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What Can The Cloud Do For You?

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The cloud is no longer a new technology, but it continues to grow. The cloud can do so much for companies. There are numerous services available that can save companies money, energy, and time, and that can make their day-to-day operations run much more smoothly. Unfortunately, many of these services aren’t very well-known. So many businesses are missing out on these benefits because they don’t know they exist. Here are a few of the best services available on the cloud.

Storage

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Cloud Services Los Angeles

Storage may be what the cloud is most famous for. You may even have cloud storage already. If you don’t, you should definitely look into it. Cloud storage is one of the safest ways to keep up with your data. When you store data on the cloud, it almost always stores multiple copies in multiple places. This is the safest configuration for storage, in fact, many businesses use the cloud as backup storage as well. Storage on the cloud is generally cheaper than on-site storage, because the company that offers the storage will set up a single storage center, with a single maintenance staff, and then rent it out to multiple companies, rather than each company setting up their own space.

Accounting Services

There are numerous companies on the web that will be happy to become your accounting department. All that you have to provide is one or two people to input the data, and everything else is taken care of. Their software and staff will complete the accounting work, and then all of the records will be stored and backed up on the cloud for you to access whenever you need them. Like the storage space, this is often much cheaper than running an in-house accounting department, because the cloud company already has everything set up and can charge much less than it would cost you.

HR Services

This service is similar to the accounting services. You can hire a cloud company to take care of your HR services. You can put all of your forms, from the application to the W-2, online. Applicants will go through the cloud company, and once they are hired, their files will be stored on the cloud, by the provider. These companies can take care of wages, benefits, and anything else you need, and they’re also generally less expensive than what it would cost you to do it yourself.

Collaboration

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Cloud Computing Services & Solutions Los Angeles

One of the greatest things about the cloud is the ability to collaborate. For example, perhaps one of your sales people has a question about a client on the other side of the country. Instead of trying to communicate with a sales person who is far away to find the correct client and compare separate notes, they can both pull up the company-wide version of the client’s file and discus, using the cloud. Or maybe the management staff is holding a quarterly meeting. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars to fly them and all of their important documents to the same place, they can simply meet from the comfort of their own offices, through the cloud.

Online Sales and Inventory Management

Online sales is a great channel to boost income, but it wouldn’t be possible without the cloud. Inventory management is a software that often comes with online sales that tracks inventory and forecasts sales and reorder dates. It also functions best on the cloud, especially if it’s tracking inventories in multiple warehouses across the country.

The cloud is an amazing thing. If you’d like to know more about what cloud can do for your company, please don’t hesitate to Contact us. We’re experts and will be happy to help you with anything that you need.

Also Read: How Cloud Services Can Protect Your Company From Disaster

Going Digital? Get the Best IT Support Los Angeles In The Industry

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Many companies set out to position themselves as the leading providers of IT support Los Angeles, but somewhere along the way they lose sight of the meaning of excellent customer service. The larger a firm gets, the easier it is for its employees to lose touch with the initial service focus of the founders. We’re proud to say that we have experienced considerable growth in the last few years without losing touch with our commitment to our customers. We value the relationships we build with all of our clients in the LA metropolitan area.

Since the big success of newcomers like Uber, many companies are overhauling their model to reflect the trend towards customer-driven services. The name of the game is on demand. Among the many things we do, GeekTek offers two newer business models: our software-as-a-service (i.e. Google Apps for Business) and our knowledge-as-a-service (IT support). We are in a digital knowledge-based economy, and we are always improving how we deliver software and other services to meet your needs. and what it implies for our industry.

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Best IT Support Los Angeles

What the Research Shows

A recent post on the Harvard Business Review blog shows exactly how packaging a service is changing how everyone is doing business differently to compete in the Internet-of-Things (IOT). Writers Joe Sinfield, Ned Calder, and Ben Geheb note how corporations like John Deere have migrated to new business models, such as marketing digital subscription services to farmers and operators of their heavy equipment. These authors noted three major shifts among old-line industries now introducing smart-connected products to compete in the digital market.

1. a shift from selling equipment to selling outcomes,
2. a shift from creating solutions that transcend the notions of products and services, and
3. a shift from value chains to value networks.

Also Read: What a Los Angeles IT Support Company Should Do

Think Digital

Regardless of your industry, at some point, your company must dare to think digital. This could be brainstorming ways to sell a digital subscription, adding smart-connected components to your products, or creating an app so that customers can use your service anywhere or with greater ease. Consider how you can revisit your business model and perhaps provide products or services to customers. Brainstorm the types of digital business models you might create to keep customers happy and outpace the competition.

Also Read: Different Levels of IT Support in Los Angeles

Study the Competition

It is quite possible that a quick survey of your major competitors reveals how they are already going digital. In the age when everyone can drive for Uber and thousands of apps hit the market every day, your company cannot afford to stay stuck in the twentieth century. One of the biggest cautions that companies in your situation need is not to invest heavily in IT projects without first doing your research. For every idea you have to revolutionize how you deliver your value proposition, there could already be a competitor who has done it. Be sure what is out there and what is not. Then, decide how you can quickly shift resources or invest in new ones to go digital.

What We Can Do To Help

If you are considering moving to a digital business model and want to build the platform to deliver it or you just want increased IT support for platform-based operations, we’re here to help. We have cloud computing, managed IT services, and a team of IT consultants ready to tackle the next phase of your business growth.

Also Read: Los Angeles IT Support Forecast Is Cloud Services With A Chance Of Virtual CIOs

Pick Our Brains

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Affordable IT Support Los Angeles

If your organization is like most in this fast-paced digital world, you don’t have enough in-house IT professionals to keep pace with the demands of customers. Typically, you must outsource some IT services and augment your IT staff throughout the year according to changing business conditions. We encourage you to find the best IT support provider in Los Angeles that gives you the highest level of service for the money. For more information, please Contact us. Let’s discuss how you are going to go digital today.

Why Cloud Computing Is Popular Among Los Angeles Businesses

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Cloud computing can seem complex because the name really gives no clue as to what it is about. This initially caused slower adoption, but now that it’s getting easier to find out the details, more and more companies are picking it up. Here is some information about the practice and why it’s beneficial for businesses to use it:

What is Cloud Computing?

Basically, it’s a system that moves software out of the customer’s location and puts it on remote computers. These remote systems are owned and operated by a variety of companies. The end result is that software and services that once were purchased on a one-time basis have become subscription-based.

Why Subscribe to Software?

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Cloud Computing Solutions Los Angeles – GeekTek

When people first learn about this, they often balk at the idea of paying for software on an ongoing basis. However, once all of the costs of the former ownership model are added up, it can turn out to be cheaper to use the cloud. This is because the cost of software ownership goes beyond the initial price of the software itself. Hardware upgrades may be required to run the program, software upgrades often cost money, IT personnel are needed for software of advanced complexity, and peripheral software – such as plugins – may be needed to get the most out of the purchased program.

Also Read: Most Common Cloud Computing Myths Debunked

Other Benefits of Using the Cloud

The most obvious benefit of moving to cloud computing in Los Angeles is lower costs. There’s no need to worry about upgrading hardware to meet the ever-expanding needs of modern software. Your company also won’t have to pay the full cost of expensive licenses up front. With enterprise-level software, this can amount to thousands of dollars’ worth of savings for each program.

An equally important benefit is that there is no need to worry about the overall process of upgrading. With cloud computing, the service provider will do it all from their side – automatically. There’ll be no need to worry about downtime, transferring data, or other upgrade-related hassles. Established software companies will take care of everything seamlessly, and in most cases, the most you’ll have to deal with is a pop-up that informs you that you are now running the new version.

Cloud computing can also provide better security than the average business has on its own. Big software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies patch vulnerabilities as soon as they’re detected. They also have the latest security suites and teams of professionals dedicated to keeping everything safe. When your company signs on, it gains the benefit of all of this expertise and corporate power for a relatively small price.

Finally, cloud computing is very scalable. You’ll never have to worry about outgrowing it because expanding is as simple as upgrading your subscription. There’ll be no need to buy new hardware in order to keep up. This also works in reverse – if you have a seasonal downturn, you won’t have to pay for unused capacity.

Also Read: How Los Angeles Businesses Can Use Cloud Computing

Which Cloud Computing Services Should We Get?

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Cloud Computing Solutions Los Angeles

This is a question that is discussed at many companies that are considering switching to this new way of doing things. There is no set answer. Each business has to consider its own needs and choose the solutions that best fill them. In this regard, cloud services are no different from old-fashioned purchased ones.

One of the best ways to arrive at a quick and accurate answer is to contact us here at GeekTek and set up a consultation. We keep tabs on all of the current offerings and can match your company with the right ones. We also watch the directions various cloud computing services are taking, so we can point out which ones are likely to be able to evolve along with your business. Our consultation service will save you plenty of time and let you proceed in an efficient and sure-footed manner.

Contact Us

How can we be of assistance? We will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible. If this is a technical emergency, please calls us at 1-866-808-9901

Image Credit To: Cristóbal Alvarado Minic, Ron Reiring and Eino Mustonen

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

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Finding good IT support in Los Angeles is never easy, especially for mobile technology as you start to allow a Bring Your Own Device policy into your workplace. If you’ve been trying to figure out a way to let your employees work out in the field to avoid being tied down to the office, BYOD policies are certainly worthy. In some cases, though, it’s necessary for your employees to use mobile devices to do business while on the go.

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Superior IT Support Los Angeles – GeekTek

No matter what purposes they use those mobile devices for, it’s a complicated web of potential technical mishaps and security issues. Some companies become complacent to this because they figure it’s impossible to manage multiple mobile devices in and out of the company. You may think the same thing and figure pre-installed firewalls are all you need to stay safe.

The above isn’t always true without good management at the helm. With management comes dependable IT support to help you through the worst possible problems.

Here at GeekTek IT Services, we offer a superior IT support system in part for your office or for mobile. We want you to see how a quality IT support system can help your mobile employees deal with various situations so there isn’t any confusion on seeking a quick-fix.

Also Read: Get the Best IT Support Los Angeles In The Industry

Dealing with Unexpected Downtime

As convenient as mobile technology is, providers of the service can’t always guarantee their service stays perfect at all times. Call dropouts happen much too often, and other tech problems could occur during a critical business situation.

Some of your employees may do business transactions on things like tablets or smartphones. It places their mobile devices in a position where a massive tech failure could potentially hurt your overall sales.

Suppose some of your mobile devices in the field had tech issues and their operating systems shut down. Would your employees have a good IT management team to turn to in an instant to help them get back on their feet?

Downtime is a serious problem causing thousands of dollars in damages for all businesses. You don’t want downtime for very long with your mobile devices if you depend on those for making company profit.

All good IT management systems have IT support to get you on the right track. However, with management already in place, preventative measures get put forward to safeguard against the worst mishaps.

Also Read: What Makes for Good IT Support in Los Angeles

Having Mobile Device Problems During Off-Hours

Many of your employees perhaps use mobile devices for their company work during off-hours, including at home. What happens if a tech issue occurs on a weekend or even on a holiday? Because your employees can take their work with them, a problem could occur on Christmas Day, or on a Sunday when other IT professionals aren’t usually available.

Using a good IT management system, IT support is available 24/7, including weekends and holidays. They can gain access and get the problem resolved so any overtime work isn’t defeated.

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

Security Issues

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Good IT Management System

While your employees are out using mobile devices, they may have to use public Wi-Fi networks to get connected in specific places. Without proper security, some of these Wi-Fi networks aren’t always trustworthy and could easily result in someone stealing personal customer data stored in your device.

Once you have IT management at the helm, your remote team keeps watch of what happens with your mobile devices so hackers get blocked. Employing top-tier encryption and better firewalls can give you more confidence in storing customer information.

IT support is there to alert you to these problems so you don’t have to contact them whenever you see a problem occurring.

Contact us here at GeekTek IT Services to find out more about our own excellent IT support system that’s part of our comprehensive management solution.

Image Credit To: Johan Larsson, Sam Churchill and Anne Worner

Meeting The Challenge Of BYOD-Minimizing Risks With Managed IT Services

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With the advent of cloud computing and the widespread use of smartphones and tablets, companies today must deal with the issue of employees utilizing their personal mobile devices to conduct company business. According to analyst estimates, the enterprise BYOD adoption rate in 2014 was anywhere from 40-70 percent across all industries. In 2015, the trend continues to grow.

Research released by Osterman Research reveals that for every corporate-issued mobile device, there are now two personally owned iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. This statistic illustrates the fact that BYOD trends are likely to continue.

Inherent Risks with BYOD

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Help With BYOD Issues – GeekTek

If the thought of data risk with BYOD adoption keeps you up at night, you are not alone. The possibility of data breach is real and immediate. As more employees use their personal devices for company business, risks can escalate quickly. What are some of these risks?

1. Lost or stolen devices: According to The Security for Business Innovation Council, a group of Global 1000 Information security leaders, the number one concern with BYOD adoption is lost or stolen devices. A smartphone left in a hotel room or taxi may contain sensitive company information. Found by the wrong person, this could represent a data breach nightmare. Osterman Research estimates that less than 1 in 4 devices like this can be remotely wiped by the device owner or the company whose sensitive data may be involved.

2. Vulnerable software: It is likely that your company has a policy to ensure that its internal hardware and software is regularly updated with the appropriate security patches to ensure safety and compliance with applicable regulations. Can the same be said for the personal devices of your employees? Employee failure to apply software security updates can put your company at risk. Third-party applications that are running on the devices of your employees allow you little or no control over software coding errors that can potentially expose your sensitive information to unscrupulous individuals.

3. Unprotected email: How many times a day do your employees check company email with their personal devices? If the employee does not have a PIN code to lock their device, anyone using that device automatically has free access to emails, even those containing sensitive company information.

4. Hotspots: Many employees may use devices that are set by default to identify and connect to open wireless access points when available. If this default setting is not changed appropriately, the device becomes vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.

5. Storage Solutions in the Cloud: Dropbox and similar cloud storage solutions can potentially be vulnerable to unintentional data leakage issues. If your company is not providing a specified, secure storage solution for employee use, it is likely that your employees will, for the sake of convenience, use a less secure storage option which will put your data at risk.

Recommendations for BYOD Agreements

If your company allows employees to use their personal devices for company business, it is imperative to craft policies and procedures to ensure the safety of your data and minimize risk. The Security for Business Innovation Council, in their report entitled, “Realizing the Mobile Enterprise”, recommends the following checklist:

  • Ensure that your employees are responsible for backing up personal data.
  • Clarify lines of responsibility for device maintenance, support, and costs
  • Require employees to remove apps that might contribute to data leakage at the request of the organization
  • Disable access to the company network if a blacklisted app is installed or if the device has been jail-broken
  • Clearly specify the consequences for any violations to the company BYOD policy

Help is Available

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BYOD Solutions

Because of the inherent risk involved, you may be less than thrilled with the prospect of allowing a BYOD policy. However, the truth of the matter is that convenience is a key motivator for employees to use their personal devices. Simply put, BYOD is likely a behavior that is here to stay. This being the case, having a well-defined company strategy to manage BYOD risk is essential.

The good news is that you do not have to navigate these waters alone. A professional managed service provider can provide you with the tools you need to address the risk.

What managed Service Can do for you

Here are a few things that GeekTek IT Services can do to bolster your security efforts:

  • Design and configure a policy to manage mobile devices
  • Secure, monitor, manage and support mobile devices and tablets
  • Automatically configure email, access other settings
  • Simplify the support of mobile devices

If you would like help with BYOD issues, please contact us. We are hyper-focused on the security of your business, and we will gladly work with you to manage the risks involved with BYOD issues.

Image Credit To: Chris Jagers, Phil Sexton and Carissa Rogers

Finding Cloud Services That Can Help Your B2B Business Deal with Growing Pains

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The most recent statistics show the use of cloud services in companies nationwide continues to grow. Yet, those same statistics show plenty of headroom still available in using the cloud for more business services. This perhaps gives indication the potential of the cloud isn’t fully realized in everyone, especially in businesses starting to experience growing pains.

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Cloud Services Los Angeles

Your B2B business is perhaps on that road now, and maybe you’re still sitting on the fence wondering whether using cloud services could help you reach your goals. As a result, it’s important you know some extra things about the cloud to show the potential of what it can do to help your business grow in a more competitive business world.

No matter what B2B industry you’re in, competition is no doubt becoming more intense than ever. Business opportunity is thriving, so having the right tools available to help you stay ahead of the herd is an imperative in the times we’re living in.

Ultimately, the cloud is there as a backbone to help provide myriad other tools that helps you in the realm of communication. Plus, you have access to many business tools to help speed up critical projects.

Let’s see how the cloud can keep you in the competitive race.

Cloud Services To Help B2B Business Deals

Quick Access to Data

Collaborations are a major part of business growth. You’re possibly working on a business project at the moment that requiring constant communications with your team to get your project fully realized. Because all of you travel for business considerably, there isn’t any time to meet in person, which would put you multiple steps behind without proper technology.

The cloud lets you access and share data with all of your colleagues while apart. Whether it’s file sharing, or gaining access to hardware and software, it’s all embedded in the cloud server. All of it has easy access via mobile devices, just as long as you have Internet service.

Utilizing IT Models

Plenty of other services are available through the cloud like Software as a Service as just one. You also have Platform as a Service, and Infrastructure as a Service as more examples of having all business tools readily available in the cloud.

Having these assets instantly available saves you money having to buy physical software and hardware. While you’re in the middle of the growth stage, you obviously still need to stick to a budget, and using cloud tools already saves you tremendous money.

Upgrading is also a problem that you can eliminate with your cloud business tools. Rather than having to spin plates and take precious time away doing updates, your cloud provider automatically updates for you. With the cloud, you have easy scalability as well to add more tools there and data when needed.

Preventing Downtime

The most recent evidence shows downtime continues being a major financial burden for companies everywhere. Infrastructure failure cost is now estimated at $100,000 per hour, and application failures are up to $1 million. These astounding numbers show far too many companies aren’t investing in things like the cloud that can prevent the excessive cost of downtime.

Disasters are inevitable in today’s unpredictable world, so you can’t become complacent to anything happening to your B2B business. If your business headquarters becomes destroyed, you can get back on your feet the same day thanks to the easy accessibility of the cloud.

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Cloud Computing Provider

Basically, your entire business can get stored in the cloud with safety and security. You can get back to business and continue your journey toward business growth without severe financial setbacks.

Here at GeekTek IT Services, we have excellent cloud solutions for you with predictable service fees. No more will you have to worry about the other excessive cost of maintaining your own server that could fail on you during a business growth period.

Contact us to find out more about our comprehensive IT services serving small and mid-sized businesses throughout the Los Angeles area.