Great Lakes Computer Corporation

Managed Service Provider

You are here: Home / Great Lakes Blog

Great Lakes Blog

By

Happy “IT Support” Holidays from Great Lakes Computer

IT Support HolidayGreat Lakes Computer would like to wish all of our clients, employees, prospects and partners a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.  May your holiday season be “Computer Maintenance” Free!  But remember, we are here should you need IT Support for your critical business systems.

By

Two IT Security Threats in 2014 You Can Avoid

Preparing your network security for 2014

IT Security ThreatsThe best kind of IT Support has a network security product suite that is able to tackle a number of diverse threats and prevent hacks or bugs from entering your company’s software system.  One of the major components of any safeguarding software is a robust anti-virus and antimalware solution, but to ensure the most comprehensive protection for your data, it must be regularly updated to remain effective against current threats.  Unfortunately, cyber crime is becoming more sophisticated, meaning businesses have to stay focused on finding the most appropriate ways to protect their staff and customers.

Below are two of the top security threats in 2014

    1. Increasing numbers of businesses now support a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, this allows employees to use a personal device to access business data and continue working on their projects while at home.  While BYOD is great for productivity, from an IT perspective it presents a number of security worries.  Many people still believe that tablets or other mobile smart devices are impossible to infect with a virus; unfortunately this is not true.  When staff download unauthorized apps or click on suspect links, any viruses that are concealed within can quickly spread through a network, leaving a trail of destruction.
    2. According to a survey carried out by search engine Google, half of all respondents had shared their password with another person.  This kind of fundamental lack of security know-how is one of the reasons why human error remains the highest risk to a business.  Password security breaches are easy to mastermind, because people so often choose obvious words or phrases, such as their birth-date or the name of their pet.

Therefore, effective data protection has to follow a twofold approach, combining reliable and solid security software with regular team meetings, where members of staff are taught the best practice and a more professional attitude to online threats.

Learn more about our Data Security Product Suite

By

IT Security Viewed as Second Largest Trend for IT in 2014

IT Security second only to Big Data in 2014 IT trends

Data ProtectionIt is no surprise that threats to data security are on the rise.  We are constantly hearing from security companies of new threats and attacks on company’s networks and data.  What we are hearing, though, is from those who stand to make a profit on data protection, whether it be Data Recovery software companies or Anti-virus providers.

I found Sue Marquette Poremba’s article “Security Focus Trends Upward for IT Departments” interesting, as it backs the claims of the security companies themselves.  Below is an excerpt from the article:

Most of the predictions and trend reports I see are from security experts. While I think these predictions are essential for anyone in charge of enterprise network security – it really does help to have an idea of what threats to protect against – it is good to hear about security concerns and predictions from the IT point of view.

What TEKsystems discovered is that security is a rising concern for IT departments. When asked, “Which of the following trends or technology will have the biggest impact on your organization in 2014,” big data came in first, but security moved from third place in 2013 to second place in 2014. Mobile computing also moved up a spot, from fourth to third. It is fitting that security and mobile move together because the two issues are so intertwined. An IT department can’t have a good mobile policy without having a solid security plan built into it.

IT departments also expect to spend on security in 2014. As the IT Industry Forecast survey stated:

As new security threats emerge daily, organizations must continue to focus on information security initiatives in order to protect sensitive data.

That increased security spending should be good news for staff in charge of security for their organization. The survey also found that 65 percent of IT leaders expect security-related salaries to increase this year, up from 40 percent from last year.

Time to Assess your Network

Poremba continues to advise companies to revisit their security policies for 2014, and ensure there is an emphasis on preventing attacks as well as recovering from attacks.  A Network evaluation is a smart choice.

Great Lakes now offers a free network vulnerability scan through the award winning Network Detective tool.  We will:

    • Run a full network assessment with no agents and no installs.
    • Produce comprehensive reports on security and performance.
    • Do it all in less than 30 minutes!

Sign up for your Free Network Assessment

Learn more about the author Bob Martin

By

3 of the Most Important Questions to Ask a Potential MSP Vendor

For start-ups and SMEs alike, the right MSP is essential

3 MSP questionsA Managed Service Provider (MSP) will perform far more tasks for the benefit of your company than simply outsourcing your IT will ever do.  Whatever sector your company specializes in, you’ll need your technology to be up to date and capable, enabling you to compete with your neighbors in an effective way.  A good MSP takes the strain out of this process; they’ll offer straightforward solutions that work with the needs of you and your clients, at a pre-determined cost.

Here are some questions you should ask your potential MSP vendors when looking for a proposal:

    1. Can they provide what you need for what you can afford?  Be frank with a potential vendor about your current financial situation – when they know their budget they can give an honest appraisal of what can be achieved.
    2. What is their contract term minimum?  It’s unlikely that an MSP will try to impose a long contract. These are a daunting prospect at the best of times, as most companies are unsure of how their fortunes will change over an extended period of time.
    3. Will someone be there for you when you call, and how soon?  Enquire about the level of assistance on offer in times of need; this may be in the form of a representative visiting you on-site or a help desk.  If you only anticipate needing support during office time, ensure that your MSP keeps the same hours as your business.  Alternatively, should the nature of your service mean 24-hour help is crucial, for example in the case of some healthcare firms, check the MSP will be able to meet this need.

For the majority of SMEs, selecting the right provider is not going to be a case of choosing the most economical option.  MSPs come in all shapes and sizes, so some will be better suited to your needs than others.  Before signing a contract, consider what you hope to gain, whether it is better control of risk, new infrastructure without investment, or general help with making your business more productive.  In doing so you are more likely to make an informed decision and go on to enjoy a successful partnership with your MSP.

By

Data Backup is a Core Component of Computer Network Support

Safeguarding your company’s data with a reliable backup plan

Data Protection Network SupportIf you need to protect the information you store on your system, enabling it to be retrieved in the event of a partial or complete wipe out, data protection services are vital.  Although there are many low-cost, or even completely free-of-charge options available, these are unlikely to be the most reliable.

It is estimated that nearly 90% of all the data ever produced was created in the last two years, so now the savviest firms are finding more innovative ways of protecting their masses of files and documents.  For the majority of companies, their reliance on a steady stream of information and storage means they would struggle to function without it.

Even the loss of smaller collections of data can cause downtime, and for SMBs in particular, this can be very damaging.  They have to redirect resources, be it staff or finances, to retrieve the lost data, and often they simply cannot afford to waste either on such a task.

A lot of businesses are most concerned with the threat of cybercrime and hacking; however, it remains the case that human error can also have a catastrophic affect on a company’s IT system.  This is often through genuine mistakes that go unnoticed until they cause a systemic issue.

Although there are a myriad of ways in which data can be compromised, the one solution is a well conceived server/data backup and disaster recovery plan.  The best providers will speak to their clients about what they hope to achieve in terms of data security and then create a system to suit them.  It may include the ability to compress data, remove duplicated information, or give access to virtual copies of files, known as snapshots.  The ideal solution for a company need not cost the earth, but should their data be lost, the return on investment will be unquestionable for any SMB.

Options for Data BackUp

Great Lakes Computer offers two Data Backup & Recovery Solutions to meet the needs of enterprises of any size.  Our agentless Data Backup & Recovery, powered by Asigra, is a single comprehensive backup and recovery solution that is automated and hassle-free.  Our  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. AppAssure server backup software offers IT users unique, innovative industry-firsts including Live Recovery, Recovery Assure, and Universal Recovery technologies.

Learn More About Which Backup Option Is Best For You

Learn more about the author Bob Martin

By

Convenience and Cost Drives Companies to Managed Print Services

Managed Print Services have a solid hold in market

managed Print servicesIt is clear that the managed print services industry is maintaining a solid position in the market, assisting each customer in gaining a more technologically advanced and economically sound printing system.  According to the October presentation of the International Data Corporation (IDC), the quality of MPS providers and the technology they offer are the two most significant factors for potential customers.

During the course of her speech, Holly Muscolino, the research vice president for document solutions at IDC revealed that they canvassed the opinions of 25 MPS customers to establish what they look for in a provider.  The most common factors were the availability of flexible contracts, an attractive pricing structure, and a good working relationship.

There are many reasons why companies choose to seek out a managed print services provider in the first place, but the IDC discovered that the need to upgrade outdated printers was the most common.  However, businesses are also keen to simplify their contractual commitments, maximize their employee’s productivity, and change from an unsatisfactory provider to a more accommodating vendor.

A good MPS provider will discuss what its client needs, examine the company’s level of workflow, then target its services effectively, helping to streamline costs and enhance productivity.  As a business, processes such as monthly budgeting and stock control become far less time consuming, freeing up administrative staff to work on more important projects.

Also, entire printing system budgets are reduced to a single and predictable amount, across both hardware and consumables.  When a big change of equipment is needed it will be flagged up well in advance, giving a business adequate time to prepare for the extra expense.  Similarly, maintenance will be carefully scheduled for a mutually beneficial day.  Consequently, a business will find that its downtime is kept to a bare minimum.

Law Firms especially keen on Managed Print

Of all industries, the legal profession continues to be a key target for Managed Print Services, in particular because of the large volume of print work still required in the court systems.  It has been estimated that law firms can save upwards of 35% on their printing needs using a managed print services company. Take our Free Print Cost Assessment to see if we can provide you with the data you need to make the move to Managed Print.

Free Print Cost Assessment

Learn more about the author Bob Martin

Contact Us