Business & Technology

Is In-House IT Holding You Back?

There’s just no way around it: most businesses can’t be successful without good IT practices. Unfortunately, it’s hard for many companies, teams, and leaders to keep up with their IT support because of the speed at which technology evolves. In recent years, more businesses in the St. Louis area have found a solution by outsourcing their managed IT support.

What Is Outsourced IT Management?

“Managed IT” can mean a lot of different things, and it really depends on what your company or team needs. Small business owners might outsource the management of their entire IT department. Alternatively, an in-house team, manager, or administrator may just need a little bit of help when they’re understaffed and overloaded. Managed IT services can cover all of the following and more:

Outsourcing Competitive Advantage

There are many benefits of outsourcing IT, and it can revolutionize the way some companies operate. When a business or team improves its use of technology, it immediately becomes easier to crush the competition. Our clients in the St. Louis area normally talk about six key ways in which outsourcing IT creates a competitive advantage.

1 – Increased Flexibility and Reduced Costs

Hiring a skilled IT team is difficult because the best technologists can command high salaries. The payroll balloons when you need someone to manage the network, someone to enable remote access, and someone for cybersecurity. Managed IT gives you access to a whole team of experts who can meet your specific needs, and you don’t pay for skills you don’t use.

2 – Cutting-Edge Solutions

It takes a long time to identify and implement the best technology solutions. The right managed service provider will help you stay up to date without spending hours reading up on the latest and greatest. Quality IT companies leverage years of training and experience to find efficient solutions while reducing expenses.

3 – Network Speed and Agility

Small companies are at a serious disadvantage against bigger companies that can afford faster, better technology. A managed network is one of the most efficient ways to increase speed and agility. You’re gaining access to the technology and expertise bigger companies have, but without paying for an entire in-house department.

4 – Eliminate Downtime

Preserve business continuity, minimize disruptions, and recover from disasters more quickly by leveraging solutions like the following:

Cloud Computing
Data Backups
Remote Access Capabilities

5 – Save Time and Resources

Outsourced IT management gives you more time to think about the big picture. There’s no need to pull someone from an important project next time trouble arises– just call your outsourced IT partner. When your team isn’t working on technology-related chores, they can focus on the core business of making customers satisfied.

6 – Improve User Experience

Not only will you have more time to focus on your customers, you’ll also be able to provide them with better interactions. Employees and clients alike will appreciate the opportunity to use intuitive dashboards and smooth login portals. Simultaneously, improved internal systems make it easier to call up accurate information whenever you need it.

IT for Competitive Advantage

The decisions you make today will impact your ability to compete and win in the future. Our team provides IT services to help companies near St. Louis do exactly that. Get your IT situation in line now and be poised for victory no matter what the future throws your way. Be ready for anything with ThrottleNet.

Step 1 is a complimentary network assessment and consultation. Contact us today to get started.

ThrottleNet Picks Up Awards for IT Reliability & Security

COVID lockdowns have changed the way businesses operate, creating an increased need for IT reliability. With so many companies in St. Louis operating remotely, it’s important to have reliable computer service that can hold everything together. This current situation makes us even more proud to be recognized as a top IT service provider in the area. Readers of St. Louis Small Business Monthly voted for our team at ThrottleNet for two awards already this year:

The second of these two awards is especially important to us because reliability is integral to what we do here at ThrottleNet. Even as businesses were grappling with the initial wave of shutdowns due to COVID-19, they trusted us to provide reliable IT services and security. Our work to facilitate continuous operations is intended to help businesses be more reliable for their customers and employees. We understand that IT is a means to an end for most companies, and our goal is to do our job well so you can focus on the bigger picture.

What Does Reliable Computer Service Mean to Us?

Simply put, reliability is a measure of how consistently something is able to perform as expected.

When it comes to technology like software, hardware, or your network, reliability is considered to be one of the most important attributes for businesses to consider. As a managed IT support company, our mission is to identify, implement, and maintain the most dependable software solutions for our clients.

That means your software runs right when you need it to, whether you’re on-site, in the field, or on the go. When you or your employees need some help in a crucial moment, friendly and knowledgeable support is available. More efficient business operations help reduce costs and free up resources you can use to run your business, not your IT network. On top of everything else, your customers can rest assured that you’ll be able to keep their data safe and private while meeting all of their needs.

Should I Outsource IT for Better Reliability?

Chances are, you’re not an owner, manager, or administrator at an IT company, which means your attention is required elsewhere. Business leaders often look at technology as an obstacle or a distraction, a necessary evil they need to get their job done. Outsourcing IT can help take work off your plate while giving you access to the most advanced, dependable solutions. When you have a team of experts working to keep your business operational and secure around the clock, you can stay focused on what matters most: taking good care of your customers.

If trouble ever does arise, the company in charge of your managed IT support can help with disaster recovery. Cloud computing and data backups will allow you to restore access and minimize disruptions. You’ll have resources like a team of experts and cutting-edge technology to get your business back on track as quickly and securely as possible. Best of all, you won’t have to spend your own time or pull employees off of important projects.

Improve IT Reliability in St. Louis

Looking for a solution that helps you stay reliable anytime, anywhere you can get an internet connection? Check out EverFuel, the new remote desktop solution powered by ThrottleNet! Secure remote access allows your employees to access their work computer no matter where they are. Learn more about how EverFuel safeguards reliable computer service for only $9.95 per month– no long-term commitment required.

Two Big Reasons to Move to the Cloud

Most of the decisions made in business are to protect or increase the bottom-line. Cloud services are reported to boost profits and spur growth. By using cloud hosting, your company can scale and reduce data without the additional cost and physical space taken up by servers. The cloud is also convenient with easy file sharing capabilities, ensuring that teams can coordinate and work on projects from anywhere at any time.

In light of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the cloud is keeping many companies open, allowing workers to communicate, collaborate, and keep operations moving. Zoom, OneDrive, and other cloud-based applications provide greater workforce mobility. Migrating your business to the cloud will allow more customers to be served and workers to stay productive with a secure job to support their families. Additionally, it will allow employees to have more creativity and control in their day, thereby increasing their job satisfaction.

Make a Plan

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to plan, you are preparing to fail.”

Set a clear plan with objectives and goals, perhaps with a mix of on-premise and cloud solutions. This could be referred to as an implementation road map.

Build in “Off-Ramps”

Businesses should create milestones to pause the migration from an on-premise to a cloud solution. Think of it as using the off-ramp on a highway to get gas and check your map before continuing your road trip. It’s an opportunity to check and evaluate your progress.

Create a Data Storage Strategy

Carefully analyze each benefit when making a complicated transition. Moving some data to the cloud may impact the user experience. Certain hosts can make it difficult for a business to work with the data. Some pieces of data need local copies or caches of data to be used while maintaining a backup of that data in the cloud. Find the solutions that work best for your business.

Benefits of cloud servers include:

Performance
Security
Around-the-clock support

Control
Scalability

Outsource Your Business IT to Cloud Computing Experts

At Throttlenet, we understand that not all businesses have their own IT department to implement large and complicated transitions. Our business engineers will help you migrate and expand your services as your company grows. Click here to learn about our managed cloud software. After all, business happens around-the-clock, and your employees need to be able to access systems, software, emails, and documents at any time.

Businesses could benefit from allowing their employees to work remotely. Employees could be more productive and creative at home, work in an environment free of distractions, and maintain a positive work-life balance, making them a more engaged employee. To make sure businesses run smoothly, they can prepare for remote work.

Here are some need to know tips for managing a remote workforce.

Create a Series of How to Guides

Once everyone starts to work remotely, they may have the same questions and not realize it. The person in charge could receive emails from different co-workers with the same question, and their inbox would fill up. So that they don’t have to answer each email individually, it’s recommended to create how-to guides for the most used applications.

To prepare everyone for working remotely, have a group meeting either in person, over the phone, or through video chat to set guidelines. By going over this information once in the beginning, everyone will be on the right track and not waste time. Make sure users know how to login to their network on their PC or Mac computer and are familiar with the remote access solutions they’ll use at home, such as VPN or RDP networks.

Mobile Device Management, or MDM, software can be set up to give devices a standard configuration. The aim is to improve productivity for employees. Check out our IT solutions for secure remote access.

Mobile Device Management

Ensure proper management of mobile devices. Mobile devices are more likely to be lost or stolen when they are away from the home or office. Make sure that your team understands the risk of leaving devices unattended, especially in public places, and the importance of keeping their software and devices up-to-date. Encourage staff members to keep their devices in a safe location when they are not in use. One prevalent scam that is on the rise is sim card swapping.

In case this were to happen, use encryption to protect data. While most modern devices have encryption built-in, it may need to be turned on and configured. Fortunately, most devices have tools to remotely lock the device, erase the data stored on it, or retrieve a backup of its data. At the same time, if your organization allows for Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, make sure your team backs up their photos and music. These items would be wiped from the device in the event that it was reported stolen.

Create a policy outlining what will happen if a device is lost or stolen, as well as the expectations. For instance, make note of who employees should report to, and encourage them in a positive, blame-free manner to report losses as soon as possible. Early reporting may help to minimize risk to the data, and staff members who aren’t fearful of reprisals are more likely to report promptly.

Avoid USB Drives and Removable Media

USB drives and removable media contain sensitive information and are easily misplaced. As they are openly shared, it becomes hard to track what they contain, where they’ve been, and who has used them. Hackers could also use USB drives to infect IT systems with malware. Reduce the likelihood of viruses by only allowing products supplied by the organization to be used. Another method is by using alternative means, such as corporate storage or collaborative tools such as OneDrive, FTP sites, or email.

Provide an Internal Who to Call List

Our last tip for working remotely is to make sure staff members know how to report any problems. This is especially important for security issues. If you work with a company like ThrottleNet, give them a call. If not, direct users to the appropriate support channels.

A Reliable Employee Who Can Work From Home

As a bonus tip, you need employees who can work remotely without supervision. Here are some interview questions that you can ask candidates looking to work for a remote position.

“How do you schedule your day?” looks for how a person schedules their time, perhaps by first checking emails, then having any meetings, and then working on daily tasks.
“How would you manage a project with a lot of people?” looks for how they work together on a project. This could be done through a document sharing service like Google Drive, where everyone can view and edit the same document.
“Why do you want to work remotely?” is a question that everyone answers differently. For example, some may want to stay at home with pets. Animal lovers will like to work with their furry friends by their side.

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Software audits have increasingly become a threat to companies and their brands, usually because of unintentional violations of complex software license user agreements.

When receiving a software audit, it is important to know how to respond to the audit notice without the possibility of exposing your organization to unnecessary risks. If you are expecting a software license audit, chances are you are most likely concerned with discovering that there are too many users for the license than the number of licenses purchased, or in other words, non-compliant.

Being non-compliant or under-licensed can cause a lot of problems, including additional costs and fines. Since a software audit can take months to complete, the impact of it on the organization is drastic, causing lots of time taken away from productivity.

Preparation for the Software License Audit

When a business receives an audit letter from the software vendor, usually it will give a notice period, ranging anywhere from 30 to 45 days. With that being said, there isn’t much time to completely be prepared for a full audit. Hopefully, with earlier anticipation, your company started a while ago.

Key Points To Think About When Responding

While software vendors might have the contractual right to administer an audit, be sure to check to see if the software vendor’s demand is consistent with the contract’s agreed-upon audit conditions.
It is important to keep a legal team involved from the beginning of receiving the audit letter. However, just because business and legal interests have been threatened does not mean you are required to have a legal response.
There is always room for negotiation for more favorable conditions with the software vendor. Usually, software vendors are wanting to keep the relationship between them and your business.

Ways to Ensure Software License Compliance

Be clear with terms and penalties within the contract
Understand the definitions used in the user license
Maintain procedures and policies for compliant software use
Conduct internal compliance audits regularly

Benefits of an Internal Software License Audit

The two primary benefits of running an internal audit include prevention and optimization. An internal license audit helps a business establish if they are sufficiently licensed. This helps prevent being non-compliant and prevents any hefty fines. An internal audit will also show how software is being utilized throughout the business, which can help determine if licenses can be removed in order to save money.

Top Reasons Why Software Compliance Can Be Challenging

License rights are becoming harder to interpret
Cloud computing adds to the confusion
The rise of multi-core processors makes things more difficult

Software audits are not something to get excited about.

However, a well-structured audit response can ensure that each software audit encountered will have a positive outcome.

IT companies can ensure compliance with software license agreements by explaining the contract terms and penalties, and user license definitions. Bringing in an expert for additional help should be considered to help interpret and negotiate the little details of the agreement. Interested in what ThrottleNet can do for your business? Contact us today!

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There are overarching concerns when working remotely are safety, security, and compliance.

It is important to ensure remote work can be performed safely and securely to avoid data being compromised.

Those in the healthcare and financial industries need to take extra precautions to ensure they are not only secure but also remain compliant.

A Solution That Meets All Compliance Requirements For Your Business

For those that aren’t aware, your remote work solution must be compliant if you are subject to HIPAA, FINRA, SOX or PCI regulations. If the method remote access isn’t compliant, you are exposing your data and business to unnecessary risk. Some things to consider when thinking about this.

Am I working in a secure, web-based environment or am I working on a local server infrastructure located in my office?

If you answered a web-based environment, you’re most likely in compliance since the provider is responsible for ensuring their systems meet whatever regulations you might be subject to.

Conversely, if you’re working via remote connectivity, you need to make sure you’re accessing the data via a secure VPN or RDP connection. If you’re not, you need to get this in place as soon as possible to ensure your data is secure while in transit.

What does working remotely means for file access and collaboration?

If you answered Office 365, you should be in compliance as these meet minimum standards; however, there are those organizations that require heightened compliance measures when using these solutions and this may require upgrading your subscription to a more compliant variation. For example, your Office365 account may need to be increased from E2 to E3 for those familiar with how Microsoft designates these.

Finally, and most importantly, if your solutions allow for MFA, please turn this on. This is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to ensure security around your data. For those that may not be familiar with this, when you log in to an application, it sends a code to your phone which provides a number you key in addition to your username and password.

Reliable Internet Connections

What does working remotely mean for a secure home internet connection? This is pretty simple since you just need something that provides minimal bandwidth and is reliable.

However, for the employer, you will need a more robust internet connection that can handle many simultaneous secure connections since you’re going to have your entire team remotely accessing the network and, as a result, consuming bandwidth. We recommend Charter as our experience with them has been positive and the speeds are typically consistent.

Keep in mind that cloud-based apps such as Microsoft Office 365 or Google Apps do not require or put any strain on the employer’s internet bandwidth. This is because your end users are accessing those secure cloud platforms directly from their pc and internet at home; however, you do want to make sure the data is as secure as possible on a home network. We’ll talk more about this later.

Either way, your remote workforce shouldn’t have to increase their connectivity – in most cases – unless they live in rural areas in which case they may be limited.

At Throttlenet we’re here to help you decide what does working remotely mean for you and your business? How can we help you and your employees stay compliant and productive? Call us for a FREE consultation today!

In our effort to better serve you in these unusual times we are unrolling a 3-part series that covers A-Z for each aspect. Check out our blog on safety and security here.