The value of IT

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IT is more than just your hardware and software. It’s the infrastructure of how your business operates. No matter what size your business is, it needs IT to work efficiently and grow. It’s important for your staff and your customers.

However, sometimes team members don’t see the true and substantial value of IT. A study by ITSM found that only 13% of professionals know exactly how IT investment positively impacts their business. This suggests that more internal communication and learning should be part of an organization’s culture.

This misperception of value has not diluted spend as IT spending in the U.S. was $3.75 trillion in 2018. With it being such a big part of any company’s budget, decision makers often seek ways to reduce costs while sustaining the value with tactics like using managed IT services.

It’s easy to blur the lines between your business needing technology and technology being your business. Your IT should provide value but shouldn’t consume your operations, which is another reason firms are becoming more reliant on professional IT services.

Yet, it’s still important for leadership and all employees to understand the value of IT, regardless of how it’s executed or employed. Let’s look at how it brings value to the business.

Enabling modern and effective communication

Technology provides many ways to communicate with customers, internal staff, and partners. Communication with customers and prospects often starts with your website, which is one of your most vital assets and something that’s supported by IT infrastructure.

Internally, IT allows you to communicate seamlessly through messaging apps or simply by email. Without a robust IT infrastructure, you’d be very limited in how you could communicate.

Operational efficiency

There are many aspects of IT that keep your business running efficiently. One of the most important elements is the use of the cloud. With cloud migration, your business can run your organization’s technology ecosystem in a revolutionary manner. By leveraging the right cloud strategy, you can streamline processes and deliver new capabilities. You’ll find it offers a competitive edge and helps attract new team members as the cloud provides employees the ability to work from anywhere securely. This equates to greater flexibility, which most workers desire in the modern workforce.

Enhances security

Cybersecurity is top of mind for every organization. There isn’t much worse for your company’s reputation and viability than a data breach. With the right cybersecurity tools in place, you reduce risk and enable growth. IT’s value here is immeasurable. Consulting with cybersecurity professionals elevates your company’s ability to stay ahead of cyberthreats like viruses and malware. Without secure data, your business will be at a huge disadvantage, which could lead to you losing or not being able to acquire customers.

Virtual desktops deliver critical value

Your IT infrastructure will dramatically increase in value through the use of virtual desktops. When you have a large desktop environment to manage, it simply makes everything harder. Simplify access and increase worker productivity with virtual desktops. Virtual desktops also centralize the functions of patching, maintenance, and management via one interface. It allows for more freedom, so you can work more efficiently and experience less downtime. When you have these capabilities, your business can grow without barriers.

Increase the value of your IT with the right guidance

At Imagis, we offer a full suite of IT services to businesses, helping them achieve greater value and reduce complexities and cost. With professional guidance in place, the value of IT will forever be optimized to fit your company’s exact needs. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us today.

Is It Time for An All New IT Upgrade?

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There’s no denying that in today’s world, information is more accessible and easier to obtain than ever before. From the internet, tablets, smart phones and even your laptop, information is everywhere and can be accessed from anywhere. But do we know all the ins and outs of making this “connect from anywhere” information stream work?

As a business owner, big or small, why would you put yourself under the pressure and stress of maintaining your own IT services, as well as trying to run your company and turn a profit, when you can let someone else take on that worry. Hand that stress over to someone who knows IT and whose sole job is to handle things like data storage and server maintenance. Thus, freeing you up to worry about other aspects of the business, like sales.

An IT services provider is equipped to handle issues that can lead to devastating downtime or loss of function. The service provider will have the knowledge and the current technologies to handle the problem and get you back up and running with minimal downtime or effect on your business. In other words, you don’t have time to play at IT. You need someone who can BE IT.

If you’re still on fence as why you should hire an outside source to maintain your IT services, take these points into consideration:

  • Efficient cost management

This is probably the number one reason any business would want to switch over to outsourcing your IT services. It lowers costs and frees up funds for other aspects of the business. Who doesn’t want to save money?

  • Reap the benefits of freed up resources

As a business owner, you are running on limited resources already, so why use up even more of those resources maintaining something that you know little about? Let someone else take over the management of your IT services. You can finally free up Bob from accounting to do his job and let an IT professional fix the busted laptops.

  • Share the risk burden

Another big positive of having a third-party company handling your IT services is that you share the infrastructure risk. This will allow you, as a business, to become more flexible and agile, delivering better products over the long run. Again, this goes towards lowering costs and the stress of having to maintain a network when you may not understand all the ins and outs of that network.

  • Re-focus your priorities

If your worrying about your network or data storage issues you’re not focused on your business. It is not productive to split your time between six different computer issues and trying to make a sale to stay in the black.

  • Access to data management expertise

If you were an IT pro, you would be in the managed service provider business. So why try maintaining your own network? Allowing an MSP to maintain your network and handle your IT services gives you access to experts in the field who know the most efficient way to run data storage or supply you with the most up to date equipment for your computer network.

Using an outsourced IT company frees up your staff to do the job that they were hired to do, and to shine. With how rapidly tech changes, how is Bob from accounting supposed to keep up? Plus, the professionals that work for the outsourced IT company are experts in their field and are paid to keep up with the most up to date tech out there.

Now that you’ve seen the benefits of switching over to outsourced IT services, the next step is determining what you need to turn over to the IT professional. The easy answer is everything that has to do with tech, such as computer maintenance and networking. But there is much more to a smooth-running office than just computer failures.

An outsourced IT provider can handle many things for your business:

  • Data center operations,
  • Business continuity,
  • E-Commerce web design functions
  • Basic support services (help desks, etc.)
  • Security management,
  • E-Mail marketing management,
  • Virus protection,
  • Data backup and recovery,
  • Wireless support,
  • Purchase consulting,
  • And network architecture.

It is up to you to insure that your business is running at its peak performance. Your employees need to be able to send and receive emails, order supplies and communicate with clients. If your staff couldn’t communicate with clients and vendors, how long would your business last?

With Imagis you will have access to first-class technology, allowing you to streamline processes that makes them more efficient and productive. And this will help your company to be able to take advantage of opportunities much quicker.

Call Imagis at 866.462.4474 and see how we can make first-class technology work for you!

Why You Need to Create a Business Continuity Plan

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Data loss is always a concern for businesses, and now with cloud storage there is more concern than ever that data stored there could be stolen or lost. “It can’t/won’t happen to me” attitudes among small businesses could end in disaster, costing these business owners a pretty penny.

Lost profits, lost productivity and damage to your businesses reputation are just a few things that could come from loss of data…and those are the best-case scenarios. Small businesses can’t afford to lose data. Almost 60% of small businesses go under within six months of a major data loss.

The good news is that a majority of small businesses already backup their data, whether it is locally, on the cloud or both. To prevent a catastrophic loss of data, it is important that you follow some simple guidelines to preserve your data. Backup the data for starters, preferably on a daily basis, but at least a couple times a week. You also want to have a Business Continuity Plan in place.

A Business Continuity Plan is a process put in place to respond to any catastrophic loss of data with a documented and clear set of plans to recover that data. The plan includes step-by-step instructions how to recover the loss and get your network or system up and running as swift as possible to avoid a major loss in productivity or revenue, and get back to work.

Your data recovery analysis should include hiring a Managed Service Provider for your IT recovery needs. They are specially qualified to handle data recovery and to get your business back up and running after an IT disaster better than you are. They will help with the analysis and show you the best way to safeguard your data so that, in the event of a catastrophe, they can help get that data back.

What can cause your data to be lost? There are a few main causes for the loss of important data, including:

  • Hackers – A lot of times data loss is due to poor cybersecurity. Without the right preventative measures in place, hackers can infect a system with ransomware and compromise all of your files. Ransomware is likely today’s biggest threat to your data. You hear about it everywhere, including how to defend against it before they get in and take over your files. You don’t want that ransom note.
  • Human Error – Backing up files, moving files and deleting old files is something that we do every day as part of our business routine. So it is inevitable that we accidently delete the wrong files or backup an outdated version of a file. Human error is inevitable so have a plan in place for when this happens to you.
  • Software Failure – We’ve all been there. You have a dozen programs running at once as you try to accomplish a dozen tasks at once. You’re working in one of those dozen programs when the computer starts acting sluggish then crashes. Now all that data is gone because you didn’t save or back it up before the crash. Similarly, if you are using outdated software you’re asking for problems. Don’t fall victim to this. Keep software up to date and don’t over task the hardware.
  • Hardware Failure – Hard drives fail all the time. 140,000 hard drives fail every day. Some just get worn out but others fail due to extenuating circumstances such as:
  • Water Damage
  • Fire Damage
  • Overheating
  • Power Surges
  • Getting Dropped
  • Cyber Viruses and Malware – Viruses and malware are a real threat in today’s ever-connected world. The internet has immense value and you’re probably connected to it at all times, but this also leaves you open for computer viruses as well as hackers that want to steal or hijack your data, or corrupt your entire network.
  • Power Failure – The loss of power to your system might seem as if it is low risk, but that’s not always the case. A power failure to the computer can result in loss of data or even worse, hard drive failure.
  • Natural Disasters (hurricane, tornado, etc.) – A tornado doesn’t care how long it took you to backup your data or that you didn’t backup at all. A server room could flood or a main work area could suddenly cave in or be swept away. If you live somewhere prone to natural disasters, you should already be backing up data.

The best way to protect your data from hackers and other problems is to have a reliable recovery solution in place by an IT professional. The biggest threat to your data and your business is not being prepared. Get together with your Managed Service Provider (MSP) and come up with a Business Continuity Plan that works for your business.

Strategize Your Way To A Stellar 2018

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With the right guidance and advice, strategic IT planning can set your business on a path to greater success in 2018 and beyond.

2017 isn’t quite behind us yet, but already many businesses are turning their attention to the year ahead. Planning out your objectives and goals for the coming months is a great way to make sure your business is prepared to meet those challenges, and that starts with taking a look at how you faired in the previous months. Now is the time to make sure your plan for 2018 is ready to go, and covers all aspects of your business. This means focusing not just on your operations, but the many moving parts that keep your operations running.

Did your business meet all its goals and objectives for 2017? Hopefully, you were able to cross most, if not all, of your goals off of your list. But those areas where your business might have come up short, or the objectives you didn’t quite get around to tackling are a great starting point for your plans for 2018. And while it’s important to keep the big picture in perspective when making decisions that will have an impact on your future success, it’s just as important to focus your attention where it’s needed.

I’m talking, of course, about your business technology. Have you thought about technology and the role Information Technology can play in making sure your business continues to be successful? Information Technology plays an important role in every company’s success, regardless of how big or small your operations are, or what your company specializes in. Technology is the driving force behind just about everything a modern business does, from accounting and administration to shipping and manufacturing, and all things in between.

Having the right technology in place to improve, enhance, or completely change the way your staff works can make all difference, both short-term and long-term. And having the right IT strategy can help to make sure your business is in a position to accelerate growth, increase operational efficiencies, and ensure maximum productivity for all departments and employees. Strengthening your internal operations through innovative technology investments can be a game changer for your business.

Of course, it’s not just the things that happen behind the scenes that need to be a part of your planning. The right strategic IT plan can ensure your team is able to market your business to your ideal audience and help your sales teams to win new sales opportunities by staying a step ahead of your competitors. The agility and speed offered by today’s technology, when implemented correctly and used to your full advantage, allows your staff to do more for your clients and prospective clients and exceed expectations.

It’s just a matter of knowing where and how you want your business to grow in the coming year, what changes need to be made to make that growth happen, and how to get the most out of the technology at your disposal.

If your business doesn’t have a strategic IT plan ready to roll out just yet, now is the time to talk to trusted technology professionals about your goals and learn what your options are. Your business can and should use technology as a foundation to build up a framework for success in the coming year. Whether it’s something as small as upgrading your accounting software to help streamline payroll and billings, or something as huge as finally migrating your systems and servers to a cloud-based platform, planning is everything.

Don’t let that fact that the focus of this planning is on your goals for 2018 keep you from starting this conversation in 2017. Procrastination will only hold you back, and keep your business from benefitting fully from everything new technology can bring to the table. You don’t have to run out tomorrow and start making purchases, but the sooner you start planning, the sooner you can start putting that plan into motion.

You might have a very clear idea of the kinds of changes you want to see and the milestones you intend to strive for, and that’s great. That certainty will help guide your business. But if all you have is a vague idea of where you’d like to see your business end up when 2018 comes to an end, that’s where advice from an IT professional can make a big difference. Just knowing what services and solutions are available for your business to choose from can help guide you onto the right path. It’s just a matter of knowing which questions to ask.

Better yet, engage an IT Service Provider that knows which questions need to be asked to help your business leverage technology into massive growth and success in 2018 and beyond.

Ready to start on a strategic IT plan for 2018? Contact Imagis Innovations at info@ImagisInnovations.com or 866.462.4474 today to book a consultation with a strategic IT advisor. We’re the technology experts growing businesses trust.


Your Business Requires Technology, But Technology Shouldn’t Be Your Business

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Businesses today are faced with fierce competition. Keeping your small business afloat, much less making a profit, takes your full attention. This, coupled with an increased reliance on complex technology can put un-do pressure on you and your employees.

Whether you want to compose a sales presentation or proposal, keep track of inventory, or communicate with your employees and clients, you can’t do this efficiently without working computers, a properly functioning network and a reliable connection to the Internet.

And technology it isn’t always dependable. With network outages, Hard drives that crash, and computers, routers, switches, servers, printers that eventually fail, your business productivity can come to a halt.

Doesn’t it always seem like technology fails you when you need it most?  When this happens it’s imperative that you resolve these problems and resume normal business operations as soon as possible—Time is money. It can be precarious to be so dependent on technology, but without it you just can’t compete today.

Few small businesses have either the required skills or the time to maintain and repair computers, networking equipment, or other technology. And, they can’t afford to hire dedicated, full-time employees to deal with IT maintenance.  Even if they could, there isn’t enough need for a full-time expert. 

So, what do they do? They try to “fix” things themselves. They find the most tech-savvy employee to double up on their duties and deal with hardware procurement, software licensing, and day-to-day IT troubles. 

Trying to resolve and keep up with inevitable technology failures is no longer a simple matter. And as your business has grown, you’re probably using computers and network equipment from a variety of dealers. So, getting the support you need is more difficult.

Plus, you have to manage warranties, support contracts, and deal with finger-pointing between vendors when problems occur. Doing this on your own can be like a volcano waiting to explode. Below the surface are IT issues and vulnerabilities that can cause big problems down the road.

Do you rely on your non-IT employees to deal with technology problems? If so, it’s best to let them stay focused on their duties, and enlist the aid of expert IT support. The time and resources dedicated to managing technology problems can negatively impact employees, their stress levels, and ultimately, your customers.

The smart thing to do is to outsource your IT support to a company that makes sure all your technology stays up and running.  They should be experienced in maintaining and troubleshooting desktops, laptops, servers, and network hardware. And they should have the knowledge and skills to keep things running smoothly and securely.

Large enterprises address this problem by hiring the right people for the job. They rely on experts for what they need: marketing, accounting, legal services and more. They know to leave the technical responsibilities to the experts.

If you’re worried about the cost, don’t be. The cost of outsourcing IT service and support will pay for itself because your tech issues will be addressed quickly and correctly so you can continue to focus on meeting your customers’ needs and growing your business.

Plus, you can get all your IT support and management for a fixed monthly price. A fully managed program is the best solution for small businesses, and provides the most reliability, security and quality of service.  You’ll have 24×7 access to IT assistance from technicians who will provide both remote and on-site support with guaranteed response times to prevent downtime and ensure your business stays up and running.

All aspects of your network will be monitored and maintained: security, data protection applications and hardware. This optimizes your network’s performance, so it will work at peak efficiency to meet the demands of your business.

Your IT provider should also act as your CIO and Trusted Technology Advisor by helping you with:   

  • Technology Planning
  • Solutions that align with your budget and increase your operational efficiency
  • Business Continuity and Disaster Planning
  • Expert Security Planning
  • Cloud Solutions that save you money, eliminate storage issues, and can be scaled to meet your specific requirements
  • Spam and Email Protection
  • And more.

Your time is important. You have more important issues to deal with than IT problems. Outsourcing your IT support and service allows you and your employees to focus on your duties, and grow your business.  

Imagis Managed Services

Our Fully Managed IT Service is the ideal solution for small businesses like yours. We know how hard you work to afford your technologies, and we’ll ensure you get the most from them. We’ll offer the value you need, and protect your technology investments. 

Just ask our clients: We provide the utmost in network reliability, security and quality service.