ThrottleNet

Managed IT services, support and cybersecurity

How Successful Are SMBs at Going Remote During COVID-19?

Business & Technology

There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has dramatically altered our lives, both personal and vocational, especially the processes for how all and medium-sized businesses operate from day to day. The question of how the transition away from the office, and towards the new digital reality of remote working is an interesting one. 

Some businesses have adapted quicker than others, but it has opened up a plethora of opportunities that won’t be subsiding just yet. We’re going to explore this issue in more depth to find out more about this matter that’s so vital to SMBs right now.

The Shift Towards Remote Working

The shift towards remote working has presented businesses with a range of challenges, but it’s a shift that can’t be overlooked. The pandemic has led to varying and ever-changing restrictions depending on location. 

Many businesses have been forced to adopt remote working out of necessity, including businesses that have never adopted remote working as a company policy or an option for employees before now. Since the start of the pandemic, the percentage of people working from home has risen sharply to 42%.

What the Transition Means for Businesses

The pandemic is an example of a disruptive force for many, even most, businesses. The need to adapt means adopting new digital protocols that facilitate remote working, team collaboration over longer distances, and managing teams no longer stationed at the office. Each of these disruptions and challenges break down into a series of further challenges, each of which have had to be overcome in a short period of time with very little prior warning.

How Successfully Have SMBs Adapted?

Many businesses are adapting faster because they had already begun implementing remote work principles and resources earlier, and many are also now considering making it a long-term staple. 

Deloitte found that businesses that are coping better tend to make use of cross-functional teaming in order to create faster responses to situations as they develop. They also found that a clear communication strategy from the top of the company was key in order for businesses to respond positively to the new situation.

Another example of how businesses have had to adapt comes from a study carried out by Visa. They found that SMBs are reporting taking fewer cash transactions as more and more customers switch to contactless card payments in response to the health and hygiene risks posed by COVID-19. This has forced more businesses to accept contactless card payments if they weren’t doing so already. And that’s a trend that won’t reverse anytime soon.

Essential Tips for SMBs Adapting to Remote Working and Going Digital

If your business is in the process of transitioning to remote working and going digital, there are some tips that should be on your radar. Find out more about them below.

Simplify Employee Communication

A simplified approach to employee communication is key. In order for your team to be able to collaborate across distances, it has become essential for them to be able to communicate digitally. Rather than leaving this for employees to organize among themselves, you need to put a structured plan in place, along with the right software, to facilitate fast, smooth and easy communication between staff members.

Scale Up Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is now more important and more useful to businesses of all kinds than ever before. Cloud computing makes it possible to share, edit and collaborate on documents in a team, even when the team is spread out across different locations. So it’s no surprise that so many businesses are now discovering its utility.

Work with a Managed IT Services Provider

Working with a good managed IT services provider is a good idea. Now more than ever, businesses are reliant on their IT systems as they attempt to collaborate remotely, many of them for the first time. Having a managed IT services provider ensures that things remain running smoothly at all times.

Implement High-Quality Tech Solutions

High-quality tech solutions are vitally important and certainly shouldn’t be ignored. If you don’t have the right hardware and software in place for both managers and employees to use from day to day, your new remote working arrangements simply won’t function in the way you need them to.

It’s clear that there are some businesses coping better than others with the transition away from the office and towards the new digital reality of remote working brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. If your SMB is still transitioning, the tips discussed above should help you get where you need to be faster.

Some Managed Networks Are Better Than Others

Your company needs technology to thrive, but you don’t have time to get into the technical weeds. Hiring a large IT team is costly, and managing one distracts you from focusing on your business. Trusting your IT services to a managed network provider can help you get the technology solutions you need while freeing up time and resources to focus on the big picture.

Some managed networks are better than others, though, so look for all of the following when selecting an IT company.

Dedicated IT Success Team

The simplest way to get the best managed network is by partnering with an IT company that realizes their success is tied to yours. When you find a true partner, you can lean on them to provide the most appropriate IT services for your specific needs. Look for things like the following from your dedicated success team:

  • Virtual Chief Information Officer (VCIO) who will meet with your internal team on a regular basis to discuss network performance, ongoing IT support, technology budgets, and more
  • Network engineer with experience supporting businesses like yours
  • Dedicated onsite support analyst to install new equipment, set up new users, and provide other IT services
  • Remote support technician to perform nightly backup checks and routine patches for your applications

IT Security Services

Your technology isn’t worth much if it isn’t secure. The cost of ransomware is high enough that it can seriously hurt a business. Make sure your managed network comes with an anti-virus and anti-malware solution. Real-time management, maintenance, and monitoring can go a long way toward protecting your business. Security is one of the most important parts of your technology plan because it can prevent data breaches, financial losses, and unplanned downtime.

Vendor Management

You shouldn’t have to juggle IT companies or spend time coordinating between different technology vendors. The right managed service provider can handle procurement and resolve issues with your other hardware, software, and service vendors without putting extra work on your plate. After all, outsourcing IT is supposed to make life easier for you, not harder.

Local Help Desk Support

Here at ThrottleNet, our award-winning customer service team is locally based right here in St. Louis. We offer unlimited remote support, and you can also opt for a plan that includes unlimited onsite support and project labor. No matter which type of plan you select, you’re only paying one fixed fee per month. That way there are no surprises that might otherwise blow up your IT budget. This ability to balance remote and onsite support is something you will only get from a local IT support team. Not every customer needs an onsite IT partner, but many feel more comfortable knowing we are nearby if needed.

A great managed network provider won’t just set up your technology, they’ll teach you how to use it. At ThrottleNet that means our team will conduct a thorough onboarding as we begin our partnership with your company. We’ll introduce ourselves to your entire staff, show them how to get support, and give them other training. Every one of your employees will learn about the best practices for avoiding common security risks and getting the most out of your managed network services. An effective managed network should tie everything together while making your other essential IT services easier to scale and customize.

How to Choose the Right Managed Network Service Provider for 2021

Here at ThrottleNet, we follow a three-phase approach to providing a managed network. This allows us to get to know you, assess your needs, then make customized recommendations to facilitate success. We’re regularly ranked among the best IT companies in St. Louis because we provide a level of hands-on attention that other IT service providers just don’t. Contact us today to find out what it’s like to have a more reliable technology partner.

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“Out of adversity comes opportunity.” - Benjamin Franklin

2020 brought an unexpected journey for just about every business. Companies and individuals all over the world saw everything get turned upside down in a hurry, and suddenly we couldn’t take anything for granted anymore. The importance of technology hasn’t been in question for quite some time, but reliable business IT became even more of a necessity in 2020. It’s hard to see so many local businesses in St. Louis struggling, but the silver lining is that we’ve become more resilient and more adaptable.

The things we learned this year will help us achieve business goals in the future, and the ability to learn from bad situations is what defines successful companies.

Here are four of the most important business technology lessons we learned this year.

Secure Remote Work Is Critical to Business Continuity

Allowing employees to work from home occasionally is not the same as having a truly remote workforce. Many companies were prepared for some contributors to work online but weren’t ready to manage full teams without any central workforce in the office. When employees are only out of the office one or two days each week, it’s also possible to wait to go back into the office to complete certain tasks. One of the biggest lessons from the past year is that secure remote access and remote desktop connections are absolutely necessary for most businesses.

Trust Is Key

Trust is important, and it needs to extend in every direction:

  • Managers need to trust that employees are working productively.
  • Employees need to trust that they’ll receive all of the support they need.
  • Customers need to trust that their data and transactions are secure and that their experience won’t be interrupted.

We have a lot of award-winning capabilities here at ThrottleNet, but we can’t build a trustworthy company culture

Security Is Essential

It’s easier to gain trust when you can provide a completely secure environment. Hackers don’t take breaks, and many opportunists actually tried to prey on businesses during their moments of confusion in 2020. As more and more companies in St. Louis prepare for prolonged periods of remote work, cybersecurity will become even more important. If you’re still concerned that there may be soft sports in your business technology, ask a local IT company to perform a vulnerability audit and identify weaknesses before hackers do.

Technology Can’t Solve All Your Problems

This may not be what you expect to hear from one of the most award-winning IT companies in St. Louis, but it’s the truth. Technology can’t solve all of your problems all by itself. Even the best MSPs can’t be all things to all businesses at all times. It’s important to focus on defining efficient processes and keeping the lines of communication open. To that end, make sure you’re working with a managed IT company that understands their role as a supporting partner for your business goals.

Better IT Services for 2021

The best IT support companies understand that their success depends on yours. Instead of offering you a cookie-cutter solution, our team at ThrottleNet will take the time to understand what your business really needs and how we can help. How did your technology fail you in 2020, and how can outsourced IT services get things back on track for 2021? Connect with us today to see how the right MSP can keep you focused on growing your business.

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Explore New IT Strategies for the Year Ahead

2020 has taught us a lot about the type of technology it takes to run a successful business in a modern world. When times are uncertain and normal operations are interrupted, companies need to be able to rely on critical IT services that can help them survive and thrive. Many businesses have learned some hard lessons and made quick adjustments to keep moving forward, but the future will continue to present more challenges. The following IT strategies for 2021 will help ensure that your business is ready for the next calendar year.

Focus on Remote Access

The world was already becoming decentralized as more and more business transactions occur online, but the digital shift has been accelerated due to recent events. It’s important for employees to stay connected and productive even when they can’t physically be in the office. Secure remote access makes it possible to maintain business continuity even when people have to work remotely.

Consider all of the following as you secure your remote access for the future:

  • Hardware like headphones, microphones, and cameras
  • Reliable solutions for calls and video meetings
  • Virtual desktop solutions to connect you to the main office
  • Secure access to files, folders, and everything else you need

Fix Technology Issues of 2020

Address any technology issues that caused the most business disruptions and dissatisfaction in 2020. This year put a lot of strain on companies and pushed technological solutions to the limit. You may have had to modernize your IT services more quickly than you originally planned, but the trial by fire has given business leaders an opportunity to see which technological gaps are preventing them from reaching future business goals. If you don’t have the resources to address all of your vulnerabilities with your internal IT team, this may be the time to get a competitive advantage with outsourced IT.

Be Aware of the Latest IT Security Threats

Just as IT services are evolving to provide better solutions for your business, hackers are getting more sophisticated. Staying ahead of ransomware and other cybersecurity threats may feel like a full-time job at times. The good news is that you don’t have to make it your full-time job. You can outsource cybersecurity to take the pressure off of your internal team as you receive the most effective protection available.

Identify the Most Important IT Services for You

The pace at which technology evolves makes it hard for business leaders to keep up. If you have bigger things to focus on than the latest and greatest IT Services, some of the lingo might sound a little bit foreign. Between meaningless buzzwords and technical jargon, some IT strategies start to read like alphabet soup. It’s important to form a partnership with a managed service provider that will take the time to explain the true business benefits behind the technology.

Still, it can be hard to trust your technology to a third party. Look for an experienced managed service provider with a long track record of enabling success in your industry. When you partner with accomplished technology experts, it becomes easy to co-create a customized blend of the most important IT services.

Find an IT Company in St. Louis

Here at ThrottleNet, we’re proud to be awarded as one of the best IT companies in the St. Louis area. We’re even more proud of the way we help local businesses succeed. We’re so confident in our ability to serve your business goals, our whole business model depends on your continued satisfaction. Check out our win-win deal and contact us today!

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When your workforce goes remote, you need strong IT support.

Remote workforces are the new normal for most businesses here in the St. Louis area. The ability to work from home gives employees more flexibility and freedom. Secure remote access also allows companies to maintain productivity and business continuity in the event of unforeseen situations.

Working from home used to be a last resort for when employees had sick children or other important life events. It’s no longer a rare occurrence, and many businesses have had to transition to completely dispersed workforces for the foreseeable future. Remote IT help desk support and other IT services can help remove the burden from business leaders, new hires, and all of the individual contributors in between.

An IT Company for Your Whole Business

A variety of experts from the Harvard Business Review to Forbes have observed that future-minded companies are leaning into remote work. Unfortunately, many businesses have recently realized they weren’t ready to have everyone work from home at the same time. Managers are spending their days fielding questions and keeping everyone else on track instead of focusing on their own productivity. That’s why the best IT service providers have comprehensive onboarding processes for your entire company.

Business leaders and technologists shouldn’t be the only ones who know how to host a remote meeting or connect to the remote desktop. When your technology partner addresses everyone on your org chart, the leadership spends less time putting out fires and managing other snags. Every employee should know how to prevent security risks, navigate the technology they need to stay productive, and get support from the IT service desk when something does go wrong.

Remote IT Services for the Future

To continue moving forward on this path, companies are going to need strong IT help desk support. Responsive IT services allow companies to get back up to speed as quickly as possible and stay on the right track for the long haul.

As you address technical gaps your internal team can’t close alone, consider the following questions before choosing an outsourced IT company.
  • Can you troubleshoot remotely to keep your essential IT services in play everywhere?
  • How will working outside of a centralized office raise new cybersecurity risks that could jeopardize your business data and your customers’ privacy?
  • Will employees still have convenient access to all of the files, folders, and applications they need to stay productive?
  • Can you digitize your communication and processes to prevent interruptions to your workflows?

Why Choose an Award-Winning IT Company?

Recent history has been hard on small companies, and business leaders are looking for ways to recover as quickly as possible. Simply put, many organizations don’t have the time or resources to handle very many more setbacks right now. Choosing an outsourced IT company should inspire confidence and help you rest assured that your technology solutions are in good hands.

Refine your search by focusing on potential partners with proven track records. An IT company with experience in your industry will know what it takes to make you successful. The best IT companies in St. Louis also receive awards that speak to their capabilities.

Best IT Help Desk Support for 2021 & Beyond

Our team at ThrottleNet is regularly recognized as the #1 business IT support help desk in St. Louis because of the work we do for our customers. Since we’re so confident in our ability to support your business IT services, we’re able to offer free trials, monthly contracts, and real win-win opportunities. Either we’ll earn your business, or the first month is on the house. Contact us today to get started!

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Your Business Depends on Trustworthy IT Services

Trust is one of the most important things to consider when you choose a managed service provider. Outsourced IT management can save you time and resources, but it’s important to find a partner that will prioritize your business needs over its own corporate profits. Select a trustworthy IT company that you can count on to keep its word so you can focus on running your business.

How to Choose a Trustworthy IT Company

Most people don’t get into business to focus on technology, but they still rely on it to keep everything else running smoothly. Managed network services and professional IT security combine to protect companies from data loss, hacking, and unplanned downtime. The question is, how do you select a reliable IT company when technology isn’t your specialty?

Business leaders can gauge the trustworthiness of managed IT companies by focusing on five key ranking factors.

1 – Reviews

The opinions of previous customers will tell you a lot about almost any company. Here at ThrottleNet, we’re obsessed with customer success. We use Customer Thermometer to measure satisfaction and are proud to report a happiness score of 98.4%. Compare managed service providers on Google, too, where we’re the most reviewed and highest rated outsourced IT company in St. Louis.

2 – Awards

Demand a long track record of work that gets recognition from the experts. When an IT service provider earns the respect of its peers, you have social proof that this company does things the right way. Look for awards and accolades from respected organizations that know what it takes to run a successful business in St. Louis.

The Channel Futures MSP 501 List is a good place to find the best IT companies. You might also look to St. Louis Small Business Monthly. After polling thousands of business professionals in the Greater St. Louis area, they name an IT management and security company the Best in IT. We’re honored to be in their top five for the last five years and look forward to many more.

3 – Certifications and Partnerships

  • Microsoft Certified Partner
  • Mac Certified to Work on Apple Devices
  • Partnerships and Authorizations with Other Solution Providers:
  • Dell
  • Cisco
  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Webroot
  • Datto

4 – Clients

Choose a managed service provider with experience working for businesses like yours. A trustworthy IT company should be comfortable working with top companies in St. Louis across many different industries. Look a little closer at review sources and ask for references before

5 – Transparency

You shouldn’t need to spend a lot of time managing your managed IT company, but you should definitely be able to see the proof that they’re working. A trustworthy IT company will use month-to-month agreements instead of holding clients hostage with long contracts.

At ThrottleNet, our business model requires us to earn your business every month– we’ll even help you transition to your next vendor if you want to leave. We also practice “open book management” and profit sharing to create transparency internally. Our entire team is

ThrottleNet: Your Trustworthy IT Company in St. Louis

Here at ThrottleNet, we pride ourselves on providing the best customer service in the industry. Combine our commitment to the St. Louis community with state-of-the-art technology, and you’re dealing with a leading IT service provider. Contact us to learn why we’ll be the best St. Louis IT company for years to come.

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