Category: Managed IT

IT SecurityManaged IT
Protecting Your Technology From the Frights of the Season

Protecting your technology from the frights of the seasonAs the leaves turn brilliant shades of red and gold and the air buzzes with Halloween energy, it’s an ideal time to reflect on the health of your business’s IT security. With cyberattacks rising by over 60% during the holiday season, businesses are particularly vulnerable to digital “tricks” hidden within the excitement. At TEK Utah, we understand these threats and are here to help you keep the spooks out of your infrastructure, so you can enjoy the season with peace of mind.

Preventing Downtime: The Haunting of IT Infrastructure 🎃

Picture this: you’re hard at work on an important project, and just as you reach a crucial point—your computer crashes! Those “tech gremlins” strike again, throwing your productivity into chaos. Unexpected downtime isn’t just frustrating; it can delay projects and affect client trust. At TEK Utah, our managed IT services provide the proactive maintenance and troubleshooting you need to keep those gremlins at bay. Think of it as a digital sanctuary that ensures your systems run smoothly, saving you from horror stories of sudden crashes and delays.

Avoiding Data Loss: Ghostly Data Disappearances 👻

Imagine searching for an essential file, only to find it’s vanished into thin air—an all-too-common nightmare in today’s digital landscape. Lost data can cost more than just time; it can lead to missed opportunities and compromised client information. Our backup and disaster recovery services are designed to secure your data with a reliable system that acts as a safety net. With TEK Utah, data loss becomes a thing of the past, ensuring that even if a “ghost” tries to erase your files, you’ll have everything restored and back in place.

Guarding Against Cyber Threats: Monstrous Digital Ghouls 🕸️

Halloween may bring out ghouls and goblins in fun, but in the world of IT, cyber threats can be genuinely monstrous. These digital attackers lurk in emails, links, and pop-ups, waiting for a chance to breach your network. TEK Utah offers comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that act as an invisible shield for your business. With our advanced monitoring and threat prevention, we’ll ensure that your team can work without worry, knowing that expert protections are in place to keep the “monsters” out.

Protecting Your Team: Practical Enchantments for Security

Safeguarding your team during the holiday season is essential to keeping your business running smoothly. Here are some effective strategies to empower and protect your workforce:

Education: Regular cybersecurity training turns your team into vigilant defenders, equipped to recognize and counteract digital threats.

System and Application Updates: Maintain updated software for all systems, securing the latest protections against vulnerabilities.

Managed IT Services: Let TEK Utah handle the supernatural side of IT, providing 24/7 monitoring, data backups, and support, so you can focus on growing your business without worrying about tech troubles.

A Treat for You: Special Halloween Offer!

This Halloween season, don’t let cyber tricks haunt your business. Reach out to TEK Utah for a free consultation, and let’s discuss how to secure your IT environment for long-term peace of mind. As a special treat, sign up for our managed IT services by October 31 and enjoy a 20% discount on your first three months!

Let’s make this Halloween season a safe, successful time for you and your team. Wishing you all a secure Halloween filled with treats—and no tricks!

Corporate ITInternetIT SecurityManaged ITTechnologyUtah IT Company
How to Implement Proactive Measures to Avoid a CrowdStrike Crisis

Data isn’t just valuable in the modern business landscape—it’s indispensable. Every aspect of your operations, from client records to financial details, hinges on the integrity and availability of your data. As threats like cyber-attacks, accidental deletions, and hardware failures loom, protecting this vital asset becomes a top priority.

This month, we delve into why regular backups and expert IT management are crucial to maintaining business continuity, with a particular focus on a recent high-profile incident and how our backup solutions can make a difference.

The Imperative of Reliable Backups

Consider the impact of a server crash on your operations. Without reliable backups, you face the grim possibility of losing all your data—years of work, critical records, and customer information could be gone in an instant. Such a loss can paralyze your business, strain your finances, and erode customer trust.

Backups are not a mere precaution; they are a critical necessity. They allow you to recover from unforeseen disasters and minimize downtime. However, backups alone aren’t enough. They need to be managed, tested, and verified to ensure they function precisely when needed.

A Recent Incident: The CrowdStrike and Microsoft Update Crisis

To highlight the importance of comprehensive backup solutions, let’s look at a recent incident involving CrowdStrike and a problematic Microsoft update. An update rolled out by Microsoft unexpectedly caused hundreds of millions of systems to fail to boot, creating a widespread crisis.

This scenario underscores the need for robust backup solutions. With our image-based backups, we have a complete snapshot of your system at any point in time. If your system encounters a similar issue, where a critical update or malfunction prevents it from booting, we can quickly restore your system using these images. Whether the issue is a software glitch or hardware failure, we can deploy the image to a new or existing system, allowing you to return to a fully operational state swiftly.

The Critical Role of IT Professionals

In addition to having reliable backups, having a skilled IT professional on your team is indispensable. A seasoned IT expert doesn’t just set up and maintain backups—they manage and monitor your entire IT infrastructure. They ensure backups are current, secure, and easily accessible while anticipating and mitigating potential issues before they escalate.

IT professionals also offer strategic advice to optimize your technology resources, keeping you ahead with the latest cybersecurity measures and data management strategies. Their proactive approach not only saves you time and money but also alleviates the stress associated with IT disruptions.

Conclusion

In today’s digital world, protecting your data and having expert IT support are not optional—they are essential to your business’s survival and success. Investing in robust backups and skilled IT management safeguards your operations, allowing you to confidently navigate any IT challenge.

Business ProductivityManaged IT
Celebrating Business Independence

July is a special month for many reasons. As we celebrate our nation’s independence and the freedoms that come with it, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the concept of freedom in other aspects of our lives. For business owners and managers, independence from the tyranny of IT issues can be just as liberating as our country’s historical break from oppressive rule. TEK Utah’s managed IT services provide that freedom, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—running and growing your business.

Break Free from IT Tyranny

Just as our forefathers sought independence from foreign rule, business owners today often find themselves in a battle against the constant demands of IT management. The frustration of dealing with slow systems, security threats, and technical glitches can feel like an oppressive force, stifling productivity and innovation. TEK Utah offers a way to break free from these constraints.

Our comprehensive managed IT services allow you to delegate all your IT concerns to us. We handle everything from routine maintenance and security monitoring to advanced ransomware protection and cloud backups. By partnering with TEK Utah, you gain the freedom to focus on your core business activities without the constant distraction of IT issues.

Celebrating Business Independence

July is a time for celebrating freedom and independence, values that resonate deeply with the spirit of entrepreneurship. Just as we honor the bravery and vision of those who fought for our country’s independence, we recognize the courage and determination of business owners who strive to build and sustain their companies. TEK Utah’s managed IT services are designed to support these efforts, providing the reliable and proactive IT management that businesses need to thrive.

Our service tiers—Silver, Gold, and Platinum—offer various levels of support tailored to your specific needs. Whether you require basic monitoring and support or comprehensive on-site services and security assessments, we have a solution that fits. Our level 3 engineers are always ready to provide expert assistance, ensuring your IT infrastructure remains robust and efficient.

Real-Life Example: Freedom and Peace of Mind

Recently, we received a text from a new client whose computer had been compromised by a “Scare Ad.” Feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, they reached out to a friend who uses our retainer services. Their friend immediately referred them to TEK Utah, knowing we could provide the expert help needed.

This referral gave the new client peace of mind and enhanced their friend’s reputation by sharing a valuable resource. The new client felt secure knowing they had someone knowledgeable to turn to, and their friend became a hero by connecting them with reliable IT support. This story exemplifies how TEK Utah helps foster a community of trust and support, enabling everyone to enjoy the freedom of hassle-free IT management.

Embrace the Freedom to Grow

Imagine the relief and empowerment that comes with knowing your IT systems are in expert hands. With TEK Utah managing your IT, you can channel your energy into strategic planning, customer engagement, and expanding your market reach. Our proactive approach means we don’t just fix problems; we anticipate and prevent them, ensuring your business operates smoothly and securely.

As you celebrate this July, take a moment to consider how TEK Utah can help you achieve a new kind of independence. Free from the tyranny of IT issues, you can enjoy greater productivity, enhanced security, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business is protected.

Business ProductivityCorporate ITDigitalInternetIT for the Medical IndustryIT SecurityManaged ITTechnologyUtah IT Company
Do You Need a Disaster Recovery Plan?

If you suddenly lost access to documents and applications pertinent to your daily work life, how would you cope? Would you know where to go, or who to look to for help? Whether the loss occurs because of a natural disaster, hardware failure, human error, or cyber-crimes, a Disaster Recovery Plan (DR) is essential for businesses of all sizes!


A *2023 survey found that only 54% of businesses had an established company-wide disaster recovery plan in place. That is barely more than half of all businesses. Aside from having the plan in place, it’s also important to regularly review and test your plan to ensure your team knows how to execute the strategy. Ponemon Institute estimates the average cost of downtime at a staggering $9,000 per minute or $500,000 per hour. Being able to restore systems and operations quickly is imperative to recovery from a disaster. Those averages might look high for your small business, but the fact is downtime is expensive. It’s not just the direct financial losses but also the expense of lost productivity, missed opportunities, customer dissatisfaction, and long-term reputational damage.

Though most owners believe they are unlikely to suffer a cyber-attack, small businesses suffer 43% of all data breaches. Do you currently have strategies in place to protect your data? A solid DR plan is crucial as it aims to minimize downtime and data loss, enabling a company to swiftly return to normal operations following a catastrophic event. This guide breaks down the various elements of a disaster recovery plan, highlighting their significance and demonstrating real-world scenarios where such planning proves invaluable.

Understanding Disaster Recovery

At its core, disaster recovery involves preparing for and recovering from events that can significantly disrupt business operations. These events range from natural disasters like earthquakes to man-made challenges such as cyber-attacks. A well-structured DR plan addresses these threats by outlining steps to resume critical operations swiftly and securely.

Key Components of a Disaster Recovery Plan
Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis (BIA): This involves understanding a business’s specific risks and potential impact on operations. It helps prioritize the recovery of critical systems and data.

  • Data Backup Strategies: Robust data backup strategies ensure that critical data is regularly backed up to secure, offsite locations, allowing for the restoration of lost data.
  • Recovery Solutions: DR plans must detail the solutions for restoring IT systems, applications, and data, including both on-site and cloud-based options.
  • Communication Plan: A clear plan for notifying employees, customers, and stakeholders during a disaster is vital for maintaining transparency and minimizing panic.
  • Regular Testing and Updates: Regular testing and updates ensure that the plan evolves with the business and remains effective over time.

The Importance of Each Component

Each component of a DR plan plays a critical role in safeguarding business operations. For example, the BIA guides resource allocation during and after a disaster, while data backup strategies prevent catastrophic data loss. Recovery solutions bring data back into action, and the communication plan maintains trust and order. Regular testing guarantees that the plan will work as intended when needed.

Real-World Applications

Consider a business that experiences a severe data breach. With a comprehensive DR plan in place, the company can quickly identify the breach’s extent, revert to recent data backups, and effectively manage customer expectations and regulatory requirements. Regularly tested recovery procedures ensure a swift return to operation, minimizing downtime and financial loss.

The Value of Preparedness

In today’s digital age, disasters are inevitable. The examples above underscore the value of a DR plan, providing a blueprint for action that can mean the difference between a setback and a complete shutdown. Investing in a thorough disaster recovery plan is critical for responsible business management, ensuring resilience, and maintaining trust.

Avoid becoming another cautionary tale of poor planning. Please give us a call. We would be happy to help you implement your disaster recovery plan or review your current plan!

*Statistics are taken from the article “Disaster Recovery Statistics Every Business Should Know.” At https://phoenixnap.com

 

Managed ITTechnologyUtah IT Company
Reliable IT: The Key to Sustained Business Success

Businesses of all sizes rely heavily on technology for streamlining operations, enhancing productivity, and driving growth. Managing IT infrastructure efficiently while staying within budget constraints can be daunting, especially for small businesses. That’s where TEK Utah shines as Utah’s premier managed IT service provider! For the past 20 years, we have offered unparalleled support to small businesses at a fraction of the cost of maintaining a full-time IT employee. By honoring our core values of reliability, responsiveness, accountability, decisiveness, and integrity, we aim to deliver exceptional IT services tailored to each client’s needs.

Living our Values is What Sets us Apart

Our distinctiveness in managed IT services arises from our steadfast commitment to regularly reviewing and embodying our core values. This introspection sets us apart, ensuring our actions align with our principles. Reliability is pivotal among these values because a reliable IT setup is vital for a smooth customer experience.  To support this commitment, we actively seek feedback from our clients, valuing their perspectives as a compass for improvement. By prioritizing reliability and actively engaging with client insights, we not only meet but exceed expectations, fostering a technological environment where our clients can trust in a consistently superior experience.

To ensure the delivery of top-tier service, we are implementing a new support request system. This system will:

  1. Make it easier for clients to submit support requests.
  2. Offer clear communication and documentation for all service requests.
  3. Allow the Client to view the status of the request.
  4. Allow the client to participate in a post-service survey to ensure we exceed expectations.
  5. Provide real-time reports to create greater security, improve performance, and insights to grow your business.

This system will equip clients with the tools to facilitate clear communication of their requests and enable the consolidation of related inquiries, ensuring transparency and prompt responses.

Why Reliability Reduces Costly Risks

Having a managed IT service provider dedicated to reliability is crucial. Businesses rely heavily on their IT infrastructure to maintain operations, support critical functions, and safeguard valuable data. Any disruption or downtime can lead to significant financial losses, tarnished reputations, and lost opportunities. A managed IT service provider like TEK Utah, with an unwavering focus on reliability, offers peace of mind to clients by ensuring that their systems are consistently up and running, minimizing the risk of costly disruptions. By trusting us with their IT needs, clients can focus on their core business objectives, knowing that their technology is in capable hands. A dedicated commitment to reliability isn’t just a luxury—it’s necessary for businesses striving for sustained success in today’s digital age.

How to Leverage Managed IT and Elevate Reliability Today!

As a client:

We’d welcome your feedback on how we’re supporting you through all our values by completing our customer satisfaction survey. Go here!

If you’re ready for your executive technology review, where we’ll perform an audit and provide custom reports and strategies to reduce your bottom line and increase performance, contact us directly. If you’re unsure if you’re eligible for a review, reach out, and we’ll share the options available.

In the meantime, stay tuned for updates on using our enhanced support services and elevate the benefits of reliability in your business!

Not a client yet:

If you’re curious about the benefits TEK Utah can provide for your business, we’ve got you covered! Take advantage of our complimentary consultation, where we’ll review the results of our custom assessment and provide at least one strategy to enhance your IT goals. Get access here!