If you have, or are downstream of, a government contract, the days of indifference about NIST 800-171 compliance are ending. The Department of Defense has begun enforcing cyber regulations on contractors to protect important data, including CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information). Not only that, but they have been sending out memos with further, and more in-depth, expectations. Read more
We are focused on our mission of helping our clients gain a competitive edge from their technology. This year we are looking closely at 3 key areas that are critical to supporting your success. Take a look at this quick video:
As we discussed in a previous blog post, your time is your most valuable asset and you don’t want to waste it doing something you aren’t an expert in. Businesses can outsource all kinds of things: payroll, recruitment, graphic design, marketing, IT, etc. As you choose an outsourced partner, you want to make sure you’re not going to waste that precious time of yours on the wrong fit. That’s why you have to choose wisely! Read more
We just celebrated IT Direct’s 17th year in business…it’s an amazing achievement and we’ve learned a lot along the way. One of the keys to our success is our ability to continuously improve by thoroughly reviewing both our achievements and our mistakes. This is why the ‘retrospective’ meeting has become a mainstay of our processes. Read more
Recently, we had a really clogged up office kitchen sink. We’ve got some handy folks on our team who could have looked at it, but instead we remembered two important things…1) we are not experts at fixing clogged sinks and 2) we have much better things to do with our time. The solution here: OUTSOURCE! Read more
Our manufacturing clients and prospects often have similar questions about outsourcing as they consider their technology needs. Let us answer some of these concerns:
Your facilities are unique. We have the best tools available that allow us to quickly map and document your system, so we can be up to speed on your environment in the blink of an eye. This is part of our discovery process, which happens before we even start discussing any needs or ways to improve your system.
Your needs are unique. A virtual Chief Information Officer works directly with your team to get to know your company, your needs, and your business strategy. It is this person’s role to fully understand your needs as an organization and to devise an IT strategy that not only works for today but prepares you for tomorrow. Read more
It seems that no one wants to talk about it, or acknowledge its existence, but the elephant in the room is the continuing and constant growth of ransomware (malicious software designed to deny access to a computer system or data until a ransom is paid).
One of our partner companies, Datto, produces a fantastic yearly report on the global state of ransomware as reported by over 2400 managed service providers (MSPs) around the world. The report is filed with excellent information in a very readable format. You can download the whole thing here.
If you don’t want to tax yourself with the whole report, below are some of the key points and main takeaways that are important to you and your business: Read more
Advanced Manufacturers need new talent and must retain the talent they have. Technology may not be able to solve the problem, but it may be able to help. Take a look at the ideas below. Two focus on recruitment, the rest on retention. All are important to think about! Read more
Whether it’s the risk of a security breach or the possibility of hardware failure, every company has cyber risk that can affect their productivity or even their ability to continue running their business.
While there are no real shortcuts to proper cybersecurity and network management, there are a few simple ways to reduce your risks.
Here are 8 things you can do to reduce your cyber risk quickly: Read more
On October 3rd, IT Direct was honored again with a Marcum Tech Top 40 award, presented at this year’s Connecticut Technology Council ConnectiTECH Awards event.
The Marcum Tech Top 40 has honored over 400 Connecticut-based technology and tech-enabled companies since 2008. The awards recognize technology leaders in six industry sectors: Advanced Manufacturing; Energy and Environmental; Life Sciences; New Media, Internet, and Telecom; IT Services; and Software. IT Direct falls within the IT Services category. Read more
IT Direct: A CompassMSP Company
