ThrottleNet

Managed IT services, support and cybersecurity

What to Look for in a Managed Network

Managed Network Articles

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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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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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!

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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.

Security Services Included With Managed Network golden computer monitor with green and dark blue girl icon

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.
  1. 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?
  2. Can enterprise-level data analytics and back-end integration help you gain insights and do more with less?
  3. Which tasks and processes can be digitized or automated? What will the staff do with extra time when they aren’t performing rote tasks?
  4. 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?
  5. Can the different software that allows you to communicate, back up data, and share files be integrated to provide a more seamless experience?
  6. 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?
  7. 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:

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.