How Much Do Managed IT Services Cost for Businesses?

On average, SMBs spend between $10,000 and $49,000 every year on technology. Out of these SMBs, 22% feel like they're spending too much.

Are you part of this demographic? Then you may want to look into managed IT services, as this can help cut down on costs.

In this article, we'll give you a short guide to managed services pricing so you can figure out if it's right for you.


Factors That Affect IT Services Cost

As you may have guessed, there's no single price for managed IT services. The exact amount you'll have to pay depends on several factors. Let's explore these IT costs below.


Your Information Technology Needs

Managed IT services entail quite a few things. They can include:

• Antivirus updates
• Managed firewalls
• IT helpdesk
• File security
• Data backup and disaster recovery
• Employee training

By outsourcing your IT services, you can pick and choose the services you need. Obviously, if you only need IT helpdesk services, then you'll pay a lot less than a client that chooses more services from the above list.

For example, if you're planning on having some sort of small in-house IT team, then you won't need as many outsourced managed IT services; this keeps the costs low. But on the other hand, if you choose to fully outsource, then you'll need to allocate more of your budget to this area.


Your Company's Technology Infrastructure

If your business isn't very tech-heavy and your employees use their computers and phones for very basic purposes, then the managed IT provider won't have to work as hard, meaning the pricing shouldn't be as high.

But if your tech infrastructure requires lots of interconnectivity between laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, and more, then this will take more time and effort for the managed IT provider. This may result in higher prices.


The Pricing Model You Choose

There are several pricing models a managed IT provider may have. They can either be a flat fee you pay on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. Or they can be a per-user or per-device pricing model.

If you feel like your IT needs will fluctuate constantly, then either per-user or per-device may be best for you. For instance, if you're just starting out, then your business may grow significantly in the near future, meaning you'll acquire more employees and devices.

Otherwise, flat-based fees will probably offer the most cost-savings in the long run. This is best for companies that are more well-established and won't see exponential growth anytime soon.

If the provider offers all 3 options, then you can even switch from each type, depending on how your business is doing. This allows you to accommodate your budget better.


Consider Managed IT Services for Your Business

Now you know the costs that come with managed IT services, depending on what your company's needs are. As you can see, prices are very straightforward, so you know what to expect whenever you are billed.

For the above reason, it is an excellent idea to outsource your IT. So research some managed IT companies like IT solutions and start saving some money!

Did you enjoy this article on managed IT services pricing? Then please check out our other blog posts on all things information technology. Visit the Tech section of the Bootstrap Business Blog right now!

POS Technology Maintenance Guide For System Protection

Nothing will drop your business like malfunctioning Point Of Sale (POS) technology.

Just ask Starbucks. Several years ago they suffered an outage, rendering their POS technology useless for a short period of time. This outage forced baristas to hand out thousands of free drinks to satisfy irritated customers. 

Regular maintenance on your POS will keep it running longer and smoother.

Understanding the POS management system installed in your store helps you know how to maintain it properly. Maintain your POS technology with these simple steps. Keep reading to learn more about Point Of Sale tech for your business!


Know Your POS Technology

Understand how your POS technology works. Read the manual from cover to cover to familiarize yourself with it. 

Then conduct an inspection regularly. Keep an eye out for dirt or dust buildup that could cause problems to your Point Of Sale system. 

Your eyes are your first line of defense for problems. Regularly inspecting the POS will help you see a problem before you have one. 


Keep It Clean

POS management systems are particularly susceptible to the filth that will compromise their effectiveness. Grease, grime, and dust clog pores.

If you run a restaurant, your POS will shut down more quickly than other businesses. You must keep it clean.

Start with the manual. Read it. Do not do anything to your POS that would void its warranty.

So even if you read that you should use vinegar on your POS, see what your manual says first. 

Next, turn off the components. You want nothing on while you clean the POS. This means you should clean the POS either before you open for the day or after the last customer has left.

Then, start dry. Begin with a dry cloth to dust the POS. Use small tools to scrape out any crevices where grease and gunk have gathered.

Try to find a microfiber cloth. These have special fibers that basically suck up dust. They attract the dirt you're trying to remove.

Once you've thoroughly dusted your machine, break out the distilled water. Use only distilled water if you use any to clean the POS. 

Then dry your POS system thoroughly. 

Remember to clean the inside of your computer. Dust can accumulate and then cause your point-of-sale system to overheat.

Remove the buildup from finger sensors with a piece of tape and wipe your POS technology inside and out. 


Keep It Cool

Overheating will cause your POS technology to shut down. Sometimes overheating will cause damage beyond repair.

For these reasons, you need to keep your POS well ventilated.

Keep your POS in a cool area. Do not place it against a wall or anywhere that would block the flow of air through the unit. 

Most units already have some sort of cooling fan. Unfortunately, most need more than the fan they come with. So keep them in a place with cool air movement. 


Keep It Consistent

Use the POS consistently. This means you need to train staff on how to use the system, but do not let everyone use it.

Make sure you train them thoroughly in the proper protocol. Make sure they know how to use your system.

Have a staff in-service or meeting to train new staff on how to properly run the POS technology. 

Create a manual of protocol or cheat sheets near the system. This way your staff can see how to run the machine.

Use the basic methods of teaching to teach your staff how to use the system:

1. Show them how to use it.
2. Have them practice using it with you watching.
3. Have them use it alone.

Encourage them to not just mash buttons when they get confused. Instead, they need to ask questions. 

If a staff member breaks your POS technology, you will lose business. Take time to train them well. 

In that training, make sure they use their fingers and not a pen.  Teach your staff to not just touch the screen with a pen.

Engineers designed touch screens with pressure sensitivity. They respond best to fingers until someone uses a different tool. Use your fingers.  


Keep It Up to Date

Begin with reliable POS software. You will spend a big chunk of change on this software. You want something you can trust.

Then, as you maintain it, consult experts. Use a point-of-sale system repair service should your POS system go down. The software engineers and technicians know best how to keep your POS running and keep you in business. 

You can troubleshoot some on your own as well. Begin by rebooting your system regularly. Try to do this daily when your business is not open. 

Make the reboot a regular part of the closing checklist for your employees. Put it somewhere between "clean the bathroom" and "shut off the lights." 

In addition to rebooting, you should back your system up regularly. If you are not already using a back up for your data, use one.

You can use an external hard drive or an off-site data storage company. This way if something happens to your business, your data will still be safe. 

To back up your system regularly, you need to purge data as well. Get rid of what you do not need. If you do not know if you'll need the data, send it to that off-site database. 

Check your system regularly for updates. Then download those as soon as possible. Updates keep your POS technology running bug-free. 

An old system will not run efficiently. So when you purge data, back up the system, and update the system, you will have smoother running POS technology. 


Keep Your POS Technology Running

Successful businesses thrive on the details. POS technology maintenance qualifies as some of those details. Payment is always a top priority for businesses to survive and thrive.

Dusting, cleaning, updating, purging, and backing up your POS technology will keep it up and running. And you can rest easy knowing you will not lose a sale with your properly function Point Of Sale system.

Why AWS Cost Optimization Should Be Part Of A Cloud Strategy

One of the main reasons why companies move their workload to cloud services is for economic benefits. However, many firms ignore the opportunity to make higher AWS cost optimization as they are satisfied with the initial OpEx and CapEx gains. Even if they move their workloads to AWS (Amazon Web Services), most of them retain the approach they used on the physical infrastructure. But they might fail to see that this approach might end up costing more than them saving up. 

This is one of the main things that the in-house technology lacks, the operational, architectural, and financial knowledge to manage costs. Hence, AWS Premier Consulting Partners are available to ensure that the company's current cloud strategy is integrated with the AWS cloud and cost optimization is maintained. 

Begin By Understanding The Present Cost Of The Company 

A good AWS cost optimization application in the company requires gaining a deep understanding of the company's current costs, identifying opportunities for cost optimization, and then implementing the new ones. Software like SWS provides those tools for the customers to understand the pattern of expenses. Additionally, the consultants will be required to implement things like using appropriate tools, system analysis and results, and other changes to make the work optimized. They ensure that these changes do not affect the security or the performance of the company negatively. 

Cost Management Tools That Companies Must Have 

AWS issues cost management tools to help companies understand how they are using their resources and how to save them. 

1) The AWS Cost-Usage Report 

This provides a detailed report of the day-to-day or the hour-to-hour usage of all the company's resources, their use, and the cost incurred. 

2) Cost Explorer 

This tool provides aggregate and detailed reports that can be custom-designed, including charts and tabular data to understand and manage company expenses. This tool also allows to filter different costs and usage and group them to identify any recurring trends, detect anomalies and manage the factors influencing the costs. 

3) Cloud Watch 

It is an efficient tool that gathers and tracks metrics and provides an insight into the performance of the application and utilization of resources. 

4) CloudCheckr And CloudHealth 

They provide detailed billing analytics of the company. CloudCheckr, for instance, can identify unused and idle resources and services, mismatched EC2 (Electronic Compute Cloud), and provide suggestions for resource re-sizing. 

What Are The Cost-Cutting Opportunities That An AWS Consulting Partner Can Find? 

There are numerous tools available to understand and analyze the current cost of the company. With a thorough understanding of the company's business goals and the AWS environment, they can create a custom dashboard containing default usage reports and cost management reports. There are some changes that they can make to lower expenditure, and they are: 

1) Taking The Spot Instances Into Account 

They help find EC2 on sale, which are largely unused and available at steep discounts. If the company has a little flexibility about a few interruptions when their applications run, the EC2 costs can be lowered using Spot instances. 

2) Substituting Monolithic Applications 

Consultants can help replace old applications with high-performance, cost-efficient, and highly specific tasks like AWS Lambda functions. 

3) Identifying And Removing Unused Resources 

They help determine the resources that are no longer in use in the production units, testing, and development and remove them from consuming the company's resources and additional costs. 

4) Adding the Most Efficient Resources 

The consultants refer to the AWS cloud's performance data, and they make sure that the right services and resources are used in the company to provide maximum efficiency. 

5) Using Additional AWS Services 

Additional AWS services like CodeCommit, CodeDeploy, and CodeBuild are implemented to ensure organized and automated deployment processes. 

Overall Benefits Of Having An AWS Cost Optimization Strategy 

A strong foundation for an AWS cost optimization strategy can be laid by working with a consultant from an AWS Premier Consulting Partner. Many companies may find it difficult to analyze their resources, cost, suggesting changes, and implementing improvements, when done alone. Due to this, numerous businesses end up impacting their performance and security. This can happen because of under-providing the resources or not attempting to take full advantage of the AWS infrastructure. But working with AWS Premier Consulting Partners like Mission can help companies avoid these issues and make the expenses more economical. With continuous monitoring of the cost and resources and AWS cost optimization methods, the company is bound to make significant gains.

4 Ways to Lower IT Costs for Your Business

Is your small business operating at the forefront of technology?

If you’re anything like most small business owners, the answer is no. Many small businesses aren't taking full advantage of technology. And if you’re aren’t, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table.

What’s preventing you from fully digitizing your business? The high cost, no doubt.

What if we told you that making your business IT-friendly doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg? It’s true. As long as you have a sound digitization plan, it’s possible to lower your IT budget.

In this article, we’re giving you effective tips for reducing your IT costs. Keep reading for information technology insights!


Design an Achievable IT Vision

While we would all like our small businesses to be as tech-forward as Silicon Valley’s tech startups, the reality is that finances usually don’t allow for it. While you’re probably relying on loans and personal funds to keep your business on its feet, most of those tech startups are bankrolled by founders and venture capitalists with boatloads of cash.

This is why the tech vision for your business should be realistic and achievable.

For instance, you don't need to automate every business function, even if it's possible to automate all of them. In some cases, automating a few that require the most human input can translate to significant cost savings.


Avoid Buying High-End Tech for Your Small Business

It would be great if you could install the latest, high-end computers in every workstation in your office. However, this is unnecessary and, frankly, a waste of money.

For every tech device that’s insanely expensive, there’s always a cheaper alternative that delivers similar performance and is just as durable. Keep this in mind when shopping for various IT equipment and you’ll save big bucks.


IT Outsourcing Is Cheaper

Unless your business is new, you’ve probably considered outsourcing some functions, such as marketing and payroll.

IT is one of the functions you ought to outsource.

First, building an in-house IT department can eat into your budget. Hiring full-time employees comes with additional expenses beyond their salary.  

Second, as long as you’re careful with who you contract as your provider of managed IT services, you’ll rest assured that you’re working with experienced professionals. What’s more, an IT provider is in a better position to handle your business's changing tech needs as it grows. 


Embrace Cloud Technology

As your business expands, so will its data storage needs. In the past, this would mean buying more data storage equipment or even setting up an in-house data center.

Today, you don’t have to waste money and space storing your organization data. Thanks to cloud technology, you now have a low-cost, more efficient solution. You only need to buy extra storage space when your business needs it.


Slashing Your IT Budget to Size

Creating a tech-forward small business isn’t a cheap affair, but neither is it super expensive. With the right information and expertise, it’s possible to have the best tech without blowing your IT budget. And we’ve just served you some of that information on information technology tips!

Keep tabs on our blog for more on how to make the most of technology. Visit the Tech section right now to learn more about information technology for businesses on a budget.

Understanding Application Control For Enterprise Network Security

Owning and operating a business of any kind can be challenging nowadays. Demands are high, with many factors to juggle. From growing revenue and minimizing expenses, to managing investments and cash flow, to retaining and growing the client base and hiring and firing staff, the list can seem never-ending. In addition to complying with government regulations, managing benefits, and paying your taxes- work as a business owner is never finished. 

Along with these challenges and others, add cybersecurity as another demand that has become increasingly important for businesses of all sizes in all industries. Cyber threats have continued to evolve and increase in frequency and the damage they cause. In fact, Cybersecurity Ventures estimates than in the five years ending in 2021, more than $1 trillion will have been spent on cybersecurity products and services. 

A Business Owner's Role In Cybersecurity 

While business owners can delegate authority, they should take an active role in securing their business online because low security can take such a devastating toll. Owners or top-level managers should be directly involved in: 

● Setting rules and regulations for online safety and consistently enforcing adherence to policy 

● Providing the necessary training for staff 

● Hiring an IT team and security team, if possible 

● Investing in the right kind of cybersecurity software 

Cybersecurity is a balance between people, processes, and technology. The business owner must manage risk and reward, making tradeoffs on where to invest. Still, they are ultimately responsible for protecting sensitive and customer personally identifiable information (PII). 

The Best Enterprise Cybersecurity Software 

Cloud-based endpoint detection and response (EDR) is the future of cybersecurity. EDR solutions collect, record, and store large volumes of data from endpoint activities to provide IT and security professionals with the comprehensive visibility they need to detect, investigate, and mitigate advanced cyber threats. 

EDR is often equated to highly-skilled security professionals or security operations centers (SOCs), who use their exceptional experience and knowledge to navigate the EDR data stores to uncover subtle activities that indicate compromise. Endpoint Protection Endpoint security protects the corporate network when accessed by in-network and remote devices like laptops and mobile platforms. Each remote endpoint connecting to the network creates a potential external threat to the system, and endpoint protection is designed to secure each of those devices. By controlling the parameters on edge or outside the network, enterprises can better and more safely deploy "bring your own device" (BYOD) or work from home programs. 

EDR And Application Control 

No discussion on EDR is complete without a look at application control. Providing ransomware protection and app control, EDR platforms can block or restrict unauthorized applications from executing in ways that put data in jeopardy. By whitelisting or blacklisting applications, end users will know what apps and executables they can trust. In an EDR environment, IT and security teams can manage endpoints and applications from a single platform and single pane of glass across the entire enterprise. 

Optimizing Application Control 

Companies are becoming increasingly dependent on stand-alone applications in daily business operations. The main objective of application control is to ensure the privacy and security of data used by and transmitted between applications. 

Application control is optimized by managing the following attributes: 

● Completeness Checks– Ensure records processing from start to finish 
● Validity Checks– Ensure only valid data is processed 
● Identification– Absolute identification of users 
● Authorization– Ensures users are approved 
● Forensics– Controls are in place to scientifically verify correct inputs, outputs, and traceability of activity 

Optimized application controls also provide for: 

● Automatic identification of trusted applications 
● Preventing the execution of unauthorized applications 
● Protection against exploits of unpatched OS and application vulnerabilities 
● Reduced exposure and risk from malware 
● Improved network stability 

The Responsibility Of Cybersecurity 

Owning and operating an enterprise-size organization comes with a variety of responsibilities, but none more important for long term success than protecting the vital data that is the lifeblood of the company. Cloud-based EDR and application control provides advanced protection against threats like ransomware, which comprised nearly 152 million attacks in 2019. 

All business decisions come down to risk and reward and investment and return. The question every business owner must answer is what tradeoffs need to be made to invest effectively and defend against the very real threat of cyber attack.

What Is Data Governance? Your Complete Guide To Data Governance

Data theft is on the rise - and growing. According to Statista, data breaches in the U.S. climbed from 157 cases to over 1,400 cases in just five years. Just in the last year, these data breaches led to the exposure of 164 million personal records. 

Oftentimes, data is stolen as a result of poor (or nonexistent) data governance. But what is data governance? 

Read on to learn the ins and outs of data governance, why it's important, and how it can protect your company's success. 

What Is Data Governance? 

While some data are publicly available, other data can't be viewed by everyone who wants to see it. Sensitive, personal, and secret information must be kept safe - and only dispersed to those authorized to view it. 

When data needs this type of management and protection, data governance comes to bat. A data steward - the person(s) in charge of protecting and managing data - can decide the best ways to keep data safe. They're also in charge of determining when, how, and to whom this protected data should be shared with. 

Data Governance: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly 

Good data governance is easier said than done. There's a lot of policies that weigh into how data is stored and shared. There are a few rules of thumb that data stewards have to follow: 

• Data must be stored in a highly secure location. 
• Data can only be shared with individuals who are granted authorization to do so. 
• Data must be shared securely to those with authorization - ideally through encrypted protection. 

Ultimately, failure to govern data correctly can result in lawsuits, client distrust, and even the economic downfall of a company. If you think that these mistakes are only made by smaller businesses, guess again. Data breaches occurring as a result of improper data governance happens to major global industries as well. 

Tips For Data Governance Shopping 

Clearly, securing a good data governance system is imperative to anyone holding important data. If you're looking for data governance for your business or company, you'll want to be sure that the data stewards are experts in secure data management and protection. 

When you're shopping for a data governance provider, look for services that can prove their credibility and clearly explain their governance processes. If they don't have a strong online presence or reputation, they may not be legitimate. You'll also want to interview those offering governance services before sharing any sensitive data with them. 

An important question to ask these governors is how they store and share data. If the information you're providing to them won't be accessible to you, this is likely a red flag. Look for data governance providers that offer public cloud services, which allow you and other authorized persons easy and safe access to this information. 

Get The Best Governance For Your Data 

So what is data governance? In short, it's security and reassurance that your data are in good hands. 

If you have data that needs protection and strong management, you're going to need to secure it with the best data governance possible. Be sure to do plenty of research and ask questions before making an agreement with any data governors. 

Remember - like any service, there are a ton of options out there, so take your time and find the best data governance providers for your needs. Once you've finalized your decision, you can kick back and relax knowing that your data are in good hands. 

Interested in learning more about data security and technology? Check out more of our articles. From video editing technology to virtual content marketing, we cover a wide range of areas that will prepare you for success at home and in the workplace.

5 Reasons Why Businesses Need Records Management Systems

Records management is an important part of any business no matter what industry these companies are part of. All companies will have important documentation they need to keep a record of. However, sometimes it can be difficult to manage these documents. 

Perhaps this is a service you provide or need? Remember that records management is a commercial service and there are liabilities involved. You’ll need the proper legal advice to get it right along with the systems you incorporate. This will be the role of the commercial lawyers Melbourne practices can put you in contact with. 

Let’s discuss this matter of business records in detail so those who provide and use the systems know how to do it right the first time. 

1. Complete Control Over The Growth Of Records 

Companies that have been in their trade for many years, will have extreme record growth. Even though more companies are opting for digital document solutions it’s still crucial to keep physical files too. Therefore, companies will require a place to store a large number of physical files. 

Businesses will need to have complete control of these documents so they will decide on the following: 

- The number of files stored in each box 
- How these files are labelled 
- When these files need to be destroyed based on their retention periods 
- How many files or boxes they want to send to a storage company 
- The number of files that must stay on site 
- Security that safeguards sensitive files 

At the end of the day, businesses must have full control over their documents even though you’re giving them a means of storage. If you’d like assistance in the legal aspect of how to operate a document storage facility, find commercial lawyers Melbourne businesses trust for the proper advice. 

2. The Ease of Retrieval 

Since the number of documents can be quite high, how do businesses find the records they’re looking for at any given time? Well, perhaps consider physical as well as digital storage. With both physical and digital systems in place, it will make it easier to retrieve documentation. 

Some files such as medical records and legal records must be kept in a physical format. That’s why most storage companies have both digital and physical storage systems. 

Some document storage facilities work on a barcode system. Each physical file and box is labelled with a barcode that’s scanned onto a digital platform. 

These boxes and files are then placed in a location in a warehouse that’s also bar-coded. Every time a box or file is moved from the location and placed in another one these area codes are scanned. This is so documents can be found easily when searched for on a computer. 

Here are the benefits of physical and digital storage: 

- You adhere to legal document retention periods 
- Improves workflow 
- Documents can be retrieved with a click of a button 
- Records are kept safe 

3. Incorporate New Records Management Technology 

Digital storage systems are now changing. There are cloud servers that people store all their personal documents on to save on paper and floor space. You too can assimilate the latest digital storage technology for your company. 

However, the latest technology isn’t simply digital storage. It could be robotic box retrievers or digital systems that will find a file and deliver it to you without the need for human labour. 

Capturing file information onto a digital system could also be made easier with scanning technology. All you have to do is run a file under a scanner and it will record the words onto a computer. 

Scanning will eliminate the need for data capturers and it will be much faster transferring information onto digital platforms. 

4. It Safeguards Sensitive Documentation 

Some storage companies have vaults to keep physical confidential documentation in. These vaults can only be accessed by authorised personnel. It’s crucial that you work with a maximum of three authorised people responsible for these files to keep them safeguarded. 

Ensure you have a tracking system so that there’s a record of anyone going in and out of the vault to retrieve documents. For digital documentation, there is top-notch malware and antiviruses on all devices. These digital security platforms will keep documentation safe from hackers. 

5. Reduce Operating Costs 

Opting for offsite document storage reduces operation costs. To store records on site, employees will have to file papers, label and capture them onto their systems. The disadvantage of this is that it’s extremely time consuming and businesses will have to pay these employees for their labour. 

If businesses use off site storage facilities it will reduce labour costs because the third-party company will do all the work. 

Final Thoughts On Business Record Management Systems

The history of records management systems go back hundreds of years. Much of what we know about history is all thanks to the preservation of documentation. That’s why it’s important for businesses to keep records because it backs up corporate memory. 

Businesses should have proper records management and commercial legal assistance in case of theft, damage or lawsuits from third parties. How up to date is your record system?

Emerging Tech Innovations That Pose Business Risks

We live in a world that becomes more technologically advanced every single day. This is especially true in concerns to business needs. In the distant past, companies made do with pen and paper, but in the fast-paced and rapidly changing times technology is a must.

As with most good things, however, there is always the potential for the bad to occur. Those who wish to harm people are gaining access to technology to do that - and your business is very likely to be next on their list.

It's clear that without the latest in cybersecurity technology on your side, there are plenty of risks that could come your way. Here are just a few of the latest tech that you need to be wary for the sake of your company. Read on to learn more about new cybersecurity technology giving businesses anxiety.


Take Cybersecurity Technology Measures Against Deepfake

You've probably heard about Deepfake, a, AI program known for its ability to manipulate video and audio to make the results appear lifelike. Over the years, it's become increasingly better and more intuitive to use.

Unfortunately, hackers can use this impressive technology to their advantage as well. There's a high possibility that hackers can use this technology for phishing scams by acting as someone else to get unlucky victims to hand over their private information.

If you plan on using this technology, make sure you take extra steps to be careful before you do.


Quantum Computers May Break the Crypto World

The good news is that quantum computers aren't widespread enough to cause total panic. The not-so-good news is that they do exist - and that alone is enough to cause concern.

Big-name companies like Microsoft and Google have announced that they created what was previously considered just a theoretical concept: the quantum computer. As much of a feat as this is, it also leaves a looming threat over the cryptocurrency industry.

The computers' raw power and abilities have the potential to break encryptions currently placed on cryptocurrencies meaning that it could by extent affect your business as well.


5G Can Be a Danger to Itself

We all love the idea of leveling up in the tech world, and the upgrade from 4G to 5G is a big deal. As it continues to roll out, however, the hackers will be using it as another venue to take care of their dirty work.

The increased 5G speeds would help evildoers to do their damage faster, and even shut down important features before a countermeasure can be made. Hopefully, in the coming years, they'll make this 5G technology as safe as it is impressive.

With these (and many other) tech threats around, you'll want to make sure you've got the best business security in your corner. Look into the opportunities that are available to protect your company while there's still time.


Keeping You up to Date on Top Tech

You know about the threats out there, and why you need to invest in cybersecurity technology as soon as possible. Now, make sure you stay up to date on all things tech and cybersec.

Our website covers everything from the latest gadgets, gizmos, IT, AI, technology product reviews, and much more. Make sure to have a look around and see what sorts of amazing things you may find by visiting the Tech section of the Frugal Finance Blog.

IT Outsourcing: Is Outsourcing IT Services Worth It?

There is a lot to manage when running your business. You'll spread yourself thin if you aren't careful. This happens a lot when you start trying to manage projects that are outside of your expertise.

Technology is a big time-sink in these cases. If you don't have experience in the field, you can waste hours or days trying to figure something out. This is why IT is one of the most commonly outsourced roles in business.

The question is, what is IT outsourcing, and is it worth investing in? Keep reading to learn the answers to your questions on outsourcing information technology work.


What Is IT Outsourcing?

Technology is everywhere in business today. While it's more accessible for the end-user, it does still take expertise to get everything running correctly.

This is where outsourced IT services come into play. A managed services provider is there to figure out what tools your business needs to function. Once they know what help you need, they will put together a plan to put your IT infrastructure in place.

Most providers also offer support services, as well. You won't need to hire a team yourself. All you need to do is call your provider for help.


Benefits of IT Outsourcing

Knowing what IT services are is one thing. If you don't understand how these services can make a difference, it's hard to take a chance on them. Below are seven reasons why you should try IT consulting services.


1. Save Money

Hiring IT experts isn't cheap. You don't only have the cost of their salary and benefits. You also have to pay for the hiring process and spend your own time doing it.

You're better off spending your time and money on things you're great at doing.

Managed service providers have already hired the IT personnel you need. You tell them what your requirements are and they will provide you the team you need for the job. You pay when your service provider finishes their work, or pay a monthly retainer based on the amount of support you require.


2. Scale Your Team

It's hard to know how many employees to hire if your business goes up and down a lot. If you hire too many people at the wrong time, you'll be left with a team that doesn't have anything to do. You'll either end up wasting money or firing a lot of people.

Scaling your IT team is simple with an IT partner. They have employees on call for whenever you need them. You can scale your services up and down whenever you choose.


3. Get 24/7 Support

Business today happens day and night. You're going to have employees that work at all hours. The problem is, it's hard to find tech support during these hours.

If you have an in-house team, this means you need to hire employees for more than a day shift. Your IT team will cost a lot of money if you have a large organization.

Outsourcing IT support to another company gives you help during these times. You can call anytime during the day. They will always have a technician available to help.


4. Stay Secure

You can't use technology in business today without thinking about security. There are more risks online than there have ever been in the past. If you don't take precautions, you'll put your entire business at risk.

Unfortunately, it's hard to know where to start when it comes to security. If you don't have a security expert, you run the risk of missing something. That's all it takes to get hacked.

An IT outsourcing company has security experts on their payroll. They will do an audit of your company to find problems and help you close those holes.


5. Access Industry Experts

New tools are coming out all the time in the tech field. Many of them can offer your business a serious advantage. The problem is that many of these tools require specific expertise to get running smoothly.

An IT outsourcing company can provide you experts in machine learning, data reporting, and communication tools. You'll be able to take advantage of the newest tech without spending a fortune hiring someone yourself.


6. Keep Compliant

There have been a lot of issues with data leaks over the past decade. Big companies have come forward to let people know that millions of customer records have been exposed. This trend has caused consumers and governments to take notice.

There are now several compliance requirements that you need to follow if you want to stay in business. If you fail to follow the rules, you'll face fines and a potential shutdown until you get your business compliant.

These rules are complex and change all the time. Working with a managed services provider gives you a partner that can help keep your business compliant. They will keep up with the rules for you and make sure your IT infrastructure can handle the job.


7. Get Vendor Support

You aren't finished managing your IT infrastructure when you get it up and running. You never know when a problem will pop up. If you don't know who to call or the questions to ask them, it can be hard to get the support you need.

Many IT companies partner with big technology providers in the industry. They'll be able to figure out the right person to call to get your issues resolved.

Even if your provider can't solve the problem, they know who to call to get the issue fixed.


Talk to an IT Outsourcing Company Today

You have enough work on your plate with your business without additional information technology work. You don't want the additional headaches of keeping your IT infrastructure running. Get in touch with an IT outsourcing company today to learn all the ways they can help keep things running smoothly.

If you find yourself with more time after outsourcing IT, it pays to learn more about promoting your business. Head back to our blog to learn more about outsourcing and information technology management. Visit the Tech section of the Frugal Finance Blog right now for more information on IT outsourcing and other technology trends today.

3 Efficient Business IT Solutions

You don't always have to spend money to make money. At least, not a lot of money.  Running a small business these days is more expensive than most people realize. Luckily. there are a whole lot of business IT solutions out there that can help you save and thrive at the same time.

Keep reading to find out more about business IT solutions on a budget.


Low-Cost Business IT Solutions For Your Budget

The cost of doing business is rising. Fortunately, at the same time, there are tons of solutions from free apps and software to virtual assistants that can help you cut the right corners in terms of your budget. 

There are plenty of small business solutions out there, and these are our top three:


1. Find Your Productivity Suite Spot

If you want to get the most bang for your buck, you'll want to switch to Office 365. Office 365 comes with a variety of robust features that allow for collaboration and applications that integrate seamlessly with all of Microsoft's online applications. 

Sure, there are dozens of cloud-based productivity suites, but it's the Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Publisher, OneNote, and so on that are widely used among businesses small and large. Furthermore, nearly all other productivity suites allow for word document conversion, making collaboration with your virtual assistants that much more simple.


2. Migrate on Over to the Cloud

Ditch all the hardware you can and move all of your storage and phone system over to the cloud. It's the best way to avoid costly infrastructure, not to mention having to come up with the budget for an in-house IT team or an on-call service.

All you need is the right cloud-hosted service provider, a good internet connection, and some equipment for your in-house employees and you're good to go. Your cloud-based service provider will take care of all the IT issues, management, and upgrades that come along with your service subscription.

Additionally, service providers offer a ton of features for you and your employees to take advantage of. They also provide you with built-in redundancy, so black-outs and power outages won't get in the way of doing business.


3. Hire Based on a Two-Pronged Approach

Believe it or not, hiring qualified employees is costly. Not to mention, technology, in general, is becoming more and more specialized—and it's evolving at a fast pace. Not every potential employee is going to possess the necessary specialized skills all in one.

Your hiring strategy should be a two-pronged approach. First, hire for a specific skill set. Second, hire for talent and fit. The ultimate goal is to have a group of employees that have a variety of skillsets that fit all your needs.

From there, you can revise and refine their skillsets as a whole. This way, you're making sure that everyone is up to date on certifications and that you're upskilling all of your existing employees. Eventually, all of your employees will possess the same skills, creating a well-oiled machine.


Save Money In IT

There are tons of money-saving business IT solutions out there. Lucky for you, we've got them all in one place. Check back with us daily for more new technical solutions that will keep you in business. Visit the Tech section of our Frugal Finance Blog for more advice on business IT solutions, software, fintech news, and much more.

How Do I Send a Screenshot to Coworkers for Documentation?

Screenshots are an amazing advancement of technology. Although the ability to screenshot is a fairly new one, could you imagine life without it? Screenshots make a lot of things easier for all types of situations. 

They come in handy for personal reasons, business and work reasons, and so much more. If you haven't started using screenshots in the office yet, then it's time you start doing so! They could make your work life a little less complicated if you do. 

Are you wondering, "how do I send a screenshot at work?" It's more common to send screenshots on the phone via text messages, but sending them to coworkers, business partners, and company bosses isn't spoken about as frequently. Luckily, this guide will help you throughout the process.

Are you looking to document tech trouble on your computer? Are you needing to share projects for collaboration? Continue reading below to learn how to send screenshots in the workplace! 

4 Top Ways To Securely Send Screenshots To Coworkers


Send Screenshots Via Email

After taking a screenshot on your computer, one way to share it with your coworkers is via email. 

Sending screenshots via email is one of the less complicated ways of doing this. It'll only take a few minutes, if not seconds, to send via email, but there are a few drawbacks. 

What you'll need to do first is take the screenshot on your computer and save it into your local drive, your Dropbox, or however you'd like to save it on your computer. Next, open your email account and upload the document as an attachment. 

You can then send the email to one person or multiple people to view. What's the downside of emailing? This technique doesn't allow you and the other people who receive it to collaborate easily. 

Each person receives the email separately and will need to respond one by one. You're not able to come together and make changes in real-time. This method works best when documenting an error on your computer or when sending one piece of information that doesn't need editing or collaborating.


Send Screenshots Via Microsoft 

Sending screenshots via Microsoft can be done in two different ways. One way is via email and the other is via Microsoft 365. If you'd like your coworker, client, or boss to make edits to your screenshot or leave comments on it, you can save the screenshot in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or another Microsoft program. 

Once doing so, you can then send an email with the Word Document or PowerPoint Document attachment inside. When the receiving person opens it, they can then use Microsoft to make their own contributions to the project. They will, however, need Microsoft Office on their computer to open it. 

Microsoft 365 is an amazing tool to have, but using 365 to collaborate with your coworkers entails having a 365 account. If your workplace uses 365, be sure to upload your screenshot in a document and add coworkers, clients, and your boss! 

You can add whoever you'd like and then everyone can collaborate on the project in real-time. It's as if you were all in a room together with the screenshot placed on a table while collaborating! 


Browser Screenshots Via Usersnap

When you're working online a lot, you'll most likely need to take screenshots of your browser. This might be due to tech trouble or collaboration reasons. Taking and sending screenshots via Usersnap is an excellent choice. 

You can take a browser screenshot with no installation needed. Each screenshot will have meta-information attached, and you'll be able to talk to your peers about the screenshot in real-time. The downside is that it only allows you to take browser screenshots, but you can upload mobile and desktop screenshots if desired. 

For example, you can capture your Windows or capture your MacBook's screen, save the file, and then upload it via Usersnap for collaboration purposes!


Android Screenshots Via Airdroid

Smartphones aren't only used for personal reasons. Smartphones have now made it easy to work from anywhere. With that being said, you've most likely done a bit of work on your phone in the past. 

When you're using your phone for business purposes, you should know how to take mobile screenshots from your computer. Airdroid makes it easy for Android users to upload mobile screenshots to their computers. You'll first need to sign in to your account on both Airdroid Web and your Android Airdroid. 

On Android Web, you then need to select the screenshot icon. Your Android's real-time interface will then be shown. You then need to select how you'd like the screenshots to save. 

You can have them save on your computer or on your phone. You'll then click on the screenshot capture button, which looks like a camera. A screenshot of your phone will then save directly to your computer! 

This is a beneficial technique to be aware of if you save screenshots for work on your phone frequently. It'll save you time and frustration of having to email yourself the screenshots from your phone or having to connect your phone to your computer to upload them. 


Stop Wondering, "How Do I Send a Screenshot" and Start Collaborating Today!

If you were once wondering, "how do I send a screenshot for business purposes," we hope you now have a few options to choose from. Try a couple of these techniques listed above and if one doesn't work well for you, try another!

There's a technique for everyone, and the best one for you might even depend on what you need to do with the screenshot image file itself. 

For more helpful posts similar to this one about screenshots and tech, be sure to check back with us on a regular basis! 

Introduction to Colocation Hosting

Looking to improve business operations? In today’s digital world, countless IT solutions promise to help your business attain a tech edge over your competitors.

If you are seeking dependable, low-cost hosting for your business, then colocation solutions might be just what you need to pull ahead. Read on to learn everything you need to know about colocation hosting.


Colocation Hosting Basics

Colocation, also known simply as colo, refers to data centers that businesses can rent for server space and other IT hardware. Colocation providers usually offer floor space, power, cooling, bandwidth, and physical security. Clients provide the server hardware and sometimes the storage as well.

Many colo providers offer managed IT services, tech support, and other expanded services to their business customers.

So, in simple terms colocation is a joint hosting solution where a company works with a colo provider to reduce costs and mitigate risks. Let’s see the benefits of colocation in more detail below.


The Benefits of Colocation

There are many reasons why you might chose colocation instead of investing in your own in-house data center. The most obvious reason is the cost of building, and maintaining an extensive computer infrastructure. With colocation, your colo provider takes care of these technical issues while you invest only in the hardware.

Colocation offers dependable IT functionality with high uptime and exceptional security. Colo servers are stable and reliable, which increases quality service for companies that rely directly on their IT infrastructure for their end product.

Whether you are building your infrastructure from the ground up, or upgrading your existing IT systems, colo will give you added flexibility while reducing costs.

Moreover, many businesses opt to move their existing infrastructure to the data center of their colo provider to meet regulatory compliance. Check out more details about compliance and colocation here.

The main benefits of colocation hosting include:

• Mitigating risk from hardware failure
• Mitigating physical disaster
• Mitigating power failure
• Reliable high speed internet
• Reducing network management and IT infrastructure costs
• Leveraging the colo provider’s expertise for IT implementation
• Freeing up key assets, which you can instead use to grow your business

Colocation vs. Cloud Computing

As you may have noticed, colocation does pretty much what most modern cloud computing solutions offer. So, why choose colo over some cloud solution?

If you can afford the initial cost of buying the hardware, then colocation is less expensive than any cloud solution in the long run.

Your typical cloud hosting service costs around $20,000 USD. The same functionality through colocation would set you back around $5000 initially, and then a monthly retainer of $100-200 USD. 

So, after the first year, you will only have to pay $2400 at most, which is 8 times less than what you would pay for an equivalent cloud solution.


Expanding Your Financial Knowledge and Business Savvy

Now that you know how colocation hosting works, come on in and explore the rest of our site. With an emphasis on independent yet dependable information, we strive to offer you articles, tips, and how-tos on a range of topics.

Browse our blog’s topics including tech, investing, frugality, loans, insurance, SEO, real estate and more to expand your financial knowledge and business savvy today!

7 Things IT Support Companies Do For Businesses

Hire your own staff or contract with IT support companies. This is an important decision that every small business needs to face eventually with their information technology.

IT services offer tech support for small businesses, which means that the company doesn’t have to hire an in-house team. This is great if you’re a small business without loads of resources or IT expertise. IT services from Orlando offer tech support for small businesses, which means that the company doesn’t have to hire an in-house team. This is great if you’re a small business without loads of resources or IT expertise.

If you haven't looked at the benefits of hiring a managed service provider, then you have a few things to learn. Keep reading to level seven ways an IT company can improve your business.


1. Improve Your Communication

Communication in business hit it's stride when email first came around. But things have changed a lot since then.

While email is still a great way to communicate with your team, there are better ways to do that now. 

There are software services available online that allow you to organize projects, create knowledge bases, assign tasks, and conduct meetings.

Your IT company will be able to get you set up with all the software you need to accomplish this. 

Once you see how much more productive these new tools are, you won't want to go back to using email to handle everything.


2. Get Support at All Hours

With how connected we are today, it seems like we need to work at all hours of the day. Take a look in any office, and you'll probably see people in there after the workday is done. The problem comes when those people who are working hard after hours don't have any tech support.

If you don't have tech support after the workday is finished, then you risk your team not being able to complete the work they're trying to do. This can lead to missed deadlines, lost productivity, and lost money.

A managed IT company is your solution. They can provide customer service at all hours of the day.

You won't need to worry about things breaking after hours anymore. If your looking for someone to talk to about after-hours support, then send us an email through our Contact page.


3. Handle All Your Software and Hardware Failures

If you took inventory of all the hardware and software your business uses daily, you'd have a pretty large list. The means you have to work with a lot of companies to make things work.

If you don't know much about IT infrastructure, then it can be a hassle to get things fixed. You don't only have to figure out who to talk to, but also the right questions to ask. When you hire a company to do this for you, this isn't a concern anymore.

When you hire a managed service provider, all you need to do is contact your support rep. They will know who to call to get your problems fixed.


4. Get the Newest Tech

You used to be able to go quite a while before needing to upgrade your technology. That isn't the case anymore. Technology changes faster than ever these days.

If you want your business to keep up, then you need people available that can help you stay up to date. Sure, you can have someone in-house dedicate their time to keeping up with what's happening in the tech world. The question is, will it be the best use of their time and can you guarantee that they will be able to keep up with everything.

A managed service provider has the resources to stay updated. You can rely on them to keep your business running the latest tech so you can make the most of it.


5. Scale Your Support

Scaling a business isn't easy. When you're dealing with product, then it's a matter of buying more materials and increasing your production. It's a little more complicated when it comes to people.

If you need to bring on more people to support your IT infrastructure, you're going to spend a lot of time in interviews trying to find the right person. If you're in a rush to scale, then, this can cause problems.

With a managed service provider, just have a chat with your point of contact, and you can immediately get the support you need. You can scale your support up and down depending on how much help you need.


6. Secure Your Business

It seems like you hear about a new data breach every other week these days. Just a couple years ago, there was a 126% increase in consumer data that was exposed to hackers. You can't be too careful with your business.

If you want to minimize your risk, you need to develop security protocols for your business. This means investing in firewalls, anti-malware software, employee training, and monitoring for your business. If you don't know the first thing about security, then you're going to have a hard time putting together a plan.

Luckily, IT companies have security experts on staff that can help. They will put together a plan for your business that will help keep it protected from cyberattacks.


7. Save Money

Hiring and retaining talent is expensive. You have to manage salaries, benefits, training, and taxes. If you need a lot of support for your company, this means you'll be paying a lot for your IT department.

If you don't want to pay these costs, then hiring a managed services company can save you money. 

They have done the hard work of hiring qualified professionals already. All you have to do is decide how much support you need and pay a fee for the service.

Less staff also means you need less office space. You can work out of a smaller office instead of using a larger space. Most of the time, an IT company won't even need to come on-site to fix problems that come up.


IT Support Companies Make Sense

You only have a set amount of hours during the day. If you spend your time dealing with IT yourself, you won't be able to focus on the rest of your business. Reach out to the IT support companies in your area so you can learn what they can offer.

If you're interested in other ways tech support can help move your business further, then head to our technology section to read through our latest posts. Do IT to IT!!