How Subpar IT Support Is Holding Back Your Business Growth

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In the fast-paced business landscape of 2024 and beyond, settling for anything less than top-notch Co-Managed IT support can be detrimental to your company’s success. The effectiveness of your IT team is not just a convenience but a fundamental pillar of your operational efficiency. Unfortunately, many businesses find themselves constrained by inadequate tech support, leading to unresolved IT issues that hinder productivity, frustrate employees, and disappoint customers. These persistent challenges can significantly impede your business growth trajectory and erode profitability over time.

Reliable Co-Managed IT support serves as the backbone of modern business operations. It ensures seamless functionality, protects valuable data, and keeps communication channels open. Without it, even routine tasks can become burdensome, diverting employees’ attention from their core responsibilities to tackle unresolved technical issues. This diversion can result in missed opportunities, strained customer relationships, and ultimately hinder your business’s potential for expansion and success.

In this post, we will shed light on the common tech challenges that may be undermining your business, how they are impacting your growth prospects, and the steps you need to take to address them decisively. Whether you are grappling with frequent downtime, sluggish issue resolution, or lackluster service, recognizing and rectifying these IT deficiencies is crucial for empowering your business to thrive.

Key Indicators You Are Settling For Subpar Co-Managed IT Service

Identifying the warning signs of inadequate Co-Managed IT support is the first step toward realigning your business for success. These symptoms often emerge gradually but can have far-reaching implications for your operations and growth trajectory. Here are the primary indicators that your Co-Managed IT support may be falling short:

1. Persistent, Disruptive Downtime:
Frequent system outages or network interruptions not only disrupt your business operations but also incur financial losses. Such incidents signal a lack of robust infrastructure maintenance by your Co-Managed IT support, impacting productivity, revenue generation, and client trust.

2. Delayed Response Times:
Timely resolution of tech issues is critical to minimizing disruptions. Extended response times indicate inefficiencies in your Co-Managed IT support, prolonging workflow disruptions and hindering business continuity.

3. Recurring Technical Problems:
Repeated occurrences of the same issues suggest a superficial approach to problem-solving by your Co-Managed IT support. Quality support providers delve deeper to address root causes, ensuring lasting resolutions and uninterrupted business operations.

4. Absence of Proactive Measures:
Effective Co-Managed IT support goes beyond reactive troubleshooting by implementing preventive measures. Regular updates, backups, and security protocols are proactive strategies that shield your business from potential risks and operational disruptions.

5. Communication Challenges:
Clear and consistent communication with your Co-Managed IT support provider is essential for a productive partnership. Unclear explanations, technical jargon without context, and unresponsive communication channels indicate a lack of commitment to client service and can hinder your business’s efficiency.

The Impact of Poor IT Support on Your Business Operations

Inadequate Co-Managed IT support not only leads to temporary disruptions but also exerts lasting effects on key areas of your business. Here’s how subpar support directly affects your business:

1. Revenue Loss Due to Downtime:
Every minute of system downtime translates to financial losses for your business. Unplanned outages not only impact sales but also incur additional costs as you strive to restore operations. Cumulatively, these losses can undermine your financial stability and growth prospects.

2. Reduced Productivity and Efficiency:
Consistent IT issues impede employee performance, making routine tasks time-consuming and diminishing overall productivity. This inefficiency not only slows down operations but also dampens employee morale and engagement, critical for sustained business success.

3. Impaired Customer Experiences:
Your technology infrastructure directly influences customer interactions and satisfaction levels. Technical glitches can lead to poor customer experiences, such as slow service, transaction errors, and security concerns, prompting customers to seek alternatives from competitors.

4. Hindered Scalability:
As your business expands, your IT infrastructure must scale accordingly to support increased demands. Inadequate Co-Managed IT support can impede this scalability, hindering your ability to grow operations or adopt new technologies effectively.

5. Compromised Data Security:
One of the most severe repercussions of inadequate Co-Managed IT support is compromised data security. Small businesses are prime targets for cyber threats, and without robust IT support to enforce strong security measures, your business becomes vulnerable to data breaches. Such breaches can lead to loss of customer trust, legal consequences, and significant financial damages.

The significance of selecting the right IT support provider cannot be underestimated for the long-term success of your small business. Here are essential attributes to consider when choosing a reliable IT support provider:

● Responsiveness:
Opt for a provider with a reputation for quick response times. Rapid problem-solving capabilities can significantly minimize downtime, thereby ensuring the seamless continuity of your business operations.

● Expertise:
Ensure that the IT support team possesses the required technical expertise to effectively manage your infrastructure. Look for certifications and hands-on experience in the specific technologies utilized by your business.

● Proactiveness:
Choose a provider that offers proactive support services, including regular system audits, continuous monitoring, and preventive maintenance. These measures can help in preemptively addressing issues before they escalate.

● Communication:
Effective and transparent communication is paramount. Your IT support team should be adept at providing clear and jargon-free explanations, as well as maintaining open and efficient lines of communication with your business.

● Customization:
Opt for IT support services that offer tailored solutions aligned with your unique business requirements. This tailored approach ensures that the support provided is not only effective but also relevant to your specific needs.

● Reviews and References:
Conduct thorough reviews and seek references to assess the reputation and reliability of the IT support provider. Positive feedback from other businesses serves as a strong indicator of the quality of service you can expect.

If your small business is grappling with recurring IT issues such as downtime, slow response times, ineffective solutions, or employee complaints about constant technical glitches, it is imperative to seek better IT support. Do not allow subpar technical support to hinder your business’s growth potential. Take proactive steps today to ensure that your technology propels your business towards success.

Schedule a FREE 10-Minute Discovery consultation with one of our experts by clicking here or calling us at 214-550-0550.

The Importance of Standing Your Ground in Business Security

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In an interview, Steve Wozniak reflected on what he would have done differently if he had been at the helm of Apple instead of Steve Jobs. While he admitted he would have been kinder to people, he also speculated that under his leadership, Apple might never have launched the Macintosh.

Steve Jobs, infamous for his ruthless demeanor and insatiable pursuit of perfection, cultivated a work environment fraught with tension and pressure. Despite his abrasive nature, Jobs managed to forge Apple into one of the world’s most renowned brands. However, his leadership style drove away many talented individuals who found his approach intolerable.

While adopting a cutthroat attitude like Jobs may not be necessary for most small business owners, standing up for oneself is crucial. Too often, individuals tolerate mistreatment from various sources, be it employees, vendors, or clients.

In popular culture, characters like Tony from The Sopranos resonate with audiences because of their unwavering confidence and assertiveness. While not condoning Tony’s negative traits, the appeal lies in his ability to stand up for himself and command respect.

This principle extends to business security. Failing to assert boundaries and protect your organization can leave you vulnerable to exploitation, particularly by cybercriminals seeking to capitalize on your hard work. Safeguarding your business requires a Tony Soprano-level of vigilance and decisiveness in identifying and neutralizing threats before they wreak havoc.

By prioritizing cybersecurity measures and remaining vigilant, you can shield your business from malicious actors intent on causing harm. Neglecting these precautions can jeopardize everything you’ve worked tirelessly to build.

To fortify your defenses and ensure your business remains secure, consider scheduling a 10-Minute Discovery Call with our team of experts for a free IT Risk Assessment. This evaluation will uncover any vulnerabilities within your network and provide a roadmap for bolstering your security posture.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take proactive steps to safeguard your business and focus on propelling it forward with confidence. Book your call NOW or contact us at 214-550-0550 to take the first step towards a more secure future.

Best practices for data safety in a remote work environment

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Best practices for data safety in a remote work environment

Do you have staff working from home? Of late, due to the Coronavirus crisis a lot of businesses shifted to the remote working environment. While it raises some data security concerns, they can be overcome by following a few best practices.

Formulate rules
You can start by formulating rules that define the extent and manner in which personal devices may be used for work purposes.

  • Who are allowed to use personal devices for work?
  • Spell out the regulations that they must follow. For example, regular checks for malware and updates to anti-malware software, etc.,
  • If there are restrictions to the device type, software or operating systems that may be used, out of security concerns, then that should be addressed.

Focus on the 2 Ts of cybersecurity

  • Train your staff: The first T is training your staff on how to identify IT threats and cybercrime activities that they can be a victim of. Examples include phishing emails, dubious attachments, clone sites, etc., Another area to train your staff is free/public wifi. They need to know that public wifi can be a gateway for hackers and cybercriminals into your system. Accessing emails from the airport’s waiting lounge or the mall’s food court, can expose your business to IT threats.
  • Teach good password hygiene: This is the second T. Help your employees understand how important password strength is. They should be able to identify weak passwords and steer clear of them. Also, they need to know that no matter how urgent the situation seems, password sharing is not acceptable. Similarly, mistakes such as repeating the password for multiple accounts, not changing the passwords frequently, etc., can make a cyber criminal’s job easier.

Keeping things under control

You can conduct monthly audits of the devices your employees will be using for work purposes. Arrange for regular security patch implementation, firewall installation and software updates. Install quality anti-malware software, firewalls, and make sure email security systems are in place. Even in the remote environment, you can ensure appropriate data access through role and permission-based access control measures.

All of this may seem new, and tedious, especially for businesses that are looking to recover from the effects of the on-going pandemic, which is why it is a good idea to team up a managed services provider to help set up a strong, secure, work-from-home environment for your business.

How safe is your data when your staff works from home?

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How safe is your data when your staff works from home?

The Coronavirus crisis has changed the world as we know it. With social distancing, lockdowns and work from home becoming the new normal, cyber criminals are exploiting the situation to their gains. This whitepaper discusses how the cyber crime landscape is likely to shape up in the post-pandemic world and how businesses can safeguard themselves against it.

One of the reasons for a sudden spike is cyber crimes is the work-from-home model that is increasingly becoming the norm. When you allow remote access to your data, you are virtually opening your IT infrastructure to criminals–unless you have the right security measures. It is easy for malware and hackers to get into your system and corrupt it unless you have the right measures in place.

With employees operating from home, there are a lot of loopholes that cyber criminals target. Some of them include

Lack of knowledge
Most employees don’t realize how their simple actions or non-actions can contribute to a cyberattack that can bring your whole business down. For example, they may unwittingly end up compromising on your business’s data security by sharing passwords, not using a good antivirus software or using the public WiFi to access their emails, etc.,

It is more difficult to oversee IT operations
With teams working remotely, it is difficult for businesses to manage their IT efficiently. Installation of security patches, anti-malware tools, data backups, etc., are all more difficult now.

Working from home offers businesses a lot of benefits in terms of cost savings, employee satisfaction and flexibility. But, it also raises a lot of questions from the IT security perspective. When opting for the work-from home model, it is important to clearly define the IT policies and put them into practice. You could partner with an MSP who specializes in cybersecurity and remote workspace management to help you formulate a safe, remote working environment.

4 things to do to ensure your business continuity planning is a success

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4 things to do to ensure your business continuity planning is a success

Working on creating a contingency plan for your business? That’s great! Here are 4 things you need to consider when preparing your new business continuity plan.

Audit of your business continuity plan
Having a business continuity plan alone is not enough. You need to audit it at regular intervals to ensure it is up-to-date and relevant. Often, business continuity plans aren’t used for years, and may be obsolete or irrelevant by the time an actual emergency occurs.

Creating a team for business continuity
Constitute a team for your business continuity project. Decide who will take ownership of implementing the business continuity in the event of an emergency. Break down the business continuity plan into smaller elements and decide who is responsible for each of them. Also, remember to designate a back up for each person in the team.

Mock Drills and Dry Runs
After your business continuity plan is ready you need to check if it really works. A dry run will tell you if it is really effective and also point out to loose ends, if any, that you can fix before the actual emergency.

Don’t forget a debrief
In case you do end up using your business continuity plan, make sure you do a debrief. It will help you determine the effectiveness of your business continuity plan. The brief should focus on identifying the losses you incurred from the disaster, the time taken for implementation of the business continuity plan, the key positives of implementation of your business continuity plan and also offer suggestions, if any for improvement. Irrespective of the size of your business, business continuity planning is indispensable. Bigger companies often have their own staff (IT as well as non-IT) for business continuity planning, but for SMBs to have their own business continuity planning team can be a bit of a strain on their resources. Consider teaming up with a MSP who is experienced in disaster recovery planning, so you don’t cut corners now to regret later.

AT&T Attack Reveals 73 Million Customer Records Exposed On The Dark Web

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AT&T, the largest telecommunications company in the United States, recently disclosed a concerning discovery: a dataset for sale on the “dark web” containing information of approximately 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former AT&T account holders, totaling around 73 million affected accounts.

The released data includes passcodes (PIN numbers) and Social Security numbers dating back to 2019 or earlier, but does not encompass personal financial data or call history. However, it may include email and mailing addresses, phone numbers, and birthdates.

In response, AT&T has notified all customers via email or mail to reset their passcodes. It’s crucial for AT&T customers to scrutinize any password-change requests, ensuring they originate from AT&T to thwart potential cybercriminals attempting to exploit the breach by sending deceptive emails with malicious links. If in doubt, contact AT&T support directly for assistance in resetting passcodes.

The origin of the breach remains uncertain, with investigations underway to determine whether it stemmed from AT&T or one of its vendors. AT&T is deploying computer forensics specialists to uncover the root cause and is tasked with eradicating any malware from its customer account system while maintaining service for unaffected customers. However, addressing this issue entails substantial expenses, including investigation costs, legal fees, and potential lawsuits.

At Mirrored Storage, we emphasize proactive cybersecurity measures as a fundamental strategy. While no system is impervious to attacks, robust security measures significantly reduce the risk of breaches. Dealing with the aftermath of a cyber-attack far outweighs the cost of prevention.

If you’re concerned about your organization’s security, we offer a complimentary Security Assessment conducted by our team of cybersecurity experts. This assessment examines your network for vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit and provides recommendations for enhancing security measures, including collaboration with third-party vendors to fortify data protection.

Hackers employ various tactics to infiltrate networks, but as a CEO, your priority is fortifying defenses. We’re committed to assisting you in safeguarding your organization. Schedule your Security Risk Assessment with our cybersecurity experts by clicking here or contacting our office at 214-550-0550. Protecting your data integrity and security is our top priority.

Cyber hygiene: The key to your business’s good cyber health

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Cyber hygiene: The key to your business’s good cyber health

We all know that basic hygiene is a must to lead a healthy life. Did you know that the same rule applies to IT as well? There’s something known as cyber hygiene that plays a key role in keeping your business healthy from the IT perspective. So, how do you ensure your business doesn’t fail when it comes to cyber hygiene? Here are a few tips.

Follow industry benchmarks and standards
Remember that if an IT practice has gained industry-wide recognition and adoption, it is because it certainly offers some benefits. Protocols like the HTTPS implementation, SSL security certificates, CIS Benchmark, etc., are examples of industry standards that you must follow to maintain good cyber hygiene. Following these standards enhance your cybersecurity quotient and also play a positive role in helping you win your customer’s trust.

Stronger IT administration
The role of an IT administrator is very critical in any organization. IT administration involves exercising control over most of the IT activities with a view to ensure the security of your IT environment is never compromised. Make sure your IT admin rules and policies are clearly formulated and covers everything including-

  • Clear definition of user roles
  • Permission levels for each user role
  • Restrictions regarding download/installation of new software
  • Rules regarding external storage devices
IT Audits
Conduct regular IT audits to spot vulnerabilities and gaps that may threaten the security of your IT infrastructure. During the IT audits pay special attention to-
  • Outdated software or hardware that is still in use
  • Pending software updates that make an otherwise secure software vulnerable
Fix what you can and get rid of what is too outdated to be made safe.

Password policy adherence
When it comes to cyber hygiene, passwords are the weakest link as often, people compromise on the password policy for convenience’s sake. Here are a few things to look into at the time of your IT audit to ensure your password policy is being adhered to.

  • Check if passwords are strong enough and follow the standards set for secure passwords
  • Discourage password repetition or sharing
  • Ensure multi-factor authentication, where apart from the password, there is at least one more credential, such as a secret question, a one-time password (OTP) sent to the user’s mobile phone, or a physical token or QR code, to verify and approve data access
Ensure basic security mechanisms are in place
As a part of your cyber hygiene check, ensure you have all the basic security mechanisms in place. These include
  • Anti-malware software programs
  • Firewalls
  • Data encryption tools
  • Physical security and access control tools like biometric access

Pay attention to what happens with obsolete data
How do you get rid of data you no longer need? Even though old data may not be of any use to you from the business perspective, a breach of that data can still hurt you legally. Ensure you get rid of old data safely. It is a good practice to deploy data wiping software and also create policies for the safe destruction of physical copies via shredding or other methods.

Strong cyber hygiene practices can keep your data safe from cybercriminals lurking out there. However, consistently following up and ensuring these best practices are being adhered to, can be taxing on your internal IT team. It may be a good idea to bring an MSP on board who is well versed in cybersecurity to assist you with cyber hygiene.

What are the essentials of a business continuity plan?

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What are the essentials of a business continuity plan?

An unexpected emergency can wipe out your business! A business continuity plan can help it survive. But, what should a good business continuity plan cover? Read this blog to find out.

A list of your key contacts
One of the most important elements in your business continuity plan is a list of all your important contacts who should be informed of the disaster. This can include all your C-level execs, HR managers, IT Manager, client facing managers, etc.,

A comprehensive list of your IT inventory
Your business continuity plan should contain a list of all the softwares, apps and hardware that you use in the daily operations of your business. This list should identify each of those as critical or non-critical and mention details pertaining to each of them such as

  • The name of the app/software
  • Version/model number (for software/hardware)
  • Vendor name and contact information for each of them
  • Warranty/support availability details
  • Contact information for customer support for these hardware/apps
  • Frequency of usage

Backup information
Data backups are critical to your disaster recovery and so your business continuity plan should include information about data backups. It should mention how often data is backed up, in what formats and where. It should also mention what data backups are available–ideally, you should be backing up ALL data already!

What’s your Plan B?
Make sure your business continuity plan lists a backup operations plan that will come into play in the event of a disaster. Examples include alternative workflows such as options to work remotely or to allow employees to bring their own devices to work (BYOD) until the time regular business premises or systems are ready.

Floor plans and location
Your business continuity plan should also include floor plans of your offices with the exit and entry points clearly marked up, so they can be used in the event of any emergency. It should also mention the location of data centers, phones, key IT systems and related hardware.

Process definition
Make sure your business continuity plan defines the SOPs to be followed in the event of an emergency.

Think business continuity planning is too complicated? Don’t give up! A lot of SMBs, don’t create a business continuity plan thinking it is too much of a hassle. But this can prove fatal to your business later. A qualified MSP can help you understand business continuity planning and even help you create a business continuity plan that’s best suited for you..

10 Things Great IT Providers Always Do

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In the realm of IT support, there’s a stark contrast between mediocre service and the excellence that truly sets providers apart. At Mirrored Storage, we’ve observed a consistent trend: clients often switch to us not because they were unaware of their previous support’s inadequacy, but because they hadn’t experienced the true standard of exceptional support.

Today, we’re unveiling the core tenets that distinguish top-tier IT providers from the rest. It’s time to bid farewell to tech frustrations and subpar services that endanger your company’s security and productivity. Here’s what exceptional IT providers consistently deliver:

  1. Immediate Emergency Response: During emergencies, waiting is not an option. High-quality providers prioritize urgency, answering calls live or responding within 30 minutes to provide immediate assistance.
  2. Accessibility and Responsiveness: Exceptional providers are consistently easy to reach and highly responsive, addressing both emergencies and routine tech issues promptly to ensure minimal disruption.
  3. After-Hours Support: Recognizing the need for around-the-clock assistance, top-tier IT companies offer after-hours support, ensuring accessibility and rapid response regardless of the time.
  4. Proactive Network Monitoring: Instead of waiting for issues to arise, leading providers proactively monitor networks for potential threats, downtime, and inefficiencies, presenting proactive solutions to clients.
  5. Customer-Centric Systems: A customer-centric approach is reflected in user-friendly ticketing systems that streamline issue resolution. Top providers prioritize ease of use, ensuring seamless communication and efficient problem-solving.
  6. Comprehensive Cybersecurity Planning: Given the pervasive threat of cyberattacks, reputable IT providers devise and implement robust cybersecurity plans, safeguarding clients against evolving threats like ransomware and data breaches.
  7. Transparent Invoicing: Transparent billing practices are paramount. Top providers furnish detailed invoices, clearly delineating services rendered and associated costs, fostering trust and accountability.
  8. Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: To mitigate risks, leading IT teams carry cyber liability and errors and omissions insurance, protecting clients against potential damages, data loss, or workplace incidents.
  9. Regular Backup Testing: Ensuring data integrity is non-negotiable. Reputable providers conduct periodic test restores of backups to verify data integrity and readiness for disaster recovery scenarios.
  10. Timely and Budget-Conscious Project Delivery: Exceptional IT providers adhere to project timelines and budgets, swiftly addressing setbacks and proposing solutions to ensure timely and cost-effective project completion.

It’s time to elevate your expectations and demand superior IT support. If you’re ready to experience trustworthy, reliable service, we invite you to schedule a FREE, no-obligation Network Assessment with our expert team. Discover how we can optimize your network, enhance cybersecurity, and streamline your technology infrastructure.

To embark on a journey towards stress-free IT management, click here to book your FREE Network Assessment now or contact our office at 214-550-0550. Say goodbye to tech woes and embrace the peace of mind that comes with superior IT support.

Free Internet Access? Don’t fall for this one

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Free Internet Access? Don’t fall for this one

One of the popular internet scams that has been doing the rounds since 2017 is the one about “Free Internet”. This scam seems to resurface and somehow manages to claim quite a few unsuspecting victims. Here’s how they catch you.
  • Ads are created on Google, Facebook, popular search engines and social media platforms advertising free internet hours.
  • The ads look professional and show up on general searches and on social media when surfing. This offers a sense of validity.
  • Once you click on the ad, you will be taken to their website, where you will be asked to perform an action, such as

    1. Filling out a form with your Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
    2. Sharing your credit card information, and though you will be promised that your card won’t be charged, you may end up signing up for something or subscribing to a service for which your card will be charged later.
    3. Sharing a few email IDs or phone numbers–basically contacts with whom you will be asked to share the message in return for free internet service.

How to stay safe?
As always, remember no one offers something for free. Whether it is free internet access or tickets to a concert, if it is something of value, then you will be expected to provide some value in return. Steer clear of offers that seem too good to be true. If you receive a message from someone you know and trust, please let them know that their link may be a problem. No matter what, don’t open a link from anyone if you aren’t entirely sure the links are valid.