IT support isn’t always the most visible part of a business, and unless you’ve worked with an MSP, it’s easy to assume we’re just tech troubleshooters. So, we thought we’d shed some light on the most common myths and give you a peek behind the scenes of MSP life.

Myth #1: MSPs Replace Internal IT Teams

Reality: MSPs don’t exist to push internal IT teams out – they’re often brought in to support and strengthen them. While some organizations do rely on MSPs to fully manage their IT environments, many simply use them to fill in the gaps, offload routine tasks, or bring in specialized expertise. In fact, MSPs frequently work alongside internal teams, helping them stay focused on strategic initiatives instead of getting bogged down by day-to-day maintenance.

And in some cases (or maybe it’s just us), MSPs even help businesses build their IT departments from the ground up – offering guidance, assisting with hiring, and stepping in as a temporary virtual CIO (vCIO) when leadership is needed. It’s all about meeting organizations where they are and helping them grow into where they want to be.

Myth #2: MSPs Just Fix Computers

Reality: While break/fix support is part of the job, it’s far from the whole story. Depending on how a business utilizes an MSP, they can support your users day-to-day, provide strategic guidance, and unburden internal IT teams.

A good portion of an MSP’s playbook includes proactive system monitoring, cybersecurity management, compliance support, performance optimization, and scalable tech planning. MSPs help businesses stay ahead of issues, budget more effectively, and align technology with long-term goals.

So no, we’re not just the folks who show up when your computer crashes – we’re strategic partners who care about your business and want technology to fuel your goals.

Myth #3: MSPs Are Only for Big Companies

Reality: Not true – and not even close. While some MSPs do specialize in serving large enterprises, many focus on supporting small to mid-sized businesses. Every MSP has its own niche, and for a lot of providers, SMBs are the sweet spot.

Here’s the thing: smaller organizations often assume they’re “too small” to qualify for managed services, or that having an internal IT person means they don’t need outside help. But MSPs can offer high-level support, access to a deep bench of certified techs, and strategic guidance that helps businesses plan, budget, and grow smarter.

For SMBs, working with an MSP isn’t just about keeping the lights on, it’s about making informed tech decisions that support growth, reduce risk, and stretch every dollar further.

Myth #4: MSPs Are Too Expensive

Reality: It’s easy to see an MSP partnership as just another expense, but in reality, it’s an investment. An investment in your business, your security, and even in your team.

MSPs help reduce downtime, prevent costly security breaches, and streamline operations – all of which can save money in the long run. But here’s the part that often gets overlooked: managed services don’t have to be all-or-nothing. Many MSPs offer flexible engagement models that let businesses start small and scale as needed.

Need help with a one-off project? Looking for procurement support? Want to outsource just a few pieces of your IT puzzle? That’s all on the table. Whether it’s a fully managed solution or a few targeted services, MSPs can tailor their offerings to fit your goals and your budget.

So yes, there’s a cost, but it’s one that’s designed to deliver value, not just a bill.

Myth #5: MSPs Don’t Understand Our Business

Reality: The good ones do. And they make it a priority.

A strong MSP-client relationship isn’t just about tech – it’s about trust, communication, and alignment. To truly support an organization, an MSP should take the time to understand what the business does, how it operates, and how technology fits into its mission and goals. That context is key to delivering solutions that actually make sense.

It’s not just about plugging in tools – it’s about tailoring them. Whether it’s compliance requirements, customer experience goals, or internal workflows, MSPs that dig into the details can offer smarter, more strategic support.

At the end of the day, it’s a partnership. And like any good partnership, the more an MSP understands the business, the better they can help it succeed.

Myth #6: MSPs Only Work Remotely

Reality: Remote support is a major part of what MSPs do, but it’s not the only way they show up.

The truth is, not every business is going to be right down the street. MSPs are built to be accessible – whether you’re across town or across the country. A large percentage of client needs (think software issues, user support, system monitoring, cybersecurity, and more) can be handled remotely, quickly, and efficiently.

But that doesn’t mean MSPs won’t travel. When on-site help is needed, whether it’s for a hardware install, network setup, or just a situation that’s best handled in person – MSPs can provide that support or coordinate with trusted local partners to make it happen.

The goal is simple: support should be available wherever and whenever it’s needed. That’s why we embrace a “we’re already there” mindset. Whether your business is remote, hybrid, or constantly on the move, managed services are designed to keep IT easy – everywhere.

Myth #7: MSPs Are Just Tech Vendors

Reality: MSPs aren’t just here to push products, they’re here to help businesses make smarter technology decisions.

Yes, MSPs often recommend tools, platforms, and hardware – but it’s not about hype. In many cases, those recommendations come from long-standing vendor relationships that allow MSPs to offer better pricing, bundled services, or insider access to support and resources. It’s about getting the right tools at the right value.

And let’s be honest, your devices are your lifeline! Your team can only work as well as their tech allows them to. MSPs help businesses roll out refreshes and upgrades in a way that’s strategic, budget-conscious, and aligned with long-term goals.

Myth #8: MSPs Don’t Prioritize Security

Reality: Security isn’t just a priority for MSPs, it’s the foundation of everything they do.

Cybersecurity isn’t optional. Threats evolve constantly, and businesses of every size are potential targets. That’s why MSPs put such a strong focus on protecting their clients’ systems, data, and users. From firewalls and endpoint protection to backup solutions and compliance protocols, security is baked into every layer of managed services.

Your attack surface should always be top of mind, and keeping your organization safe is a shared responsibility. That means your users, your MSP, and your leadership team all play a role in maintaining a secure environment.

A good MSP doesn’t just react to threats – they help you stay ahead of them. They educate users, monitor systems, and build strategies that evolve with the risks.

Final Thoughts

We know Managed Service Providers can seem a little mysterious from the outside. But behind the scenes, we’re just a team of people who care deeply about helping businesses thrive through technology. If any of these myths sounded familiar, we hope this helped clear things up – and maybe even sparked a few ideas about how we could support your team.

Curious what a partnership with an MSP could look like for your organization? Whether you’re exploring options, need help with a specific project, or just want to talk strategy, it’s worth having the conversation. You might be surprised at how much ground you can cover – with the right partner by your side.

The post MSP MythBusters: Debunking the Biggest Misconceptions About Managed Service Providers appeared first on CCB Technology.

If this sounds like you, then you probably appreciate the benefits of partnering up with an MSP. Your boss, on the other hand, might not see it as clearly.   

In this blog, we’ll tackle the common questions your boss might throw your way about outsourcing. We’ll arm you with persuasive answers that highlight not only the benefits for the company but also how this partnership can lighten your load, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture.    

Question: What exactly are co-managed IT services, and why do we need them?   

Co-managed IT services refer to a partnership between your internal IT team and a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to collaboratively share responsibilities and expertise. This arrangement allows your existing team to focus on strategic initiatives while the MSP handles routine tasks, allowing for a balanced and efficient workload.    

The key to any compelling argument is solid evidence that directly supports what you’re saying. Depending on your struggles as a department, what you might need to offload and outsource is your biggest variable. When presenting the information, be organized, honest, and upfront about the challenges you’re facing, and back them up with numbers and facts. Are constant requests for help keeping you from completing projects? Are you worried about your overall security or feel like you need to update your infrastructure but don’t have time to research the right upgrades and investments?    

Make a direct correlation between the major pain point or issue and how an MSP will directly help eliminate or resolve it. Remember, if you tell your boss that your risk for a breach has increased by any percentage because you haven’t been able to tackle a specific security project, odds are that’s going to be a compelling argument.   

Question: How much does it cost?   

Most company executives are data-driven and focused on the bottom line. The question of cost is not just a minor concern; it carries substantial weight and demands a well-thought-out response. As you navigate the complexities of outsourcing, being equipped to address this question can set you apart and lead your boss to an easier decision.    

The cost of working with an MSP can vary depending on the services you need and the MSP’s pricing model. Most offer flexible pricing models, which could include monthly fees, pay-as-you-go, or tiered pricing based on the level of service needed. Some might even have pricing guarantees you can take advantage of and bring up when pitching the options to your boss.   

Having a quote or cost estimate in hand when bringing this to your boss is your best course of action. Find a few service providers you like and inquire about pricing. Most will be happy to discuss your needs and the pricing options available.    

Here are some additional points you can make regarding cost:   

• Reduced downtime – By leveraging the expertise of an MSP, you can minimize system outages and disruptions, ensuring your operations run smoothly and efficiently, which ultimately saves the company money in lost productivity   

• Scalability – An MSP can easily adjust services to match your business needs, allowing you to scale up or down.   

• Predictable Monthly Costs – Instead of facing unexpected expenses from in-house IT projects and issues, outsourcing to an MSP allows for predictable budgeting through flat monthly fees, making financial planning simpler.   

• Improved Risk Management – With specialized resources dedicated to monitoring and securing your systems, an MSP reduces the likelihood of costly data breaches and compliance fines, ultimately protecting your bottom line.   

Question: Why should we outsource instead of hiring another person in-house?   

There are several compelling reasons you can use to address this question when it comes up. The first is cost efficiency. Hiring additional in-house IT professionals (at any level) involves a range of expenses beyond just salary. Recruitment costs, training, equipment, and benefits all add to the hiring price tag. In contrast, an MSP operates on a predictable monthly subscription model, delivering a wide array of services at a fraction of the cost it would take to employ someone full-time.   

With an MSP, you’re accessing a team of experts and a breadth of resources without the financial burden of onboarding and maintaining a full-time staff member. An MSP brings a diverse pool of talent with a wide range of skills, specializations, and certifications that you likely couldn’t get by hiring one person.   

 So, while hiring an additional in-house IT person might seem appealing to your boss, the advantages of engaging a Managed Services Provider far outweigh this option because they not only fulfill your current IT needs but also strive to ensure that technology helps your business grow and succeed.   

Question: Is it safe to let an MSP into our environment?    

Trust is a big deal; you don’t just give anyone a copy of your house key!    

So naturally, when you or your boss consider allowing an MSP into your environment, concerns about security are sure to arise. However, it’s important to point out that partnering with an MSP can actually enhance your security and operational efficiency rather than diminish it.    

Here are some points you can use to put your boss at ease.   

• Retained Control: Working with an MSP doesn’t mean giving up control. The MSP is there to support you, not to take over entirely. Your internal IT team will maintain oversight of core systems and processes. You determine which areas you want to outsource based on your needs, allowing retained control over critical operations. Emphasize that you can define access controls to ensure that only certain individuals or teams can access specific data or systems.   

• Defined Scope of Work: When you decide to move forward with an MSP, you establish a clearly defined scope of work, typically through a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This document outlines what services will be provided and the expectations for performance. It ensures that the MSP operates within the boundaries you set.   

• Transparency and Audit Trails: A credible MSP will foster a collaborative relationship rather than a siloed one. They should maintain open lines of communication with your internal team and provide regular updates, reports, and access to necessary information. The MSP should also utilize monitoring tools to track any access or changes made to your systems. This not only helps prevent unauthorized access but also provides a clear audit trail that can be reviewed at any time.   

• Exit Strategy: Reassure your boss that you’ll work with the MSP to define an exit strategy. Reputable MSPs include clauses in their contracts that outline how the transition will occur if you decide to part ways. This can consist of returning data, transferring knowledge, and ensuring a smooth handover to prevent any lock-in scenarios.   

If you’ve done your homework and investigated several MSPs, you can also assure your boss that the people you’ve reached out to are reputable and well-trusted. Ask for testimonials, videos, and references to help support your cause.    

Question: How would outsourcing benefit the business as a whole?   

Ultimately, the goal of partnering with an MSP is to improve your IT capabilities and alleviate the pressures on your internal team. One key advantage is the opportunity for strategic business reviews (SBRs). These reviews provide valuable insights into your current IT environment. The MSP can identify gaps in your infrastructure and make tailored recommendations that align with your organizational objectives, ultimately driving growth.   

In terms of efficiency, outsourcing routine IT tasks enables your internal team to devote more time to high-priority projects that truly matter. This increased bandwidth can lead to improved project outcomes and innovation as they focus on core business initiatives rather than getting bogged down by day-to-day issues. You also gain access to a team of certified professionals who stay updated on the latest technologies and best practices, which can be a challenge for in-house staff to maintain due to time constraints.   

Security is another critical area in which an MSP excels. They implement stringent security measures and compliance protocols that bolster your defenses against cyber threats. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, having an experienced partner can significantly mitigate risks and ensure your data is protected.   

Lastly, don’t forget to mention scalability. As your business evolves, an MSP can easily adjust their services to match your changing needs. Whether you’re expanding operations or require additional support during peak times, an MSP provides flexibility to scale without the associated overhead of hiring and training new staff.   

Wrapping it up   

Convincing your boss to partner with a Managed Service Provider might feel like trying to convince a cat to take a bath—plenty of resistance and a fair bit of scratching. But remember, just like that resistant cat will end up looking cleaner and happier after the ordeal, you and your team will breathe a massive sigh of relief once the major burdens are lifted, and that makes the difficult pitch to the boss worth it.   

So, instead of playing task whack-a-mole, you can put your energy into innovating and strategizing! Heck, maybe even turn that coffee break into a well-deserved long lunch (or at least a decent snack).    

Let the boss know that partnering with an MSP isn’t just smart; it’s a no-brainer!   

How CCB Can Help   

If this blog has sparked ideas about how co-managed IT services could alleviate the pressures on your internal team, we’d love to chat! A conversation with us is the perfect first step toward exploring how our partnership can empower your IT department to focus on what truly matters—driving your company’s success.   

Contact us today, and let’s start a conversation that could lead to a brighter, less hectic future for your IT operations!  

The post How to Pitch a Managed IT Partnership to Your Boss appeared first on CCB Technology.

It quickly went from helping companies declutter filing cabinets to migrating entire business processes to the digital landscape.

While this rapid growth offers a constant stream of new tools to boost productivity and profitability, it also demands continuous innovation to stay ahead of the competition.

If you’re reading this, you know that keeping pace with technological advancements is always easier said than done.

Upgrading your IT infrastructure can be daunting, especially if you:

• Struggle to find and test IT solutions to address your business needs
• Lack the internal capacity and the resources to complete projects
• Don’t have a trusted provider to monitor and support your IT systems

Here’s where our 30+ years of experience providing IT services to more than 40,000 organizations comes in.

We understand that every business has unique needs and goals. That’s why we take a tailored approach, finding and testing the best solutions that perfectly align with your situation.

We provide training for your staff and connect you with over 300 vendors to get you the best prices, ensuring your tech pursuit won’t hold your business back.

We also stand by the quality of our work. Not only do we provide reliable tech, but we also offer proactive monitoring and 24/7 support, guaranteeing everything runs smoothly.

 Yes, these lines could make us sound like we’re overpromising. You’ve likely heard these statements countless times from other IT service providers.

But here’s how confident we are about providing impeccable customer experience: if you’re unsatisfied within the first three months, you get your money back.

“CCB knows what they’re doing. Their proposals and advice are built on their deep IT knowledge and [are] predicated by caring about seeing you succeed.

That’s rare these days.”

Ken Ervin | Vice President of Operations, Concerned Women for America

Are you ready for your business’ digital transformation? Call 1-800-342-4222 or click here to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our experts.

What Are IT Services?

Think of your business as a machine and your staff as the cogs, gears, and pistons—the components making the entire system run.

 IT (information technology) services act like oil—the lubricant that prevents your enterprise’s internal machinery from breaking down and keeps everything running smoothly.

In other words, IT services combine business understanding with technical skills to help organizations create, manage, and optimize information access or business processes through technology.

Getting IT services involves a broad spectrum of options. It could mean anything from rolling out Microsoft 365 migrations to outsourcing IT infrastructure management to ensure your systems operate efficiently and securely.

What Does an IT Service Provider Do?

An IT service provider is what it sounds like—an entity that provides the tech know-how and IT solutions that can help your business grow through innovation and the power of technology.

An IT service provider will handle your tech initiatives, from procuring hardware and software to optimizing, implementing, and maintaining your IT environment.

For us, however, an IT service provider is more than that.

We pride ourselves in being a managed service provider (MSP) motivated by client success and dedicated to going beyond the traditional role of tech providers.

You’ll receive well-planned and executed IT solutions tailored to your unique business needs, budget, and timeline—not off-the-shelf services.

After all, we’re not solely a company that fixes computers—we’re an extension of your team.

The Evolution of IT Services

The IT industry has come a long way.

In the early days, IT services were all about helping you with the basics—setting up your computers and installing software.

Then came the 90s, the dawn of the internet age, where IT services shifted focus to managing networks and helping build your online presence.

Fast-forward to the “era of data” or the 2000s, when IT service companies would have helped you with data storage and cybersecurity.

Did you notice a pattern? IT services have constantly adapted alongside ever-evolving technology.

Today, outsourcing technology services would mean equipping your business with innovations, such as:

• Artificial intelligence (AI): Gives you machine learning-backed insights and helps automate your routine tasks
• Cloud computing: Enables you to access, save, and manage essential files remotely
• The Internet of Things (IoT): Allows you to link all sorts of devices to the web and make data processing more efficient

Our IT team works closely with you to understand your needs and identify the best solutions.

We leverage the latest technology, following established protocols, to deliver a secure and successful implementation within your environment.

But don’t worry. You’ll never pay for mismanaged IT. We put our expertise to work so we can deliver results, satisfaction, and peace of mind. 

Why Is IT Support Important for Businesses?

Whether you run a large enterprise, a small business, or a nonprofit organization, you’re likely using some form of technology to ensure your processes operate efficiently and your customers enjoy quality IT services.

But what happens when that tech eventually goes dark?

IT-related disruptions can arise unexpectedly—today, tomorrow, or next year.

The point is that if your in-house IT team—if you even have one—isn’t equipped or trained to resolve these issues, it can result in prolonged downtimes and keep you from conducting business as usual.

An experienced IT support services team can offer your company the following:

• Monitoring: Effective tech support can give insight into your IT infrastructure’s health and security.
• Increased productivity: Well-maintained IT systems, backed by excellent support, help prevent technical glitches and streamline your workflow.
• Enhanced security: Data breaches can be devastating. IT support services help you implement robust security measures to protect valuable data.

Improve Efficiency and Cut Expenses With Our Digital IT Services and Solutions

You may think it unlikely, but according to our research, each of your employees wastes an average of 22 minutes daily on IT issues.

Unfortunately, time is money.

We can help you stop these disruptions, improve business efficiency, and lower operational costs.

How? With our preventive PC (personal computer) maintenance support and 24/7 helpdesk care.

Not only do we provide business solutions that integrate seamlessly into your existing technology, but our highly trained team can also quickly respond to any tech events that can affect your IT environment.

The best part? We can streamline the support process and provide training to empower your team, allowing you to regain the time and resources your enterprise needs to dominate its niche.

“I love to brag about CCB as our helpdesk partner because of the great customer service I receive from their support team.

They provide great communication and never give up—even when finding a solution is a challenge.”

Janelle Thompson | Marketing Manager, Premier Staffing

What Are the Different Types of Information Technology?

Think of IT as a giant tech buffet—there’s something for everyone.

Whether you need a more efficient communication method or software that cuts time from some of your processes, IT offers a toolbox of solutions that can help you tackle almost any business challenge.

So, what are your options? Here’s a taste of some of the most sought-after tech solutions:

Microsoft Azure

Have you ever wished to ditch your bulky servers and access your data from anywhere? Microsoft’s Azure platform is the realization of that desire.

Essentially, Azure replaces or supplements your physical data center with a cloud-based one, supporting your business through multiple functions, such as allowing you to back up data and host and develop web and mobile apps.

And here’s the best part: Azure is super flexible. You only pay for what you use, making it an economical option for businesses of all sizes.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Imagine your enterprise no longer needing to install software and, by extension, eliminating often expensive software licenses.

That’s the beauty of SaaS (software as a service).

In a nutshell, SaaS lets you “rent” applications from cloud service providers, such as email, calendars, and office tools like Office 365, and gives you access to these programs through your web browser.

Networking Services

Your company’s network is the digital backbone that connects your devices and facilitates communication between your team members.

Network infrastructure services ensure your network’s reliability and security by building, optimizing, and maintaining routers, modems, and security measures.

Mobile and Remote Networking

As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has shown, flexibility and adaptability are essential for business success.

Mobile and remote networking allows employees to work securely from anywhere, using their laptops, tablets, or smartphones.

If you want to keep your team connected and productive even on the go—or if you want to save on office overhead costs—consider mobile and remote networking IT services.

Unified Communications

Juggling several communication channels, from emails and phone calls to instant messaging and video conferencing apps, can be overwhelming.

Unified communications consolidate all these methods in one user-friendly platform like Microsoft Teams.

With this type of IT, collaboration and information sharing in your organization become easy, boosting productivity.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Does your organization have multiple locations or remote teams? If yes, how do you handle long-distance communication?

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solutions provide an alternative by shifting your channels from traditional phone lines to the internet.

The benefits? VoIP offers features not available with a standard telephone, such as call recording and voicemail to email (delivering voicemail straight to your inbox).

Communication Management

It may sound like a no-brainer, but effective communication tools are vital for any business.

But in today’s digital world, having the tools isn’t enough—it’s equally important to communicate the importance of security.

Yes, giving you the right tools ensures your team can communicate effectively, internally and externally. However, communication management should and must go beyond that.

It must also involve planning, training, and implementing communication strategies that foster a culture of security awareness within your organization, especially regarding sensitive data and network security.

Email Services

Email remains a critical channel for businesses, from sending company updates to nurturing customer relationships.

IT service providers’ email services ensure you leverage this communication tool by helping you choose a reliable and secure email provider.

Some IT service providers may even work alongside your sales and marketing departments to help them effectively communicate with customers and generate leads.

Information Security or Cybersecurity

Here’s an interesting tidbit: there are over 450,000 new malicious programs daily.

In short, cybersecurity is no longer an option; it’s a necessity.

Enter cybersecurity services—your business’ digital suit of armor, protecting your valuable data from cyberattacks and keeping your critical information safe and secure.

Leveraging this area of IT provides your company with armor and gives you insight into your infrastructure’s vulnerabilities and areas for improvement.

Firewall Services

Firewalls are like bouncers for your digital nightclub. They’re critical security measures that protect your business by controlling network traffic—only allowing authorized users and data to come in.

There are various firewall solutions to bolster your network security, including:

• Hybrid models: Give you additional control and network monitoring beyond basic firewall rules
• Unified firewalls: Offer a single solution to secure all your internal and remote devices

An experienced IT provider offering firewall maintenance and monitoring as part of their solutions will choose the right fit for your business.

Antivirus Protection

As they say, “Prevention is better than cure.”

And what better way to safeguard your devices and IT infrastructure from digital threats than with antivirus and antimalware software?

With antivirus protection services, you equip your business with digital security scanners that monitor, pinpoint, and eliminate malicious programs lurking on your systems—it’s that straightforward.

Data Backup and Restoration

What keeps you awake at night? For many business owners, it’s the thought of losing one’s essential data from a natural disaster or cyberattack.

Don’t let unexpected IT disasters slow your company’s momentum!

Data backup and restoration services help you preserve your business data and store them in cloud or off-site locations, allowing you to recover them and get back on track in case of unforeseen problems.

With this area of information technology, you never have to worry about losing all your hard work.

Software Development

Not all software applications are plug-and-play. Some will even have features your business may never utilize or find a use for.

If only your hard-earned dollars could be spent on apps that precisely fit your business needs. Custom software makes this possible.

Software application services can help turn your vision into reality—create a program that fits your specific requirements and, most importantly, improves workflow and productivity.

Troubleshooting and Technical Support

When it works, technology can be a game changer for many businesses. But when it doesn’t, it can be a crutch.

Software glitches, hardware malfunctions, and other IT issues can distract your team from what truly matters: ensuring your business is operating smoothly.

Here’s where troubleshooting and technical support services come in.

These solutions provide the help you need to resolve technical challenges and keep your IT systems running smoothly.

Remote Support

What if your company’s home base is inaccessible? What if your enterprise doesn’t have a physical presence?

With remote support services, you don’t have to worry about unexpected IT problems halting your operations.

After all, MSPs that provide remote support can diagnose issues and troubleshoot errors remotely.

Hardware Installations and Maintenance

Your business thrives on a robust foundation. Hardware installations and maintenance services provide that bedrock for your IT infrastructure. 

From setting up new computers and configuring printers to performing preventative maintenance and updating these units, this area of IT lets you focus on running your enterprise while IT providers handle the tech.

Monitoring

No one can see the future. But monitoring service providers come close—catching minor glitches before they become major headaches.

By proactively monitoring your systems and networks, IT providers can pinpoint and handle potential issues before they become more significant problems.

Technology Training

Technology is constantly evolving. Unfortunately, old habits die hard. 

Implementing or integrating new tech into your business processes may disrupt your staff’s workflow, especially if they’ve grown accustomed to their existing IT environment.

With technology training services, you can empower your team with the skills and knowledge to ease their transition and help them utilize your IT tools and resources to their full potential.

Project-Related Staffing

Are you struggling to maintain and fill IT positions in your organization for tech-related ventures?

Don’t worry. Some IT providers that offer managed IT services, whether full or co-managed, provide technical specialists such as a vCIO (virtual chief information officer) or dedicated project team.

Their job? Evaluate your current tech situation, design and implement IT solutions, and ensure project quality and performance.

Hybrid IT Services

Cloud services allow you to move your IT infrastructure to the digital realm. One primary benefit is that you eliminate the need for an in-house IT environment.

The most notable disadvantage is that you’re leaving control to your cloud service provider.

Hybrid IT services solve this problem by letting you use a cloud-based system and an on-premises one.

Other IT Services

Data Analytics

Data is the new gold. It’s the reason cybercriminals aim their attacks at businesses like yours.

Why not utilize this valuable asset for yourself?

Data analytics services help you make sense of all your data by collecting, analyzing, and transforming it into actionable insights for your enterprise.

IT Development

IT development goes beyond building software. It’s a strategic partnership that helps you leverage technology to achieve your business goals.

From comprehensive planning and QA (quality assurance) testing to migration and maintenance, IT development ensures your tech investments deliver maximum value and a competitive edge.

Printing IT Services

For many businesses, printing is an integral part of their operations. But is tasking your staff to handle all your printing needs the best use of their time? What happens when in-house printers fail?

Printing as a service (PaaS) lets you use your team’s resources more efficiently and eliminates the need to invest in new printers when old ones break down or hire technicians to fix them.

After all, this branch of IT can assist with your high-volume printing requests, maintain backups of your essential business documents, and even organize them for easier access.

Automation

Imagine a world where your team doesn’t have to waste time on tedious tasks and is free to focus on what truly matters.

That’s what automation can give you.

With automation services, you can—you guessed it—automate repetitive and error-prone tasks like data entry, form processing, and even email communications.

Artificial Intelligence 

AI (artificial intelligence) can revolutionize the way your business works, from helping you predict potential issues in your IT systems to providing round-the-clock support for your end-users.

However, responsible implementation is critical. After all, not all AI solutions are created equal.

For this reason, it’s best to work with an IT provider that prioritizes data security, privacy, and responsible practices. Doing so ensures your AI adoption is seamless and minimizes risks.

Didn’t find the IT service you’re looking for? Let’s talk. Call 1-800-342-4222 or click here to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced IT professionals.

IT Services In the Industry

IT services are the “guy in the chair” for modern businesses, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes—the Alfred Pennyworth to Batman or the Ned Leeds to Spiderman.

But unlike most superheroes, you’re not limited to one assistant.

The information technology industry encompasses various services, from hardware support and software development to cybersecurity and cloud computing.

Unfortunately, this abundance of options can make it challenging for business owners to identify what form of help they truly need.

So, to help with your decision-making process, here are some things about the IT services industry you should consider:

Market Size

The IT services market in the US (United States) is a powerhouse, and it’s only getting bigger.

Forecasts indicate that the industry’s revenue will grow to over $710 billion in 2024, driven by more than 497,000 participating businesses.

This growth is driven by various factors, including the need for reliable IT infrastructure to support remote and hybrid work models.

However, the most influential element impacting the expansion of IT services is the rising desire of business owners to digitize their processes.

What does a more robust IT services market mean for you?

Simple: you’ll find no shortage of providers offering tech innovations to help you improve efficiency, security, and competitiveness.

Market Segments

The IT industry is made up of several distinct segments that cater to specific needs.

For instance, cybersecurity focuses on providing security solutions, such as antimalware protection programs.

On the other hand, the systems maintenance and repair sector is all about providing IT support services.

However, cloud computing is showing the most significant growth among the various segments of the broader IT services market.

And why wouldn’t it?

After all, cloud computing services allow businesses like yours to manage analytics, databases, networks, servers, software, and storage remotely, eliminating the need for an in-house infrastructure and the costs that come along with one.

Industry Trends

In an industry that’s constantly evolving, IT trends come and go.

Artificial intelligence and its potential to automate business processes and provide intelligent, data-driven insights are certainly attracting attention.

But if we’re talking about the hottest trend, it’s edge computing.

Essentially, edge computing allows you to speed up the response times of your remote devices, allowing you to get detailed insights from your data quickly.

If you want to leverage information technology to improve your business’ efficiency and profitability, consider looking into edge computing.

Unique Aspect of the Industry

While the COVID-19 pandemic was undoubtedly a dark period for many, it taught businesses valuable lessons.

One of the most significant is that enterprises can still function effectively even with a remote workforce.

And that would not be possible without the IT industry and its ability to empower off-site work and enable collaboration—the sector’s unique aspect.

Challenges and Solutions in IT Services

Information technology services can offer various benefits for your organization. Unfortunately, they also come with their fair share of downsides, including the following:

• Keeping up with security threats: Just as tech innovations happen daily, digital dangers arise daily, too, making cybersecurity a persistent challenge.

But with our cybersecurity services, you’ll never have to worry. After all, we leverage emerging security technologies to prevent, detect, and respond to any threat—new or otherwise.

• Staying ahead of the curve: The IT industry moves at breakneck speed—what’s cutting-edge today may be obsolete tomorrow.

But don’t get caught off guard. Our reliable solutions and proactive strategic business reviews (SBRs) help you stay at the forefront of technological innovations.

We’ll streamline upgrades and software rollouts, ensuring your business leverages the latest tech and mitigating the risk of outdated systems holding you back.

• Encouraging innovation: Embracing new tech to gain competitive advantage can sometimes cause adoption challenges, especially for your less tech-savvy team members.

That’s why, apart from delivering you the latest technologies, we can also provide training to ensure your staff is equipped with the skills and know-how to utilize IT innovations fully.

• Managing costs and ROI: IT isn’t cheap. Small businesses spend around 6.9% of their revenue to stay relevant in this digitally dominated age.

But we believe IT should never hinder your company.

When you partner with us, expect us to deliver budget-minded IT solutions that maximize every dollar you spend and give you unbeatable returns on investment (ROI).

“Should I Use IT Services?”

Considering outsourcing your IT needs to an MSP like us? Here are some signs that your business could benefit from our IT services:

• Your in-house team lacks the resources to complete tech initiatives on time and within budget
• You struggle to test new IT solutions thoroughly before deployment 
• You’re finding it challenging to define unified IT goals
• Complex dependencies between your IT environment’s components are hindering innovation
• You don’t have a guiding voice to help you make informed tech decisions

If you have these concerns, you’re a prime candidate for IT services.

How to Choose the Right Type of IT Services

Knowing you need IT help is only one part of the equation. Determining what type of help your organization needs is another.

Here’s where our expert IT consulting services come in.

We understand that every business has unique information technology needs. That’s why we listen first instead of rushing to sell you a solution.

We’ll assess your current tech situation, identify areas for improvement, and design a customized plan to optimize your processes and workflow for growth.

“CCB has been our IT provider for our nonprofit agency for 26 years. They listen to your needs and respond with the proper solutions to meet them.

They are truly a gem in the IT services space.”

Dana Brown | Chief Technology Officer, Health Solutions

So, if you want guidance on choosing the IT services that would benefit your enterprise, let’s talk!

Why Choose CCB Technology IT Services?

Here’s something that you may find surprising. In our 30+ years as an IT service provider, we have a 98% client retention rate with over 40,000 clients under our belt.

The organizations that come to us for IT help stay. And here’s why:

• We’re committed to doing the right thing. You can count on us to be honest and transparent in all our dealings.
• We’re passionate about technology and its potential to transform your business. That’s why we’re driven to find innovative solutions to help you achieve your business goals.
• We take ownership of our work and are committed to delivering results. We’ll set clear expectations, solve problems, and apply what we’ve learned from our experiences.
• We foster lasting partnerships with our clients through trust. We follow through on our commitments and communicate openly.
• We’re not perfect. We’re always learning and growing as a company. We value different perspectives and believe that collaboration leads to the best solutions.
• We’re never satisfied with the status quo. We continuously strive to make our services better and empower our clients to achieve growth.

Partnering with us means partnering with a team that takes pride in understanding your business and is committed to your success.

But don’t just take our word for it. Check out our case studies to understand why clients stay and trust us with their IT projects.

“I’ve worked with CCB for 20 years, and I know they are a company with integrity.

I trust them and know that if they tell me something, it’s the truth. They are the only company that has access to our systems.”

Jon Keatts | Director of Information Technology, Russell Cellular

If you’re ready to experience the CCB Technology difference, call 1-800-342-4222 or click here to schedule a no-obligation consultation with our IT professionals.

Alternatively, feel free to visit our offices to discuss your IT challenges by visiting our Wisconsin office, located at 8411 Corporate Drive, Mount Pleasant, WI 53406.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the basic elements of an information system?

An information system (IS) has five components:

• Computer hardware: All the physical technology that lets you access data and communicate, such as keyboards, routers, and even smartphones
• Computer software: The programs and applications that tell your hardware what to do
• Telecommunications: The elements that connect your devices to form a network, such as ethernet cables or wifi
• Databases and data warehouses: Where your data is saved and retrieved
• Human resources and procedures: The human component of an IS—the people needed to run your IT system

2. How can CCB technology help your business save money on IT services?

We can help you reduce your IT costs in various ways. Here’s how:

• Budget-friendly solutions: We’ll find the perfect tech fit within your budget, ensuring value without overspending.
• Predictable pricing: Our monthly flat rate eliminates surprises. And if you sign a multi-year agreement, you can lock in this price for years to come with no hidden fees.
• Vendor network advantage: We leverage our partnerships with over 300 vendors to negotiate the best possible deals on your behalf.
• Referral rewards: Reduce your IT expenses further with our referral program. Get rewarded for pointing others our way.

3. Can we help your company address cybersecurity concerns?

Yes, we can help your business overcome cybersecurity challenges through cutting-edge security solutions and a proactive approach to keeping you up-to-date on current security trends and cyber threats.

4. How can we assist you with staffing challenges?

Through our IT services, you gain access to tech experts, from our helpdesk personnel to virtual CIOs (chief information officers).

5. What kind of support does CCB Technology offer?

Our round-the-clock helpdesk support team can assist you with your tech issues in no time—we have an average response time of under three minutes.

We also offer remote desktop support, ensuring your systems always perform optimally and no unexpected IT events disrupt your team’s workflow.

6. What does a dedicated network admin do?

The network administrator is responsible for keeping your computer network running as efficiently as possible.

While the precise initiatives a dedicated network admin undertakes will vary depending on your unique needs, they typically involve the following:

• Installing and configuring network hardware such as servers and routers
• Upgrading, maintaining, and troubleshooting the IT infrastructure
• Implementing network security measures and monitoring potential threats

7. How does the dedicated virtual CIO support your business?

Besides helping you hit project milestones on time, our vCIOs support your enterprise by ensuring your technology is optimized to improve your processes and aligned with your organization’s goals.

The post IT Services: What It Is and How It Can Help appeared first on CCB Technology.

It’s important to recognize that experiencing burnout in your personal or work life can significantly impact your emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being. Symptoms can vary from person to person, but some common signs include:  

• Low energy or fatigue  
• Frequent illness  
• Feeling trapped or defeated  
• Helplessness or self-doubt  
• Loss of satisfaction or sense of accomplishment  
• Feelings of cynicism  
• Detachment  

In this blog, we’ll explore some principles influenced by one of my favorite authors Patrick Lencioni, to help you avoid burnout and unleash your true potential.  

1. Embrace Teamwork and Collaboration 

As an IT professional, you often work on complex projects requiring collaboration with various teams. For most of us, communication isn’t our superpower. If that’s true for you, this might be where work is needed.   

Embrace the power of teamwork to prevent burnout. Fostering open communication, sharing responsibilities, and encouraging collaboration might be uncomfortable, but so is stretching. When the workload is shared, you’ll find it easier to manage stress and accomplish tasks effectively.  

2. Establish Clear Goals and Priorities 

IT professionals can easily fall into a never-ending cycle of feeling overwhelmed (we all can) when we don’t take the time to set achievable goals and establish priorities for ourselves and our team. Breaking down large projects into smaller tasks makes them more manageable and adds focus to what truly matters. This helps avoid getting overwhelmed by an ambiguous workload.  

3. Practice Effective Time Management 

Time management is crucial for IT professionals as technology evolves rapidly and deadlines loom. Develop a time management system that works for you. Prioritize your tasks, allocate specific time blocks for each activity, and minimize distractions. You’ll reduce stress while achieving more when managing your time effectively.   

Real talk—we know this principle to be accurate, but we usually don’t do it. It’s easy to get caught up in putting out fires, but if everything’s urgent and essential, then nothing is. Draw lines with your boss to increase productivity.  

 4. “Unplug & Untangle” 

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for avoiding burnout. Stepping away from work and enjoying life outside the office is vital for your well-being and enhances productivity and creativity when you return to work. Dedicate time to activities that rejuvenate you. Engage in hobbies, spend quality time with loved ones, exercise regularly, and ensure you get enough rest.  

In episode 114 of The Impact of Leadership podcast, Michaela O’Donnell gives a simple analogy for avoiding burnout. “Like corded headphones, you’ve got to unplug and untangle. Then get plugged back in. Avoiding it will only make your situation worse.”  

5. Cultivate a Supportive Work Environment 

A common cause of burnout is a lack of adequate social support, so feeling supported by management can play a significant role in helping prevent it. Have open dialogues about fostering a culture where colleagues can openly discuss challenges, share ideas, and seek support. Encourage your team members to take regular breaks and vacations to recharge.   

If you’re the head of a department or team, use your authority to make a change. If you’re not, offering to help colleagues is a significant first step to developing a healthy environment. Creating an atmosphere of support and understanding will create a healthier and happier workplace for everyone.  

6. Continuous Learning and Skill Development 

Putting self-development and learning on the backburner happens easily when you’re already overwhelmed with a million other to-do’s that seem infinitely more important. However, technology is ever-evolving, and staying up-to-date is critical for an IT professional.   

Set aside time for yourself (even if it’s only 15-20 minutes a day) to invest time in blogs or podcasts, current news and trends, online courses, important conferences, or networking opportunities. Keeping up with the latest technology advancements will help you feel more confident and motivated. Networking with like-minded individuals allows you to discuss ideas and struggles with others and get solutions you might not have considered.  

You don’t have to know it all either – outsourcing aspects of your IT means you get access to a team of people with a wide range of skill sets and specialties, so you don’t have to overwork yourself trying to master everything.  

 7. Celebrate Success and Recognize Achievements 

In pursuing excellence, it’s easy to overlook the importance of celebrating successes. I am guilty of this constantly. You climb a mountain only to find yourself at the foot of the next one. Taking the time to acknowledge your accomplishments and those of your team members is vital. 

Managers that recognize and reward hard work and milestones achieved are people we want to follow. Not in management? No problem. Giving a co-worker a high-five or a shoutout goes a long way. Celebrating success fosters a positive work environment and fuels motivation, creating a buffer against burnout.  

8. Seek Support   

Knowing where to turn for support can be difficult when you’re feeling burnout. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness but rather a smart and proactive approach to caring for yourself. Share your concerns with trusted colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Be honest and have an open dialogue about the struggles you are facing.   

Remember, lack of social support is a big burnout trigger. By addressing problems proactively, you can prevent burnout and find solutions that work for everyone involved (and save the company a lot of pain from losing you).  

Wrapping it up  

Preventing workplace burnout is a journey that requires effort and conscious choices. However, by following the above principles, you can maintain your well-being, unlock your true potential, and excel in your career.  

You’re not alone! Options like outsourcing can help you navigate your challenges and relieve the pressure.  

CCB Technology offers co-managed support and specializes in comprehensive project work. We’ve been there for countless individuals and are here for you, too. Let us help you maintain your sanity and manage your workload like a pro. 

The post Addressing Burnout in IT Professionals   appeared first on CCB Technology.

The most logical next step might be to see if the user has OneDrive installed locally on their machine, allowing for synchronization between their machine and Microsoft 365. However, you see that has not yet been set up since the organization is still new to Microsoft 365 and the user was most likely unaware they could do that.

So, with no on-premises copy of the document available, you turn to the 24×7 Microsoft 365 Microsoft support that is a part of your subscription. While working with Microsoft, you discover that the document was deleted more than 30 days ago. Unfortunately, that means that even though you changed the default for Recoverable Items > Deletions within your Microsoft 365 tenant from 14 days to the maximum of 30 days, Microsoft has no way to retrieve it since the document was deleted more than 30 days ago. This document is gone. Period.

This scenario happens more often than people realize – showing estimates close to 32% of organizations experiencing a data loss similar to this, with 75% of those losses due to people deleting content, most often accidentally.

What does this mean? EVERY organization should consider an Microsoft 365 backup strategy for data stored in the cloud. Here are some tips for finding the best Microsoft 365 backup solution to meet your needs as well as some possible solutions and how they compare to what Microsoft offers natively.

Evaluate your needs

Start by taking an honest assessment of your organizational needs because a good fit depends upon your organization’s requirements. With so many good solutions available, it will be overwhelming if you don’t do this evaluation first. Here are a few questions – by no means exhaustive – to ask as you go through the evaluation process:

Are you looking for a turnkey solution or something more robust?

We often find that turnkey solutions might not provide the flexibility and functionality organizations need. However, for organizations with minimal IT staff or with a need to simply get their data backed up, a turnkey solution can be the right fit.

Do you have compliance regulations that you need to meet?

Many organizations have compliance requirements, such as HIPAA, that they need to accommodate. Be sure the solutions that you are considering enable you to meet and maintain those requirements.

Do you need some data stored on premises?

Some organizations require that if your primary services, such as email, are running in the cloud that data must also be stored locally. There are solutions that automatically pull data down onto a local repository.

Do you need any additional services?

Consolidating multiple services can be a huge advantage for IT staff by offering ease of implementation and ongoing management. If your organization could benefit from archiving, data loss prevention, encryption, or SPAM protection along with a backup solution, then consider offerings that can be managed from a single pane of glass.

Are you planning to have someone else manage the solution?

If you are currently working with a managed service provider (MSP), include them in these discussions to ensure that they can support whatever solution you are considering. Don’t invest in a backup solution that you want to have managed without first consulting your partner. Your MSP should be a resource for advice and guidance on potential solutions that meet your requirements and can also be managed by them.

Compare Microsoft 365 backup solutions

Now that you know the priorities for your organization, you can start your search for the best Microsoft 365 backup solution. To help you get started, let’s look at what Microsoft offers compared to what a few of our top backup partners offer.

Microsoft’s backup solution

If a user accidentally deletes data and discovers it within 30 days, Microsoft is a great solution. However, if the incident exceeds 30 days, Microsoft’s resolution will depend on whether it involves data for which you’ve set up compliance policies.

Microsoft 365 contains features to help retain data longer but strongly recommends that for data governance, retention policies be used because a retention policy is the only feature that can both retain and delete content across the platform. However, many of these offerings are only available in the Microsoft 365 E3 Plan or higher.

Synology Microsoft 365 backup

Synology offers a great on-prem solution for ease of implementation, ongoing management and overall affordability. Their NAS device is easy to set up, receive notifications, and restore files, folders, etc. Synology covers Exchange, SharePoint and OneDrive. It also protects your Microsoft Teams data if it’s stored in the online versions.

Synology NAS is license-free, without limits on the maximum number of allowed accounts. They also offer a cost-effective plan to NAS users for data availability in the cloud through Synology C2.

Barracuda Microsoft 365 backup

For organizations wanting services beyond simple backup, Barracuda Cloud essentials might be the right fit. It provides a solution that, in addition to Microsoft 365 Backup & Recovery, also includes Advanced Threat Protection, Inbound/Outbound filtering, Archiving, Compliance and eDiscovery.

Veeam Microsoft 365 backup

If you, like many of our clients, are already using Veeam to back up your physical and virtual servers or if you need to back up data to an on-prem location, Veeam might be the right fit for you.

The bottom line: Microsoft 365 has a feature-rich infrastructure for organizations wanting access anywhere at any time, but a comprehensive backup for your Microsoft 365 data is not included. It’s your data and you need to have active and successful backups occurring so that the next time a user accidentally deletes their data, you can restore it.

We can help make the process easier! CCB can make your search for the best Microsoft 365 backup solution simple and effective – from demo to trial to purchase. Let’s have a conversation.

The post How to find the best Microsoft 365 backup solution – and why you need it appeared first on CCB Technology.

I, too, had the same apprehensions and experienced firsthand the mixed emotions of considering a cloud-based solution at first. I was unsure about where our data would be residing or who might have access to it. There was something falsely reassuring thinking that if it was on-premise, it had to be secure!

Finally, like so many others, after years of staying on the ground with our infrastructure, we started to explore the benefits of cloud solutions and increased efficiencies they could provide our business. A huge impact that caused us to take a serious look at the cloud was realizing that if a disaster were to hit the office, all of our critical applications would still be functional with the right cloud solution in place.

As the number of cloud-based solutions grow every day, researching and comparing solutions can be time consuming, and in the IT world, time is a sacred commodity. Although I can’t make your final platform selections for you, I hope to provide you with insight into the advantages of cloud over on-prem options and the types of cloud solutions available to give you a foundation to work from.

Cloud vs. On-premise Infrastructures

Cloud solutions provide major benefits to both businesses and individuals over traditional infrastructure, including:

• Accessibility: With cloud solutions, users can access data anywhere on any device, providing collaboration across all aspects of a business. Writing this blog is a perfect example – I have my Microsoft Word file open on an iPad, MacBook Pro and Surface Book. All show progress in real time as I write, whereas without a Microsoft 365 subscription, I would have three different versions of my document between the devices.

• Cost Control: The cloud helps control costs through predictable subscriptions for enterprise-class infrastructure solutions, eliminating the heavy capital expenditure of an on-premise infrastructure. Additionally, pay-as-you-go models for some solutions mean you can add or subtract individual services and only pay for what you use.

• Scalability: Cloud solutions provide easy and often instantaneous scalability versus the cumbersome process of procuring hardware and software for a traditional infrastructure, which can take weeks or longer.

• Deployment: With cloud solutions, businesses can deploy mission-critical applications without any upfront costs and with minimal provisioning time, allowing IT staff to focus on more pressing activities and objectives. It can also help to reduce the time needed to get new applications and services to market.

• Reliability: Though a concern of most during the introduction of the cloud, technology advancements are making cloud solutions even more reliable and consistent than on-premise IT infrastructures. Most providers today offer Service Level Agreements (SLAs) guaranteeing close to 95% and higher uptime, and 24/7/365 availability.

• Security: This is a central focus for any cloud provider. Cloud solutions today provide greater security than on-prem counterparts because data is stored throughout multiple highly secured locations yet can be accessed no matter what happens. A very simple example is a user who loses a laptop. If it’s managed using a cloud solution, the company can remotely wipe any sensitive information and protect its most important asset – it’s data.

Cloud Solution Models

Now that you know some key benefits of cloud infrastructures, let’s look at the three types of cloud solutions to find out what’s right for you:

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS replaces traditional IT applications with a cloud model that is a software subscription provided by a third-party vendor. This is the most common cloud solution being utilized by businesses because it provides benefits to an organization such as the elimination of software updates, centralized management, and access through any device over the internet.

Examples of these services include Microsoft 365, Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Services, WatchGuard Cloud, Dropbox and Salesforce. When I was just entering the cloud, these were solutions that greatly reduced the time and energy I was spending on installing and upgrading software.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS provides the foundation for cloud IT infrastructures. This model is all about IT operations and typically provides access to network features, data storage space, and computers, while allowing the highest level of management control and flexibility.

Google, Amazon AWS, and Microsoft Azure are third-party sources for IaaS, providing the ability to only pay for what you use – basically like renting the resource. That means if you’re coming into a slower season of business, you can power down three of the five web servers running and pay accordingly.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS allows organizations to build, run and manage customized applications without the need or worry associated with on-premise infrastructures, making it easier for developers to create efficiencies as a part of the application development process. Among the benefits of PaaS are a reduction in overhead and an increase in the speed of development and deployment. Microsoft Azure would fall into this category as well.

Here’s a good resource if you want a deeper dive into the types of cloud models.

Know What to Look For in a Cloud Solution

When considering a cloud solution for your organization, these are important factors you should know:

Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

SLAs outline the service expectations and responsibilities between your company and a cloud supplier. It should state the metrics used for measurement and any penalties if the services don’t meet those expectations. These agreements are for both party’s protection and necessary to build a successful relationship.

High availability is important and is expressed as a percentage of uptime in a given year, or the “number of nines”. (Note that maintenance windows for patching, deploying new systems, etc. are not considered downtime.) I have seen a few providers that promise “five nines”, equating to downtime of only 5 minutes and 15 seconds per year, and fail to meet that goal. You will need to decide what is acceptable for your organization to continue to operate. Discuss this with a potential provider and then get it in writing.

Redundancy

Redundancy or high availability in cloud computing means that multiple copies of your data exist or systems that can be accessed if your cloud solution fails. When talking with a cloud solution provider about their redundancy or disaster recovery plan, make sure to ask:

• How redundant are your data centers regarding power, ISPs and other resources?
• What happens when server solution ‘A’ is installed or goes down?
• How are the backend systems set up (i.e.: web or SQL servers)? Are they clustered?
• What happens if the site where the solution is hosted goes down? Will the cloud solution still be available?
• What automation is in place to make sure my systems remain operational when a disaster happens at a primary site?

Hidden Costs

Even when a vendor provides a quote, there may be hidden costs you should look out for. I learned this the hard way in my previous role when I received the first invoice for our new cloud solution – something that was hard to explain to the executive team! Learn from my mistake and be sure to review the quote’s fine print carefully and ask thorough questions.

How I Learned to Love the Cloud

When I was an IT manager at my previous company, the data we worked with daily was very sensitive (containing PII) and securing it was the highest priority for me, my team, and the success of our company. Part of my hesitation to move to the cloud was due to the data breaches I seemed to be hearing about in the news every other day. It seemed impossible to decide which pieces we could migrate without compromising our security.

As the business grew, my direction and mindset needed to change regarding cloud solutions. We needed to be able to scale rapidly, collaborate efficiently and have access anywhere at any time. We finally chose to migrate to Microsoft 365 from an on-prem Exchange environment. I was initially blinded to its benefits because of my security fears and wanted to retain total control like I could with our on-premise servers.

However, as we began using Microsoft 365, I quickly started to see the organizational benefits: teams collaborating efficiently in groups, simultaneous sharing and editing of documents, and meetings that no longer required being in the same building. It’s as if my eyes had been opened to a whole new world.

Yes, we still needed to protect sensitive data, but the cloud allowed us to quickly expand our resources at a much lower cost than what we could implement in our on-premise infrastructure. Most importantly, it allowed me to sleep better at night knowing if a disaster hit, we’d still be functional for our clients. I learned to keep my feet on the ground and love the cloud.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLOUD?

Want to know how your business can benefit from cloud solutions? We’d love to discuss your needs and help you roadmap your migration. Let us help.

The post How I Learned to Love the Cloud & Why You Should appeared first on CCB Technology.

Let’s start by doing an overview of the two main types of Microsoft 365 migration options available – hybrid vs cutover. There are other migration choices out there such as Staged, Hybrid Lite, etc., but most often we see our clients choose a cutover migration or hybrid migration. Let’s look at the differences.

Cutover migration (or the git ‘r done approach)

One of the fastest ways to get your organization into Microsoft 365 is a cutover migration. This consists of migrating from your current email platform into Microsoft 365 with the “transaction” occurring at a single point in time, which is why it’s called a cutover. With a cutover migration there would be a definitive point when your entire organization moves from their current email platform into the Microsoft 365 platform.

The proverbial “flipping of the switch”, the cutover task itself can take under an hour to perform if a fair amount of staging and prep work happens on the front end. By staging and prepping, I’m referring to tasks such as moving your data into Microsoft 365 (email, calendars, contacts, etc.) or setting up other components as needed, such as AAD Connect and an Encrypted SMTP Relay. The overall process could take anywhere from 4-8 weeks to complete depending on the size of your organization, but in the end, everyone would move over together.

Hybrid migration (or let me ease into it approach)

If you are not a fan of making the switch for the entire organization all at once, then a Microsoft 365 hybrid migration might be a better fit. In a hybrid migration, you can move a chosen number of users or departments at a time into Microsoft 365, allowing your company to move over at a gradual pace. There are additional requirements though that need to be considered when choosing this option.

To begin with, you will need to set up a server that will function as the Hybrid Server to host the connection between your on-premise Exchange Server and Microsoft 365. You’ll also need to utilize directory synchronization (such as AAD Connect) since hybrid configurations rely on them.

How to choose between a hybrid vs cutover Microsoft 365 migration

Here are some questions to help guide you on your way to making an informed decision:

1. How many mailboxes, distribution groups, public folders, etc. will you be moving into Microsoft 365?
   We normally see larger organizations (250 users and above) more prone to choosing the hybrid migration path to better support their user base during the migration to Microsoft 365, especially if they have multiple locations. Smaller organizations can be more agile in their preparation for the move and an Microsoft 365 cutover migration is often a simpler approach, although mailbox size could be a consideration for them as well.
2. What is your current email platform?
   We see clients moving from all types of email platforms into Microsoft 365. In a hybrid migration, an Exchange platform is required, so if you are running anything other than Exchange or anything older than Exchange 2010, hybrid is not an option.
3. Are you currently utilizing Microsoft Teams, or SharePoint On-Premise?
   If the answer is yes, either a cutover or hybrid Microsoft 365 migration would work, however, there are a fair number of caveats – or “gotchas” as we like to call them – that need to be addressed.
4. Do you have additional complexity with your environment?
   This could include things like multiple Active Directory environments from past mergers/acquisitions or the need to move to a new domain and having that occur simultaneously. In cases like these, we see most clients choose the hybrid option to allow for additional testing and a slower phased approach for deployment.

Now that you know what to choose between a hybrid vs cutover Microsoft 365 migration, here are some vital tips to prepare for your transition and avoid common pitfalls.

If you have a unique situation or need more help working through which option is best, please feel free to reach out to us – we would be happy to talk with you about it. Every Microsoft 365 migration is different and feedback from an experienced professional at CCB can be helpful.

We can also help free up some valuable time by doing your migration for you. We have performed hundreds of Microsoft 365 migrations for clients over the years, helping to make the process more efficient and timely, and allowing them to get back to focusing on the achievement of their goals and missions. A consultation is completely free, so let’s explore together the advantages of moving to Microsoft 365.

The post Hybrid vs Cutover – Which Microsoft 365 Migration is Right for you? appeared first on CCB Technology.

Here at CCB we recently switched to a new VoIP solution and know just how time-consuming it can be to evaluate all of the available options. To help you focus your search, I put together this list of the top things to consider and questions to answer while evaluating VoIP solutions.

1. Feature Set

Before evaluating what a new VoIP system can do for you, first identify all of the pain points of your current system. This will help you start to generate a list of requirements that a new system has to meet and help you immediately filter out some VoIP solutions. From there you can start to identify some of the extra features that your company could benefit from.

These are features I prioritized:

2. On-Premise or Cloud Hosted

This decision is being made in more and more areas of our business these days, and when considering phone systems, you can go either way.

On-Premise

• Do you have the capacity to run one or more virtual machines necessary to accommodate the phone system software?
• With on-premise systems, you’re typically talking about a CapEx purchase, so depending upon your financial situation, this might make more sense to you.

Cloud Hosted

• Would you rather not have another on-premise system to manage?
• Would you prefer an OpEx purchase with a monthly payment?

3. Integration

Who doesn’t love it when their systems integrate with one another? Depending upon the current software that your company employs or the software it’s looking to implement in the future, this could be a deal breaker. For CCB, it was a fairly important requirement and I used this to narrow my search results.

Here are some questions to consider:

• Does the system integrate with Active Directory?
• Do you have any internal software such as a CRM or ERP system that would benefit from being tied to the phone system?
  • • From a CRM standpoint, the ability for the phone system to automatically register calls, voicemails, etc. into a CRM can be a huge boost in your sales team’s efficiency.

4. Uptime

Most businesses would prioritize their phone system in the critical column when asked its level of importance. It would then make sense to only consider systems that have a high level of reliability.

• Does the VoIP system offer any type of SLA? Determining an acceptable amount of downtime can help you identify how much you are willing to pay for the amount of uptime.

5. Availability & Mobility

This might not initially be something you consider when conducting your search, but it might be more applicable than you think. With today’s workforce choosing to work wherever they have access to a computer, mobile phone, and internet, how does your phone solution fit into this situation?

With more of the workforce becoming mobile, consider these questions during your evaluation:

• Can your employees utilize your phone system while working remotely?
• Do you have to purchase any extra hardware or software to achieve true remote capabilities?

6. Implementation

Everyone has deadlines to keep and depending upon the timeframe you will have to implement a new phone system, how long it will take could be an important factor.

• Based upon the size of your organization, how long will it take to implement the solution?
• Does the solution come with implementation assistance?
• Does the solution come with user training?
• Can you move any settings from your current phone system to the replacement VoIP solution?

Leveraging an experienced IT partner can help you meet your project goals and make the implementation process smoother.

7. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Does your company employ any BYOD policies? If so, here are some key features to consider in the phone system:

• Does the system offer any type of softphone application that users can use a headset with instead of just a traditional desk phone?
  • • This can alleviate laptop users from having to be at their desk to place and receive phone calls.
• Is there any type of application for mobile devices such as Android or IOS where users can place calls directly from their mobile phones?
• Is the sign-in process to the phone system tied to Active Directory where personal computers won’t work?

8. Proof of Concept (POC)

With the phone system having such an impact on the entire company, I would not recommend even considering a solution that does not offer an adequate trial period, or POC. I would also recommend strategically putting together a test group of employees that are good at giving detailed feedback.

There are so many questions that can only be answered by actually implementing the solution for a trial timeframe with people that will be actually be using it.

• How does the solution handle the load placed upon it?
• What type of feedback did you get from the test group chosen for the POC? This is an invaluable source of information to determine if the VoIP solution is going to work for the company.
• Is the POC using the same platform and licenses that you would receive if you purchased the solution? This is critical to determine as you don’t want to have any misconceptions on what the POC can do and what the actual system you are looking to purchase can do.
• Do you have full access to the solutions support team during the POC? It is important to be able to engage with support prior to choosing a solution and experience how their engineers will work with you during the various problems you will have from time to time.

9. Selling the VoIP Solution to Your Boss

This is often one of the hardest parts of any project. You conduct a thorough search to ensure that the phone system checks all of your boxes, but in the end unless you can sell it to your boss, you can’t move forward. Here are some suggestions on preparing for that discussion:

• Start with the bottom line: are there significant savings that the company will realize by making the change? Look at both the short and long term financial impact.
• Talk about increased efficiencies: Highlight new features that will simplify processes and increase productivity. What are important enhancements to phone system management?
• Close with mobility and accessibility: focus on the impact the solution could have on your continuity plan and the availability of the solution from literally anywhere.

With that said, it’s of vital importance to talk with all departments to ascertain how they currently interact with the phone system and what they would like to see in a new one.

If you align their goals with yours, not only will you have more people in your corner when it comes time to making a decision, but you will also have a higher user adoption rate when it comes to implementing the solution.

Making the Right Choice 

After all the questions were asked and trials were conducted, we decided to “cut the cord” and move to a VoIP solution called RingCentral. We’ve been on it now for four months and we are enjoying features that we didn’t have access to before with our traditional system.

The migration was easy and our employees did a great job of learning and embracing the new technology – and the cost savings was significant. It was a decision that has worked well for us.

Want help learning about VoIP solutions for your organization?
We can help you find, procure, and implement the right VoIP solution for your company. Let us know what you need.

The post VoIP Solution: 9 Things to Know Before Buying appeared first on CCB Technology.

1. Do they have what you need now and later?

Look beyond the products you need right now. What projects are you looking at down the road? Does the IT vendor offer what you will need in 3 months or a year? Do they offer a diversity of brands that meet your needs? Do they specialize in other areas that you might want to use in the future, such as IT services or support?

If you take the time to find an IT vendor who you can use for years to come, you’ll save time and research in the future by relying on that established relationship.

2. Who are they?

Once you find an IT vendor who has what you need, do a little digging to find out if they are someone you can trust. Check out their about page on their website to see how long they have been in business and what their philosophy or mission is. Look for pages that describe how they work with you to see if they would make a good partner.

You’ll also want to look off their website to get the full story. Are they active on social media? By looking at social sites like Facebook you can get a great understanding of their company culture. Also, look for any reviews on popular sites like Google and Yelp.

3. How are they qualified?

An IT vendor should not just be sales people in the IT industry. Anyone helping you make IT purchases needs to have IT qualifications to be able to answer a broad range of questions and help advise you on how to achieve your technology goals.

Find out how the IT vendor stays up-to-date with the continually evolving technology landscape and what standards they maintain for account representatives that you will be working with. If they have a services department, ask to see what technical certifications their engineers hold.

4. Do they have proof?

This is one of the best ways to find out if an IT vendor is right for you. Ask to see case studies or current customer references who you can call and ask about their experience. They should be more than willing to provide these resources if they have great relationships with their clients.

In addition to asking IT questions, ask their clients how they’re treated as a customer. Does the IT vendor invest in learning opportunities for them such as webinars, demos or events? Do they visit customers, send treats or sponsor fun outings to show they care? The customer will be able to give you insight into their relationship.

Finally, ask the IT vendor if they have ever been recognized for excellence in the IT industry or by technology partners they work with.

5. What’s their calling frequency?

This is one of the biggest concerns around IT vendors – no one wants to be harassed with sales calls.

An IT vendor should be a reliable resource who anticipates your needs and reaches out when relevant for help, news and updates – not spam. They should work with you where you are instead of trying to push you in another direction.

Current customers will be able to tell you how appropriate communication from the IT vendor is.

6. Can this be a long-lasting relationship?

If they pass 1-5 this should be the last question you need to ask. Find out how they will work with you over time, including how responsive they are to requests and quotes and what their shipping procedures are. Ask them about their employee turnover rate and how frequently you might receive a new account representative.

After you’ve done your research on an IT vendor, ask yourself these questions to find out if you should use them:

• Is this IT vendor someone who understands me and my company’s goals?
• Do they pay attention to details that are important to me?
• Do I trust their IT recommendations?
• Are they transparent in their business dealings?
• Do I like them?

If they pass the test, then you’ve just found yourself a trusty new IT vendor who can help you make informed IT decisions and quickly get you what you need.

But trust can be hard. If you truly have found the right IT vendor, over time they will continue to prove the validity of your relationship by providing value time after time. Here is a great example of how an IT pro leverages his relationship with CCB to help him stay on the cutting-edge of technology in his industry.

Related: It’s not me, It’s you: Signs You Should Break Up with Your IT Provider

Once you can trust an IT vendor, they can become an extremely valuable partner who can help you save time and money. By relying on their product knowledge and expertise, you can focus your efforts on larger IT initiatives to grow your business.

Is your IT vendor working for you?

CCB is a trusted IT vendor to over 40,000 customers nationwide, and has been helping IT pros achieve their goals with technology since 1991. Become a happy customer.

The post What to look for when choosing an IT vendor appeared first on CCB Technology.

Small businesses often make the false assumption that their data isn’t as vulnerable to compromise as big corporations, but this is proving to be an incorrect and potentially costly assumption. The National Archives and Records Administration reports that more than 90 percent of companies that experience at least seven days of data center downtime go out of business within a year.

So what’s your plan to ensure that downtime doesn’t collapse your company? You need a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place using a trusted solution like Azure Site Recovery before disaster strikes.

Cost vs. Complexity

When creating your disaster recovery plan, you’ll need to weigh the trade-offs between complexity and cost. What data can you afford to be without? For how long? If you lost some data, would that destroy your business forever? To answer those questions, let’s look at what your plan needs to include.

Five parts of a disaster recovery plan:

• Recovery Point Objective (RPO): RPO defines how much data you are willing to lose. You can give higher priority to saving your most critical data, while being willing to lose less important data, such as pictures of the Christmas party (which may be better off that way!). Customer records might be top of your list, while marketing data might rank lower.
• Recovery Time Objection (RTO): RTO weighs how long you are willing to be without your data. Depending on your business, you might decide that you can lose up to two hours of business operation. A higher time will create higher costs, so you’ll need to consider your options carefully.
• Personnel: Who should get their data back sooner? Who will support the plan? Do you have a backup person as well as backup technology? Is your plan dependent on human intervention, which may not be possible in all cases?
• Regulatory constraints: Is your business subject to regulatory compliance? How will you make sure you are covered?
• Critical data: Which data is critical to your business? What are the dependencies between different areas of the business?

Find a solution that fits your disaster recovery plan

A cloud solution can help you find a good balance between cost and complexity while fulfilling the requirements you’ve outlined in your plan. With Azure Site Recovery, you can easily create disaster recovery plans in the Microsoft Azure portal that can be as simple or as advanced as your recovery plan demands.

For small and medium businesses, you can protect all of your major IT systems inexpensively by implementing disaster recovery to the cloud using Site Recovery. It integrates with other BCDR technologies and you can set up and manage replication, failover, and failback from a single location in the Azure portal.

Site Recovery can also help you meet your RTO and RPO requirements since Azure VMs can be replicated between Azure regions as a part of your strategy. When failover occurs, Azure VMs are created based on the replicated data. Site Recovery provides continuous replication for Azure VMs and VMware VMs, and replication frequency as low as 30 seconds for Hyper-V.

Finally, Site Recovery integrates with Azure for simple application network management, including reserving IP addresses, configuring load-balancers, and integrating Azure Traffic Manager for efficient network switchovers. Learn more about Microsoft’s complete integrated Azure cloud solution for backup and recovery.

Train and test

Once you have a plan in place you’ll need to train all personnel. You’ll increase your chance of success when upper management endorses the plan and promotes training for all employees. Communicating the plan and even incorporating it in new employee training might be good strategies as well. Assuming everyone knows who is responsible for what can lead to failure.

Too often companies will create a plan, implement it and then stick it in a file. They don’t fully test the plan, or consider multiple scenarios. When a disaster hits, whether its cybercrime, a natural disaster or that rogue sprinkler system, the plan fails. The New York Stock Exchange had a plan before Hurricane Sandy, but they didn’t follow it when disaster hit – instead they closed the stock exchange for two days.

Your resources and business needs will evolve over time because location, personnel, and data changes. Annual training, and testing two to three times a year is the best way to make sure the plan is up-to-date, still supports your current business goals, and everyone is prepared for a short, efficient recovery with as little down time as possible.

Your disaster recovery plan can’t wait  

Nobody likes to think about their business getting hit by a disaster, and hopefully you never will, but facts show that you are likely to experience some level of compromise at some point.

Azure Site Recovery is a trusted and robust solution that can help you recover quickly from disaster. It monitors the state of your protected instances continuously and remotely from Azure. When replicating between two sites that you control, your virtual machines’ data and replication stays on your networks and all communication with Azure is encrypted. You can also select encryption for data at rest.

You can’t guarantee you won’t be affected by cyberattack, natural disaster, technical malfunction and uncontrollable human error, but you can protect your business from costly data loss by investing in a solution that aids in data backup and disaster recovery.

We can help you along the way

We’re here to help with all stages of strategy, planning and implementation. We can discuss your needs and help you explore all your available options, including the advantages of cloud BU and DR. Don’t wait any longer.

The post How to create a disaster recovery plan: Is Azure right for you? appeared first on CCB Technology.