• Secrets to Building ROI From Your Cloud Computing Services

    Secrets to Building ROI From Your Cloud Computing Services

    When you break it down, cloud computing is just a math equation. All you need to do is develop a plan, add some training and automated technology, then measure your success. 

    Businesses across the globe have now adopted at least some form of cloud technology. And while millions thrive, many are still missing out on all the benefits. The truth is that not everyone uses cloud computing services effectively. While this technology helps make our day-to-day easier, some question whether it’s really worth the investment. This blog shows how your cloud service can help your company achieve more success.

    Creating Better ROI With a Cloud Computing Service 

    As a leading force for IT support on Long Island, we’ve seen it all when it comes to cloud computing. One of the most common issues is complete mismanagement of the cloud as a whole. Many people assume that moving to the cloud will instantly improve their lives with more efficiencies and better data security. This is true, but it doesn’t eliminate all responsibility. Even partnering with the best cloud business requires regular effort on your end, but in the long run, it will help your company be more successful. The best part is it only takes four easy steps:

    Create a Game Plan

    This should go without saying, but comprehensive and thoughtful planning are critical for you to derive the best results from your cloud investment. Moving to the cloud can be an exciting change, but many people let their enthusiasm get the best of them. Jumping into the cloud is a risky move, especially if you don’t survey the field ahead of time. 

    It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of your strategy before kicking off the migration. Analyze the risk, costs, and overall capacity needs. For best results, build a checklist that incorporates the following criteria:

    • Concerns you would like a business partner to settle
    • Datasets that can be converted to the cloud safely and efficiently
    • Potential issues that may impede the organization as a result of cloud migration
    • Software applications and hardware devices that align within budget
    • Opportunities to cut costs and minimize security threats

    Educate Your Team 

    Now that you’ve developed the perfect strategy, it’s time to put it into effect. The first order of business is to train your employees. Once you’ve migrated to the cloud, you’ll need to show your staff how to use the technology properly. Plenty of machine learning programs can help, but a number of different resources might drive a bigger impact. If you are giving your entire infrastructure a makeover, you may want to invest in some external training from a certified professional. Hiring a dedicated cloud team is one of the best things to consider. These experts are constantly working so you can get the best value from your cloud environment. 

    Here are some of the things cloud computing services will cover:

    Measure Your Performance 

    You’ve finally got your cloud technology up and running, so it’s time to relax, right? Wrong! At this point, a lot has to be monitored. So go back to your original game plan and think about the objectives you laid out. What was your reasoning for migrating to the cloud? Did you want faster tools? More ability to scale? Better security? Or did you just want to minimize your workload? Perhaps it was a combination of all these needs. It doesn’t matter why you’re converting to the cloud—just make sure your cloud environment is measurable. 

    Fortunately, plenty of tools can gauge just how well your technology is performing. Your cloud computing service provider needs to support you with a system that allows you to track real-time cost-performance ratios. These allow you to see where your cloud source is doing well and help you determine strategies for future improvements.

    Use Cloud Automation 

    Automating your cloud network is a surefire way to make your investment worthwhile. Using automated software such as [Pardot] or [Hubspot] alleviates a lot of the complexity that comes along with the cloud. These tools are “hands-off” resources, meaning you won’t have to activate any functions manually. They are programmed to back up sensitive data so you always have access to the most relevant version. And when you’re running out of storage space, you’ll receive an alert from your data center that tells you what steps to take next. 

    When you’re running a business, you have many things to juggle and might not have much time to manage your technology. By automating your cloud environment, you are freeing up more time to build a better business strategy and focus on what’s most important—serving your customers and generating a profit. 

    Hi-Tek Data—Cloud Computing Services You Can Trust

    At Hi-Tek Data, we make your move to the cloud simple and cost-effective. We are experts in every aspect of cloud computing. Whether it’s a private cloud platform or a hybrid cloud data center, we have the resources and expertise to help you get the most from your investment. And we promise to do whatever it takes for you to maintain a competitive edge for years to come.

    Schedule a free consultation with one of our cloud experts and see how our world-class solutions can help drive your success.

  • Demystifying Cloud-Hosting Terminology

    Demystifying Cloud-Hosting Terminology

    If you’re looking to upgrade your network environment, you’ve likely encountered a wide range of possibilities. However, before you can make an optimal decision for your business, you need a clear understanding of your options. Becoming familiar with terminology is generally the best place to start before exploring which direction to take. In this post, we’ll demystify some common cloud hosting terminology and explain how these concepts can affect your business operations.

    Hosted Services

    When you hear someone mention a hosted service, they’re simply talking about a solution that relies on a vendor’s off-site network resources. These resources generally include network servers, data storage, networking, backups, updates, and maintenance, so your team can take a hands-off approach to overseeing your network.

    The most common form of a hosted service is a public cloud solution. Your network resources are hosted at an off-site data center alongside others sharing the same server or servers. At the same time, your data and applications remain private and secure from other users on the network. However, your team has limited control over how your system is managed, secured, and allocated.

    If you want your own dedicated server, you can work with a cloud vendor to secure an individual off-site server. This will ensure your operations are the only applications running on a particular server. This setup is referred to as a hosted private cloud and allows more flexibility and customization than a public cloud solution.

    Colocation

    When you use a hosted cloud solution, you’re essentially renting network infrastructure, resources, and management on your vendor’s servers. Your business gets everything required to run a comprehensive network environment without the hassles of on-site infrastructure. That way, all of your network needs are covered for one fixed monthly fee.

    Colocation, on the other hand, means your organization purchases your own servers, equipment, software, and infrastructure, but you rent rack space to host your equipment at a data center. Your team has complete control over leveraging equipment, configuring hardware, and allocating resources, but also has the additional responsibilities of installation, maintenance, backups, and licensing. 

    In short, colocation offers the control and customization of an on-site network while enjoying the flexibility of a data center. Depending on your vendor, you may even be able to outsource services like 24/7 monitoring and support with a bundled colocation package. Just be aware that colocation generally requires a robust internal IT team to oversee day-to-day network functions.

    Cloud Services

    Many providers use the words “cloud services” and “hosted service” interchangeably. However, this commingling can introduce some confusion. While both deliver the infrastructure, maintenance, management, and support for a comprehensive network solution, most cloud service providers pair their hosted solutions with a more robust Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform.

    A prime example of a cloud solution that goes above and beyond a hosted service is Microsoft Office 365. With Office 365, your organization not only gains access to public cloud resources; your team also enjoys the added benefits of a holistic office productivity platform with tools like Microsoft Word and Outlook integrated with the larger platform. Fundamentally, cloud services go above and beyond what’s possible with a hosted environment by providing broader managed IT services.

    Long Island IT Support

    Are you ready to take your business operations to the next level by migrating your network to a hosted or cloud environment? To maximize your cloud capabilities, you need a team of IT experts leveraging a solution for your needs and goals. And you can leave the cloud hosting terminology to us! When you partner with Hi-Tek Data, our team works to accomplish just that, so your organization has access to the technology you need to succeed today while preparing for tomorrow.

  • Spring 2019: Ransomware Resurgence

    This spring months were marred by a significant uptick in ransomware attacks against businesses in a variety of industries. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable ransomware attacks this year and how you can keep your business protected.

    Norsk Hydro and LockerGoga

    Norsk is one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies, with 35,000 employees in 40 countries. Earlier this year, a ransomware attack shut down its operations for almost an entire production week, resulting in at least $40 million in lost revenue. 

    In late March, the company fell victim to the LockerGoga ransomware strain that first appeared in January. LockerGoga infiltrates networks, changes user passwords, logs out of network connections, and then encrypts all the files on the target network. The perpetrators demand payment in Bitcoin to decrypt data. Systems that rely on virtual machines are particularly vulnerable, and industrial companies are the most frequent target.

    Fortunately, LockerGoga can’t transmit instances across organizations. However, researchers claim the individuals behind LockerGoga have been refining its capabilities, and it continues to remain a threat. The LockerGoga attack forced Norsk to revert to manual operations for several days. Instead of paying the ransom, however, they decided to restore systems from backups, but it can never get its lost revenue, time, and data back.

    The Weather Channel

    The Weather Channel went off-air earlier this year after a ransomware attack. On April 18, the network was providing live coverage of major snowstorms in the northeastern United States. However, the channel was forced to air a rerun in lieu of live programming. While the channel hasn’t released which strain of ransomware attacked it, normal network operation was restored fairly quickly, showing a relatively reliable continuity and disaster recovery platform is in place.

    Arizona Beverages

    In March, Arizona Beverages experienced a malware attack that locked almost 200 company computers and servers, shutting down the sales division for several days. Ultimately, it took the company two weeks to make a complete recovery. The root problem was determined to be an outdated Windows system that had not been actively updated or patched. In addition, on-site backup systems malfunctioned, and the company likely ended up spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on recovery and in building a new network.

    The attack was found to be a version of iEncrypt that was likely delivered via malware infection about two months earlier. It corrupts networks by deleting Windows shadow volumes and system restore points while encrypting files to cripple networks. This is a useful reminder that networks are susceptible to latent malware, so your system may be infected for months before experiencing broader network issues.

    IT Support Long Island

    If you want to prioritize security and take a proactive approach to protecting your day-to-day operations, don’t wait to learn the hard way. Call the cyber security experts at Hi-Tek Data today. We’ll help you build a robust security platform around your industry-specific threats and risks, so you can stay protected today while preparing for tomorrow.

  • 3 Benefits of Structured Cabling

    What kind of cabling system does your office have? If you’re still operating on a point-to-point cabling system, it may be time for your business to upgrade. Structured cabling systems have begun to replace older point-to-point cabling systems. A point-to-point system connects one network component, such as a server or a device, directly to another network component. This means your office ends up supporting many extra cables and cords that make network management harder. Switching to a structured cabling infrastructure offers many benefits, including the following:

    Reduced Repair Time and Maintenance Costs

    While installing new network cabling is expensive, investing in a new structured network will save you time and money on repairs and maintenance in the long run. Instead of connecting to individual network components, structured cabling systems are segmented into six subsystems that bind your network together: entrance facilities, equipment rooms, backbone cabling, horizontal cabling, telecommunications rooms, and work-area components. Because of this segmentation, your IT team can easily identify where the problem is and begin devising solutions for it. When you reduce the number of cables your network uses, you can diagnose cabling problems more easily.

    Increased Flexibility and Adaptability

    Flexibility

    If your business is moving employees or entire departments around between floors and even buildings, structured cabling installations allow them to plug into the nearest cabling panel after they move. This means that connecting to your telecommunications cabling from a new location doesn’t become a hassle.

    Adaptability

    In addition to helping your business technologies become more flexible, a structured cabling system also improves your network’s adaptability. This is possible because structured cabling can support high bandwidth that allows it to work easily with new software and devices. Because of this adaptability, investing in structured cabling will help your business grow by supporting any new technologies you and your colleagues decide to use.

    Overall Simplicity

    One of the greatest structured cabling benefits is how it simplifies your network’s physical presence. Instead of dealing with—and tripping over—multiple wires that connect one network component to another, structured cabling links every server, laptop, data center, and printer. By providing structured cable outlets and panels, this system brings all of your data together so every member of your business can quickly find what they’re looking for. All of your departments can become more aware of each other’s operations and projects, which can increase your employees’ and colleagues’ productivity. Knowing where everything is in your network and how to access it makes your business much easier to run. 

    Long Island Managed Services

    If you’re looking for a Long Island IT support company that can install a structured cabling system and also provide assistance and maintenance when you need it, contact us today. We offer top-of-the-line wiring for structured cabling, and we work with major cabling brands, including Hitachi Data Systems, General Cabling, Nexans, and Siemon. Our years of experience allow us to determine how to design a structured cabling system that will best fit your Long Island or New York City business’s needs.

  • How to Find the Right IT Support Provider

    Your Long Island business may have reached a point where you want to partner with a managed services company. But how should you go about finding one? Ultimately, you should partner with a company that can explain its solutions to you in a straightforward way, and that can give you 24/7 support. Here we discuss some questions you should ask when interviewing possible managed IT service partners.

    Availability and Response Times

    A managed services company should be able to offer you 24/7 maintenance and monitoring so it can detect possible threats to your network, even during off-hours. Also, when it finds a problem, it should be able to respond immediately. Make sure your managed tech support partner takes your calls and notifications personally and doesn’t forward them to a call center. A reputable company should be able to give a guaranteed response time estimate.

    Tailored Maintenance and Support Services

    Your managed services provider should offer virtual and off-site technical support as well as on-site desk support. It should also tailor its services to meet your business’s specific needs. That way, you’re using all of the services you pay for, and you can focus on running your business. Additionally, your IT partner should look out for your business by helping you with your IT budgeting to make sure you’re spending money on services and upgrades that will help your business grow. Finally, it should also practice preventive maintenance.

    Cybersecurity and Disaster Recovery

    Your network’s security should be your managed services provider’s top priority. It should put 24/7 security monitoring in place to protect your data. Inquire about the kinds of security management tools it uses to protect other clients. It should also work with you to develop a disaster recovery plan that anticipates any cyberattacks or natural disasters your business might face.

    Cloud Services and Data Backups

    Using a managed service company should allow you to make regularly scheduled, consistent backups of your network’s data. It can also help you set up a remote cloud server that will store your data. Keeping your data on remote servers will allow you to keep it safe, even if your business’s headquarters or other locations are damaged or destroyed.

    Service Plans and Contracts

    When you partner with an IT support company, you should work out a service contract that outlines which services the company will provide over specific amounts of time. The contract should also state your monthly fees. You should put together an IT prenup that states how and when the managed service company will return your passwords, security information, and data if you decide to part ways. Drawing up these contracts will help guarantee you receive the services you are paying for and the company is working to earn your payments and fulfill its obligations to you.

    Long Island Managed Services

    If you are a member of a small business on Long Island or in New York City that’s looking for a managed IT service provider, contact us today. At Hi-Tek Data, we provide Long Island IT support services that are tailored to fit your business’s needs and style of operations. We will manage your day-to-day IT services in ways that will help you improve your business’s bottom line.

  • 5 Secure Cloud Hosting Tips for Your Long Island Business

    5 Secure Cloud Hosting Tips for Your Long Island Business

    Secure Cloud Hosting Tips
    If you’ve begun using cloud hosting for your business, you know that cloud services have customizable security options. But how many of the available options have you implemented? Using certain cloud security measures will reduce the number of hacker-led security threats your network may encounter. If you’re interested in protecting the data you have stored in the cloud, you can take advantage of these tips:

    Employ Data Encryption Key Management

    You should encrypt your data, of course, but you should use a central key management system to keep your data secured in a single, centralized point. This automated solution streamlines your data security and allows your employees to focus on business decisions instead of dealing with encryption manually. In encryption key management, algorithms encode your data as ciphertext. You, your employees, or an application can decode the ciphertext only with the necessary data encryption keys. You can implement key management software that runs on a virtual cloud server or a dedicated physical server. This software will control and maintain your encryption keys for you, and it can generate, store, destroy, and replace them if necessary. If you decide to use encryption key management, you should develop a unified policy for your business’s data encryption and key management.

    Use Multi-Factor Authentication

    This type of authentication requires two or more factors to grant a user access. Multi-factor authentication combines two or more independent credentials, such as a password, a security token, and a biometric verification, according to TechTarget. Requiring a password and a PIN is an example of multi-factor authentication. Requiring users to provide these credentials will give you tighter control over your cloud infrastructure. With tighter authentication measures in place, you can prevent security breaches before they happen.

    Keep Track of Users With Cloud Access

    Make sure that when an employee leaves your business, you remove their cloud access rights through a comprehensive “off-boarding” process. Doing this will prevent them from taking your information with them when they leave. One quick way to do this is to employ centralized access management that will consolidate all of the user’s data into a single identity you can turn on and off. That way, your company’s administrators don’t have to check whether the departing employee’s access has been removed from each application they used. The off-boarding process prevents your employees from performing one last download, deletion, or modification that could expose or remove your business’s information. While you may want to trust your employees, taking this precautionary step will protect your business for the long run.

    Train Your Employees

    How much do your employees know about cloud computing and cybersecurity? You can assess how much they know, then provide training to fill in their knowledge gaps. They should learn how to identify phishing emails and similar scams that could cause security issues for your cloud environments. At Hi-Tek, we offer Security Awareness Training that covers these problems, and we send post-training assessments to your employees to check how effective the training sessions were.

    Long Island IT Support

    If you’re ready to take these steps to securing your cloud infrastructure, contact us today. We’ll work with your Long Island or New York City business to make sure your cloud services are safe from any security breach. Our managed IT services also can train your employees to identify security threats, and we can augment your IT department by sending you staffers who can help keep your data safe.

     

  • Cyber Security Services for Your Long Island Business

    Cyber Security Services for Your Long Island Business

    In today’s digital world, cybersecurity should be a top priority for any business. Large companies often invest in large IT departments that can assess security risks and implement solutions. Small and mid-size companies may not have the budget or resources for such a department, but that’s where we come in. At Hi-Tek Data, we offer cybersecurity that will protect your business’s data from outside threats. We offer a range of managed security services, including the following:

     

    Network Security Assessments

    Does your business schedule consistent security assessments? These assessments identify weak spots in your network so you can develop security solutions. When you partner with Hi-Tek, we strive to stay in front of network security problems by identifying your business’s pain points. To do that, we use several risk assessments, including:

    These assessments keep you aware of your network’s threat landscape. The best way to raise your cyber defenses is to find out what your problems and vulnerabilities are and solve them before they become major threats. By engaging Hi-Tek as your managed services provider (MSP), you can reduce the number of threats that lead to downtime and large maintenance costs.

    Security Awareness Training

    Are your employees knowledgeable about security awareness? If not, your network could be open to all sorts of security threats, including phishing scams. At Hi-Tek, we offer full-service security awareness training that teaches your employees to recognize, avoid, and report phishing emails to prevent your network from being compromised. Our training programs include:

    • Comprehensive training courses
    • Phishing identification tests
    • Email security techniques
    • On-site and remote training
    • Flexible scheduling

    This awareness training prevents your employees from opening phishing emails, which can cause disastrous problems for your business’s network. After all, keeping your employees informed about these threats is its own form of information security.

    CISO Services

    Our virtual Chief Information Services Officer (CISO) consulting services offer you the opportunity to develop cybersecurity solutions with a trained expert. You get all the knowledge a CISO has without paying an executive-level salary. These services allow you to improve your threat intelligence by receiving quality leadership at a cost-effective rate. Our virtual CISO has extensive vendor knowledge but remains neutral. They also train your existing security team and IT staff to implement cybersecurity solutions for the long run. Our CISO consulting services include:

    • Penetration testing and risk assessment tests
    • Information security risk management
    • Staff training, including ransomware protection guides and phishing training

    When you sign up for our CISO services, we tailor them to fit your business’s needs. We know that no two companies are the same, so we make sure our IT support is individualized for each client.

    SIEM Services

    Our managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is an intrusion protection and security program designed to streamline production and maintain compliance. These services give you a long view of your activity and security within your business’s network. This allows you to access critical data that will help you keep your business’s information safe. Our SIEM services provide the following solutions:

    • Simple compliance reporting
    • Data collection, management, and analysis
    • Proactive threat detection
    • Security breach containment
    • Detailed reporting
    • Continually updated solutions for security and compliance

    With Hi-Tek’s SIEM services, we monitor and evaluate your system so you’re aware of breaches and threats before your network experiences any downtime. Staying proactive about threat detection will save you large amounts of time and money down the road.

    Long Island Cybersecurity Services

    If you’re a business owner on Long Island or in New York City and you’d like to improve your security operations with tailored cybersecurity services, contact us today. We’ll work with you to prevent cyberattacks and monitor your cybersecurity 24/7.

  • The Benefits of Cloud Computing

    The Benefits of Cloud Computing

    Computing In The Cloud

    Maybe you’re considering moving your business’s infrastructure to the cloud, but you’ve wondered what the benefits are. One of the most touted cloud benefits is its potential cost savings. However, cost benefits of the cloud are often all in how you use them.

    If you switch to a cloud infrastructure but you’re still running operations from a physical data center with few virtual machines and little automation, you won’t see many reduced costs. But if you take advantage of cloud services’ automation capabilities and reduce how much hardware you have, you may see some savings. Cost savings are not the only benefit of switching to the cloud, though. Here are some other cloud computing benefits, including storage and development.

    Multiple Cloud Infrastructure Options

    Public Cloud Options

    When you decide to move to the cloud, you have different options for structuring your cloud. You may want to use a public cloud service provider, like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. These cloud services let you rent space through a pay-per-service system, and they offer a wide variety of features and options for security and application development. The cloud storage and development space and features you rent from the service provider are scalable, so you can add or remove them as your business demands.

    Private Cloud Options

    You may prefer a private cloud, where you can use cloud options and features on your business’s network. A managed IT services company can help you build one for your private network.

    Hybrid Cloud Options

    If you want both types of cloud infrastructure, you can adopt a hybrid cloud system, which integrates a public cloud with a private cloud by creating parallel environments in which applications can move between the private cloud and the public one. This is a great option if you have different applications and sections of data you’d like to keep separate.

    Cloud Options for Software Development

    If your business employs web and software developers who need space to create applications, the cloud is a great place for them to do that. Your other employees may use software as a service (SaaS) (such as Microsoft Office 365 and Salesforce) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) (such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon) applications. Meanwhile, your developers may use two types of cloud services that are made specifically for software and application development.

    Platform as a Service (PaaS) Applications

    Platform as a service (PaaS) applications, such as Salesforce’s Heroku and Pivotal’s Cloud Foundry, provide cloud environments where developers can create, test, and deploy applications, and then manage and update them as needed. PaaS applications also allow developers to run analytics and business intelligence while reducing coding time. Also, some public cloud providers offer options that allow developers to create applications for multiple devices in PaaS spaces.

    Functions as a Service (FaaS) Applications

    The second cloud service for developers is functions as a service (FaaS). FaaS applications (such as Azure Functions and Google Cloud Functions) separates the code from other functions and applications the developer works with. Put simply, FaaS is the cloud version of serverless computing.

    These developer tools can give your business web and software development opportunities that they may not have access to on a non-cloud network infrastructure.

    Security Options

    One of the advantages of cloud computing is public providers offer security measures that include encryption, authentication, and access control. These are scalable, and you can implement security features as your business needs them. This gives you an amount of control you might not have if you use non-cloud software that comes with preset security features.

    Long Island IT Support

    If you think your Long Island or New York City business is ready to move to the cloud, contact us today. We work with cloud service providers that include Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, and we can help you set up your cloud services for storage and computing.

  • Managed IT Support for Your New York City Business

    Managed IT Support for Your New York City Business

    Managed IT New York City

    At Hi-Tek Data, we provide managed IT services that actively identify problems and their solutions so you can focus on running your business. When you partner with an IT consulting firm like Hi-Tek, you gain access to a wide range of IT solutions that can lighten your in-house IT team’s workload. Here are some of the managed IT support services we can offer.

     

    Outsourced IT Support

    Our IT Staff Support services let your IT team collaborate with our team of experts to fill in gaps in staffing and knowledge. By integrating your IT staff with our onsite and remote support staff, you can let us cover certains tasks. This will free up your staff to focus on the tasks they do best. Our outsourced IT support services include:

    • Network monitoring
    • Proactive support
    • Remote support and onsite service
    • Microsoft Office 365 consultation
    • Disaster recovery
    • Cloud services

    Disaster Recovery

    Does your business have a disaster recovery plan? If so, we can help you optimize it. If you don’t have a disaster recovery plan, we can work with you to develop a plan that protects your data from even the worst catastrophes. Our disaster recovery services include:

    • Cloud services with remote access that allow you to pick up right where you left off before the disaster.
    • Redundant backups (including cloud backups) through a remote data center, which minimizes the chance that any of your information might slip through the cracks.
    • Recovery services that retain all of your core processes, procedures, and policies.
    • Comprehensive security solutions and upgrades that will protect your network from breaches.
    • Thorough documentation services that provide unprecedented insight into your data, so you can immediately bounce back after a major event such as a cyber attack or a natural disaster.
    • Reduced recovery time objectives that minimize downtime and get your business back up to speed quickly.

    Customized Network Design

    Our team can customize your network’s design so it’s streamlined for your business operations. We offer high-quality design, management, and implementation that will optimize your network for the specific tasks, applications, and storage your business needs. We can also customize your network’s security design so it’s safe from breaches and cyberattacks. Security customization can help prevent downtime and costly reactive maintenance.

    Virtual CIO Services

    Does your business seem like it could use an IT executive? Our Virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO) services can give you just that. When you partner with us for these services, our vCIO acts as an extension of your internal team. They act as an executive officer who offers custom-made solutions that will fit your business’s needs and operations.

    When you receive these services from us, you receive personalized tech solutions that help you plan and budget for the future. Our vCIO services include:

    • Technology Planning (hardware, software, network security, application integration)
    • IT Budgeting
    • Long-Term Infrastructure Planning
    • Vendor Relations
    • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity
    • IT Consulting
    • Risk Mitigation

    New York City IT Support

    If your business is in New York City or on Long Island and you’re interested in managed tech support services, contact us today. We offer our services for a flat monthly fee so you can have peace of mind while receiving IT solutions that fit your budget.

  • The Importance of Managed Services

    The Importance of Managed Services

    Importance of Managed Services

    When it comes to running a business, you’ve probably discovered that you can’t do it all alone. And even if you can, you have to admit that we could all use a little help sometimes. In today’s world, staying ahead of the latest technology trends and leveraging that technology to propel growth and capitalize on opportunities has turned into a full-time job in itself that often requires a whole team of experts.

     

    For growth-oriented small to medium-sized businesses, however, a full in-house IT team often isn’t yet realistic or cost-effective. That’s where a managed service provider (MSP) like Hi-Tek Data comes in to bridge the gap between cost-effectiveness and results. Our team takes care of your technology needs, allowing your team to stay focused on growing your business with a technology platform optimized for growth. If you’re wondering how we accomplish this feat, here are some of our most popular managed service offerings for SMBs.

    Comprehensive Managed IT

    For a fixed monthly fee, we deliver all-inclusive managed IT support services. When you partner with Hi-Tek, we work with you to develop a managed support plan that’s optimized for your business model and customized to those needs. Our team specializes in helping you develop a robust IT strategy and make informed decisions all while delivering the personalized experience and focused support of your own IT department.

    With our comprehensive managed IT program, here’s what you get:

    • An entire IT department at a fraction of the cost – Our complete managed IT services and support are available at a flat, monthly fee.
    • Proactive services and tech support – Our team proactively monitors your network components to prevent costly network outages and other problems before they happen. With our flat-fee structure, our priority is to minimize your risks, detect issues immediately, and act before they disrupt your business.
    • 24-7 customer support and network monitoring – Our team is always available either through our web portal, by phone, or through the services of an on-site engineer. Your issues are addressed promptly by a trained IT technician instead of outsourced desk support.
    • A wide range of services – Our managed IT services can make sure you have technology that’s designed to grow with your business. As your trusted partner, we help you plan and develop your IT whether you want to expand your network servers, explore the use of cloud computing, or open a new location.

    Supplemental Staffing

    At Hi-Tek, we offer outsourced IT support services to supplement your existing solution for a full, encompassing service. No one understands the intricacies of your system better than your own IT staff—our job is to fill in the gaps, so the rest of your team can focus on what they do best. Our IT support staff provides technical support and management services at a cost-effective rate. Whether a single staff member needs to miss a day or two of work or your team requires extra hands for your next IT project, our highly-skilled team has the industry knowledge and hands-on experience to keep you covered.

    Business Continuity

    Our recovery and business continuity solutions include:

    • Cloud-based services for remote access through your virtual machines, allowing your team to pick up right where they left off after a disaster.
    • Redundant data backups, including cloud backups at an offsite data center, to minimize the chance of permanent data loss. Prioritizing redundancy keeps you protected by always storing a recent, recoverable version of your mission-critical data (while keeping you protected from phishing attacks).
    • Comprehensive security solutions that are designed to mitigate the risk of disaster in the first place. The more proactive your security approach, the more likely you are to avoid security breach altogether.
    • Thorough documentation, providing unprecedented insight into your network and IT policies (for your eyes only) so that you can get back up and running following a cyberattack, natural disaster, or any other network outage.
    • Minimizing response time and recovery time objectives to get you back in business in no time. Network outages quickly lead to lost revenue and missed opportunities that you can never get back. A reliable disaster recovery solution can keep your business firing on all cylinders even in the event of a disaster.

    Long Island IT Support

    If your business is located in Long Island or New York City, and you’re ready for a technology platform that’s built to help you grow, contact our experts today. We’ll work with you to develop and deploy an IT strategy that’s optimized for your goals and your bottom line.