IT Red Flags to Watch Out For and How a Managed IT Service Provider Can Help

As a business owner and the primary decision-maker for your company, you’re juggling a lot of balls. You’re responsible for driving the growth of your business, maintaining good relationships with clients and stepping in to get the job done when things slip through the cracks.

With so much going on, it’s easy to overlook IT issues that need to be addressed quickly and decisively. If you’re struggling to stay on top of things, your IT is one thing that can easily be outsourced to a managed IT service provider and, when done correctly, will offer peace of mind as well as delivering a service that is more robust and effective than you would be able to do yourself.

IT red flags that you should be watching out for include:

1. Strange pop-ups that you don’t recognize and haven’t opted-in for, your managed IT service provider can immediately address any malware problem to occur

These can happen at any time if your system has been infected. They could show on your screen if you’re trying to access a spreadsheet or document and prevent you from opening the file directly. Instead, you may have to click on a series of pop-ups that could take you a malicious site. These pop-ups are an indication of malware in your system.

2. An ad-ware ambush when your browser has been hijacked, your managed IT service provider can remove ad-ware to do further damage to your system.

These are pop-ups that show up on your browser when you don’t expect them while using the internet. A hijacked browser will continue showing online ads and are dangerous as a single errant click could have you downloading additional malware to your computer, which has the potential to infect your whole IT network.

3. Spam emails sent from your company’s official email addresses, it is crucial to avail email security service from an IT service provider.

Email worms are usually downloaded by a staff member, and the downloaded file then replicates across the network using email. Here, the victim's email security is penetrated, and the worms access the email contact list and send emails to all contacts.

4. Issues where software and hardware aren’t working properly, your managed IT service provider will provide all support need to immediately fix any software and hardware problem.

It’s normal to experience glitches every now and again, but if processes and programs that used to work properly are now continually failing, it’s a sign that malware has infected the network. If the problem seems to be escalating, it may mean that the virus is spreading and infecting more and more files.

All this is a lot to keep on top of and it’s difficult to be constantly monitoring the health of your computer as well as everyone else in the office. Sometimes issues creep in slowly so you don’t immediately catch a machine that’s operating sub-optimally or a program that simply doesn’t work anymore. And, even if you do notice these red flags, it may already be too late.

The cost of a malware infection may be significant both in terms of time to resolve it as well as the financial cost of hiring an expert to get to the root of the issue. A managed IT service provider is, therefore, an excellent preventative solution as they actively manage your entire network, identifying and removing issues before they have a chance to damage the company’s system.

Mobile Computer Services in Wake Forest, NC is a managed IT company that offers its clients a flat-rate maintenance plan that proactively monitors your network, significantly reduces downtime and reduces expensive repair costs. Their service gives local business owners access to a knowledgeable, experienced IT service, at a rate far lower than the cost of an in-house IT department. They have the expertise to prevent issues before they occur thanks to round-the-clock active monitoring and ongoing maintenance.

Choosing an Outsourced IT Service Provider in Raleigh, 5 Pitfalls to Avoid

If you’re considering working with a managed IT service provider to provide IT support and advice for your company, there are some important considerations to keep in mind when making your final choice.

Here are 5 pitfalls to avoid:

1. Don’t Decide on an IT Provider Based Solely on Price

An outsourced IT provider gives you access to a range of skilled specialists for an affordable price, especially if you compare it to the cost of an in-house IT team. But quality outsourced IT services, although affordable, shouldn’t be cheap. Paying the lowest possible price opens your company up to the risk that in an emergency, such as a cyberattack, they won’t have the necessary skills to resolve the situation effectively. Paying a slight premium and choosing a reputable IT service provider has the potential to save you millions of dollars in the long-run. And as the saying goes, prevention is better than a cure.  

2. Bigger is Not Always Better

A personalized service from the beginning is much more likely to be able to resolve your issues quickly and effectively when they arise. A large, national corporate IT service provider will tend to prioritize their bigger clients, and smaller clients will move to the bottom of the pile. A Raleigh-based IT service provider with a strong track record will be able to match IT know-how with excellent customer service and quick response to queries.

3. Trust is Key in the Relationship

In all businesses, trust between partners is important. But when it comes to an IT service provider, it is essential. Follow your instincts on this one, if you don’t feel completely comfortable handing over your business’s IT requirements to them, don’t do it. 

In instances where you are uncertain, you can follow up with their references to get an idea of the level of service you can expect and their ability to proactively manage IT security for your type of business. Try to stay objective, all companies will have satisfied and dissatisfied clients, but it’s up to you to ask the right questions to find out whether they are able to successfully provide the service you need.

4. Don’t Use an Individual Contractor

A successful outsourced IT service needs multiple team members so that there is a pool of experience to draw from, and to ensure that your system is being continuously monitored. A single contractor is also liable to become overwhelmed and may rely on subcontractors who will have access to your systems without your knowledge. 

5. IT is Not One Size Fits All

Your business has unique needs that won’t be solved by a cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all solution. What works for another business in a different industry may not be a good fit for what you need. Your provider needs to take the time to understand and accommodate the needs of your business and come up with strategic ways to anticipate issues that might arise in the future.

They should also be able to provide the range of services that your business needs and not just specialize in a particular area.
A managed IT services provider should offer proactive solutions for your company’s IT goals. Locally-based managed IT company, Mobile Computer Solutions in Raleigh, NC, does just this. Their team of experienced IT professionals, coupled with their suite of technologies and processes, provide a tailored approach to working with businesses in the Raleigh area. They focus on providing services that protect their clients from issues before they even arise and have a suite of services designed to meet the individual needs of each customer.

Email Security for Wake Forest Businesses

Email security in small and medium-sized companies is one of the areas that is often overlooked. But it’s essential to have it in place in the event of a cyber-attack. The vast majority of cyber attacks start with a phishing email. 

Local managed service provider, Mobile Computer Services, suggest 5 things that Businesses in Wake Forest need to keep in mind when it comes to email security:

1. The Number of Email-Based Attacks is Likely to Rise

Phishing scams are on the rise. It’s an easy, cheap way to get in touch with people, and no-one is immune. Over half the world’s population has at least one email address, and because most people check their mail regularly, an email inbox is the perfect place to launch a cyberattack.  

2. Finance Companies in Wake Forest are Particularly at Risk

The number of phishing attacks targeting financial institutions is rising, doubling year on year. But only a small fraction of these businesses are choosing to implement security initiatives to protect their networks and guard against attacks. 

3. Small and Medium Size Companies are Particularly Vulnerable to Attack

It’s often in the news when big corporates are the targets of malicious cyberattacks, but just because smaller businesses aren’t making the news, doesn’t mean that they’re not the victims of attacks. The vast majority of cyber attacks are targeted at businesses with fewer than 100 employees, often because they have fewer security measures in place and often employees are not equipped for attacks. 

4. Employees Lack Education and Training Around Cyber Attacks

The sheer volume of emails that get sent on a daily basis is astounding – with a conservative estimate putting the number at nearly 300 billion emails every day. And the scary news is that over 50% of those emails are spam. These numbers mean it’s essential that users be able to spot the difference between a real and a fake email. Companies, therefore, need to be taking proactive steps to ensure that employees are fully educated on the dangers of email phishing and ransomware. They also need to be equipped to be able to correctly identify emails that are not legitimate.

5. A Top of the Range Web Management and Filtering Product is Essential

Regardless of how well employees are educated about spotting and deleting spam emails, there will always be those that slip through the net. Humans make mistakes, and there needs to be a safety net in place to protect companies. This is where a web filtering product is essential. 

When a user clicks on a phishing email, there is often an attachment that is downloaded. This download will contain malware that has the potential to infect your computer network. Web filtering prevents the attachment from accessing the internet-based malware as it works by blocking malicious websites. 

With the number of cyberattacks set to increase in the future, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses, companies need to take steps to ensure that they are protected. Data breaches are estimated at more than $3 million, without factoring the costs for increasing network security and the impact on the brand. 

Email inboxes will continue to be attacked because of the ease with which hackers are able to bypass network security measures. This makes it essential to secure your email, educate employees and put a safety net in place. 

Often the response of businesses is to hire more IT professionals, but that cost can be difficult to absorb, and the new IT employee may not have the benefit of years of experience, particularly in IT security. This makes it an excellent choice to partner with an outsourced IT service provider. That way the costs are easy to predict, and you can benefit from years and years of specialist IT security experience.

Mobile Computer Services in Wake Forest specializes in email security for clients, offering a range of services designed to protect the company’s IT network from attack.  
If you’re unsure of the state of your email or network security, contact Mobile Computer Services to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION.