3 Essential Services Provided by IT Support Companies

Almost all modern businesses utilize some form of IT system whether it’s an internal intranet with interoffice communication only, a corporate multisite system that requires access to the world wide web via the internet, or an ‘Internet of Things’ paradigm dealing with multi-connected devices for process automation in industry. 

Whatever you use, the point is that an IT system is part of modern business and because of the proliferation of such devices, the day-to-day operation of many companies in the modern business world relies solely on how well their IT system works.

There are many threats to an IT system and employing full-time staff to deal with these can be expensive and unnecessary when you consider that there are professional services that have been specially designed to manage and facilitate IT operations that include essential systems, such as:

• Hardware as a Service
• Cybersecurity
• Data Backup and Recovery

Hardware as a Service ensures that you will always have the latest and most relevant hardware installed such as computers, printers, and telephony while cybersecurity is a vital and core component of any IT system whether it uses the internet or not and data backup and recovery will safeguard against any malicious intrusion or data theft for which the penalties have the potential to be harsh and in some cases, unrecoverable.

Hardware as a Service

Most don’t consider that renting expensive equipment from a specialized company rather than buying it outright might be a better option, if they are even aware of it. Hardware as a Service provides excellent IT Support since you will always be equipped with the latest and most relevant devices for your company.

Such devices include computers, which can go out of date very quickly given how fast the PC industry moves, printers, and a secure telephone system at the very least. These are the most basic tools for running a modern office or company. But HaaS can go even further by providing specialist equipment that would normally be too expensive for you to purchase. A dentist’s office might require X-ray machines for example and specialist equipment such as this can also be provided by a specialized managed IT service.

Using this system of staying up to date with hardware can also minimize the risk of a cyber attack or malicious interaction since it isn’t the only software that can provide access to a hacker but outdated hardware as well, such as the case with outdated networked printers and scanners.

Cybersecurity

Using any form of modern-day equipment, especially (but not always) if it is connected to a network means potentially exposing your business to malicious hackers who will attempt to disrupt your business by stealing private or confidential data, company records, personal data, and even money. Any modern-day business must be protected from such individuals, or in some cases, organizations (such as Anonymous), and managed IT services can do just that.

The concept of cybersecurity is simple in theory but much more difficult to practice. While at the most basic level you might have an up-to-date anti-malware or antivirus suite installed across your network, and that is a good start, it just isn’t enough. Modern threats demand that you be proactive in your engagement with them and experts provided by IT support companies are trained and skilled in updating software and hardware, authorization procedures and actively monitoring a network for threats. 

These skilled individuals can essentially identify risk before a problem arises and deploy the necessary security measures for dealing with it. Such routine and proactive approaches include user management, email scanning, and network optimization as well as antivirus updates and threat awareness levels.

Data Backup and Recovery

One of the worst fates that a modern business can face is the loss of data from the approximately 1,500 cyberattacks on small to medium businesses each year in the U.S alone. Many breaches are suffered because of poor network security, phishing scams, and human error but the majority are targeted and malicious, aimed directly at a company that a hacker knows will have inadequate measures when protecting their network from external intrusion.

Most cyber-attacks result in the permanent loss of data or even worse, exposed data that is sold on the black market for ID theft and fraud purposes. It can take around 2 weeks before a small or medium-sized business even begins to recover from a data breach and many don’t make it back as the average cost to a small business is just under $50,000.

Therefore it is essential that a solid data backup and recovery plan is in place such as those provided by managed IT services. Their plans are usually tier-based but at the minimal level, your data for each day will be backed up to an external server with more comprehensive plans performing hourly backups to multiple and separate sites.