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Cyber Security Issues can “Target” Small Businesses

Protecting your SMB from the threat of cyber exposure

Cyber Security TargetEven if you have a current anti-virus and antimalware solution, your company could still be at risk of cyber fraud.  Just ask some of the big box retailers!  Unfortunately, online crime is not going away any time soon, in fact, if this past holiday’s recent events is any indication, it is a growth industry.

Often, small- or medium-sized companies may be failing to protect their data and resources in the most basic of ways.  Firstly, in order to have a solid foundation for any antimalware installed on your system, it is vital that members of staff are trained to oversee the software adequately and that they ensure it is functioning correctly.  Give extra training so that each individual feels confident in their cyber-security knowledge and acts upon it, by not opening attachments or installing unauthorized applications.

However, some companies simply do not have sufficient security applications to keep out particularly virulent Trojan Horse bugs, or other invasive malware.  Trojans should be considered one of the top threats to businesses, as they give an attacker power over the system they have breached.

Once on the inside, a criminal may leave a piece of keyboard monitoring software.  This records every action that a user inputs, including password details.  The implications for the theft of personal data and banking fraud would be of great concern to any company, but Trojans are notoriously difficult to identify and frequently operate undetected for extended periods of time.

Coupled with these primary issues, IT managers may be unaware of how sophisticated some viruses have become and the pro-active services needed to contain them.  The issue of crimeware is especially worrying; this is a readily available online resource for would-be hackers.  It enables even a novice to perform a number of harmful operations inside a computing system.

To keep your business and its information secure, consult with a provider, such as Great Lakes Computer, about computer protection before you buy.  In order to maximize your chances of staying protected, choose a security package that covers your company’s individual vulnerabilities.

Learn more about our Data Security Product Suite

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9 Steps to a Successful Office Relocation

Office Moves are the Perfect Excuse to Upgrade your IT Systems

Office Technology MoveStressed out about the though of moving your office?  You are not alone.  Whether downsizing, upsizing, implementing a more robust remote work environment, or taking on new employees due to a successful merger, companies are finding that an office move is not an easy task.

The following 9 Steps for a successfull relocation is taken from wikihow.com:

1.  Assess your needs and current situation: You need to be clear about the purpose of your office relocation (e.g. lease break, lease expiry, planned growth or contraction) in order to define your needs and map out the appropriate office move plan. There are some big decisions that must be agreed upon as the starting point and which will form the basis of the subsequent planning process, including the details of the existing lease and notice period and your current obligations and liabilities.

2.  Be clear about your requirements:A clear understanding at the outset of your basic strategic and operational requirements will make the whole moving office process go more smoothly – and save time. Don’t worry too much about the technical specifics (as that is part of the advice given by the external property move professionals). However, you must have an overall idea and consensus from the decision makers about the key drivers of the office move including:

    • Where you want to move to;
    • how much space you need; when you need to be in by;
    • what key features you need your new office to have;
    • what your planned business objectives (including growth plan) the move needs to satisfy;
    • and type and length of lease you want.

3.  Build the right office move project team:An office move is a major undertaking and a collaborative effort is needed for a successful outcome. Putting together the right project team is critical and should include people who will help facilitate all aspects of the move. It will need to comprise both internal and external members. A project leader must be put in charge of the move process as soon as the decision to move office has been made. This person must have enough time to devote to the office move project and should:

    • have the trust of senior management;
    • the authority to act on behalf of the company;
    • be senior enough to be able to make decisions;
    • be a good organizer of people and processes;
    • have experience of setting and working within budgets;
    • and be a good communicator.

4.  Start early: There’s a lot to do, so the earlier you start, the greater the chance of achieving the smooth move your company expects. It is impossible to plan too far ahead. Once the project leader has been appointed, work should start. You should start reviewing your options 9 – 18 months prior to your lease expiration regardless of whether you are considering renewing, renegotiation or relocation. It is vital that you allow enough lead-time to increase the amount of leverage and competition between the various options, which can result in substantial savings for you.

5.  Create a realistic budget: Creating a realistic office move budget is a critical planning tool that will help you assess your costs and manage them throughout the process.

6.  Engage the right office move professionals: The whole moving office process can be complex, stressful and time-consuming. After people costs, property costs are most company’s next biggest expenditure. The decisions you make will have an impact on your company’s profitability. Working with the right professional team is the single biggest must-do for any company thinking of moving office. They will guide you through the process, save you money in the long run and also make sure you don’t make any critical mistakes.

Read the remaining steps here…

Don’t forget the Technology!

Great Lakes Computer is here to help in your office move.  A move is the PERFECT time to reevaluate your Information Technology systems and setup.

BUT you need to ask the right questions. We offer a complete checklist for your big office move when it comes to moving your technology in our FREE Office Technology Move Guide.

Here are a few other things to consider when planning for an office move:

    • What is the right choice in an Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
    • Should I buy new or refurbished equipment?
    • What are my phone system requirements?
    • Do I cable my new office or rely on wi-fi?
    • What specific requirements does my new facility have?
    • Is my data safe and secure during my move?
    • Is my data backed up in case an emergency happens during the move?

Great Lakes Computer offers an Office Technology Move Service, which includes: backup validation,dismantle existing location, transportation, and new location setup.

Learn more about the author Bob Martin

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2014 Predictions for the Managed Print Services Sector

Competition will have managed print providers demonstrating real cost savings

Managed printIn the tech-heavy world of a modern office, there has been a gradual progression toward a paper free working environment.  However, with each passing year, it is becoming clearer that the workplaces of the future will not feel compelled to make a choice between paper and digital media.  Instead, companies of all sizes will combine the two, enjoying the best of both worlds.  Looking at 2014, the most productive offices will be those that reduce extraneous paper processes and in doing so, streamline their printing budget.

Over the coming 12 months, competition will heat up in the managed print services (MPS) industry, with a number of providers aiming to amass an ever greater client base.  In order to be successful, vendors will have to show customers how they can save money and benefit from an intelligent solution to their printing requirements.  This should include robust security measures, compatibility with the cloud and an environmentally-friendly approach.

The New Year is also likely to see a change of attitude amongst SMBs to the use of managed print services.  It is in these grassroots enterprises that printing still has a significant role to play in the day-to-day running of an office.  However, many purchasing decision-makers remain stuck in a more costly cycle of paying for their supplies, maintenance and hardware, on an ad hoc basis.

Reduce Printing Costs

The alternative is to adopt a more organized approach and take on a contract that addresses their specific needs.  After undergoing a thorough analysis and a review of their current business practices, a company can rely on an MPS to monitor their workflow effectively, manage their content and help increase productivity.  As the MPS market continues to expand, customers can look forward to innovative solutions, providing the opportunity for more efficient systems and reduced printing costs.

We’re so confident we can save you money, we’ll give you a FREE TONER CARTRIDGE just for signing!

Take Great Lakes Computer’s Free Print Cost Assessment to find out how much we can save you on your 2014 printing expenses.

Free Print Cost Assessment

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Three Quick Tips for Your IT Support Infrastructure in 2014

Housekeeping IT procedures for the coming year

IT Support housekeepingThis slower end-of-year period is the ideal time to go over the finer details of your company’s software and make sure your IT systems are as productive as possible. The festive season gives business owners a unique chance to monitor and review their operation, without disrupting colleagues or delaying targets.  So while your office is still relatively quiet, here are a three basic checks you can perform that are likely to save you time and money during 2014.

    1. Updates are crucial to the well-being of your IT infrastructure, and ideally they will be downloaded automatically. However, missing just one or two updates, especially those relating to your antivirus and antimalware computer protection, can increase the risk of data security breaches and software incompatibilities. Therefore, go through your computers to ensure they are running the latest versions of each application, and then set every machine to check for updates and download them automatically in future.
    2. Your second task should be carrying out a review of your outsourcing contracts. Think about your hopes for 2014; if your business is expanding you will need the IT to get you there, so consider whether or not your current managed service provider has the technology to match your ideas.
    3. Finally, look at your hardware with a critical eye and see if your IT equipment is sufficient to carry you through 2014. If any PCs are glitchy or suffer from other performance issues, it may be time to buy a replacement or a spare, in case it is needed. Without a contingency plan, staff members can suffer an entire day’s downtime because of a faulty PC, so plan ahead and get your office shipshape for the coming year.

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Data Backup: A Chore or Hassel Free and Automated?

Selecting the right backup option for your company

Data BackupEvery SMB owner is aware of the need for server/data backup, the problem is that getting the right service for your organization can be a minefield.  However, do not let this confusion hold you back from finding the ideal set up, as delays can be costly.  Jennifer Mazzanti is president of eMazzanti Technologies, she points out that: “One of our services in most demand is backing up data…..Unfortunately, it usually comes from businesses that have just experienced a major data loss.”

It is a worrying fact that many small- to medium-sized businesses may not have the correct provision in place when it comes to server backup, should they experience data loss.  Indeed, a study carried out in 2011, by online backup experts Carbonite, revealed that nearly half of American small businesses – those with between two and 20 employees – had suffered data loss.

The most common causes of data loss were systems failures, which affected 54% of respondents, files being deleted accidentally, at 54%, followed by malware at 33%, and finally theft – which represented 10% of all missing data issues.  Despite these figures, a worrying 31% of business managers who were asked said that ensuring their organization’s data is backed up is a chore.

Seeking out the best backup approach, in terms of data security, does not have to be difficult; you can begin by simply establishing what is best for your company.  Consider whether you need every keystroke to be safeguarded, or if you can just protect the most vital information.  Also look at areas of weakness, which data are you most concerned about protecting and how would you like these more critical files to be stored?  Many providers offer two layers of protection for their clients, by keeping certain files in two locations, for example.

When you have assessed what you actually need, you are in a far better position to approach a vendor to discuss your options and obtain the ideal server/data backup product for your company.

2 Backup and Recovery Options to Consider

Great Lakes offers two distinct Backup and Recovery Options, both suitable for SMB’s.

    1. Great Lakes Computer’s Agentless Data Backup & Recovery, powered by Asigra, is a single comprehensive backup and recovery solution that is automated and hassle-free.
    2. Dell AppAssure software is used by IT professionals for backup, replication, and recovery of their virtual and physical servers and for performing Disaster Recovery to remote locations or to private or public cloud.

Learn More About Which Backup Option Is Best For You

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