Don’t Let Technology Updates Pass You By

Technology is evolving rapidly. Is your business prepared to change along with it? If you’re not doing your due diligence and preparing for industry-wide developments, you risk compromising the functionality, security, and overall performance of your network. Change in the tech industry happens at such a quick pace that it’s easy to feel like you’re getting left behind.

As more and more companies move away from a conventional office structure, it’s critical that you understand how your technology needs to adjust accordingly. Working from home and communicating from the road are both great in theory, but they can present a whole host of challenges if you’re not taking the time to set yourself up for success down the road.

At Hi-Tek, we believe that giving your IT team the resources and help they need to successfully navigate your next technology initiative should be as straightforward as possible. When you choose a trusted partner like Hi-Tek for supplemental staffing or staff augmentation, the partnership becomes so seamless that you may forget where one team ends and the other begins.

Our team provides additional support to supplement your full-time house IT support staff without compromising your existing workflow or derailing your budget. Whether you’re planning a server virtualization platform or you just need an extra pair of hands for the day, our job is to take care of what your staff doesn’t know how to do or doesn’t have time to do. Some of our most popular outsourced IT support services include:

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

Wondering why more businesses in all industries are choosing to supplement their existing IT teams with seasonal or supplemental staffing? Here are four critical benefits that may just convince you to consider partnering with Hi-Tek to elevate your next IT project.

Gain Access to a Network of Experts

When you partner with Hi-Tek for supplemental IT staffing, you’re not getting a team of temps or interns who end up creating more problems than they solve. You’re gaining access to a team of trained IT professionals and leaders who are in the prime of their careers. Instead of micromanaging, you can confidently delegate tasks and project, knowing that they’ll be done right the first time with minimal training. Our team has hands-on experience tackling IT problems in just about any form. They have the foresight to resolve issues before they become critical problems, so you can expect streamlined timelines and minimal hassle.

Minimize Overhead Without Sacrificing Results

Because you don’t have to hire on additional salaried employees, supplemental staffing is significantly more cost-effective than the traditional hiring process. You don’t have to worry about culling candidates, training them, or a lengthy interview process. The professionals you need are always just a phone call or a click away.

Diversify Your Team’s Skill Set

By working as comprehensive managed server providers (MSPs), our team members have the diverse skill set that can only be learned with hands-on experience. Supplemental staffing offers the opportunity for a symbiotic relationship. Your team can learn from ours, and ours can learn from yours. At the same time, if your team doesn’t quite have the experience required to successfully deploy your next IT project, you can tell us what you need, and we’ll pair you with the professionals you need to fill that void as cost effectively as possible.

Achieve a More Objective Perspective

Nobody knows the intricacies of your network operations better than your in-house IT staff. However, they often deal with the same problems and systems day in and day out. Supplemental staffing offers the opportunity to refresh your team’s perspective with a more objective assessment of your existing network. As an outside perspective, an outside staff member is more likely to provide an objective outlook without getting involved in politics. If your team has been struggling with the same problem repeatedly, bringing in supplemental staff may just be the catalyst they need to try tackling the challenge from a different angle.

Long Island IT Support

If your Long Island business is looking to partner with the finest IT professionals in the industry, contact our team at Hi-Tek Data today. We’ll take the time to understand your unique needs and goals, so we can pair you with the ideal IT professionals.

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.

As you may have already heard, Microsoft is officially ending support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 as of January 14, 2020. If your business depends on Server 2008 for day-to-day operations, now’s the time to migrate to a new platform as an opportunity for growth. If you’ve been considering moving your digital assets to the cloud already, you have a lot of options you can explore. Fortunately, whether you’re transitioning one server or dozens of servers, a cloud platform can help you simplify compliance, maximize security, and prioritize flexibility.

If you’re in the process of deciding what the next step is to prepare for Server 2008’s end of support period, here are your options and three critical steps to take.

The Simple Solution: Microsoft Azure

Migrating your Server 2008 platform to Microsoft Azure offers the simplest solution to prepare for Server 2008’s end of support. Microsoft is currently allowing businesses to upgrade Windows Server on Azure at no additional cost. If you choose this option, you can also hold off on upgrading later to a newer edition of Windows Server VM at no extra charge.

If you choose to migrate Server 2008 to Azure, your organization can also benefit from three additional years of support after the end-of-support deadline. That means your organization will have until January 14, 2023, to continue using Server 2008 as long as it’s hosted on Azure. This approach buys you a few more years to plan for a long-term server solution.

Planning Your Migration

There are three critical steps to follow if your organization wants to pull off a seamless migration between Server 2008 and your new server environment.

1. Assess

Before deciding on the optimal migration strategy, you should first take the time to gain a deeper understanding of your existing infrastructure and workflows. Begin by identifying workloads that depend on Server 2008, assess the infrastructure required to support these workloads, and create a migration outline that takes these factors into account.

Fortunately, Microsoft offers a few tools that can make auditing your current systems significantly easier, including:

• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit: The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit offers an automated planning and assessment tool that facilitates faster and more efficient desktop, server, and cloud migrations by providing readiness reports and proposals with specific hardware and software data.
• Azure Migrate: Azure Migrate is a tool within Azure that can help you assess your on-site virtual machines for migration preparedness. It evaluates migration feasibility along with providing size recommendation for Azure.
• Azure TCO Calculator: The Azure Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator allows you to quickly compare the TCO for on-site infrastructure versus a comparable Azure platform, so you can quickly perform a cost-benefit analysis. If you want the best of both worlds, the Azure Hybrid Benefit Savings Calculator can help you estimate how much you’ll save by adopting a hybrid cloud platform.

2. Migrate

When it comes down to migrating you have three fundamental options:

1. Upgrading: If you want to keep using the Windows Server environment, you can always simply upgrade to Server 2016. You can either set up a new server, install Server 2016, and reinstall your applications, or you can maintain your existing server and upgrade only the OS. If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your on-premise servers anyway, this offers an excellent opportunity for doing so.
2. Migrating: As already discussed, you can migrate Server 2008 to Azure or another comparable cloud-based environment.

3. Optimize

Once you’ve migrated to a more modern server environment, you should be continually optimizing workloads to maximize security and improve performance. While Azure simplifies the optimization process for you, your in-house IT team or a managed service provider (MSP) like Hi-Tek Data can help you as well.

Long Island IT Support

An expert managed IT service provider like Hi-Tek Data can help make your migration to a new server environment as seamless and secure as possible. Contact our team of experts today, and we’ll start exploring the possibilities for migrating to cloud services right away.

Find the Perfect Cloud Solution with Hi-Tek

Finding the right software platform for your unique company isn’t always an easy task—sometimes your needs are so specific that it can be hard to identify exactly which solution makes the most sense. When it comes to transitioning to cloud computing, you need to make sure that you have the right managed service provider by your side. Hi-Tek specializes in helping companies find the perfect platform to help them grow their business. We take care of everything including installation, maintenance, and user onboarding. And to make that entire process as simple as possible, it’s imperative that we set our clients up with a high-quality software solution. That’s why Microsoft Office 365 is such a success; with a user-friendly interface, several unique features, and a simple installation process, Office 365 is an industry-leader for seamless cloud technology.

Which Office 365 Cloud Service is Right For You?

Microsoft offers four main products for businesses: Office 365 Essentials, Office 365 Business, Office 365 Premium, and Microsoft 365 Business. While they may all sound fairly similar, there are significant differences that set each one apart from the other. In this blog, we’ll go through the primary features that each one has to offer, and how that unique management system might be the right fit for what you’re looking for in a cloud-based infrastructure.

Office 365 Essentials

What does it include?

Only web-based Microsoft services—PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, and Skype for Business. It also includes SharePoint for seamless file sharing, Microsoft Teams for communicating within your office, and Yammer.

Who’s it for?

(Very) small businesses, or businesses with an existing high-speed internet connection looking to increase the performance of a select few desktop apps. It’s an excellent option for companies with a really small team that wants to keep all of their information and applications web-based.

Office 365 Business

What does it include?

This iteration includes the core, downloadable Microsoft desktop apps with no online services or business-class email. Users will enjoy access to PowerPoint, Excel, Word, OneNote, Access and Outlook. As for web-based services, OneDrive is the only one that you’ll have access to.

Who’s it for?

Business owners that only want to use the core Microsoft apps on their desktops.

Office 365 Business Premium

What does it include?

All of the desktop apps and web services that Microsoft offers. It essentially combines all of the unique features that the aforementioned models have into one service.

Who’s it for?

Small businesses (larger than Essential-sized, though) that need comprehensive file management systems and user-friendly access to Microsoft collaboration tools.

Microsoft 365 Business

What does it include?

Every feature that’s offered with Business Premium, but with high-quality mobile device management and IT security features. Users with this platform are also automatically upgraded to Windows 10.

Who’s it for?

Businesses with a similar infrastructure for the Premium option, but maybe with a larger team. Your cloud infrastructure should be as robust as you can afford; serverless computing and virtual machines are not services that you should take lightly, and Microsoft 365 Business is one of the best options available on the market today.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Do you need to adhere to any legal/regulatory compliances?

If so, Microsoft Office offers solutions that can help. Basic functions include tools such as audit logging, secure SharePoint sites, and governance policy enablements and more complex products offer simulated attacks, compliance managers, and multi-factor authentication. The specific type of compliance you need will denote which tools you require, and thankfully Hi-Tek Data is well-versed on the correct methods to achieving and maintaining compliance.

Do you want to take advantage of Microsoft Office?

Surprisingly, only some versions of Microsoft Office contain the Microsoft Office suite. For only $5/month, office 365 Business Essentials offers Exchange, OneDrive, Sharepoint, and Teams, but no Office Applications. Other products vary in the services included but feature all Office Applications. Some companies are able to use other software providers for these functions, but Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Access are important programs for most of our clients. It is critical to explore these applications and their competitors to find the perfect Office 365 plan.

What type of collaboration does your team need?

Depending on how much your team needs to interact with each other, investing in a plan that includes Skype would be beneficial. Rather than sending emails for every conversation, Skype allows teams to chat each other and mimics popular tools such as Slack. By utilizing a Microsoft product, you are able to integrate other programs, such as OneDrive, within the communications. Your team will be able to send documents easily and discuss them in real-time. This tool can even replace phone systems!

Are You Prepared To Make the Move?

Many of our clients express that they want to move to the cloud, but aren’t sure exactly what the cloud is. When it comes to setting up your cloud migration for success, there’s no such thing as being overly prepared. Moving to the cloud can be a daunting proposition for anyone without the right tools, resources, or vendors on hand—that’s where Hi-Tek comes in. We specialize in mitigating the risks that so often plague a company’s migration strategy, setting them back further and causing unnecessary downtime.

Cloud services aren’t just about data security or implementing new software (although those are significant factors). At Hi-Tek, we take the time to make sure that you’re as prepared as you possibly can be. We leave no stone unturned, and we want to help make sure that you’re in the best position possible for migrating to a cloud computing solution. In this blog, we’ll talk about what steps you should be taking before you jumpstart your transition.

What Steps Do You Need To Take?

1. Determine What’s the Right Environment For Your Company

This might seem like an obvious one, but we can’t overstate this step enough. While a cloud solution (whether it’s public, private, or a hybrid cloud solution) offers myriad benefits, you need to take a big picture look at whether or not this is the right step for you. Outline which benefits align the closest with what you’re looking for (data storage, for example), and which drawbacks might pose a larger problem than you’re expecting (potential downtime).

Are the benefits greater than the drawbacks are negative? Look honestly at your team members, and consider whether or not they’re equipped to handle a move to a cloud infrastructure. There may be a learning curve for users and it’s important to plan ahead for the necessary training and support.

For small and medium sized businesses, migrating to the cloud can be a big expense. It is important to consider capital expenses as well as operational expenses during this step. One important note is that many hybrid and public clouds are scalable, so you can plan ahead for business changes, such as growth.

Additionally, make sure that you understand what’s included in a cloud service, whether that’s security measures or privacy policies. These are often the biggest factors for our clients who have to meet compliance standards.

2. Plan Your Journey

This is when things start to get a little more granular for your company. Find out what information you need to nail down. For example, let’s say you’re concerned about the security of your data—how quickly (and securely) will that information be placed in cloud storage? Make sure that you have dates ironed out well beforehand. The last thing you want is to suffer significant downtime just because you forgot to account for a specific part of the migration process. Make sure you know 1) where you’re migrating to 2) when you’re migrating and 3) why you’re making this move in the first place. They might seem like obvious points to make, but you need a concrete answer for all three before you even consider moving forward.

3. Implement

Your strategy is squared away, and approved by a third-party vendor (if you’re using one); now, it’s time to make the transition. Make sure your IT support system can account for your data, applications, and relevant business files. As soon as the migration is over, you’ll want to be able to pick up right where you left off. They can help secure optimal storage space, mitigate the risks associated with cloud migration, and optimize your hardware and software solution for immediate productivity.

Whatever areas you’re concerned about, Hi-Tek is here to help. We specialize in giving companies the resources and expertise they need to make their cloud migration process as smooth and efficient as possible.

How do you know if your technology is being used appropriately by your team? How can you be sure that your network is safe from external threats? While developing rigid instructions and processes for your technology environment might seem like micromanagement, it’s actually the opposite. The more concrete and easy-to-follow your organizational security policies are, the more freedom you have moving forward.

The simplest way to minimize the chance of an unforeseen error is to take the time to get organized early on and work with an IT consulting service that can help you through the policy design process. Hi-Tek specializes in developing custom-tailored policies for your unique infrastructure so that the processes and standards you adhere to are perfectly aligned with your needs.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about the policies you need to adopt for your business and how our IT support service can help you develop them.

Technology Usage

Without a concrete understanding of what’s allowed within your network, it’s not much of a stretch to assume that your team will make mistakes from time to time. The policy you outline for your team concerning your technology dictates what platforms they need to be using, how they need to use them, and what’s off limits. And the understanding needs to extend across every piece of hardware and software you work with, whether that’s a desktop, printer, or mobile device.

Security

How protected is your network? If you don’t have reliable security standards in place for your network, you might be putting your core business processes, critical data, and overall company at risk. Hi-Tek’s policy management, support, and development services give business owners the peace of mind they need with high-quality information security. Minimizing miscommunication and eliminating pain points—that’s how our policies can help you thrive. Learn more about our cyber security offerings.

Disaster Recovery

Are you prepared for the worst-case scenario for your technology? A disaster recovery solution can be hugely beneficial in times of need. Without a clear idea of how you’re going to maintain productivity and retain your core processes, any situation that upsets the established order can result in complete chaos. Hi-Tek’s proactive IT support ensures that your disaster recovery policy is ready to go so that you never miss out on valuable uptime.

Technology Acquisitions, Updates, And Upgrades

Do you know the next time that you’re due for a change for your equipment? Working with outdated equipment beyond its expiration date can result in serious downtime. If your policy dictates that you make changes on a consistent basis, you’ll be in a much better position to continually drive positive business outcomes for your company.

Don’t let the technology you use hinder your progress. Make sure you’re working with a solution that’s bringing out the best in your team.

Don’t Move Forward Without A Plan

At Hi-Tek, our goal is to make sure that your technology keeps you prepared for whatever problems come your way. Change affects every industry, and it’s up to you to make sure that you’re ready when it comes. Our solutions are designed not just to set you up to survive through change but to thrive on it.

Reach out to our team of experts today to see how we can design and develop policies that keep your business humming along for years to come.

Technology is essential to our everyday lives. Today, companies need a strong fleet of multi-functional IT solutions to perform their daily tasks. This includes cloud computing workstations, printers, Office 365 software, dual-service printing systems, telecom platforms, and so much more. As an experienced MSP provider, we’ve learned how powerful technical disruptions are. Even a single disturbance can be strong enough to wipe your entire company out of commission.

Fortunately, there is always a way out of the dark. A managed IT solution can put you ahead of the game and get you ahead of the curve, even when disaster strikes. Make sure you have an action plan ready and practice these methods if you ever come face to face with any issues that relate to your IT systems.

User Errors:

Problem- A user error is one of the most common issues that people often deal with. It’s also one of the most avoidable. These are human-caused disasters that are triggered when one downloads a virus or enters in a wrong command. If you are website owner, know that a simple human error has the capacity to cause the entire platform to crash.

Solution- Accountability is key to avoiding user errors. Make sure you are proactively monitoring your network and your own performance. Be more mindful when typing commands and don’t download any files that appear to be questionable.

Natural Disasters:

Problem- A natural disaster is a catastrophic event that can cause more damage than just network failures. These types of catastrophes range from fires to floods, tornadoes, storms, and so much more. If one of these disasters strikes your building, expect to be out of commission for quite a while. This will be a costly and timely repair.

Solution- Disasters can strike at any time from any angle. There’s no stopping that. Make sure that you protect your most valuable possessions, including your infrastructure and data. Adopt a disaster recovery and data backup plan to preserve your data and hardware systems. This will help you cushion the blow if you ever get hit by a natural disaster.

Lack of Training:

Problem- Largely related to user errors, poor training is one most preventable causes to IT failures. If an employee is trained wrong or doesn’t get enough training, then this opens the pathway for a heaping pile of mistakes. Without the right training in place, you may create more risks for human errors.

Solution- Knowledge is power. Proper training and education are essential to long-term success. Not only do you need to follow through with all training and orientation regiments, but you should also retrain users on a routine basis.

Hardware and Software Failures:

Problem- Faulty hardware and software is one of the leading causes for IT disruptions. If software crashes, hackers can find easy ways to invade a network. Without a durable hardware system that is compatible with modern software updates, you’re going to have a hard time staying ahead of the curve. This can lead to catastrophic network failures for your entire team.

Solution- Have a sensible plan in place. Make sure there is a hardware redundancy program that supports you with an inventory of powerful solutions. Enforce a backup plan for your infrastructure. In addition, make sure to update your software on a routine basis and patch up any exposed vulnerabilities with data protection services.

Outdated Technology:

Problem- All technology comes with a limited lifespan. Over time, software and hardware models will start to run down, rust, and run at a less efficient pace. The age of bulky server towers and disk systems are quickly vanishing. If you’re not operating with cloud compatible network devices, then this can put you at risk to endure cyber attacks down the road.

Solution- Don’t get stuck in the dark with outdated technology. Contact your managed IT support service to roll out the solutions you need. With the latest innovations in place, you’ll be able to get well ahead of the curve and operate at a much more efficient pace.

A managed service provider (MSP) is more than just an ordinary IT specialist. Simply put, an MSP is responsible for keeping your network and technology infrastructure in smooth working condition. With the constant evolution of technology, an MSP’s role is more important than ever before. Now when issues emerge with your IT system, you won’t have to wait for a support team to arrive on site to diagnose and fix the problem. Your MSP is a dedicated support team that will tackle the problem for you from a remote location. This an efficient way to ensure that your network is always up and running at optimal an optimal level.

Committing to a managed service agreement is a surefire way to get your company ahead of the curve. These are some of the top benefits that come along with a service level agreement with a professional MSP:

Governmental/Industrial Compliance:

When it comes to security and compliance, there are a lot of risks involved. If you are a business owner, there might be government regulations and financial conditions that could be setting you back. Establishing a partnership with a trusted MSP will help you mitigate these risks. Your MSP will help you meet a set of expectations established from any mandates that you’re presented with.

Stronger Network Security:

Even the strongest layers of defense need cushioned support. An MSP will be able to deliver just that and then some. Managed service providers have the ability to monitor and manage your network, so they’ll be able to spot incoming threats when they are on the horizon. This gives them the chance to combat these issues before they have the chance to strike.

Innovative Solutions:

MSP’s can quickly implement new technology into your business model. This is an easy thing to accomplish especially with an active cloud solution in place. Your MSP will make sure that your tools are up-to-date, and will help you secure the latest upgrades. This puts you at an edge especially when it’s time to start a new project.

Flexibility and Scalability:

You should never feel hindered if your business starts to experience explosive growth. Partnering with an MSP will help you adapt to any vertical movement that your company endures. Safely deploy and support more workstations when new employees are brought on. If your office is downsizing, you will be able to so smoothly without having to pay any extra costs.

Affordability and Cost Savings:

Partnering with a managed service provider is a very cost-effective way to manage your IT expenses. Set up a fixed monthly subscription that works accordingly to your budget. You’ll be able to have more control over your capital expenses and reduce operational controls for a long-term.

Faster Response Times:

With an MSP by your side, you’ll never have to wait long to get your IT system performing up to par. They’ll be able to connect into your network remotely and will help you solve the matter as quickly as possible.

Fewer Repairs:

Have you ever heard the term, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Working with an MSP is a great way to prevent costly break fixes. You’ll be able to troubleshoot problems quickly and patch up any matters before they become more severe. This will help you avoid having to salvage or replace any products or services.

Molds Your Empire:

The objective of hiring an MSP is to make your job easier. MSP’s will take the stress of IT management off of your plate, so you can focus on what matters most – improving your business.