Great Lakes Computer Corporation

Managed Service Provider

Managed Services

By

On Demand Webinar Discusses Cloud Computing and IT Infrastructure

Delivering on IT Transformation: Converged Infrastructure Drives Cost Down and Efficiency Up

Managed IT servicesJust listened to this 60 minute webinar.  It is a good one to share as I found it to be a conversation every organization must have – companies are spending way too much time and money dealing with the burdens of increasing IT infrastructure that it is taking away from their bottom line.  Finding a Managed IT Services Provider who can understand and ensure you are operating at maximum efficiency (I heard Great Lakes Computer is a great one!) can increase profit margins no matter what industry you are in.

IT Infrastructure eSeminar

Available On-Demand
Original Event Date:June 4, 2013

The changes in the world of IT have been dramatic. Thanks to the proliferation of Cloud Computing in all its flavors, virtualization is now the norm for both server and storage in many organizations. But virtualization alone can’t deliver on the true promise of Converged Infrastructure – that of providing all of IT “as a Service” with the simplicity and efficiency that you’d expect from any public cloud offering.

How can you reduce the burden of managing infrastructure, and allow IT staffer to focus on what counts – delivering bottom-line results?

Organizations across the globe are finding new ways to become more efficient and continue to “Do More with Less”. Register now for this event and learn where to start today to achieve these benefits in your organization.  Learn more and Register here.

Great Lakes Computer Helps ALL PRO Freight Systems with Managed Services

What can managed services do for you? Take a quick moment to see how Great Lakes Computer Corp was able to help ALL PRO Freight Systems increase customer service support while decreasing the time it took to solve customer problems.

Learn more about the author Bob Martin

By

Making the Case for Managed Services in Law Firms

Managed services: non-cost reasons for law firms to make a change

Legal PracticeThere is a great deal to be said for the argument that law firms should seek out a managed services provider in order to save money on their IT operations. Handing IT functions to a dedicated vendor who can provide services remotely can produce tremendous cost savings over a model in which the law firm must maintain and support an in-house IT department. Nevertheless, cost reductions alone are not the only strong reason for moving to a managed services approach. Instead, such a shift offers significant additional advantages that have little to do with trimming direct costs.

Core competencies

A desire to have a job done properly is a strong motivation for many firms that decide to investigate outsourced IT support for law firms. Because a managed services provider is truly a specialist in the areas of data security, data backup, and remote management of document production, outsourcing IT allows a firm to enjoy the benefits of vast expertise. When a law firm tries to provide these functions for itself, its attention to such matters is naturally diluted by the fact that the company must perform many essential functions. In this scenario, IT needs can get pushed to the side. This is not the case when a dedicated vendor is providing IT services.

Staffing issues

Another reason why a managed service provider makes sense for law firms involves the need to attract and retain quality talent for open positions. An in-house IT department at a law firm may be a two- or three-person operation – or may perhaps be even smaller. This is not the kind of situation that draws in highly-qualified personnel. Instead, a perceived lack of advancement opportunities will cause the best IT prospects to look elsewhere for employment, leaving the law firm with a lower tier of employee.

By working with a managed services provider, however, even the smallest law firm can take advantage of a much larger talent pool. This is because IT companies are able to attract staff much more effectively to fill IT-related positions. These highly-qualified individuals will then provide services to companies that could never have secured their services on their own.

Access to the best technology

Because managed services providers serve many companies at once, they can purchase new equipment and remain on the cutting edge of data services without “breaking the bank.” This is because they are able to spread their own costs widely, with each company served absorbing just a little bit. In contrast, a law firm providing its own IT services cannot afford to update its technology nearly as often since it would have to absorb 100% of the cost on its own.

 

Learn More about Managed Services for Law Firms, a specialty of Great Lakes Computer…

 

 

 

 

By

IT Support: The Benefits of a Free IT Assessment for Your Business

What is an IT Assessment?
By Darryl Brooks

IT Assessment, IT Risk AssessmentThis article will answer the question, “What is an IT assessment?” An IT assessment is a comprehensive and thorough review of a company’s technology systems and environment and will result in a written evaluation and recommendation. The assessment will appraise how your technology helps or hinders your core business and recommend how to use technology to meet your business’ goals and objectives. The assessment can include, but is not limited to, network and systems performance, software audits, concept testing and development, strategic evaluations, technical reviews, and serve as an IT risk assessment for better risk management.

An IT system isn’t just technology for technology’s sake. Technology should help meet specific business goals and provide value. An IT assessment can make sure that the technology is meeting these goals, or provide a blueprint for improving the technology and a specific and measurable template for achieving business objectives. It can also ensure that technology and security is in compliance with government guidelines and best practices.

Any business in today’s environment is running on a network of connected computers, servers, printers, and other hardware. The network is the backbone of the entire enterprise and can be a major bottleneck in business applications. An IT assessment will provide a network performance review and make recommendations based on traffic, errors, packet loss, and conflicts that can bring a business network to a halt. Investing in the latest computers and servers is a waste of money if it is attached to a sub-optimal network.

Software that is out of license compliance or copied illegally can cause huge fines and penalties to a business. An IT assessment will evaluate the existing software for compliance and create an audit process for future software. A software audit now as part of an IT assessment is much more cost effective than an audit later by a software company.

Security of data is key to any business. Proper security measures not only protect the data from outside hackers, but the ability to demonstrate good security is essential for new sales and customer retention. An IT risk assessment will evaluate and make recommendations to close holes in security and help create a bulletproof computing environment for critical data security.

Finally, business continuity is a significant part of any good business plan. In the event of a disaster, the technology must be able to continue operating so that day to day business can continue. Proper data backup procedures, redundant systems, and recovery methods must be in place. An IT assessment can provide a disaster recovery plan to ensure that the business continues in the event of anything from a small electrical problem to a major disaster.

—

Wondering where your systems stand?  GLC offers a free, no obligation IT assessment performed by one of our highly trained technicians.  Learn more about the GLC Free Systems Audit, or click below to schedule yours today:

Click me

Contact Us