6 Questions to Ask Before Implementing a Technology Change

litechsol on April 18, 2022

It can be exciting to introduce new technology into your business. Finding a solution that will help your team members do their jobs more efficiently and effectively by filling a gap in your technology infrastructure is certainly an achievement. However, before you get carried away with quickly implementing your new solution to reap the benefits, there are a few things you should know before a technology change.

When introducing new technology into your IT infrastructure, keep in mind that change can be difficult for individuals. It can be hard to predict whether end-users will readily accept or resist the change. Before implementing new technology, you need a well-planned change management strategy to help you achieve success and get the most out of your investment.

Change management is an approach that deals with changes or transformations in organizational processes, objectives, and technology. The goal of change management is to devise strategies to implement and govern transformation while helping people adjust to it.

There are a few factors to consider before beginning your change management journey.

Ask These Questions Before Making a Technology Change:

  1. What is being changed?

It’s critical to review your business environment first to identify critical areas that require a technological refresh as soon as possible. 

Assume you are starting a transition from backup solution “X” to backup solution “Y.” Before implementation, spend some time assessing what the backup solution “X” lacks, why it needs an update, and how important it is. 

  1. What will this change mean for people, processes, and technology?

Communication is essential for successfully driving technological change. Make sure you develop strategies to help your employees adapt to any changes. 

Examine technology mapping and dependencies to ensure you understand the implications of pulling systems offline for updates. Also, determine the processes that need to be modified and the individuals who oversee them.

  1. Who will manage the change?

Identify change leaders and include their contact information in all change communications. It’s a great idea to have an executive sponsor guide your project forward and hold you accountable for deviations from your objectives.

  1. When is the best time to implement this change?

It’s critical to determine the best time to implement a change. A lot of care must go into deciding when to introduce a transformation.

If you’re about to embark on a new transition, but your employees are still dealing with the effects of previous changes, it may be a good idea to postpone the planned transformation if possible. On the flip side, if your employees have adjusted well to a recent change, then introducing a new transition could work out just as well.

  1. How long will the change take?

A change must not be too quick, causing confusion and employee frustration, or too slow, diluting the entire purpose of the transformation. Setting a realistic deadline and striving to meet it is critical.

  1. Who will reach out to support if something goes wrong?

No change is immune to unexpected setbacks. That’s why it is critical to have emergency contacts of people with various skillsets to call upon in the event of a mishap. However, finding people with the necessary skillsets and knowledge base is tricky.

Collaboration with a managed service provider (MSP) who can support you in emergency and non-emergency situations can be a good idea.

Find the Right Partner

Change is a challenging experience. You risk damaging key processes and losing valuable team members to burnout if you don’t have a good change management strategy in place. As experts with years of experience and subject knowledge, we may be exactly what your company needs.

Feel free to contact us for a consultation on change management. LI Tech Solutions offers comprehensive solutions for companies of all sizes that are ready to scale. Call us today.  516-210-6400

5 Ways MSPs Can Support Hybrid Workplaces

litechsol on April 11, 2022

The hybrid workplace isn’t going away. The hybridization of many industries was already a growing trend prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the pandemic solidified that trend into a full-blown economic revolution.

In many industries ranging from tech to finance and more, hybrid workplaces allow employees to work remotely some of the time and in the office the rest of the time. The benefits are numerous, ranging from increased worker flexibility to reduced resource consumption and more.

However, hybrid workplaces can be even more beneficial for your organization when you employ managed services providers like LI Tech Solutions. Let’s take a look at five key ways that MSPs can support hybrid workplaces just like yours.  

Callout 1: Hybrid employee working at home on laptop - Hybrid workplace definition quote from text

Cloud Infrastructure and Support

For starters, managed service providers can offer excellent cloud infrastructure and ongoing support. Cloud infrastructure, software, and other services are most important for hybrid workplaces.

Why? Because through the cloud, organization employees can access the same resources, use the same software, and use all the same files whether they work from home or at the office. Cloud access means that all employees can work together no matter where their computers or end terminals happen to be.

Of course, it takes a dedicated IT team to manage cloud infrastructure and offer 24/7 support. That’s where a managed services provider comes in.

MSPs can help your cloud infrastructure work for your company by:

  • Ensuring that software updates happen consistently and regularly
  • Monitoring the cloud for potential glitches or cyberattacks
  • Helping team members learn how to access the cloud or how to download the appropriate software to their devices
  • And much more

On top of all that, managed services providers can ensure that your cloud resources scale with your organization. Therefore, if you want to stick with a hybrid workplace over the next few years, your cloud infrastructure can grow with your company. An MSP can make that future a reality more easily than ever.  

Callout 2: Dark blue background - Cloud benefits for hybrid employees

Security Updates, Monitoring, and Training

Perhaps more importantly, managed services providers can offer regular security updates for important antivirus and anti-malware measures. These include antivirus software like firewalls, phishing protection for company emails, and much more.

The cybersecurity landscape is always evolving, which means security updates must be implemented and installed as soon as they become available. But it can be tough to keep track of which programs or security software need updates. Your MSP can do all that for you, freeing up your people to work on other tasks.

In addition, MSPs like LI Tech offer 24/7 monitoring for your cloud infrastructure and company systems. This monitoring will ensure that you are alerted whenever there is a potential cyber breach and that cyber breaches will be much less likely to succeed.

In the event of a successful cyberattack, the monitoring from a managed services provider will help you prevent it from occurring in the future.

Of course, many cybersecurity breaches occur because of employee mistakes. To that end, MSPs such as LI Tech Solutions offer security training for your employees. These training seminars can teach the basics of good digital hygiene, like how to build strong passwords and how not to log workplace computers via vulnerable public networks.  

10 Things to Consider Before Hiring an IT Support Company in Long Island, NY

Callout 3: Cloud technology concept - MSPs take care of security updates

Workforce Analytics

On top of all that, MSPs can provide crucial workforce analytics services for your growth and understanding. For example, MSPs can gather data about:

  • How your employees use their time
  • How your software benefits your company
  • How your data is stored and how it is retrieved
  • And much more

All of that data, once properly analyzed, can help you make better decisions for your company. Managed services providers can even help improve your data management and storage policies so they’re more efficient for your workers. This will improve productivity for your hybrid workforce.

Project Management Services and Software

Any manager or executive who oversees a hybrid workforce knows the difficulty of ensuring that all employees are on the same page. Project management becomes a little more difficult when employees work from different places, despite all the other benefits associated with allowing a hybrid workplace.

However, managed services providers can offer project management and organizational services, or connect you to project management software via the cloud. Either of these solutions will help your remote and in-office employees collaborate just as efficiently in a hybrid workplace as they would in a traditional office environment.

Project management services and software help ensure that:

  • Everyone knows what projects they should be working on
  • Project deadlines are met properly
  • Project reports are sent to appropriate leaders or supervisors when needed
  • Supervisors can reassign individuals or rebalance workloads as necessary
  • And more

All of those benefits will make your hybrid workforce just as good as it was before you made the transition.  MSPs support hybrid workplaces to help your organization’s productivity flow.

Callout 4: Hybrid employee working at home on laptop - Managed Service Provides - 3 benefits listed

Increased Organizational Productivity

Lastly, MSPs can support your hybrid workplace by improving organizational productivity across the board. In effect, MSPs take a lot of the busy work or manual tasks of cloud support and cybersecurity away from your team.

Instead, your employees can focus on the core aspect of your business that net you the most profits. Imagine what you could do if your IT personnel could focus on building a new website or online marketing instead of having to monitor security 24/7.

In addition, MSPs support hybrid workplaces by providing value by overseeing your cloud infrastructure. In this way, your workforce can take advantage of the technologies of the cloud without having to continually update it and monitor it for stability.

Bottom line: by hiring an MSP, your hybrid workplace will enjoy greater operational flexibility. Your employees, meanwhile, can be reassigned to other elements of your business depending on what you need.

Summary

Ultimately, managed services providers are valuable for any companies that use hybrid workplaces. If you’ve decided to allow your workforce the flexibility and other benefits of hybridization, consider hiring an MSP for even greater improvements.

As a well-known managed IT services provider in Long Island, we’re well-equipped and ready to assist your hybrid workplace starting today. Contact us for more information!

Why Outsource Your Cyber Security Needs?

litechsol on March 28, 2022

Modern cyber security is more important than ever, but it’s also more expensive and resource-intensive. These days, many companies find it tough to maintain in-house IT or cyber security departments, especially if they aren’t focused on cyber security themselves. There may be an alternative solution: outsource your cyber security needs. Today, let’s break down the benefits of outsourcing cyber security to managed service providers like LI Tech Solutions.

More Predictable Costs

For starters, outsourcing your cyber security may lead to more predictable – and therefore manageable – costs for online security. When your in-house team handles cyber security, they’ll produce bills sporadically for things like software updates, training the team on new initiatives, and for purchasing new security products.

If you pay a flat, regular fee to a managed service provider, your cyber security costs are more predictable. For smaller companies or organizations whose budgets are already thin, this can be a major benefit.  

Callout 1: Benefit of Managed Services predictable cyber security costs fact

Regular Updates and Improvements

Furthermore, outsourcing your cyber security needs to a managed service provider may help you benefit from more regular security updates and improvements.

Malware evolves constantly, so security efforts must also evolve in tandem with cyber threats. This is often accomplished through updates and patches. But it can be tough for your team, especially if they have other things to juggle, to remember these updates and shore up your cyber defenses regularly.

A managed services provider will ensure that cyber security software is updated when needed and improvements are implemented ASAP. In this way, your business will use the most appropriate digital security at all times. But your team won’t have to worry about it since these concerns will be handled by your managed services squad.

Refocused Productivity

By freeing up that manpower in your team, you’ll be able to refocus the extra productivity on other elements of your business, including product design and development, marketing, or something else entirely. It’s up to you!

That refocused productivity can save you a lot of money in the long run, and may also lead to increased profits later down the road. Refocused productivity is crucial for startups that have small teams. For example, if your organization only has 50 people, can you really afford to have 10 of them dedicated to IT security 24/7?  

Callout 2: Hands of keyboard with encryption symbol - Productivity benefits with managed services- 2 listed

Instead, outsourcing your cyber security needs to a managed service provider allows everyone on your team to be focused on your business goals. You can still rest assured that your cyber security needs will be taken care of.

Managed services providers employ experts in the field. In most cases, you will find that the cyber security results from a managed services provider are superior to what you can produce with your own, in-house team. 

24/7 Service

Speaking of IT security 24/7, managed services providers offer maintenance and security responsiveness 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even if the rest of your team is out of the office, your managed services provider can:

  • Respond to sudden attacks or security threats on your business and digital infrastructure
  • Communicate with executives when needed
  • Ensure constant vigilance, even during the late hours of the evening or early hours of the morning

This, in turn, allows you to ensure that your staff enjoys a manageable schedule and that someone doesn’t have to be on hand at midnight to oversee a security patch. Plus, 24/7 security oversight means that malware or other digital attacks will be less likely to succeed and breakthrough digital defenses.  

Callout 3: Cyber security concept - 2 benefits with 24/7 cyber security services

Resource Scalability

As your business grows, IT security scalability will become a more important concern. After all, the more business architecture you have and the more files you need to protect, the more robust your cyber security efforts need to be as well.

Fortunately, outsourcing your cyber security efforts to a managed services provider means scalability comes with the package. As your resource needs grow, your managed services provider will update your software, offer new security measures, and assign more people to your business.

Iterated Threat Detection/Responses

One of the big benefits of outsourcing your cyber security needs is improved cyber security results. As your managed services provider learns your business and the types of threats you encounter, it will:

  • Continually iterate on its threat detection methods, enabling it to counter cyber threats before they become real issues
  • Continually iterate on its response times and effectiveness.  If a cyber threat does take hold, your managed services provider will be able to respond more capable as it gets more practice

In other words, the longer you stick with a managed services provider, the better security responses you’ll see across your organization. Remember, your business’s team can focus on other aspects of your organization all the while.

More Experienced Responses

On top of that, managed services providers employ experienced IT security professionals. If your business is not focused on IT security or does something completely different, the security specialists from a managed services provider will be far and away better for intercepting and fixing security issues.

This is more important than ever, especially given the increased sophistication of modern cyber threats.  

Callout 4: IT security quote from text

Regulatory Compliance Assistance

Perhaps most importantly, outsourcing cyber security also means outsourcing compliance with the CCPA, GDPR, and other current or prospective legislation. Many organizations need to be careful not to break these regulations, or else they may face heavy fines.

But compliance is an evolving thing. When you outsource cyber security, your managed services team will ensure that you always remain compliant regarding consumer data privacy and protection policies.

Conclusion

Ultimately, outsourcing your cyber security needs is a great choice, even if your company works in the IT industry. Giving cyber security responsibilities to a specialized, 24/7 team could be the best thing you can do for your budget, your team management, and your goals.

Fortunately, LI Tech Solutions offers expert cyber security protection. If you need managed IT services in Long Island, we can help. Contact us today for more information!

Best Practices for Securing a Cloud Environment

litechsol on March 17, 2022

Modern enterprises want to take advantage of the unique benefits and conveniences offered by the cloud. However, you need to know how to secure a cloud environment for your company if you want to store and retrieve your data safely in the future.

Not sure where to start? Let’s break down some of the best practices for securing a cloud environment. Many of these practices are already leveraged by managed tech services such as LI Tech Solutions. But you can also implement these practices yourself.

Implement Encryption at All Endpoints

For starters, any secure cloud system will have thorough encryption for all endpoints, including those for both users and corporate staff. Encryption scrambles important corporate or private data, preventing anyone who scoops the data from being able to read it without an encryption key.

This is crucial because, whenever you use cloud services, you send data back and forth between a network in the cloud. Encryption helps ensure that the data stays safe and secure even while using cloud services regularly.  

Callout 1: Blue digital data security - Encryption helps ensure data stays safe and secure in a secure cloud environment

Secure User Endpoints

Similarly, companies need to secure user endpoints, such as mobile phones, desktops and laptops, and any other user devices. Endpoint security can range from antivirus software to fingerprint scanners and more.

Regardless, boosting endpoint security is vital since it reduces the likelihood of cyber breaches via employee computers. These are some of the easiest means for cybercriminals to get access to company data, so organizations need to make it tougher for them.

Choose the Right Provider

Of course, picking the right cloud services provider is also key to enjoying a secure cloud environment. Different providers will emphasize different security techniques or bring different technologies to the table.

For example, LI Tech Solutions has a detailed list of security best practices for cloud environments, such as two-factor authentication processes and cloud security awareness training. That’s one reason why LI Tech Solutions is the go-to choice for Long Island managed services.  

Callout 2: Mobile phone security with lock - Secure user endpoints facts

Define Usage Policies for the Cloud

But corporate executives can also take security into their own hands. For example, you can write a detailed list of usage policies for all members of your organization. These usage policies will break down:

  • Who is allowed access to the cloud environment
  • When cloud access is permitted
  • What data is allowed to be transferred between your network and the cloud
  • And so on

Defining usage policies is important since it prevents employees from making simple mistakes or from breaching security protocols unknowingly. Once your policies are defined, you can teach employees the right way to use your cloud network or fire employees who fail to abide by security standards.

Digital Hygiene 

Employee knowledge is further highlighted with digital hygiene. Digital hygiene includes:

  • Knowing how to create strong passwords
  • Knowing not to leave security badges or other corporate security tools lying around
  • How to use a VPN in some cases
  • When not to connect a work computer or terminal to a public network (like a coffee house Wi-Fi network)

Corporate executives should regularly hold digital hygiene seminars to make sure their employees are always kept abreast of updated digital hygiene protocols. Practicing digital hygiene is important for everyone in your company, so make sure that you know how to practice it as well!

Set Data Control and Access Policies

Business executives should also maintain strict control of data transfer and access privileges between the company network and the cloud servers. Specifically, you should write down a set of data control and access policies for your entire corporation/team.

These policies will:

  • List who’s allowed to access critical or sensitive data, especially data for customers
  • Define who’s allowed to transfer data between the company network and the cloud

In general, it’s wise to only give these privileges to certain trusted individuals. That way, there are fewer opportunities for malicious actors to get access to sensitive company data.  

Callout 3: Cloud computing security lock- Define usage policies fact

Malware Protection

Naturally, malware protection for your company servers and your cloud access points is just as important as it is for everyday computing or Internet surfing. Anti-malware software and tools are very important, especially because malware viruses are constantly updating and evolving.

Luckily, many managed service providers already include malware protection by default. But even if you don’t have a managed service provider, you should implement malware protection for your cloud services ASAP. 

Enable Security Logs

Security logs are important tools to help you determine what the security vulnerability was after a breach or security malfunction. Security logs:

  • May help you catch who breached your servers or sensitive data
  • Can be very important during audits or security tests

In some cases, security logs may even help you update or upgrade your security measures before a major attack occurs. Make sure your IT security team or managed services provider has security logs enabled from the start.

Implement Regular Audits/Security Checks

Speaking of audits and tests, your organization should run regular security checks and audits to:

  • Anticipate and check for potential vulnerabilities
  • Ensure that obvious entrances to your network are sealed up
  • Make sure that security software or detection tools are working as advertised

All of this can help prevent an attack from occurring in the first place, which is always cheaper than recovering from a cyber-attack after the fact.  

Callout 4: Update defenses regularly - 2 facts - blue background

Update Defenses Regularly

Lastly, anyone using a cloud environment should update their antivirus and other defenses regularly. Updates are important because they include fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities and because they prevent malicious actors from exploiting security gaps.

If you have a managed services team running your cloud services, they should include software and network updates as part of their packages.

Contact LI Tech Solutions Today

Of course, you can make things easy for your organization by contacting LI Tech Solutions today. As experts in cloud infrastructure and managed services, we’re well equipped and ready to provide your organization with reliable access to a secure cloud environment for all of your data storage needs.

Why wait? Contact LI Tech Solutions today!

3 Benefits of Conducting a Technology Audit

litechsol on March 7, 2022

When was the last time you conducted a comprehensive technology audit? If it’s been a while or hasn’t happened at all, you’re probably vulnerable to a cyberattack. Cybercrime shows no signs of slowing down and is expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion per year by 2025.* Technology audits have become a necessity. 

Are you confident that your organization is secure with the current remote and hybrid work environments? This is where a technology audit can give you peace of mind. An IT audit is a thorough analysis and assessment of an organization’s IT infrastructure, policies and procedures.

Importance of Technology Audits

Here are five reasons why a technology audit is essential to organizational resilience and overall success:

  1. Detects security vulnerabilities
  2. Ensures that the organization is up to date on security measures
  3. Establishes the foundation for the organization’s new security policies
  4. Prepares the organization to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a cyberattack
  5. Helps maintain compliance with various security regulations

Benefits of Technology Audits

Comprehensive technology audits have three key benefits:

 

1. No Surprises

IT components that we use and trust every day may have hidden threats that we can easily overlook. If not addressed early on, such threats can quickly escalate into a full-fledged data breach. An IT audit is extremely beneficial when it comes to addressing this particular concern.

A properly planned auditing process creates a map of your IT environment that helps you understand how everything connects and which areas expose you to threats. This allows you to focus your remediation efforts where they are needed the most.

Consider this: What if one of your top executives was secretly selling all your intellectual property ideas to your main competitor? That could sink your company or significantly reduce your profit potential. Unmapped and unaccounted-for technology landscapes can lead to similar outcomes.

To avoid this, regularly monitor, update, patch, and clean up the proverbial dust in your infrastructure. You might soon discover that someone intentionally or unintentionally downloaded a piece of malicious code that’s spreading like wildfire across your network, waiting for the perfect moment to demand a ransom or continue spying and stealing your best ideas.

 

2. Data-Driven Decision Making

A properly conducted audit will provide you with valuable data that you can use to make core business decisions. Its value extends to security budgeting as well. A data-driven approach to developing cybersecurity strategies can assist you in making more informed budget decisions. You’ll have a better idea of where to spend your money.

An audit can also help you prioritize your goals based on what’s most pressing, exposing vulnerabilities or what’s causing productivity loss.

 

3. A Vision for the Future

An audit can lay the groundwork for a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis is a technique for evaluating the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of your business. It’s a powerful tool that can assist you in determining what your company excels at right now and formulating an effective strategy for the future.  You can read more in our blog; The Latest Technologies in IT Solutions for Businesses on Long Island, NY. 

Armed with a thorough understanding of your technology’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, you can begin planning years in advance and share the vision with team members to keep them motivated.

Now that you understand the benefits of conducting a technology audit and may be considering auditing your organization’s technology, contact LI Tech Solutions for complete data protection services. 

Are you ready to start planning your technology audit? Contact us today for a free assessment.

 

Source:

* Cybersecurity Ventures

6 Major Tools for Enterprise Data Protection

litechsol on February 24, 2022

For the modern enterprise, data protection is of the utmost importance. Keeping your company’s data safe isn’t just important for your operations and the security of your customers.  It’s also necessary so you can adhere to new regulations and guidelines like the GDPR.

However, cyber threats are also evolving at a breakneck pace. It can be difficult to know what tools you should prioritize or what services you should employ to maximize enterprise data protection.

Today, let’s break down six important tools you should use for protecting your company’s critical data. 

Ransomware Protection

First, ransomware must remain at the top of your cybersecurity team’s awareness. Ransomware threats are constantly evolving and viruses or malware can enter your company’s systems in a variety of ways, such as:

  • Phishing emails
  • Viruses from sketchy websites
  • Bad digital hygiene from employees
  • And more

Ransomware viruses often take or delete critical data, then hold copies hostage to extract a ransom from your company. Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, your business should invest in quality ransomware protection, such as ongoing digital hygiene seminars, antivirus software, firewalls, and managed security services.  

Callout 1: Data protection privacy concept - Ransomware threats can enter your company's system in variety of ways - 3 bullet points

As a bonus, defending yourself against ransomware may prevent you from having to pay excessive fines or fees for losing control of valuable customer data or personal information. 

On-Premises and Cloud Backup Architecture

Even the most robust digital systems will sometimes collapse or fail, whether it’s from resource overdrawing or power grid issues. When that happens, your critical data has to be backed up in more ways than one.

By backing up important data, you can bring your website or servers back online almost instantaneously once things are fixed. More importantly, you can restore the most recent version of your site or IT infrastructure using backed-up data.

That backed-up data is also important for your customers. If a customer needs to access important data, you’ll have it ready for them since it will be backed up and restored to its usual location on your company’s servers or IT architecture.

You should invest in both on-premises and cloud backup architecture for the best results.  On-premises backup architecture gives you direct control over data backups, but cloud backup architecture:

  • Often comes with additional security
  • Is not subject to the same collapse conditions as your on-premises architecture
  • Can be overseen and controlled by a managed services provider like LI Tech

With both backup systems enabled, your company will rarely if ever, lose any critical data, even in the event of a major crash or system collapse.  

Callout 2: Cloud backup with padlock icon - On-premises and cloud backup architecture - 2 points from text

Ongoing, Continuous Critical Data Protection

Your most important data shouldn’t just be backed up once a week or even once per day. It should instead be backed up in near real-time. This enables you to restore any critical data, whether for your company or your customers, at practically any point in time.

Continuous data protection does just this. It always backs up critical files almost instantaneously, so the most recent version of data is always stored somewhere else, typically in the cloud or off-site.

As you employ continuous data protection, you’ll also find that your IT infrastructure is further fortified against other cyber threats, like ransomware attacks. There’s no reason not to use continuous data protection in this day and age if you have any critical files for your business or customers.

Data Encryption

Another aspect of continuous enterprise data protection means employing end-to-end data encryption for all workplace devices, plus any cloud server access points. End-to-end data encryption means securing files or workstations at both ends of access, not just employee terminals, for example.

End-to-end data encryption is also useful if some or all of your workforce does work remotely. Ransomware or other cyber threats are oftentimes picked up at vulnerable public access points, such as coffee shop servers or unsecured work laptops.

End-to-end data encryption ensures that these potential vulnerabilities won’t negatively affect your enterprise or result in data theft.  

Callout 3: Important data from text on blurred cloud technology background

Self-Directed Healing

It’s also important to lean into self-directed healing or self-healing IT infrastructure. Machine learning and data analytics innovations now allow systems or IT infrastructure to heal themselves by:

  • Managing their resources more effectively, especially to prevent server or infrastructure crashes
  • Resolving datacenter limitations
  • Ensuring operational consistency
  • Balancing performance levels throughout computer infrastructure
  • And more

In short, self-directed healing is a novel way for your enterprise’s data to remain secure and safe. Your IT infrastructure will monitor itself for any potential problems and send a warning if there’s a catastrophic issue coming ahead.

Managed service providers often employ self-directed healing protocols to enterprise IT infrastructure. That’s just another benefit of hiring a managed service provider for your organization.

Managed Resource Scaling

Lastly, all enterprises should leverage managed resource scaling like never before. This is especially important for small businesses that hope for rapid growth in the future.

Even with the best planning, spikes in usage can sometimes cause catastrophic and cascading failures in IT infrastructure, leading to server outages, website wipes, and lost data.

Managed services providers can employ resource scaling to ensure your enterprise always has the server resources it needs no matter how much traffic or attention it gets. This can also protect against certain types of cyber threats, like DDoS attacks.

But even beyond protecting your organization’s data, resource scaling is cost-efficient and allows your enterprise to better predict ongoing server resource costs. This, in turn, may help you budget more effectively in the future.  

Callout 4: Managed Resource Scaling info from text

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the most important data protection solutions are all available from managed service providers like LI Tech. As the ideal managed IT services provider for Long Island businesses, LI Tech is well equipped and ready to help your enterprise protect its data in more ways than one.

With our managed services and cloud operations, your data will be secured from attacks, backed up multiple times and insulated against crashes, and more. Contact us today to learn more or to set up a consultation – we’ll find the perfect solution for your company’s unique needs.

Top 4 Tech Trend Predictions for 2022

litechsol on February 14, 2022

Over the last few decades, technology has been a driving force in business transformation and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. The fact that direct digital transformation investments are projected to total $7 trillion between 2020 and 2023 demonstrates this.1 If you want your firm to succeed, you must have the appropriate technologies to help you keep up with the changing business world. Let’s take a look at the tech trend predictions for 2022.

In the present scenario, your technology must enable you to overcome three recent pandemic-induced issues:

  • Supply chain disruptions

In 2021, supply chain interruptions cost businesses throughout the world an average of $184 million.2

  • The great resignation

In September 2021, 4.4 million people resigned from their jobs in the United States alone, setting a new record.3

  • A rise in ransomware attacks

Ransomware affected 68.5% of businesses in 2021.4

Businesses must keep up with the demands of the evolving technology landscape if they wish to achieve their goals and remain competitive despite the changes brought about by the pandemic.

Track the latest technological trends to know if you are moving in the right direction. Having a managed service provider (MSP) on your side allows your business to stay up to date without you having to do much heavy lifting.

 

Top 4 tech trend predictions for 20225

  1. Third-party risks will increase

In 2022, third parties will be involved in 60% of security incidents. This means that firms that fail to invest in the risk management trifecta of people, processes, and technology may face cyberattacks.

Proactive businesses will include risk assessment, supply chain mapping, real-time risk intelligence, and business continuity management in their IT stack (rather than a single application like Excel).

  1. One-third of companies will fail at implementing “work from anywhere”

To successfully and securely empower remote workers, organizations need to deliver:

  • A precisely designed digital workplace that allows for seamless working from anywhere
  • A leadership team capable of leading a virtual team
  • An organization with high levels of digital literacy across all departments
  • A thorough mastery of work-from-anywhere concepts

However, a third of the companies still lag in these areas.

  1. Cloud-native takes center stage in enterprise cloud

Cloud customers will change their business strategy to be completely cloud-native rather than using the cloud for only a portion of their portfolio.

Also, cloud-native adoption is predicted to reach 50% of enterprise organizations by 2022, spanning all major technology domains such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.

  1. Tech execs leap from digital to human-centered technology transformations

In 2022, technology executives will concentrate on fixing long-term problems. The best will embrace a customer-centric approach to technology, allowing their organization to quickly reconfigure business structures and capabilities to meet future customer and employee needs with adaptability, innovation, and resilience.

 

Collaborate for success

If you are in NYC or Long Island and want to get your technology infrastructure ready for a successful year, you’ll need the help of a dependable managed service provider (MSP).  Feel free to contact us to set up a free consultation. Our expertise and skillsets may be precisely what your company needs to help remote workers thrive.

 

Sources:

  1. Statista (worldwide-digital-transformation-market-size)
  2. Statista (cost-supply-chain-disruption-country)
  3. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, 2021
  4. Statista (businesses-ransomware-attack-rate)
  5. Predictions 2022, Forrester

IT Cloud Services for New York City Businesses

litechsol on January 31, 2022

Space is at a premium in New York City, and your business may not have the space (or the budget) to run its servers and digital architecture. This is doubly true if your business is relatively new and you want to scale quickly and flexibly with your growing customer base. The solution? IT cloud services are designed specifically for New York City businesses just like yours.

Fortunately, LI TECH Solutions can provide the right cloud services for your organization based on your budget, infrastructure needs, and other factors. Let’s take a look at our IT cloud services for your New York City business now.  

Callout 1: Cloud technology - Infrastructure as a Service - description from text

Cloud Infrastructure as a Service

Cloud infrastructure as a service or IaaS is one of the most important cloud service models for modern companies. Also called cloud infrastructure services, IaaS offers essentially serverless computing by providing computer infrastructure to end-users or clients across the Internet.

More specifically, IaaS can provide your organization with storage, network, servers, and virtualization services. Because of this, your company doesn’t have to maintain its own on-premises data center, nor do you need to worry about updating or maintaining components.

Cloud IaaS gives you the base computing tools you need to run software platforms or programs, ranging from programming kits to web applications and more.

In many cases, IaaS is used in conjunction with both cloud platforms as a service and cloud software as a service if you need a whole host of managed cloud services for your enterprise.

Like all managed cloud services, IaaS allows your team to focus primarily on what you do best: making your products and services for your target customers.  

Callout 2: Scalable cloud hosting quote from text

Scalable Cloud Architecture and Hosting

Many of the best-managed cloud services providers can offer integration and hosting. Full integration of your existing software or data means you don’t have to waste valuable time updating your systems and can instead benefit from cloud resources right off the bat.

Furthermore, organizations like LI TECH Solutions offer scalable and predictable hosting for your organization. This is cost-effective (since you don’t pay for resources you don’t use) and very flexible and convenient for your users.

Imagine that you need additional hosting space on only a few days of the week to handle increased traffic from your customers. With scalable cloud hosting from LI TECH Solutions, you can get just that without having to waste money on additional server space you don’t use throughout the rest of the week.

Cloud Platform as a Service

Platform as a service or PaaS offers cloud-streamed hardware and application software platforms when necessary. As with other cloud services, the hardware or application software platforms are both managed by your third-party service provider, such as LI TECH Solutions.

Meanwhile, your people can handle the full application and any of its data. Cloud PaaS is the choice of particularly good service for developers, programmers, and other tech-heavy companies.  

Callout 3: Cloud technology infrastructure - PaaS offers hardware/application software

In a nutshell, cloud PaaS gives your people the platform they need to develop, run, and eventually even manage their apps without having to build and maintain any additional infrastructure. This includes all the same benefits and conveniences as other cloud services.

  • You don’t have to update the platform or its software
  • You don’t need to worry about any other tech maintenance concerns
  • Platform security is handled entirely by your third-party cloud provider, which ensures your organization is kept up-to-date about modern cyber threats

Cloud Data Backups

LI TECH Solutions take things one step further with PaaS and other managed cloud services: we provide cloud data backups for your servers, workstations, or even individual devices.

Data backups are more important than ever in this day and age. Cyber threats are constantly evolving and tech and finance organizations have to keep their users’ personal data safe, especially if they do international business.

Legislation such as the GDPR and other laws impose harsh fines and penalties if your data isn’t kept properly secure.

With cloud backup architecture ready to go, you won’t need to worry about valuable data being lost because of a crash or hack. If your site or servers ever go down, you can simply reboot to a recent version of the same information and continue with business as normal.

Additionally, LI TECH Solutions offers end-to-end data encryption for all your devices and cloud services. Since we take care of regular updates and maintenance, we also handle ongoing digital security.  

Callout 4: Cloud technology database - LI Tech Solutions provides cloud data backup

Cloud Software as a Service

Cloud software as a service or SaaS is another important managed cloud service. It delivers web applications or software straight to your team without you needing to download and install the software packages manually.

Instead, your team can access any chosen web apps or software solutions straight through their web browsers. This means we handle:

  • General software maintenance
  • Software updates
  • Bug fixes
  • And more

In this way, your team just has to worry about using the apps to their best extent. SaaS from LI TECH can completely eliminate the need for each member of your team to have a version of the app installed on their computers, as well.

Because of this, SaaS facilitates remote work more efficiently and conveniently than any other solution. Entire groups of workers in your enterprise can use the same application through a browser without having to go through the hassle of buying and/or downloading the software beforehand.

How LI Tech Serves New York City Organizations

Ultimately, LI TECH Solutions is the go-to choice for managed cloud services for all New York City enterprises. Why?

Because we offer each of the above cloud services and more. We go above and beyond and offer a variety of cloud setups depending on your unique needs and budget, including:

  • Private clouds
  • Public clouds
  • Hybrid clouds
  • Multi-clouds

Whether you need full-scale cloud infrastructure support, platforms for your web developers to get to work quickly, or specific applications to share between your organization’s members, we can help. LI TECH Solutions offers managed cloud services no matter what you need. Contact us today and let’s get started.

How Data Compliance and Cybersecurity Differ

litechsol on January 21, 2022

When you run a business, compliance, and security are two essential factors. Both are equally important for the seamless operation of your business. While compliance helps your business stay within the limits of industry or government regulations, cybersecurity protects the integrity of your business and sensitive data.

It is worth noting that although security is a prime component of compliance, compliance does not equal security. This is because compliance does not consider the growing threat landscape and associated risks. What it considers, however, is a set of pre-defined policies, procedures, controls, etc.

If an audit concludes that these pre-defined elements are adequate and your business adheres to them, everything is considered “okay” from a compliance standpoint. However, you still may not be up to scratch from a security standpoint, which only goes to show that you can be compliant but still fall short on security.

In other words, because compliance requirements take a predictable path and change slowly, the compliance landscape lags behind the rapidly changing, unpredictable security landscape.

Now, let’s find out how your business can benefit by combining security and compliance.

 

Get Covered With Security and Compliance Solutions

There are multiple security loopholes that you must proactively fix to stay out of danger. You can do it by deploying suitable security solutions. A few common security loopholes and related solutions are:

  1. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

APTs across three attack pillars — endpoints, network, and the cloud — are capable of paralyzing hybrid/remote/on-site work environments. Experts estimate the global APT protection market to be worth close to $6 billion in 2021 and $12 billion in 2025.1 This statistic highlights the trouble caused by APTs. The best way to tackle it is by deploying a solution that can:

  • Offer 24/7 monitoring and threat hunting
  • Efficiently block malicious actors that evade firewalls and antivirus systems
  1. Insider threats skyrocketing at alarming rates

Over the last two years, insider incidents have increased by 47%.2 What makes the scenario even worse is the fact that insider threats are tough to detect. That’s why it is advisable to have an advanced internal threat detection solution that combines machine learning and intelligent tagging to identify anomalous activity, suspicious changes, and threats caused by misconfiguration.

  1. Lack of clarity about the network

Keeping track of all the computers, mobile phones, printers, and servers on your business’ network is challenging, especially in today’s increasingly remote-first approach to work. But without knowing the devices on your network, it is not possible to know your IT network’s health. To combat this problem, you need an automated assessment and documentation solution capable of identifying risks to all assets, including those not physically connected to the network.

  1. Untrained employees and credentials getting sold on the dark web:
  • When your employees are untrained and are unaware of risky actions, it could lead to severe security setbacks. For example, an employee carelessly clicking on a phishing link could lead to a full-blown ransomware attack on your business.
  • Another major security issue that you may encounter is when your credentials get sold on the dark web. Experts estimate that 60% of the information available on the dark web could negatively affect most businesses’ security and financials.3
  • Remember that inadequate data access protocols are not just a security issue but can also land you in hot water with regulators.

Tackle all the above issues by deploying industry-best solutions for security awareness training, dark web monitoring, and identity/access management.

Just like security loopholes, you must also fix compliance loopholes the moment you spot them. Non-compliance can even lead to regulators levying penalties as high as 4% of your company turnover.4 Beyond financial loss, you will also have to face stakeholder dissatisfaction, drop in market share, etc. To avoid such trouble, use a solution that automates compliance processes and generates insightful reports that document compliance.

Read more in our blog: Understanding IAM in the Modern Cybersecurity Landscape: Challenges and Solutions

Convergence of Cybersecurity and Compliance

Most companies have at least minimum protection in place, such as an antivirus on workstations/active firewalls. However, you must make sure that your business’ security posture can withstand the growing cyberthreat landscape. With some effort, you can incorporate your security solutions into your compliance strategy as well.

By carefully bringing both security and compliance together systematically, you can reduce risks significantly. To ramp up your organization’s security posture, you can implement strong authentication, data protection, access monitoring, network-to-edge defenses, etc. By routinely validating the effectiveness of these solutions once they’re in place, you can ensure your organization is taking the necessary measures to avoid non-compliance and security breaches.

Ready to take the next step? LI Tech Solutions can help you today.

Register for a consultation to learn more about how we can help you combine security and compliance to prevent data compliance issues.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

  1. Statista
  2. 2020-Global-Cost-of-Insider-Threats-Ponemon-Report
  3. CSO Online
  4. GDPR Associates

Top Benefits of Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

litechsol on January 17, 2022

Managed services are more important than ever for organizations, especially with the rise of data compliance legislation, frequent software updates, and ever-evolving security risks. 

Managed services allow you to outsource your repairs, updates, maintenance, and other IT concerns to experts who work around the clock to ensure peak performance for your site and company. But what if you’ve never used a managed services provider and don’t know whether it’s worth your time and money?

Let’s break down the advantages and top benefits of managed service providers in detail.

Make IT Costs More Predictable

For starters, managed services make your IT costs more regular and predictable overall. When you sign up for a managed services package:

  • All of your costs are included in the monthly or annual rate you pay
  • Any unexpected expenses are covered under your managed services provider

In this way, you can budget your IT costs more evenly. Small businesses, in particular, may benefit from the predictability and low upfront cost of managed services.

Plus, if your IT systems ever encounter a massive repair that would cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars, you’re covered under the shield and expertise of managed services.  

Callout 1- Make IT Costs More Predictable - 2 bullet points

Low Downtime

The right managed services provider can also significantly reduce downtime for your website or network. The majority of downtime occurs because of equipment issues, such as malfunctioning servers or computers.

Managed services may cut down on the costs of downtime (both in dollars and in reputation) by implementing protective strategies such as:

  • Keeping cybersecurity protocols in place
  • Updating software regularly
  • Minimizing the chance for human error by employing experts in your company’s IT systems
  • Employing other safeguards as necessary

When your organization’s reputation hinges on maximum uptime, a managed services provider might be the best way to go.

Increased Scalability

As your business grows, you’ll need to add new networking capabilities, new software, and hardware, and otherwise scale up your IT systems.

Managed services providers make scalability much easier. They can coordinate scaling your network up, provide the new equipment necessary for the expansion, and even train anyone in your organization who requires special skills.

Alternatively, managed services may allow you to expand and upgrade your systems when it’s necessary without having to permanently hire and train employees who you may not need afterward (which can save you thousands of dollars).

In this way, managed services providers offer you both easy scalability and flexibility without requiring you to commit to massive expenses upfront.  

Callout 2- dark blue background- 3 benefits listed: Low Downtime, Increased Scalability, Boosted Security & Preventive Measures

Boosted Security + Preventative Measures

There’s no denying that cybersecurity concerns are important in this day and age. Small businesses in all industries are routinely targeted by cybercriminals. Even if you have antivirus software in place, keeping it updated and ensuring your security measures are up to snuff is a full-time job for several employees.

A managed services team can take care of cybersecurity for you. Not only can they monitor your system 24/7, but they can also:

  • Ensure that your security protocols and technologies are updated and suitable for modern cyber threats
  • Provide regular security training material as needed
  • Anticipate new cyber threats
  • Implement preventative measures, such as not allowing your day-to-day employees access to critical files or security systems

In many cases, a managed services provider can majorly boost your company’s IT security across the board.

Data Compliance Assurance

Data compliance issues are becoming more common, especially as legislation like the GDPR and CCPA is implemented. Even without this legislation, standards such as the PCI DSS and HIPAA often require compliance from your business to avoid heavy fees and reputational damage.

A managed services provider can ensure that you stay compliant with data security and consumer protection rules at all times. This way, you can reduce the administrative overhead and man-hours required to keep track of such compliance issues yourself.

This is even more important as legislation expands and as new rules are drafted. Once again, you or your employees don’t have to stay up-to-date with each new development. Let a managed service provider do the heavy lifting and free up your time for other aspects of your business.  

Callout 3- managed services virtual touchscreen- 2 benefits listed: Data Compliance Assurance, 24/7 Tech Support

24/7 Tech Support

Even modern IT systems still require tech support from time to time. A managed services provider can offer 24/7 Tech support whenever you need it without having to wait for another organization or a customer service channel.

This flexibility and immediate responsiveness can help you get back on track after a minor technical hiccup or prevent small issues from spiraling out of control.

Regular Upgrades Without Increased Workload

As your software and hardware reach the end of their lifespans, it still needs to be upgraded. Your managed services provider can ensure that your software, including all your security measures, is properly updated without increasing your employees’ workload unnecessarily.

Not only does this free up time for your workforce, but it also ensures that you aren’t subject to a technical glitch or a cybersecurity attack because your company forgot to upgrade to the latest version of a major piece of software.  

Callout 4- 2 benefits listed: Regular Upgrades without increased workload, Expertise on your side

Expertise on Your Side

Perhaps most important of all, a managed services team provides instant access to technical expertise at all times.

You never need to worry about being unable to understand some core part of your IT infrastructure or tech stack. Your managed services team will know the ins and outs of your IT systems and be able to handle maintenance, security checks, repairs, and even replacements when needed.

This technical expertise is more important than ever, especially as tech becomes more complex and as systems interlink with increasing regularity. 

Summary of Benefits of Managed Service Providers

Ultimately, the advantages and benefits of managed service providers are too critical to ignore. That’s why LI TECH’s managed services are ideal for organizations just like yours.

Not only do we offer full network auditing, security, and risk mitigation, but we also provide scaling technologies and support to assist your enterprise as it grows. With LI TECH on your side, your company will thrive in the modern tech environment.

Contact us today for more information about our managed services and cloud architecture benefits.

Connect with LI Tech Solutions: Your Trusted IT Partner in Long Island, NY

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