Increase Your Business’ Success Using Managed IT Services and Solutions

In today’s digital landscape, businesses are increasingly relying on robust and efficient IT systems to drive their operations and achieve growth. However, managing IT infrastructure, data security, and network maintenance can be daunting for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). That’s where managed IT services come in. We’ll explore the benefits of comprehensive managed IT services specifically tailored to meet the needs of SMEs. We’ll delve into a range of services including cloud-based network management, cybersecurity, data backup and recovery, IT infrastructure management, and more, helping SMEs optimize their technology-driven operations.

Save Your Time, More to the Bottom Line: 

Businesses often face resource constraints when it comes to hiring and maintaining an in-house IT team. Managed IT services bridge this gap by providing professional expertise and support at a fraction of the cost. These services offer proactive monitoring, network optimization, troubleshooting, software installation and updates, mobile device management, hardware maintenance, and IT consulting, ensuring that small businesses can focus on their core competencies while leaving IT management to the experts.

Cloud-Based Network Management Solutions: 

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses operate, offering flexibility, scalability, and cost savings. Cloud-based network management solutions allow small businesses to securely store data, access applications, and collaborate from anywhere, anytime. With cloud-based solutions, SMEs can streamline their network infrastructure, improve productivity, easily scale their operations, and benefit from advanced technologies such as virtualization and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

Cybersecurity Services for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: 

In an era of increasing cyber threats, SMEs are often targets of attack. The consequences of data breaches and security breaches can be devastating for businesses of any size. Managed IT services provide specialized cybersecurity solutions that protect sensitive information, safeguard networks, ensure regulatory compliance, and conduct regular security assessments and audits. These services encompass firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), vulnerability management, security incident response, and employee awareness training.

Data Backup, Recovery and Disaster Preparedness: 

Data loss can cripple small businesses, leading to significant financial and reputational damage. Managed IT services offer reliable data backup and recovery solutions tailored to the unique needs of SMEs. These services include regular backups, both on-site and in the cloud, data encryption, disaster recovery planning, business continuity management, and rapid data restoration in the event of system failures, accidental deletion, or natural disasters.

IT Infrastructure Management for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: 

Efficient IT infrastructure is the backbone of small and medium companies. However, managing servers, networks, and software can be complex and time-consuming. Managed IT services provide comprehensive IT infrastructure management, including hardware and software procurement, system upgrades, network optimization, performance monitoring, capacity planning, patch management, and help desk support. By entrusting these responsibilities to experts, small and medium companies can optimize their IT infrastructure, reduce downtime, enhance overall operational efficiency, and ensure seamless technology integration.

Mobile Device Management – Is the data on your phone important? 

Managed IT services providers play a crucial role in assisting businesses with mobile device management (MDM). As the use of mobile devices in the workplace continues to grow, MDM has become essential for organizations to ensure security, productivity, and effective device management. By partnering with a managed IT services provider for mobile device management, businesses can leverage expertise in provisioning, security, application management, device monitoring, expense management, user training, and reporting. This partnership ensures effective device management, enhances security, streamlines operations, and empowers employees with mobile productivity while maintaining compliance.

And There’s More:

In addition to the above, a quality Managed Services Provider can help your business with the following areas as well.

1. IT asset management
2. VoIP telephony solutions
3. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
4. Software license management
5. IT vendor management
6. IT strategy and planning

Conclusion: 

Comprehensive managed IT services empower SMEs to leverage cutting-edge technology without the burden of managing complex IT systems in-house. From cloud-based network management to cybersecurity services, data backup and recovery, IT infrastructure management, and a range of other services, managed IT providers offer holistic support to optimize small businesses’ IT operations. By partnering with a trusted managed service provider, small businesses can unlock their full potential, drive growth, and gain a competitive edge in today’s digital landscape.

Benefits of Cloud Computing and How to Move to the Cloud

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services, such as accessing files, databases, email, and applications, over the Internet instead of using servers located in your office. These resources run remotely on servers located in data centers, often managed by leading cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and IBM Cloud. Additionally, specialized cloud providers such as Microsoft’s Office 365, Oracle, SAP, ServiceNow, and VMware offer their products without the effort and cost of setting up internal or cloud-based infrastructure.

Cloud computing has become a popular solution for businesses of all sizes due to its technical and cost-saving benefits.

Benefits of Cloud Computing:

1. Scalability: Cloud services are highly scalable, allowing you to easily adjust resources to meet the changing needs of your business.
2. Cost Savings: Cloud computing offers significant cost savings compared to traditional IT infrastructure, eliminating the need for hardware, maintenance, and upgrades.
3. Flexibility: Cloud services can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection, enabling remote work and on-the-go access to data.
4. Reliability: Cloud providers offer high levels of reliability and uptime, ensuring that your business-critical applications and data are always available.
5. Resilience and Backup: Many cloud providers offer tools to streamline data backup and restoration, making it faster and more reliable to recover from cyber-attacks or data loss.
6. Security: Cloud providers often implement robust security features to protect against data breaches and other cyber threats.

If you believe that moving to the cloud would be beneficial, there are a few things to consider to minimize downtime, accelerate adoption, protect your data, and achieve potential savings.

Moving to the Cloud:

1. Assess Your Needs: Determine which applications, data, and services would benefit most from cloud hosting. Start with key business applications that are accessed by most of the company, possibly from different locations.
2. Determine the Cloud Strategy: Document your cloud adoption goals, decide whether a public, private, or hybrid cloud strategy is best suited for your business. Often, a hybrid solution (combining local and cloud-based solutions) is the most effective approach.
3. Choose a Provider: Compare different cloud solutions or consult with your IT provider to find one that best meets your needs, budget, and security and compliance requirements.
4. Plan the Migration: Create a migration plan, including any necessary modifications to your environment, to ensure access controls, compatibility, security, and backup/restoration.
5. Test and Validate: Thoroughly test the cloud deployment to ensure it functions as expected and that all data has been transferred and is accessible. Consider performing end-user acceptance testing to identify and address any issues.
6. Train Employees: Provide training to employees on accessing services now running in the cloud and ensure they understand new protocols to maintain security.
7. Ongoing Evaluation: Continuously monitor the cloud services to ensure they meet your business and technical needs. Confirm data backups and the ability to restore them, and promptly address any issues that arise.

Moving to the cloud can provide numerous benefits for your business, but a successful migration requires thoughtful planning. Working with an experienced IT provider can help you avoid pitfalls and ensure an optimal outcome.

Why are Companies Moving to Managed Services?

The managed services industry is growing rapidly, driven by the adoption of cloud computing, digital transformation, and the desire for organizations to focus on their core business functions. According to a report by Markets and Markets, the global managed services market size is expected to grow from $223 billion in 2020 to $329 billion by 2025.

Managed services offer numerous benefits in addition to allowing businesses to focus on what they do best. Here are five key advantages:

1. Predictable Costs: Managed service providers offer fixed, monthly fees for their services, making it easier for businesses to budget for their IT needs.
2. Expertise: Cybersecurity, cloud computing, and IT, in general, can be complex. Managed service providers have teams of experienced professionals with expertise in security, physical and virtual servers, cloud technologies, networks, and workstation support, providing businesses with diverse skills that are not cost-effective to hire in-house.
3. Proactive Maintenance: Managed service providers use advanced tools to monitor systems and detect issues before they become major problems, minimizing downtime and potential business disruptions.
4. Increased Efficiency: Managed service providers can optimize IT systems and processes to improve efficiency, reliability, and uptime, which can increase productivity and reduce costs in the long run.
5. Scalability: Managed service providers can quickly scale services up or down as needed, allowing businesses to adjust their IT needs to meet changing business demands.

Managed service companies, such as Eaton & Associates, can provide your organization with the diverse expertise, tools, and processes of a large, sophisticated IT department without the associated costs. Our approach is flexible, with a focus on customer service, and we welcome the opportunity to tell you more.

Eight Best Practices to Combat Ransomware:

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that can infect computer systems and encrypt critical files or data, effectively locking them until a ransom is paid. To protect your company from ransomware attacks, here are some best practices to consider:

1. Regularly Back Up Your Data: Ensure that your company’s critical data is regularly backed up, encrypted, and stored both onsite and off-site in secure locations. This can help you quickly recover data in case of an attack and reduce the likelihood of paying a ransom if you are successfully attacked.
2. Do Test Restores: Regularly do test restores of your local and remote backups to ensure everything works as planned and there are no unpleasant surprises when you need to recover data.
3. Keep Software Up to Date: Regularly update your company’s software and operating systems to ensure that known vulnerabilities are patched and cannot be exploited by attackers.
4. Use Anti-Malware: Use anti-malware software on all workstations and servers, scan regularly and ensure the anti-malware software is up to date.
5. Implement Firewalls: Firewalls act as a barrier between an internal network and the Internet, or other external networks, to prevent unauthorized access, protect against cyber threats and protect against malware.
6. Implement Security Awareness Training: Educate your employees on how to identify and avoid phishing emails and other common attack vectors. Train employees to recognize suspicious links, emails, and attachments, and to report them to IT personnel immediately.
7. Implement a Security Plan: Develop and implement a comprehensive security plan that includes regular testing, monitoring, and updating of security measures. Ensure that your plan covers all aspects of your company’s IT infrastructure and includes procedures for incident response, recovery, and communication with stakeholders.
8. Use Multi-Factor Authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for access to your company’s applications, systems, and services. This will add an effective extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.

By implementing these best practices, you can help reduce the likelihood of a ransomware attack on your company and minimize the impact of an attack if one does occur. E&A is here to help with any cybersecurity and ransomware mitigation questions you may have.

The Challenge

Ronald McDonald House (RMH) expanded thier services to a new location with the opening of the  RMH Mission Bay.  It’s critical for remote users to connect to the headquarters and utilize special applications that require very low latency.  Working within strict Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines in coordination with UCSF hospital, Mission Bay is no different, and with older server infrastructure, this was a real challenge for RMH.

The Solution

Eaton & Associates designed and deployed an optimal server hardware configuration that fits Ronald McDonald House’s needs and budget.  Eaton & Associates is also implementing a sound IT policy for the organization’s remote use needs while ensuring data integrity, business continuity, and 24/7 support.

The Outcome  

Ronald McDonald House now has full remote capabilities accessing server infrastructure effortlessly regardless of user location.  RMH Mission Bay staff are now able to perform all the required tasks without having to rely solely on a slower site-to-site VPN connection. The combination of the new network design and Eaton & Associates Managed IT Services and 24/7 support has helped Ronald McDonald House switch their IT to a vital asset in managing multiple locations.  

Does your organization need a formal IT service?  Contact us today at hello@eatonassoc.com or check out a list of services at Eaton Services

Eaton & Associates provided all IT, VOIP, and AV solutions for the new Exploratorium location at Pier 15. This included a new wired and wireless network, virtual server infrastructure, and state-of-the-art AV capability throughout the facility.

Information Technology Supporting Exploratorium Relocation EATON & ASSOCIATES COMPLETES RELOCATION AND BUILDING OF NEW IT INFRASTRUCTURE With the official reopening of the Exploratorium, a 330,000 square foot interactive science museum at their new location at Pier 15 along San Francisco’s downtown waterfront, Eaton & Associates (E&A) completes a successful design-build project of their IT infrastructure.

This follows similar E&A projects for the de Young Museum, Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) all located in San Francisco.

Eaton & Associates is driven to create high customer loyalty. The selection of E&A was based, in part, on years of providing exceptional service to the Exploratorium as well as completing successful projects for other cultural institutions, city and county governments, nonprofits, and corporate clients. full-service solution:

design-procure-build PROVIDING FULL LIFE CYCLE CONSULTING SERVICES FROM CONCEPT THROUGH ONGOING MAINTENANCE DESIGNED FOR TODAY AND THE NEXT 10 YEARS As part of the $220 million retrofits of the 98- year-old pier.

E&A led the Exploratorium management team and IT staff through the process of designing and then implementing a fully redundant network infrastructure, virtual server hosting platform, and wireless network, along with directing the installation of the AV, ticketing, and Voice Over IP (VoIP) systems.

This not only met the needs of hundreds of current staff and thousands of daily visitors but was also designed to be scalable for anticipated needs over the next 10 years, all the while supporting the Exploratorium’s Net Zero energy use initiatives. COMBINING THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY The new IT design includes network, security, wireless, data storage, and compute components from Cisco, Ruckus Wireless, Dell Compellent, and VMware as E&A technology partners.

Where possible, existing infrastructure equipment was incorporated to extend the Exploratorium’s budget.