Consider the events of recent times that could easily bring a company to its financial knees. Destructive tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and even acts of terrorism have unfortunately been common headlines. One look at the effects Superstorm Sandy had on many ill-prepared businesses is a prime example. But have events such as Sandy spurned others to have a disaster plan in place? A recent study by FedEx and the American Red Cross showed that 70 percent of small businesses don’t even consider themselves at risk for experiencing a disaster similar to Sandy. However, the good news is that 51 percent do have some kind of plan in place to keep their services running.

So what are the ways businesses can protect their data from destruction? We have all heard of cloud computing as a mechanism to access data and applications from any location. It’s this method that can come to the rescue should a disaster occur. Coupled with server virtualization, companies can ensure their systems will not experience prolonged costly downtime.

The beauty of cloud computing is that many systems or even just specific critical databases can be replicated to keep as a recovery point. With the use of virtualized backups, administrators can have snapshots  that are stored offsite for an efficient hassle-free recovery procedure. Both employees and clients can connect to the offsite servers seamlessly and quickly should a catastrophe bring down the primary center.

With cloud and virtualization technologies, essential resources can be quickly and easily deployed which is essential to the operation of the business. Even if recovery is not immediate, a prolonged outage is avoidable. This most certainly protects the company from financial ruin.

In the Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Santa Monica area, GeekTek can assist your business in a data recovery plan with migration to some or all functions to the cloud. Contact us for more information on how our IT services and solutions can keep your business running efficiently.

With that in mind, the question for small businesses is this: is it better to use IT outsourcing or is an in-house solution preferable? Although there are certainly benefits and limitations for each side, it is fairly clear that the overwhelming evidence supports outsourcing for small businesses.

Here are some important reasons why small businesses should opt for IT outsourcing:

GeekTek IT Outsourcing

1. Business owners will have more time to focus on the business mission – Unless the company is an IT company, it’s not likely that it is in business to deal with IT technical problems, installations, and maintenance. It’s in business to make money by offering those products or services which fulfill its mission statement. IT outsourcing enables business stakeholders to focus on those core business objectives, rather than IT operations.

2. The business will have happier employees – That might seem like a striking statement but it’s also accurate. Constant IT problems in the form of downtime or software malfunctions will definitely put a damper on employee morale. Outsourced IT solutions, on the other hand, will be managed by trained professionals who will proactively work to ensure proper up-time and functionality.

3. Reduced operational overhead – An in-house solution would require full-time employees. In many cases, these employees get paid a competitive salary and benefits only to perform an IT maintenance role. That’s a fairly expensive investment of resources, which could be put to better use. If the company opts for outsourcing instead, then it is paying only for those services as they are rendered, and that without the overhead of fringe benefits.  This is a great way to bolster the bottom line.

4. Better work/life balance - It is true that key players in small businesses are expected to work long hours. But they shouldn’t if they don’t have to. With IT outsourcing, those with a personal interest in the business can delegate the responsibility of managing an extremely important part of the company’s operations to people who will work while they spend time with their families or unwind.

If you’re looking for an IT solution for your small business, feel free to contact us. We’ll be happy to discuss your company’s objectives with you and offer you alternatives that meet your needs.

Click here for tips on how to select the best IT outsourced provider!

The New Office 365 program provides features and benefits that can give you numerous options and an office on-line that allows you to work by signing in not driving in.  If you want the real benefits you need a Microsoft 365 partner of record.  Don’t wait to get information or waste time learning about the many new features, your partner of record will optimize installation time, assess your needs, answer your questions, and if you choose can become your system administrator as well.

Microsoft guarantees 99.9% “uptime” and offers 24/7 tech support.  The challenge is to get what you need without wasting money on features you don’t or hours learning what your Microsoft partner can help you accomplish in a fraction of the time.  Starting from day one you’ll save phone time and stop the waste of  productive hours beginning with product installation.  Not only that but your Microsoft partner will stay with you year after year and your software will be updated quarterly.  So, you’ll never have to buy a new office suite again!

A few features include: Web conferencing with audio and HD video, intranet site for your whole team or smaller team groups, file sharing with 7GB for each user, and access to Office Program online and from tablets or cell phones.

Features like these allow you to notify all required staff in any group of meetings or other announcements through the company intranet.  Did I mention that you may not need your on-site server anymore?  Your MS office partner will.  Before you buy the next software program for your business, let us show you the benefits of Office 365 and an Office 365 Partner of record.

You already know that the technology is amazing, will help you grow, and saves time and money.  Let’s talk about the last thing you need to know.  How do you put it all together?  Easy; get yourself a new partner.  Contact us and we’ll get your installation and your employees up and running quickly and without wasting your valuable time. In the meantime, try a complimentary 30-day trial of Office 365 on us.

Want to compare Google Apps for Business with Office 365? Click here.

Cloud disaster recovery and backup represent advantages over traditional backup in a few different ways. The first advantage is the ability to quickly come back from a disaster. With traditional backups, in the event of data loss, the backups would have to be transfered onto new equipment. In the worst cases, propagating these backups through a large system could take hours or even days–interrupting your business in the process. With cloud backup and disaster recovery, this doesn’t happen, because everything is stored remotely and infomation can be accessed from anywhere. That means that when disaster strikes, backups are minutes away instead of hours, providing your business with true business continuity in case of emergency.

Cloud Backup and DR

Another advantage of having GeekTek manage your cloud backups is that you don’t have to worry about backups any more. GeekTek will manage and monitor your backups remotely as part of its Managed IT Services, so they’re always there when you need them. You won’t need to worry about climate control and storage, as was the case with older technologies, because all of that is done for you.

And let’s not forget the fact that cloud backups are much more reliable than older methods. Most older methods of backups–whether it be tape, CD, or server backups–are destined to fail eventually. Not to mention, these types of backups have to be manually performed on a set time schedule. With cloud, everything can be backed up instantly without you needing to worry about it. Best of all, because everything is stored on many encrypted machines, data loss is much less common.

The last factor that makes cloud backups such a stellar option is the cost reduction over traditional backups, which need to be stored. This storage incurs costs for your business, both in climate control and space concerns. Of course, since cloud backups are managed offsite by GeekTek, you’ll save bundles on climate control and storage bills.

So consider cloud backups for your business. There’s nothing to lose, and certainly much to gain. The advantages over traditional backup methods are astounding, and more reliability and reduced costs are something that any business can get behind.

Telecommuting works best when your employees, both on-site and off-site, are on the same page technologically.  Do they all have computers that perform well? Do your telecommuters have reliable access to high-speed Internet wherever they’re working? These are just the basic requirements for keeping your whole team working efficiently, instead of suffering from delays because someone’s Internet connection failed or their computer inexplicably crashed.

Speaking of computers crashing, how are your telecommuters backing up their data? Furthermore, do they have adequate protection against malware? Are you using mobile device management? Any computer or other device can become a point of vulnerability for cybercriminals to exploit; they might extract sensitive data, such as passwords or private documents, related to your business and potentially get at other devices on your network.

In addition to having a particular set of requirements for the devices telecommuters use, and their methods for backing up data and maintaining high standards of security, you’ll want to foster a sense of community between all of your employees.  Though telecommuting has its benefits for individual employees and might save your business money, one of the potential downsides is that employees don’t chat face-to-face on a daily basis and exchange ideas in-person.

The right technology and software will diminish the sense of isolation and encourage interaction between different employees, even if they aren’t all in the office.  For instance, your employees can easily view each other’s work and share files if you use a file hosting service like Dropbox.  If all employees have computers with webcams, you can set up video conferences via Skype, Google Hangout, or other platforms.  Gmail’s online chat feature can be an easy way for you and your employees to quickly ask questions, share thoughts, or simply touch base.  The use of cloud-based project-tracking software can help keep everyone on the same page regarding the goals, needs, and progress of any work-related project.

Reliable small business IT services are necessary for your business to function without delays, lost data, or hidden vulnerabilities to cyberattacks.  You can also consult with IT services on setting up the optimal work environment for your employees, both on-site and off-site, with solutions tailored to your particular business and its needs.  If you’re based in and around Los Angeles, contact GeekTek to further discuss solutions that increase efficiency, security, and connectedness.

Doctors and medical practices are often caught in the very challenging position of having to juggle the following issues:

• The personal data of all patients, kept in confidentiality, with full compliance to HIPAA,
• Ability to comply with, use and apply ICD-9 billing codes and eventually transition to ICD-10,
• Meeting standards for “meaningful use” by moving towards measurably affective Electronic Medical Records (EHR) in order to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments,
• The new challenges adapting to state-run healthcare exchanges, increased pools of insured, and expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act,
• Storing large amounts of high-resolution medical imagery easily and effectively while maintaining data integrity and making sure that results are readily available to aid doctors in diagnosing illness,
• Managing the realities, logistics, labor law requirements, tax reporting requirements,  medical license standards, malpractice avoidance, and other challenges  intrinsic to a medical practice,
• Doing all of the above while still doing the best to ensure the health, safety, and trust of patients.

This is where a managed IT service comes into play. By outsourcing to experienced and effective IT professionals with access to computing resources such as cloud storage, you can minimize the costs of technology management while at the same time getting the best value. Most importantly, this frees up the valuable time and resources that is just between you and your patients. Contact us to learn how we can create a custom outsourced IT solution for your practice.

Information, in fact, is the crux of any legal practice: documents, memos, briefs, testimony and reports, and even emails and informal communications from clients. All of these add up to a tremendous wealth of information that must be retained. This information, in turn, must be available at a moment’s notice, without delay and preferably with the push of a button or two. And this speed cannot just come during normal working hours: in the modern world, information must be available at any moment, with great speed, and, finally, with tremendous reliability. All of this combined information, after all, is absolutely useless if it cannot be accessed when needed.

These are the familiar tenets of IT: storage, speed, reliability. In the legal profession, however, there is another requirement at least as important as those already raised: absolutely tight security and confidentiality. As trusted legal representatives, your clients must be able to have faith in your ability to keep their information secure from potential threats of any conceivable sort.

When your IT systems fail, it can have a catastrophic effect on the functioning of your firm. All of the information you rely on for day-to-day operations may suddenly become difficult to access, or worse, entirely inaccessible. Worse still, your files may be compromised by those of ill-intent. In the event of a failure, you need to have confidence that your IT service provider can provide immediate and highly responsive support so that you can get things running smoothly again.

As a lawyer, your IT systems shouldn’t have to be your chief concern–so long as you have the right people running them for you. When Los Angeles law firms need technical support they contact GeekTek for outstanding managed IT solutions. We will create a custom tailored IT plan for your needs using proven, secure methodologies. GeekTek manages the operation and growth of your legal office’s IT infrastructure, with lightning fast support available at any time. If this sounds like something that would help your law practice, contact us today and put your technological worries behind you.

And now it’s not just laptops. A stunning array of high tech tools populate the modern workplace — smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktops. How can your staff access the data and documents they need in multiple locations and on multiple platforms? What about security? Maintaining secure servers at your location or at a data center is an option, but can be expensive, requiring special staff to manage servers, user accounts and security.

At Geektek we have found that for many Los Angeles business owners Dropbox for Business provides an excellent solution for this problem. Some features of Dropbox for Business are:

• Get up and running instantly. 
• Share documents securely.
• Restore deleted files.
• Powerful team and document management tools.
• Multiple platforms — Windows, Mac, tablet and phone.

Emailing files can cause problems — some large files might even be refused by email servers. With Dropbox you simply store those files in a folder that is automatically backed up to Dropbox and available on all your devices. No need to worry about FTP servers or clients. Dropbox provides a dead simple folder interface that all users will intuitively understand. Dropbox works the way your computer works.

Dropbox for Business allows you to administer user accounts from a simple web interface to add users and devices, monitor access and even set up two-step verification. 

Security is critical and Dropbox for Business gives you great security:

• Data is automatically replicated in multiple data centers.
• All data is transmitted and stored using the same encryption standards used by banks.
• Security testing and auditing by third party security specialists.

Dropbox for Business provides the features that Geektek recommends.

Would you like to know more about Dropbox for Business? Contact Geektek. We’d be happy to help! 

As more companies and CIOs have implemented bring your own device (BYOD) policies and issued mobile devices to their employees, they have also discovered the need for safely securing information on those devices.  Mobile Device Management systems work by providing a secure location for business data on devices, often encrypting the part of the device used for business storage.  Robust MDM systems also include the ability to remotely lock or wipe devices in case a device is lost or stolen or if an employee quits.  MDM systems are important and prevalent:  65% of business will adopt an MDM system over the next five years.  While the protection these services provide is important, users need to recognize that MDM protection is not absolute.

Researchers found that about 1 in 1000 devices surveyed were spyphones.  Once converted, spyphones can be used to record phone calls and meetings, read confidential memos and e-mails, and copy voice mails, call logs, and text messages.  Most often users do not realize that their devices have been compromised.

Though iOS devices are typically harder to attack, their large market share makes them an attractive target for hackers.  Over half of the spyphones found were iOS devices.  Attackers are able to get around iOS and MDM security by using a “jailbreak” technique that inserts container bypass code into the secure location on the device.  Once that is done, hackers erase all evidence of the attack and install “hooks” that signal them every time an e-mail is read and allow them to copy the information.

Although mobile device management systems are not foolproof, businesses should not neglect their mobile protection, like they do with virus protection on their desktops and servers.  MDM systems help users keep personal and business information separate and remote wipe capabilities can be vital when dealing with a lost device or disgruntled ex-employee.

Benefits of mobile device managment include:

• Allowing businesses to remotely lock lost or stolen devices.
• Remotely erasing company data from devices that have been lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised.
• Managing apps on remote devices, allowing them to both remove potentially dangerous applications and load applications necessary for business use.
• Keeping existing infrastructure. MDM is simply an added component to that system and doesn’t typically require major restructuring.

GeekTek is a local Los Angeles based company that specializes in providing personal, trustworthy and hands-on IT services.  We tailor our services to meet your company’s needs. Contact us for more information.

• Be clear about your project’s scope and timeline. Maybe this is obvious, all successfully outsourced projects begin with clear statements of work. Outline your project’s requirements at the beginning so your vendor has accurate and comprehensive guidelines. That way they can present reasonable proposals, pricing and schedules.
• Start off small. It makes sense to begin with small projects that are relatively simple in scope, so you can evaluate the vendor’s approach and skill sets before you trust them with a truly important project.
• Connect clearly-defined milestones with payment. Every good journey starts with a map. Create regular checkpoints to review the project’s status as it nears the end, so that your project comes in on time and on budget. A good rule of thumb is to pay no more than 20 to 30 percent of the total price of the project up front, and then the rest of the payments over time based on meeting three or four milestones.
• Interview your vendor just like you would a full-time employee. Don’t be afraid to ask questions — hiring a IT services firm is a completely subjective task. Call their references, getting feedback from their other clients. If you’ve got concerns, voice them. Simply hoping for the best is a dangerous way to run your business.
• Price shouldn’t be the only factor. Instead seek out true value; experienced business owners often throw out the highest and lowest priced bids. Then look for a balance of  quality and value.
• Seek out a good fit. Hopefully the IT consulting company you choose will have experience with similar projects. Beware of being someone’s “guinea pig.” This is especially important for complex technical projects like cloud computing or VOIP setup.
• Study their portfolios and sample projects. Review examples of the vendor’s previous work to ensure it meets your needs and expectations. Ask them if they’ve worked in your industry — i.e. retail, manufacturing or the service industry.
• Don’t forget post-project support. Consider writing a warranty or support clause into the project contract so that you’ll have some ongoing support after the project’s completion. It’s better to negotiate this before the work begins, rather than after the the project’s deadline has come and gone. Specify how much free (or rather, included) support or discounts you’ll need ahead of time to save you headaches in the future.

Hiring an outside vendor can be the best way to have access to first-class expertise without the overhead of hiring full-time employees. Los Angeles small business owners can stay focused on their business, allowing them to compete with the big dogs while still maintaining their independence, while true professionals get the job done.

Want to know more about Managed IT Services? Contact GeekTek, we’re happy to help.