Most business owners are aware of this problem but disregard it as a distant threat that can be eliminated through the standard cybersecurity solution – which is comprised of a prepackaged firewall, anti-virus/malware protection and data backup plan. However, while that used to be a sufficient solution, it’s unfortunately no longer appropriate. Hackers are constantly evolving their methods and as they find new ways of causing a breach, new technologies are needed to combat these advances. The gap is widening and is also showing no signs of slowing. In fact, according to Accenture, “Security breaches have increased by 67% since 2014.” This fact suggests that while prior dismissals may have been the appropriate business decision at the time, now, businesses must take proactive action to support their staff, especially while they increase their risk of a breach in the mandated work-from-home work environment.

Joerg Laves, Owner of IT Secure Services, stated, “The game has completely changed and businesses need to understand the implications of inaction. For example, in most states, you’re legally obligated to publicly announce any breach to news outlets. This can do irreparable harm to a company’s reputation, which is an extremely costly burden to bear, especially when cybersecurity solutions are readily available to eliminate these risks.” Laves later added, “Regardless of which provider you use, the best tactic to employ is a layered approach. That way, breaches can be contained, assets can be protected and exposure is minimized. When a business is breached, it’s important to ensure that the whole company isn’t incapacitated.”

Another key factor that has changed is the average duration of a breach. Most people assume that a typical breach, like a ransomware attack, for example, results in a breach, demand for a ransom and resolution within a few days. However, according to IBM, “the average life cycle of a breach (from breach to containment) lasted almost 11 months.” The employee downtime from something like this can be a nightmare for management and in many instances, can put businesses on the brink of collapse.

In sum, businesses that have managed to survive the disruption that 2020 has caused the need to reassess their security strategy for 2021 so that they don’t get caught in “survival mode.” While business owners are being tested on every front, Laves summarizes why cybersecurity needs to be an immediate priority for every business in the modern age, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and only a few minutes of a cyber-incident to ruin it.”

ABOUT IT SECURE SERVICES: IT Secure is a managed technology service provider (MTSP) integrating all technology solutions including IT, cloud-based technology, cyber-security, telecommunications, AV, video surveillance, access control and managed print

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It’s no secret that most businesses have shifted their operations to hybrid environments, if not fully-remote, and as that shift has occurred the corresponding increase in demand for cloud IT has also grown. According to the 2020 State of the Cloud Report, by Flexera, “50% of SMBs are expecting their cloud usage to be higher than planned due to COVID-19.” Whether a business owner decides to embrace this tech or not is more of a moot point, because it’s highly likely that in the very near future their clients, customers, suppliers and prospects will all be utilizing this technology and they will eventually be using it, too, to remain relevant.

With more than 95% of Fortune 500 companies utilizing Microsoft Azure, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes ubiquitous. Joerg Laves, Owner of IT Secure Services commented, “Azure is the ideal environment for SMBs to enhance their IT environment because a hybrid workforce is now the new norm. For the business owner, this means that they have immediate scalability within their IT, the flexibility to instantly reduce expenses if they need to adjust headcount and a foundation to support their easily predictable usage of more cloud-based applications in the future.”

In such uncertain times, business owners are looking to position themselves with maximum flexibility and security when it comes to their IT. With cloud IT solutions, companies can “pay for what they use, as-they-go” and nothing more.

ABOUT IT SECURE SERVICES: IT Secure is a managed technology service provider ( MTSP) integrating all technology solutions including IT, cloud-based technology, cyber-security, telecommunications, AV, video surveillance, access control and managed print.

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Antiquated business phones lack most of today’s technology and going remote was very challenging. Cloud voice systems offer advanced security and telephony features such as mobility, presence management, instant messaging, video calling and unified communications. With more people staying home permanently and more hybrid workers (remote/on-premises), the demand for IT Secure Services’ cloud voice has skyrocketed.
In order for organizations to communicate effectively, business owners need to update their technology within their organizations to facilitate a hybrid remote working environment for the foreseeable future. Many businesses are investing in cloud voice as an essential technology to keep their teams collaborating effectively. Cloud voice gives visibility to all employees as to what everyone is doing at all times and the many modes of communication at their fingertips like IM, video, and find me follow. All features that benefit permanent remote employees as well as those that are hybrid.

“There are a couple of key reasons why we’re seeing so much interest in cloud voice,” stated Joerg Laves, Owner of IT Secure Services. “Presence, scalability and seamless integration are all vital for where we’re headed. Business owners and managers need to be able to know where everyone is located, since now more than ever, you have some people rotating through the office while others are remote, at any moment”

Cloud voice’s scalability and seamless integration is critical. While many businesses are unsure how they will need to adjust staffing in the coming months, cloud voice presents an ideal solution because since it’s hosted in the cloud, it can be scaled up or down based on the month-to-month needs of the business.
Perhaps, the last key factor that explains the technology’s recent growth is its ease of integration. For example, many cloud voice solutions also come with a “simultaneous ring” feature that simultaneously rings an employee’s cell phone, office phone and if desired, home phone, as well. This reduces customer wait time and increases their satisfaction because they can connect more immediately with customer service or other personnel.

As this new workplace environment continues to unfold, SMBs must continue positioning themselves for success by integrating the proper technology into their business. “The pandemic is highlighting existing communication problems within any office. They’ve always been there but now they’re finally visible, which is a good thing because companies can adjust and with our assistance rapidly deploy it,” commented Laves.

ABOUT IT SECURE SERVICES: IT Secure is a managed technology service provider ( MTSP) integrating all technology solutions including IT, cloud-based technology, cyber-security, telecommunications, AV, video surveillance, access control and managed print.

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According to a BitSight report, “Identifying Unique Risks of Work From Home Remote Office Networks,” findings revealed that “45% of companies had malware on their corporate-associated home networks.” The study included more than 41,000 organizations. For small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) this has very strong implications for their remote workforce. Where SMBs typically could ignore the cybersecurity of the home office environment in the past, that’s no longer possible as employees have been forced to work from home, and rely on corporate connectivity, software and devices to perform their daily tasks.

“To sum it all up, vulnerability at the home-office is now corporate vulnerability,” stated Joerg Laves, Owner of IT Secure Services. “Unfortunately, whenever we get back to normal life, it won’t be so normal, anymore,” he said, citing the expected office policies which will force people to adhere to staggered schedules, where a worker comes into the office on Mondays/Wednesdays and another comes on Tuesdays/Thursdays. The expected growth of remote working, even after the states reopen will still be enormous.

Work-from-home is fast becoming the “new normal” and with tech giants like Twitter, Microsoft, Google and Facebook all extending work-from-home policies, many SMBs are trying to figure out the best way to reorganize themselves for success. Twitter and Square have announced their plans to let employees work remotely in perpetuity. Google and Facebook have remote policies in place at least until 2021. Since these tech giants often serve as a leading indicator for SMBs across the country, business owners are looking for innovative, yet practical, ways to adapt to this new working environment and to ensure that their virtual infrastructure is secure.

The two biggest challenges for business owners who find themselves in this new work-from-home scenario are 1) How do I properly manage my employees? and 2) Which technology do we really need? The past several weeks have been a crash course in management, forcing business owners to innovate management solutions for employees, which leaves the second challenge up for resolution. For any business owner who wants to address this vulnerability, at a minimum, they must equip their employees with a combination of the following technologies, Windows virtual desktops, SD-WAN, firewall and a printer/scanner. Virtual desktops provide employees with access to apps, software and technology that they utilize on their work computer. SD-WAN establishes a secure and efficient means of connectivity for employees and a monitoring solution ensures the ongoing security of any devices or networks from cyberattacks, like phishing or ransomware. Lastly, printer/scanner solutions are absolute necessities for specific employees.

With a relatively simple bundle of technology, SMBs can circumvent many of the challenges imposed on them through this pandemic, and they can set their company up for success as we transition into the “new normal.” While remote working has been steadily growing for years, there is now plenty of data, and common sense, to back these necessary shifts. According to Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, “Our best estimate is that 25-30% of the workforce will be working-from-home multiple days a week by the end of 2021.” That number is up from 3.6% of employees working from home half-time or more.

ABOUT IT SECURE SERVICES

IT Secure is a managed technology service provider ( MTSP) integrating all technology solutions including IT, cloud-based technology, cyber-security, telecommunications, AV, video surveillance, access control and managed print.

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While working remotely is the “new normal” among many businesses, some companies are reluctant to change, often citing intangible benefits of working in a shared physical location. However, according to the Forrester Study: The Total Economic Impact of Microsoft Teams, those assertions lack data. In fact, according to the study, “information workers were able to save 4hrs/wk through improved collaboration and information sharing,” thereby giving many employees the extra time they needed to finally catch up on all the loose ends that often interrupt operations. Furthermore, the Forrester Study also concluded that “an average of 150 overnight trips [were] replaced with online meetings by year 3.” Regardless of industry, every business stands to benefit greatly from the dramatic reduction in costs associated with decreasing travel budgets as well helping to combat COVID-19.

“We’ve been helping businesses transition to a more remote workforce for a long time and it’s not as complicated as many business owners make it out to be,” stated Joerg Laves, Owner at IT Secure Services. “Business owners need to understand that the technology has matured to the point where they can recreate those same intangible moments of connection and collaboration using Microsoft Teams, that in decades past, could only be achieved through the use of a physical office.” Joerg later continued, “with the Coronavirus in play, many business owners don’t have a choice but to adapt, but we’re seeing that once businesses embrace this shift they end up with a more productive team that responds quickly to immediate business needs.”

Another aspect of Microsoft Teams is that it centralizes all resources and then makes them accessible online so that employees can find everything they need in one central, cloud-based location. This typically has a very strong impact on reducing employee downtime. According to the Forrester Study, “having resources available online in Teams reduces downtime by 14.6 percent.” When resources are available in one cloud-based location, downtime is reduced and complexity is lowered, making security and compliance easier.

Laves added, “In order to shift your workforce to a more remote environment that new environment must be supported. It demands that several technology solutions get put in place beforehand so that the transition can happen smoothly and with maximum efficiency. With minimal investments in time and capital outlay, businesses can keep their businesses running strong no matter what natural disasters, pandemics or economic recessions loom on the horizon.”

ABOUT IT SECURE SERVICES: IT Secure is a managed technology service provider ( MTSP) integrating all technology solutions including IT, cloud-based technology, cyber-security, telecommunications, AV, video surveillance, access control and managed print.

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Working from home is just as productive as working in the office if you have the right technology and the right provider guiding you along the way. Today’s technology that is a must for collaboration, communication, and productivity includes voice, videoconference, instant message, Office365, Microsoft Teams and access to files whether cloud-based or via VPN. Cybersecurity solutions is a necessity as well because there has been a substantial increase in cyberattacks. Hackers are sending a flurry of COVID-19 phishing attacks and are preying on workers sitting at home hoping to gain access to personal and company information.

“These are unprecedented times for companies and employees alike,” said Joerg Laves, Owner of IT Secure Services. “Organizations have been asked to transition to a remote workforce, which is totally new for them. They don’t know what to do or where to begin. That’s where IT Secure Services comes in. We have had tremendous experience in this area because we have been doing this for our customers for many years. We have the technology and a team of professionals that can rapidly take a company remote quickly. Plus, we give our customers guidance on how to the use technology to manage a remote workforce and ensure collaboration and productivity happens.”

ABOUT IT SECURE SERVICES: IT Secure is a managed technology service provider ( MTSP) integrating all technology solutions including IT, cloud-based technology, cyber-security, telecommunications, AV, video surveillance, access control and managed print.

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MANCHESTER, NH—  IT Secure Services, a leading managed technology services provider (MTSP) is leveraging Microsoft Azure to help eliminate outdated IT hardware in small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and make a seamless transition to the cloud. Microsoft’s most common suite of products has reached expiration such as Windows 7 and as those products and services have matured into obsolescence along with servers they ride on. IT Secure Services has been proactively transitioning companies with end-of-life Microsoft products into Microsoft Azure in order to keep them up-to-date with the contemporary business world.

While many business owners are accustomed to purchasing on-premise servers, this way of storing data has become obsolete with the proliferation of the cloud. Aside from the fact that the tech world has embraced the cloud and that virtually all innovation from this point forward will incorporate the cloud in some way, on-premise servers have matured beyond their useful life into obsolescence. On-premise servers are vulnerable to becoming outdated, which leads to major security concerns for business owners. On top of that, without regular updates and software upgrades, they are susceptible to slower speeds while the rest of the world is speeding up. In sum, it makes no sense for business owners to outlay large capital expenditures on deteriorating technology.

“Unfortunately, on-premise just doesn’t make fiscal sense, anymore,” stated Joerg Laves, Owner of IT Secure Services. “While most businesses are expanding and need to have hardware that scales, cloud servers that cater to a mobile workforce and data that can be confidently secured, on-premise has fallen behind the curve. Since our customers’ businesses can’t afford that level of inefficiency within their organizations, we’ve been very proactive in ushering in this transition. We’ve been transitioning our customers into Azure and will continue to do so, to keep them ahead of the curve and more importantly, profitable.”

Utilizing cloud servers through Microsoft Azure enables businesses to benefit from regularly updated and upgraded hardware to keep data integrity strong. Additionally, Microsoft Azure is a direct response to the growing demand for secure access to data from a mobile workforce that spans multiple locations. With Millennials and now Gen Z entering the workforce, these trends show no signs of slowing down.
Laves later continued, “At some point in the near future, owning on-site servers will be like having a coin-operated telephone in the lobby for your employees to use. How are your top employees supposed to perform at peak levels with obsolete technology like that?”
On-premise servers have gone the way of the fax machine and in the same manner that utilizing older hardware increases cost through lack of efficiency, on-premise servers must be updated, immediately. IT Secure Services has positioned themselves and their customers ahead of the curve to make sure their customers remain productive, efficient and profitable with technology like Microsoft Azure.

ABOUT IT SECURE SERVICES: IT Secure is a managed technology service provider ( MTSP) integrating all technology solutions including IT, cloud-based technology, cyber-security, telecommunications, AV, video surveillance, access control and managed print.

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