. You’re not locked into a contract and you change plans at any time to suit your growing business needs. This kind of scalable solution might be exactly what a small business is looking for to get started in the cloud. Since you don’t have to worry about upfront costs, it will be easier to fit this solution into your monthly budget.

6. Larger mailbox storage. We all have this tendency to store all our email messages in our inboxes. Sometimes we try to clean it up, but we end up keeping every single email we’ve ever sent or received. With Office 365, this kind of housekeeping is behind you! You can say goodbye to that red popup that reminds you it’s time to clean up your email. Instead, say hello to 50GB of email storage space.

7. No more licensing mess! Sorting out software licenses can be a real headache for a small business owner. One of your employees might be using one version, while another employee is using an upgrade of that same version. The result? You don’t know how to bring everyone up to speed so they’re all working on the same version. Office 365 includes all licensing and it can be deployed company wide. This means everyone has the same version of Microsoft Office, and all users will get upgrades at the same time.

*Sources: SherWeb – December 22, 2015

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

When the time comes to make the switch to Managed IT Services, it is important to know what you are looking for from a provider. As most business owners have or are beginning to realize, there are plenty of benefits that can be realized by bringing on a managed services provider to address IT and other needs.*

In order to get the most from your managed services contract you must carefully compare all potential providers to ensure they are willing and able to provide the services you need to keep your business moving forward in the future. If your managed services provider cannot supply the following three things (at minimum) keep looking until you find a company that addresses these issues.

1. Security – The managed services provider that you choose should work with vendors that guarantee security. This is imperative when trusting an outside party to handle and maintain private and confidential data that is crucial to the running of your business. Service providers should provide detailed proof of security procedures as well as how they intend to keep abreast of changes in the industry.
2. Recovery – Managed IT Services providers are not only contracted to help keep the day-to-day running of your business going smoothly. They are also an important part of any recovery situation that follows a natural or man-made disaster. It is important to discuss with potential providers what procedures they have in place to guarantee your downtown will be minimal and that you will be up and running as soon as possible after an emergency. These precious minutes and hours can make or break the recovery of your business.
3. Customer Service – As with any other business, if there is no customer support backing up the products or services, there isn’t much of a commitment from the provider.

Why are these three things important? To understand you must consider the Managed IT Services model. Managed IT Services providers are hired by a company to provide any or all of the following services:

· Website hosting
· Network monitoring
· Network security
· Remote data backup
· Recovery services

Originally these services were provided to large corporations while small to medium size companies struggled to maintain an IT budget that was often more expensive then beneficial. Managed services providers charge a flat, or monthly fee, making it possible for smaller businesses to reap the benefits offered at a much lower price than in-house IT staff or outsourcing on an as needed basis.

The Managed IT Services platform continues to grow as many businesses look for ways to reduce costs in this tough economy. By offering technological services that might otherwise be beyond the reach of a small business budget, managed services make it possible for smaller businesses to remain competitive with others in their industry.

Small business owners must take the time to carefully review and research each provider before signing on the bottom line. A good managed services provider can change the way you do business- in a positive direction, whereas the wrong choice could be a costly mistake that does more harm than good to your business.

*Source: SPC International Online, Inc.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

Summer time is here!! With the hot weather happening and people trying to stay cool, now is a good time to have your PCs (desktop and laptop) tuned up and checked for viruses and malware. During this time, we are offering a special price for this service of $100.00. Since many companies and individuals are running their computers in an air conditioned environment, it is also a very good idea to make sure all of your equipment is functioning optimally to get the maximum amount of productivity from them. Please call or email us if you have any questions or would like to schedule maintenance. This offer for a very limited time only, so contact us as soon as possible to schedule your computer maintenance.

Also, if you need help purchasing a new computer or server, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com.

We are always on the watch for the ‘next best thing’ when it comes to technology and the Internet. Certainly no one can doubt that Cloud Computing and the next generation of the Internet has had a dramatic effect on how people interact and connect with each other – both from an individual standpoint and a business one.*

The hottest emerging concept that has the power to change how we perform tasks is taking place before us – and it is Cloud Computing. Simply put, it is the ability to use resources and tools via the Internet without actually owning or being near them. The only requirement is to be able to access them.

The term ‘Cloud’ is used to indicate the whole of computing services accessible via the Internet. It is an all-encompassing description of the complex internet-connected networks that exist in datacenters all over the world that power services and applications behind the scenes.

The concept of utilizing resources in these networks is being adopted by businesses both large and small. These resources are categorized to describe their function, and include:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
3. Software as a Service (SaaS)
4. Web 2.0

In the most general terms, Infrastructure as a Service means that companies may no longer need to own and house their own back-end servers and other network computing infrastructure besides an internet-connected PC or laptop in order to maintain business functionality. This capability can be purchased on a subscription basis from entities that market these services in a ‘virtual’ manner. This allows businesses to keep their costs low by not having to purchase, maintain and recycle their own equipment for this purpose, and also mitigates the possibility of business interruption due to the highly available nature of these solutions. This equates to increased uptime and profitability for Infrastructure as a Service customers.

Platform as a Service is also known as ‘cloudware’, and refers to the availability of development tools in creating web applications and services to the end user. Like IaaS, you never ‘see’ the inner-workings of this environment unless you are a computer programmer or IT resource, but it exists nonetheless and again affords those who use these tools the ability to reduce costs while running their businesses.

Software as a Service is defined as software applications that are subscribed to and accessed only through the Internet, and not installed on local PCs or laptops. Applications built by and accessed via Google fall into this category, as well as the many photo sites to which you can upload your pictures and videos, edit and share them with others. These solutions are gaining tremendous popularity, because end users do not need to install, update and maintain software locally – only connect to it and use it when the need arises.

Web 2.0 describes the whole of the social networking movement on the Internet, and includes but is not limited to destinations such as Facebook, MySpace, eHarmony, LinkedIn and Twitter. These sites offer the ability for people all over the world to share common interests, stay connected and learn more about each other – and these sites aren’t just for the young. Statistics show that the over 50 generation is logging onto these sites in greater numbers than ever before. In fact, in one month alone, Facebook adds over 17,000 new members.

The next time you are on the Internet and upload a photograph and use the online tools to modify that picture, you are participating in ‘cloud computing.’ The picture is probably loaded to a site that uses IaaS for their servers, PaaS in order to provide the visual interface in which you modify the photograph, and SaaS applications you’ll use to access your email program and social networking sites in order to send it to or post it for those with whom you would like to share the picture.

*Source: SPC International Online, Inc.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

If you own and operate a small business, lowering costs is an important part of keeping your company in the black. Cutting costs on your IT budget could inadvertently compromise your company’s security. Even though small businesses may not have all of the resources that large corporations do, they are still just as vulnerable to the same security threats.*

Here are some ways to help keep your small business secure:

1. Purchase Anti-virus Software. Every computer is vulnerable to the wide variety of viruses, trojans, and worms that are on the Internet. These malicious software programs can do anything from damage your computer and files to steal your password and other important information stored on your computer. Purchase a good anti-virus software program and make sure that it is always up to date. Also, check to see that your anti-virus software checks for spyware, adware, and any other type of malware that could be hiding on your computer.
2. Avoid Phishing Emails. It is important to discuss with your employees the importance of not opening spam email, attachments or forwards that could possibly contain viruses. Make sure that your email has a filtering system that helps to filter out spam and other malicious email. Responding to phishing emails can be another costly mistake. Phishing emails are disguised as legitimate emails that then request login and password information. Changing passwords monthly can help to lessen the damage should an employee accidentally respond to a phishing email.
3. Minimize Damage from Dishonest or Disgruntled Employees. It is often difficult to predict if one of your employees will become disgruntled or dishonest, but you can put some safeguards in place to help minimize the damage should you find that you have one. Thoroughly screen your employees before hiring them, especially if they will have access to any confidential or financial company information. Limiting the number of employees that have access to this confidential information and changing your company passwords often can help to prevent former employees from accessing company computers.
4. Secure Your Wireless Network. Make sure that your wireless router is encrypted, and that your business is using WPA2 wireless security. A firewall is another important key to protecting the security of your small business. A firewall will allow access only to authorized users while blocking unauthorized access to the computer.
5. Have an Internet Use Policy. Aside from the obvious lack of productivity that personal Internet use can cause for your business, it can often be too easy to click on websites that contain malicious software that could easily infect your company computer and shut your system down temporarily or even permanently.
6. Avoid Having Everything on One Computer. Purchasing computer equipment is costly, so many small businesses will try to get away with fewer computers in order to save money. If you have your financial information on the same computer that your employees are accessing their company emails, you could risk losing everything that is vital to running your business should an infected email slip through.
7. Have a Data Backup System. Be sure to have some type of data storage and backup system in place in the event that your current system goes down. Having all of your files readily available to you in case of an emergency can ensure that your business will retain customers and continue to run smoothly no matter what the disaster.
8. Minimize Damage from Stolen Equipment. It difficult to prevent break-ins or equipment from being stolen from your home or office building, but you can have some security by ensuring that all of the information on your computer is encrypted and password protected.

Trying to scrimp when it comes to your small business’s computer security can be a costly mistake. Arm yourself with the knowledge of what your business could be up against and take steps towards prevention. The investment will give your company the security necessary to keep your information secure.

*Source: SPC International Online, Inc.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

MARK YOUR CALENDARS. On July 29th, 2016, the free upgrade of Windows 10 will expire. After that, you will have to pay $119.99.*

Don’t think for a second you’ll be able to avoid it. Windows 10 is everywhere – and that’s in part due to Microsoft’s bold strategy for getting billions of users to upgrade. Windows 10 is free to most Windows 7 and 8.1 computers that upgrade within the first year of release. Businesses with volume licensing agreements aren’t included, but most will also be able to upgrade for free anyway under the enterprise licensing terms. More than that, Microsoft is taking on the job of notifying and updating users courtesy of a reservation flag that started popping up on PCs a few months back.

What’s on the Cutting Room Floor?
Windows 10 is making a break from the past in a few areas, removing some features found in Windows 7 and 8. Many are insignificant or can be added after the fact, and most of these won’t impact business users, but it’s worth going through them just in case.

First, Microsoft has finally given Windows Media Center, which allowed for things like TV recording and DVD playback, the boot in Windows 10. If you upgrade a machine with Windows 7 or 8.1 with Media Center installed, it won’t be there when you’re done. Also, native support for DVD playback has been removed and requires separate software. However, Microsoft has said that if Media Center were present when upgraded, the company will provide a program that can play DVDs. This change mostly affects consumer PCs and those who do TV recording with Media Center.

Next, the native OneDrive client in Windows 8.1 allowed users to browse the entire contents of their OneDrive (not OneDrive for Business) storage even if it was not synced to the PC using little placeholder files. Those who relied on it really love it, but the OneDrive sync in Windows 10 is now like Windows 7 and the Mac.

Windows 7 users will notice that Solitaire and Minesweeper are no longer part of the OS (but can be downloaded from the Windows store) and that there are no Desktop Gadgets (which were gone in 8). Finally, core OS support for USB floppy drives has been removed. So when you plug one into a PC with Windows 10, it will need software from the manufacturer or from Windows Update.

Wrap Up and Roll Out
Windows 10 starts rolling out to x86 PCs July 29, but if the reservation is made ahead of time using the reservation flag in your tray, it should start downloading in advance and simply unlock on the big day.

Putting to rest an oft-cited, incorrect statement—you do not have to pay for Windows 10 after the first year. If you upgrade an eligible PC to Windows 10 within the first year of release, that license is good for the service life of Windows 10 on that machine. It’s a free copy; just claim it within a year.

As a free upgrade, many SMB customers (especially those with Windows 8 desktops or notebooks) are going to be chomping at the bit to get it. Microsoft is confident that in-place upgrades from Windows 7 and 8.1 will work well, but there is always the potential for issues given the virtually infinite combination of hardware and software deployed. Unlike previous upgrades, Windows 10 will let you roll back an upgraded machine to the previous OS if problems occur.

Nonetheless, your customers’ happiness is critical. Windows 10 is a great opportunity to modernize your clients and prevent them from being stuck on Windows 7 until it becomes the next XP. Still, you might advise them to hold off for a little while and let the rest of the world test the upgrade process, plus give Microsoft time to address any hiccups.

When it seems like upgrades are going well, present clients with your special Windows modernization package that gets them Windows 10, Office 365 (and hopefully the new Office 2016 suite), and a new backup solution for a great monthly price.

*Excerpts from Channel Pro Magazine July 2015 Issue

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you need help in upgrading to Windows 10 or have problems after upgrading on your desktop or laptop in your business, please give us a call to help you with any issues that you may have. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

Most business entrepreneurs have great talent and the means to run a very successful business. The snag they most often run into is the belief that they can do it all. This mindset can be detrimental to the overall success of their business. Trying to do it all can lead to hindered growth, lower profit margins and in some cases failure. Outsourcing for things like technology services creates an opportunity for both the business entrepreneur to focus on what they do best.*

In order to create a business that is structurally sound, expandable and profitable, business owners should focus the majority of their time and energy on their personal talents and skills that are most important to the growth of their business and those skills that will most help in the generation of income. Instead of trying to do it all they can most benefit by delegating certain tasks – and outsourcing for technology services is one of them.

1. Outsourcing has become very popular and with technology today like the Internet, outsourcing is easy and accessible. Companies can find extremely qualified candidates from around the world right at their fingertips. Many highly trained individuals have left the corporate world and are available for hire as contractors. Expertise in just about any area a business may need is available. Examples include virtual assistants, graphic designers, IT specialists, accountants, marketers, Public Relation specialist, writers and so much more.
2. Some of the best tasks to outsource include those that are highly skilled tasks or those have that require trained expertise. For example if you have no knowledge of your IT needs or how to build and maintain a company website, hiring a specialist will be much more cost effective than you spending hours trying to teach yourself. Initially, your cost for this type of work might be a bit high, while the contractor helps to access your needs and builds your site. Down the road however, you most likely will be able to outsource our IT needs on a maintenance basis.
3. Highly repetitive tasks are also good ones to outsource. Data entry or accounts payable and receivable are jobs that you most likely can do, but they will only slow down your own productivity. Many times you can hire a virtual assistant to help you in these areas for just a few hours a week. This will not be overly costly and will inevitably free you up to work on other areas of the business that would most benefit from your attention.
4. Executive expertise is another area to consider outsourcing, especially if the business owner does not have great knowledge in this area. Someone that can take a hard look at your business plan, profitability margin and any ideas you have for expansion can be of great insight. Many times businesses will hire someone to come in and look over these items just once a month, quarterly or yearly. Their consultations can lead to new innovative ideas that could lead your business to new expansions, higher productivity and higher profit margins.

Most often, the cost advantage far outweighs what you will actually pay out to contractors. Most companies that rely on outsourcing do much better than their competitors.

*Source: SPC International Online, Inc.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

Small to medium size businesses are what keep this country moving. Unfortunately, for many of these business owners, budgetary needs force them to make cuts that the mammoth corporations do not have to consider. These budget cuts can often result in reduced security and sub-par IT services that in the long run can end up costing the company even more money. Reacting to; and the recovery from, a security breach or attack always costs more after it has happened than what it would have cost to prevent it.*

This fact has been supported by recent surveys, and may come as a surprise to many small and mid-size companies who are under the false impression that hackers and other security threats target larger corporations. It has been discovered that companies that have less than 500 employees are actually more likely to be at risk of an attack or security breach than a larger corporation. Of course, this becomes a problem when the larger corporation has the resources to maintain higher levels of security at a time when smaller companies are dealing with restricted or; in some cases, frozen IT budgets.

The benefits of hiring a Managed IT Services Provider in preventing attacks and security breaches

With a security breach a real concern for small business owners, many are making the decision to bring on outside providers to address their IT needs. Managed services providers can offer an affordable solution to small business owners who are struggling to manage an internal IT staff. In some cases there isn’t even an IT person on staff, which can be just as costly for the small business when they have to bring in a professional on an as needed basis. Considering the money and time spent recovering from a security attack or breech, more business owners are realizing the cost of not having this level of protection is too high to pay. Here we look at how managed services providers can help business owners level the playing field against those who would infiltrate their security systems.

1. Increased knowledge – Managed services providers are in the business of technology. They have trained staff who are able to prevent security breaches and spot any activity that could be perceived as a threat. Moreover, they have the expertise to stop threats and prevent the loss of sensitive and private information that can lead to costly recovery measures.
2. Less expensive than in-house IT – Other IT professionals can provide the same security but it will cost much more to the business owner. What many owners are realizing is paying a flat monthly fee for security and other services provided by MSPs is actually much more cost effective than paying an internal IT staff or outsourcing based on incident.
3. Proactive is better than reactive – The biggest benefit of having a quality managed services provider in your corner is the fact that you are acting in a proactive manner to ensure all of your systems are managed properly. This is less expensive and less time consuming than waiting for something bad to happen and then reacting.

Any small business can benefit from the security provided by a Managed IT Services provider. They can do so at a fraction of the cost, therefore eliminating the fear and unnecessary cost of trying to recover from a breech in security or attack.

*Source: SPC International Online, Inc.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com

From start-ups to multi-billion dollar businesses, everyone is looking for ways to cut costs while turning a profit. In fact, many companies are just trying to keep things in the black, however that does not eliminate the need for practices that will improve and grow these businesses. Since few people have the expertise to manage much of today’s technology, a certain percentage of their budgets should be allocated to IT and software applications maintenance. Here are ways that Managed IT Services benefit small and medium businesses.*
 

Benefits of Managed IT Services for Small Businesses

1. Increased productivity – Businesses are established to fill the need for a product or service while providing a livelihood for the business owners and their employees. In order to do this, businesses have to ensure they are working at full capacity at all times. Downtime or work performed at reduced levels is time and money wasted. Managed IT Services can help businesses not only quickly repair problems when they occur but also act as a proactive measure to spot and treat potential problems before they have an impact on productivity.
2. Supports in-house IT – Many businesses do not want to relinquish all IT maintenance control to an outside party, and small businesses do not always have the resources to support the type of IT department needed to keep their business running at full speed. A majority of businesses can benefit from adding the expertise, tools and availability of a Managed IT Services Provider to help support in-house IT departments.
3. Remote services – Managed IT Services Providers work from a remote location, providing desktop, email and back-up and recovery support services without adding to the actual number of “employees” on site. The services provided are unobtrusive and in the majority of cases, have no impact in the day-to-day activities of current in-house employees.
4. Affordable – Generally when you bring on a Managed IT Services Provider, a consultant will perform an onsite assessment of the company, its workflows and processes and the current state of its supporting technology to determine what services are needed to meet organizational goals. Business owners often have a choice between several different levels of service, making it possible for a company with a limited budget to choose a package that best suits their needs.

Security is a big concern for business owners and individuals alike. In the past, business owners have been reluctant to entrust secure or private information to a third party, offsite vendor. As Managed IT Services Providers continue to prove their value, more companies are realizing the benefits and value of their services. Managed IT Services Providers continue to improve technology to provide secure, quality services for businesses of all sizes. As a result, smaller businesses which operate with leaner budgets find themselves in a position to reap the benefits of these services.

Business owners often have to make difficult decisions regarding how they will improve their business while sticking to the budget. As the market for Managed IT Services experiences continual growth in the next few years, this method of IT maintenance and service delivery will likely become the “norm” for small to mid-size businesses looking to reduce costs and improve uptime and business continuity. Companies that recognize the benefits of Managed IT Services will have a jump on their competition.

*Source: SPC International Online, Inc.

If you would like to know more, please contact us at 1-800-871-9683 for a free consultation. Also, if you do not have online BDR (backup-disaster-recovery) and anti-virus/malware protection for your business, please give us a call to help you implement the latest systems. Our email address is: markhuffman@creativebusinesstechnologies.com