IT Direct is a 2019 MSP 501 winner!
We are so proud to be considered, again, one of the top 501 Managed Service Providers worldwide by Channel Futures! This year, we earned the #194 spot. Read more
Why your company needs Core Values and how they drive business value
As a founder, CEO, or leader of a company, it is so important to discover the Core Values you want to your organization to aspire to. It can drive tremendous value to the business and help everyone – leaders, teammates, clients/customers, prospects and potential new hires – all be on the same page. Each knows exactly what is important to your company and what you stand for. After you discover the Core Values, write them down, share them, and find ways to make them an everyday part of your company culture.
Take a few minutes to watch our President and CEO, Ari Santiago, in the video playlist below as he discusses developing our company’s Core Values and talks about a few of them, specifically, and what they mean to us.
When does 2+2=5?
When does adding two things together equal more than the sum of their parts? When you can take a few pieces of information, put it together, and come to a conclusion that saves you tons of time or resources! This is one of our very favorite things to do for our clients!
How do we do it?
Sometimes multiple helpdesk calls come in and they seem unrelated and may even be assigned to different techs to solve. They may even be quick issues, like difficulty updating a password, or a pop-up that keeps occurring from time to time for low disk space on a user’s computer. To an outside eye, these issues may seem coincidental or completely unrelated. But, our POD teams get to know our clients so well that they pick up on these seemingly unrelated events and can make changes that save everyone time and energy.
Putting it together
One client’s Read more
Top 5 ways to prepare for a ransomware attack
A top cybersecurity threat for businesses today is ransomware – a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. In fact, 12 Connecticut state agencies were just attacked with ransomware, with 160 computers affected. Luckily, the attack was thwarted by the state’s excellent multi-layered cybersecurity strategy.
Your business needs to be prepared too. And just like the state of CT, the multi-layered approach is the best way to do it.
Here are the top 5 ways to prepare for a ransomware attack: Read more
How to make IT strategy a key component of your business strategy
How to make IT strategy a key component of your business strategy
Technology is a key component of your business. Are you doing enough to make sure that this key component is helping your company be more productive and efficient and prepare for the future? Chances are, if you don’t have someone dedicated to regularly looking at your technology with one eye on business strategy and the other on the future, the answer is probably no. Below we outline what this role can look like and then we use two recent examples from our clients to show how this role works in action. Read more
How to get your business ready for the future of IT (part 2)
In our first digital transformation post, we talked about the basics of digital transformation…what it means, how you prepare for it and the importance of a strong and secure infrastructure. If you missed that article, click here to read it.
In this post, we’ll talk about how the role of IT in business has changed over time and how your business approach can change along with it.
The IT Management Pyramid
The pyramid below describes the efficacy of your IT strategy as it improves and develops on the way to Digital Transformation. The goal is to move up the pyramid! The idea is to be continually thinking about how you use IT, the role of IT in business strategy, and where your IT is focused. Each tier of the pyramid is explained more fully below, along with the limitations and benefits of each stage as your business develops its IT strategy. Read more
How to get your business ready for the future of IT (part 1)
The future of IT = Digital Transformation
You may be hearing a lot about digital transformation right now…but, what does it mean, and what could it mean for your business? Keep looking back at our blog as we unravel the mystery of Digital Transformation.
So, what is it?
In short, digital transformation means preparing your business to take advantage of the massive technology shift that is currently ongoing. It’s not too late…you can do it! This technology shift, sometimes called the 4th Industrial Revolution, is only in its infancy.
We’ve only just started?
Security flaws Spectre and Meltdown – what you need to know!
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
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.
Top 5 Features of the Best Cloud Service
The best cloud service is one that works perfectly for your company’s needs, ensuring you have your data backed up and available to you. It will do so in a way that fits your budget and any other constraints you may have. It should be easy for you to use, secure, and scalable if your business grows and needs more space.
When you are choosing the best cloud service for your company, there are five features that you should look for in the provider’s offerings. They are a good benchmark for making sure you’ll get the service you need.
Ability to Self-Serve
The best cloud service is one that works for you when you want it! You should be able to access the cloud easily and operate it to perform actions like deploying apps, sharing information, and downloading data. It’s best if you can do so with minimal or no assistance required from the service provider. The cloud service should be intuitive for users, particularly for your IT department, and should work seamlessly with existing goals and programs your IT department uses.
Scalability
Whether your company is growing, scaling back, or experiencing occasional spikes in demand, scalability is important when seeking the best cloud service for your needs. You should be able to use the data you require, without overpaying for space you do not need at all times, or under powering your company when you could use extra capacity.
Flexible storage is ideal. Consider unlimited data storage or something that allows you to pay more as you use additional space while keeping a lower baseline cost. Make sure you explore the scalability of any cloud service before you sign on.
Automatic Syncing
Automatic syncing takes a lot of worry out of using the cloud. Any time you edit or change a file, it will update in real time on the cloud. This will keep all of your data consistent without you or your users having to remember to save changes. If a system goes down, or you forget to hit save, it won’t be a problem when you have automatic syncing in place.
Strong Security
This is one of the most important features of any cloud service! You need to know that your important data is safe and protected, through high security and encryption practices. Features like password protection, individualized access settings, and top notch encryption ensure that all data is safe, both on the cloud and when it is being moved in or out of the cloud system.
Great Customer Service and Support
Even the most robust IT department might need help sometimes. A cloud service with exceptional customer service and technical support is important. This could keep your business running smoothly for all users. It can also take some of the burden from your IT department because the questions of regular users can be addressed by the cloud service help desk.
Your provider should be available 24/7 and they should respond to issues quickly.
Using a cloud service that can say yes to these five factors will make your business life significantly easier and that much safer too. At IT Direct, we understand what it means to deliver a truly effective cloud service. Give us a call, and we’ll determine together if you’re ready for the cloud.
IT Direct: A CompassMSP Company
