ThrottleNet

Managed IT services, support and cybersecurity

IT Strategies for 2021

continuity

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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“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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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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Give Your Customers an Amazing Experience

Customer experience has always been important to successful businesses, and especially so today. As we grapple with the chaos COVID-19 has caused, companies are identifying new opportunities to delight customers and win more business. With people increasingly turning to software and online services to meet their needs, businesses need to leverage the appropriate technology to serve them. While completing this new digital transformation, companies should take the opportunity to create an amazing and memorable customer experience. Adaptable businesses will be able to survive and thrive even in the wake of a global pandemic.

Seven Ways to Improve Customer Experience with Technology

Building a strong business technology foundation so you have the opportunity to operate, communicate, and serve your customers online. When business leaders are struggling to see the big picture, thinking about the following seven facets of the customer experience may help.

1 – Continuity

Can your business roll with the punches and maintain continuous operations when circumstances change quickly? If your technology failed you when employees transitioned to remote work, it’s time to implement secure remote access and equip your team with the appropriate devices and software.

2 – Communication

Modern customers expect to be able to get in touch with you easily and conveniently. When they reach out, they want to make certain they are heard. Minimizing wait time for responses and resolutions makes people feel cared for, especially when there are systems in place that keep them updated along the way.

Leverage technology in a way that prepares you to listen and respond effectively via email, phone, and online outreach channels. Leverage tools like the cloud for things like documents, forms, and templates. Use VOIP phone systems to route calls, monitor communications, record calls, and more. Facilitate good customer communication by giving your employees accurate and up-to-date customer and business data. Follow through with clear and effective communications during the entire customer experience.

The goal should be to unify your communications systems so they can work together and power up your business efficiency and service quality.

3 – Software

Depending on the nature of your company, your software needs may go much deeper than communication. When you work with a trustworthy and experienced MSP, you’ll get access to the right tools and advanced integrations that bring it all together. An MSP can also help you customize your software to configure it for your specific business needs.

4 – Security

Some consumers are still nervous about moving their customer experiences to the digital realm. They are wise to be cautious about security. Outsource your cybersecurity if that’s what it takes to build trust and make everyone confident that your customer data is safe.

5 – Training

Employees should feel confident and comfortable with the technology systems they rely on to do their jobs. Customers get uneasy when the staff is struggling and getting frustrated. Better tools, role-based configurations, and effective training will eliminate headaches

6 – Business Data

Protecting data is only part of what the best MSPs in St. Louis can do. Better IT also produces better data in the first place, which allows you to refine business processes and improve customer experience.

7 – IT Recovery Solutions

Do you remember the time your company was down for a minute but got right back online? Probably not, because there’s nothing to remember. Downtime that lasts hours or days, though, is much more memorable for employees and customers alike.

Gartner has estimated that downtime costs businesses an average of $5,600 per minute (over $300,000 per hour), and that was back in 2014. Now it’s even more important to address problems and bounce back quickly. Every minute matters, so make sure your IT support team has a good backup strategy and disaster recovery plan.

Best St. Louis MSP to Improve Customer Experience

When you’re focused on improving customer experience, the right technology can make all of the difference. Here at ThrottleNet, we’re consistently rated as the top MSP in St. Louis because of our ability to work across a variety of different industries. No matter your specific business needs, we’ll find a way to improve customer experience in a way that helps you win more repeat business. Contact us today, and our experts will put together a customized plan for you.

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.

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