XFER Blog

We live in a society where everything is always growing more powerful, and in turn, everything grows more complex. Nowhere is this more true than the technology industry. It’s easy to lose track of how much new technology you’ve added to your IT infrastructure over the years, but you know what they say; the more basic your infrastructure is, the better, for the sole purpose that it becomes much easier to maintain and manage. That said, redundancy actually makes things easier on your business continuity plan, instead of complicating it.

When it comes to connecting to your business’s network, remote workers have a lot more problems to deal with. There’s significant concern over the security of data that’s accessed across an insecure Internet connection, which could unnecessarily put your business’s data at risk. Therefore, it’s critical that your business has a solution to this predicament, like a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

It’s a well-known fact that cybersecurity is a major pain point for all businesses, but some organizations spend vastly more money on it than others. Considering how the Internet is full of threats that are waiting to attack at any given moment, it’s not surprising that some organizations invest heavily in their security. Large businesses with over 1,000 employees spend around $15 million annually on security, so you need to make sure that your business is also spending the appropriate sum on network security.

If you allow your team to bring their mobile devices to work and use them for work purposes, you’re aware of the challenging nature of integrating devices like smartphones and tablets into the work environment. They allow employees to keep up with their email and stay productive while away from their desk, but they also present a security challenge that’s not so easily fixed. How can your business address the potential issues regarding these devices?

Cloud computing is sweeping the technology industry, and it’s easy to see why. It provides an immense versatility and productivity that we could only have dreamed of ten years ago. However, some organizations are still hesitant about implementing this game-changing concept into their technology infrastructure. One of the most common reasons is because businesses don’t actually know what the cloud can do for them.

Finding the kind of IT management that your business deserves isn’t always easy, especially for the small or medium-sized business that works with a limited budget. Sometimes it might feel like you’re paying an exorbitant amount for the services you’re receiving. Well, it’s actually much easier to get the prices and services you deserve, all thanks to the advent of managed IT services and technology as a service offerings.

We don’t need to explain how dangerous the Internet is. Behind a veil of deception is a horde of malicious entities that are practically begging you to make a mistake and allow them access to your infrastructure. If there’s one thing you should be sure of, it’s that a single mistake is all it takes to allow dangerous entities into your organization, like ransomware, viruses, malware, or even spyware.

The Internet is chuck full of malicious activity, but sometimes the difference between legitimate and illegitimate websites is so fine that it’s nigh impossible to discern the two. Well, we might be in luck; as it turns out, around 95 percent of the dangerous websites on the Internet can be identified by the top-level domains they use.

In order for an organization to maintain operations, a strong network that’s capable of handling internal traffic is necessary. These networks handle the deployment and access of mission-critical data, applications, and other important tasks that businesses depend on. Sometimes, however, a business can push their network too hard, which can have a profound effect on its functionality, and an even greater effect on that organization’s ability to continue operations.

In order to perform their jobs to the best of their ability, your staff need to access mission-critical data in a moment’s notice. One of the best ways you can help your employees work their best is to ensure that any information they need to do their jobs is immediately available. Do you make this a priority, or deal with this issue as the problems arise?

One of the greatest advancements in Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings is in cloud computing, and for good reason. The modern business is capable of expanding their operations to epic proportions, and it’s all thanks to the cloud. Have you considered integrating a cloud solution, and if so, do you know how it will affect the management of your IT?

As a business owner, you understand that there are always criminals on the lookout waiting to take advantage of the slightest crack in your defenses. They want to steal from you and see you fail. Cyber security is one of the most important avenues of defense your business should take advantage of, especially considering the fact that most threats to your organization aren’t apparent until it’s too late.

As a business, the data that you collect from both your employees and your clients is absolutely essential to the day-to-day operations of your organization. If your company were to lose all of its data in an instant, what would it result in; a fallout of downtime, or a quick recovery that hardly costs your organization a few minutes?

Over the past several years, cloud computing has really taken off. Whether it’s for personal or business use, the market for cloud computing continues to grow. For the growing small or medium-sized business, the benefits of instituting some form of cloud computing are substantial. With cloud computing, you’re able to reduce the large capital outlays that typically come with new technology purchases, while improving access to your data; significantly improving mobility.

It’s been known for years that virtualizing your server is a great strategy for companies that rely on their technology. It allows them to make efficient use of their computing resources as well as limit hardware and utility costs. Many business owners are not privy to virtualized desktop options, or how to properly use desktop virtualization to improve their business.

If your IT isn’t fully integrated in the day-to-day operations of your company, it can be holding your team back from achieving maximum productivity and efficiency. Granted, you have to have a dedicated IT department before they can be even remotely involved with your business. Some small and medium-sized businesses consider themselves savvy enough to get by without dedicated IT support, but they’re sadly mistaken.

Cutting corners comes with the territory of doing business. While it makes sense to be conservative with items like breakroom amenities and super-soft toilet paper, trying to save money in regards to your employee’s technology may actually turn out to cost more than it saves. For business owners trying to save money, the latest technology solutions are worth the extra expense.

People often blame technology for not doing its job in the face of hacking attacks. While this is certainly true, only half of the fault lies with the technology. The other half, whether we like to admit or not, comes from the people using technology. This brings up an interesting ultimatum; only humans can prevent hacking attacks from happening altogether. If people don’t protect their data, it’s only natural that it will eventually get attacked.

Can you remember the last time you did your company a solid and updated all of its hardware and software solutions? If your organization is still using machines from several years ago, it could be holding it back from reaching its full potential. We’ll say it again, think hard about when you last updated your technology, and we really, really hope that you aren’t still running Windows XP or machines from last century.

Does your office take advantage of unified communications solutions to communicate efficiently within the workplace? If your employees aren’t taking advantage of the mission-critical communication applications your business provides for them, not only will it be frustrating to contact them, but it might also cause miscommunication; a common cause for error. Regardless the size of your workforce, your business can benefit from a unified communications solution.