Virtualization is far more than just a trend. It has moved beyond enterprise IT plans and into small- and medium-sized business offices. Thanks to the rapid evolution of virtualization technologies, it’s now possible to do more with less by increasing the efficiency of your systems, reducing the likelihood of downtime and tightening security.
In today’s technology-oriented marketplace, it’s likely that data is your single most valuable asset. A major area of business continuity planning is protecting that data and making sure that you have a solution to fall back on should the worst happen.
From automated appliances to smart sensors, the Internet of Things has revolutionized both homes and offices. Even if it’s still relatively new in the world of IT, it’s already presenting business owners with opportunities to streamline operations. However, new technologies always carry risks, and if you’re not careful, hackers can use your IoT devices as a backdoor into your network.
The benefits of Unified Communications (UC) are undeniable for both small and large businesses. With one communication platform, you get email, instant messaging, video conferencing, voicemail, and Voice over IP. If used correctly, you can significantly improve collaboration and productivity.
Cloud computing has become so mainstream these days that it’s hard to find a business that hasn’t deployed, or at least considered it. In fact, a recent survey found that over 90 percent of organizations are now using the cloud, and that a majority of businesses’ IT spending will go towards cloud solutions in 2017.
At this point, organizations that continue to dismiss the cloud are at risk of missing out on major opportunities and of falling behind the competition.
From mobile applications to cloud-based servers, business owners have plenty of choices when it comes to technology. But choose poorly and you may end up wasting time and money on a solution that hinders your company’s growth.
To make sure this doesn’t happen, meeting with an IT consultant can help you improve business performance in several ways.
No matter your industry or company size, you can’t afford to lose data. Natural disasters, system failures, and cyberattacks can occur at any moment, and if you are caught off guard, they can be costly.
According to a 2017 Cost of Data Breach study, lost or stolen files tend to cost businesses an average of $141 per record.
Social media gives you the ability to share stories about your day, post pictures of your food, or disclose your location with your friends. But if you’re not careful, you could be inadvertently leaking sensitive information to strangers. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram contain a treasure trove of data about ourselves and our businesses that can be used to fuel hackers’ malicious schemes.
Despite advancements in network security technologies, cybercrime success rates are still at an all time high. The biggest reason for this is because most companies still don’t have the right protections in place to deal with current cyberattacks. In fact, a 2017 Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report found that out of 3,000 companies in the US, UK, and Germany, 53 percent were “ill-prepared” for an attack.
Last month’s massive ransomware attack affected several thousand organizations including UK’s National Health Service, FedEx, as well as many small- and medium-sized firms. According to news reports, the ransomware, known as WannaCry, infected over 300,000 machines across 150 countries.
