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better IT is better for business

Better IT = Better Business

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Business leaders around the world were surveyed about their concerns going into the next decade. The top concerns included risk management, talent strategy, and innovation. One way for business leaders to ensure that they remain on the competitive edge as they work to address these concerns is through a well-aligned, proactive IT strategy. Better IT is good for business.

Risk Management

From data breaches to regulatory concerns, risk management is a key factor in business strategy. It is also one area in which an organization’s IT strategy can be used as a tool to limit, and in some cases, eliminate, risk. These are the top 10 risks as rated by Protiviti:

  1. Regulatory changes and scrutiny may impact operational resilience and production and delivery of products and services;
  2. Economic conditions may significantly restrict growth opportunities;
  3. Succession challenges and ability to attract and retain top talent may be more difficult;
  4. Limited operational resilience of legacy IT infrastructure and digital capabilities may restrict the organization’s ability to compete with ‘born digital’ players;
  5. Resistance to change may restrict organizational agility;
  6. Preparedness to manage cyber threats may be insufficient;
  7. Ensuring privacy/identity management and information security/system protection may be challenging;
  8. Company culture may not empower timely identification and escalation of risk issues;
  9. Sustaining customer loyalty and retention may be increasingly difficult;
  10. Adoption of AI-enabled technologies may require new skills that are either in short supply or require significant upskilling/reskilling of existing employees.

Talent Strategy 

Attracting talent in today’s tough and competitive environment is more difficult than ever. It’s not just IT talent that’s hard to find; but acquiring and retaining skilled talent in every area of business has become and ongoing challenge. With a robust IT infrastructure and a well-planned IT strategy, you can attract stronger talent by offering more workplace flexibility and demonstrating your ability to stand apart from the crowd by offering innovative and cutting-edge technology and tools for your employees.

Innovation 

If your organization is always putting out fires, worrying whether or not your server will crash or that someone will click on the wrong link, you simply don’t have the brain space to be innovative. When your business is functioning at peak efficiency, you and your team have time to think creatively and develop solutions that give you a competitive edge.

Working with a managed IT team can:

  • Increase uptime for better customer service
  • Ensure timely updates to software for better security
  • Improve competitiveness and increase speed to market
  • Increase budget flexibility
  • Improve efficiency and productivity to allow for innovation
  • Improve your ability to attract strong talent

The outlook for Canadian businesses is improving, and you can capitalize on this opportunity. A better IT strategy supports your business by reducing risk, as well as improving your ability to attract talent and your opportunity to innovate. 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.

your password IS the problem

Your Password IS a Problem

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Data security is something every organization in Canada must contend with. Implementing layers of security and 24/7 threat detection can help provide protection, like leaving the your door locked at all times so no one can just walk into your business. But when your staff (executives included) reuse passwords across a variety of different sites and apps, they’ve essentially left the keys to your most valuable information in the lock.

The Password Problem

the password problemHackers have passwords, and they know that people use them on multiple sites. As well, hackers use social engineering to know which executives in your organization have financial roles. And they can use the password they stole from a shopper’s club loyalty card account database, for instance, and try it on your network. And this method often works.  Hackers also know that the more complex passwords become, the more likely people are to come up with two or three variations of one that works (i.e., it meets all the criteria for one capital letter, one number, one symbol) and reuse it everywhere – from their grocery store loyalty card accounts to your network.

But it’s more than just the repeated use of the same passwords across different apps and sites that poses a risk to your business; it’s the fact that many people don’t change their passwords even after being notified of a breach. How many of your employees are still using the same passwords (or variations) following the Yahoo data breach? The LinkedIn breach? The Capital One breach?

It Takes More than Passwords to Keep Your Data Safe

Yes, you still need to have strict password policies. But in addition to that, you must:

  • Provide ongoing, in-depth training to your staff about threats, including common email threats
  • Establish and follow a strict patching regimen so that you prevent potential access to your data through a back door
  • Implement as many barriers as possible against a data breach, including layers of security (firewalls, malware detection, network security)
  • Monitor your systems 24/7 for threats
  • Delete access immediately – including remote access – for any employee who leaves the company
  • Require a multi-factor authentication to access any secure area of your network
  • Have the capability of logging and monitoring who is doing what inside your network

Protecting data is one of the most complex issues facing organizations today. It’s not just about PIPEDA compliance, although that is a significant factor, but it’s also about protecting proprietary data, customer information, trade secrets, and financial information. Complicating all of this are the hackers who continue to develop more insidious ways to penetrate your defenses, gain access to your data, and either sell it or use it for financial gain. Employing best practices does make a difference.

Data breaches are not going away, but you can minimize the risk to your organization with strong IT security and a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. You can’t just address one of these issues; you must have a comprehensive, proactive data security program that addresses all of these risks and more.

The ITeam understands the IT security issues facing businesses in Canada. 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.

managed IT is good for business

Managed IT Can Transform Your Business

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managed IT is good for businessManaged IT can transform your business in a number of ways: It can expand the capabilities of your internal IT, it can help you control expenses, it can provide you with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure without the capital outlay, and it can help keep your business secure.

As rapidly as technology is changing today, it’s no wonder companies feel overwhelmed trying to keep up, even when they do have internal IT staff. It’s almost impossible for a company that doesn’t specialize in IT to keep up with cloud-based services and software, asset management, cybersecurity, mobile device security, data security, and data management. And we live in a time when it can mean death to a business if something does go wrong – customers won’t wait for a company to right itself when there’s a competitor around the corner who can meet their needs.

Managed IT Takes the Pressure Off

Whether it’s the high turnover of IT staff or the threat of a data breach, having a managed IT partner takes the pressure off and lets you focus on running your business. Having access to experts without having them on the payroll is a benefit, but knowing that someone is monitoring your network 24/7 – detecting threats, protecting your data with layers of security, and helping you train your staff to recognize and avoid ransomware –  is something you can’t put a price on.

Managed IT Levels the Playing Field

Large corporations can often absorb the cost of having an in-house IT department and CIO, just as they can absorb the investment they must make in infrastructure. Maintaining an IT staff comes at a price that exceeds that of just the paycheck. IT has one of the highest rates of turnover of any industry and a shortage of talent to boot. Small businesses don’t have the leverage to compete for the top IT talent, nor do they have the budget. Partnering with a Managed IT firm can level the playing field with bigger firms against whom you compete for clients. You get deep layers of expertise across all areas of IT without the cost of maintaining a staff.

Compliance

Dental and medical offices, legal firms, and most businesses have some level of regulatory guidelines with which they must comply. Compliance and security go hand in hand and having a team well-versed in providing the security that protects your data can help you avoid a costly data breach that can put you out of business.

Small Businesses Deserve Big IT Protection

Don’t let your Calgary-based small business lag behind larger corporations in regard to IT security and compliance. Partnering with a managed IT firm like The ITeam can help you remain competitive no matter how quickly technology changes.

 

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 named on of 50 best managed it companies in Canada

The ITeam Named One of Canada’s 50 Best Managed IT Companies

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Calgary-based managed services company, The ITeam, named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed IT Companies

50 best managed IT companiesCalgary, 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.

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