13
Jul, 2022
creativeTeam_181021521_400.jpg

Why a Creative IT Team is an Asset to Seek Out

creativeTeam_181021521_400.jpg

If you work with technology, then you are likely to have a good idea of what innovation is and isn’t. Innovation is born from creativity, and while it’s not often associated with business IT, there is something to be said for how technology professionals solve problems in a creative fashion, solving problems with solutions available either in-house or on the market. Today, we are focusing on how this creativity can be an asset and how you can foster creative thought in your office.

Creative Thinking Can Benefit Your Business

Whether it’s in IT or elsewhere, you can expect a creative team to bring many benefits to the table. All that said, your IT team in particular can benefit from this creative mindset. Let’s examine some of the benefits they can expect from this new way of thinking.

Greater Efficiency

If someone is creative, they might start to think outside the box more often, meaning they will be more apt to consider ways to solve problems, thus leading to greater efficiency in the workplace. If you want to accomplish goals faster, a creative thinker will help you get there.

Results-Driven Problem Solving

Creative thought lends itself well to results-driven problem solving. Your creative team will be more apt to complete their objectives, and they will be more empowered to focus on not just the payout, but the process as well. Even if their processes don’t work, a creative team will be sure to find alternative ways to solve their problems.

Improved Thought Processes

People will have more productive thought processes if you encourage them to be creative. Creativity breeds innovation, and these improved thought processes will allow your team to think about problems from different perspectives.

Leadership Development

Creative people tend to take leadership and own their work, as well as its challenges and struggles. If you give your team time to develop these leadership skills, even in a smaller or less-complex context, you might find that your internal processes can be significantly improved.

Building a More Creative Team

Next, let’s take a look at some questions you might consider when trying to create this creative team for your business.

How Can You Encourage Collaboration?

Despite the way it might seem, IT is by default not a very collaborative part of your business. That doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about this, though. You can try to break your team up into groups with the goal of finding the solution to a specific problem. This gives your team the ability to focus down on various challenges in a low-stakes environment while also giving them opportunities to learn from each other.

What Do Customers Want?

Another opportunity to foster creative thought is to challenge your team members to think about how they have made a difference for your customers and clients. By limiting it to your customers and clients, you’re forcing them to think in a more creative way, as well as in a context that they might not necessarily have considered in the past.

How Can You Foster All Ideas?

Not all ideas can be successfully implemented, but this doesn’t mean to discredit ideas that you don’t deem feasible. It can sometimes be a good thing to encourage thinking or dreaming big about the future, and who knows? Maybe some of these ideas can be implemented in the near future, even if they cannot be pulled off at the moment.

Let Us Help Your Team Build Their Creativity

The greatest barrier to your team’s creative endeavors is time. If your schedules are full of tasks that get in the way of innovation, like management, maintenance, and supporting the rest of your employees, then naturally they will find themselves with less time to focus on other creative tasks.

NuTech Services can give you back this time by taking over some of the more menial tasks your IT department might traditionally have handled. To learn more about how we can help your business be more innovative, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

24
Dec, 2021
techPresent_93610571_400.jpg

Give Your Organization the Gift of Technology

techPresent_93610571_400.jpg

Each year we try to come up with a creative Christmas article that ties IT into one of the many holiday fables, but this year we thought we would just forgo the pageantry and talk a little bit about how important our client’s are and what we can do to help take them where they want to go.

Anyone who runs a small business has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ebbs and flows in business that have resulted from it, and the overall uncertain feeling of “what next?” Many businesses haven’t made it and others are on the brink, even as people have begun to normalize their routines. Our dedication to helping all of our Michigan partners handle this difficult period in stride coming out more prosperous on the other end, is the plan. How do we accomplish this? Let’s take a look:

Keeping a Business Running

The most important part about running a business is that the business is available to sell the product or service, and that in the course of doing so, you don’t often pay for nothing. When your organization’s technology falters, you typically need to figure out how to fix it. If this happens quite a bit, you are looking at significant downtime, potential data loss, and the financial issues both create.

It’s not a good situation. 

Our services provide a solution to those problems. First, we assess your network to let decision makers know what systems are mission critical and which ones are less so. Then we remotely monitor critical systems around the clock to ensure that network-connected devices are working as intended. If there are signs of inconsistency, our staff of certified technicians can typically fix the issues before they cause downtime. 

What’s more, we provide your staff access to a comprehensive help desk that can help them solve any number of computer-related problems quickly and efficiently. This keeps your team productive, your technology running smoothly, and downtime to a minimum. 

There will be times when a network-attached device is not repairable remotely and it will require technical support or replacement. Since our technicians will know before the component fails, we can ensure that you get the repairs/replacements needed before having to deal with large swaths of downtime.

Finally, in order to ensure that a business’ data is secured, we deploy a data backup and disaster recovery service that incrementally copies your data so that you don’t lose much if you need to use it. There are dozens of different reasons that an organization would have to use their backup, so with our BDR service, you get data redundancy onsite, as well as in the cloud, to ensure that any situation in which you may need to restore or migrate data is covered. 

Promoting Security

During the pandemic the threat landscape became more dangerous due to the opportunities presented by the many relief programs that have been rolled out. Add this to the increase in ransomware and phishing attacks that were expected, it makes it a constant struggle for most businesses to keep up. 

At NuTech Services, we don’t just keep up, we use all of our resources and accrued knowledge to keep our client’s as safe as possible. We can outfit businesses with a myriad of security tools including firewalls, content filters, virtual private networks, spam blockers, and many more. 

That’s just the beginning of what we can do to keep your business’ IT secure.

We ensure all of your software is patched and updated regularly to reduce the exploitation of potential vulnerabilities (and to ensure that you have all the new features that software updates provide). Since software is the lifeblood of most businesses, securing that crucial avenue of potential attack can stop a lot of issues, but it won’t stop them all. It’s for this reason that we also work with you to help put in policies, procedures, and training platforms that can substantially reduce your organization’s exposure to today’s worst threats.

Cybersecurity is one of the most critical components of the modern business’ IT strategy, and with the experts we have on staff in your organization’s corner, you will be able to be more effective, more efficient, and see many fewer issues. 

Using Innovation

One aspect of our jobs that we find absolutely critical—and our clients find indispensable—is our commitment to knowing how to deploy technology in such a way that it basically pays for itself. Any business owner knows that technology isn’t cheap, but if it is deployed the right way, the return on your IT investments can be massive. 

We like to keep our finger on the pulse of technology to find innovative new tools that can really push the needle for your business’ ability to operate effectively. From deploying and managing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to outfitting your business with high-end tools like document management, to a comprehensive list of communications and collaboration tools that can allow your business to quicken the pace; NuTech Services has access to the knowledge and expertise needed to help integrate it for your business.

You can do a lot with technology, and we can do a lot with clients willing to trust us to do what’s best for their company. We would like to thank all of you for another great year, even if it was one of the most turbulent we can remember. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas tomorrow and a pleasant holiday season.

22
Dec, 2021
leaderHO_228402462_400.jpg

IT Management’s Biggest Challenge can be Settled with Managed Services

leaderHO_228402462_400.jpg

How does your business manage its IT resources? Do you have a chief information officer, or CIO, in-house who manages everything related to your technology? If not, who is the one responsible for managing and maintaining your systems? If you don’t know the answer to this question, we have a reality check for you: you need to.

First, let’s establish a baseline for how businesses have traditionally handled technology management. Then we will transition into how managed service providers change the name of the game and what benefits they offer to small businesses in particular.

Traditional Technology Management in the Office

Depending on the size of the business, this might look a bit differently. Some companies have a CIO who is responsible for making all major technology decisions for the organization. Others have network administrators who handle this responsibility. Some businesses do not have any dedicated IT resources, instead choosing to have their employees handle any basic technology management or maintenance as needed, regardless of their current responsibilities and duties. Trust us when we say that you do not want to fall into the trap of relying on employees who have no business managing technology doing so; it helps no one to have unqualified employees responsible for something as important as your IT infrastructure.

Thankfully, small businesses have an alternative: outsourcing this responsibility to a managed service provider, or MSP.

Managed Service Providers

Companies that don’t have internal IT resources still have an opportunity to keep their technology in proper working order, and it starts with the idea of outsourcing the requirement to a managed service provider, or MSP. Basically, MSPs are businesses that provide comprehensive technology management services. Their entire business model centers around this concept of making technology management as affordable and accessible as possible. It’s basically like having an entire IT department without having multiple salaries in your budget or going through the hiring process for each of them.

The Benefits of MSP Offerings

There are so many benefits to working with a managed service provider that it is impossible to list them all here, but know that many of them involve the following: hands-off IT management on your business’ part, more manageable monthly payments that effectively transform capital expenses into operational costs, and peace of mind knowing that your organization not only receives routine maintenance for your IT infrastructure, but also has access to trusted IT resources at a moment’s notice.

Notice how each of these benefits has to do with making IT management easy for your company. This is intentional on our end; we want you to see that not just large enterprises have the resources to stay competitive in today’s technology-centric business environment.

Get Started Today!

Don’t let technology be a pain point for your business. Let the professionals at NuTech Services help you manage and maintain your IT infrastructure so you can focus on what you do best: running your business. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

29
Nov, 2021
MSPP_243385255_400.jpg

Our Technicians Can Deliver A Lot of Value

MSPP_243385255_400.jpg

If you don’t properly maintain your technology, then it’s simply not going to be one of your company’s strengths. It’s a simple statement, but it’s one that many modern businesses fail to act upon. A managed service provider can make it much easier to get the technology maintenance your business needs to succeed. Let’s take a closer look at the people who deliver these services to your organization.

The Modern IT Technician

The accepted norm for years was that the computer technician’s job was to fix individual PCs. Unfortunately, as technology grew ever-more-complex, so too did the responsibilities of these positions. It’s not enough to have technical assistance these days; technicians must have knowledge which encompasses all facets of business technology.

Today’s technician must be hired outright or as a part of an expert team like those at NuTech Services, and to make matters more complicated, they must know all kinds of things about technology of varying complexities. They need to know how to fix a computer, as well as how to do it remotely, including how to manage and install networks, identify and mitigate threats, how to structure a business’ IT around their goals, and most important of all, how to do all of the above in a fast-paced environment.

Ultimately, a competent IT technician needs to be an effective problem solver and knowledgeable about a plethora of best practices. They may also need to pick up certifications in various skills and softwares. These certifications are not easy to achieve, either; they require a certain level of knowledge and expertise, to be sure. Here are some of the certifications you might expect from technicians:

  • CompTIA A+: Perhaps one of the most well-recognized certifications out there, CompTIA A+ certification means that the holder is competent across hardware, software, and problem solving in a variety of computing platforms. There is also a specific security certification (CompTIA Security+) for those who are competent in basic security practices and troubleshooting.
  • Microsoft Certified Professional: Microsoft is perhaps the most established software vendor for businesses, so holding certifications in these softwares is extremely valuable. Some of the certifications include Office Specialist, Certified Solution Developer, and more. A technician holding these credentials is a serious boon for any business that uses Microsoft products.
  • CISSP: Certified Information System Security Professional is one of the most recognized security-specific certifications a technician can earn.
  • Oracle or Microsoft SQL Certifications: Databases are not the easiest thing to manage, but they are important for any business. These certifications are perfect for technicians proficient in SQL management.
  • ITIL: Help desk technicians should have the Information Technology Infrastructure Library certification to show that they have a clear understanding of industry standard best practices.

If your technicians are certified, you’ll know that they have the skills necessary to help your business succeed. If you want more information on how our technicians can help your organization, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

We also wanted to take this opportunity to thank our great techs at NuTech Services for their hard work and dedication!

11
Oct, 2021
378736467_vcio_400.jpg

How a Virtual CIO Can Change Your Business for the Better

378736467_vcio_400.jpg

We often talk about how some businesses do not have the budget to hire technicians to perform regular maintenance on their IT infrastructures, but what about the one behind the scenes calling all the shots? If companies cannot hire technicians, then it stands to reason that they also cannot afford someone at the executive level who manages their workload. The concept of the virtual chief information officer, or virtual CIO, challenges this notion by providing access to technology leadership for small businesses.

What is a Virtual CIO?

A virtual CIO is, in essence, the same as your traditional CIO, just in a virtual capacity. By this we mean that the virtual CIO is an outsourced IT resource, usually a contact at a managed service provider or company, who handles duties related to your organization’s IT strategy.

The biggest difference, but also one of the largest benefits, is that a virtual CIO takes a more holistic look at your organization’s IT strategy and how to align it with your business goals. This ensures that each and every decision made in regards to your technology also works toward your specific business needs.

To emphasize the difference between the virtual CIO and your average technician, consider this; technicians are generally responsible for addressing technology issues that interfere with day-to-day operations, and while the CIO might be involved in this in some capacity, their general duties consist of taking the big-picture view of your IT rather than the smaller moments. The virtual CIO might put together a technology roadmap or focus their efforts on new technology implementation to ensure that your company stays on the path toward its business goals.

What are the Benefits of a Virtual CIO?

The first and most notable benefit is the price associated with a virtual CIO. By virtue of the position, the traditional CIO is a C-suite executive, so by virtue of the position will require more compensation. Small businesses cannot always afford such an investment. A virtual CIO makes these skill sets more accessible to small businesses through the use of more affordable monthly payments. Similarly, the cost of searching for an in-house CIO is eliminated, further increasing the value of outsourcing these responsibilities.

There is also a level of objectivity that you get when you outsource your virtual CIO needs. Just think if you gave the role to someone within your organization; they would naturally have a subjective view of your company that is influenced by their own perceptions and biases associated with it. Someone from outside the organization will be more likely not to let their own opinions influence what is best for your company. It’s the big reason why many companies will hire external auditors and consultants–so they are not influenced by their own personal attachments within the company.

If your organization does not have someone helming its IT strategy, then NuTech Services would be happy to step into this role. We can help you make intentional decisions with how you implement technology solutions, utilize data, and handle infrastructure growth. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

25
Aug, 2021
440099277_cybersecurity_400.jpg

Outsource Your Cybersecurity Needs to Ensure You Get the Best Talent

440099277_cybersecurity_400.jpg

To be adept at a task is to say that the one doing the task is a professional, or someone with substantial knowledge that can be used to effectively complete the task. Cybersecurity is one such area where having a considerable amount of knowledge is of particular importance to help navigate the complex environment surrounding it. How can your organization achieve this level of mindfulness and expertise?

First, we need to establish the many challenges that small businesses must overcome regarding cybersecurity. Then, we will explain how you too can achieve the same level of cybersecurity success as security professionals.

The Challenges of Security for SMBs

Security is a major pain point for small businesses, and those that do not take it seriously might think themselves immune to the dangers. It does not matter what industry you are in, the size of your organization, or the data you store; hackers can and will take advantage of any opportunities to cause trouble for you, and they will find value in whatever data they can get. That said, many small businesses do want to be more mindful of security, but they do not know how to approach it. Oftentimes they might find they lack funding to hire internal talent, like a cybersecurity professional, something that holds them back from properly securing their organization.

What Does It Mean to Be a Cybersecurity Professional?

But what is a cybersecurity professional, anyway? What kind of skills and character traits should you look for in a cybersecurity professional? Here are some that you should consider when looking for the key to your cybersecurity talent:

  • A focus on proactive, preventative defenses rather than a reactive approach
  • A divorce from security biases that prevent one from making objective decisions
  • The technical knowledge and expertise necessary to understand cyberthreats
  • An understanding that security also requires training of staff and higher level executives
  • The flexibility to adapt to new threats and learn from them

The one steering your organization’s cybersecurity strategy will ultimately need to have all of the above. If they do not, chances are your organization will be placed at risk, perhaps not necessarily immediately, but certainly in the future.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Adept Yourself

Look, we understand that the human mind is capable of learning and absorbing countless bits of information, but cybersecurity is one aspect that is so complex that it can take years to learn everything you need to know to keep your business safe. The only way you are going to overcome the challenges of the cybersecurity landscape is with a trained and experienced professional on your side. It’s not easy to accrue this knowledge in the short term, which is why so many organizations choose to outsource this responsibility or hire a dedicated in-house cybersecurity professional to address these needs.

There is something to be said for when you can admit you’re in over your head, and with cybersecurity, there is no more dangerous position to be in. You can make the experience much less stressful by outsourcing your company’s cybersecurity to professionals who have invested countless hours, days, and years into learning the complexities of the industry. With NuTech Services on your side, you can know that your organization is devoting the time and effort necessary to securing its infrastructure. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

5
Jul, 2021
351237782_true_value_400.jpg

The True Value of Managed IT Services

351237782_true_value_400.jpg

Technology management is a pain point for businesses, particularly smaller ones that might not have the vast amount of resources as larger organizations or enterprises. That being said, small businesses have a secret weapon that allows them to compete with larger businesses, and it comes in the form of managed IT services. What is a managed service provider, and how does working with one dramatically change the dynamic of your business’ operations?

What is a Managed Service Provider?

Since so many businesses struggle with technology management, we’ve made that entire premise our own business model, offering outsourced technology management services to organizations that need it. We are highly qualified to provide these services with trained technicians who have years of experience under their belts. In most cases, a managed service provider can basically act in much the same way as an internal IT department, but the real kicker is that there are a ton of other benefits to working with an MSP for your tech needs.

The Benefits

MSPs provide a ton of value for your business. In fact, even if you do have an IT department on-premises, we are confident that you can get some value out of working with an MSP like us. Here are some of the biggest benefits of doing so.

Lowers Costs

Hiring qualified in-house technicians can get expensive, especially if you want to hire top talent. Working with a managed service provider is actually cheaper and more effective for a budget than hiring multiple in-house technicians. Since you pay the MSP a monthly fee based on a service level agreement, it is easy to fit into your budget and it won’t break the bank.

More Convenient Service

Did you know that the majority of IT services your organization might need can all be administered remotely without an on-site visit? Sure, some things like running wires or setting up new hardware might require technicians to be present, but the vast majority of maintenance and management can all be done remotely. This saves you time and money, and since you can basically get the service you need when it’s needed, you won’t be left waiting around and incurring the costs of downtime in the process.

The True Value: Peace of Mind

You absolutely cannot place a value on the peace of mind you get knowing that your technology is being managed and maintained by a trusted provider. You will never have to worry about whether or not updates are being applied or if network security is being maintained. You can know with certainty that someone out there is always there, ready and able to manage any technology problems you might encounter throughout the workday. This translates into less stress and more focus on what truly matters: running your business the way it’s supposed to be run.

Get Started Today

NuTech Services works with small businesses to help them achieve their technology-related goals. By focusing all of our attention on ensuring your technology is in proper working order, you can then shift your focus to running your business and increasing profits. If you are ready to free yourself from the burdens of managing a complex technology infrastructure, don’t wait any longer—give us a call at 810.230.9455.

11
Jan, 2021
99522290_update_400.jpg

Why Is It Super Important to Keep Your Software Updated?

99522290_update_400.jpg

Your business’ software is one of its critical assets, so it really can’t also host many risks to your security and business continuity. Therefore, keeping your software up-to-date and fully patched should be a priority. Let’s go over what patch management entails and why it is so important.

What Causes Software Vulnerabilities?

Many people might incorrectly assume that, once a software is released and paid for, it won’t be the source of any major security issues from that point forward. Unfortunately, this isn’t entirely accurate. As hackers and cybercriminals work to identify vulnerabilities in the code that software developers have created, the software developers will fight back by creating patches to resolve these vulnerabilities.

This pattern continues until the software is eventually abandoned for a new and improved option, much like we’ve seen with the progression of the Windows OS. The reason that we are so adamant that everyone needs to migrate away from the antiquated Windows 7 is because hackers have had years to devise new ways of undermining its security while Microsoft has shifted focus to its later iterations of the operating system.

Regardless, this cat-and-mouse game goes on, with consumers, business owners, and IT admins caught in the crossfire.

Without consistent updates, all software titles can potentially be leveraged against the user—and with so many kinds of software in use within a business, there needs to be a process to ensure that they are all attended to on desktops, laptops, servers, and mobile devices alike. A good rule of thumb: if a software title interacts with the Internet, its software will need to be updated eventually.

Defining Patch Management

Patch management is the process by which a business ensures that updates and patches are applied to all vulnerable pieces of software. Whether it’s a productivity solution, communication and collaboration tool, digital security measure, an operating system, any kind of software under the sun could potentially be a risk that needs to be promptly addressed.

While this makes patch management an essential part of operating securely, it can be notoriously time consuming to dive into. This is why our team at NuTech Services utilizes cutting edge technology to see to our clients’ software solutions and keep them patched and upgraded. As a matter of fact, the technology we use keeps watch over our clients at all hours to ensure that all applicable updates are properly implemented.

Reiterating Why Patch Management Matters

Let’s touch back on Windows 7 once again, as the issues it causes are severe enough to bear repeating. As these words are first being written, almost 20 percent of PC users are still using Windows 7, despite Microsoft abandoning support for it a year ago in January 2020.

This effectively makes Windows 7 a clear and present danger for anyone using it—to the point that the Federal Bureau of Investigation effectively begged users and businesses to abandon it in a press release this past August.

For assistance with your patch management processes and the upkeep of your assorted IT solutions, reach out to the experts we have here at NuTech Services. Our team will be here to assist you behind the scenes, all you need to do is reach out to us at 810.230.9455 for more information.

27
Jul, 2020
140787370_managed_it_400.jpg

Why There Has Never Been a Better Time for Managed IT

140787370_managed_it_400.jpg

Okay, time for some real talk: There is no denying that 2020 has held a few unique challenges for everyone who runs a business. Economic challenges, political tensions, and an honest-to-goodness pandemic have all thrown us all for a loop. As a result, it is important that businesses all adjust their technology priorities to survive. Let’s discuss these priorities, and how they will need to shift. 

IT Management Matters More Than Ever

From a certain point of view, businesses now find themselves in a unique position to restructure their operations. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an inconvenient case study of sorts that shows a promising outlook on remote productivity.

It has also helped to shine the light on how impactful waste can be in poorly managed IT strategies. Without any engaged oversight, the heightened use of cloud services can lead to a few considerable issues, including

  • Unused accounts and services
  • Duplicate accounts for services
  • Services still earmarked for a former employee
  • Misconfigured services

These issues can ultimately account for 30 percent of an organization’s IT investment spend and can be resolved with remarkably little effort. The problem is that someone has to know to catch it—and if these things were set up by somebody who has since left, or worked for a break-fix provider, that person may not be available.

So, it only makes sense that businesses would want to take account of these costs, and shore them in.

Of course, we have to talk about the economy. With the economy in the state that it is in, businesses are going to have to batten down the hatches. In addition to consolidating budgets and managing them better, businesses need to know that they have the solutions necessary to survive going forward.

This will require modern solutions that allow for remote productivity and collaboration to take place. A modern IT provider, like NuTech Services, can provide for all these needs.

How Our Services Can Help

As a managed service provider, we work in the background of your organization, remotely keeping an eye on the technology your team is relying on to do their jobs. In doing so, we can spot potential wastes of time and money—including the ones listed above, by the way—and resolve them before you ever find out about it. This way, your workday can carry on without the added stress that technology issues bring.

To learn more about our services, give us a call at 810.230.9455.

22
May, 2020
121480080_managed_services_400.jpg

Managed Services Have Never Been So Beneficial for Businesses Before

121480080_managed_services_400.jpg

With less than half of 2020 behind us, many of us would already like a re-do of this year. With a global emergency impacting the personal and professional lives of so many, businesses are struggling right now. For these organizations to survive, they will need to get the most out of every business investment. When it comes to their essential technology, we recommend investing in managed IT services.

Why Managed IT Services

COVID-19 has managed to close wide swaths of businesses and organizations as people try to stem its spread by avoiding as much contact with others as possible. Any small business owner would understandably be hesitant to make any large shifts in their operations, but it also needs to be understood that the shift to managed services can help relieve many of the challenges that businesses are currently facing—as well as those that may pop up afterwards.

Businesses Can’t Operate if Their Employees Aren’t There

While many businesses truly need to have their employees physically present to function, there are a great many that feasibly could operate on a primarily remote basis, provided they had the right tools. This approach would work well for those who are labelled essential right now, as it could help minimize the number of people present at the workplace and drastically improve social distancing efforts.

By working with a managed service provider, businesses have a resource to help them reach the safest working conditions for their teams. Any personnel who don’t explicitly need to be onsite could be provided the means to remote in, with these solutions managed by the provider for maximum uptime.

Proper Support Services Introduce Additional Risks

That leads us into the next benefit that managed services offer: the support that a managed service provider delivers is primarily using remote monitoring and management tools. This means that if an issue should arise for one of your remote team members, there is a very good chance it can be resolved without either your users or the technician even getting up from their seat.

Managed services will even help you avoid these kinds of issues in the first place with the same remote capabilities. By proactively monitoring for threats and other problems, your provider can spot many of them before they realize, taking the steps to prevent your employees from having any difficulties. As an MSP, NuTech Services does this kind of thing every day, and while we can’t catch everything, you can be sure that we will catch the vast majority.

Support Services are Expensive, Especially Now

You may be thinking: so, you’re proposing that I make another investment into managed services when my business is clearly going to experience some tough times?

In some ways, yes, but in the given context, consider it more of insurance instead of an investment.

Let’s say you continue to use the same IT services that you always have, essentially paying per incident to keep your business operational. Doing so gives you no consistency, and therefore is impossible to predict and budget for with any accuracy.

Managed services take a different approach: extensive coverage under an all-encompassing subscription fee. Out of fairness, we should mention that there may be an occasional out-of-scope need, potentially creating the need to adjust these fees slightly. Accepting this relatively rare circumstance, working with an MSP allows a business to accurately budget for their information technology services.

There are many more reasons that a business should strongly consider the services of a managed service provider, especially in these challenging and disconcerting times. If you have any more questions to ask, we are here for you. Reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

11
Oct, 2019
outsource_102117857_400.jpg

There’s Value in Outsourcing Your IT, Part V

outsource_102117857_400.jpg

Information technology continues to play a more significant role in businesses, and as technology changes, so should yours. IT procurement is a critical part of any business’ success, which means that your business can greatly benefit from a managed service provider. They have the know-how to procure all of the best technology. Today, we will discuss how your business can acquire the IT it deserves. 

Businesses Depend on IT

There are a lot of different pieces of technology that go into a business, and like a puzzle they all need to fit together and work. So where do all of these puzzle pieces come from? Let’s examine different types of technology.

Servers and Networking

Here are two scenarios, and the different methods businesses use to handle them:

Walter’s business is growing extremely quickly, but his servers are the same ones he’s been using for years. He realizes he is running low on storage space, and his increasing staff puts pressure on him to upgrade his server. Walter manages to cobb something together, hoping it will suffice for the time being. When Walter attempts to merge his servers into one slightly larger server, he misconfigured a few components resulting in downtime for his entire staff. Not only has he wasted his own time, but now he is experiencing the most expensive segment of downtime he has ever experienced. 

Jesse, on the other side of town, also is experiencing extraordinary growth. Jesse however, makes a simple phone call to his managed service provider. He is connected to a professional, who advises Jesse on server options that will sufficiently support his growing business. His managed service provider not only points him in the right direction, but also comes on site to install this new technology. Jesse knows he isn’t a tech know-it-all, so he leaves deployment of servers to the professionals. His business is ready for increased data storage that same week he decided it was time to expand. 

Workstations

Your business’ employees are only capable of what their technology can handle. When it comes time to upgrade or add additional workstations, there are a few options one can take. Let’s see how our two business owners handle these situations.

Walter, who is an impulse spur of the moment shopper, sees what he believes is a fantastic deal on eBay. He decides that these second-hand computers will be able to handle all of his employee’s programs without issue. However, upon arrival Walter notices that his computers are missing a few components. It turns out that the eBay listing was actually for five home-made computers that the builder was never able to get to operate properly, rather than complete working PCs. Overlooking the description just set him back a large amount of money, and the computer repair shop charges nearly as much as a brand new PC would have. 

Jesse, has a few empty desks he would like to fill with capable computers as well as a few new employees. He reaches out to his managed service provider to discuss which computer might fit the needs of his business. The professionals are able to use their connections to get Jesse a fantastic deal, and most importantly, the purchase of the computers comes with free installation.

Software as a Service

What good would a computer be without the necessary software? Businesses should be utilizing the latest and greatest software. There are a few different approaches a business owner can take to procure the necessary software to boost productivity within the office.

Walter knows that software can be expensive, so he decides to torrent a few versions hoping that he doesn’t get caught. Unfortunately, however, Walter is exposed as a fraud and his business is the center of attention for all things media. His business suffers massively, and he wishes he had spent a fortune on the software instead. 

Jesse too knows how expensive software can be. Unlike Walter, he once again leans on his managed service provider. They offer what is known as software-as-a-service. This service gives you all the latest and greatest software, for a low monthly cost. It’s like renting a tool, as opposed to buying it outright. Not only does this tool come with free installation as well as support, but it doesn’t set Jesse back a large sum of money. He is able to give his employees all of the programs they need to proficiently do their jobs. 

Which Experience Sounds More Enjoyable?

If you had a choice to be Jesse or Walter, which would you choose? Managed services truly offer support for all of your business needs. If you would like to learn more, reach out to our professionals by calling NuTech Services at 810.230.9455 today!

9
Oct, 2019
managedIT_118394944_400.jpg

There’s Value in Outsourcing Your IT, Part IV

managedIT_118394944_400.jpg

Many businesses are capitalizing on the vast amount of benefits Managed IT services can bring to the table. These service providers are able to assist your business in obtaining, and managing the technology that you rely on. Working with one of these providers can help your business simplify data management practices, as well as make them much more secure. Today we will go over how they are able to do so.

As we have done throughout this series, we will compare the experience that a managed service provider is able to deliver, compared to the alternative.

Cloud Services

Brennan’s business gathers and stores a substantial amount of data, as most businesses do. His business relies heavily on this data, as he runs an organization which depends on client contacts. To store all of this data, Brennan decides to do some research and build his own server. He understands the basics, and begins work. Not only does this take up a large amount of space, it also requires an absurd amount of power to operate. This makes the office unbearably hot. Furthermore, Brennan hooks up connections incorrectly causing equipment failure. This is not covered under warranty, and the initial cost of setting up a server is astronomical. 

On the other side of the town, Dale works in the music industry. His business decides to go with managed services. Dale is quickly connected with a trustworthy, dependable cloud service. He is then able to store all of his data and applications in the space provided by this service. It only costs a minimal monthly fee in comparison to the initial cost a server build would require. 

Backup and Disaster Recovery

Let’s assume both Brennan and Dale are given the same set of circumstances. A flood causes both businesses to be completely under water. How differently will these two business owners handle this disaster?

Brennan, panic stricken, attempts to grab whatever equipment he can salvage. His business relies entirely on the information stored within his computers. He is only able to get a small number of computers operating again, and since all of his data was in-house, nearly all of it is destroyed. Brennan’s business is in some truly dire straits. 

Dale immediately begins his backup and disaster recovery plan. His plan has been tested recently, so he is confident that his entire business can operate off-site. All of his data is stored in the cloud, which means it is all accessible anywhere there is internet. Dale’s cloud service also goes the additional mile of storing his data in an additional place. This ensures that there truly is a backup, and the same disaster that causes a backup plan to be utilized does not destroy the backup data. 

Data Warehousing

The process of combining seeming less unrelated data into a singular platform is data warehousing. This process helps businesses fuel their analytics as well as their business intelligence platforms. These platforms are turning into some of the most important tools a business owner can utilize, as they provide immense value by providing decision makers a thorough knowledge base.

This processing requires a bit of computing power. In fact, it requires more computing power than Brennan’s entire home-made system is able to muster up. Since Dale utilizes managed services, he has no issues accomplishing his goals. His provider’s flexibility ensures he is able to adjust his infrastructure as needed. 

Managed IT Value – Up Next 

In the next part of our series, we will be discussing how a managed service provider can assist with IT procurement. NuTech Services is always available to answer any questions you may have, so give us a call at 810.230.9455 today!

4
Oct, 2019
support_108749551_400.jpg

There’s Value in Outsourcing Your IT, Part II

support_108749551_400.jpg

Old-school business information technology support isn’t necessarily wrong, but it most definitely isn’t cheap nor efficient. IT support strategies are developing in ways that some time ago, would have thought to be unheard of. Your business no longer needs a full on-site staff designated to maintaining network security or updating software. In part two of our five-part series, we discuss how your business can have the support it needs through managed services. 

MSP Support

The Managed Service Provider (MSP) provide an experience unlike traditional service providers’ methodology. Let’s take a look at two scenarios:

Tom is emailing his boss in regard to a company project when all of a sudden his software closes. Tom tries to re-open his email, resulting in well, no result. Tom, frustrated at his email software, spam clicks the application which causes his entire computer to freeze. He has to ask his neighbor to contact their IT department for him. Unfortunately, they are out for lunch which results in a massive amount of downtime for not only Tom but for the business itself. 

Jerry, who works for a business on the other side of town, is working on a project when he too is experiencing technical difficulties. Jerry has been working on a new business logo in his graphic design software. While opening his file, he is prompted with a message informing him that his software license is not valid. Jerry wastes no time in creating a ticket with his managed service provider. Within minutes, a technician remotes into Jerry’s computer, reconciling the issue at hand. Jerry is up and working in a timely manner. 

Time is money, so why not save yourself time with managed services? 

Onsite Support Services

Managed service providers leverage remote support simply because of how efficient it is. It doesn’t make sense for a technician to come all the way out to your business to resolve an issue that could have been resolved at their own office. However, when a situation occurs where a technician is actually required to be present, managed service providers have trained staff ready to be dispatched. 

When something goes wrong, IT support needs to be present. It isn’t cost effective to have IT support present when your infrastructure is operating as it should.

Keep Business Moving Forward

Time is a business’ most scarce resource, so why waste any of it? Every moment is valuable, so you can’t afford to sit idle waiting for IT to return back from lunch or wait for them to have a free moment. To ensure you get the most out of every second, NuTech Services offers managed services which can greatly benefit your business.

This is far from the end when discussing the benefits of managed services. Return back to our blog page to read part three of this series. If you would like to discuss additional support options offered with managed IT services, give us a call at 810.230.9455.

16
Aug, 2019
R5AFCM_400.jpg

Help Desk Makes IT Support Easier

R5AFCM_400.jpg

Downtime is a killer for any business. When a business is forced into confronting its technology support deficits, it usually means that they’ve been dealing with too much broken technology and downtime, and the costs associated with it. One way your business can avoid losing huge chunks of time to broken technology is to add a professional help desk to support your IT administrator. 

For many smaller businesses the IT administrator’s position is not one held by a certified IT professional. It is held by whomever is most knowledgeable about computers; or, even worse, the person who most uses a particular machine. This can lead to complete catastrophe.

A help desk, either as a standalone service, or as a part of a larger managed services platform, can provide the kind of comprehensive IT support every organization is looking for. It doesn’t just battle broken technology, either. It also reduces downtime that comes from human error, whether it be from IT related issues or situational incompetence. If your staff can’t do their jobs efficiently because they encounter technology-induced roadblocks, having IT experts available around-the-clock to look into and fix most of the problems your staff could have is a huge benefit. 

Additionally, if you do have a dedicated IT administrator or outsource your IT management to a firm that doesn’t offer help desk, having remote technicians at the ready can help an IT department that is stretched thin. Augmenting your IT staff by instituting a help desk can keep their attention on the projects that will help the organization move forward more successfully. 

If your business finds itself falling short in terms of help desk support, look no further. NuTech Services can help your business get the support it needs to maintain operational efficiency. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

3
May, 2019
190973137_Shrug_400.jpg

Shrug Off Downtime with Managed IT Services

190973137_Shrug_400.jpg

Do you know what can completely kill a business’ momentum? Downtime. Businesses of all types look for a myriad of ways to save themselves the headaches that come from significant downtime. One way that is sure to reduce an organization’s downtime is by having conscientious IT management and support at the ready. One problem with this is that it’s typically costly to hire a team of IT professionals with the experience and knowledge to keep your technology up and running.

Not anymore.
A concept called managed IT services has taken the business world by storm. Experienced technicians work diligently with some of today’s most powerful monitoring software to proactively manage a business’ network and infrastructure, keeping technology working better longer, and reducing downtime to a point where it isn’t the huge problem it traditionally has been.

NuTech Services is a proud managed IT services vendor. With our technicians’ expertise, we are able to offer our clients a massive cache of services that include:

  • Remote and onsite support
  • Around-the-clock monitoring
  • Help desk
  • Server, workstation, and mobile device support
  • Networking support
  • Software patch management
  • Stronger cyber and network security
  • Data backup and recovery
  • Professional technology consulting
  • Periodic business reviews
  • Vendor management
  • And more

It is increasingly rare for many small or medium-sized businesses to hire onsite IT staff. If you don’t have the support your technology needs to function properly, you are looking at variable capital expenses that can, and likely will come to pass at exactly the wrong moment.

NuTech Services’s IT services provide your business with access to dedicated and knowledgeable IT technicians that are well positioned with some of the most powerful technology management software on the market; and, does it for a predictable monthly rate.

If you would like to get rid of your IT headaches for good, and kick downtime to the curb, call us today at 810.230.9455.

16
Nov, 2018
suprised_help_desk_400.jpg

You May Be Surprised What You Are Missing Without a Help Desk

suprised_help_desk_400.jpg

Businesses these days rely on technology in order to function properly, but what happens when this technology doesn’t operate as intended? If your organization doesn’t have a dedicated help desk on-premise, you’re probably suffering from unnecessary downtime and technology troubles with no recourse.

Of course, not all businesses have the luxury of hiring in-house technicians to function as a help desk. In cases like these, outsourced solutions are viable alternatives, if they aren’t outright better overall. Here are some of the best reasons why your organization should implement an outsourced help desk solution.

Help Desk Support Minimizes Downtime
You may have heard the excuse, “I would have done the work, but I didn’t know how,” or “My computer wasn’t working properly.” If you don’t have anyone available to help your staff with their issues, chances are they are being ignored and piling up, resulting in a situation where your staff simply can’t do their jobs–not because they don’t want to, but because they literally can’t. If you have someone your staff can reach out to for assistance with the technical side of their job, they’ll be more likely to get assistance and improve their productivity. Most importantly, you’re keeping downtime to a minimum, as it is a huge blow to your bottom line if left unchecked.

Help Desk Support Provides a Single Point of Contact
Even more confusing for some employees is who to actually contact in the event they need help with their technology. Sometimes the organization will have several numbers compiled in a location for all to see, but this isn’t helpful, as the employee might wind up having to reach out to several vendors just to resolve a basic issue. By using a help desk solution, there is only a single phone extension or email address to inform, making this kind of assistance much more accessible.

Help Desk Support Can Augment In-House Assistance
Let’s say that your internal IT department is responsible for helping your employees out with their technology troubles. This is fine and all, but chances are that they don’t have enough time to implement new solutions, keep your hardware and software updated, monitor your network for inconsistencies, and manage all of your organization’s devices, let alone take a call from Susan down the hall because she can’t access her email. You can help your business’ IT department out by taking this one responsibility off their shoulders and handing it to an outsourced, remote help desk.

If your business finds itself falling short in terms of help desk support, look no further. NuTech Services can help your business get the support it needs to maintain operational efficiency. To learn more, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

24
Oct, 2018
totw_admin_account_400.jpg

Tip of the Week: Use Admin Accounts to Control Your Network

totw_admin_account_400.jpg

There are various types of user accounts that your employees and administrators can use to access their workstations, but one of the biggest points of contention to consider when planning out data access is the use of administrator accounts. Specifically, you want to avoid handing out administrator account access to users like it’s Halloween candy.

What’s the Big Deal?
You would think that assigning administrator accounts would prevent users from making poor choices with your data. The main difference between the two is that administrator accounts have many more privileges compared to the traditional account used by the average user. In fact, a traditional account is much safer to use unless you actually need administrator access to perform a certain task. Ordinarily, a normal user account can’t install software or mess around with important files in the system, but this isn’t necessarily the case for an administrator account.

Admin accounts are essentially the most powerful account on your computer. They have the permissions to perform just about any role on your PC. It’s the same role that your IT department uses to make any significant changes to your devices during updates and general maintenance. Every computer needs to have at least one admin account found on it, but if access from untrained users is allowed, they could make changes to important files needed for the computer to run properly.

Why You Should Limit Admin Account Use
While it might make sense to have admin permissions if you’re the only one who uses your computer, this is simply not the case on a managed network. There are security problems associated with using an admin account as your primary device account. What happens if your account gets compromised by some sort of malware? It’s simple; the malware will install on your admin account and be able to make any changes it wants to any of the important files only accessible by your admin account. While more permissions as the device owner might sound ideal, it only makes it easier for threats to leave a lasting effect on a device.

Standard accounts have more limited permissions, meaning that if they are compromised in any fashion, they will be more limited in the amount of damage they can cause. It’s for this reason that it’s best to limit administrator accounts as often as possible, as there is no guarantee you will never fall victim to such attacks.

To minimize the chance of your business’ endpoints falling prey to attacks, you should implement proactive measures against the countless possibilities out there–including a compromised admin account. To learn more about how your business can protect itself, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

6
Aug, 2018
managed_outsource_yourit_400.jpg

Reduce Your Costs By Outsourcing Your IT Management

managed_outsource_yourit_400.jpg

Your business deals with all types of troubles, but one trouble that can be extraordinarily costly is when your organization’s technology doesn’t work properly. That’s why many businesses hire an IT staff who work to mitigate technology-related problems. One issue you should be cognizant of is cost. Typically, IT professionals have training, certifications, and experience and demand an above average salary. If you have a small or medium-sized business that is working with tight margins as it is, it can be extremely difficult to take on new personnel costs; especially ones that don’t directly result in bringing revenue through the door.

A popular solution to this quandary is to outsource your organization’s IT management to a managed IT services provider (MSP), like NuTech Services. Our certified technicians will first assess your business’ information systems to get a good idea where your inefficiencies lie, then they’ll go to work devising a customized technology and management plan to fit your business’ needs. Starting a relationship with a baseline of knowledge we can deliver value through our cost-saving managed services that include:

  • Hardware & software support: We are the IT guys after all. We have relationships with some of the most notable vendors in the industry so our clients can get the hardware and software solutions they need to be the best version of their business. We’ll also ensure that any software you use will be up to date with the latest threat definitions.
  • Around the clock monitoring: In order to provide the ROI we intend to, our services have to reduce or eliminate your organization’s downtime. That’s why we monitor and proactively maintain your network and infrastructure with our state-of-the-art monitoring software. In doing so, if there is a threat to your network, or your hardware, we’ll know about it immediately, and we can take steps to remediate the issue. This allows you to get more from your hardware and avoid the operational problems that comes when you have to stop to deal with network and infrastructure issues. 
  • Backup and disaster recovery: Your business’ data is an extremely valuable asset, and as such, it has to be protected against situations that arise where you may lose it. Anything as benign as a storm could wipe out a lot of hard work. Our backup and disaster recovery platform not only backs up your data periodically, it creates copies that are sent off-site into the cloud, so that no matter what is thrown at your business, your data will be safe. 
  • Network security: Along with our monitoring and management program, we also ensure that your network is secured from the literally thousands of threats that face it every day. From malware to corruption to infiltration, our network security platform keeps your data available and your network working properly.
  • Vendor management: Along with having access to a myriad of top industry vendors, we also can help you manage your vendors, whether we use them or not.
  • Around the clock IT support: We offer a comprehensive help desk where technicians who have remote access to your end-points can solve situational computing problems for your staff 24/7.
  • Options: We also offer a whole cache of powerful IT solutions including cloud computing, communications, printing, conferencing, and physical security solutions that work for any-sized business.

If you are looking for a way to get the technology that can help you grow your business, you are just looking to reduce your IT management costs, or you are thinking of attempting to get your footing on a new IT initiative, call the IT professionals at NuTech Services today at 810.230.9455.

11
Dec, 2017
in_house_vs_outsourced_it_management_400.jpg

Which Approach Puts Your IT in a Better Position?

in_house_vs_outsourced_it_management_400.jpg

Technology management is one of the major issues that challenge small businesses. Do you know the various strengths and weaknesses of having an in-house IT department versus an outsourced IT provider? As a managed service provider ourselves, we’re in a unique position to help your business make an educated decision about the future of its IT management.

In-House IT Management
If your business is fortunate enough to have its own in-house IT department, you know what it to get the right people for the job you need to painstakingly assess all applicants. Since, your business’s in-house team will always be at your disposal, your technicians have to be chosen with the applicable know-how to mitigate the technology troubles your organization will most frequently come across.

On the other hand, small and medium-sized businesses are known to have some troubles, even when working with an in-house IT department. Training new team members can be tricky, time consuming, and expensive, especially if your business has complex technologies that need to have dedicated management. Once these technicians are trained to cover the bases your business technology demands, they will only get more expensive; so seeing a substantial return your investment may not be possible.

Managed/Outsourced IT
Outsourced IT provides one of the most sought after assets for a business: predictable technology costs. When you hire a managed service provider, your business will always be using maintained and monitored technology, where issues are solved remotely for a flat monthly fee. An MSP generally stays updated on the latest findings and technologies in the industry, making them more well-rounded technicians than those that are simply concerned with the workings of your business’ current technology. It’s actually much more affordable as well, as you’re only adding one payment to your budget compared to the multiple salaries that would be assaulting payroll for an internal IT department.

The only issue that you’ll encounter with a managed service provider is letting go of the reigns a bit and trusting someone else with control over your business’s IT. Therefore, trust is something that is absolutely crucial if you choose to outsource your IT management.

NuTech Services wants your business to benefit from outsourced IT solutions. To find out what we can do for you, reach out to us at 810.230.9455.

13
Nov, 2017
bring_your_own_mobiles_400.jpg

Are You Prepared for Employees to Bring Their Own Devices?

bring_your_own_mobiles_400.jpg

Bring Your Own Device policies have helped many companies save money on technology by allowing employees to use their own devices, rather than taking on the cost of providing devices. However, as much as a BYOD approach can help a business financially, there are some potential drawbacks to adopting one that you should be prepared to deal with.

Managing These Mobile Devices
Whenever there is a Bring Your Own Device strategy enacted, there needs to be Mobile Device Management in action as well. Your MDM software also needs to be monitored, as this will inform you if someone without the proper authorization is accessing data that they shouldn’t be.

However, sufficient monitoring is a time-intensive task. It is even possible that it would require you to add an additional employee to properly make use of your MDM software. Before you commit to these measures, which are a must for successfully implementing BYOD, make sure you have (or can obtain) the resources to run them.

One great solution to mitigate your organization’s overall BYOD costs is the built-in automation that many of today’s Mobile Device Management platforms offer. This automation can be customized and run to allow your technicians to focus on the core aspects of your business’ technology rather than spend all of their time, and your money, monitoring employee smartphones.

Streamlining For Support
A major advantage to providing employees with work devices is the control you have over the devices you provide. By selecting a specific model for your employees to use, you can standardize your systems that much more, and make your IT administrator’s job that much easier. By reducing the variety of devices they need to be familiar with, IT can service them more quickly and effectively.

This can be a drawback to BYOD, as it makes support a more arduous task and–as a result–more costly. With a variety of devices and their specific issues, it becomes a more time-intensive task to identify and resolve any problems. Taking this into account, it may be a more cost-effective option to invest in standardized mobile devices for your company to use, rather than try to manage the variety of devices your workforce likely uses based on personal preference. This is a variable that you will need to consider based on your specific circumstances and abilities. Do you finance devices for your staff? Or, manage the varying devices your staff will bring?

Leaving Yourself Vulnerable
Not all devices are equally suited for use in a BYOD strategy–sometimes, a new feature can lead to a pretty severe vulnerability. Take, for example, any device with iOS 11 installed. Despite having switches in its control center to activate and deactivate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, these switches don’t actually deactivate their connection. This leaves these devices vulnerable, and if they were a part of a BYOD implementation, your business becomes vulnerable, as well.

Wasted Resources
Often, the question isn’t if BYOD makes sense, it’s if BYOD makes sense for a particular employee to have access to. Some companies will reimburse their staff for the personal data that they use. However, if an employee’s responsibilities don’t really require the use of a mobile device, having them involved in a BYOD strategy is akin to paying for their personal use of the device; and, can hinder their overall productivity.

Don’t get us wrong–BYOD can be a great benefit to your business and its bottom line. You just shouldn’t dive in without considering the potential downsides and planning how you will go about solving these problems. The IT professionals at NuTech Services can help. To learn more, call us today at 810.230.9455.