How Outsourced Computer Support Will Aid Your Small Business

how outsourced computer support will aid your small business

The situation: You have developed a concept for a business product or service that you feel is certain to sell. You have done your homework and created a business plan that rocked your banker’s world. Your financing is in place, your production is in good shape, and you are ready for prime time. You realize that your business will benefit from a strong presence on the internet and on social media, and you have worked hard to figure your way around a mouse and keyboard.

But as you really consider your technology needs for a successful small-sized business, you realize that you are ill-prepared to meet that need. Panic sets in. Now what?

The solution is simpler than you might think. Consider the option of outsourced computer support for your business. What is involved? Simply put, outsourcing your computer support allows you to focus on what you do best while letting IT experts handle all the technology stuff you have never even heard of.

With this solution, as your business takes off and profits come in, systems roll efficiently along. Your email accounts stay safe, your firewalls remain intact, your data is uncorrupted, and your hardware is running smoothly.

And all of this can be accomplished without having to spend valuable time researching the difference between malware, adware, phishing, and botnets. What could be better than such an easy, economical solution to a thorny problem? Contact us, and we will concentrate on supplying your business technology needs while you concentrate on making your business a success.

Utilizing a Managed Service Provider for IT support is the Right Move for Small Businesses

utilizing a managed service provider for it support is the right move for small businesses

In this high paced technology world, guaranteed, something will go wrong with the technology. The computer is flashing error messages; the software is freezing up; the network is down; you can’t print the report. Work grinds to a halt. The IT department is called, but they are backed up or are one person.

If you’re a small business, you may not have an IT department, so rely on a computer tech person, who is running from client to client, or a teenager, or worse, you try to solve the problem yourself. Grinding teeth, shouting expletives follow. It doesn’t have to be this way. Hiring a managed service provider is a growing trend.

A recent Market and Markets report predicts the managed services market will grow from $142.75 billion in 2013 to $256.05 billion by 2018, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 12.4% from 2013 to 2018. In the study, managed service providers included managed data center, managed network, managed information, managed mobility, managed infrastructure, managed communications, and managed security. Another important result was that using managed services reduced costs by 30%-40% and improved productivity and efficiency 50%-60%.

Another study revealed that more highly skilled workers are joining managed service providers so that businesses are receiving competent assistance in a person’s specific area of expertise.

What does this all mean? How can a small business benefit from using a MSP?

  • Have a problem after hours? MSP is there 24/7, 365 days a year.
  • Desktop computers, laptops, networks and servers are all covered.
  • Advice on what are the best hardware and software solutions for your business.
  • Explain and advise how to best utilize cloud services.
  • There are many remote service options that allow the technician to access a computer from a remote location, analyze the problem and solve the issue. This is a great savings in time since there is no waiting for the tech to show up.
  • There is not one person to answer all questions. A business will talk with someone who is skilled and has expertise in the specific problem area.
  • MSPs can monitor servers and networks and solve a problem before it becomes one.
  • Flat monthly fee, nothing more, no surprises.
  • Most important, “Time is Money.” With MSPs taking care of IT issues, that frees businesses to engage in their expertise – their business.

AE Technology Group can provide all these services. Get a handle on your technology. If you want more information on how to improve your data security or if you have any issues with your systems, please contact us, your Long Island computer network support specialists.

4 Tips for Choosing Outsourced Computer Support for Your Business

why security is at the heart of managed it services on long island

Though it’s clear that security breaches are an issue for large corporations and organizations, they are also a major issue for small businesses as well. If you’re like most business owners and managers, you want to choose the right IT solution for your business model. However, not being an IT expert yourself, you’re likely unsure how to go about it.

What to Look For

Professionalism

The on-boarding process will show you whether an IT company is professional. They should provide you with a designated team member that you can always use as your first point of contact in every situation. In some situations, however, you or your staff might just want to speak with the help desk. It’s important to note that good IT teams clearly define their help desk policies in writing.

Your potential team should also offer a seamless service transition, with a clear outline of the information they need from you or from your previous IT services provider.

Coverage

Many issues that arise between IT providers and the companies they serve occur because managers and business owners don’t understand exactly what their service contract covers. The best way to avoid these issues is to understand exactly what your potential IT team covers up front. Ask for a Service Line Up and a Device Inventory. These documents will outline exactly how your potential IT team will handle service delivery in the different technology areas of your company.

Mobile Security

If mobile security isn’t something you’ve been thinking about, you should make it a priority. Yes, network security is typically the primary issue for most companies. However, more and more, employees are using mobile devices for both personal and business use. Even simple tasks like:

Accessing the company network, Emailing clients, Texting clients, or Transporting files can put company data at risk. Your potential outsourced computer support team should help you design a mobile security plan that includes:

  • Provision of or help with planning compliance training
  • Help with choosing a BYOD or COPE device policy
  • Device security, backup and recovery protocol implementation

Disaster Recovery

There is no question that every company needs a good backup and recovery plan. Here’s 4 reasons you need a disaster recovery plan. Make sure that your potential IT company provides you with a backup and recovery plan in writing, and that it covers your office’s hardware, peripherals and mobile devices.

We believe that it’s important that you and your staff understand everything we have to offer, before you sign on the dotted line. Having it in writing gives you proof, but clarity and understanding give you the peace of mind you need to focus on your business.

Contact us today!

4 Services Included with Outsourced Computer Support for Businesses

4 services included with outsourced computer support for businesses

outsourced computer support for businessesTechnology can make or break a business. Everything is great when you increase your productivity, but one major hardware failure can lose your company thousands of dollars.

With computer support, you can enjoy the advantages of technology and minimize the risks. Here are four things outsourced computer support for businesses can offer you:

On-demand support

The real problem with technology is that you never know when it’s going to fail. It seems like problems only occur when you least expect it.

With on-demand support, this isn’t a big deal. If your computer won’t start or your network is down, you just have to contact support. They’ll take care of the rest.

Cost-savings

Outsourced computer support is beneficial because you don’t have to pay for a full-time IT staff. When you outsource your support, you only pay for the services you need. It’s an ideal solution for small businesses that use technology but can’t afford an IT team in their budget.

Virus protection and network security

Protecting your computers from viruses and your network from hackers is an important part of outsourced computer support. If you don’t do anything to secure your technology, then you’ll be an easy target for hackers. The best way to stop these things is to prevent them from ever happening.

Back up and save your data

Your business relies more on data than you might think. If you were to lose that data because of a hard drive failure, it would be catastrophic to your business operations. With outsourced computer support, you can back up your data so it’s safe in the case of a disaster.

Any company that uses technology needs some kind of support. Businesses with tight budgets should consider outsourcing their computer support to save money and protect their investments in technology.

To talk more about outsourced computer support for businesses, or anything else, please contact us. Thanks.

How Cloud Computing Can Save Small Business Owners Time and Money

how cloud computing can save small business owners time and money

Small business owners don’t have a lot of time to waste. When they’re not improving their product or service, they’re generally working on other areas of their business. Things like communications and technology shouldn’t hold business owners up too much. They should work as they’re supposed to and assist business operations.

A recent CNBC article covers the transition that many small businesses are making to cloud computing. The article tells the story of Leo Sanders, the owner of a pet day care called Tough Pups in New York. In the article, Sanders explains how cloud computing saves him time on an average business day:

“I don’t have a lot of time to sit down and dedicate specific blocks of time to do certain tasks—it can be very disruptive to my day. When it comes to companies that almost automate tasks like this, it levels the playing field.”

There are many different cloud tools and resources that small businesses can use to improve their operations. Businesses can back up their data online so they don’t have to worry about purchasing new hardware and backing it up. In addition, cloud computing can be used in a disaster recovery plan so businesses can restore their operations quickly in the case of a disaster.

And the best part is that all of these tools and resources are available to small businesses at a reasonable cost. That lets them compete against corporations and larger businesses that can afford better technology and data centers. With cloud computing, small businesses don’t have to worry about the upfront cost that comes with purchasing hardware. They can just sign up for a plan and use the service supported by a cloud provider. This keeps the playing feel level for small businesses that can’t afford to purchase new hardware every month.

If you would like more information about cloud computing, contact us.