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March 26, 2025

And he’s at it again….CTO attends Right of Boom

Right of Boom

By Jack Skinner, CTO of Oversee My IT

Hi, I’m Jack Skinner, the CTO at Oversee My IT, where we deliver cybersecurity, compliance, and managed IT services. Our mission is to unlock your business potential by providing tailored technical solutions and services in today’s digital landscape.

In this rapidly evolving digital world, security and IT governance play an essential role in the success of any business. As technology continues to advance, so do the threats and challenges. That’s why staying informed and continually improving our security practices is crucial, not only for our business but also for yours.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a distinguished cybersecurity event called the “Right of Boom.” This event is designed specifically for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) like Oversee My IT, with the goal of elevating the security maturity level of the economy. It focuses on enhancing cyber resilience by implementing the latest advancements in people, processes, and technology. Here’s what I learned from the event, and why it matters to you and your business.

Why Does This Matter to Your Business?

You might be wondering, why does it matter to you and your business that I went to this event? Well, the insights and strategies we gain from events like the Right of Boom directly benefit our clients — and ultimately help your business stay secure and thrive.

So, let me break down what we learned and how it can positively impact your organization.

Benefits of Attending the Right of Boom Conference

1. Governance in IT and Security

Governance plays a crucial role in IT and security, especially when it comes to setting rules and guidelines that ensure technology is being used correctly. It aligns IT infrastructure and security measures with your overall business goals. Having the proper governance in place helps reduce risks, ensures compliance with regulations, and boosts the overall performance of your business.

By improving your organization’s governance structure, you’ll be better equipped to manage cybersecurity threats and comply with industry regulations — which, as we all know, are becoming more stringent.

2. Know What Your Provider Is and Isn’t Doing for You

A common misconception among business owners is that their Managed Service Provider (MSP) includes cybersecurity as part of basic help desk services. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Cybersecurity is a specialized discipline that requires proactive management and tailored solutions.

At Oversee My IT, we utilize a Shared Responsibility and Services Matrix to ensure there is no confusion about which services are being provided and who is responsible for what. If you’re unsure about what your service provider is doing for you, now is the time to check in with them and clarify the scope of services. Clear communication around cybersecurity responsibilities is critical for protecting your business.

3. Cybersecurity Measures Every Company Should Implement

Cybersecurity is not just an IT department issue — it’s a company-wide responsibility. There are several essential cybersecurity practices that every business should have in place:

Security Awareness Training for All Employees
Employees are often the first line of defense against cyber threats. Regular training sessions can help educate them about common threats like phishing, social engineering, and malware. It’s important that your employees understand their role in maintaining the security of the organization.
Proper Password Management and Hygiene
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect your business is through good password management. Enforce policies around creating strong, unique passwords and discourage password reuse. Implementing a password manager is also a great way to securely store and manage passwords.
Following a Security Roadmap and Continuous Monitoring
A security roadmap is a detailed strategy that outlines your organization’s cybersecurity goals and actions. It’s important to continuously monitor and update the roadmap, adapting it to changes in the business environment, new technological advancements, and emerging threats.

By focusing on these key areas, businesses can greatly improve their cybersecurity posture and ensure a solid IT governance framework.

How This Benefits Our Clients

By attending events like the Right of Boom, we bring back valuable insights and strategies that are directly applied to benefit our clients. Here’s how we put what we’ve learned into action:

Enhanced Security
We implement the latest security measures to protect your data and IT infrastructure. From advanced threat detection to robust encryption protocols, we ensure that your business remains resilient against cyberattacks.
Proactive Threat Management
Our team stays ahead of emerging threats, identifying and mitigating risks before they become a problem. This proactive approach ensures that your business doesn’t just react to security incidents — it anticipates and prevents them.
Tailored Solutions
We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We customize our services and solutions to match your unique business needs, leveraging the most current industry knowledge and best practices to provide optimal protection.

Our Commitment to Excellence

At Oversee My IT, we are committed to providing exceptional service and staying at the forefront of technological advancements. Our participation in events like the Right of Boom is just one example of the lengths we go to ensure that we deliver the best possible solutions to our clients. It’s not just about staying up to date; it’s about anticipating the future and being ready for it.

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. I trust that you’ve found value in the insights shared here and that you’ll take away something helpful for your own business. Cybersecurity is an ongoing journey — one that requires commitment, education, and constant adaptation.

Until next time, stay secure and stay ahead of the curve.

Cheers,
Jack Skinner
Chief Technology Officer
Oversee My IT

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August 22, 2022

Shifting Your Workforce: Workplace Culture Reboot in the post-Covid-19 pandemic era

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Creating a positive workspace with a cultural reboot

When talking about an organization, we often think of the company ‘culture’ as the ways in which things are done. The culture embodies the company’s values, vision, habits and norms that drive workers’ behaviour during their daily tasks. Lots of work habits have shifted since the first quarter of 2020. Some companies have now made a great workplace culture reboot. As we all move towards a new definition of what constitutes a workplace – office and home – it’s the perfect opportunity to look at what employees need to get their jobs done.

Workplace culture reboot element considerations

When you make the decision to reset your company culture, there are many things you can consider:

Organizational purpose and strategy – re-confirm your company’s vision and mission post-Covid-19. Is there anything that needs to change? Do the behaviors and values pre-pandemic still serve their purpose or do they need adjusting?

Behaviors and values – what do you want your working environment to look like? How will you measure and define it? Is there anything that needs to be changed in this new environment and time?

Core systems and processes – with remote working, how have your processes and operations changed? Are there any systems or structures that can be improved to help embrace the differences between employees? How could your financial, operational and HR procedures be adjusted to meet your employees’ needs better? Is there a need for greater flexibility in working hours or places?

Recognition and motivation – Have you learned anything about the motivation and needs of your employees since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic? How can employees’ needs be dealt with by managers and supervisors to open a relationship built on trust?

Employee input and engagement – how can your employees provide input into your company operations? Are there adequate ways they can give feedback? Recently, The Grossman Group ran a survey that found almost half of people who are working from home want to continue doing so after the pandemic. Not all people enjoy remote working, though, and many seek a flexible working arrangement. Being flexible can help employees be more engaged and committed in their work.

Cultural resilience – when deciding on a reboot, think about how much resilience you can build into the team. A more resilient team will be able to adapt easily whenever changes arise. According to a report by Gallup, to be resilient when the going gets tough, businesses need to make sure their employees have everything they need to work as best they can. It’s also vital to show them how their work is part of the bigger picture.

Simple ways of creating a positive workplace

As well as looking at the wider organizational structures and processes, there are some really simple ways of creating a positive workplace for a cultural reboot. Here are some ideas:

Have a healthy snack bar – Many people have suffered from their eating habits during the Covid-19 pandemic and are keen to get back on track. Having a healthy snack bar will not only be appreciated by colleagues but will mean they are ready to tackle their work with adequate nutrition behind them.

Team huddles – having a short morning meeting that is no longer than 15 minutes is a great way of starting the day. It’s simple and repetitive and gets people motivated and on task ready to start their day.

Team building – when your teams have a great relationship, everything else will fall into place. Consider investing in team-building sessions to ensure there are positive working relationships with team members of all levels. When you get on with people and respect them, you’re more likely to work harder!

Staff empowerment – employees will work better with less micromanagement. Hand tasks and responsibilities over and see how they turn out! Another way to empower staff is to give them the opportunity to contribute. Creating an open forum for suggestions is a great way of ensuring employees feel heard.

Use lunch & learns – these are perfect opportunities for voluntary, informal conversations and learning opportunities amongst employees. They bring people together in a casual, low-stakes way.

Company-wide games – don’t forget to have fun! Create a positive workplace by having regularly scheduled company-wide games or quizzes.

Whatever the reasons behind your cultural reboot, the post-Covid-19 pandemic return to work is the ideal opportunity to embrace new practices. If you have any questions about getting a workplace culture reboot, contact us today. We are here to help.

August 15, 2022

8 Biggest Threats to Small Businesses

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We still see the same scene in horror movies: the main character runs into the house, slams the door, locks the deadbolt and sighs in relief — but somehow the killer still sneaks up and attacks them from behind. If you own a small business you just might find yourself in a similar situation. Sometimes small business owners spend large amounts of time and resources physically protecting their operations just to let the most dangerous threats sneak in through the figurative back door. Today we’re going to talk about the 8 biggest security threats to small businesses, in no particular order. While a few of them are new, some past risks are still very much in play.

Phishing

Not only is this the number one threat to cybersecurity, it’s also still on it’s way up. Phishing attempts were reported by 48% of small businesses in 2017 — up from 42% just one year prior. All indications point to this trend rising as it requires the least amount of resources and knowhow to attempt.

Microsoft Document Scams

There’s nothing safer than opening up a Word document, right? Think again! For the past few years, scammers have been getting creative with coding that allows them to gain access to your computer, which is why Microsoft has been having to work overtime to create new patches. However, since many companies delay updating their software, this remains a prime option for criminals.

Ransomware

Currently, over 1,100 different variations of ransomware are being tracked around the world. The FBI has stated that there has been a sharp uptick in these attacks recently and they advise that the practice will continue to grow rapidly the coming years. So far this year, not just businesses, but entire cities have paid ransoms to get their data back.

Cryptojacking

As cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have exploded on the scene, their demand and value have gone up as well. Although you can’t physically mint a Bitcoin as you could a dollar bill, they are “created” in a process known as mining. This is a resource-intensive practice that requires computing power that thieves often lack. The solution? Hijack other computer systems to do the computing for them, taking a toll on bandwidth and slowing down networks.

Internet of Things (IoT) Attacks

Technology is rapidly increasing, not just in computing devices, but in everything that’s become a computing device. With IoT technology, you can connect your servers to your security system, HVAC system — even the microwave in your break room! While this allows everything to be connected and consolidated in one place, it also creates vulnerabilities. Most of these devices have very weak security protocols in place: who would want access to the toaster in the office next door? But as they are often connected to the main network, it creates a backdoor that can — and has repeatedly been — exploited.

Mobile Devices

Many small businesses feel safe doing business on their mobile devices only to have them be one of their weakest points. While most of us have been lectured about using unsecured Wifi ad nauseam, the most recent threat to mobile computing is our reliance on the Cloud. In the past few years, companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft have made cloud backups a standard part of their services. Since so much information is stored in one location, it creates a prime target for criminals to attack and gain access to your information. While that may not be a problem if you’re just backing up family photos or text messages from your sister, any important documentation or other data for your business may have also found its way onto these mega servers without you even realizing it.

Undertrained Employees

What has been mentioned to this point is just a sample of the ever-evolving external cyber threats to your business. While an easy fix might be to hire someone who just graduated from a reputable university, the truth is, that may not be enough. A recent study showed that 40% of companies surveyed said that having employees with an applicable degree has shown not to be good enough to keep their systems safe. That same survey showed that less than 25% of applicants for cybersecurity positions were deemed qualified. If that’s how things look in your company, you may feel safe today, but might be in danger for what’s coming over the horizon. It is estimated that training someone to do the job well takes over six months!

Understaffed Security

In line with the last point, an estimated 69% of companies will have an understaffed cyber threat team, with a large portion of this being companies with absolutely no one in this role at all. What does this mean for a small business? Either people with no experience will have to fill this position, or there is nothing in place to protect valuable data from hackers.

The killer hiding in the back seat, sneaking in through the back door, or — even worse — he’s already in the house, are all clichés. Do you know what else is cliché? Letting your small business fall victim to cyber-attacks. While not all attacks might be avoidable, you’re much safer from attacks if you’re prepared. Updated security software and regular data back-ups are invaluable in this process. Awareness of the latest threats is also key. Just like in the movies; when a killer is loose, no one should feel safe. If you want to know more, give us a call!

August 8, 2022

Boost Your Business Performance with MSP Services

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Every business owner wants to achieve continued success for their business performance. Several processes and tasks need to be taken care of in creating and maintaining a successful business. Most owners cannot handle these because there is too much to do and not enough time. For this reason, many business owners rely on the services of IT managed service providers, or MSPs.

If you’re a regular reader of our blogs, you’ll remember that we have covered some of the most valuable services MSPs can provide for your business. Here is a quick look back at those services and how they can boost your overall business performance.

Quarterly Business Reviews

Quarterly business reviews, or QBRs, give a thorough and accurate assessment of your business performance over the last three months. While you can conduct your QBR, it is much better to relegate the job to an MSP, who will give a completely unbiased review of your business. The QBR lets you know the areas where your business needs improvement and which ones are doing well.

Technology Business Consulting

If you find it hard to understand IT processes at work or are clueless when solving IT-related problems, join the club! Most business owners are not IT experts, but the technology business consulting services offered by MSPs can be very helpful. Giving you at least a solid understanding of the basic concepts and functions needed to run your business.

Technology Hardware Programs

Like the previous service, technology hardware programs are helpful for non-techy business owners. You no longer need to confuse yourself by figuring out which hardware to use. Your MSP will recommend and help you choose the best equipment that meets your needs.

Vendor Management

If you work with suppliers of products or services regularly, vendor management services can be very beneficial. Efficient vendor management will lead to a better professional relationship with your vendors and reduce overall expenses by speeding up the onboarding process and guaranteeing that they complete all deliveries on time.

Operating Environment

Smooth and organized operations are crucial to the success of a business, both on a day-to-day basis and in the long term. With an MSP ensuring that your operating environment is seamless. You can enjoy benefits like full coordination between multiple locations, adequate bandwidth for all business processes, and being updated with current technology trends.

Business Phone System

When your MSP sets up your modern business phone system, you can enjoy benefits like integrating several phone functions, cost efficiency, and scalability. The phone systems that are available today also have built-in functions to protect privacy, increase data security, and broaden access for your clients and business partners.

Cloud Computing

We have repeatedly stated how the cloud network has proven to be instrumental in the growth of many businesses, and we will repeat it here. For a very reasonable monthly fee, the cloud gives you access to advanced business tools that you would otherwise have to spend hundreds of dollars on. It also gives you unlimited storage space for all your business data and programs, which makes it easier for you to grow. Cloud computing also increases the productivity of your employees and minimizes system downtimes that disrupt business operations.

Security

Network and data security are crucial to businesses now more than ever when online threats are so rampant. One slip and you might inadvertently expose your business to serious security risks. On your own, all you can do is install an antivirus program and implement basic security precautions. But with the help of an MSP, you can safeguard your business in its entirety, and your network and data are secure.

Business Budgeting and Planning

It might seem unnecessary to use IT resources for something as basic as budgeting. But these days, even this fundamental business procedure has become quite complicated. With the prevalence of hidden costs almost everywhere you look. You will need to monitor your business spending to ensure that you don’t spend more than you should. Our hidden costs calculator can help reveal these unnecessary expenses so you will avoid them in the future.

Final Thoughts

When you look at these tasks individually, you will probably be able to accomplish them well on your own. However, you can’t just pick one or two of these processes. You’ll have to do every single one of them. How can you do that yet still have time to run your business?

We can provide all these business services and so much more. If you want to learn more, call us today to discuss in greater detail just how we can help boost the performance of your business. To make sure you are using an MSP that works best for you. We are offering you an on-demand webinar where we talk about choosing the best managed service provider.

August 1, 2022

Understanding the Technology That Runs Your Business

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No matter what kind of business you run or what industry you are in, we all know that technology is crucial to our success. Using the right technology can put your business on the path toward growth and success. And a lack of proper IT tools and strategies could make you fall behind your rivals and lose considerable profits.

Practical Applications of Technology for the Modern Business

Most business owners understand that a reliable IT system is necessary for network security. Internal and external communications, database management, and other high-priority areas. But IT is also valuable in improving practically all aspects of your business. Let’s look at the following not-so-typical applications.

Onboarding

In most companies, onboarding is the transition process your new employees go through right after they come aboard. This process can take a lot of time. Through technology, you can speed up the onboarding process by using paperless forms, digital introductions, and online training, allowing your new employee to adjust quickly and work with minimal delays.

Offboarding

Similarly, when an employee leaves the company, there is an offboarding process for efficiently managing their exit to reduce business risk and workflow disruption. Manual employee offboarding is the traditional method, but we have already shown this to be risky and tedious. With the help of technology, you can increase the speed and efficiency of the entire process while also strengthening the security of your business.

Cloud Computing

The cloud platform is a very cost-effective alternative to traditional business solutions. By transferring a portion of your operations onto the cloud, you can save funds you might otherwise spend on physical hardware. In addition, you will also enjoy better resource management, increased efficiency, and portability of business operations.

Business Automation

By automating business processes like data collection, billing, and monitoring, you can relieve your staff of these tasks and let them concentrate on their duties. Using technology frees up time for your employees and reduces business costs.

Information Security

Online threats are continuously becoming more rampant in this digital age. Employing the right IT strategies for security is crucial to keeping your data and your network safe. It also protects the confidentiality of your business information and the privacy of your employees.

Remote Work

Technology allows people to work from remote locations and deliver high-quality performance without being physically present at the workplace. This benefit has been helpful in the last couple of years. Also, remote work gives businesses easy, fast and convenient access to experts from any part of the world.

Business Expansion

There are a lot of tasks to take care of during business expansion, like scouting for a new location. Canvassing for new suppliers, hiring new employees, purchasing new equipment, and so on. By using technology, these procedures can be simplified and made more organized.

Ways to Keep Your Business Updated with the Latest Technology

Having the right technology for efficiently running your business is essential, but not enough. Keep your business updated with the latest IT solutions as time passes. Technology changes rapidly, so you need to keep up with it to stay ahead of the competition. Here are some of the best ways you can keep your business updated.

Being Proactive

As opposed to being reactive, being proactive means being able to expect new IT developments and plan for these changes accordingly. Instead of solving a technical problem when it happens, you should be able to predict it and already have the necessary IT solutions in place before it even arrives.

Partner with an MSP

Since most small businesses can’t stay on top of technology on their own, the practical solution is to work with an MSP, or managed service provider. A good MSP will keep your technology updated for you. Choosing the right MSP helps your business keep up with technology and provides many other services for the growth of your business. If you need and help with new technology, or if you’re ready for upgrading your old equipment, we are here to help you. It’s our job to make sure your business operates as smoothly as possible. To make sure you are using an MSP that works best for you, we are offering you an on-demand webinar where we talk about choosing the best managed service provider.

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July 25, 2022

The Right IT Provider Is Crucial for Your Success

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In the digital era that we live in, we cannot overemphasize the significance of an IT provider for the different aspects of your business. It is impossible to start or operate a business without relying partly on IT services and support. It is a challenge to stay competitive in your industry if you do not have a trusted IT person or managed services provider by your side.

Ways of Getting IT Support

There are different ways to get the IT support you need for your business. Each method has its pros and cons, and the choice will depend on your business. And the particular needs of your operations.

Having an Internal IT Guy

Some companies hire an IT expert as a regular employee, which seems convenient as there will always be someone to rely on if any technical issues arise. However, this is a limited strategy since you will only benefit from the skills of a single individual. And they will not be available on weekends, holidays, vacation days, or when they’re sick.

Break-Fix Method

Many small businesses use this method, which means they will only hire an IT professional whenever the situation calls for it. When something breaks, they will contact an IT professional to fix it. This approach appears to be the most cost-efficient, but when emergencies happen, especially outside business hours, it might not be easy to find help.

Managed Service Provider

Contracting an MSP is the most reliable way of getting IT support for your business. Working with an MSP gives you access to top-quality support and other services you may need. They will not only fix your problems but can also help you set up, manage your network, improve your data security, and even grow your business.

Choosing Your IT Provider

As in any other industry, there are some problems that you might encounter with hiring an IT expert. Some providers might not have the right skills you need. Consequently, certain individuals may impose unreasonable prices. Some do not communicate well or respond too slowly when you need them. To avoid these problems, be meticulous when selecting your MSP.

Interviewing a Potential IT Service Provider

The interview is the first and possibly the only time that you will get up close and personal with a potential IT provider. So you need to take this opportunity to ask the right questions. There might be dozens of things that you want to know. But given the limited time of an interview, it is best to stick to the most important topics. Ask them about the IT services they will provide for network upkeep, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity insurance. Ask about the level of expertise they possess and gauge whether this will be sufficient for the needs of your business. It is also worth asking about their guarantees for task completion before deadlines and within the budget. We have compiled a list of 21 crucial questions that you should ask a potential IT provider before hiring them. Click here to check out the list.

Knowing When to Replace Your IT Guy

Despite your intense scrutiny during the interview, you may still hire someone who is not the best fit for your business. For this reason, you must consider the first few days or weeks of a new IT provider to be a period of observation. Watch out for signs that show that you might have made the wrong choice. For starters, if they are consistently late or do not show any sense of urgency when you call in an emergency issue, then it would be best to replace them immediately. The same is true if you find out they bill you with extra charges not mentioned in the initial quote you’ve received. Or if they make the initial problem worse or more complicated because they could not deal with it properly.

Conclusion

IT services are crucial for your business, but you should not just get them from anyone. You must have the right IT service provider to ensure smooth operation and the ultimate success of your business. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss how we can help take your business to the next level!

July 18, 2022

Do You Know Your Business ROI?

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A positive ROI indicates that an investment has delivered welcome profits. But it’s more than just a metric used to monitor the feasibility of your business investments. By maintaining a solid ROI, you are also creating positive effects on your total cost of ownership, R & D, job security, business continuity, and many more.

It Provides a Financial Metric

The primary function of a business ROI is to provide a means to measure the success of your business per investment made. It lets you gauge how well or how poorly you are doing, letting you know which to keep and which to drop. For instance, an investment with a decidedly positive business ROI is worth keeping. While you should avoid an investment that shows a negative ROI at all costs. It also lets you compare different profitable assets to find the best choices.

What is TCO?

The total cost of ownership, or TCO, is the sum of the purchase price and the operating costs of an asset over its lifetime. As your ROI grows, your total cost of ownership on your various assets also increases.

More Access to Resources for Innovation

The more your business earns, the more accessible resources become. Once you can set up your business plans and strategies to generate a good business ROI, you will have started a dependable cycle of profits that will provide you with funds for research and development.

Reduce Investment Losses

Thorough planning is crucial each time you make any kind of investment. Study the feasibility of each business investment to increase the chances of getting a good business ROI. There will always be a risk because you never really know if an investment will give you good returns or not. With careful thought and planning though, you can stick to those investments that are more likely to generate positive results.

Job Security

One of the contributing factors to excellent business returns is the performance of its workforce. If your employees are delivering results, there won’t be any reason for you to downsize or shuffle your workforce. Thus, a higher business ROI increases the job security of your employees and may even give them better benefits and perks.

Competitive Advantage

In any industry, it is among the primary goals of a business to have a competitive advantage over its rivals. Maintaining a good return on investment gives you an advantage. It also makes you more attractive to potential clients when compared to your competitors. These days, potential clients and customers don’t just look at the product or service you offer. They also examine the internal components of your business, which is why having a favorable business ROI will be an advantage.

An MSP Can Help Boost Your Returns

Exerting considerable focus and effort towards improving your business ROI is very worthwhile because, as you can see, it can affect several areas of your business. Improving your returns does not only mean getting higher revenue. It also has a lot of positive implications for your business, your employees, and your clients.

One way of ensuring that you get a good business ROI from your investments is by working with a trusted managed service provider. Your MSP can provide multiple tools and strategies to keep you on track to achieving your goals and generating profits.

Conclusion

If you want to learn more about how an MSP can help improve your business ROI, contact us and we will be happy to discuss how our services can help boost your returns and your overall business performance.

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July 11, 2022

5 Reasons Why Planning Business Growth Matters

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Unfortunately, many small business owners have the mindset that planning is only for large companies. Some of them don’t think that learning business planning skills is necessary. They don’t realize that planning for growth is one of the most important things you should do for your business.

Here are five reasons why planning business growth matters.

Good Plans Lead to Good Business Decisions

From the moment you start your business, and every day after, there will be decisions to make, both big and small.

Often, you will make these decisions on the spur of the moment, without the opportunity to sit down and carefully examine the pros and cons of each one.

If you do not plan for this, it’s easy to make the wrong choices. This mistake is especially true if your business is expanding by adding new locations or hiring more employees.

But if you have a solid business plan geared towards growth, it will guide you in making wise decisions every time.

Planning Helps in Setting up the Budget

Having a budget plan is essential to keep your business expenses under control. Along with business growth, there will also be a lot of unexpected costs.

An efficient budget helps ensure you have sufficient cash flow to keep the business going with the right balance between income and expenses, despite the adjustments you must make.

You can’t just go into a business without a clear idea of where your funds are going. Therefore, business planning for cost and budget should consider your present situation and several possible future scenarios.

Avoid Software Licensing Liabilities

Running a business involves the use of different software that requires licenses. Failure to comply with the terms and restrictions of the license can have dire consequences. Therefore, it is crucial to have a plan for software licensing before you purchase any.

Most software that businesses use these days is expensive, and that is why you need to budget for it from the beginning and decide which ones you need for your business. This way, you won’t have to purchase unnecessary platforms that you won’t end up using.

Planning Helps with Change Management

Change is not only inevitable in business but is a sign of growth. When you take on new personnel and expand locations, this will lead to significant changes in your business structure.

Without a well-laid-out plan, you can easily get lost amidst all these changes. But if you can implement effective business planning strategies for managing whatever changes might come your way,
unexpected events will not catch you off guard. Instead, you will make a seamless transition into the new phase of your business.

Infrastructure Planning Keeps Your Business Updated with Changes

Technology changes quickly. When running a business, you need to be prepared to implement frequent upgrades and updates to your IT infrastructure.

Getting left behind by your rivals in the industry will have a negative effect on your business, so you must focus a considerable amount of your business planning on infrastructure changes.

The Role of an MSP in Business Growth Planning

Nobody knows your business and its objectives better than you do. However, there will be times when you will need expert advice, particularly in areas that are not part of your core competencies. IT, for instance, or financial and legal matters. When you partner with a dependable managed service provider, you will gain an advantage, especially if you have ambitious plans for growing your business.

As a managed service provider, we have all the tools and the knowledge for business planning to facilitate a continuous and organized shift toward whatever new direction you are planning for your business.

If you want to learn more, please contact us so we can discuss with you the many ways that we can be of service to your business.

June 20, 2022

Do you remember Business Operations before the Cloud?

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The cloud network for businesses is a new development. While widely used today, before it came into existence, many businesses had to make do with the limited in-house resources that were available. If you have not yet signed up for a cloud network for businesses, you are probably experiencing these limitations that can hold your business back.

Using a Cloud Network to Help Your Business

Business growth and success are the primary goals of any business owner. If you want your business to grow, you will usually have to hire more people, invest in more advanced IT infrastructure, buy more complex equipment, and allocate more resources for the different operations of your business. But doing this will require massive funding that most small business owners do not have. Fortunately, the cloud network for businesses has come to the rescue. Let’s look at the following scenarios.

Expensive IT Costs

When you rely solely on your own company’s resources, you will have no choice but to buy all the software and hardware that you will need for your business operations. We all know how expensive these products can be, but you will have no choice but to buy them if you want your business to grow and succeed.

Limited Productivity

Whenever IT issues arise within your business, your in-house staff will have to take time off from their regular duties to address the problems. IT might not even be their specialty, so there is no guarantee that they can resolve the situation. It reduces their productivity because they won’t be able to focus on their core responsibilities.

Frequent and Extensive Downtime

Software and hardware both need regular upgrading so your business can keep up with the rest of the industry. But installing these upgrades takes a long time, perhaps a couple of hours or more than a day. During these periods, your business will essentially be on hold. And this creates a hassle for your employees and customers.

Lack of Mobility

Traditional business setups require employees to be tied to their desks for the entire business day because everything they need is on their workstations. If you assign one of your employees to work in the field, for instance, they might have to wait until they get back to the office before being able to access their data.

The Solution

These scenarios present an assortment of issues that can drastically limit the performance of your business. While the cited situations are very different, we can improve them with a single solution: cloud computing. If this is an unfamiliar concept to you, there is no need to worry. Your IT provider can give you a thorough overview and assist you in getting a custom cloud solution for your business.

Cloud Computing Is the Answer

A cloud network for businesses costs very little compared to purchasing all the needed software and hardware. You will enjoy the most advanced IT tools for a modest monthly fee. It can also maximize your employees’ productivity. With the right network in place, you will no longer have to pull your staff from their regular duties to fix IT problems.

Upgrades for software and hardware will still be necessary, but with a cloud network, these upgrades will only take a few minutes. Most of the time, you won’t even notice that an update has taken place because the cloud service provider will handle it all for you. If you have any questions about cloud computing, give us a call!

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June 13, 2022

Why Is Your Phone System for Your Business Important?

Oversee My IT Blogs Uncategorized

Mobile phones have evolved tremendously in recent years and now have a myriad of powerful features never before seen in any phone system. Many businesses rely on them as a vital tool in business operations, and some of them have even ditched their phone lines completely in favor of mobile devices. But is this really the best decision? Have business phone systems really become irrelevant or even obsolete?

Importance of Business Phone Systems

The value of modern communication systems is incontestable. But this doesn’t mean that traditional business phone systems are no longer useful. Let’s take a look at some of their key uses for modern businesses today.

Integration of Several Phone Functions

One of the reasons why business phone systems remain important to this day is because of their ability to integrate multiple phone functions into one efficient hub that is very easy to manage.

Conventional features like call forwarding, call screening and call logs are staples of all business phone systems. In addition, they can also be seamlessly integrated with some of the most popular online tools today like Google Apps, Microsoft Outlook or your own helpdesk application.

Cost Efficiency

Compared to conventional phone systems that come with bulky apparatus and expensive maintenance costs, the modern business phone systems that are available today are very cost-efficient. From installation and operation to maintenance and updates, contemporary systems are incredibly affordable.

Scalability

Another importance of business phone systems today is that they are completely scalable. You don’t have to worry too much at the onset about how many phones you will need or which features you will have to install. Modern business phone systems can easily expand as your business expands. If ever you need to cut back, it is just as easy to eliminate the units and features that are no longer useful for your business. This way, you don’t get stuck paying for services that you don’t really need.

Potential Problems of Having No Proper Phone System

Despite the many advantages that modern business phone systems offer, a lot of traditionalists are still convinced that they are an extravagance. They choose to stick with their old phone systems, believing that these are still serving them well in the modern business age. Unfortunately, this particular kind of loyalty might lead to several problems for your business and for your employees as well.

Lack of Privacy for Employees

Separating business and personal communication is not very easy if you do not have a proper business phone system in place. Using your mobile phone number for business calls might sound practical in the beginning but it won’t be long before this practice will take a toll on your private life. Business associates will be able to easily reach you even while you are vacationing with your family, for instance.

Lack of Security for Business Data

On the flip side, this is also not good for business. If you lose your personal mobile phone, which you also use for business calls, critical business data might be placed at risk. With a proper business phone system installed, business and personal calls can easily be separated with some simple automation and forwarding settings.

Limited Access for Clients and Business Partners

If you do not have a modern business phone system in place, your clients will only be able to call you during your business hours. If your business closes at 5 pm, for instance, your customers will have to wait until the next morning until they can call you again.

While some clients might be willing to wait, others will just as easily move over to the next open shop that they can find. In other words, the lack of a business phone system can cost you a considerable number of potential customers.

The Solution

These are just some of the ways that your business will be limited if you do not have a proper business phone system installed. Fortunately, the solution is very simple. All you have to do is get in touch with your IT provider and ask for a custom phone solution that fits the specific needs and operations of your business.

Each business is unique and so there is no one size fits all when it comes to business phone systems. A reliable IT provider will be able to assess your needs and provide you with the exact phone system that you need. If you have any questions about the benefits of a proper business phone system, give us a call!