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Why You Need Los Angeles IT Support for Better Data Integration

July 29, 2016 by eric

Many of today’s companies recognize the need to bring their existing data infrastructure to the next level. They want to compete in the IoT world. They know that other companies already use predictive analytics solutions to anticipate what consumers will do. However, not all companies are sure how to create the right data infrastructure for their people to use for decision-making. In fact, the ability to analyze business intelligence data is expected to keep improving. It’s really a matter of your company choosing the right data solutions.

Moving Towards Data Integration

We find that many companies in Los Angeles want to move towards better data integration. Without upgrading your company’s tech stack capacity, it’s hard to use real-time data, such as website clicks and user-inputted information, for business decisions. You want to package data for specific uses in your own internal databases. With data processing throughout your company every business day, instead of at the end of the day, your servers can easily distribute refined information to anyone in the company, which they then use for strategic decision-making. To leaders without an IT background, the process of data integration is mysterious, but very necessary for the company’s future success.

What Does the CIO Say?

The need for increased data integration is usually the purview of a company’s CIO, or chief information officer. A company with a CIO has the expert leadership needed to plan and implement the transition to full data integration, which is crucial to a consumer-driven business model. A company without CIO leadership can temporarily hire a virtual CIO to advise on improvements to the IT infrastructure. Based on present business conditions and predicted trends, either type of CIO can offer a strategic perspective and determine how the budget will allow for immediate improvements. Along the way, a company with data integration needs will benefit from reliable Los Angeles it support, and we have a full staff of IT professionals whom you can trust.

Get Help

We work on a project basis, provide managed IT services, and handle simple desktop and server support, just to name a few. It all depends on your company’s needs. We want to help your organization understand what we offer. In this blog post, we look at how data integration is something your company can’t afford to ignore. We want you to understand the answer to this question: How do you move a gazillion bits of data through a queue in real time?

One approach is data streaming through a solution such as Apache Kafka, a tool developed by LinkedIn. This is just one example of how companies build data infrastructure for their streaming processes, and it’s based in part on open-source software. Kafka is a publish-subscribe messaging system that involves the distribution of data over multiple servers. One Kafka broker will easily accommodate hundreds of megabytes of reads and writes per second from thousands of clients. Each client is a server on the company’s computer network.

Why use one system like Apache Kafka for all of your database needs?

When we build server systems for clients such as those incorporating Apache Kafka, we help the client organization use a single set of servers as a central data hub. Believe it or not, just one cluster of Apache servers can do the entire job. This kind of system can expand in capacity without taking down any of the existing servers, and it handles data streams through partitioning. This is a process that essentially spreads data loads over a cluster of servers. Each data stream is larger than what one server can process.

We can help you choose the right combination of servers to process real-time data and use it for predictive analytics. For details on achieving better data integration, please contact us today.

The Los Angeles IT Support Forecast Is Cloud Services With A Chance Of Virtual CIOs

July 23, 2016 by eric

Entering a partnership with a Los Angeles IT Support provider is the key to leveraging your LA-based small business with the expertise of professional IT management you need to compete in the modern business marketplace.

Managed Information Technology Services

There is no better way to say it; the future of business calls for lean and well-managed services, cloud computing, and virtual CIOs. Small companies can join the big leagues by focusing on core business competencies with technology experts assisting in partnership roles.

Your small firm may not have the resources of global corporations, but support is more available and less costly than it was even five years ago. Because of outsourcing services and the cloud, you can now have a share of resources that is bigger than your company could obtain previously.

Of Stars and Boulevards And Virtual CIOs

Your Chief Information Officer, if you have one, is the knowledgeable leader to whom you can turn for the right guidance and advice on what direction you take in technology. That means working to define and optimize your information systems. Now you can have the consultative support of a virtual CIO, who will collaborate with you to leverage the resources that larger companies take for granted without the associated high costs.

Access to support from an experienced CIO gives you a strategic edge that, until recently, has been the exclusive domain of large corporations. A CIO is vital for small businesses that must compete with global brands for contracts now. By having a CIO on your team, you can contend with larger competitors successfully.

The strategic guidance you gain from a CIO is critical to future success because change is the only thing that is permanent now. Disruptive technology has changed the business landscape in the last decade, and you can only expect more change to come. The incentives for innovation are so great that there are agents of change everywhere, and some will succeed and profit from the disruption they create.

The good news is that this state of affairs gives startups and small businesses the opportunity to enter bigger markets, but to join in you need to have the strategic insight of an executive information consultant as a partner and a CIO to render support.

Support To Save LA from Bad IT

Decision makers in companies have to start somewhere, and it depends on many things including luck as to how those decisions work out. Sometimes you look back and wish you would have done things differently, sometimes you get rewarded for your choices, and then there is that time that you just need to find help to get past the tech disaster that resulted from negligent IT services support.

The impact of inadequate IT support is even more devastating than you might expect. We are all dependent on our digital connections now, and it can bring your business to a halt if the support is not there. The only rescue from bad support is a strong dose of outstanding support to facilitate the recovery of your company, and this needs to come from IT professionals who understand what it takes to rescue companies from services that went wrong.

Los Angeles IT Support Based On Principles

GeekTek is a forward-looking IT support provider for Los Angeles-based companies. We combine professionalism with respect, discretion and integrity to deliver efficiency, reliability, and satisfaction to our clients, these principles guide us in every phase of the relationships with our customers.

We provide managed consulting services and cloud services as a committed partner in small business IT management; this includes GeekTek CIO services and bad IT service rescue. Whether you need support to find the right strategic direction or to recover from IT contracts, contact us to learn out how we can make the vital difference for the future of your company.

Let Managed IT Services Get Your Technology in Order

July 5, 2016 by eric

As your company’s IT needs grow, it becomes harder to keep everything in order. Both software and hardware become obsolete over time, security patches need to be applied, and everyone who has any IT trouble needs to be helped. At first, it seems easy to keep up with things, but it doesn’t take long for the demands of the rest of the business to take the time that was once devoted to technology.

The best solution for this is to outsource your company’s IT needs. Managed IT services in Los Angeles can handle every aspect of your IT so that you and your staff can concentrate on the rest of the business. Here are some of the services they do:

The Initial Consultation

Good IT service providers don’t just set you up with a subscription for a generalized support call-in service and then leave. Instead, they come in and audit your current IT systems and operations, compare these with your business’ needs, and devise a full solution that will meet all of your tech-related requirements. By starting with this extensive consultation, they can be sure that what they offer won’t leave you hanging.

Once this is done, you’ll be offered a number of solutions based on what aspects of your IT operations you want them to manage. Even if you do turn out to only want telephone support services, you’ll get a better solution than you would if you went with a cut-rate provider. This is because a good, full-service provider will provide help that is based on your company’s technology and specific software and hardware configurations – not a generic help desk.

Most companies will want more service than just call-in tech support. For example, your company may also need:

Hardware Suggestions

Computer hardware stays current longer than software, but it still becomes obsolete or insufficient on a regular basis. Your consultation will reveal aspects that are better off upgraded, hardware components that your current system is missing, and components that you can do away with. Making the recommended changes will make your systems more efficient, less prone to failure, and more stable. Often, upgrading or adjusting your hardware will increase software stability as well.

Software Suggestions

The software is what you and your staff will interact with the most, so your IT management company will spend the most time working with it and helping those in your company work with it. First, your IT consultant will suggest better types of software, needed upgrades and updates, and add-ons that will help you use technology to handle more of your business needs. You may be surprised to find that many of the things you are doing are now better done with cloud-based software and services. Using the cloud provides many benefits that can’t be matched with on-site installations, such as automatic updates and better security.

Ongoing Management Solutions

Once everything has been upgraded and tuned, it’s time for the ongoing IT management services to begin. Depending on the size of your company, you may need anything from an onsite CIO and team all the way down to a call-in service center. Thanks to the extensive technology audit performed at the beginning of your relationship, the company will be able to suggest the perfect level of service for your needs.

After a plan is agreed to, techs will be brought to your location and trained in your specific hardware and software configuration. This will ensure that they can provide quick answers to tech questions that are genuinely useful. Your company’s IT needs will be fully taken care of, and you’ll be amazed at how much more efficiently things run.

To learn more and set up a consultation and technology audit, just contact us. We’ll be glad to help you get all of the benefits from IT that modern technology offers.

IT Consulting and Outsourcing a CIO: Understanding Your Business From Those in the Field

June 16, 2016 by eric

Your Los Angeles business is perhaps going through a major growth phase now and has to have a CIO analyze what type of technology you need to progress. As a small business, you’ve maybe never had a CIO in-house, yet likely wondered if you ever needed one. They’re essential when you need to put together an IT strategy to get ahead of your local competitors. But despite your growth now, you’re realizing hiring one is overly expensive.

At this point, you may balk on hiring a CIO out of fear the cost would outweigh the advantages in what they’d provide. This is a major dilemma, especially if you already have a CIO and have to keep one on the payroll during times when they aren’t immediately needed.

Turning to a CIO consultant is the answer for a number of vital reasons. If you’ve never used an IT consultant before, you’ll discover how affordable this option is, including having a more reliable knowledge base.

Take a look at how IT consulting with a CIO is the best investment you can make this year.

Evaluating Your Existing IT

The technology you already have needs auditing to determine whether you need to upgrade or use what you have to maintain your growth. Because this might only occur once a year, having a CIO on your payroll can become an expense that starts cutting into the gains you’re making.

Through a CIO consultant, you’ll get a technician who’s had experience in the field and knows what’s truly best for your small business. What makes consultants so great is they’ve worked for numerous companies big and small here in Los Angeles or abroad.

These consultants realize what works for other businesses like yours and can expertly audit your technology for reliable analysis. They aren’t out to sell you on the latest tech devices just because they’re popular. You’ll only get what’s necessary based on the next step: Figuring your goals.

Assessing Your Business Goals

You may have a basic idea of what your goals are for your small business, but you may not fully comprehend all the possibilities. With an expert audit from a CIO consultant, you’ll get a complete picture of what’s possible based on what you have and what you could easily acquire.

As a result, you’ll have new ideas on how to achieve specific projects or product launches. Using the right technology, it also steps up productivity so basic operations never give you risk of downtime.

Again, consultants know what works for businesses like yours, because they’ve seen it all. It’s not to say they won’t thoroughly analyze your business as a unique case.

Implementing an IT Strategy

Planning and executing your IT strategy isn’t always easy when you’re on your own. An in-house CIO won’t have the field experience to understand what technology to acquire, and may end up giving you something that doesn’t quite work.

The same goes for proper technology installation and implementation. Consultants are there to make sure new technology easily assimilates into your work culture without confusion. They do this through in-person training, though giving you infrastructure that’s instantly simple to use is always a top goal.

Using a CIO Consultant Again in the Future

After your consultant executes your IT vision, you just pay for the services they rendered. When you need them again, they’ll be there without having to pay them a monthly salary.

Here at GeekTek IT Services, we have a reliable team of CIO consultants that can help your small Los Angeles business grow to the level you’ve dreamed.

Contact us to learn about our consultancy team and the comprehensive IT services we provide to help you thrive in the L.A. marketplace.

What Are the Key Things to Look for in a Managed Service Provider to Stay Competitive?

May 27, 2016 by eric

If you’ve just opened a business here in the Los Angeles area, you already know how competitive your specific industry is. L.A. is still one of the busiest business centers in America, and the only way to keep up with competitors is having fail-safe technology.

Hiring a managed service provider is one way to keep your technology under control, though you’re perhaps new to hiring one. It’s time to learn about what to look for in managed services, because it’s comprehensive in what they provide. Even if you’ve already hired an in-house IT team, having a managed service provider as consultants can bring extra security.

Before you hire your IT team, it’s important to vet them and find out what qualities they bring. They cover more angles than you perhaps initially estimated, and looking at their background can tell you so much.

Let’s look at what to scope out while discovering how comprehensive managed services are.

Vetting Their Experience

Since those who manage your IT will make sure it all runs efficiently every day, you need to have a team with a proven track record. One with several years (if not decades) of experience is preferable based on how much they’ve encountered in their career. The more problems they’ve had experience solving over the years, the more they can understand what they need to do to manage your technology.

The greatest aspect of consultants is they haven’t worked with just one company for years. They go from one company to the next while gaining unique real-world experiences. A managed service team with at least 5 years of experience will understand technology evolution and see the realities of what businesses face now.

Your business may have unique tech challenges. But IT consultants know what’s best for you based on other companies they’ve worked for with similar structure.

24/7 Monitoring

Any managed service provider not providing constant monitoring on your network isn’t worth your time. In today’s IT world, anything can happen, including on weekends or holidays. Unfortunately, the worst problems can occur during off-hours when in-house technicians aren’t available.

Most managed service teams monitor your system remotely and take care of problems without even having to alert you. A problem occurring late in the evening on a Sunday can frequently get solved by the time you come to work Monday morning.

Flexibility in Solving Problems

Any quality managed services team needs to provide proof of their past track record. In their record, you need to check their flexibility in being able to solve complex problems. As mentioned above, consultants have diverse experience, so any flexible qualities in being able to solve unexpected issues is essential.

Testimonials from other companies they’ve worked for can give you an idea of how they tackled various problems. You want confidence they’ll audit your company and understand your tech needs and business structure. If you’re a small to mid-sized business, this is vital since any downtime from failed IT tech could become financially devastating.

Response Time to Technical Issues

While you want thorough knowledge behind getting your tech problems solved, how fast your managed services team responds to problems needs just as much focus. Again, studying past testimonials can give you a good idea of how fast (and efficient) they solved emergency issues.

Most problems can get solved remotely, though it might require occasional in-person visitations for repair. Having someone there as quickly as possible can pare down how much downtime you’ll face. During a very critical moment (when experiencing an influx of visitors), you want complete assurance in turn-around time.

Contact us here at GeekTek IT Services to learn about our managed services. We guarantee all of the above for small and mid-sized businesses in the L.A. region.

Managed Service Providers Saving Time and Money

May 13, 2016 by eric

The number of hardware, software and middle-ware used to manage businesses has grown exponentially in recent years. As the market grows more competitive, companies are shifting to more technology to offer the best service at the lowest price. However, the technology can easily overwhelm a small or medium-sized business. And if they are not careful, the costs can get out of hand too. For that reason, more companies are turning to managed service providers (MSP) to eliminate hassle, save time and money. These services help the business scale and get to the next level of profitability.

Managed service provider

A managed service provider is fundamentally an IT outsourcing company, but usually one that can interact and support you on a daily basis. The firm can provide desktop and server support, virtual CIO services and individual IT projects. Whereas an in-house IT department might take months and hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to create, a managed service provider joins your team with the stroke of a pen.

Why to go for an outsource provider?

For example, the time and expense of hiring a person to run a server support system does not make sense for small and mid-sized companies. While set-up and customization take effort, the everyday monitoring and administration are not too time consuming. For that reason, it makes much more sense to use an outsource provider that can manage the server system among many other tasks that they perform.

Consider cloud storage & support

Cloud storage and support is another big function of managed service providers. In recent years, cloud storage providers have offered more and more outsourced server space at lower costs. However, managing and scaling this storage is becoming unwieldy for companies. In addition, they need customization on top of the cloud storage service that is best handled by an internal or contracted IT provider. In particular, companies need to manage their security, access and permissions. They need end-to-end encryption and multi-layer password protection. Otherwise, they could become vulnerable to hackers.

You can use MSPs for short-term IT projects

Companies also often have short-term IT projects that do not require a full-time IT department. Managed service providers are best for this task. For example, a company may want to set-up an advanced customer relationship management (CRM) system for its sales team. The company can buy and off-the-shelf system from a leading provider, but those are not customized to the individual company’s needs and come with a perpetual subscription cost.

In contrast, company can develop its own CRM system perfectly suited to its needs to track, analyze and contact potential customers. The managed service provider could build-out the system over a few months or year with a one time cost rather than an ongoing subscription into eternity. In addition, the company would have complete control over the data. If they ever want to migrate it to another system or share it, they will have the flexibility to do so.

An MSP can help you in IT related decissions

Finally, an MSP can be used as a stand-in for a CIO. They can help make the purchasing decisions and technology adoption decisions when a qualified or less costly person is not able to. The MSP can get up and running quickly to help implement project, make IT purchasing decisions or decide which technology is most suited for the firm’s needs. Of course, the CEO and COO will still have tight oversight of the virtual CIO function and have the ultimate power of the purse strings.

Conclusion

GeekTek It Services is a leading managed service provider an IT outsourcing company. The firm has helped many small and medium businesses with their IT projects, server support and other functions. It acts as a full-fledged IT department to help clients save time and money with an extremely high-touch service model. For more information, please contact us.