The Benefits of Subscription-Based IT Services

For small business owners, staying on top of IT needs can feel like a never-ending game of catch-up. Subscription-based IT services offer a game-changing alternative to traditional approaches. Instead of breaking the bank with large upfront investments in software or hardware, businesses can spread costs over time with predictable monthly fees.

What Are Subscription-Based IT Services?

Subscription-based IT services offer small businesses a cost-effective way to access top-tier technology and support without heavy upfront investments. Instead of buying expensive hardware or hiring in-house IT staff, businesses pay a predictable monthly fee for services like software, cloud storage, and technical support. This model scales with your needs, making it ideal for growth and managing fluctuating demands. It also ensures you always have access to updated technology, bolstering security and efficiency. By offloading IT management to experts, small business owners can focus on core operations while enjoying reliable, proactive tech solutions that align with their strategic goals.

Great examples:

• Systems Management and IT Support

• Endpoint Management and Security Products

• Online Backups

• Phones, Messaging, and Telephony Services

• EMail, Calendar, Contacts, and File Services

So Why Are Subscription-Based IT Services Better?

Flexibility and scalability. Subscription models let you pay for only what you need and adjust as your business grows. Whether you're adding new employees or scaling back during seasonal shifts, your IT services can grow or shrink without the headache of buying, maintaining, or selling assets.

Plus, subscription-based IT services often include regular updates, meaning you're always equipped with the latest technology without additional costs. No more clunky software updates or outdated hardware slowing you down. These services typically bundle in support, so you have experts on hand to troubleshoot and optimize your systems without hiring an in-house team.

• Security? Covered.

• Support? You got it.

• Integration and Deployment? Easy, we do this for hundreds of companies.

• Scaling? Buy only what you want, scaling the subscription costs to meet your current needs.

Subscriptions ensure you're equipped with up-to-date protections, helping to guard your business against ever-evolving cyber threats. It's a proactive approach that gives you peace of mind while letting you focus on running your business.

With subscription-based IT solutions, you're not just buying technology; you're investing in an agile, resilient future for your business. Stay competitive, stay secure, and let the experts handle the rest. Want to know more? I’m just a click away.

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How to Conduct a Technology Audit Without an IT Department

Running a small business often means wearing many hats — so what do you do when it's time to evaluate your technology? You don’t need an IT department to conduct a simple, effective technology audit. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you assess and improve your tech setup.

1. Inventory

Start by listing all the technology you use: computers, software, phones, cloud solutions, and hardware. Don’t forget those old printers in the corner! You can’t manage what you don’t know you have. It’s a good principle. Everything you use with your business should be known: make, model, serial number, date of purchase, and how much you spent. Also, think about software. Write that down! Great from an IT Management standpoint as well as for insurance claims. Do your best to maintain this list so it’s as accurate as it can be.

2. Redundancy and Hidden Costs

Are you paying for two tools or two pieces of software that do the same thing? Identify where you can consolidate and save. Are there devices or software in your inventory that’s incurring annual costs or charges? Fees that serve only to milk you? Get rid of them!

3. Subscriptions

Use your financial system to track down monthly or annual subscriptions. Are you still using all the services you're paying for? Prioritize what’s important, what adds value, what doesn’t. Get rid of service subscriptions that don’t serve you.

4. Friction

Anything that requires your manual intervention — from opening physical letters and depositing physical checks to manually writing correspondence to manually making a telephone call — creates friction. Friction saps your time and energy; more friction = more cost. Assess ways you can use automation to reduce friction and free up your time. This is a great skill that could lead you towards transforming your business processes, a more advanced outcome of IT audits.

5. Security

Review who has access to what, especially you. Do passwords get updated regularly? Consider using a password manager if you aren’t already. What’s the state of your backups and encryption? Risks abound. Are you prepared?

6. Feedback

There’s no shame in asking for help. Technology evolves fast. Build a wish list of updates or upgrades you might need over the next 12 months. Talk to a technology consultant. Bring your audits to them for review and ideas.

Even without an IT department, a basic tech audit helps you stay organized, save money, and position your business for growth. Still, need a professional touch? I can help!

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Cybersecurity for the Home Office: Tips for Small Business Owners

As more small business owners embrace remote work, securing home offices has become a critical part of protecting sensitive data. Cyber threats don’t discriminate between large companies and small operations, making it vital to address vulnerabilities in remote work setups.

Strengthen Your Wi-Fi Network

Ensure the use of secure, password-protected Wi-Fi networks using WPA3 encryption with updated firmware. Rotate your WiFI AP’s passphrase at least once a year.

Outsource Your Router

Owning your own broadband router can save you a bit of money — maybe $10/mo with your ISP — but that means you’re responsible for it. Your responsible for its configuration and its maintenance, including firmware upgrades. Since when did you become an IT department? Change your focus. Give that responsibility to your ISP by using their gateway, making them responsible for maintenance and upgrades.

Leverage Endpoint Security

Laptops, tablets, and phones used for work must have robust antivirus software, firewall protection, and encryption to safeguard data. But they should be monitored and watched at a distance for policy compliance. Again, you’re not an IT department, but you can leverage one with EPM (Endpoint Management).

Adopt Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Today’s biggest risks don’t involve viruses on a local computer. It involves compromising the personal, private information found in online accounts. MFA/2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) adds an extra layer of security beyond passwords. Even if credentials are compromised, unauthorized access is blocked. Using MFA/2FA on any platform you use to conduct business is a solid recommendation.

Keys, Locks, and Drawers

Be mindful of a Clean Desk Policy, even at home. Keep confidential information secured in physical drawers, accessible only by keys. Bonus points for using fire-protected sleeves or cabinets. Take it seriously — control access to your workspace. Make it difficult for anyone to access a secured environment by locking doors. Maybe even consider an internal security system or camera system.

Practice Good Cyber Hygiene

Use good passwords on your laptops and computers used for your business, and share them with nobody, especially your kids. Teenagers are the worst: they’ll use your devices to access questionable content online, threatening your equipment. No touchie! Those rugrats should use their own devices to play around with and leave yours well-enough alone.

Cloud-Based Backups

Establish a backup routine for business-critical data. Cloud-based solutions can be lifesavers in the event of a ransomware attack. External drives aren’t a superior option because they’re local: they’d also be impacted by a virus, or, by a fire, or, by an earthquake. A good rule of thumb: a useful backup is separated from the host computer system by time and space. The further away your backups are (kept in a distant vault, if you imagine it that way), the better off you are.

Get Rid of Physical Mail

I’ve argued this one before. Go digital! If you can’t, ditch all forms of physical mail being delivered to your home and get a box somewhere.

Separate Your Data Processing Systems

Separating work data processing from personal data processing is essential for small business owners to maintain security and privacy. Using different accounts for work and personal tasks minimizes the risk of a cyberattack on one compromising the other. For instance, if a personal account is hacked, business data remains secure, and vice versa. This approach simplifies account management and audit trails, ensuring sensitive business information stays protected. Additionally, clear separation improves focus and reduces the chances of accidental errors, like sending confidential business emails from personal accounts. It's a simple yet powerful strategy to safeguard both professional and personal digital worlds.

Be Mindful of Others and How They See You — Don’t Make Yourself a Target

If someone can peer through your front door and see your office (and all of that yummy expensive equipment just sitting there), this is a risk. It’s a risk because someone scoping out your home for a potential burglary or break-in will target small businesses. This is also relevant to equipment with street-facing windows. People walking by can see you busily at work on oh-so delicious computers that' they’d love to steal to fund their drug habits. Be aware of what your small office looks like to others.

Remote work expands opportunities but also increases risk. By implementing these measures, you can secure your business while keeping your team productive and safe.

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