IT Support Long Beach Archives - Managed IT Services Los Angeles

IT Support in Long Beach: The Importance of SAT

Posted on July 17, 2019September 12, 2023 by Admin

With the increasing severity of cyber attacks, it has become commonplace for businesses to outsource security needs to IT support providers in Long Beach for protection against data breaches.

Hacking attempts have evolved greatly, and it is impossible to overcome security vulnerabilities by deploying security defenses alone.

IT support providers recommend the adoption of security awareness training (SAT) to enhance the security of your technology infrastructure.

When your employees understand the risks of a security breach and know how to respond, your organizations will be less susceptible to cybercriminals.

Here are the key benefits of SAT for your organization:

Reduction of Human Errors

The best security solutions won’t protect you against phishing attacks if your employees are not aware of the various forms of malicious attacks like social engineering schemes. With the intensive adoption of BOYD policies and the need to allow employee mobility, the risk of network security breaches is high.

Thus, a minor human error such as clicking on a malicious link or downloading a fake security tool can lead to an IT disaster. However, with SAT, all stakeholders in your organization will be well prepared and less susceptible to making such errors.

Improved Security Policy

IT support providers in Long Beach regard SAT as the backbone of IT security. An effective cybersecurity strategy consists of both hardware and software solutions, but can’t be reliable without incorporating the human factor.

The need for SAT is to improve the implementation of security processes and standards in every IT-related activity from the executive level to the junior staff. As a result, your employees will have an awareness of the risks associated with cyber attacks.

Security awareness training is the most effective and preventative method for securing your systems. Leveraging the expertise of IT support providers in Long Beach makes the administration of security policies more efficient within your organization. At Advanced Networks, we excel at securing businesses for maximum uptime. Contact us now for more information.

Establish Effective Security in Your Business with IT Support in Long Beach

Posted on July 5, 2019September 14, 2023 by Admin

IT support providers in Long Beach make technology facilitation and security core to their business model. Remaining effective and contemporary is vital to competitive sustainability for their market. Accordingly, three primary security solutions you should expect from the right MSP are:

Defining Policies of Security and Recurrent Education

IT support providers in Long Beach can help you design policy around vulnerable operational areas. Additionally, they can help you to educate your staff pertaining to best practices in terms of operation internally as well as externally. Such educational facilitation is necessary at regular intervals. You need to update your staff at least once a year, if not every quarter. Technological capability doubles on itself about every eighteen months in accordance with Moore’s Law. Subsequently, security solutions and vulnerabilities compound.

Ensuring All Apps and Systems are Continuously Upgraded

Updates, upgrades, and patches can be complex, but they’re integral. The WannaCry worm of May 2017, affected 150+ countries with something that could have been prevented with a simple patch. Additionally, all operations must be kept up-to-date, as not doing so leaves vulnerabilities which could easily result in operational compromise.

Establishing MDM Solutions Like Multi-Factor Authentication

MDM, or Mobile Device Management, is essential for securely capitalizing on technology potential as well as associated savings in a sustainable way. MSPs are integral in helping you enjoy productivity spikes like those which come from BYOD. Without securing such solutions, the advantages your business derives may be offset by security breaches. Instituting MDM protocols like multi-factor authentication, which authenticates users with multiple digital gateways, can safeguard your investment in mobility.

IT support in Long Beach through Advanced Networks safeguard your business against cybercriminal intrusion, justifying expense through deferred losses. Not having security solutions can be costly. Contact us to determine where security solutions would best benefit you— and how to apply them.

How an IT Support Provider in Long Beach Can Improve Your Disaster Recovery Plan

Posted on July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 by Admin

It’s really important to develop a disaster recovery plan as you know disasters can strike your business at any moment. In today’s world of cyber threats and natural disasters, it helps to have an effective disaster recovery plan provided by an IT support provider in Long Beach. Here are three ways that an IT provider can improve your disaster recovery plan in today’s business environment:

1. Frequent Testing

One of the most common pitfalls of a disaster recovery plan is that it isn’t tested enough to keep up with the latest demands in the workplace. However, you can avoid this common oversight by partnering with an IT service provider that will test your plan on a regular basis. These frequent testings will identify any potential areas of weakness within your IT infrastructure and can play a crucial role in preventing future data breaches.

2. Store Plan in Multiple Locations

Keeping your disaster recovery plan in only one area creates a significant security risk. However, an IT support provider in Long Beach will store your disaster recovery plan on multiple networks while also creating physical copies for you to keep on-site. Making your disaster recovery plan easily accessible will ensure that your employees have access to this information in the event of an emergency situation.

3. Always Prepare for Worst Case Scenario

An IT provider will always prepare your company for the worst-case scenario. The use of cloud technology is a great way to keep your information protected at all times, even if you suffer through a flooded office or if you are the victim of a ransomware attack. Cloud technology makes it much easier for employees to access important work files from nearly any location to keep your business operating at all times under any circumstances.

A disaster recovery plan is essential in today’s work environment due to the ever-increasing number of cyber threats, employee errors, hardware failures, and natural disasters. Advanced Networks has extensive experience in offering IT support solutions in Long Beach for a wide range of small businesses. We understand the importance of keeping all of your information protected and helping your company bounce back from any dire situation. Our IT staff members are available at any time to answer questions and maximize uptime for your business.

Finding Dominant Cloud Solutions with IT Support in Long Beach

Posted on June 26, 2019June 26, 2019 by Admin

Having IT support in Long Beach is integral in helping you obtain the best possible cloud solution for your business. There are a number of factors to consider as you choose. Keep in mind: the cloud wars are far from over; there will be unpredictable developments in the near future. The following tips are designed to help you make the right choice regardless of who eventually ends up being dominant. For best results, they should provide your business advantages like:

Cost reduction–choose the best-Priced option
Simplicity in syncing data–look for the most intuitive solution
Data stored in a physical location that is nearest to you

Cost Reduction–Choose the Best-Priced Option

IT support in Long Beach that’s best for your company will come at an affordable expense. While the least possible expense is desirable, you need to be careful here, as not all solutions are created equal. For example, if you get a bottom-dollar option but the interface is slow and time-consuming, you’re paying out more money in opportunity cost over time.

Simplicity in Syncing Data–Look for the Most Intuitive Solution

The more simple data synchronization, the better. One of cloud computing’s chief advantages is proactive interface which increases your ability to both store data securely and process information. If these things are too hard to do with simplicity, you could be paying more in the associated operational learning curve than you save going with a cheap option. Working with MSPs can really help you make the best choice here.

Data Stored in a Physical Location that is Nearest to You

You don’t want your data stored out of the country. If something untoward knocks your operations off-kilter, you’re going to have a harder time of it should your backups not be as local as possible. Try to choose localized options where possible.

IT support in Long Beach through Advanced Networks promotes diverse cloud options for your business. The best one will in all likelihood be the most cost-effective, proximal, easy-to-use solution. Contact us now for more information.

IT Support Tips for Long Beach Businesses: Migrate Email to Office 365

Posted on June 24, 2019June 24, 2019 by Admin

Do you plan to migrate your email services to Microsoft 365? IT support experts in Long Beach can help you out. Microsoft Office 365 is a cloud-based productivity suite that integrates the existing Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, etc) into a cloud service. It additionally includes Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business as the major communication and collaboration applications.

Benefits of Moving Email to Office 365

So, why is moving your e-mail services to Office 365 important for your business? The email application of Office 365, also known as Microsoft Exchange, is a powerful tool that improves efficiency, team horsepower, and security.

Improved Efficiency Through AI and Machine Learning

Innovative technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have refined email services. IT support experts in Long Beach leverage these technologies to help businesses capitalize on tools that will transform the way they communicate through email. AI and machine learning work by mimicking the way your company speaks and utilizing the information to facilitate future communication and workload. Through Outlook, AI enables automatic trips and deliveries detection, automatic meeting scheduling, and email sorting.

Improved Security

Every business leader understands the importance of email security, especially in terms of phishing threats that surrounds email communication. Office 365 migration protects corporate mailboxes indefinitely through Litigation Hold function. Additionally, your business gains from SSL/TLS encryption, mailbox auditing, Multi-factor authentication, and mobile device security policies.

Enhanced User Collaboration

Migrating to Office 365 gives your business collaborative team-friendly email tools to make your communication seamless. It comes with 2-way sync capabilities between various user devices like E-mail, Notes, Contacts, Calendar, etc. Again, users can set up out-of-office tools for added convenience. Outlook app is compatible with various platforms like Windows, Apple, Android, and iOS. Moreover, you can integrate Teams, Skype, OneDrive, and Sharepoint.

Easy Migration with the Right Technical Support

Many businesses keep postponing their migration to Office 365 for fear of failure. You need the right skills to successfully transfer existing email systems to the cloud. With the right IT support team, the task shouldn’t be problematic. However, it is never a good idea to carry out the migration on your own since any wrong move can result in information loss or downtime.

Moving your emails to Office 365 enables you to know where your data is and who is accessing it. In case data is lost or stolen through a mobile device, you can remotely wipe out the data and mitigate risks. If you have any questions about migrating your email to MS Office 365, how it is done, and the benefits your business can draw, get in touch with Advanced Networks. Our IT support team in Long Beach is ready to assist you.

IT Support in Long Beach: Transitioning from Working in the Cloud to Trailblazing with Innovation

Posted on June 20, 2019September 14, 2023 by Admin

As tech prognosticators have predicted, cloud computing has quickly become quite the dominant enterprise IT. Just about every organization uses the cloud. Corporate policies against the cloud, dubbed “no cloud”, will soon be seen just as archaic as the policies against web use from yesteryear. You will not find such policies at IT support providers in Long Beach nor should they exist in any other modern enterprise. Here’s a look at how to use the cloud for innovation in addition to operations:

Making the Shift from Operating to Innovating

The IT skills gap reduces productivity and overall progression in the cloud. This gap has stifled innovation to a certain extent. The majority of IT teams lack the bandwidth and resources required to use the cloud’s full capacity to innovate. Those that leverage a savvy managed cloud services group will find their staff has the flexibility necessary to pursue additional cloud opportunities.

Plenty of IT personnel are used to being concerned about whether servers are in operation, if backups ran the night prior, and if drives are in working order. Think about how nice it would be to be liberated from these concerns while an IT group handles them. You can zero in on projects that need extra attention. The end result will be much more of a proactive approach rather than a reactive one, allowing your team to innovate when necessary.

Select Carefully

Though there are a lot of IT support providers in Long Beach, when choosing an IT provider, select a partner that has provided results for other clients, has a track record of success and good relationships with cloud platform providers. Consider if the candidate has the tools required to enhance the cloud selection process, if on-going optimization will be stressed, and how detailed the information governance options are.

If you would like to find out more about progressing from simply operating in the cloud to innovating, Advanced Networks can help. We are one of the best IT support providers in Long Beach that help businesses successfully adopt the cloud. Contact us now for more information.

Does Your IT Support Provider in Long Beach Offer IT Compliance Services?

Posted on June 13, 2019September 14, 2023 by Admin

We live in an era where regulatory bodies and the general public expect all businesses using IT to be IT-compliant. Compliance means that these businesses must commit to keeping all data they receive from their customers and clients safe. Simply put, compliance pertains to the various rules and regulations set by regulatory bodies, the government, or an industry organization with the aim of protecting a subset of internet users. It is, therefore, important for you to partner with an IT support provider in Long Beach that will walk you through the process of ensuring that you are IT-compliant.

What is the Difference between IT Compliance and IT Security?

It is common to find these two terms being used interchangeably. However, IT compliance and IT security do not mean one and the same thing. IT security relates to the practice of protecting the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of a firm’s critical resource. On the other hand, IT compliance is a requirement placed by a third party, which can either be the government or a regulatory body, on the firm to ensure that the firm operates according to some set standards.

Both IT security and compliance are important. Firms that fail to be IT-compliant risk facing a myriad of punitive measures from the government or the regulatory body. Small to medium businesses (SMBs) might not be in a position to hire expert IT staff who will keep abreast with regulatory requirements. In your case, consider using an IT support provider in Long Beach that specializes in offering IT compliance services.

Notable Examples of Compliance Measures

Some notable examples of compliance measures include:

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – This requires all business entities handling sensitive health information to protect the privacy and security of their clients. An example of HIPAA requirement includes the access control to workstations.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – The ADA requires that all websites be designed in such a way that they can be accessed with ease by people with disabilities.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) privacy and security guidelines – These guidelines serve to protect consumers’ privacy as they transact over the internet.

Ignorance of the law is not a defense. You can avoid breaking the law and failing to meet the IT compliance threshold by partnering with a skilled IT support provider in Long Beach. At Advanced Networks, we help businesses meet all the IT compliance requirements. Contact us now and let us discuss how we can help your business stay compliant.

Why You Should Have Your IT Network Reviewed by an IT Support Provider in Long Beach

Posted on June 7, 2019June 7, 2019 by Admin

As your business grows and technology continues to change, there are high chances that your IT infrastructure can lag behind these developments. In truth, technological changes happen so fast and if IT is not your core competency then your firm can easily be left behind. To ensure that you are always up to date with the latest developments in the field of IT, you will need to have a trusted IT support provider in Long Beach by your side. This professional will, among other things, ensure that your IT network is reviewed periodically for software and hardware vulnerabilities and fix them before they become a major problem.

Why is an Outside Perspective Important?

Your internal teams might be too accustomed to the issues in your IT infrastructure to the extent that they turn a blind eye to what can potentially cripple your operations. Hiring n MSP to conduct periodic network reviews will not only bring a fresh and outside perspective but also suggestions for improvements. Since MSPs operate in the IT industry serving customers of varying organizational size, these professionals can leverage their experience when dealing with your IT infrastructure.

What Can Periodic IT Network Reviews Reveal?

A periodic network review by a qualified IT support provider in Long Beach can reveal any or a combination of the following:

The need to update your software
The need to upgrade your hardware
The need to strengthen your firewall and anti-virus software
The need to enforce your firm’s IT security protocols
The need to design and implement a detailed bring your own device (BYOD) policy

Benefits of Using an MSP For IT Network Review

As stated earlier, using an MSP will afford your network an outside perspective. Aside from that, here are additional benefits of such a move:

Modern Solutions – Considering that MSPs specialize in matters IT, these IT firms spend most of their time researching and finding out solutions which they can use to serve their customers better. These firms readily invest in new technologies and sponsor their technicians to acquire advanced knowledge which they in turn use to serve their clients better. With your internal IT team, this might be too costly for your firm to invest in.
Comprehensive Security – Entrusting your IT network review to a professional MSP will afford you peace of mind because you will go about your business knowing that a professional is reviewing your network and if there are any vulnerabilities, this expert will find them and root them out.

Ready to Take Action?

If planning on having your IT network reviewed, you can entrust us with the job. At Advanced Networks, we are a reliable IT support provider in Long Beach ready to help your firm stay safe online. Contact us to learn more.

IT Support in Long Beach for Mobile Device Security

Posted on June 5, 2019September 13, 2023 by Admin

IT support in Long Beach may be integral in helping you capture the greatest quotient of ROI through your mobile integration strategy. From BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) to IoT (Internet of Things), there are quite a few ways you can augment traditional operations with mobile solutions for cost-reduction and productivity increase. But there are going to be issues you must contend with— chief among them is security. Following are several ways MSPs can help you fully maximize your mobile solutions through comprehensive security measures:

MDM (Mobile Device Management)
Multi-Factor Verification Protocols
Employee Education Programs

MDM (Mobile Device Management)

IT support in Long Beach can provide proactive monitoring and support to your mobile solution. Devices can be allowed onto the network or kicked off of it in a managed way. Devices can be erased or shut down remotely, as well, depending on how you design your MDM with the MSP that works with you. Mobile networks’ chief disadvantage comes in the form of security vulnerabilities. With MDM, you can keep devices properly maintained and safe at a reduced cost.

Multi-Factor Verification Protocols

Multi-factor verification protocols are often included under MDM. They work like this: say you wanted to log onto a network and had proper access protocols. If you had multi-factor verification in place, when you entered in contact information for the first time, a message would be sent to a secondary or even tertiary device. If you were logging in from your laptop, you might get a text message (or an automated call) on your smartphone. This message would contain a code that you would enter into another dialogue box that pops up on your access portal. Entering in that secondary code grants network access. You can use more than two factors for verification, depending on your operation’s needs.

Employee Education Programs

It’s widely known that the greatest operational threats to your business will develop internally. This doesn’t happen so much from malicious intent as it does through negligence and lack of information. Many employees just don’t realize they’re putting you at risk. Ideally, you should have a tech security refresher about every three months. MSPs can either facilitate such solutions for your business or they can point you to resources that do the same.

Improved Mobile Security

An IT support provider in Long Beach like Advanced Networks can help you train employees in best mobile device usage protocols, apply multi-factor verification security, and introduce MDM solutions which keep your devices safe. To acquire more reliable mobile systems and information pertaining to mobile security, feel free to contact us.

How IT Support in Long Beach Can Help with Data Backup

Posted on May 30, 2019May 30, 2019 by Admin

A reliable IT support firm in Long Beach is the solution to data backup to ensure you never lose critical data. An outsourced IT team can be more reliable than an in-house staff when it comes to making sure there are always fresh backups of everything.

Here are some points to remember about the most efficient ways to back up data:

Avoiding Old Fashioned Storage Methods

By outsourcing to an experienced IT support team in Long Beach, you ensure that your files will be backed up regularly in more than one place. It’s also likely the team will advise against old storage methods such as tape. While tape is still used by businesses as an affordable storage solution, it’s not the medium to choose if you need reliable backups in an emergency.

A tape can stretch, which damages data. It can also get dirty, tangled or broken and it’s sensitive to temperature. Storing data on tape is also inconvenient in the sense that it takes time to rewind and fast forward to find specific resources. Like all physical media, it’s also vulnerable to a natural disaster such as flooding.

Cloud Backups

Storing files in the cloud is a much easier strategy and can be free with some vendors. Cloud backups can even be automated and stored off-site in various locations to increase the odds the data will be safe from physical destruction.

There are three different types of cloud solutions to consider for backing up data. A private cloud is an intranet that is ideal for storing the most confidential information. A public cloud is used by various people for email, social media, and other popular online activities. Public clouds are not as private but are useful for storing less critical data at low costs. third type of cloud is a hybrid.

Disaster Recovery

Establishing a data backup and disaster recovery plan is essential for any business. This plan maps out what steps will be taken in the event of a disaster such as a power outage or a cyber-attack. Having such an emergency plan in place will help keep the staff calm, as panic can make matters worse. The recovery plan should be rehearsed periodically to ensure that it runs smoothly in a real situation. It should indicate how much downtime, if any, is expected and how long the business will be on a backup server.

Conclusion

Your IT support provider in Long Beach can handle backing up your data so that none of it ever gets lost. Contact us at Advanced Networks to learn more about data protection so that you can focus on your core business goals.