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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.

Maximizing Relationship With 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.

Also Read: Good IT Support in Los Angeles

maximizing-relationship-with-it-support-provider — Maximizing Relationship With IT Support Provider

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 projectsor 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.

managed-service-provider-los-angeles — Managed Service Provider Los Angeles

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.

Improve IT Support Processes in Los Angeles:

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.

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

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

online-it-support-los-angeles — Online IT Support Los Angeles

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.

Contact GeekTek

Also Read: Los Angeles IT Support: What To Expect With Mobile Device Help When Out In The Field

5 Ways To Prepare For A New IT Consulting Service

March 4, 2016 by eric

One of the best decisions that a growing business can make is to hire an IT consulting service in order to help them take care of technical issues and focus on the aspects of their business that they are experts in. As businesses grow and implement new processes and technology, there are many things that need to be taken into consideration in order to ensure that you are able to properly implement new technologies and troubleshoot issues that will inevitably arise. There are a few steps that any business should take before hiring an IT consulting service to ensure that they receive the best possible outcome.

Things To Do Before Hiring An IT Consulting Service

Know What You Need

The first and most important step that you need to take is to outline what you need. What technologies are you currently working with? Of those technologies, which are the ones that result in the most ongoing problems for your business? By outlining the areas where you are having issues, you can seek out companies that will have expertise in those specific technologies. Not all IT consulting services are made equal, and you have to make sure that you are able to find a company that can help you to reach a wider audience.

Get to Know Them

dealing-with-it-expert-los-angeles — Dealing With IT Expert Los Angeles

Although many companies come to IT consulting companies during a crisis, the best step that you can take to ensure that your business is working with the right team is to take your time and get to know them before signing on the dotted line. If they offer a free consultation, take them up on it. Get a feel for the service that they provide. By planning ahead, you can make sure that you do not jump into an arrangement that you wish you had avoided. Business relationships are all about personalities, and you have to make sure that you are able to make smart decisions.

Outline Your Processes

In order to provide a complete picture of what your business needs, you need to outline your processes. There can be IT breakdowns in nearly any aspect of your business and the best way to avoid those issues is to prepare for them. Any good IT consulting company will be able to look at your processes and give you solid recommendations for preparing for disaster. But, you can make the job a lot easier for any IT consulting company by just taking the time to spell it out to the best of your ability for them. This helps them get to work right away!

Also Read: IT Consulting Service for Compliance Audits

Forecast Future Technologies

Does your business plan on implementing new technologies at some point in the near future? You’d be surprised how many companies know that they are going to be expanding to new tech but don’t make any mention of it when they seek out IT consulting companies. By letting your IT consultant know early, they will be able to put together a plan of action that helps your business grow.

Create a Wishlist

expert-it-consulting-servicing-los-angeles-area‎ — Expert IT Consulting Servicing Los Angeles Area‎

What do you want from your IT consultant? How can they help you out the most? By knowing and actively telling them how they can help you, they will be able to deliver an excellent, high quality service that helps you to reach your goals. Create a wishlist that will outline the needs of your business, and the hopes that you have when working with an IT consulting firm.

There are steps that any business should take before hiring an IT consulting company. By following these simple suggestions, you’ll enable your IT provider to offer a higher quality service and greatly streamline the onboarding process for both companies. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation with our IT consulting experts.

Also Read: Feeling Overwhelmed By Changing Technology? IT Consulting Service Can Help!

IT Consulting – Why It’s Important To Create And Test A Disaster Recovery Plan

February 17, 2016 by eric

Both modern information technology and IT consulting have been a boon to businesses, enabling them to process data quickly and efficiently. Computer networks, laptops and wireless devices are essentials in order to conduct business in the digital age. E-mail and VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) telephone systems are major forms of communication. All kinds of data (including orders and payments) are transferred from one business to another via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Servers process massive amounts of information and store large quantities of critical data. However, sometimes disaster strikes in a nanosecond and all this technology stops working.

A computer network crash is more than just a temporary misfortune as critical data is essential to the continued operation and even the survival of the affected business. The negative impact of data loss or corruption from hardware failure, human error, malware, or hacking is huge. An article in Information Week states that computer downtime adversely impacts US businesses to the tune of $26.5 billion per annum. A Pepperdine University report says that companies that suffer a network outage lasting longer than ten days never completely recover financially, and roughly fifty percent of them will go under within five years. Therefore, a plan to backup and restore digital information is crucial.

Does Your Business Have a Disaster Recovery Plan in Place?

If you do, that’s obviously a good thing, but then you need to determine if your plan is adequate. Here are some recommended steps to create or enhance a disaster recovery plan.

Examine your current plan (if you have one) and assess if the level of protection it provides is sufficient.
Work out the length of time your business can afford to have its computer network be down.
Determine how much data your business can afford to lose.
Look at your current backup system and determine whether it can be improved.
List all of your system’s critical components – servers, other hardware, and software applications.
Document the processes necessary to bring your server(s) back online.
Review your IT staff. Do they have the expertise to handle an unpredictable disaster? If you have a contract with an outside IT service, how fast can their personnel be at your offices?
If your company has on-site servers, look at the control room environment. Is it secure, does it have a backup power supply and effective climate control?

The Importance of Testing

There are quite a few excuses you can come up with for not testing a recovery plan on a regular basis – insufficient funds in the budget, workflow interruptions, not enough time, etc., etc. However, if you don’t test your plan, how do you know if it’s going to work? Don’t wait until disaster strikes to discover that your plan contains flaws. So, test your recovery system and find our how well it works (or doesn’t work) as soon as possible.

Virtual or Physical Servers?

Is it any help to have a mix of physical and virtual servers (which is common these days). The answer is no – accidental deletion of information on virtual servers happens just as often as on the physical type. And, bear in mind that physical servers often run your company’s most critical applications, such as the ones processing payroll data.

Assistance is Available

If designing and testing your own disaster recovery plan seems a little daunting, or you don’t have the staff or expertise to effectively handle the project, please talk to us. We can relieve you from worrying about network crashes and loss of data, ensure that you suffer only the absolute minimum of downtime and have you back up and operational again as quickly as possible.

Image Credit To: Elliot Margolies, A. Golden and Andrew Wippler

5 Tips To Facilitate The Best IT Consulting Experience

February 2, 2016 by eric

It is difficult to choose an IT consulting company but worthwhile task for any company that sees their IT requirements growing rapidly over time. There are many things that must be taken into consideration in order to ensure that you choose the best IT consulting company for your business, but many companies overlook how important it is that they come into their initial consultations prepared as well. It is difficult to evaluate how effective an IT provider will be without having a plan going into your initial consultations. Take these tips into account as you evaluate IT providers in your local area.

Learn About Businesses You Are Considering Partnering With

The first and most important step is to learn about the businesses that you are considering partnering with, just as they should learn about yours. This goes deeper than just reading reviews from previous customers. Learn about the person that you will schedule your consultation with, get to know their staff and learn about the successful previous projects they have worked on by reaching out to previous customers.

Come Prepared To Your Initial Consultation

choose-an-it-consulting-company — Choose An IT Consulting Company

Come to any initial consultation completely prepared. In fact, if you can be over-prepared, that is always better than being under-prepared. Take notes throughout the meeting so that you can ask pertinent questions. Come to the meeting with a list of questions that you would like to ask and play the meeting out in your mind before it takes place. The more relevant questions that you can ask, the better of an idea that you will have about the service that they provide and whether or not it will be a good fit for your business.

Outline your IT-Related Business Goals

What kind of things would have to happen throughout your relationship with an IT service provider for you to consider it a success? Would you like to improve your response time to IT related issues? Would you like to iron out issues with processes in a new technology? Know exactly what you are looking to get out of a relationship so that you can make smart decisions that will help your own business reach its goals. By providing the company that you hire with these goals, they know where the line in the sand is and may be able to provide better IT service that is in line with your needs.

Also Read: IT Consulting for Challenges Outside IT Services

Choose A Partner You Are Comfortable With

In the end, you should choose a company to partner with that you are comfortable with. Trust your instincts when choosing partners and avoid situations that make you apprehensive. Although “go with the gut” is cliche business advice, in situations that deal with ongoing long-term partnerships, you should always attempt to make a choice that you have confidence in, rather than choosing a partner that promises more but makes you a bit uncomfortable.

best-it-consulting-experience — Best IT Consulting Experience

Know your Budget

For an IT Consulting company to provide you with an accurate quote, you have to be able to provide your IT needs and budget. Outline your needs and total budget, then when the negotiations take place you can get an idea of what individual need will cost your company. This way, if all of your needs do not fall within your IT budget, you can make smart choices regarding which services to remove from your plan.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with our IT experts, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We’ll get to know your business and work with you to put together a customized plan that will cover your needs and help your company to grow in an organic way.

Image Credit To: Sebastiaan ter Burg