In today’s digital age, cloud computing is crucial for businesses of all sizes. While industry giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud dominate the market, many companies are exploring smaller cloud providers. While these large providers have advantages, opting for a smaller, more specialized cloud vendor offers several benefits, especially for businesses looking to prioritize security and customer service. Here’s why using a smaller cloud service provider could be the smarter choice for your business.
One of the primary benefits of choosing a smaller provider to is reduced exposure to large-scale cyberattacks. Major cloud providers, because of their size and visibility, often attract the attention of cybercriminals. These platforms are constantly in the crosshairs, meaning that businesses relying on them may inadvertently become targets of sophisticated, widespread attacks.
Smaller providers, on the other hand, present a smaller target. Their lower profile means they are less likely to attract attackers looking for mass disruption or breaches, and therefore businesses may reduce their vulnerability to large-scale cyberattacks, which can result in downtime, data loss, and significant reputational damage.
Another major advantage of using a smaller cloud computing provider is the quality of customer service and support. Large providers typically serve hundreds of thousands of customers, which can lead to impersonal or slow support. In contrast, smaller providers often offer more personalized, attentive service because they manage a smaller client base. With fewer customers to manage, these providers can offer quicker response times, more direct communication channels, and a deeper understanding of your business’s specific needs.
In many cases, smaller providers prioritize customer relationships, ensuring that businesses have access to dedicated support teams who are familiar with their operations. This personalized support, a hallmark of top cloud service providers, can make a significant difference in ensuring smooth cloud operations, particularly for businesses without large internal IT teams.
Smaller providers tend to offer more flexible and customizable solutions than their larger counterparts. Large providers often have set services and rigid infrastructure, making it difficult to adapt to unique business needs or specific industry requirements. Smaller providers, however, are often more willing to tailor their offerings to meet the specific needs of their clients.
Whether it’s offering custom storage solutions, scalability options, or more specific security protocols, smaller providers can offer a level of flexibility that large ones may not be able to match. This customization can be especially important for businesses in niche markets or those with highly specialized operational needs.
Smaller cloud providers often provide more competitive pricing compared to larger ones. Major platforms tend to have complex pricing models, which can be difficult to navigate and may include hidden costs, especially as businesses scale. While larger providers offer a range of services, businesses often find themselves paying for features they don’t need or use.
In contrast, smaller providers typically offer simpler, more transparent pricing models, allowing businesses to better manage their budgets and avoid unexpected costs. Additionally, they may offer more tailored pricing plans based on specific business requirements, helping companies avoid paying for unused resources.
When working with smaller vendors, businesses often develop stronger relationships with the provider. These partnerships go beyond just transactional exchanges—they evolve into more collaborative and strategic alliances. Smaller providers are invested in the success of their clients because their reputation and growth are closely tied to customer satisfaction.
As a result, smaller providers are often more proactive in helping businesses succeed, offering advice, insights, and services that are closely aligned with the company’s goals. This relationship can be valuable when navigating complex deployments with trusted providers, scaling resources, or addressing security concerns.
Some smaller service providers specialize in serving niche industries or specific sectors. Whether it’s healthcare, finance, or legal, these providers have deep expertise in the regulatory and compliance requirements of their chosen industries. This specialization allows them to offer highly relevant and compliant solutions tailored to the needs of businesses operating in those fields.
Larger cloud vendors often take a more general approach, which may not account for the specific nuances of certain industries. For businesses that need specialized solutions or face stringent regulatory requirements, smaller cloud service providers can offer expertise and services that larger providers may overlook or ignore entirely.
In an increasingly globalized world, data sovereignty and compliance with regional regulations have become critical considerations for many businesses. Smaller cloud service providers often operate localized data centers, ensuring that businesses meet legal and regulatory requirements specific to their country or region.
For example, European companies may prefer cloud service providers with data centers located within the European Union to ensure compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Smaller providers can offer better assurances regarding where data is stored and how it is managed, making them a preferred option for businesses with specific regulatory obligations.
While large cloud computing providers offer robust infrastructure and a wide array of services, smaller cloud providers offer a unique set of advantages that shouldn’t be overlooked. From reduced security risks and personalized customer service to flexible solutions and competitive pricing, smaller cloud providers can deliver a more tailored and secure experience. For businesses looking to maximize the benefits of cloud computing while minimizing risk and enhancing customer support, a smaller provider may be the right choice.
In an era where cybersecurity and customer relationships are more important than ever, considering a smaller, and perhaps a local cloud computing service provider, could be a strategic move that leads to better outcomes for your business.
Microsoft recently revealed that it lost critical security logs from September 2 to September 19, sparking concerns about its ability to safeguard sensitive data. These logs are essential for detecting and investigating security breaches, making their absence a significant issue for Microsoft and its cloud customers.
Business Insider initially reported on the loss of log data earlier this month. The affected products include Microsoft Entra, Sentinel, Defender for Cloud, and Purview, according to the Business Insider report.
These logs are very critical for tracking and investigating security breaches, something that makes their absence a significant problem at both Microsoft and to its customers. The issue has emerged at a time when cloud service security is under increasing scrutiny as there are an increased number of high-profile cybersecurity incidents.
The incident has rekindled much debate on the shared responsibility model in cloud security, whereby providers and customers share critical roles in the protection of data. Although customers are often encouraged to implement their own complementary security measures, such as encryption and access controls, there's a range of vulnerabilities associated with dependence on providers for critical logging and monitoring functions.
This further stresses that an organization needs not only to trust its cloud provider but also be involved in their security posture. It goes on to say that audits, additional investments in security tools, and the creation of security awareness make companies less vulnerable by not having to rely exclusively on the security measures their cloud provider will take.
Security logs are records of activities carried out in the cloud, including every access to the systems, configurations changes, or unauthorized and suspicious activities on the network. These logs help the security teams notice and analyze potential security breaches, thus standing at the core of any efficient cybersecurity strategy. Actually, they present the basis needed to find intrusions or even determine what actually happened during a breach.
In the case of Microsoft, this log loss impacts its Azure cloud customers and those others who use Microsoft's cloud-based services. For companies who rely on the products of Microsoft for day-to-day running processes, the lack of this critical information not only makes them more vulnerable but also renders it difficult to determine whether any vulnerability has been exploited during recent months.
It is the loss of these logs that follows several cybersecurity breaches linked to Microsoft's services. Earlier this year, Microsoft's Azure platform was at the center of a high-profile breach where state-sponsored actors allegedly accessed email accounts of U.S. government agencies. The absence of critical security logs will make investigations into that and other incidents more difficult, which could slow down responses and mitigation efforts.
The absence of logs further complicates the process of cybersecurity experts to trace how the attack has been gained, what data has been compromised, and how to protect themselves against similar breaches in the future.
The missing logs for customers could mean they do not know if their systems have been compromised or what kind of specific action is required to prevent further damage. It brings forth wider concerns about Microsoft's capacity to offer trustworthy cloud services, especially to enterprises and government organizations that have to deal with highly sensitive data.
Microsoft quickly acknowledged responsibility for the incident and assured that it will retrieve the lost data as well as take better logging in the future. The company has not gone further, though, to release specific details related to how the logs were lost or exactly what it's doing to prevent similar issues in the future. This lack of transparency adds fuel to the fire that upsets both customers and cybersecurity experts.
The logging outage follows a previous controversy where Microsoft was criticized by federal investigators for not providing security logs to certain U.S. government departments using its government-only cloud. These logs could have exposed China-backed hacks, known as Storm-0558, much earlier. The hackers gained access to sensitive U.S. government emails. The State Department only identified the breach because it had paid for a higher-tier license that included access to these logs. After the breach, Microsoft promised to offer logs to lower-tier customers starting September 2023.
Microsoft cloud services form the backbone of businesses, schools, and governments around the world. Ongoing success depends partly on the company's continued ability to ensure trust in its platform, as organizations increasingly move their operations to the cloud.
The implication of the loss of these logs goes far beyond this single incident and into the very core of cloud security as a whole. With more firms moving into cloud-based services, they put immense trust in providers such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to make sure that their data is secure. Events like this serve as a rude awakening that even the most gigantic tech companies are not immune from security failures, and customers must remain vigilant in protecting their own environments.
Moreover, the role of Microsoft also symbolizes that a company must have effective backup systems with redundancy in place for any critical data, including security logs. Companies cannot rely on the cloud providers exclusively as their lone source of security, without risk; they must be vigilant in monitoring and securing all the systems too. This may include outsourced third-party services for security, as well as additional layers of logging and monitoring in such a way that there is no compromise of critical data being lost either.
The wider cybersecurity community has moved with quick alacrity to react to the news. Some critics have pointed to the loss of logs as an example of why companies should maintain a diverse security strategy rather than be dependent on one sole provider. Security professionals are concerned that the gap in logs can allow threats to go longer without being realized in the systems, thereby increasing the time for long-term damage.
On the other hand, people argue on behalf of Microsoft, stating that it is not something strange in this ever-evolving cloud environment, as providers have to deal with massive malicious activities. They underscore that the way to prevent such issues from happening again consist of more open relations between cloud hosts and customers.
It is thus evident that the incident served as an eye-opener for Microsoft. Indeed, the company will now have to regain customers' trust in its cloud services by taking immediate, serious measures towards enhancing logging capabilities and general security infrastructure. In the coming weeks, the company should do its best to communicate clearly with its customers as it strives to achieve the solution of this problem and demonstrate that its cloud services can be secure in the days ahead.
To the wider tech industry, it is a reminder that assurance of good security practices is constant in a digitally connected globe. That means companies with cloud environments should be proactive in securing their own environments, while cloud providers take responsibility to have the required safeguards against similar incidents.
Opting for a smaller, alternative cloud service provider can offer cybersecurity advantages. Smaller providers often present a smaller target for attackers, which reduces the likelihood of being singled out in large-scale cyberattacks. This can lower the inherent risks associated with using major cloud providers, which tend to attract more attention from cybercriminals.
We all value work and family balance. But during the holidays, that seesaw tends to teeter more toward family, even when end-of-year deadlines hang over our heads.
No one wants to be the office jerk who says NO to flexible working routines. However, if you say yes, you may open your business up to increased (cyber)security risks – unless you have clear Work From Home strategies.
A recent study by Tenable found that 67% of business-impacting cyber-attacks targeted remote employees.
Working remotely is like having your cake and eating it too. Still, it’s entirely appropriate to ask your employees (and yourself) to eat the cake at the dinner table.
What we mean is that to support your employees’ productivity and company security, make sure you’re implementing some Work From Anywhere (WFA) best practices.
Just as they can’t eat the cake off the floor, if your employees are going to work from home or Grandma’s basement, they need to check that their setup meets simple expectations.
According to Tenable’s survey, 98% of remote workers use a personal device for work every single day. A cyber security policy includes all aspects of your company, not just remote work. However, remote work is unique, and you may need to take extra steps to protect your business if remote work is happening at your company.
This includes installing security software on devices and enforcing multifactor authentication on their device, work applications, and when accessing the company’s network.
Train your team on at-home security, like how to spot phishing e-mails, create strong passwords and keep kids or other family members away from work devices.
Nobody wants to get tied up in a security snafu or lose productivity over remote work.
Make remote work policies a core pillar of your company so that whenever an employee requests time off, you have a policy in place to ensure they can do their best work and do it safely!
If you are not sure where to start with your Work From Home policies, give us a call at 732-926-0112 in New Jersey, or leave us a message here!
In the meantime, you can also check our previous post about How To Enable Remote Work Without Exposing Your Entire Business To Cybercriminals.
If you ask a security professional, you get by-the book advice about sharing passwords: “Don’t share passwords.” But we know, in reality, that doesn’t work. Your office might be sharing a single password for apps like SurveyMonkey right now to save cash on buying additional users, and some social media accounts don’t even give you the option to have multiple log-ins.
Sharing passwords in your office is sometimes necessary for collaboration, and the best way to do this is by using a password manager.
Affordable (some platforms even offer free versions), layered with security and simple to use, password managers are the safest and easiest way to store and share your company’s private passwords.
Shared accounts are the biggest reason businesses share passwords, whether their employees work from a physical office or at home. It improves collaboration and makes employees’ jobs a lot easier.
Medical leaves, turnover, vacations and “Bob isn’t coming in because he ate bad fish last night but has our Amazon log-in” are other reasons passwords get handed around.
However, unsafe sharing habits will put your private passwords in the hands of greedy hackers, who can fetch a high price for your data in dark web markets.
IBM Security reported that in 2022, 19% of all breaches were caused by stolen or compromised credentials.
When it comes to password sharing, remember:
When choosing a password manager, businesses must exercise caution due to potential security vulnerabilities. For instance, LastPass experienced breaches in 2022, 2021, 2016, and 2015, highlighting the need to evaluate the security history of any service.
We recommend using reliable password managers because they have multiple layers of encryption so only those with a key (your master password) can see it, AND they include more robust security and sharing features like:
By understanding both the features and potential risks, businesses can make informed decisions. Prioritize password managers with a strong track record of security and those that offer comprehensive protective features.
Navigating the world of online security can be daunting, but certain tools offer invaluable protective measures.
By leveraging these features, users can navigate their digital lives with increased confidence, knowing they have robust defenses against ever-evolving threats.
It’s a good idea to avoid sharing passwords as much as possible, but when you have to, use a reliable password manager to ensure you have control over exactly who sees your credentials. A password manager not only helps in managing access but also in maintaining the integrity of your business's data.
Talk to your employees about safe password hygiene. Encourage practices like creating strong, unique passwords for different accounts. Host regular security-awareness training sessions to keep security top of mind. These sessions can cover the latest threats and offer practical tips for avoiding common pitfalls.
Additionally, use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) with every account. MFA adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that even if passwords are compromised, unauthorized access is still thwarted.
It’s not just safe business – it’s smart business. Implementing these measures not only protects your assets but also reflects a commitment to operational excellence, making your business both secure and intelligent.
If you’re not sure which password manager to use, get in touch with us and we’ll get you set up with one.
Businesses face a growing number of cybersecurity threats. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics, making it imperative to prioritize their organization's security. One crucial step in fortifying your business against potential breaches is conducting a comprehensive security risk assessment. Let’s look at the significance of security risk assessments and how they can shield your valuable data from falling into the hands of malicious actors on the dark web.
A security risk assessment is an in-depth evaluation of your organization's digital infrastructure, systems, and processes. It aims to identify vulnerabilities and potential threats that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your sensitive data. By analyzing your current security measures, a risk assessment helps you gauge your organization's resilience to cyber threats, enabling you to implement targeted mitigation strategies.
Securing your organization’s digital assets is of paramount importance. By conducting regular security risk assessments, you gain crucial insights into potential threats and vulnerabilities, which allows you to implement targeted security measures. Protect your data from ending up on the dark web with a proactive and comprehensive approach. Click here to learn more about how we can help!
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be challenging to stay focused and productive. With constant distractions from social media, e-mail notifications and other online temptations, it’s no surprise that many people struggle to get things done.
Fortunately, technology can also be an asset to help you stay on task and reach your goals, regardless of whether you’re trying to accomplish things in the workplace or in your personal life. By using the right tools and strategies, you can harness the power of technology to boost your productivity and stay focused on important tasks.
One of the most effective ways is to utilize the right apps and software.
Countless productivity tools are available, each with unique features and benefits.
Time-tracking apps like Toggl and RescueTime allow you to track how much time you spend on any given task. You’ll quickly identify where you’re wasting time and can make adjustments to reclaim it.
Productivity apps like Asana and Trello can help you create to-do lists and track progress toward accomplishing essential company tasks and projects.
Focus apps like Freedom and SelfControl are also worth looking into if you are continually tempted by distractions. These apps allow you to block access to certain websites for a specified amount of time, which will help you avoid social media platforms and news websites when you should be focused on your work.
Some apps and tools are free, while others require a subscription or a one-time fee.
To determine the best apps for your situation, you should consider various factors, including your work style, goals and your budget.
In addition to the many apps that are available, another key strategy involves cleaning up and managing your digital environment. If you use a computer for work, it’s not uncommon for it to become cluttered over time. Clear out applications and documents from your home screen that are no longer needed, and disable those pesky pop-up notifications. Doing so will often boost your computer’s processing power.
Organization is a crucial part of tidying up your digital workspace. If you’re not already using a cloud-based platform, like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, to keep your files organized, now is the time to do so.
If you do use a cloud-based platform, when did you last go through it? Set some time aside every other month to go through your documents to ensure they’re organized in a way that makes it easy to access them. Create subfolders and date everything to truly maximize your efficiency.
These platforms will also allow you to share your documents with minimal effort. And if you’re well organized, you won’t get distracted while hunting for a specific document.
If you work remotely and find that your productivity suffers when you need to contact an employee or a co-worker, communication programs like Zoom and Slack allow you to facilitate real-time collaboration and better connect with your team.
Be careful, though, since communication apps can be a double-edged sword. Yes, they can improve productivity, but they can also redirect your focus if you get pulled into conversations that aren’t work-related. If you find yourself constantly distracted by communication from other team members, set specific times to check your notifications.
As a final tip, if you need additional support when it comes to staying productive and focused, utilize a digital assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. These assistants can be programmed to remind you about important tasks and deadlines before they get too close. They can schedule tasks, help you plan your day and even answer questions quickly.
We don’t have to think about technology only as a distraction. Once you find the right apps and technological tools that fit your work style, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in your productivity.
Being at risk for cyber-attacks is a growing concern among small-business owners.
Cybercriminals often target small businesses because they hold sensitive information and have weaker security infrastructures than larger businesses.
For this reason and more, it should be no surprise that 88% of small-business owners feel vulnerable to a cyber-attack, according to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
To protect your business and your customers, you must implement strong cyber security practices in your business. These are some of the best practices to reduce the risk of falling victim to a cyber threat:
To give your business an extra layer of protection, though, you can get cyber insurance coverage.
Cyber insurance, often called cyber liability insurance, covers the damage your business suffers if you’re the victim of a cyber-attack or data breach.
Here are a few areas where having cyber insurance can help.
Imagine that a cybercriminal gains access to sensitive information, such as your employees’ Social Security numbers or your customers’ credit card numbers. You know the release of this information could cause irreparable harm to your business, and you’re willing to pay whatever it costs to prevent this from happening.
This is the goal of ransomware attacks. Hackers threaten to publish sensitive information or lock you out of vital programs if you don’t pay them.
Cyber insurance will help you pay the ransom.
Cyber insurance providers like to provide coverage to businesses that are proactive with cyber security practices
If sensitive customer information gets stolen from your business, you have a legal obligation to inform your customers.
The average cost of notifying customers of a breach and other post-breach responses is $1.72 million, according to the Ponemon Institute Cost of Data Breach Study.
That’s a cost most small businesses cannot afford, but cyber insurance will help cover it.
If your business becomes the victim of a data breach, you’re going to want to get that information back.
Your policy can protect you and your employees from identity theft, as your insurance provider may pay for identity recovery services.
These are invaluable services, since data and identity recovery can take years to handle on your own.
Cyber insurance can also help cover the costs of customer and employee lawsuits after a data breach, lost income due to network outages and even regulatory fines.
Most cyber insurance policies come with exclusions to which you need to pay attention. Your policy will probably not cover attacks that happened before your coverage started, future profits affected by a data breach or the loss of valuation after a cyber-attack.
All cyber insurance plans are different. You have to analyze the coverage carefully and get the one that best fit your business.
First of all, you have to meet certain qualifications to get a policy, due to the rise in cyber-attacks and cyber security awareness.
Every cyber insurance provider will look at the strength of your network security before considering your business for coverage. If your network is weak and at a high risk of being targeted, they are not going to take a chance on you.
If your business is within an industry that requires cyber security compliance, make sure you’re compliant. If you’re not, cyber insurance providers won’t even give your business a second thought before rejecting your application for coverage. This shouldn’t be an issue, as most businesses stay compliant, but double-check your requirements with your current IT provider or team to ensure all your bases are covered.
If you’re considering cyber insurance but are worried about the cost, you can do a few things to make it more affordable.
Cyber insurance providers like to provide coverage to businesses that are proactive with cyber security practices.
Implementing an incident response plan will show providers your business has procedures in place to handle emergencies if they arise. Researching all third parties you work with and showing they have strong cyber security practices will also benefit you.
Cyber insurance can be an incredibly beneficial cyber security element to add to your business. As new cyber-attacks and threats continue to develop, it’s essential to get all the protection you possibly can.
If you want to know more about cyber insurance for small businesses, take a look here or contact us at 732-926-0112; one of our cybersecurity experts will be happy to assist you.
Every industry is full of businesses trying to persuade and attract the same group of customers to shop with them, so you can’t just do the same thing as your competitors and expect your business to survive.
If you’re looking to start a new business or if your current business needs a refresh, there are things you can do to give your business a leg up on the competition.
You don’t necessarily need to revolutionize your industry to see success. You just need to stand out more than your competitors. Think for a moment, what do your customers actually want and need in your industry? How can you provide more or something different than your competitors?
When you find the answers to these questions, you’ll be well on your way to creating a profitable business.
When you own or operate a business, you want your customers to shop with you for life. That means you need to come up with some ideas to encourage loyalty.
Sure, you could start a loyalty program, but how can you be sure your rewards are better than your competitors? Instead, make each customer interaction about the customer. Personalize their experience so they feel valued at your business.
We live in a world full of distractions. Every one of us has a smart phone capable of keeping in contact with anyone at any time, searching the Internet for endless information and scrolling through social media for hours on end.
These distractions can quickly take away from our productivity, but it’s not always easy to put our phones down. Here are two ways to reclaim your focus so you can get back to work.
Find out what’s most commonly distracting you and find a way to block it out. If you’re distracted by your phone, turn on Do Not Disturb mode or turn your phone off.
If you struggle with talking to co-workers, close your office door. Log out of your social media accounts so they’re not as easy to access.
It’s essential to take breaks during your work to stay focused and refreshed. This is when you should be looking at the things distracting you.
Make sure you have breaks throughout the day and set a reminder so you take them. If you actually take breaks, you’ll be less likely to reach for your distractions while working.
The year 2022 was a big one for IT, experiencing growth in all areas, especially for IT infrastructure in remote work due to the pandemic.
When businesses fail to have updated IT infrastructure in place, regardless of company size or location, their customers’ and employees’ sensitive information is at risk. By investing in proper IT infrastructure, businesses can improve productivity while saving money. It’s a win-win situation.
Keeping that in mind, business owners need to be aware of changes in the IT industry so they can best protect their businesses and customers.
The IT industry is continuing to grow, so you must make necessary updates.
Here, you’ll find the most important IT news and trends of 2022. Understanding these trends will help foster success into 2023 and beyond.
One of the biggest challenges for many industries was the need for reliable IT services for remote employees.
Businesses had to send their employees home, so they needed to find ways to ensure their information would stay protected.
"When businesses fail to have updated IT infrastructure in place, regardless of company size or location, their customers’ and employees’ sensitive information is at risk."
To fix this issue, many businesses started working with MSPs to help with their IT and cyber security needs.
MSPs can install, support and maintain all the users’ devices and PCs connected to the network. Since they manage devices remotely, they’re available to help employees with their concerns as soon as they arise.
MSPs are also incredibly beneficial when it comes to protecting information from hackers and other significant problems. They’ll be there to assist with issues such as lost devices, hardware failures, natural disasters and many other situations.
Between rising costs due to inflation and staffing issues, many small-business owners are doing more of the repetitive but necessary tasks that don’t bring much value to the business. However, many things can be automated, including email marketing and data entry.
Business owners don’t have to do everything on their own, especially when they can automate many of these essential daily tasks. Implementing automation leaves business owners and employees less stressed while freeing up time for higher-valued tasks.
Cybercriminals are getting smarter and bolder. In 2022, we saw cyber-attacks against the Israeli and Polish governments; the school system in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and large businesses such as Uber and Crypto.com.
No business is exempt from cyber-attacks.
Many small businesses don’t prioritize cyber security, and cybercriminals know this. They will try to target and compromise businesses that they think are an easy target.
Proper cyber security training for employees, as well as hiring an MSP, can reduce the risk of hackers gaining access to critical information.
If your business didn’t pay much attention cybersecurity this year, some of your business information like employee credentials, network passwords or client’s personal information could be for sale on the dark web already. Take an assertive approach to protecting your business by starting with a dark web scan to find out if your business has been a victim of a data breach recently.
If you’re a small-business owner, it’s essential to include your business’s IT needs in your plans for 2023. Doing so will allow you to stay ahead of your competition while ensuring your employees and customers are well protected.
If you own or operate a business, you’ve probably adapted to a number of changes over the years.
As you inch closer to year-end, it’s time to figure out what still needs to be done.
One of those potential changes might be an upgrade to your business’ network infrastructure.
When you look at making updates or adjustments to your business, you’re probably doing so in an effort to bring in a greater profit than the previous year.
While updating your software or hardware might not provide an obvious benefit to your sales goals, it can help save your business quite a bit of money in the long run.
It can even boost your sales and overall productivity when the right updates are put in place. Here are four major benefits that come with updating your network infrastructure.
New technological advancements are made every day, and failing to keep up with them can hinder your business operations.
This can be seen clearly with Internet connectivity.
If your Internet speeds are slow, your employees will work at a slower pace.
Client-facing applications will also lag and can be detrimental to your customers’ satisfaction with your business.
Investing in a new network will allow you to utilize faster Internet speeds so you and your employees can work quicker with fewer interruptions; this will improve productivity and help more clients in an efficient manner.
As your business grows, your network needs to grow with it.
We talk about the importance of cyber security a lot, and it’s because one successful cyber-attack could bring irreparable harm to any business, regardless of reputation or size.
Cyberthreats are more complicated than ever before, and cybercriminals can easily navigate old and outdated networks.
Newer networks are built with more defenses to thwart would-be hackers.
Even if you’ve recently upgraded your network, you need to continually update your software.
New patches are continually released that help plug the holes cybercriminals are exploiting.
An upgraded network provides business owners with more options than they could ever dream of. You’ll have access to countless applications that will benefit your business and give you a step ahead of your competitors, but your network needs to be as strong as possible to get the most out of them.
If you upgrade your network on old infrastructure, you will put more strain on your system, and your IT person or company will have to step in to help out.
Investing in modern network infrastructure will help fix many problems in your business and will give your employees more time to be productive, including your IT specialists.
Now that you’re aware of the benefits of upgrading your network infrastructure, when should you do it?
As your business grows, your network needs to grow with it.
You will also need to upgrade if you’re experiencing any issues with your current network.
If you work in an industry that deals with sensitive client information, like a law firm, you may be legally required to keep your network up-to-date as much as possible.
Upgrading your network and keeping it up-to date-will come with many benefits and few drawbacks.
If it’s been some time since your last upgrade or update, it’s time to reevaluate your needs. And if you are not sure whether your current network needs an upgrade, our IT experts would be glad to help you examine your network infrastructure; book a 15-minutes call with one of our IT experts here.
In today’s digital age, cloud computing is crucial for businesses of all sizes. While industry giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud dominate the market, many companies are exploring smaller cloud providers. While these large providers have advantages, opting for a smaller, more specialized cloud vendor offers several benefits, especially for businesses looking to prioritize security and customer service. Here’s why using a smaller cloud service provider could be the smarter choice for your business.
One of the primary benefits of choosing a smaller provider to is reduced exposure to large-scale cyberattacks. Major cloud providers, because of their size and visibility, often attract the attention of cybercriminals. These platforms are constantly in the crosshairs, meaning that businesses relying on them may inadvertently become targets of sophisticated, widespread attacks.
Smaller providers, on the other hand, present a smaller target. Their lower profile means they are less likely to attract attackers looking for mass disruption or breaches, and therefore businesses may reduce their vulnerability to large-scale cyberattacks, which can result in downtime, data loss, and significant reputational damage.
Another major advantage of using a smaller cloud computing provider is the quality of customer service and support. Large providers typically serve hundreds of thousands of customers, which can lead to impersonal or slow support. In contrast, smaller providers often offer more personalized, attentive service because they manage a smaller client base. With fewer customers to manage, these providers can offer quicker response times, more direct communication channels, and a deeper understanding of your business’s specific needs.
In many cases, smaller providers prioritize customer relationships, ensuring that businesses have access to dedicated support teams who are familiar with their operations. This personalized support, a hallmark of top cloud service providers, can make a significant difference in ensuring smooth cloud operations, particularly for businesses without large internal IT teams.
Smaller providers tend to offer more flexible and customizable solutions than their larger counterparts. Large providers often have set services and rigid infrastructure, making it difficult to adapt to unique business needs or specific industry requirements. Smaller providers, however, are often more willing to tailor their offerings to meet the specific needs of their clients.
Whether it’s offering custom storage solutions, scalability options, or more specific security protocols, smaller providers can offer a level of flexibility that large ones may not be able to match. This customization can be especially important for businesses in niche markets or those with highly specialized operational needs.
Smaller cloud providers often provide more competitive pricing compared to larger ones. Major platforms tend to have complex pricing models, which can be difficult to navigate and may include hidden costs, especially as businesses scale. While larger providers offer a range of services, businesses often find themselves paying for features they don’t need or use.
In contrast, smaller providers typically offer simpler, more transparent pricing models, allowing businesses to better manage their budgets and avoid unexpected costs. Additionally, they may offer more tailored pricing plans based on specific business requirements, helping companies avoid paying for unused resources.
When working with smaller vendors, businesses often develop stronger relationships with the provider. These partnerships go beyond just transactional exchanges—they evolve into more collaborative and strategic alliances. Smaller providers are invested in the success of their clients because their reputation and growth are closely tied to customer satisfaction.
As a result, smaller providers are often more proactive in helping businesses succeed, offering advice, insights, and services that are closely aligned with the company’s goals. This relationship can be valuable when navigating complex deployments with trusted providers, scaling resources, or addressing security concerns.
Some smaller service providers specialize in serving niche industries or specific sectors. Whether it’s healthcare, finance, or legal, these providers have deep expertise in the regulatory and compliance requirements of their chosen industries. This specialization allows them to offer highly relevant and compliant solutions tailored to the needs of businesses operating in those fields.
Larger cloud vendors often take a more general approach, which may not account for the specific nuances of certain industries. For businesses that need specialized solutions or face stringent regulatory requirements, smaller cloud service providers can offer expertise and services that larger providers may overlook or ignore entirely.
In an increasingly globalized world, data sovereignty and compliance with regional regulations have become critical considerations for many businesses. Smaller cloud service providers often operate localized data centers, ensuring that businesses meet legal and regulatory requirements specific to their country or region.
For example, European companies may prefer cloud service providers with data centers located within the European Union to ensure compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Smaller providers can offer better assurances regarding where data is stored and how it is managed, making them a preferred option for businesses with specific regulatory obligations.
While large cloud computing providers offer robust infrastructure and a wide array of services, smaller cloud providers offer a unique set of advantages that shouldn’t be overlooked. From reduced security risks and personalized customer service to flexible solutions and competitive pricing, smaller cloud providers can deliver a more tailored and secure experience. For businesses looking to maximize the benefits of cloud computing while minimizing risk and enhancing customer support, a smaller provider may be the right choice.
In an era where cybersecurity and customer relationships are more important than ever, considering a smaller, and perhaps a local cloud computing service provider, could be a strategic move that leads to better outcomes for your business.
