IT Direct on Connecticut Technology Council Board of Directors

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IT Direct is excited to announce that our CEO Ari Santiago has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Technology Council.

“I am honored to join such a passionate and focused group of leaders with great goals for our state and the future of technology and innovation,” said Ari Santiago.

The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) strives to make Connecticut a vibrant location for innovation and growth by pursuing strategic initiatives designed to bolster Connecticut’s tech-talent pipeline, support companies at every stage of growth and development, and advocate for the best in tech infrastructure development.

Ari will be working with the CTC to promote technology and innovation in all industries. He brings to the Board his expertise in technology and infrastructure. Ari hopes to help educate Connecticut companies on the technology they need to work more efficiently and effectively and to prepare for the future.

For more information on the Connecticut Technology Council, please visit www.ct.org.

IT Direct Awarded 2018 Best Places to Work in Connecticut

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Great news! IT Direct was recently named as one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Connecticut. It’s the second year in a row they have been awarded this honor.

“We are so honored, again, to be named one of the Best Places to Work in Connecticut,” said Ari Santiago, founder and President of IT Direct. “One of our core values at IT Direct is ‘Great People’. To us, these means that every day we strive to value and appreciate the individuals that make up our team, encouraging ourselves and others to grow and succeed. Our employees are our biggest asset. They move our company forward, which, in turn enables our clients’ growth as well. We look forward to another year, continuing to make our company a wonderful place to work and grow.” Read more

Security flaws Spectre and Meltdown – what you need to know!

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As you may have already heard in mainstream publications or on social media, computer researchers have recently found security flaws in the CPUs of most modern computers. These flaws, known by the names Spectre and Meltdown, are the results of design flaws in the hardware which is found in PCs, Apple, networking equipment and more. These flaws have actually been there for years, but until recently were both unknown and unexploited. This security issue affects almost every computer, server, and personal device. The hardware bug allows malicious programs to steal data that is being processed in your computer’s memory, making password managers, emails, messaging, documents, photos and more, vulnerable.  Read more

IT Direct Superheroes

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A standalone IT person can only do so much. While they are keeping you up and running, who is ensuring that IT is giving you a competitive advantage?

Your IT needs to not only work, it needs to keep you efficient and productive, safe and secure, and ready for the future of your business.

Our IT Superheroes make sure your technology leads you into the future!

Please contact us or give us a call at 860-249-1200 to learn what our superheroes can do for you.

Highest Call Volume – Greatest Reviews!

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Shout out to our team!

Last week was our highest call volume of 2017 with 522 calls! That’s 29% more than the previous week!

We wanted to take a moment to shout out to our fantastic team, especially the Triage Team, who handled these calls with such patience and kindness. The entire Tech Team pitched in to help out too, answering and resolving calls. Teamwork at its best!

Even with the high pressure of enormous call volume, our team received incredibly positive and happy reviews from our clients. This truly shows the outstanding work our coworkers do each and every day! Here are some of the comments we received last week – it was so hard to pick and choose the best, there were so many to choose from!   Read more

IT Direct Receives Marcum Tech Top 40 Award: 40 Fastest Growing Tech Companies in CT

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WEST HARTFORD, CT  September 15, 2017 – IT Direct is proud to announce that the Connecticut Technology Council and Marcum LLP have again named IT Direct to their Marcum Tech Top 40 list of fastest growing technology companies in Connecticut.

The Marcum Tech Top 40 has honored over 360 Connecticut technology companies since 2008. These companies have at least $3 million in annual revenue and a demonstrated record of revenue growth in each of the preceding four years. IT Direct has won this award three times now!

It is thanks to our hard working, focused, and determined team that we continue to have the success and growth that has earned us this award. We recognize their dedication to IT Direct’s values and mission. We’d also like to thank our clients for continuing to put their trust in us and to believe in the value we provide to their organizations. We look forward to continuing the partnerships we have developed over the years and know that new partnerships are right around the bend.   Read more

IT Direct: Inc. 5000 Honoree For Fifth Consecutive Year

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WEST HARTFORD, CT, August 16, 2017 – IT Direct would like to announce that Inc. magazine has named IT Direct to its exclusive “Honor Roll” of Inc. 5000 companies, in recognition of its designation as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the fifth consecutive year, an exceptional feat.

Fewer than a tenth of all Inc. 5000 honorees – an already select group – ever achieve this milestone through a consistent high-growth trajectory that places them on the elite list for five years or more, putting IT Direct in rarefied company. Inc. magazine just released its 2017 Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies.

Inc. magazine ranked IT Direct # 4401 on its 36th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment— its independent small and midsized businesses. Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees of the Inc. 5000.

“Making this list once is a major achievement, but being able to do this 5 years in a row is truly amazing. It is no exaggeration to say that this award and recognition truly belongs to the entire IT Direct team for their combined work and determination to drive value to all our clients. Thank you to our growing list of clients who trust us with their I.T. networks and computer support needs. We look forward to continuing to grow with you and helping you use technology to reach your goals,” said founder, and President of IT Direct, Ari Santiago.

The 2017 Inc. 5000  is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year average growth of 481%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $206 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 619,500 jobs over the past three years.

“The Inc. 5000 is the most persuasive evidence I know that the American Dream is still alive,” says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “The founders and CEOs of the Inc. 5000 tell us they think determination, risk taking, and vision were the keys to their success, and I believe them.”

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring all the companies on the list will be held in October at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, CA. Speakers include some of the greatest entrepreneurs of this and past generations, such as former Ford president Alan Mullaly, FUBU CEO and founder and “Shark Tank” star Daymond John, Dollar Shave Club founder Michael Dubin, and more.

Important Information About A Serious Security Risk

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Over the last week, we have seen an increasing number of email scams. The way these are constructed makes them impossible to fully prevent (even with all of our proactive monitoring and safeguards) and, as a result, it is critical that we all take note of these important reminders:

  1. Don’t respond to emails asking for your information
    • Legitimate sources will not randomly send you an email to confirm your username/password or any personal information.  As a result, never respond to any random emails asking for this information, even if it appears to be from a trusted source such as a bank, the IRS, UPS, Microsoft 365, etc.
  2. Confirm the source
    • Never open any email attachments or click on links that you were not expecting, even if it appears to be coming from someone you know. If you get a random email with a link or an attachment you weren’t expecting, pick up the phone and call the source to confirm.
  3. Trust your gut
    • If something looks suspicious or out of place, verify the source or open a ticket with your IT help desk.  NOTE: Never verify a suspicious email by asking in a direct reply, criminals often monitor the replies and will respond to appear legitimate.
  4. Don’t send money
    • Ignore all emails coming out of nowhere requesting immediate payment, or funds transfers. If you get a request, particularly a random email purporting to come from someone within your company, take the time to contact them via phone to confirm. There is currently an uptick in people using publicly available information to pull off these “phishing” scams
  5. Check The “From” address details
    • Look at the “From” address on all emails. Scammers/malicious actors can use a Gmail, Yahoo or another freely available email service to create an email account and put a trusted name in the display name. This can easily be spotted by looking at the “from” address. For example, the from field could look like “Jane Doe jdoe@companyname.com (jeat8080@gmail.com)” – an attempt to look like it’s coming from Jane, but is really from the randomly named Gmail account in the header.  IGNORE these emails.

In summary – be careful, cautious, and smart to keep you and your computer network safe and secure.

Have a question about cyber security?

Looking for help assessing and improving your current network security? We are happy to help – give us a call (860.656.9110) or send in a request to talk by clicking here.

Will you be left behind?

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Kodak. Yahoo. What do these companies have in common and why does it matter to you?

They’re examples of companies who didn’t look at where technology was going and didn’t embrace what people wanted.

Below is a short clip of Ari Santiago, President of IT Direct, at the recent 2017 Marcum Long-Term Care Symposium.

Hear what Ari has to say about ensuring that you use technology to your advantage to move strongly into the future vs. being left behind.

Please contact us or give us a call (860-656-9110) to set-up a 15-minute phone call with Ari.

What is Your Business Continuity Plan?

What is Your Business Continuity Plan?

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Every good business follows through on its obligations to its customers, even under extenuating circumstances. Sometimes businesses that are heavily reliant upon technology deal with technical difficulties that can hamstring operations for a day or more. But with proper preparation and a cool head, a smart business team can continue operating even in the face of a major disruption.

Having a business continuity plan ensures you have procedures tailored to dictate how your specific business can remain functional after almost any kind of crippling interference.

So what’s yours?

Preparation is Key

Even if your business is completely up-to-date with all the latest hardware and software and a secure network, there’s a good chance that something will eventually go wrong – even through no fault of your own. In situations like these, where your business is accustomed to running like a well-oiled machine, continuity plans are more important than ever. Having a contingency plan increases your ability to deal with disruptions, even if the plan itself doesn’t survive first contact with the problem. Keeping your business in a position to easily pivot and go about its work –  unconventionally if necessary – is a healthy precaution to maintain productivity and customer confidence.

A good mindset is a great start, but business continuity plans don’t begin and end with your business’s ability to wing it. There are concrete, proven technological approaches guiding a business continuity plan as well. If you aren’t confident in your current data backup systems, you should talk to a professional and refine your practices so that a hardware or software failure doesn’t set you back days or months.

Even if you think you’re protected, it’s a good idea to have a professional do some troubleshooting. Proper backup procedures, vigilance and cloud computing can have your business back on its feet within minutes of a major disruption.

Redundancy Is a Good Thing

In many fields redundancy carries a negative connotation. We’ve all heard that quote about how perfection is achieved not when there is nothing else to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. Writers, for example, are often taught to pare down their sentences to the most necessary elements, removing superfluous expressions and unnecessary adverbs. When it comes to network safety and sustainability, however, redundancies are essential.

To minimize risk, your business should take as many precautions as possible to ensure redundancy. Decentralizing your data storage by making use of cloud storage and regular system backups ensures that there will always be a reasonably updated copy of your essential records on hand. Switching from traditional handsets to VoIP-capable phones doesn’t just save money – it reduces your dependence on the telephone company.

At IT Direct we’re committed to building as many levees as necessary to shelter your business from the tides of technological disaster. We believe that real security comes through collaborative IT work and a commitment to preparedness.

If you want to take the next step and make sure your business can weather any storm, don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’d love to sit down with you and the other decision-makers at your company and start work on your business continuity plan today.