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What Makes for Good IT Support in Los Angeles? Using a Managed Service Provider

May 3, 2016 by eric

Your business has perhaps been seeking top-tier IT support in Los Angeles for a long time, yet keep running into problems. Getting tech support when you need it is essential in today’s business climate to prevent dreaded downtime. With mobile devices added to the mix, chaos could erupt when you and your team need immediate help, yet can’t immediately get it.

While most IT services provide some level of support, not all of them give it to you around the clock. Since you likely have a few employees who work during off-hours, on weekends, and maybe even holidays, what happens when a technical issue arises?

When you can’t get help, it only leads to other alternatives like break-fix services that charge you a fortune by the hour. If you have an in-house IT team on the payroll, it’s frequently impossible to communicate with them when off their schedule.

So where do you turn? You can find good IT support through a managed service provider. At GeekTek IT Services, we want to show you what makes good IT support today to deal with the unexpected.

Being Able to Accurately Evaluate a Problem

How many times have you had to call IT support in the past and had a technician who couldn’t effectively diagnose your problem? While you should always do the best you can in describing an IT issue, a good IT support team knows how to decipher layman’s language.

We know not everyone describes IT problems using technical jargon, especially non-IT office employees. An effective technician easily diagnoses what’s wrong through simpler terms rather than adhering to overly technical definitions.

Even better is when the technician describes solutions to the caller in a way that’s easy to understand.

Guiding Users to Self-Service Solutions

While you always want IT support when you need it, it’s good to have pointers on solving a problem on your own. Quality managed service providers give you self-service options that help you take care of a problem without involving direct technical response.

The support crew might do this to save time for both them and you. Sending a technician to your office to take care of a problem could ultimately take more time than you solving it through a self-step process.

Even so, when something complex arises, a good managed service provider takes care of it one way or the other. Since managed services frequently operate remotely, many problems get fixed this way rather than sending a technician in person.

Follow-Up Service

You’ll find many who say follow-up service in your IT support is just as important as the initial service. No doubt you’ve experienced some IT services that left you hanging after a solution they gave didn’t work. The best IT support always follows up with you on a particular solution they gave you earlier.

If you’re still having technical problems, no support line should leave you waiting just to get the follow-up service you need.

Responding to Requests Universally

As mentioned above, you may have a BYOD policy in place where numerous employees work in the field with mobile devices. Having managed services creates a universality in support communication through phone or live chats. It means easy contact through any department in your company, or easy support service on a smartphone.

Anywhere you can find an Internet connection, IT support is there. The best providers are there for you, despite being on a Sunday in the middle of the night during a holiday.

Through GeekTek IT, we offer the best IT support here in the Los Angeles area.

Contact us to learn more about our managed services features and how comprehensive it works to keep your business running optimally.

IT Consulting for Challenges Outside IT Services: From Compliance to Refreshed Infrastructure

April 23, 2016 by eric

If you’ve already realized the value behind IT consulting, you’ve perhaps limited yourself to thinking only general IT services are possible. Because IT consultants have a huge breadth of knowledge working with companies around the world, they don’t limit themselves to just IT issues. They know IT frequently means connecting to many related problems that need guidance or fixing.

Some of these things still fall within technical lines, though not always. To show how far IT reaches, software migrations, network architecture, and government compliance connect to IT management.

Here at GeekTek IT Solutions, we look at IT consulting at a comprehensive level to cover many bases. Our IT consultants work with many companies throughout the Los Angeles area and understand the unique problems businesses have.

Let’s look at what an IT consultant can do for you beyond just the usual subjects like security and monitoring.

Keeping Yourself Compliant

No matter what industry you’re in, staying on top of government regulations is always necessary. Especially when you’re in the financial industry, staying compliant is overwhelming, and missing just one item could end up costing you in expensive fines.

With good IT consultation, you’ll have a dedicated team making sure you get the proper audit responses on a technical level. This means making sure private data has proper security in place so it doesn’t become compromised.

You’ll also have ways to access documents through the cloud so you can check for errors and do file-sharing while on the go.

Virtual Servers

Rather than playing risk with the server you already use, why not do virtualization? This helps you divide your server into multiple and isolated virtual environments. As a result, you can move to new hardware without having to change your software. This helps you have a backup if a server goes down during a disaster.

At the same time, your ROI is more significant when you don’t have to deal with new hardware setups. Without a consultant, you may not understand this and end up investing in technologies you may not even need.

Refreshing Your Aging Network

Network architecture is important, and so is keeping it refreshed so you continue being competitive. However, your IT infrastructure can start aging quickly if you haven’t done any updating for a while. Through a consultant team, you’ll get reviews of your network to see what needs upgrading with new tools.

When you need a complete network replacement, your consultant team guides you to the right technology that isn’t extraneous. Your technicians aren’t there to just sell you what’s popular. They’re available to give you what you really need based on an accurate audit.

Moving Your Server to the Cloud

While virtualization can help your servers, consolidation and moving to the cloud gives you more efficiency and an upgrade. Moving your server to the cloud is a smart decision to eliminate more risk while giving you more universal accessibility if you travel often.

Costs reduce as well since maintaining your on-site server can bring financial burdens when something inevitably goes wrong.

Migration of Software

If you’ve considered using Office 365 or Google Apps to enhance your business operations, migrating to these can become confusing without expert technical help. Quality IT consultants help you migrate to both without having to endure downtime.

Office 365 lets you move Office into the cloud to expand your horizons and enjoy more features. Google Apps gives you a complete suite of Google’s best tools like Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive. While the comparisons between Office 365 and Google are apples and oranges, we’ll help you make a good decision based on your business structure.

Contact us here at GeekTek IT Services to find out more about how comprehensive an IT consultant is.

IT Support Options in Los Angeles

April 16, 2016 by eric

Professional IT support offers many options to businesses in the Los Angeles area. These options range from remote support for office employees to full management of company IT systems, so it’s easy for customers to get the exact level of IT service they need to keep their operations running efficiently.

Remote Tech Support

This option allows a support customer and its employees to call in for help. Much of this type of support involves telling customers how to operate software and fix bugs from their side. Some simple troubleshooting may be included as well. At many companies, this will take care of most of the questions that would otherwise bog down an IT department.

On Site Support

When calling in just isn’t enough, take things to the next level by signing up for managed on-site IT and tech support. On-site personnel can do things that can’t be done over the phone, such as installing new software, personally fixing hardware issues, and directly showing people how to do things. By outsourcing IT work, your company is freed from having to vet and hire individual employees. You also don’t have to worry about providing health insurance, worker’s compensation, or other perks that in-house employees would require. Instead, the company you hire takes care of those things, while you enjoy the benefits of having an IT staff.

IT Consulting

Sometimes, the problem isn’t running the computers and software, but knowing which computers and software you should have. Set up a consultation with us to get our recommendations for upgrades, new systems, and more. We can develop a custom solution that meets all of your IT needs.

Outsourced CIO Services

This is the best option for a company that wants to outsource every part of its IT operations. It combines consulting services with ongoing support. Once everything is set up and the support is in place, the customer doesn’t have to worry about a thing. Everything seemingly runs almost on its own and the IT service provider makes sure that it stays that way.

Questions About IT Services

Many people have questions and concerns about the prospect of outsourcing IT work. One of the most common is about the availability of the support staff. We are happy to say that our IT support people are available 24/7 whether you use our remote support services or have us set up an office at your location. You’ll never have to fear getting a message that says to call back “during business hours” because we know that when it comes to IT, every hour is a business hour.

Another concern that people often have is expense. Simply put, outsourcing IT is cheaper than hiring individual employees directly. By outsourcing, you eliminate the need to pay for vacations, bonuses, and the various forms of insurance and taxes that go with direct hiring. You also don’t have to pay the large premium required to get someone to be willing to be on call.

Security is another thing many people have questions about. By hiring a reputable IT company, you can relax knowing that your sensitive information won’t be misused. You’ll also be safer against outside hackers thanks to the security expertise of the outsourced experts. This is far better than setting up a system yourself and hoping nothing was missed, and far better than drafting an employee from an unrelated department to do the work.

With all of these benefits, there’s no reason not to outsource IT support to a Los Angeles company. To learn more about what we can do for you, just contact us here at GeekTek IT Services. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs and provide the perfect tech support and IT services package.

Making The Most Of Your Relationship With Your Los Angeles IT Support Provider

April 5, 2016 by eric

Whether you depend on us as your provider for desktop support for employees, development of custom applications, or outsourced CIO services, we’re here to help. Our priority is ensuring that your leadership team and all employees understand what we do and come to count on us for the most responsive Los Angeles IT support. Here, we offer five suggestions for maximizing the relationship with your IT support provider.

1. Write and frequently update a core list of IT wants and needs. This is something executive leadership can do, unless we serve as the virtual CIO. Managers of business functions can also write this list for their IT needs. Your point of contact will work with our lead person to ensure that these are met as allowed under the service contract. We help you prioritize tech needs to maximize ROI for our services.

2. Ask your IT support provider to place technical resources for employees in the best places. Most organizations have a flexible workforce. This might include people working on different shifts, at numerous sites, and telecommuting from around the world. With employees spread out, your organization needs to plan how they access IT support. If your workers use a web-based GUI to access electronic resources, we help you determine where best to place the services they will need. This could include different resources for different segments of your workforce.

3. Plan ahead for change management and involve employees in the process. Switching one or more of your business IT systems to something new can cause stress to employees. They have different levels of IT background, and they will want to understand how to use new IT systems. We help you write a plan for which employees will be affected by new data systems and execute a smooth transition, including providing personalized training and increased technical support.

4. Bring up issues with IT services before they affect your customers and impact your profits. It’s normal for employees to feel attached to how a business application works. Once they know how to use it, they become more efficient in performing their jobs. Many applications we support for your business affect internal efficiency. If applications don’t operate according to their design, your customers could experience a lower level of service. The quality of your products are also at risk. Design a standard method for employees to raise IT issues. A ticket-based help system is easy for workers to access and for us to track on an ongoing basis.

5. Ask us how to augment outsourced IT services for special projects or additional business operations. Your organization will grow and change over time. You may eliminate entire units and add others, which leads to a change in employees and how they use IT systems. We’re here to help you increase your level of IT support as your business evolves. It’s easy to add service contracts to cover new operational needs.

Maximizing your relationships with your IT services provider in the Los Angeles area is important. IT dollars spent should bring the expected financial return. Look for business results. We employ a diverse team of programmers, software developers, technical support personnel, CIO experts, and project managers. This diversity enables us to understand all of your IT needs and help you increase efficiency throughout your organization. The business systems that drive your operations are only as useful as the people who use them to perform tasks and make business decisions. Because you’ve decided to outsource, your managers should keep high expectations for how this business relationship looks in the field. We guarantee the same level of service that you would expect from internal workers.

For more details on professional IT support, please contact us today.

Using a Managed Service Provider When You Need to Scale Your Business

March 29, 2016 by eric

A managed service provider can work at levels that go beyond just giving you a dedicated crew to help with technical problems in your business. In today’s digital world, IT management can work in providing scalability as well, which is vital as business competition becomes more intense. This ability to scale is all thanks to the cloud and providing virtually any type of business service from a secure server.

Through a managed service provider, you can use your existing Internet line to get this solution. No matter what stage your business is in, managed services can help you grow by adding or taking away any service you need or don’t need.

At the same time, it helps avert many problems that can prevent business growth. This includes averting disasters and downtime that only eats into profits.

Take a look at what managed services can do to help you scale this year so you reach new growth plateaus.

Upgrading Your IT Support

As you grow, you may open new business locations or start using more mobile devices out in the field. Expanding like this requires more IT support staff to help with technical problems.

The problem is that hiring new IT crew can become expensive if they work in-house. Going through the recruitment process, interviews, and placing them on a monthly payroll can cost more than you want to pay. Having them take care of issues in a timely way can also become problematic if they’re overwhelmed with other projects.

Managed services work online so support can occur remotely. Anywhere your employees have an Internet connection, they can get technical support when they need it. It includes while working in the field and needing help when their mobile devices need troubleshooting.

In-person visits are also possible when it’s necessary to do physical repairs.

Expanding on Software and Other Assets

Many “as a service” solutions are available through IT management that include software and even your entire operating system. You can basically run your entire business through the cloud, which is a major asset if you ever experience a disaster.

Business growth, though, means you may need software upgrades or other assets to help you get ahead. Your dedicated managed services provider is there to provide these immediately when they’re needed. In most cases, you can get them up and running the same day, saving you the prospect of downtime.

Getting the Right Equipment for Growth

Your managed service provider isn’t just limited to monitoring your network and giving you upgrades. You can also get in-person services, including consultancy on the right technology for your company.

Investing in new tech is never easy with so many varied choices. Good IT management has consultants who’ve worked in the field and understand what companies like yours truly need to stay competitive.

Servers, routers, and even the right brand of computers matter in how effectively you can expand. IT management doesn’t just provide equipment for you because it’s popular. They audit your business and only provide what’s necessary.

Prevention to Prevent Financial Disasters

From the remote management perspective, preventative measures are always put in place to eliminate the worst cyber threats out there today. One of the biggest inhibitors to business growth is having a disaster that siphons any financial gains.

You may take that chance, especially if running your own server on-site. Managed services use a cloud server to store your data so you can restore everything the same day if a disaster strikes.

Let us be the quality managed service provider you need here at GeekTek IT Services.

Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive IT solutions that serve the Los Angeles area.

5 Ways To Improve IT Support Processes in Your Los Angeles Company

March 12, 2016 by eric

IT support problems are a serious issue for many businesses within the Los Angeles area. The fact is that many companies start to grow, implement new technology in their new day-to-day processes and never seek real IT help until they have their first disaster or tech failure that has a large effect on their business. The best thing that any growing company can do to prevent this is to ensure that they have the proper processes and help in place. Whether that help comes from an internal IT team or an outsourced team matters less than the fact that you are protecting your business from potential IT disasters. Many businesses are never able to completely recover from severe data loss.

A Ticket System

The most simple and straight forward way to organize your IT support processes is with a ticket system. A ticket system is simply a way for those that require IT support to submit a request for help. This inputs the new support request into the system and places the job in the queue for your ticket system. Additionally, these systems allow you to tag each request with a priority level so you can ensure the most pressing needs are taken care of first. This helps to ensure that you have a productive office environment. Requests that are marked as “Urgent” or “High” priority can be taken care of immediately, while Sally’s problem with her email client can be taken care of in order of importance.

Ask for Feedback

One of the best ways that you can learn about where you can improve your IT processes is to actually ask your employees for feedback. This can be an insightful way for you to learn about what is working, what is not, and how your IT efforts are perceived. Accept anonymous feedback from your users so that they are comfortable sharing their true feelings.

Offer Basic Troubleshooting Training

One of the best ways to ensure that your IT department does not become bogged down with low-priority requests to offer basic training on troubleshooting basic computer problems. Simple tasks such as checking to make sure a mouse is plugged in, that the computer is connected to the Wi-Fi and other similar basic steps to troubleshoot common computer problems. By limiting the number of low-priority requests that your IT department receives, the more that they can focus on fixing high-priority issues.

Organization is Key

The best way for any company to provide excellent IT services is to have an organization system that makes managing IT issues easier for small teams. It starts with a ticket system, but it extends to all of the processes that your organization employs. For many businesses, the best solution is to work with a third-party outsourced IT support company in Los Angeles that already has a plan to put these processes in place for other business. While it might seem like you can just hire an “IT guy” and all of your problems will be solved, you need to have the proper processes in place to ensure that you are able to deal with problems and recognize which issues are of the highest importance.

If you are interested in learning more about protecting your business from IT and data loss disasters, please contact us today to schedule your initial consultation. We will get to know your business and make recommendations for improving your IT processes and helping to protect your business. We help businesses throughout the Los Angeles area to implement effective IT policies and processes that improve productivity within your business and create a seamless IT workflow.