Computerware Blog

Cost is a massive issue for nearly every single business out there. You have to have a measured approach to investment to maximize the ability to create returns. One of the best ways for companies to do this in technology is to partner with a managed services provider. “Why?” you may ask. We go into three ways we can bring value in today’s blog. 

Information technology is at the center of nearly every business operation. It plays a crucial role in enhancing productivity, enabling communication, and ensuring data security. As technology advances, however, the management of it becomes increasingly complex and can create problems for organizations. That’s why it is crucial that if your organization is going to depend on technology you will need comprehensive IT support and management. 

IT support is crucial to the success of any company in today’s fast-paced technology-focused business environment. Some organizations have an internal IT administrator, while others choose to rely on outsourced resources. Both of these are perfectly acceptable responses to the problem at hand, which is guaranteeing you have access to IT resources to keep your business running effectively.

We live in a time where technology management is confusing, and it’s mostly because every business has different strengths, needs, and budgets to work around. What works for one small business won’t work for another, and what works for a large enterprise certainly won’t do the trick for a small business. How do you cut through all the noise and get the technology assistance your business needs? The answer: managed IT services.

While browsing our website, chances are you will come across the term “managed service provider” or “MSP” more times than you can count, and that’s typically how we would describe our business model. However, we realize that this term might not necessarily mean much to you—at least, not without some context. Today, we want to clarify what MSPs do and how we can revolutionize the way you conduct business.

When it comes to your network security, there is a lot your company can do to take it seriously. However, one thing that a lot of organizations neglect is actively monitoring their networks for things that don’t quite make sense. Why is it so important to monitor your network, and how can you make sure that it happens in a way that is proactive for your company?

We are classified as a managed service provider, which is only helpful if someone knows what managed services are. That’s why we’re taking a few minutes to review what it is that managed services are, and what a managed service provider does.

You can hear what they are saying, but it just doesn't make any sense. You zone out. Cookies. Rambo. The Yankees. "Does that sound good", says your IT technician as you snap back into the conversation. "Sure!", you say reluctantly. Your tech is a master in the ancient art of Technologese.

Server issues can turn into major problems for any business. This is why it's imperative that server issues are resolved as soon as they're discovered. Even a common problem like memory failure can..umm..do..something...oh yeah! An issue like memory failure can hurt operations by causing downtime.

How many devices and technology solutions does your organization have to manage on a day-to-day basis? More often than not, small businesses have a limited quantity to work with for IT services, whether it’s a budget that’s too small or a workforce that’s too stretched. The problem is that IT troubles wait for no one, so you have to do everything you can to prevent them--even if it means asking for help from others.

Technology support is critical to the success of businesses, but investing in these solutions presents an entirely different problem--whether or not your business can afford an in-house support team. Depending on the budget, businesses often find themselves investing in IT support that’s both counter-productive and costly. We’re here to tell you that remote support and a help desk solution can mitigate costs and help you achieve a higher return on your investment.

Is technology a major problem for your organization? If so you’re just like many small businesses out there that think they can’t afford proper IT maintenance and management. Thankfully, managed services threatens this misperception by bringing affordable preventative solutions to the table.

Technology is an ever-growing part of today’s society, and skilled technicians are always in high demand. Nowadays, technology is so complex that it takes comprehensive and preventative maintenance to ensure that it continues working as intended. Innovators in the IT industry, like ourselves, have adopted a way to handle IT maintenance that helps SMBs like you better leverage your assets.

We’ll help your business differentiate break-fix IT from managed IT, and how the latter has significantly changed the industry.

How Break-Fix IT Works
The unfortunate truth of the business world is that many professionals who aren’t tech-savvy will continue to use their technology, even though it’s showing signs of degradation. This is a dangerous practice. When technology isn’t receiving necessary preventative maintenance, small issues can blossom into major problems that can no longer be ignored. Some business owners feel that putting off maintenance for as long as possible can save them money, but in the end, it winds up being much more expensive and risky.

Let’s use the automobile as an example. It works best when you provide the proper maintenance, like oil changes, tire replacements, and so on. Unfortunately, some people don’t take very good care of their cars, and what happens to them when their vehicles break down? More often than not, they pay a hefty fee for replacement parts and labor. In some cases, they might have to take a loan out to pay for an entirely new vehicle. These are expenses that can be prevented if the car receives the proper care throughout its life cycle.

How Managed IT Services Work
Break-fix IT may be designed to prolong the inevitable, but proactive managed IT services are designed to resolve issues as they become apparent, in an effort to save you money in the long run. Businesses that utilize managed IT services tend to outsource the responsibility of maintaining IT systems to third-party providers. The goal is to avoid major technology problems by resolving minor issues. For example, taking proper care of your server units and workstations can improve their lifespan, which means that you won’t have to replace them as often due to hardware failure.

The Benefits
Business owners have a lot on their plate, and they often don’t have enough time in the day to accomplish all of their goals. One of the biggest advantages of utilizing managed IT solutions is that you get back all of the time that your team would waste on wrestling with your technology solutions. Plus, replacing a critical piece of hardware before its time is up can be crippling to your budget, making it far more cost-effective to prevent problems rather than continuously replace failing technology.

Basically, the big difference between break-fix IT and proactive managed IT is the fact that you’ll be dealing with fewer technical hiccups due to regular maintenance and management. This leads to more uptime and more cost savings, allowing you to focus on what matters most: running your business.

If your team is ready to improve the way you handle technology, or you’re just sick of dealing with faulty equipment, Computerware can help. Our technicians can provide expert advice and care for your technology. To learn more, give us a call at (703) 821-8200.

Your business offers a unique set of products or services for your chosen service area. You’re an expert in your field, but there are other parts of running a business that you may not excel at. Part of hiring new employees is shoring up weaknesses in your own business model, but why not achieve the same result by outsourcing these responsibilities to a third party?

A company’s IT infrastructure includes many moving pieces. Managing it all can be a complex venture that alludes the common employee. Yet, resolving IT issues often falls on the lap of your employees, since they’re the ones facing the problems. In situations like this, it would be best if your staff could simply resolve these issues with just one simple phone call.

The latest technology solutions can provide incredible assets to your company, but they can be difficult to leverage properly if you’re not a professional technician. As the owner of a small or medium-sized business, you have an important decision to make: outsource your IT to talented professionals, or hire in-house IT technicians. More often than not, it’s more budget-friendly to outsource your IT.

Technology management is a major pain point for small and medium-sized businesses. Some organizations might have an in-house team dedicated to handling all of the technology maintenance and management while others will choose to outsource this responsibility to a managed IT service provider. While going with an MSP for your business’s IT needs has its advantages, it also presents a unique set of challenges that must be overcome.

For a business to prosper, there has to be more than a casual consideration of the expense report. Most businesses do their budget yearly, but some smaller organizations have gone to a three-month (or quarterly) budget to improve their ability to be more agile with their capital. There are times, however, where no matter what you seem to do, expenses outfox profits and your company has to take a hard look at what they are going to do to right the ship.

The advantage of managed IT service is that it allows businesses to secure the IT support they need, without having to take on the responsibility and expense of managing these services. When coupled with the development and deployment of computing resources, it becomes clear that outsourcing IT is the smart way to go for small to medium-sized businesses looking to do more for less.

How do you approach computer maintenance? Even if you don’t understand the intricacies of computer repair, you still have to somehow maintain your equipment. For IT maintenance, outsourcing is the best way to go about it. Wouldn’t it be nice if this kind of maintenance was available for more of life’s things?