Calgary-based managed services company, The ITeam, named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed IT Companies
Calgary, Alberta – February 2019 – We are pleased to announce that The ITeam Ltd. has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Best Managed IT Companies in Canada by TechnoPlanet, who hosted black-tie gala at the Old Mill in Toronto to celebrate the winners.
Top 50 Best Managed IT Companies in Canada is an award of excellence to recognize 50 Value Added Resellers (VARs) or Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in Canada. Of the over 1500 Canadian IT companies that qualified, only 50 were ultimately selected to receive the award.
What It Means to Be One of the 50 Best Managed IT Companies
“The ITeam is honored to be recognized with this prestigious award. I am proud of my entire team for their hard work and contribution to this.” – James Wagner, President of The ITeam Ltd.
This award is based on an analysis of over 200 data points covering 12 different business categories such as sales process, marketing, operations, financial and leadership. The award also takes into consideration an analysis of several public areas, such as the strength of our digital presence including our website, social media, search engine results and marketing campaigns as well as other activities such as charity, community work, customer testimonials and other achievements. Eight judges review and audit each company.
Julian Lee, CEO and President of the North American technology channel marketing and communications specialists TechnoPlanet, launched the 50 Best Managed IT Companies Awards program to recognize the VARs, MSPs and ITSPs who truly operate their businesses effectively. “The primary goal is simply to help all VARs, MSPs, ITSPs, MSSPs and ISVs to benchmark their best business practices and hopefully improve. Our big mission is to help the entire channel to become bigger, better, stronger and smarter so it may remain vibrant, well into the future.” – Julian Lee, CEO of Technoplanet.
ABOUT TECHNOPLANET & THE 50 BEST MANAGED SERVICE COMPANIES AWARD
TechnoPlanet is an international channel marketing and communications company that specializes in the technology industry. Since 1993, TechnoPlanet has been developing best-practice channel solutions that help technology manufacturers develop and manage their channel partners.
Over 1,800 nominees from 4 countries worldwide were evaluated in their business practices including Business Vision & Strategy, Operations Processes, Financial Management, Leadership & Management, Sales & Marketing Processes, and Customer Satisfaction. Winners were selected based on a rigorous review of the best practices that are used to run their business.
Award winners are amongst the best-of-the-best in the IT Channel in their country when it comes to running their businesses. They have the best business leaders in the IT industry, are poised to have sustainable success in the future, offer superior customer service, and attract and retain the top talent in the IT industry.
How To Create an Effective Disaster Recovery Plan
/0 Comments/in BDR, Business Continuity, Cloud Hosting, Disaster Recovery /by James WagnerYou don’t have to increase spending to improve cybersecurity, but every business can be more strategic about what they spend where.
You Don’t Have to Increase Spending to Improve Cybersecurity
/0 Comments/in BDR, Business Continuity, Cloud Hosting, Disaster Recovery, Small Business IT /by James WagnerBecause SMEs are easier targets, you may feel the need to invest heavily in the right infrastructure to protect your private information. Although improving cybersecurity is a must, a good strategy doesn’t have to drain your budget; managed services can be a predictable, plannable, and affordable cost. Your MSP can help improve cybersecurity and protect your business and support a stronger strategy that includes:
Lifecycle management.
You’d be surprised how many systems are still running on outdated, unlicensed, or unpatched software. This leaves businesses completely open to attack, as critical upgrades to prevent data breaches must be installed to protect your organization. Hackers will take advantage of these vulnerabilities in your infrastructure.
Staff training and education.
Human error is the most challenging aspect of cybersecurity because it’s not as easily managed. The only way to mitigate the possibility of mistakes is to educate employees on an ongoing basis. Teach your staff about the latest phishing methods and implement basic policies and procedures to protect business data.
Strict permissions and policies.
Not everyone in your organization should have access to every system. Controlling access to your data to only those who must have such access can limit risk. As well, having strict policies about passwords, email security, and mobile device use can protect your organization.
Offsite backup and data recovery (BDR).
By storing a backup of your data at a secure offsite location, you will have access to the information your business needs to remain in operation, even if your facility is inaccessible or destroyed. Offsite backup and data recovery is critical to all businesses, no matter their size.
Multi-factor authentication.
Every organization should be using multi-factor authentication because password protection simply isn’t enough to protect your business. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a crucial security layer requiring more than one authentication method to verify a user’s identity.
These basic cybersecurity practices will help you protect your infrastructure in a cost-effective way. SMEs must defend against cybersecurity threats, because they are at risk, more so than larger organizations. These simple steps are the best start to securing your private networks, leaving more money in the budget for the right resources. Don’t fall victim to cyber threats when you can be prepared and remain competitive in a time when IT is your strongest asset.
As a top-rated IT security firm in Canada, we are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk, maximize efficiency, and build trust with Canadian citizens. Contact us to learn more.
Without IT Security, Digital Transformation is a Waste of Time
/0 Comments/in Cloud Security, Cybersecurity, Mobile Device Management, Small Business IT /by James WagnerOrganizations are adapting technology but leaving IT security behind.
The cloud, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and mobility are all driving business initiatives. Many organizations consider these adaptations priorities for remaining competitive. Unfortunately, every technological innovation reveals a new vulnerability that can be exploited by hackers. It takes more than patchwork protection to effectively secure your changing infrastructure, and as your network expands, so does the attack surface.
Everything is connected.
Hackers only need to gain access to one of your perimeters to reach the depths of your network. Improving visibility can mitigate risk, but sophisticated attacks are becoming harder to see. Continuous monitoring and diligent maintenance are required to protect your data. Organizations are now expected to offer all consumers better risk management, heightened privacy protections, and acknowledgment of fault if a data breach occurs. If businesses fail to meet compliance guidelines, they could face severe fines from governing bodies and an overall loss of business from a disappointed consumer base.
IT Security first.
Although businesses are eager to implement new tools that improve their processes, attract new customers, and retain loyal customers, that same technology will be their downfall if security isn’t a priority. Organizations must act immediately to mitigate risk and prevent data breaches, and with every technology innovation adopted, a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that protects you should also be implemented and updated. To do otherwise leaves your organization vulnerable to attack and financial ruin.
IT managed services can help immensely in securing all end-points, ensuring compliance, monitoring for data breaches, and other challenges related to a digital transformation. If cybersecurity is not a part of the conversation as you innovate and update, you’re wasting your resources.
As a top-rated IT security firm in Canada, we are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk, maximize efficiency, and build trust with Canadian citizens. Contact us to learn more.
The ITeam Named One of Canada’s 50 Best Managed IT Companies
/2 Comments/in News /by James WagnerCalgary-based managed services company, The ITeam, named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed IT Companies
Top 50 Best Managed IT Companies in Canada is an award of excellence to recognize 50 Value Added Resellers (VARs) or Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in Canada. Of the over 1500 Canadian IT companies that qualified, only 50 were ultimately selected to receive the award.
What It Means to Be One of the 50 Best Managed IT Companies
“The ITeam is honored to be recognized with this prestigious award. I am proud of my entire team for their hard work and contribution to this.” – James Wagner, President of The ITeam Ltd.
This award is based on an analysis of over 200 data points covering 12 different business categories such as sales process, marketing, operations, financial and leadership. The award also takes into consideration an analysis of several public areas, such as the strength of our digital presence including our website, social media, search engine results and marketing campaigns as well as other activities such as charity, community work, customer testimonials and other achievements. Eight judges review and audit each company.
Julian Lee, CEO and President of the North American technology channel marketing and communications specialists TechnoPlanet, launched the 50 Best Managed IT Companies Awards program to recognize the VARs, MSPs and ITSPs who truly operate their businesses effectively. “The primary goal is simply to help all VARs, MSPs, ITSPs, MSSPs and ISVs to benchmark their best business practices and hopefully improve. Our big mission is to help the entire channel to become bigger, better, stronger and smarter so it may remain vibrant, well into the future.” – Julian Lee, CEO of Technoplanet.
ABOUT TECHNOPLANET & THE 50 BEST MANAGED SERVICE COMPANIES AWARD
TechnoPlanet is an international channel marketing and communications company that specializes in the technology industry. Since 1993, TechnoPlanet has been developing best-practice channel solutions that help technology manufacturers develop and manage their channel partners.
Over 1,800 nominees from 4 countries worldwide were evaluated in their business practices including Business Vision & Strategy, Operations Processes, Financial Management, Leadership & Management, Sales & Marketing Processes, and Customer Satisfaction. Winners were selected based on a rigorous review of the best practices that are used to run their business.
Award winners are amongst the best-of-the-best in the IT Channel in their country when it comes to running their businesses. They have the best business leaders in the IT industry, are poised to have sustainable success in the future, offer superior customer service, and attract and retain the top talent in the IT industry.
Canadians Are Concerned About Cybersecurity
/0 Comments/in Cybersecurity /by James WagnerCybersecurity is a major global concern as technology improves connectedness, furthering opportunities for both digital growth and malicious attacks. New research shows that most Canadians see cybercrime as a threat to the overall country, and they aren’t wrong. However, despite the fact that Canadians are concerned about cyberscurity and view cybercrime as an internal threat greater than other global challenges, such as terrorism and human trafficking, few people trust that the people who have access to their data are doing everything they can to mitigate risk.
The public wants to trust technology.
As technology becomes an integral part of our lives, there is growing concern that protection against cyber criminals is not what it should be. There are data breaches virtually every day, with businesses frequently coming forward to admit that private data has been lost. This impacts millions within the country, exposing citizens to risk of identity theft, damaging the economy, and confirming that cybersecurity is more important than ever. The trust erosion is significant.
Who is responsible for preventing cybercrime?
Should cybersecurity be a government-mandated industry? Legislation like GDPR holds businesses more accountable when in possession of private data and offers citizens more rights in regard to their private information. In Alberta, medical and dental practices are required to comply with the Health Information Act and submit a Privacy Impact Assessment. However, in many ways, cybersecurity is treated as an isolated risk, as if a data breach on a single device is not capable of affecting overall society. Unfortunately, that is not the case. A single click by one employee could crash an organization’s entire infrastructure, or one home device could grant access to financial networks. Cybersecurity is a societal concern and Canadians are noticing.
Why is cybersecurity important to individual citizens?
A strong cybersecurity strategy prevents more than financial loss for small-, medium-, and large-sized businesses. Once privacy and trust are lost, they are difficult, if not impossible, to regain. Identity theft could damage an individual’s life permanently, and family-owned businesses could face bankruptcy in the event of a data breach. By impressing the importance of cybersecurity upon individual citizens, the risk of cybercrime can be reduced across the board. By adopting best cybersecurity practices in personal and professional realms, prevention simply becomes a way of life. Like buckling up before you put your car in drive, the government can establish cybersecurity programs that promote good habits that will mitigate risk.
Cybersecurity is essential to the entire country.
Managed service providers can assist businesses in establishing the best strategy for their needs, and individuals can be more mindful of how they use technology. The role that authorities will play has yet to be determined, because cybercrime is continuously evolving. Eventually, legislation will have to be implemented to help both businesses and individuals protect their private information, and everyone will need to be mindful of how technology advances.
The ITeam understands the cybersecurity issues facing Canada businesses. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk, maximize efficiency, and build trust with Canadian citizens. Contact us to learn more.