Why Small Businesses Need IT Services in Los Angeles

IT services Los AngelesIT services in Los Angeles have become an integral part of conducting business regardless of the industry of operation. Almost all factories, offices, stores and warehouses depend on computers to communicate with customers, process orders and advertise products and services. All these depend on efficient and reliable infrastructure. Therefore, it is prudent for small businesses to have excellent IT systems. Here are the major reasons why small businesses need managed IT services:

Staying Productive

Small businesses that try to solve their operational problems without expert interference end up slowing down their productivity in the long run. If you run a small business, consider hiring a dedicated IT services provider in Los Angeles and focus on the productivity of your business. A dedicated managed services provider will ensure that your computers run properly allowing you to conduct your business operations without worrying about low productivity in case something breaks.

Professional Consultation

Small businesses that invest in managed IT services are more likely to thrive compared to those that don’t. IT solutions for hardware, computer software, cloud storage, and VoIP can prove difficult to understand. For this reason, professional consultation is the best way to go for your small business. Managed service providers keep up with the changing technology, thus, they understand the ins and outs of the game. A professional consultation will help your small business reach its highest potential.

Security

For your small business to thrive, security should be a priority. Hackers are very much aware that small businesses don’t impose severe security measures. Usually, this is either due to lack of knowledge or the assumption that the cost of protection is too high. In case your server makes it onto a randomly-generate list, the resulting damage can be very extensive. Regardless of your business’s size, being up-to-date with some of the latest security measures should be your top priority. Most times, it is almost impossible to keep up with the latest security measures, that’s why small businesses need managed IT services— they will allow you to improve the productivity of your small business.

Customized Managed IT Services

All companies are not the same; thus, IT support requirements inevitably vary. Managed IT specialists are flexible, experienced, and have the expertise to customize their services to meet your needs. Whether you need 3rd party software support, 24/7 access to a professional, remote installations, or regular security, a managed IT provider can do them all for you.

Predictable Spending

In most cases, managed IT providers offer IT services and packages at a flat-rate. This means that it is easy to plan your spending. With comprehensive plans and transparent pricing, it is easy for you to add IT services to a budget. You will not worry about unexpected costs or fluctuating fees.

Small businesses need IT services in Los Angeles to stay productive and expand their operations. We at Advanced Networks understand how important your small business is to you. We will work 24/7 to monitor, manage, and maintain your computer systems. We are up-to-date with the most recent IT solutions, and our dream is to see your business grow. For more information, contact us today.

Effective Backup and Disaster Recovery IT Services in Los Angeles

Businesses that depend on IT services in Los Angeles understand that backup is not a luxury, but a necessity. As a business, it is imperative that you protect your internal documents, fast-changing transactional data, and customer-facing marketing statistics.

Understanding BDR

Backup and disaster recovery (BDR) do not signify the same thing. Backup refers to the process of making extra copies of data in case the original is damaged, destroyed or lost while disaster recovery in IT means returning the operations environment to the previous functioning state.

Backup and disaster management complement each other. If your business loses some or all data, but your operations environment is fine, you will utilize the backup function and load it on your systems. In case your IT environment is not available, you will not be able to restore the backup data. This shows that protecting your data is not enough— your business has to ensure the entire computing environment is secure including network, hardware, software, and data.

Consequently, the function of disaster management offers your business a complimentary, redundant environment where it will not just load back the data, but can restructure and operate your IT service when your primary system is not available.

Relative to your business’ main data center, the recovery environment can be local and remote. It is not compulsory to have a remote environment since not all disasters require it. A good example is if your business went through a server breakdown, while your data center is in one piece, you can switch to a local hardware and use it as your prime server for some time. If for instance your data center has been damaged then you will be required to switch to a remote center that has not been affected by the same calamity.

The switch to a new server will depend on your requirements and the capacity of your disaster recovery provider.  Three models distinguish how your data recovery takes place:

  • Cold – This model preserves and backs up your data and replicates your systems in the form of images which are stored locally or remotely. The recovery servers are not loaded, but if requested they will be loaded and started.
  • Warm – This model is similar to cold except the recovery servers are loaded onto their assigned hosts and configured. All that is required is to load the data and spin the servers.
  • Hot – This model syncs up your data to your redundant environment which is running parallel to your primary.

Another important factor to consider for businesses requiring IT services in Los Angeles is that your company does not have to wait for a calamity to benefit from disaster recovery solution. This is relevant when you are testing software upgrades, patches, or new use cases.

Many companies have tried to implement their disaster recovery, only to realize it is riddled with hidden costs and unnecessary risks. Businesses that require IT services in Los Angeles have a reliable partner in us at Advanced Networks. We offer effective backup and disaster recovery services without any hidden costs. Contact us today to learn more.

IT Consulting in Los Angeles: Buy or Lease Hardware Equipment?

The question of whether to buy or lease hardware equipment is one that plagues business owners and managers across the globe. There is no universal solution to this question. Leasing makes sense for some companies while purchasing is more prudent for others. However, an IT consulting team in Los Angeles can help you with that. Here is a look at whether leasing or buying is better:

The Case for Leasing

Leasing makes sense for business owners who have limited capital. It also will prove quite helpful for companies in need of hardware that must be updated fairly frequently. Once the lease ends, the company can upgrade to the next version. Leasing is also the best way to keep up with the life cycle as leases tend to run between two and three years. This is just about the amount of time required to upgrade. Leasing also helps to limit the initial cost. Preservation of cash is essential for companies looking to grow or launch.

There is also less paperwork to deal with when a company leases hardware. There is no need to fill out loan paperwork, visit the bank and so on. The vendor handles all of the equipment servicing, updates, patching and other adjustments from thereon forward. This outsourcing of maintenance work empowers your team to focus on what they do best. Add in the fact that hardware automatically depreciates as the years progress, and it is easy to see why plenty of small to medium-sized companies opt to lease.

The Downside to Leasing

There are a few negatives to leasing hardware. The long-term cost will inevitably be higher than the cost of an outright purchase. The customer does not build any type of equity in the leased equipment. However, some equipment might prove obsolete by the lease end. Another downside to a lease is the fact that the user is forced to make payments over the full lease period no matter what.

Buying Hardware Equipment

Established businesses and organizations that require equipment with a long life cycle are prime candidates to buy hardware. If your certain specific types of equipment won’t be outdated in the near future, purchase them to get the most for your money.

Buying also empowers you to take advantage of tax incentives. You can deduct some or all of the cost of newly bought assets. Equipment that is not eligible for this portion of tax deductions might prove eligible for others, like depreciation deduction. Meet with an IT consulting staff in Los Angeles for more information about the tax breaks available for buying hardware.

The Negatives to Buying

The main flaw with buying is the exorbitant initial cost. Initial cash payments might prove too high for certain businesses. The down payment will likely be a minimum of around 25 percent. There is plenty of paperwork to boot. When in doubt, reach out to our IT consulting for advice pertaining to hardware.

If you are looking for an IT consulting company in Los Angeles, Advanced Networks is at your service. Our IT support will minimize downtime, boost your digital security, enhance your team’s productivity and help your business grow. Contact us now for more information.

Ransomware and the Importance of Prevention, Recovery, and IT Services in Los Angeles

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number malware attacks against businesses and organizations. The primary threat in the current technological atmosphere for hospitals, major corporations, and other establishments is ransomware. Most companies are being forced to rethink their security plans due to the numerous reports of halted operations and high financial demands. If you are uncertain about the implication of ransomware, consider this brief discussion on the dangerous malware and the importance of IT services in Los Angeles to your business’ security.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware can be defined as malicious programs which are designed to prevent or at least limit a user from accessing and using their digital data. The objective of this type of viral software is extortion. In simple terms, the attack is deliberate and the intention of the hacker is to force an organization or business to pay in order to regain control over their system. There are different ways in which the malware can penetrate your computer network. The program can be disguised as another type of file and downloaded mistakenly from emails or websites. The network can also be infected when harmful links are clicked. In targeted attacks, a software worm can be forced into a network.

Common Forms of Ransomware

There are different types of ransomware which are commonly used to attack computer networks. The most popular in the modern setting is encrypting malware. When this software penetrates your system, it will transform your data into a cipher or code, making it unreadable. Ideally, when the demanded ransom is paid, the hacker provides the decryption key to the victim. Non-encrypting ransomware normally locks the network screens or the files, preventing access until the demands are met. Another form of an attack embeds a virus into the system, and the hacker threatens to use the malware to expose stored data if a ransom is not paid.

Security Measures for Prevention

You should consult an IT services expert in Los Angeles to help your business in creating a prevention and protection against ransomware. In general, there are some crucial measures that every business can take to prevent exploitation by hackers. First, updates should be implemented for bug fixes and patching purposes. For instance, a critical security patch which was designed to prevent vulnerability to malware like WannaCry was provided, but most users had not implemented it. Second, security software such as antivirus and firewalls should be in place and up to date. In addition, every company should train employees on the right cyber security protocols and hold them accountable.

Establishing a Disaster Recovery Plan

Apart from prevention, your company should have a disaster recovery plan in case your data is lost through a malware attack. This will promote business continuity and minimize the financial repercussions of an unexpected IT problem. There are different strategies which you can choose for this purpose. Private and hybrids cloud solution are the most popular choices for large and growing because data will be replicated continuously, secured in an offsite location and restored with ease.

For top-tier IT solutions and security that you can rely on, trust us at Advanced Networks. Our IT services experts in Los Angeles are always ready to help you with your business needs. If you would like to learn more about your options for protection against ransomware and the best disaster recovery solutions, contact us today.

Ransomware, Sandboxing, and How IT Support in LA Can Help

IT support LARansomware is gaining worldwide attention recently, especially after the WannaCry attack that infected more than 200,000 computers in over 150 countries. As a business owner, you should be aware of the dangers of ransomware, as well as the protective measures you can use for all your systems. One such measure is the knowledge and expertise of an IT support professional in LA. Here are some facts about ransomware and what you (and your IT support provider) can do to combat it.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware that locks your computer and holds your entire files hostage until you pay a certain amount of money. There are two main types of ransomware: lockscreen ransomware and the more troublesome encryption ransomware. Lockscreen ransomware displays a full-screen message that prevents you from interacting normally with your device, demanding a ransom to unlock it again. Encryption ransomware scrambles your files, demanding a fee be paid for the encryption key needed to unscramble them again.

How Can I Protect Against Ransomware?

Sandboxing is a vital security practice that isolates programs, preventing malicious or malfunctioning programs from damaging the rest of your computer. The fun part is you can create your own sandboxes to test applications.

Another way to safeguard your business is to maintain good security. With the help of your IT support provider in LA, install anti-malware utilities on your device, update all applications and software regularly, and use a reliable backup and recovery system to prevent data loss.

How Does Ransomware Infect My System?

Typically, ransomware infects your system when you visit a website that forces your device to download malicious code. You may also be tricked into downloading ransomware disguised as something else, such as an email attachment or a software utility.

How Can I Remove Ransomware From My System?

You can usually remove ransomware with standard anti-malware utilities. If you’re locked out of your device, it may be possible to regain access if you reboot it in safe mode.

How Do I Recover My Files?

Your ability to recover your files depends on whether someone encrypts your files and what recovery systems you have in place. Some ransomware only claims to encrypt files but doesn’t actually do so. In this case, it may be enough to simply remove the infection. If your files are encrypted, you may need to restore them from backups. Your system must be cleared of any malware before recovery can take place.

How Can The Message Include My IP Address?

Your IP address isn’t normally hidden unless you take steps to conceal it. There are a great many tools that can uncover your IP— the ransomware creator probably included such a tool in their design.

Could The Authorities Have Detected Illegal Activity On My System?

No. This is a ruse the malware developer employs to make you pay. Ransomware messages can look convincing, with the names and logos of legal authorities prominently displayed. However, law enforcement will not interact with you in this way.

I Can’t Access My System Or My Files. Should I Pay The Ransom To Regain Access?

Whether or not you decide to pay will depend on your situation. Be aware that paying the ransom may not allow you to regain access to your files. If you do pay, the culprit may target you for future attacks.

What Should I Do If I’ve Already Paid?

If you’ve paid using a credit or debit card, or an online payment service such as PayPal, you might be able to recover the money from your payment provider. If you’ve used a digital currency such as Bitcoin, recovering the money may be difficult, if not impossible. Contacting law enforcement, such as the police, can be a useful first step.

Always remember that protection against malware is protection against ransomware. Keep your devices and systems secure and back up your files regularly to protect yourself against this kind of threat. For trusted IT support services in LA that you can depend on, contact us at Advanced Networks today.

How a Reliable IT Services Provider in Los Angeles Can Help Prevent Homograph Phishing Attacks

IT services Los AngelesHackers are continually developing new online security threats, and as an IT services company in Los Angeles, we provide the latest solutions that will keep you and your business fully protected. Recently, there has been a rise in homograph phishing attacks, and it is critical to be fully aware of the scheme before it is too late. A homograph phishing scam disguises a malicious hyperlink into appearing to be a legitimate link to a reputable website. Once the user clicks on the link, they are usually asked to fill out a form that will reveal personal information. If this information is filled out, your identity can be stolen, and you risk losing thousands of dollars. Here are a few tips to help avoid becoming a victim of a homograph phishing scam:

1. Always Be Cautious Opening E-mails

Never download any attachment within an e-mail that is from an unknown source. If an email has a hyperlink, manually type in the web address to avoid becoming a victim of a homograph scheme. The majority of web browsers have built-in mechanisms to protect against homographs, but recently, a leading computer expert has revealed significant security vulnerability in the most popular web browsers. Currently, manually typing a web address is the only safe option. If you believe that you have already opened a malicious hyperlink inside an e-mail, our IT services professionals in Los Angeles can analyze the e-mail and provide the latest solutions for your company.

2. Download the Latest Anti-Virus Protection

Besides phishing attacks, computers can easily be targeted by viruses and malware. Downloading the newest anti-virus protection is a significant step in protecting yourself from malicious e-mails or websites. Being aware of the latest cyberattacks is an excellent way to protect your company’s personal data. It is also a good idea to run weekly scans that can detect any issues before they become a major problem. Preventative maintenance is critical in the ever-changing world of cyber security.

3. Use a Good Password Manager

A password manager stores all of your login information for each website that you use and will automatically save your password through encryption with a master password. In other words, if you click on a phishing link, it will automatically notify you that the website is not legitimate. Besides the convenience of managing all of your passwords, password managers provide excellent protection against homograph phishing attacks.

As you can see, homograph phishing scams can be very complex and dangerous for individuals and companies. Until each browser updates their security settings, manually typing the address of a link is the only sure way to avoid opening a disguised hyperlink. If you believe that your business may already be at risk, it is critical to contact us at Advanced Networks. Our IT services expert in Los Angeles will assess and repair any technical issues that you may encounter while offering the best customer support for your company.

IT Consulting in Los Angeles Answers the Call for Outsourced Help Desk Support

Expert It Professionals for your business

Although IT consulting in Los Angeles can now be easily outsourced, it’s still advisable for businesses to know the basics of the services they need. This empowers them to demand only the best from their chosen third-party providers.

One such example of outsourced services is customer support. Businesses can delegate this task to providers, leaving them with more time to focus on their main objectives. Usually, this kind of customer support is outsourced in the form of a help desk wherein representatives take calls and answer emails.

As the client, you must know what kind of customer support your provider should deliver. Because your provider’s help desk will be on the front lines serving as the first point of contact, they will not be perceived as a separate entity, but rather, as a part of your business. If they fail, your business fails as well in the eyes of your customers.

To establish good relations with your customers, look for a provider of IT consulting in Los Angeles that can offer the following:

Well-trained customer service representatives

It takes skills to soothe irate customers, especially when their complaints can’t be resolved immediately. Thus, your provider should have a readily available team already experienced in conflict resolution and business communication. They should know proper phone etiquette, de-escalation techniques, and detailed documentation. They should know when to follow a script, and when to think outside the box. And that’s just the soft skills part. They also must possess hard skills such as using logging tools, troubleshooting basic technical issues, and recognizing security risks, among other things.

Round-the-clock services

Whenever your systems go down, people will contact your help desk first and foremost to find out what’s going on. Unfortunately, unexpected outages know no schedule, so you should have a help desk that’s available 24/7. In case your website goes down at an ungodly hour, your customers should be able to connect with your business and get a resolution or at least, information. Although a lot of businesses still offer their help desk during their regular hours of operation, many are seeing the benefit of round-the-clock availability.

Scalability

If your business is still growing, there’s no way to predict just how fast it can become bigger, so scalability is another important factor to consider when looking for a provider. Their services should be able to scale up and down accordingly without affecting their performance.  After all, you want a provider that’s just as flexible as your business is. If they can’t keep up, then they’re not a good match.

Proven track record

Don’t just go with any provider with the lowest price offer. Instead, choose a provider with an established reputation for delivering customer support. They may cost higher than newer provider but think of it more as an investment and less as an expense. When your customers are happy, they develop loyalty for your brand and become repeat buyers, so it all translates to a good ROI in the end

For high-quality customer support, look no further than Advanced Networks. As a trusted provider of IT consulting in Los Angeles, we have everything an outsourced help desk should have and more. Contact us today for additional information on our services.

How IT Support In LA Can Help Law Firms Optimize Operations

An IT support provider in LA can cost-effectively offset infrastructural expenses related to the operation of your law firm. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the chief ones are obvious. The core directive of a competent MSP will be easy technology facilitation that saves clients money and secures them cutting-edge solutions. Savings now are often collateral, but that doesn’t mean they’re intangible. At any rate, following are a number of advantages which law firms are likely to see with the implementation of MSP solutions:

  • Security enhancement
  • Increased expertise technically
  • Expanded compliance adherence
  • Data accessibility is conveniently expedited

Security Enhancement

An IT support provider in LA must remain on the cutting edge in terms of security. There are always new viruses out there, and technology’s development intones a cyclical incursion of new threats. Why? Well, Moore’s Law is regularly demonstrated in a tangible way. If you’re unfamiliar, Moore’s Law is the principle that technology of the computational variety doubles on itself at periodic predictable intervals. Generally, these intervals are around 18 months.

Now, with the trickle-down of technology to the masses, that translates to about a three to five-year operational life for most servers, desktops, and laptops. That is to say: you could get the next newest solution every 18 months, but the costs of switching out and reconfiguring systems are such that it ends up losing more money than maturing your investment in older tech. Needs will differ per legal firm and the right MSP can help provide you consultation such that you secure only those solutions that will be most effective.

Increased Expertise Technically

MSPs regularly deal with diverse business clients. Your legal firm regularly deals with an entirely different kind of client. Your core directive won’t be in areas of technology, but that of the MSP will. You can expect to see increased expertise that will save you time and money. Look at it this way: you can change the oil of your car yourself. It’ll take you about an hour and you’re out the cost of the oil. You can take it to a rapid lube joint and get the job done in twenty minutes for about eight times the expense. Which is most cost-effective to you will be best answered by how much your time is worth. If it’s worth more than $40 an hour, you lose money by doing the oil change yourself. It’s the same kind of thing with IT.

Expanded Compliance Adherence

Because technology is always in flux, legal requirements which silhouette it, likewise, continue to shift. If you’re not continuously watching these trends, you’re going to be out of compliance at some point; and that looks worse for a law firm than most businesses that require technical support solutions.

Convenient Data Accessibility

Cloud computing support can make it, so the “home system” of your law firm is accessible to an attorney with an internet-enabled device and a connection. This can be facilitated more securely via MSP.

Upgrading Your Law Firm

IT support in LA through Advanced Networks can save your business money through maximization of time and resources while, simultaneously, expanding compliance and data accessibility; among other things. Contact us to optimize your legal practice and expand your effectiveness.

5 Ways to Make IT Consulting in Los Angeles Work for You

IT consulting Los Angeles, IT outsourcing Los AngelesAs businesses strive to increase profits in uncertain times, every one seeks creative new ways to stay competitive. Some choose to adopt newer streamlined business models. Others may opt for increasing product diversity or by partnering with marketing firms to build more effective brand recognition. There is an easier way to shake things up in your office though. It is as simple as partnering with an IT consulting team in Los Angeles. After careful considerations, they may suggest IT outsourcing. Doing so stands to improve your company’s performance with a large variety of benefits.

1. Decrease Costs

Reliable IT support does not come cheap. Technology requires constant maintenance by a team of highly trained specialists. If keeping your support in-house, each staff member costs tens of thousands of dollars. Finding methods of IT consulting can save your company’s much-needed cash to invest in other areas that more directly affect your clients, such as product development or improvements to customer service.

2. Increase Expertise

Do you want to increase the available knowledge base for your tech support? Partnering with an IT consulting team in Los Angeles provides direct access to proven solutions no matter what technology needs you have. Unlimited access to IT support is an absolute necessity for any successful business. You won’t always need the same level of service though. There are peaks and troughs in when support is necessary. Outsourced support makes sense when your tech needs are unpredictable.

3. Get the Latest Technology

With unlimited access to your outsourced support, you get more than just expertise for existing systems. You can reinvest the money you save into adopting new technologies. At the rate IT evolves, staying on top of the latest trends that work for your business is essential. Your managed services provider can offer advice on emergent technologies that work best for your needs.

4. Improve Productivity

Smaller businesses looking to save a little bit of money, typically delegate IT responsibilities to other staff members. When forced to juggle multiple roles, staff members often fail to perform adequately at either task. Worse still, those that you may have overseeing in your IT department might not have the expertise required to keep things running correctly. The level of support decreases and overall productivity for your business suffers.

5. Manage Risks

In the event of a technology crisis, you want to know that you have a reliable partner working to restore maximum efficiency and productivity. When you outsource your support, you hold managed support services accountable for their work. If the work is not performed up to certain standards or in a timely manner, you can hold that company responsible. Contractual obligations constitute a binding legal agreement, that, if violated, could result in damages paid to your company.

If your business needs proven IT consulting in Los Angeles, choose Advanced Networks. We can offer you creative solutions to your network problems. Our diverse tech support approaches include cloud services, backup and recovery, security implementation, and network design. No matter what industry you are in, contact us now, we can help you in rising to today’s ever-changing technology challenges.

Advantages of Outsourcing IT Support in LA

Network Operation Centre (NOC) is an integral function of IT support in LA and most businesses are now embracing it. All businesses, regardless of the type of ventures, have their digital devices networked together for easier workflow. It’s for this reason that having an NOC is inevitable.

An NOC performs numerous IT functions such as system monitoring, coordination of network problems and changes, and IP addresses and domain name management.

The big question that business directors ask is whether to outsource to managed services providers or simply to have in-house NOC. Having an in-house IT team has the benefit of working with familiar people that you can trust. On the other hand, hiring managed service providers also has numerous profits, especially for small to medium-sized businesses.

Here are some of the benefits of outsourcing IT support in LA:

Keeping Focus on Your Core Business

Outsourcing managed services ensure that the complex IT issues are taken care of by professionals, giving you time to focus on initiatives that will see the growth of the enterprise.

Security

Outsourcing for managed services is a security measure to ensure that you have personnel who know, for example, the PCI compliance standards and, hence, can reduce the risks that are associated with credit card numbers, client data, and other sensitive information.

Control IT Costs

No business wants to spend unnecessarily. Thus, if there’s a chance to spend less, it’s readily embraced. Outsourcing cuts cost tremendously. You only pay for services when there’s a problem to be solved, as opposed to having an in-house team that will be paid whether there was a problem or not. Thus, companies prefer outsourcing to reduce ownership costs and reduce downtime.

Reduced Labor Costs

It’s cheaper to outsource, as you will spend just a little portion of what you would’ve spent if you had your own in-house IT team. It can be quite costly to hire and train an IT team and this makes outsourcing the better option.

Reduced Risk

Each business enterprise has a certain level of risks associated with changes in government regulations, markets, financial conditions, competition, and technology. Outsourced managed services assume these risks and even manage it for you. They’re more experienced in their areas of expertise and they can decide how to avoid risk with their industry-specific knowledge on security and compliance issues.

Experienced Personnel

A qualified employee doesn’t necessarily mean experienced. An in-house employee is a bit limited and may not be familiar with certain IT problems. Outsourcing from an IT company will see to it that you get an experienced person who is familiar with all problems.

Keep the Same Level with Big Companies

It’s obvious that small businesses may not be able to afford an in-house NOC. That notwithstanding, they can still play on the same level by simply outsourcing the same services that the big companies are getting.

Having considered the benefits of outsourcing, ensure that your provider is qualified, experienced, and certified. If you’re looking for managed services providers, Advanced Networks has all the solutions you need. We provide IT support in LA and we’re here to give you only high-quality services. Contact us today for more information.