Archive for category: Managed IT

managed IT

Managed IT Services Increase Operational Efficiency

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MSPs improve efficiencyUnless your organization is a government agency or a nonprofit with a clear mission, the point of running a business is profitability. While increases in sales is a common goal, one of the most impactful ways to improve profitability is through increased operational efficiency – and one of the best ways to improve operational efficiency is through the proper leveraging of managed IT services.

Managed IT services provide your organization access to the most experienced minds in IT without the added expense of another employee. For companies too small to have their own IT department, as well as mid-size and larger organizations that cannot justify the cost of a full-time C-level addition to their teams, an MSP can act as their IT department, work as an extension of their existing IT team, provide strategy consultation, and function as the CIO.

The benefits of managed IT services and partnering with an MSP are quantifiable. Not only can you measurably reduce risk and improve efficiency, but you can do so with a predictable, plannable monthly cost that is scalable as you grow.

Proactive Action

When you wait for network processes to slow down or for something to go wrong with your IT infrastructure, you are forced into a costly cycle of repairs that prevents you from investing and getting ahead. When you work with an MSP, they constantly monitor the state of your infrastructure and network, heading off issues and replacing equipment before it stops your business from operating.

Extend IT Expertise

Even companies with internal IT staff are often taxed beyond their capabilities in their efforts to keep up with demands – from monitoring for risks to ensuring compliance to keeping up with necessary patching – it can be overwhelming to have the responsibilities without the support necessary to stay ahead of the demands. In many organizations, the designated IT person actually has another role on top of their IT responsibilities, making it impossible for them to really meet the needs of the organization’s IT objectives.

Level the Playing Field

SMEs are expected (by their customers and other stakeholders) to maintain the same level of security and governance as their larger counterparts. That can be nearly impossible to achieve without an MSP, which forces SMEs to stretch their budgets and manage the costs involved with meeting compliance and reporting requirements and providing the security necessary to ease customers’ minds.

Remove Distraction

Organizations that are forced to be both experts in their industries, as well as IT experts, are often unable to successfully focus on either area adequately. An MSP frees you to focus on building your business, growing your brand, making sales, and cultivating clients – all while knowing that behind the scenes, your IT infrastructure is humming like a well-oiled machine.

Significantly Decrease Costs

From having to hire less internal IT support people to having a plannable, predictable monthly expense, an MSP is an investment with a measurable ROI. You gain access to state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and talent but without the associated costs.

24/7/365 Monitoring

24/7 monitoring can minimize the risks and help you stay one step ahead of hackers. Having a team of IT professionals on call 24/7 to provide you with the right IT support, products, and services does more than just offer added protection – it gives you peace of mind.

The ITeam’s Managed IT Services are designed to meet the needs of businesses in a variety of industries in Calgary. We act as a virtual CIO, partnering with our clients to help them meet their business goals and remain globally competitive. We assess their requirements, reviewing everything from network security, systems, and application patching, to comprehensive backup and recovery services. We provide fully managed and personalized services designed to meet the needs of virtually any business.

Our team will work with you to customize a cost-effective solution and help you develop a comprehensive IT security strategy that will help you survive any threat, whether natural or man-made. A managed service approach will also provide businesses with comprehensive security, customized backup and recovery solutions, and state-of-the-art cloud storage and hosting. Are you ready to take advantage of the many benefits of partnering with an MSP? Contact us today.

The ITeam Ranked Among World’s Most Elite 501 MSPs

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The ITeam has been named as one of the world’s elite MSPs on the prestigious 12th-annual Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. 

Every year, MSPs worldwide complete an extensive survey and application to report their product offerings, growth rates, annual total and recurring revenues, pricing structures, revenue mix and more. MSPs were ranked according to a unique methodology that weights revenue figures according to how well the applicant’s business strategy anticipates trends in the fast-evolving channel ecosystem, and The ITeam was ranked among the most elite MSPs.

Channel Futures is pleased to name The ITeam to the 2019 MSP 501.

“Our entire team is committed to providing the best service and highest level of expertise to our clients throughout Alberta,” said James Wagner, President, TheITeam Ltd. “It’s a distinguished honour to be once again recognized by Channel Futures for the consistent efforts of our team.”

The ITeam named among elite MSPsIn the 12 years since its inception, the MSP 501 has evolved from a competitive ranking list into a vibrant group of service providers, vendors, distributors, consultants and industry analysts working together to define the growing managed service opportunity.

“The 2019 MSP 501 winners are the most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet, and they stand as a model of excellence in the industry,” says Kris Blackmon, Content Director of Channel Partners and Channel Futures and lead of the MSP 501 program. “As the MSP 501 Community grows, leagues of managed service providers learn from the successes of these winning companies, gaining insight into the best practices, strategies and technologies that elevate an MSP to the level of the 501 winners. Our heartfelt congratulations to the 2019 winners and gratitude to the thousands of MSPs that have contributed to the continuing growth and success of both the 501 and the thriving managed services sector.”

Ten special award winners will be recognized at the MSP 501 Awards Gala at Channel Partners Evolution, held this year September 9-12 in Washington, D.C. Nominations for these special awards, including Digital Innovator of the Year, Executive of the Year and the Newcomer Award, were included in the MSP 501 application, and all candidates were encouraged to submit for them.

In addition to deciding the rankings, the survey drives the creation of an annual in-depth study of business and technology trends in the IT channel, released each year at the Channel Partners Evolution conference. The full MSP 501 Report leverages applicant responses, interviews with industry experts and historical data to give a well-rounded picture of the managed services opportunity.

The complete 2019 MSP 501 list is available at Channel Futures.

Background

The 2019 MSP 501 list is based on data collected by Channel Futures and its sister site, Channel Partners. Data was collected online from March 1 through May 31, 2019. The MSP 501 list recognizes top managed service providers based on metrics including recurring revenue, growth and other factors.

About The ITeam

The ITeam provides comprehensive IT services to Alberta and Calgary businesses and has over 20 years of experience. The ITeam offers critical access to Calgary’s leading On Demand and managed technical IT support, with an emphasis on consistent services that offer companies a competitive advantage.

The ITeam is a partner to any organization that wants access to their own virtual IT services team, with a full range of services available at a moment’s notice. From network support to server hosting, the ITeam meets all the technical needs of a business.

About Informa Tech

Channel Futures, Channel Partners Online, Channel Partners Conference & Expo and Channel Partners Evolution are part of Informa Tech, a market-leading B2B information provider with depth and specialization in the Information and Communications (ICT) Technology sector. We help drive the future by inspiring the Technology community to design, build and run a better digital world through our market-leading research, media, training and event brands. Every year, we welcome 7,400+ subscribers to our research, more than 3.8 million unique visitors a month to our digital communities, 18,200+ students to our training programs and 225,000 delegates to our events.

Canada SMEs need IT strategy

IT Strategic Planning for Canada SMEs

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Canada SMEsFor Canada SMEs, IT strategic planning plays a critical role in your overall ability to support your customers, remain competitive, and be positioned to recover from a natural or technological disaster. But an IT strategy is more than just a plan; it’s a comprehensive outline of your approach to IT that ensures that your IT infrastructure supports your business goals, that you are anticipating and proactively meeting the needs of your business, and that your investment in IT is planned and predictable. 

In today’s rapidly moving business environment, most SMEs rely on their IT infrastructure to conduct most of their business. From accounting and office systems to communicating with customers, and from scheduling appointments and managing services to managing payroll and inventory and increasing efficiency, an SMEs IT infrastructure is often the backbone of the organization. Your IT strategy must be flexible and dynamic because technology does not stand still (and neither do hackers).

Your IT strategic planning process should consider the following factors:

  • Current market conditions
  • Competitive intelligence
  • Performance issues and identified areas in need of improvement
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Resource requirements
  •  Staff training and support needs
  • Compliance requirements for your industry
  • Budget requirements
  • Current state of infrastructure

IT Strategic Planning Benefits for Canada SMEs

A lack of proper IT planning will impact your employees, your customers, and your bottom line. For example, without a plan in place for lifecycle management, you may find that the operating system you use to manage your IT infrastructure is out of date and no longer supported (Windows 7 support ends January 2020!). This creates not just a disruption in your operations but also a significant security risk to your organization. An IT strategy that includes a plan for lifecycle management makes IT costs more predictable. Proactive IT strategy planning is essential for successful SMEs. Other benefits include: 

  • Improved operational efficiency
  • Increased profitability
  • Reduced risk
  • Improved business continuity
  • Increased alignment between business objectives and IT objectives
  • Ability to map future needs for better planning
  • Ensured statutory and regulatory compliance
  • Elimination of unnecessary downtime
  • Nominal disruption of operations

 Securing networks and private data is a top priority for organizations of every size in Alberta. SMEs are the lifeblood of Canada’s economy, but these organizations are only as strong as the IT strategy supporting their operations. If your SME needs help with IT strategic planning, IT infrastructure support, and IT security, get in touch.

How To Manage Security Generation Gap in The Workplace

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Organizations depend on a digital workplace for success.

A business operation relies heavily on IT to function seamlessly, which demands an IT security strategy that will support a secure network.

Unfortunately, few cybersecurity strategies address the generation gap that creates a disconnect between the technology used in the workspace and the existing security protocols.

When employee buy-in is essential to the success of any cybersecurity strategy, you need to address the concerns of different generations.

Different generations have different priorities

How To Manage Security Generation Gap in The Workplace

When analyzing Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials, studies have shown that each of these groups has a different perception of how cybersecurity should be prioritized.

It’s no surprise that the younger generations are more willing to take risks, particularly when it comes to the ease of conducting work remotely.

n contrast, Boomers are much less willing to share information.

There is never a blanket approach to cybersecurity for any organization, but finding the right fit starts with understanding your employees.  

Consider why employees are ignoring best practices

Think about why your employees are circumventing security best practices.

Many organizations make the mistake of implementing a cybersecurity strategy that accounts only for worst-case scenarios, resulting in measures that are too invasive and ultimately halt productivity.

Limiting access to certain programs seems like a good idea in theory, but the only thing you achieve is the ability to frustrate your employees.

There must be an approach that protects the best interests of your company yet still enables your employees to do their jobs.

Apply contextual access management for remote work 

Technology is driving the remote workspace, and Millennials and Gen Xers expect this perk, even in smaller companies.

SaaS applications are becoming more common for managing out-of-network access requests, thereby providing safe platforms for work to be conducted with fewer barriers.

Multi-factor authentication has also been proven to improve security.

Monitor activity to ensure use of best practices

Monitoring the end-to-end use of individual access is not a Big Brother approach.

It can be hard to navigate the generation gaps and understand where mistakes are being made, which is where data analytics can be incredibly useful.

Management can identify usage patterns and risky behaviours of employees, establishing the need for additional training in the prevention of cyber attacks.

This visibility benefits the entire organization so that you can understand what best practices are being shirked and why.

Regardless of generation, maintaining a positive user experience within the workspace is crucial.

Your security infrastructure shouldn’t inhibit any of your employees, and there are benefits to managing different expectations.

Technology is not going to slow down, and it is unlikely that you will ever have an entire workforce on the same page.

By adapting to the needs of your employees, you’re creating a cybersecurity strategy that is moulded around the details of your unique infrastructure.  

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 and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

4 Tips on Building a Better Cybersecurity Strategy

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Many organizations work diligently to employ the latest cybersecurity technology.

Securing networks and private data is a top priority for organizations of every size in Alberta, yet there should still be major concerns with relying on technology alone.

The assumption that better digital infrastructure will prevent malicious attacks can put your business at risk.

Without the right practices, even the best digital defences don’t stand a chance.

1. Trust no one

4 Tips on Building a Better Cybersecurity StrategyEvery organization should begin with a zero-trust model.

What is zero-trust?

It is the assumption that none of your networks, internal or external, are secure.

This demands a proactive approach that encourages consistent monitoring and constant improvement.

Zero-trust also demands that you avoid putting trust in network users.

As drastic as it sounds, best practice means never sharing passwords, never giving people access to more of your company information than it is necessary to do their jobs, and carefully vetting third-party vendors.

Use multifactor authentication whenever possible and implement emerging technology, such as behavioural analytics.

This detects network patterns and monitors user activity to fight insider threats, whether they are a result of innocent mistakes that can be remedied or are malicious activities that need to be checked.

2. Know what’s worth protecting

Businesses often make the mistake of implementing technology that is not useful to their unique IT needs.

Before you jump at the chance to install the latest cybersecurity update, identify your assets, the risks specific to your organization, and your main vulnerabilities.

Once you’ve measured performance and what needs to be strengthened, you can select the right tools and get the best return on your investments.

For example, a dental practice in Alberta is required to have specific protections in place for patient data that other organizations may not be required to have.

3. Focus on more than reactivity

Prevention is a critical part of any cybersecurity strategy, and predictive analysis has come incredibly far in the proactive identification of threats.

Big data offers businesses the opportunity to understand where improvements can be made based off automated processes and large sets of expansive cybersecurity information.

Technological advancements are also changing how businesses can manage risk.

However, no defence is foolproof. It’s a matter of when, not if, a cyber attack will occur, and your business needs a response strategy.

Machine learning utilizes algorithms to make predictions based on real-time communications and transactions, allowing you to formulate a response to potential threats.

4. Instill a culture of security fundamentals

The reality is, no cybersecurity technology can protect your business from careless staff.

Employees are often one of the biggest vulnerabilities in an organization, and the only way to remedy this weak link is to provide education and consistent training.

Tool integration is critical to a cybersecurity strategy, but only if employees understand why policies are important and how to use the tools available.

Awareness of cybersecurity threats and precautionary practices within your organization is the best compliment to emerging technology.

A comprehensive cybersecurity strategy necessitates a true understanding of preventative measures, along with the technological tools that are appropriate for your business needs.

Cybersecurity does call for constant updates as threats change; yet, relying on emerging technology alone will leave enormous vulnerabilities.

Best practices that have been the cybersecurity norm, such as employee education and the zero-trust model, should remain a considerable piece of every cybersecurity strategy.

When human error is always a factor, technology must have a human partner.

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 and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

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