The Cloud

Is Your Data Safe With an MSP?

Many businesses outsource IT to a managed service provider. Finding MSP cybersecurity protection in St. Louis is often easier than building an internal team of IT security experts, which helps companies find a competitive advantage. Entrusting this element of your business to an outsourced IT company offers many benefits, but there are also some risks since managed service providers are high-value targets for hackers. Is your data really safe with an MSP?

Learn about how top-rated MSPs protect themselves and their clients to weigh the pros and cons of outsourcing cybersecurity.

Benefits of Working with an MSP for Cybersecurity

Working with an MSP is one of the best ways for businesses to save time and resources. By outsourcing business IT, you can delegate a wide variety of different tasks to qualified professionals:

Network Management

When you let an MSP take care of your network, you can and should expect security and efficiency that provide superior value in the form of business continuity.

Data Storage

There have never been more options when it comes to keeping your data safe. Managed cloud services and data backup solutions will prevent disastrous outcomes and reduce recovery time if something does go wrong.

Cybersecurity

It’s difficult and expensive to add cybersecurity experts to an internal team. One of the best ways to save time and resources without sacrificing peace of mind is to opt for MSP cybersecurity protection.

Software and Processes

Depending on your specific business needs, the right managed service provider will be able to help optimize workflows and processes. Things like secure remote access keep your business moving forward even when employees have to work remotely.

Understanding the Threats IT Companies Face

There are many different types of ransomware, and much of it is aimed at MSPs on a daily basis. Many businesses in the St. Louis area and beyond outsource IT, which makes the managed service providers high-value targets for cybercrime. Simply put, your cybersecurity company can’t protect you until it protects itself. Here’s what that means for us here at ThrottleNet:

Data backup and recovery solutions to respond quickly when disaster strikes
File integrity monitoring to proactively verify the status of our operating system and software files on an ongoing basis
Sensitive data encryption to keep hackers and other cybercriminals at bay

Endpoint protection, including anti-virus solutions, anti-malware solutions, and network intruder protection
Continuous training and industry awareness to stay up to date with trends, news, and emerging threats
Liability insurance to cover businesses and their customers as it relates to data, which is one of the most valuable assets

Trustworthy MSP Cybersecurity Protection

Do the threats above sound familiar? They should! This is what businesses are up against, and it’s important to be informed so you can protect yourself and your customers from cyber threats. The best managed service providers leverage prevention, prediction, early detection, quick response, and continuous monitoring to implement better security practices.

Here at ThrottleNet, our clients get the same state of the art cyber protection we use to keep our own business safe. If your current provider is dropping the ball, or if you’re finally ready to make the jump to outsourced IT management, contact ThrottleNet. We’ll make a plan to get your IT systems and security in gear. Let’s connect to find the right MSP cybersecurity protection plan for your business!

CONTACT THROTTLENET

Must-Have Business IT Services

The term “IT services” can mean different things depending on who you ask. IT companies offer all kinds of different solutions that fall under the broad umbrella of managed services. That’s why it’s helpful to understand exactly which services a potential IT partner can offer. Even before that, it’s important to identify the most relevant IT services for your specific business.

Each of the following industries has its own specific technology and security needs:

If you sign up for a one-size-fits-all package, you’re almost definitely paying for things you don’t need. Even worse, there’s a good chance you’re missing out on things you do need.

Top Must-Have IT Services for Small Businesses

A true technology partner will help you build a technology plan for your specific organization. Still, it’s good to know a few things about outsourced IT management before you have that conversation. Consider these five must-have IT services to establish the pillars of your technology strategy.

1 – Managed Network Services

This is one of the most important managed IT services for most businesses. The network is what supports communication and collaboration– your employees count on it every day. The right managed network provider should be focused on the security, efficiency, and interconnectivity of all solutions critical to business continuity. To put it more simply, an IT company can handle the technology while you focus on everything else.

2 – Remote Access IT Services

This is one of the IT services some companies tried to go without, and that crippled a lot of businesses in recent memory. When you, your employees, and your customers can’t be together in the office, how do you still function as a team? You should still be able to access everything you need quickly and securely.

3 – IT Support Services

It’s easy to take the IT help desk for granted until there’s an issue. When a problem arises, though, employees and customers expect tech support to be accessible in a hurry. Look for an MSP that will be available via phone or email whenever you need a fast, effective fix. For a modern company, this also means remote troubleshooting when everything and everyone can’t be in the same place. Finally, demand IT support services that yield real solutions for all users, not just get a quick sign-off from the decision maker.

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4 – IT Security Services

Hackers are always looking for the next trick they can use to scam businesses out of money. Luckily, the most dependable MSPs stay a step ahead. Some industries are especially at risk of cyber attacks, but many hackers aren’t picky. It takes all of the following to be protected from cyber threats:

Prevention
Monitoring and Detection
Swift Disaster Recovery
User Training and Education

5 – IT Strategy Services

This is what separates a real technology partner from a cookie cutter MSP. Instead of selling IT services off of a menu, the best MSPs in St. Louis take a consultative approach. That means working with you to develop and execute a strategy that serves your specific business goals.

Best IT Services in St. Louis

Our team at ThrottleNet does it all, and we’re happy to answer any of your questions. Whether you’re pursuing managed IT services for the first time or making a switch from your current provider, we can help you. We’ll find the specific must-have solutions to meet your needs without trying to sell you anything else. Every engagement is a chance to earn our reputation as the best IT company in St. Louis. Give us a call today and see what the reviews are raving about!

How Can an IT Company Help Your Business Thrive in 2021?

The best IT company for your business in 2021 depends on your specific situation. Some businesses just want an outsourced IT partner or MSP to keep their critical technology up and running. That’s easy for us here at ThrottleNet, and of course we’re always happy to work with businesses that only need a little boost. For clients like these with simpler needs, the best IT company is one that can offer uninterrupted service and security without blowing through money that could be budgeted toward another part of the business.

Other companies have more demanding IT needs. They need more or think bigger when it comes to how technology can drive success, which puts more demands on an MSP to leverage technology and create a competitive advantage. The best IT companies love to work for this type of client because they more fully leverage our strengths and abilities.

Marvel’s The Flash probably enjoys a leisurely stroll from time to time. But baby, he was born to run! A true technology superhero wants to find innovative ways to push forward, actualize potential, and elevate a business to new heights.

Getting More from Your IT Partner in 2021

If that sounds like what you have in mind for the next year, think carefully before you hire an IT company for 2021. Many MSPs can provide the bare minimum, but only the best technology partners in St. Louis strive to do more and do it better. What does “more and better” really mean in terms of an MSP, though?

Here are a few ways to consider potential growth with an outsourced IT partner in 2021.

If these seven questions expose weaknesses in your technology, you don’t have the right MSP to lead you through 2021 and the years beyond.

Will this MSP help you and your team access the best technology tools and IT services for your specific industry? How much more productive will that make you?
Can enterprise-level data analytics and back-end integration help you gain insights and do more with less?
Which tasks and processes can be digitized or automated? What will the staff do with extra time when they aren’t performing rote tasks?
How can collaboration software make it easier for employees to communicate and get things done as a team? Do they know when to deploy Microsoft Office 365, Slack, Zoom, or something else?
Can the different software that allows you to communicate, back up data, and share files be integrated to provide a more seamless experience?
When it’s hard to be together in the office, can employees work remotely? Is your 2021 IT company prepared to facilitate a “work from home” business structure that combines software, cloud solutions, and the necessary hardware?
Is your MSP equipped to shut down scammers and other growing cybersecurity risks?

Choosing an Outsourced Business IT Company

Business leaders don’t have to get into the technical weeds to solve IT problems– that’s the MSP’s job. Simply look for a provider with the IT services your business needs to thrive:

A responsive help desk with around the clock support
Documentation and training for new systems and procedures
IT consulting and planning services to identify opportunities
Modern tools and technologies that work together to meet your needs
Scalability to satisfy business needs now and as your company grows
Business continuity services to maintain operations no matter what
Transparency and commitment to a productive relationship
Proven experience and industry-specific expertise

Best St. Louis MSP for 2021

Here at ThrottleNet, we’re proud of the recognition we received for providing superior cybersecurity and IT reliability in 2020. We’re also technologists, though, so we stay focused on the future. Reach out to us to hear what we’ll do to be the best IT company again in 2021.

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.

There’s NO Time for DOWNTIME

When it comes to business continuity, there’s no time for downtime. Without top-tier security, even the best IT can be quickly rendered useless. Cyber-criminals use sophisticated tools to scan the internet looking for opportunities. Right now, as businesses scramble to make it work from remote home offices and reduced on-site teams, the internet is teeming with insidious opportunity.

32% of all businesses with 11-49 employees have reported a cyber attack within the last 12 months. - 2017 State of Cybersecurity, Better Business Bureau

Cyber-criminals don’t discriminate. Anyone can be a target. It doesn’t matter if you’re a non-profit, small business, or larger enterprise. if your business depends on technology to run smoothly (and nowadays, whose doesn’t?), it only makes sense to secure it properly.

Will IT Security Slow My Business Down?

“Thanks to the knowledgeable support team at ThrottleNet, our network is running faster and more efficient than ever before.” – Dr. Richard Goldberg

Having strong IT security doesn’t mean making every internal transaction require 2-factor authentication or that you need to install retina scanning to access your server. It means finding the right software and protocols for your needs and implementing them in smart ways that work for you. Often it simply requires that your staff and your policies follow some simple best practices, and your software is properly protected. ThrottleNet’s Custom IT Security Solutions Are the Perfect Fit

IT Security = Business Continuity

65% of all businesses could not remain profitable for more than three months if they permanently lost access to essential data. - 2017 State of Cybersecurity, Better Business Bureau

You’re in the business of staying in business. Do you have a business continuity plan? Is security is included? You know how much productivity is affected when your email goes down (we make sure it doesn’t). Now imagine not having access to your server or your essential files and data for a day. For a week? What if your data is held hostage with ransomware by someone demanding payment in bitcoin; would your business survive?

According to the Ponemon Institute, a leading private research organization that conducts independent research on privacy, data protection and information security policy, the average cost of cleaning up after being hacked stands at $690,000 for small businesses and over $1 million for mid-market companies. Most businesses can’t afford that kind of expense, especially in the faltering economy and uncertain future of COVID-19.

How Does IT Security Help You Keep the Lights On?

60% of small companies are unable to sustain their businesses over six months after a cyber attack. - U.S. National Cyber Security Alliance

The first key to IT security is prevention. Every network in the world shares a common weakest link – its users. Keeping your staff keenly trained on best practices and on the lookout for threats is your number one defense against cyber crime. Don’t overlook this crucial element in your IT security strategy!

The next key is protection. Getting targeted by a cyberattack might be inevitable, but getting penetrated is not. A proactive cyber defense plan will not only engage your employees as a security force, but use technology solutions to shield your network, databases, and communication systems from viruses, phishing, ransomware, malware, and all other tools criminals use attack your business.

Must-have IT security technologies include:

Firewalls
Offsite backups with cloud replication

Threat monitoring
Virus/malware/adware detection and removal

Software patches
Heuristic Threat Detecting Software

Don’t forget about your policies and procedures! Tools are only effective if you use them correctly.

The third key is planning. In the event of a cyber-attack, you need your business to be part of the 40 percent that survives. This means having a complete disaster recovery and business continuity plan in place with technology at its core. In the old days, of paper and physical theft and destruction, what was lost was lost forever and there was no going back. But we live in the future now, and technology has mitigated that risk. Play your security strategy right, and your business can be back up, running, and recovering in no time.

ThrottleNet Keeps the Lights on For You

“Ultimately, ThrottleNet’s quick response and expertise has been crucial in supporting our infrastructure at RBO PrintLogistix.” – Jim Riley, CEO and President of RBO PrintLogistix

Backing up data is one thing; testing the backups is another. What good is a backup file if it’s infected with the same ransomware that’s holding your data hostage? The time to plan is before there’s an emergency; redundancies are now essential. By working together, we’ll make sure your business has a plan to stay up and running.

Explore a Managed IT Security Solution for Your Business

What is an outsourced IT company?

Outsourced IT companies are businesses you hire to manage your company’s information technology. Outsourced IT companies service some or all of your IT functions required for business, virtually. By outsourcing IT solutions, your company can meet all of its information technology needs today without the hassle of managing projects internally or hiring new employees.

As many St. Louis area businesses are now working partly or entirely from home during the coronavirus pandemic, now is a good time to assess whether outsourcing your IT is a good fit for your business. Let’s have a look at six big advantages of outsourced IT solutions.

Services Included With Outsourced IT Solutions

The tasks and services included withoutsourced IT solutions can vary depending on your business and the IT company you choose. The services can be broken into two main categories, IT Management and Cyber Security.

IT Management

What aspects of my business can an outsourced IT company remotely monitor?

Servers
Routers

Computers
Backups

Networks
Software

Printers
Cloud

Cyber Security

Security risks to your critical business data and your customers’ information is an ever-increasing threat. Ransomware attacks and phishing attacks are among the leading security risks. By outsourcing IT solutions, you can get cutting-edge managed protection against:

Ransomware
Malware

Viruses & Worms
Phishing Attacks

Brute Force Attacks

65% of all businesses could not remain profitable for more than three months if they permanently lost access to essential data.

Knowing that the threat is high, and the risk is even higher every business should have a dedicated staff to combat threats and manage security. There are options to protect yourself, such as hiring one dedicated employee to oversee all IT management and security. That option is a very tall order for one employee. A company that is large enough might be able to shoulder the cost of an entire team. For companies that cannot bear the cost of an entire team, outsourcing IT solutions is their best option. Let’s look at some of the advantages of outsourcing your IT department.

Advantages of Outsourcing IT Solutions

Reduce Labor Cost
Every business has the same goal to reduce cost and increase profit. Employees cost more than their salary. They take vacations, sick days, and mental health days. They need benefits and retirement packages.
Decrease Risk
Most companies cannot afford an entire team. A virtual IT company is a team of dedicated professionals that work around the clock to meet all of your needs. Experienced professionals at a Virtual IT company such as Throttlenet see related problems that you experience multiple times with other clients. An inhouse employee might be experiencing for the first time and on their own. Real-world experience is priceless.
Quickly Implement New Technology
Implementing new software or any new technology can result in downtime and long timelines. A quality outsourced IT service will have the resources to start right away without hiring new people and training them.
Increase Competitiveness
Large businesses have the advantage of having enough resources to implement cutting edge technology. By outsourcing, smaller businesses have access to those same resources for a fraction of the cost.
Focus On Your Core Business
You didn’t create your manufacturing, financial, real estate business, or a non-profit to spend time on IT management and security. Your passion is the core of your business. That is where your expertise is valued most and should be the focus of your time.
Technical Support Is Always Available
Peace of mind is priceless. By outsourcing IT solutions, there is a reliable team available for any unexpected crisis. Solutions to questions are a phone call, chat, or email away.

Outsourced IT solutions provide peace of mind from fax to cloud. If you’d like more information about what an award-winning Managed Service Provider can do for your business, get started with a free assessment of your IT network and cyber security.