Blog

The basic premise o Rushing through process implementations, technology upgrades and new hire training can cause botched executions and unnecessary confusion. That’s why businesses must pursue a sustainable strategy that allows them to grow smarter, not just faster. Sustainability in business is all about being repeatable, adaptable and capable of scaling up and down as needed. Sustainable scaling requires you to consider your people, processes and technologies. Having the right technology on your side can help you scale your business up or down with ease as well as empower people and processes. But what technology should you consider introducing to your infrastructure to encourage flexible scaling? Keep reading to find out. f search engine reputation management is to use the following three strategies to accomplish the goal of creating a completely positive first page of search engine results for a specific term Mobile apps have already penetrated every sphere of our lives and every imaginable business niche. Naturally, the appeal of mobile apps for its market potential cannot fade away anytime soon, at least until another great technology can replace mobile apps. But surprisingly, only a handful of apps in every niche really become successful and only a handful of apps across all niches really make it a phenomenal success. So, what about the failure of other apps? What are the key factors responsible for the failure of millions of apps? Well, apart from the ill-conceived app idea and development and design flaws many apps simply fail because of their pre-launch and post-launch shortcomings. Technologies to keep an eye on Consider these technologies if you wish to take the path of scalability: Learning management Deploy a learning management system that incorporates anti-phishing training and allows you to customize your learning modules. Look for a solution with additional features such as: Multiple languages (ideal for global teams) Structured learning Engagement documentation (helpful when you’re required to prove every learner’s training completion) Automated reminders Centralization of information (to ensure that critical training is not lost if crucial team members move on to other organizations) IT documentation Poor documentation can lead to unanticipated downtime, operational and performance issues, and ultimately, revenue loss. It also results in countless hours of employee time wasted searching for information or guidance to solve simple IT problems. IT processes must be optimized for performance, reliability and effectiveness to meet business expectations and security requirements. To achieve this goal, thorough and transparent documentation is required to ensure and maintain proper configurations and processes. Make sure the solution has the following features: Organized documentation Relationship mapping (link related items so that you have access to all the information you require) Safe password management Enterprise-level security Capability to integrate with existing technologies at your business Security awareness training A one-time training program will not help your employees defend themselves against cyberthreats, nor will it help your company grow sustainably. Your employees require thorough and ongoing security awareness training to deal with the rapid changes happening around them. Remember that the return on investment (ROI) on security awareness training manifests in better decision-making and employees who respond quickly to cyber threats, saving your company from data breaches, reputational damage and potentially costly lawsuits. Through self-paced, short learning modules, every employee must be made aware that even minor errors can snowball into a disastrous security disaster for the company. Ongoing vulnerability scanning Overlooking even one vulnerability could escalate into something severe. What’s more concerning is that, according to the IBM Cost of Data Breach report, it takes an average of 287 days to detect and contain a data breach. Continuous vulnerability scanning can assist you in detecting and remediating vulnerabilities while freeing up your team’s time to focus on other tasks. Vulnerability scanning that focuses on point-in-time reporting can only help your business up to a point since it can’t detect evolving vulnerabilities. Instead, try continuous vulnerability scanning that is capable of detecting network vulnerabilities as soon as they appear. Collaborate for success It’s easier said than done to find the right technologies to help your business scale sustainably. You’ll need to put in a lot more time and effort. That’s why working with an expert partner with in-depth knowledge and expertise to guide you on your journey is ideal. We may be the right partner for you based on our years of experience in dealing with these matters. To find out more, contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

There are several reasons why small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) like yours can sometimes struggle to meet all your technology needs in one location. One reason is that small businesses often lack the resources of large corporations, so making the most of what you have is essential. Another reason is that small and medium-sized businesses suffer the most from sudden personnel losses and extended leaves of absence. This is why you should think about hiring an external IT service provider to supplement your existing IT team or rely entirely on an external IT service provider if you don’t have an internal IT team. An external IT service provider is a specialist who can act as your outsourced IT department. An external IT service provider can provide many benefits for your IT needs, including a single point of contact, industry-leading software, support, maintenance and access to additional resources that keep you up to date on the latest technologies. Don’t settle for anything less than the best An excellent external IT service provider will offer you the following: Regular risk assessmentsRisk assessment is a critical part of any business and should not be overlooked. This is a process by which the IT service provider will assess your current IT infrastructure and identify any possible risks to your business. They will then create a plan to mitigate these risks and provide regular updates on their progress. You can protect your company from potential threats by collaborating with an external IT service provider that offers regular assessments. Ongoing network monitoringOngoing network monitoring is one of the most important aspects of having an excellent IT service provider. By having a third party continually monitoring your network, you can ensure that your systems are always up and running and that any potential issues are identified and addressed before they cause severe problems. It can help you avoid costly downtime, protect your data and ensure that your systems operate at peak performance. Business alignmentWhen looking for an excellent external IT service provider, it is vital to make sure they care about your business alignment. They should go above and beyond to find solutions that integrate with your company’s preexisting systems and help you reach your long-term business goals. They should also provide comprehensive training and support so that you can utilize these solutions to their fullest potential. Quarterly reviewsAn IT service provider can help you with quarterly reviews. These reviews are critical and should not be overlooked. Here are four reasons why: 1. They can help you stay compliant with industry regulations. 2. They can help you protect your data and your systems. 3. They can help you optimize your systems and processes. 4. They can help you plan for the future and make sure your systems are ready for it. Regular reporting to demonstrate ROIAny successful technology investment must include regular reporting to demonstrate return on investment (ROI). A proactive IT service provider can help you with this so that you have the data you need to make informed decisions about your technology investments. Collaborate to succeed When you partner with a top-notch IT service provider like us, you can expect to receive a wide range of services that will benefit your business. From managed IT services to 24/7 help desk support, you can rely on our team of experts to help you keep your systems running smoothly. Our team can also help you protect your data and privacy with our range of security, backup and compliance services.

A cyber incident is a type of security event that can harm a business like yours. Ranging from data breaches and system failures to malware attacks and phishing scams, these incidents can hinder productivity, revenue growth and customer satisfaction. In most cases, a cyber incident will result in data loss or downtime. This can include loss of confidential information, customer data or business records. In some cases, a cyber incident can also cause business interruption or financial loss. We can all agree that no one wants their business to be hacked. A single cyberattack can rob you of your time, money and peace of mind. In addition to getting systems operational and data restored, you have to let all affected parties know that their data may have been compromised. This can be a difficult situation to navigate for anyone, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In this blog, we’ll provide you with proactive and reactive approaches to tackle an attack, cope with the aftermath of a hack and prevent future incidents. Proactive steps to implement By taking these proactive steps, you can help protect your business from the devastating consequences of a cyberattack: Routinely update your passwords It’s critical to update your passwords regularly to help keep your accounts safe. By updating your passwords every six months, you can help protect your accounts from being hacked. Here are a few tips on how to create a strong password: Use a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols Avoid using easily guessable words like your name or birthdate Use a different password for each account Don’t reuse passwords Use a virtual private network (VPN) A virtual private network encrypts your company’s data and gives you complete control over who has access to it. This can aid in the prevention of data breaches and the protection of your company’s information. However, make sure to select a reputable provider offering robust security features. Conduct regular security awareness training As a responsible business executive, you must ensure that your company’s security awareness training program is comprehensive, engaging and adaptable to new threats. In today’s digital age, this is critical to protect your business. Run regular phishing tests Phishing is a type of cyberattack that employs deceitful techniques to try and obtain sensitive information from users or cause them to download malicious software. Phishing attacks can be highly sophisticated and challenging to detect, which is why it is essential to periodically test your employees to assess their vulnerability to this type of attack. Reset access controls regularly It is crucial to regularly reset access controls to prevent unauthorized access to protected resources. This helps to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information. Resetting access controls can be done manually or with automated tools. Use multifactor authentication (MFA) Multifactor authentication is a security measure that requires your employees to provide more than one form of identification when accessing data, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized data access. This can include something they know (like a password), something they have (like a security token) or something they are (like a fingerprint). Before we move on, take note of the cybersecurity training topics recommended by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for all small businesses: Spotting a phishing email Using good browsing practices Avoiding suspicious downloads Creating strong passwords Protecting sensitive customer and vendor information Maintaining good cyber hygiene Reactive steps to remember The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) reactive incident response framework covers the following five phases: Identify To develop an effective incident response plan, security risks must be identified. This includes, among other things, threats to your technology systems, data and operations. Understanding these risks allows you to respond to incidents more effectively and reduce the impact of security breaches. Protect To protect your company, you need to develop and implement appropriate safeguards. Security measures to guard against threats and steps to ensure the continuity of essential services in the event of an incident are examples of safeguards. Detect Detecting anomalies, such as unusual network activity or unauthorized access to sensitive data, are needed to limit the damage and get your systems back up and running faster following an incident. Respond A plan to respond to detected cyber incidents is critical. This strategy should include breach containment, investigation and resolution strategies. Recover To minimize disruption, you must have a plan to resume normal business operations as soon as possible after an incident. Implementing the above proactive and reactive steps requires time, effort and skillsets that are possibly beyond what you can commit to at the moment. However, you can still accomplish this by collaborating with an IT service provider like us. Our experience and expertise may be just what you need. Feel free to reach out to schedule a consultation.

Data breaches have become more common in recent years, owing primarily to the rapid emergence of new threats. According to a new study, the average cost of a data breach increased 2.6% from 2021 to 2022.* Hackers can now access sensitive information a lot easier than ever before, thanks to the growth of the internet and the increasing interconnectedness of businesses. They can then sell that information on the dark web or use it to commit other crimes such as identity theft. So, what can you do to safeguard your business against data breaches? The first step is being aware of the threats that exist. Second, you must take precautions to protect your data. Third, you need to know what to do if your data is compromised. In this blog post, we’ll discuss a few of the threats you need to look out for to safeguard your business. Don’t let these threats get to your business Here are some lesser known cyberthreats that you need to be aware of: Juice jacking Juice jacking is a cyberattack where a malicious actor secretly installs malware on a public charging station. This malware can then infect the devices of anyone who plugs into the charging station. Once infected, the attacker can access the victim’s data. Crazy, right? An attack of this nature needs to be proactively tackled because more people are using public charging stations to charge their devices. Remember, it’s not just phones that are at risk — any device connected to the infected public charging station is susceptible to juice jacking, including laptops and tablets. If you must use a public charging station, take a few precautions. To start, only use trustworthy stations. Second, to keep your device from becoming infected, use a USB data blocker. Finally, ensure that your device is in “charging” mode rather than “data transfer” mode. Malware-laden apps The number of smartphone users has grown and along with it the number of mobile apps. While there are many legitimate and safe apps available in app stores, there are also many malicious apps cybercriminals release despite valiant efforts to keep app stores safe. One of the biggest dangers of downloading bad apps is that they can infect your device with malware. This malicious software can wreak havoc on your device, including stealing your personal data, vandalizing your files and causing your device to crash. In some cases, malware even equips hackers to take control of your device remotely. So, how can you protect yourself from downloading malware-laden apps? The best defense is to be vigilant and research before downloading any app, even if it’s from an official store like the App Store or Google Play Store. Check reviews and ratings, and only download apps from developers that you trust. Malicious QR codes It’s no secret that QR codes are becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately, while they offer a convenient way to share information, they also present a potential security risk. That’s because scanning a malicious QR code can give attackers access to your device and data. The best way to protect yourself against this type of attack is to be aware of the dangers and to take precautions when scanning QR codes. For example, you can use a reputable QR code scanner that checks malicious content before opening it. You can also avoid scanning QR codes that you don’t trust. Using public Wi-Fi without a VPN (Virtual Private Network) Public Wi-Fi is everywhere, and it’s often very convenient to use when you’re out and about. However, what many people don’t realize is that using public Wi-Fi without a VPN can be a security disaster. When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you unwittingly invite potential hackers and cybercriminals to access your data. Without a VPN, anyone on the same network as you can easily see what you’re doing online. They can intercept your data and even steal sensitive information. That’s why we recommend using a VPN. A VPN encrypts your data and provides a secure connection, even on public Wi-Fi. Collaborate to tackle cyberthreats If you can’t devote sufficient time and effort to combating cyberthreats, partnering with an IT service provider is your best option. An IT service provider, like us, can help you with cybersecurity, backup, compliance and much more. We can also improve your employees’ readiness to deal with cyberthreats by helping you provide regular security awareness training. Employees can benefit from this training by learning how to identify and avoid phishing scams, protect their passwords and detect other types of cyberattacks.

As the world becomes more digitized and cybercrime increases, the need for cyber insurance is something businesses should not overlook. If your company handles, transmits or stores sensitive data, you need to know about cyber insurance. Cyber insurance is intended to protect businesses from the monetary losses arising from a cyber incident that could jeopardize their future. It covers financial losses caused by events such as data breaches, cybertheft and ransomware. Since small businesses often lack the resources or budgets of big corporations, cyber insurance can provide critical financial protection in the event of a cyberattack, helping them recover quickly. Types of cyber insurance and what they cover Although insurers may have their own specific classifications, cyber insurance can be divided into three broad categories: Cybertheft insurance With more and more businesses storing sensitive data online, the risk of cybertheft is more prominent than ever. As a result, ensuring that your company is adequately insured against this growing threat is critical. Cybertheft insurance protects businesses from financial losses caused by digital theft. This type of insurance can cover a variety of cybertheft scenarios, including first-party cybertheft, embezzlement scams, payroll redirection and gift card scams. Businesses of all sizes can be victims of cybertheft, and no business is too small to need cybertheft insurance. Therefore, even if there is a remote chance that your data or digital assets will be stolen, ensure you have cybertheft insurance for your business. Cyber liability insurance Cyber liability insurance includes third-party coverage for damages and losses, data breaches, regulatory penalties, credit monitoring and lawsuits. Cyber liability insurance is a vital tool for small businesses like yours because the financial ramifications of a cybersecurity breach can be more severe than you can handle. This does not mean you should panic right now; it simply means that having cyber liability insurance can help your business recover and move forward even after a breach, without being stunted. Cyber extortion insurance/ransomware insurance Cyber extortion insurance protects businesses against ransomware attacks. This type of insurance can help cover the cost of ransom payments, recovery expenses, business interruptions and more. It can also provide access to a team of experts who can help with cyber extortion negotiations and forensics. Keep in mind that an attack could still succeed even with the right cybersecurity solutions in place to protect your business. That’s why it’s critical to have cyber extortion insurance. It can help you recover from a ransomware attack and reduce the financial impact. Let’s work together to ensure your success Cyber insurance is a complicated and ever-changing industry. There are many factors that can influence whether or not you qualify for a payout in the event of a cyberattack, and trying to remain compliant with your insurance policy can be difficult. Working with an IT service provider can help you better understand your options and ensure that you have adequate security in place, increasing your chances of receiving complete coverage. Not sure where to start? Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our knowledge and experience may be just what you require.

Even though it’s no secret that small to medium-sized businesses often have vastly fewer resources in comparison to larger enterprises, prioritizing agility is just as critical for their survival. This is because, in today’s world, where a variety of unpleasant surprises can arise at any time, you must be well prepared to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Recent events, such as the pandemic, supply chain issues, war, inflation and The Great Resignation, serve as explicit indicators of why your SMB needs to be agile. When the needs of your customers, employees, the market, the economy and other factors change, agile businesses can adapt quickly and keep working toward their business goals. To be agile, you must have systems in place that allow you to respond quickly to rapidly changing conditions and opportunities by preparing your people, processes and technologies. However, agility doesn’t happen overnight. You will encounter setbacks that can make your agility journey a bumpy ride. Knowing that is the first step towards business agility. Keep an eye out for these bumps along the way On your journey to organizational agility, watch out for these 5 roadblocks*: 1. Survival mentalityIn the context of agility, this refers to a business unit’s unwillingness to adopt innovations due to risk-averse mindsets or the perceived risk of innovations gobbling up existing business. 2. Workplace politicsWhenever a business unit’s goals and priorities are misaligned, it’s probably due to workplace politics. It can lead to the dispersal of innovation efforts and the establishment of competing innovation units within the same enterprise, stretching resources and diluting the impact. It could also take the form of a refusal to restructure the innovation portfolio to focus on a few mission-critical priorities, preferring instead to keep “pet projects” going for long periods of time. 3. Information silosInformation silos prevent business units from sharing information. When information – or any other valuable asset, such as core talent – is hoarded and kept hidden from others, the entire company suffers. Information silos, in conjunction with workplace politics, could explain why some innovations, while successful within the unit, fail to scale in the principal business. 4. Lack of strategic fitInnovation units can become disconnected from the central business and lose sight of the company’s vision and mission over time. When this happens – which is especially likely when innovation units are in a different city or country than the management team – the innovation team may start to define its purpose in ways incompatible with the main business. 5. Lack of buy-inFailure is a foregone conclusion if the main business’s leadership team does not buy in or participate. This could be because they have never been sufficiently engaged or because their attention has been spread too thin across many initiatives. Partner for success Constantly keeping an eye out for the roadblocks mentioned above may be more than most SMBs can handle since it requires a significant amount of effort, time and skillsets. However, by partnering with an expert MSP like us, you can focus on your business while we make your journey towards organizational agility as smooth as possible. Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

Are you considering all the necessary technology categories when planning your annual budget? Technology is essential for any modern business such as yours, but it’s easy to focus solely on routine services that keep the lights on. This could lead you to miss crucial budget categories, leaving you scrambling when unanticipated needs arise. Keep reading to learn about three critical budget categories — projects, refreshes and accidents/incidents — that are often overlooked and how they can affect your business. Never ignore these categories Ensure your business has the resources it needs to thrive by taking the time to budget for the following categories. If they are not part of your budget plans, you might have to rethink your approach. Projects It’s easy for a small business like yours to neglect critical IT projects, such as securing your networks, but it leaves you vulnerable to attacks. Hackers can easily access your network if your employees use unsecured Wi-Fi. Risks associated with free Wi-Fi hotspots include network compromise, evil twin attacks and exploits. The best way to avoid these incidents is to provide your entire workforce with a secure VPN work setup. This allows employees to connect to a secure network, in turn protecting your company from potential attacks. Refreshes As your company expands, you must ensure your technology infrastructure can keep up. One method is to perform regular technological refreshes. This entails regularly upgrading your hardware and software. While retaining legacy systems might seem like the easy option or more fiscally responsible, it can harm employee productivity and your bottom line. If your security patches are outdated, you may even be vulnerable to hackers. By regularly upgrading your infrastructure, you can ensure your company is always using the most up-to-date technology. Accidents or incidents When it comes to accidents or incidents, cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to take advantage of businesses. For example, in the case of a ransomware attack, a cybercriminal may demand a ransom in exchange for the decryption code, which could overwhelm you. Without proper backup, you may have to pay a ransom to avoid data loss — and you still might not get your data back. This can be a financial and reputational setback for your business. You can protect yourself against today’s sophisticated threats by investing in the right security solutions. Collaborate for success When you try to cut costs, you might overlook crucial budget categories like the ones discussed above. Collaboration with an IT service provider, like us, can help prevent this. We can help you identify areas where you may be overspending/underspending and find more cost-effective solutions. We can also help keep track of your IT budget and ensure no necessary expenses are overlooked.

There is a strong connection between trust and prosperity. In fact, when trust levels are high, businesses tend to grow faster. According to McKinsey and Company, Harvard Business Review, Forrester Research and many other reputable organizations, trust is the connecting fabric upon which innovation and business success are built. You might think that trust-building isn’t crucial for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), but it is critical if you want to achieve your business objectives and keep your employees and customers satisfied. While you might not expect a technology company like ours to discuss trust, we care about your business objectives and believe it is essential for your people, processes and technology. Building trust is essential for any organization, whether it’s a startup or a Fortune 500 company. It gives employees the confidence to take chances and innovate, gives customers the confidence to buy from and collaborate with you, and gives partners the confidence to do business with you. But how do you create a foundation for trust? Leverage processes and technology Building trust is not easy, and it often takes time and effort to develop. Luckily, there are a few things companies can do to succeed. Integrate technologies Technology integration is one of the most important considerations for businesses today. Not only do neatly integrated technologies save time and serve as a reliable foundation, they can also reduce friction within your company. Inefficient or incompatible technologies can create chaos and confusion, slowing down workflows and damaging productivity. If you take the time to select and integrate the right technologies, it can make all the difference in terms of organizational efficiency and success. Deploy thoughtful processes Thoughtful processes that consider the user experience can reduce confusion and opportunities for conflict and make it easier for employees to work for you. Friction arises when an individual’s expectations do not match the actual experience. When this occurs, it can lead to conflict as people attempt to shift responsibility or blame. Thoughtful processes can help ensure that everyone’s expectations are met, minimizing the chances of a conflict. Secure data When it comes to organizational data breaches, customers and employees are quick to lose trust in companies that can’t protect their sensitive data. Implementing measures to secure your customer and employee data is one way to help rebuild trust. In doing so, you are not only protecting your customers and employees, but also your bottom line. Volkswagen Group of America recently confirmed a data breach that occurred in 2021.* The data breach, which affected approximately three million customers, resulted in the theft of customer names, email addresses and vehicle identification numbers. The company had to spend a lot of money on recovery, but how many SMBs can afford that? What’s more concerning is that the Volkswagen data breach is just the latest in a long series of cybersecurity incidents, with more likely to follow in the coming years. Choose the right partner Since trust-building can be so challenging for SMBs to handle alone, collaborating with a managed service provider (MSP) like us is the best option. MSPs can help with tasks such as disaster recovery, compliance, security and much more. Working with an MSP such as us will allow you to concentrate on your core competencies, safe in the knowledge that your customers’ data is secure. Feel free to reach out for a no-obligation consultation.

In your attempt to adapt to the evolving technology landscape and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, have you invested in solutions that may not be assisting your company in achieving its long-term goals? If so, you’re not alone. The rapid growth of technology shows no signs of slowing, and businesses have gradually begun to adjust to the “new normal.” Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have started to realize that to provide a competitive level of service to both customers and employees, they must keep up with current trends that support their goals and vision. Here are a few reasons why staying current with technology is critical: Bringing all the necessary tools that work together saves time and effort that increases overall efficiency. Streamlined technologies and processes can help you increase productivity by improving the employee experience. It gives you the opportunity to ramp up security by removing obsolete technology that no longer receives crucial security patches. The emphasis, however, must be on smart tech acceleration rather than just speed. While tech acceleration is about fast implementations that fix short-term issues, smart tech acceleration focuses on implementing technology that supports the organization’s long-term goals and vision. More about smart tech acceleration Like most other companies, you’ve probably seen a lot of changes since the pandemic began in 2020. Businesses had to make rapid decisions overnight by deploying tools for remote work and collaboration to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions and keep employees and customers safe. While these digital solutions might have helped businesses like yours survive during a period of great uncertainty, they may have been inadequately integrated with existing systems or no longer fulfill your objectives and vision. It’s time for a smart tech acceleration that considers your company’s long-term strategy, market trends and the role technology can play in furthering key initiatives. A prediction that investment in smart infrastructure will increase by 40% in 2022 demonstrates that many organizations understand the importance of effective technology acceleration.1 Smart tech acceleration also underlines the importance of technology in terms of customer experience and employee retention. While 10% of businesses commit to going fully remote, 60% experiment with hybrid environments and 30% return to the office, seismic shifts in customer and staff retention patterns could occur if quick acceleration gets prioritized over a long-term strategy.2 Rushed changes and accompanying solutions may not serve your employees and customers well. Three ways smart tech acceleration supports long-term business growth Businesses today must collaborate with several vendors to perform various tasks. Smart tech acceleration insists on identifying partners who align with your values and are innovative enough to contribute to your future roadmap. This is crucial because otherwise, you’ll have to face multiple issues down the road, and things may get even more complicated if you have to find a substitute in the middle of a project. Integration helps businesses meet their growing IT demands by making it easier to connect new solutions with their existing IT infrastructure. In fact, many manufacturers today design their technology products expecting future integration with other IT components. Smart tech acceleration advocates for integration to improve business operations. A centralized infrastructure boosts the efficiency of information sharing and workflows, resulting in higher productivity. It also reduces operational expenses, improves overall response time and guarantees that information is easily accessible when needed. Smart tech acceleration ensures your organization’s growth by focusing on key performance indicator (KPI) improvements rather than quick, reactionary installations. You could lose your prospects to your competition if you don’t invest in a long-overdue technological upgrade. Remember to distance yourself from quick fixes that won’t help you meet your goals and instead focus on investments for long-term productivity and operational success. While it’s difficult to walk the path of smart tech acceleration alone, having an expert MSP by your side takes this pressure off your shoulders. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.

Your company operates in a turbulent business environment where new technologies are reshaping industries, customer preferences are evolving rapidly and geopolitical equations are shifting dramatically. If you’re struggling to adapt to these quick and challenging transitions, you’re not alone. To tackle these issues as soon as possible, some corporate executives resort to quick fixes that don’t support customer or employee growth in the long run. For example, rushing through process implementations, technology upgrades and new hire training almost always results in botched executions and unnecessary confusion. Building a foundation for sustainable scaling can allow you to scale up or down as needed without incurring lengthy downtime, constant technological upgrades or harming your bottom line. The sustainability triad to consider It’s important to think about your people, processes and technology while implementing sustainable scaling. People The success of your business is dependent on the training and onboarding materials you provide for your employees and customers. Supporting them with easy-to-find, on-demand training relating to a problem they’ve encountered is a terrific way to help your company grow. Also, ensure that those affected by significant changes are adequately informed. This will help reduce dissatisfaction, absenteeism and attrition. When people are effectively managed and supported, your business benefits in ways that often go overlooked, and a people-first culture can be fostered. Processes Your organization must have someone designated as the Chief Documentation Officer (CDO). The CDO keeps crucial process documentation updated — from IT processes to HR, marketing and beyond — so that anybody can quickly step in and assist whenever necessary. Similarly, every other process must be carefully planned, monitored and managed so your daily operations run like a well-oiled machine. Technology When dealt with properly, technology can significantly support your people and processes. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when prioritizing sustainable scaling: Build around one platform. In other words, on the road to scalability, choosing products built to integrate or work together saves a lot of time and effort. After a few years, technology, like milk in your fridge, “expires” or becomes unsupported. To preserve security requirements, make sure certain technologies are replaced before they become unsupported. Commit to integration. While you can find a cheaper alternative, you typically only get value equivalent to the price paid. Instead of choosing the most inexpensive option, commit to selecting solutions that work with the business platforms you already have. Scan for vulnerabilities While having a good backup and recovery plan is ideal, it’s even better if you can combine it with a proactive approach that addresses gaps before hackers exploit them. Automate routine workflows. Ensure you have solutions in place to reduce the chances of error in the most critical areas of your business, regardless of whether it’s invoicing or anything with a small margin of error. Partner for success It’s easier said than done to strike the perfect balance between people, processes and technology in order to scale your business sustainably. More often than not, it requires far more time, effort and skillsets than you have available. This is where a managed service provider (MSP) can come to your rescue. An MSP with in-depth subject knowledge and years of experience can make sustainable scaling a hassle-free journey. Our staff of expert technicians are ready to help you start your journey to sustainable scalability. Reach out to us today for a no-obligation consultation.