You don't want to miss this month's eGuide resource.
Access this month's eGuide on our Resources page
A major change to your IT infrastructure isn’t something to be planned in a hurry. So if you’re starting to think about ending it with your current systems and bringing your business into the 2020s, there’s plenty to think about before you commit to another long-term relationship.
· How do you determine your needs?
· Who should you involve?
· What haven’t you thought of?
· Where do you even start?
Our new and easy-to-read guide tells you all you need to know.
the next 10 years of tech trends
You don't want to miss this month's eGuide resource.
Access this month's eGuide on our Resources page
The growth of cloud computing has completely changed how we work. But security in a cloud environment can create a long list of its own challenges.
You’ll discover what you can do for yourself to stay safe in the cloud, and where some professional help will make a big difference.
Check out our new easy-to-read guide, we cut through the jargon to give you all you need to know to protect your business.
You don't want to miss this month's eGuide resource.
Access this month's eGuide on our Resources page
The quickest way to upset your staff is by giving them slow access to the internet.
Bad Wi-Fi quickly creates tension in the team and is a real productivity killer.
You don’t have to suffer slow Wi-Fi. Here’s our guide to making Wi-Fi faster whether you’re working in the office or from home.
Check out our latest BlueCastle IT Tech Tip Video.
Has the global chip shortage affected your business yet? If you want to upgrade devices in the next year, it might do.
Here’s why it’s happening and what you can do to stay ahead.
You don't want to miss this month's eGuide resource.
Access this month's eGuide on our Resources page
Focus more, be interrupted less… and get stuff done
When you own or manage a business, your mental load can be overwhelming. Not only do you have your own work to think about, but your focus has to be split between that and what your people need from you.
That can mean interruption after interruption; a never-ending to-do list; and never quite achieving that work/life balance, which was probably one of your main goals when you started your business.
Not good.
Fortunately, there are loads of tools available to you right now that can help free up your time, reduce interruptions and give you better focus. And many of them are already included with your Microsoft 365 subscription.
We’ve written a simple eGuide to help you decide which ones could work for you.
You don't want to miss this month's eGuide resource.
Access this month's eGuide on our Resources page
Are you paying your IT support partner enough?
I bet that’s a question you’ve never asked yourself before…
But it’s important you do. Because in the world of technology like anywhere else, there’s a definite link between what you pay, and the quality of the service you receive.
Picking an IT provider on price alone is a false economy. If you’re paying too little, you’re running one of four big risks.
Check out our new guide so you can see how we've listed them, and what you should know before hiring your IT support partner in the future.
You don't want to miss this month's eGuide resource.
Access this month's eGuide on our Resources page
5 steps to improve your ransomware resilience
Ransomware is the most terrifying data security threat your business has ever faced.
Imagine your team trying to log in one morning. But all of them get a bright red screen saying your data has been locked away, and you must pay a huge ransom in Bitcoin to get it back.
Terrifying.
Check out our new guide so we can answer all your questions about it. Plus, you’ll discover five steps to improve your business’s ransomware resilience.
“Downtime costs money.”
That’s no secret, but it doesn’t quite capture the whole experience…you arrive to work in the morning, grab your coffee knowing you’ve got a hectic day ahead, and are ready to dive in.
For some reason your computer can’t access the database and neither can anyone else’s. You restart the server while fielding calls left, right and center, but are unable to answer any client queries. Your hands are completely tied…and now the server is beeping furiously…what’s going on??!
You’re not just in crisis mode, you’re on damage control as you call every tech you can think of, trying to find one who can come NOW.
Not exactly the day you had planned.
The Break/Fix Days Are Gone
Previously, businesses only addressed their IT needs when something broke. A few hours down meant little in the scope of things. In today’s fast world, businesses rely heavily on IT and downtime just isn’t an option. Even the legalities of simply restoring financial, legal or medical files after a breach raises issues.
The cost of break/fix is now too high, both financially and emotionally.
Simply put, your IT services are remotely monitored and proactively managed by a professional, external business. Your Managed Service Provider (MSP) runs regular diagnostics on equipment to identify impending failure and resolves problems before they happen.
Benefits of Managed Services
Small to medium businesses in particular benefit from managed services, because they don’t usually have an on-site technician to oversee the multiple systems in use. By subscribing to a managed service provider, businesses can have reduced labor costs, access to a knowledge base, future-pacing, better data security and reduced downtime. Businesses can also know exactly what their upcoming costs are and plan accordingly.
Some of the managed services we can provide are:
Remote support – This allows us to help you quickly without needing to be on-site.
Hardware monitoring – We monitor your servers and workstations to catch hardware failures before they happen.
Managed anti-virus – We make sure your anti-virus is up to date and take immediate action if an infection occurs.
Patch management – We make sure your computer’s operating system is up to date, closing access to known vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
How much down time can your business afford? Give us a call - 860-215-8960
The law industry isn’t known for embracing change quickly: tradition can trump a willingness to embrace new technologies. Yet digital technology has become an essential part of many lawyers' working day. Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) provides support and enhanced cybersecurity during this evolution.
Lawyers rely on technology today to:
- communicate with colleagues and clients;
- exchange documents;
- schedule events and share calendars;
- research precedent and legal issues;
- streamline file management;
- automate menial tasks;
- track billable hours;
- invoice clients and pay vendors;
- access information from mobile devices, when and where needed;
- virtually conference during the pandemic.
Now, imagine the disruption if that tech-savvy firm’s systems went down, even just for a few hours. No, this is not an argument to return to paper-pushing and the old-school methods; it’s a reminder that you need an IT expert at the ready in case something goes wrong. Plus, an MSP can manage and watch systems to help prevent the worst.
The MSP Solution
Legal service provider clients expect digital proficiency. They want to schedule appointments online; they want to upload documents to the cloud instead of coming into the office; they are looking to provide digital signatures and pay securely online. The MSP can set up software to meet customer expectations without risking compliance or cybersecurity.
An MSP with experience in the legal industry can also boost competitive advantage. These IT experts can identify opportunities to improve productivity. It may be a faster network or computer upgrades, or you may benefit from improving software integrations and adopting better collaboration tools. The MSP’s initial tech review may also save you money. They'll identify where you are overpaying or places to streamline software licenses.
Also, on the financial front, the law firm can enjoy a consistent budget line item working with an MSP. Instead of waiting for something to break and then looking for someone to fix it, you’ll have expert ITs on call, which can reduce costly downtime. Better still, the MSP will take preventative action to avoid that downtime in the first place. This includes keeping your antivirus and security updated and checking technological asset health.
The MSP’s small, ongoing fee is something you can plan around. The ongoing monitoring makes a budget blowout less likely, as well.
Managed IT services offer proactive support plus enhanced security. They understand the importance of end-to-end, layered security. They know the threats to a legal firm and can recommend quality precautions. Attorneys need to secure sensitive data and documents to remain compliant. The MSP can suggest secure storage and backup to perform the essential tasks.
Further on security, the MSP has the know-how to help your firm become more mobile, but safely. Your tech partner can put systems in place that allow your team to securely work when and where they need to.
It also helps to have a dedicated support team available. They'll already know your firm and its technology. This can speed up the response if there are ever issues, plus, you have a consultant to call with questions about new technological innovations.
Keep pace with customer expectations and maintain competitive advantage. Enjoy technology support and cybersecurity peace of mind with an experienced MSP. BlueCastle IT is here to help. Call us at 860-215-8960.