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Why Your Office Should Use DaaS

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Cloud computing provides many advantages to the workplace, including increased security, accessibility and cost savings. Desktop-as-a-Service, or DaaS, could change the way your office operates for the better. But what is it? We answer all your questions here.

What is DaaS?

DaaS is a type of cloud computing, or computing supported by multiple secured data centers. Information technology providers offer this virtual computing to businesses to project its workspace through a device.

What makes DaaS different?

With typical computing, data is stored on a business’ devices and local servers. Companies are saddled with maintaining expensive, cumbersome and vulnerable infrastructure on-site. DaaS computing is done through the cloud. That means all data, applications and even the desktop are stored in multiple geographically dispersed data centers.

Software programs allow users to access these desktops on laptops, desktop computers, tablets and cell phones, even if they are outside of the typical office space.

How does DaaS compare to VDI?

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or VDI, is similar to DaaS. Both provide virtual desktops. However, DaaS is hosted through off-site servers and data centers, while VDI is hosted through local servers maintained by an IT team. That means organizations that use VDI to serve virtual desktops have to maintain and upgrade on-site servers, a labor-intensive and expensive process.

What are the benefits of DaaS?

Increased security: Because all computing is done through the cloud, all data is encrypted and regularly backed up. Data is easily recovered if a natural disaster, computer failure or cyberattack occurs. Access to the company desktop is always restricted, protecting the organization’s sensitive data if an employee damages, loses or has a laptop stolen.

Accessibility: No matter where your employees are working, they can access shared files and applications. DaaS makes remote working a breeze. Those inside the office also benefit from the cloud computing service because they’re not waiting on laggy applications and software on individual devices.

Cost savings: With DaaS through Infomax, you pay only for what you consume, avoiding those excessive monthly or annual fees you used to pay for benefits you never used. This means you can also scale the service up or down as your office expands or needs change. You’ll never be hit with upfront charges, bandwidth utilization fees or minimum term conditions.

Easy Management

Businesses avoid wasting time, money and space maintaining infrastructure through DaaS. By using a third-party IT provider, such as Infomax, the all management of DaaS is off your organization’s plate.

Learn more about Infomax’s DaaS services here.

Simplify the Cloud with Managed Services

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Simplify the Cloud with Managed Services

Transitioning to cloud-based software services can be a smart move for your company, but your “go-live” date is just the beginning. Going forward there will be updates, maintenance, training, integration, troubleshooting, and more. If you prefer to keep your head in the game rather than in the cloud, consider simplifying your life with a move to managed services.

The Cloud is Thriving
Technological change today is happening at a blistering pace, which is one of the reasons the cloud and SaaS are appealing to so many businesses—when software is a service instead of an asset, it can continually evolved by being updated, upgraded, and adjusted. Moreover, using cloud-based services offers a balance of business unit independence and organization-wide compatibility.

Keeping Up Can Be Costly
Cloud software uniquely empowers small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to be proactive rather than reactive, but the costs of thorough monitoring, analytics, maintenance, and staff training can add up. That’s assuming you can find (and pay) an IT staffer who can meet your needs.

Why Managed Services?
Just like printing, payroll, and other services, outsourcing the management of your cloud-based services can be a cost-effective way to stay ahead of the competition. Here’s why:
● Performance — Working with a managed services provider means having access to specialists with expertise in the cloud. Dedicated cloud technology managers can handle all the aspects for you, from end-to-end monitoring, reports, and data analytics to training, customization, and proactive guidance. Your regular IT staff can focus their energies on your core business, developing solutions that add value to your company.
● Cost — Managed services expenditures are predictable and can be lower than when those same services are managed by an in-house staff. You’ll also get more value for your IT dollar, with increased efficiency in the support, maintenance, and growth of your IT infrastructure.

The cloud is opening up new possibilities and efficiencies for SMBs, but those capabilities are wasted if you can’t keep up with them. Contact Infomax Office Systems today to learn more about managed services that can help your company thrive. 

Surprising Benefits of Managed IT

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Many businesses are now familiar with some of the primary benefits of Managed IT. They include cost control, troubleshooting and problem-solving, and freeing up resources for activities more central and unique to your business. But, in addition to those common valuable features, Managed IT can provide some surprising benefits to you and your business.

With Managed IT, you can:

Stay up-to-date. Complete management of your IT network includes the critical element of patching and upgrading. Easily left by the wayside when you’re focused on troubleshooting, your Managed IT provider includes regular software patches as part of their services. By keeping you on track with the latest updates for your software and operating system, they’ll help you avoid security risks, eliminate glitches, and solve usability issues. Managed IT keeps all of your systems running smoothly.

Get custom insight. Usage reports and service statistics are par for the course, but your Managed IT provider can also design dashboards and reports tailored specifically for your business. Department managers can see at-a-glance which systems are running smoothly and where action needs to be taken. Custom dashboards provide the insight you need to stay on top of your operations.

Be ready for disaster—and recovery. A Managed IT partnership means having redundant and fail-safe systems. Normally this is a significant investment. But, when you work with a Managed IT provider, the cost of network and data center infrastructure is distributed among various clients, so it’s more affordable to incorporate a comprehensive backup and recovery solution.

Take your information technology to the next level. While in-house IT staff must normally be generalists who can solve any number of problems, Managed IT providers employ specialists whose expertise can be leveraged for your business’ strategy. They provide intimate knowledge of device life cycles, software risks and options, and OS upgrades. Periodic reviews by these experts can make sure you’re operating with the most efficient and effective systems.

Working with a partner for Managed IT is so much more than outsourcing your Help Desk tickets. With dedicated resources, specialized expertise, and a strong relationship with your provider, a move to Managed IT means teaming up with a partner that is invested in your company’s success. Contact Infomax Office Systems to learn more about Managed IT and how it can benefit your business.

How to Keep Your Network Safe

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Maintaining the security of your business’s IT network safe isn’t an easy feat. Securing your network is a process requiring time and dedication even for those entrenched in the IT world. Doing it well on top of your everyday tasks can be daunting at best and fatal for your business at worst. Moreover, the sophistication of today’s hackers leaves no one’s system—not even your home computer—safe from threats.

To avoid these ongoing threats, consider the following tips to keep your business network safe.

Use encryption – Data that is encrypted requires a key or password to decode information, making it the most effective way to secure your network. At the very least, ensure that your Internet network has Wi-Fi Protected Access II encryption, the most up-to-date protocol, to eliminate the likelihood of a breach.

Change access passwords – When considering how to keep your network safe, also consider how conspicuous your passwords are. Of course, certain team members—if not all of them—will need to know your accessibility password. However, administrative passwords, where applicable, should be restricted. Also, if you notice too many users on your network and your bandwidth begins to suffer, consider changing your password and reinforcing its confidentiality to employees with whom it is shared.

Scan your system regularly – The point of malware and spyware is for it to remain undetected on your network in order to do as much damage to your system as possible. So, unless you take the time to regularly look for these programs, you won’t be able to detect their presence. Scanning your system will unveil viruses and spyware on your network, while scanning the ports will inform you of any accessibility issues. It’s recommended to scan your network on a daily basis to ensure security. This is ideal for outsourcing, since a trusted IT partner—like Infomax—will ensure this gets done regularly, whereas in-house staff might push system checks to deal with pressing issues.

Choose a smart SSID – Simply put, the Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the name of your Wi-Fi connection. Remember that this name will appear on a list that is available to anyone attempting to find a Wi-Fi network to join within a certain physical distance of your company. Naming your network after your company in any way provides an easy way for hackers to identify your network. A simple name like Wireless1 or WIFI1 strips your SSID of any company-related identifiers, adding an easy layer of security to your network.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the weight of keeping your network safe or you’d like more information on protecting your IT systems, contact Infomax today!

Why Make the Switch to Managed IT?

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Integrating managed IT services might seem like a complicated, painstaking process. But, on the contrary, making the switch to managed services provides your business access to specialized tools and services that can alleviate your overworked in-house IT staff. Managed IT maximizes your budget and provides your business with lasting benefits.

Integrating managed IT into your business is not only easy, but it also provides many lasting benefits, including:

  • Improving productivity. It’s actually much easier to improve productivity with managed IT than without it. Your typical lawyer would rather spend his or her days practicing law, rather than attempting to be IT professionals—the same goes for your IT developers and admin staff. By integrating managed services, your team can focus on core objectives. This means your business environment improves right alongside your bottom line.
  • Reducing risks. Don’t just install an off-the-shelf anti-virus software package and hope for the best. There are a lot of ways threats can enter your IT network, and it’s actually much easier to reduce security risks when you have a reputable IT vendor—like Infomax—that is able to safeguard your entire business network against incoming threats. With managed IT, you can rest assured your data and your network is thoroughly protected.
  • Lowering costs. Think managed IT services will hurt your pocketbook? Think again. There is a common misconception that in-house IT always saves money. However, considering how quickly things change in the world of technology. You need a dedicated team to stay up to date on all of the latest solutions, so your technology doesn’t become dated and obsolete. Your existing in-house IT staff is best suited to focus on profitable, business-building projects, rather than day-to-day IT management tasks.
  • Accessing enterprise capabilities. Relying on a few people to perform in-house IT services might seem like the easier solution, but imagine having access to enterprise-level expertise across all IT areas. This means that the advancements made by your IT vendor are yours to utilize, resulting in a better functioning network and a more efficient business.

To find out just how easy switching to managed services really is, contact Infomax today.

How to Keep IT Costs Down and Security High

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Everyone wants a safe and secure IT network. However, everyone also wants to make sure they are not spending an arm and a leg on unnecessary steps or convoluted security measures. Keeping your IT network secure should not break the bank. In fact, keeping your IT costs down and your security high does not have to be difficult at all. With a few tips and a little diligence, you can keep your IT network safe and your costs down.

Here are some tips on how to save cash and secure your IT systems:

  • The basic three. It is paramount, when securing your IT network, that you keep a close eye on the three basic types of IT security. First of all, there must be a proper system for backups. Backups are an essential part of any IT security setup. Secondly, there is maintenance. Ongoing security includes things like firewalls and spam filters, and will catch problems before they manifest, ultimately helping your bottom line and saving your from massive headaches. Finally, be sure you have a proper recovery system in place. Disaster can’t always be prevented, and in those instances, a good recovery system is essential. Focus on these three areas of IT first, and then add on as your budget allows and as your business grows.
  • Getting everyone involved. It’s important to remember that you alone cannot handle your company’s IT network. The security put in place is only as efficient as those maintaining it. Educate your employees on just how to handle the security of the business. Turning off computers at night, avoiding potentially harmful emails, and other basic steps will ensure everyone in your company is doing their best to keep information safe.
  • Get a partner. Finding a reliable partner for IT security is one of the most beneficial steps you can take for your business. Rather than going at it blindly, hire a group of experts who understand the intricacies of IT management. This way, you and your partner can work together to customize plans for your business.

To learn more about IT security and how it can be affordable for your business, contact Infomax today.

What Does Your IT Roadmap Look Like?

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An IT roadmap is one of the most important strategic assets a company can have. Essentially, it’s an evaluation of your company’s specific IT needs. Without an IT roadmap, you might as well be driving in the dark with your headlights off. Companies without properly managed IT roadmaps run the risk of data loss, security threats, and all sorts of unfavorable situations.

An IT roadmap will help guide your business toward reaching both your short-term and long-term goals by matching you with specific technology solutions along the way. Here are just a few reasons why having an IT roadmap is essential for your company:

  • Minimizing disruptions. A good IT roadmap will systematically tighten the security and functionality of your systems.
  • Economically sound. No one likes spending time and energy on IT issues. With a properly set up IT roadmap, there will be fewer monetary surprises. You will be able to deal with issues before they arise, so you can mange them quickly and get back to work.
  • Building relationships. Prepare for your service credibility to skyrocket. Your services will continue to improve, as you are not simply moving forward blindly. Rather, you have the guidance of an IT roadmap to get you where you want to go.
  • Adapting fast. In a perfect world, there would be no IT problems. However, in the world we live in, they are inevitable. Fortunately, with an IT roadmap, you can act quicker than ever. When the storm comes, your company will be prepared.
  • Staying current. IT roadmaps are best when developed or updated annually. This is because, as technology continues to improve at lightning speed, so must your roadmap.

Remember, a roadmap should be customized for all areas of your business, and based a strategic evaluation of your company’s needs. Infomax has the ability to build and maintain a reliable and current IT roadmap for your business.

Visit our website, or contact us today to learn more.