Efficiency is crucial in the accounting industry, especially during tax season. With a high volume of work and tight deadlines, accountants need to be able to maximize their productivity to ensure accurate and timely completion of their tasks. Inefficient processes and systems can lead to delays, errors, and ultimately, client dissatisfaction. Therefore, it is essential for accountants to find ways to streamline their operations and minimize downtime. This is where IT solutions come into play.Understanding the challenges faced by accountants during tax season Tax season is undoubtedly one of the most demanding periods for accountants. The sheer volume of tax returns, financial statements, and other related documents that need to be prepared and submitted can be overwhelming. Accountants often find themselves working long hours and under immense pressure to meet deadlines. Furthermore, they also must navigate through complex tax laws and regulations, ensuring that their clients comply with all the necessary requirements. All these factors contribute to making it crucial for them to find ways to optimize their workflow and minimize downtime.The impact of downtime on accountants and their clients Downtime can have a significant impact on both accountants and their clients. For accountants, downtime means wasted time and lost productivity. It disrupts their workflow, forcing them to stop their work and wait for the issue to be resolved. This not only hampers their efficiency but also adds to their stress levels during an already challenging period. Moreover, downtime can also lead to errors and mistakes, as accountants rush to catch up on their work once the issue is resolved. This can have severe consequences, including penalties for late filing or inaccurate financial statements.On the other hand, downtime also affects clients. They rely on their accountants to provide accurate and timely services, especially during tax season. Any delay or interruption in the accounting process can have a domino effect on their own operations, leading to missed deadlines, financial losses, or even legal repercussions. Clients expect their accountants to be reliable and efficient, and any downtime can erode their trust in the accounting firm. Therefore, minimizing downtime is not only essential for accountants but also crucial for maintaining strong client relationships.How IT solutions can help accountants minimize downtimeIT service providers offer a wide range of tools and technologies that can help accountants minimize downtime and maximize efficiency during tax season. One of the most significant advancements in recent years is cloud computing. By storing data and applications on remote servers accessed via the internet, accountants can work from anywhere at any time, as long as they have an internet connection. This eliminates the need for physical servers and on-site infrastructure, reducing the risk of downtime due to hardware failures or power outages. Cloud computing also enables seamless collaboration among team members, allowing accountants to work together on the same documents in real-time. Accounting software and automation tools are another essential aspect of IT solutions that can enhance efficiency. These tools automate repetitive tasks such as data entry, calculations, and report generation, reducing the chances of errors and saving significant amounts of time. By leveraging these technologies, accountants can focus on more critical and value-added tasks, such as data analysis, financial planning, and client advisory services. With the help of accounting software and automation tools, accountants can streamline their processes and complete their work more efficiently, minimizing downtime and increasing their overall productivity.Enhancing cybersecurity to protect sensitive client data
Data security is a significant concern for accountants, especially during tax season when they handle sensitive client information. Cyberattacks and data breaches are on the rise, and accounting firms are prime targets for hackers looking to steal valuable financial data. A single security breach can have devastating consequences, including loss of client trust, legal liabilities, and damage to the firm’s reputation. Therefore, it is crucial for accountants to prioritize cybersecurity and implement robust measures to protect sensitive client data.
IT service providers play a vital role in enhancing cybersecurity for accounting firms. This includes implementing firewalls, encryption protocols, and multi-factor authentication to safeguard data from unauthorized access. Regular software updates and patches are also essential to protect against known vulnerabilities. Additionally, accountants should educate themselves and their staff about the best practices for cybersecurity, such as creating strong passwords, avoiding suspicious emails or links, and being cautious when sharing sensitive information. By adopting a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, accountants can minimize the risk of data breaches and downtime, ensuring the safety and confidentiality of their clients’ information.
By utilizing Farmhouse Networking to provide IT solutions and leveraging the power of technology, accountants can streamline their operations, minimize downtime, and provide exceptional services to their clients.
Has your business ever experienced a technology crisis that could have been easily prevented? Learn from the cautionary tale of a non-managed client who recently faced a major setback due to neglected IT infrastructure. This compelling story underscores the importance of proactive IT management and the need for robust backup solutions.
The Story: A Cautionary Tale
Neglected IT Infrastructure: After 5 years of radio silence, a panicked non-managed client reached out to us when their aging computer, hosting their crucial order processing system, malfunctioned.
DIY Mishap: Attempting to fix the issue themselves, the client inadvertently worsened the situation by installing the wrong part, leading to a cascade of problems.
Costly Consequences: The subsequent visit to a local repair shop and improper part replacement led to the corruption of critical files, including the Windows Operating System and the database containing vital client data.
Backup Oversight: The client’s failure to maintain updated database backups exacerbated the crisis, with the only available backup being approximately 5 years old.
The Solution: Managed IT Services
Proactive Maintenance: With managed IT services, critical components like the aged computer would have been promptly replaced before catastrophic failure, averting the entire crisis.
Remote Support: Swift remote intervention by a managed IT provider would have prevented the corruption of the operating system and database, substantially reducing the overall cost of the incident.
Comprehensive Backup Strategy: Every business should prioritize regular, imaged-based backups to safeguard their crucial data, ensuring seamless restoration in the event of a disaster.
Expert Guidance: Embracing managed IT services equips businesses with expert recommendations and proactive measures to avoid potentially devastating technology pitfalls.
Take the Right Step for Your Business!
Don’t let your business fall victim to preventable IT disasters. Embrace the proactive protection and expert guidance offered by a managed IT service provider to ensure uninterrupted business operations.
We have received numerous inquiries from potential customers regarding our pricing structure. Specifically, they want to know if we offer monthly contracts or if we charge an hourly rate. The answer is Yes.
Hourly Rate
For customers who require a one-time fix or need a project completed, we offer a service based on an hourly rate. Our rate for remote or on-site work that is not covered under a contract is $150 per hour. We bill in 15-minute increments and take pride in our efficiency. For clients with more than 2 service requests per month, we highly recommend signing up for a contract to save money and benefit from our expert oversight.
Monthly Contracts
There are three types of monthly contracts:
Remote Maintenance Contract
This is the package that most of our clients choose. It includes automated maintenance, cyber security protections, and unlimited remote support. Since most problems and questions can be handled remotely, this package offers real value.
Full Service Maintenance Contract
This package is for clients who want complete peace of mind. It includes all services, whether remote or at their offices. Additionally, it provides some additional benefits, such as top priority in our support queue.
Co-Managed IT Contract
This special package is designed for companies that already have a full-time IT employee or IT service companies in need of extra help. It provides them with the necessary automations and tools to make their jobs easier, allowing them to focus on what matters. This package also includes a discount on our remote and on-site services.
All contracts are based on a per-device model, taking into account the number of workstations, printers, servers, switches, etc. on the client’s network. We use this model because the other popular model, per user, is too vague and can easily hide excessive profit margins. Contracts can be month-to-month or a yearly commitment. The difference is that with a yearly commitment, you are protected from price increases for the entire year. We also offer many optional add-ons for our clients, such as Office 365, Employee Security Training, Penetration/Vulnerability Scanning, Mobile Device Management, Compliance, Secure Remote Access, and Security Operations Center.
Are you looking for reliable IT support that suits your business’s unique requirements? Look no further! Our flexible pricing options cater to businesses of all sizes. Whether you require one-time assistance or ongoing support, we have the right plan for you. Ready to take your business IT support to the next level? Contact us today to discuss your needs and find the perfect plan for your business.
As the year comes to a close, we at Farmhouse Networking want to ensure that your business technology is in optimal shape for a successful transition into the new year. We’ve put together a checklist to help you wrap up the year on a technologically high note. Some of these items we will work on together, and others will be the responsibility of your team.
Items we will work on together:
Asset Inventory: We have recently conducted a thorough review of your technology assets, including hardware, software, and networking equipment. We updated your inventory list to account for any additions or retirements of assets throughout the year. You should be receiving an invite to our new system called Narmada which gives you constant access to our replacement recommendations.
Password Security: Prompt your team to implement multi-factor authentication for critical systems and applications. This will help to enhance password security. This is not something that should be put off till later. Get it setup on every site possible. It can be made easier with a password manager.
Software Updates: We ensure that standard software applications, operating systems, and antivirus programs are up to date with the latest patches and updates. If you have industry specific software it would be a good time to check with them on the status of your support contract and if there are needed updates.
Data Backups: Verify that your data backup systems are functioning correctly. Test the restoration process to confirm that your business can recover essential data in the event of a disaster. If you don’t have backups in place now is the time to get this critical technology in place.
Security Assessment: Conduct a Security Risk Assessment to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. Ensure that your cybersecurity measures are up to date to protect against evolving threats. Many companies don’t realize that current compliance standards require this.
Employee Training: Provide cybersecurity training to employees to reinforce best practices and raise awareness about potential threats. This should be mandated by your team’s management.
Items you should work on with your team:
Subscription Reviews: Review and audit all software and service subscriptions to ensure they align with your business needs. Cancel any unnecessary subscriptions to optimize costs.
Budget Review: Evaluate your technology budget for the year and identify any areas where adjustments may be needed for the upcoming year.
Technology Roadmap: Develop or update your technology roadmap for the coming year, aligning it with your business goals and objectives.
Compliance Check: Ensure that your technology practices comply with industry regulations and standards applicable to your business.
Communication Plan: Communicate any upcoming changes or upgrades to your team to ensure a smooth transition without disruptions.
Policies & Procedures: Review current documentation to make sure that it includes all needed items like disaster recovery, incident response, computer use, BYOD, and AI usage.
Once you have determined some of your goals and budget, we should meet to discuss the implementation plan for any changes. We will be contacting you in February to setup our next Semi-Annual Business Review (SABR) meetings to discuss this years plan.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any of these items, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team. We’re here to help you navigate the year-end process and ensure a seamless start to the new year.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face numerous challenges when it comes to managing their IT. Limited resources (both human and money), lack of expertise, and the need to focus on core business operations often make it difficult for SMBs to understand and manage technology needs. This is where Managed Service Providers (MSPs) come in. In this blog article, we will explore the reasons why SMBs should consider partnering with MSPs to enhance their IT capabilities and drive business growth.
Cost-Effective IT Solutions:
One of the primary reasons why SMBs need MSPs is the cost-effectiveness they offer. By outsourcing their IT needs to MSPs, SMBs can avoid the high costs associated with hiring and training an in-house IT team. MSPs provide a range of services, including network monitoring, data backup and recovery, cybersecurity, and software updates, all at a predictable monthly cost. This allows SMBs to allocate their resources more efficiently and focus on their core business.
Access to Expertise and Advanced Technology:
MSPs are experts in providing IT services and have a team of highly skilled professionals with expertise in variety of technology. By partnering with MSPs, SMBs gain access to the depth of knowledge and experience from IT experts who can handle complex tasks and provide strategic guidance. Additionally, MSPs stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends and can recommend and implement solutions that can help SMBs stay competitive in the market and safe from hackers.
Proactive IT Support and Maintenance:
MSPs offer proactive IT support and maintenance, which is crucial for SMBs. They monitor networks, identify potential issues, and take preventive measures to avoid downtime and disruptions. MSPs also provide regular software updates, security patches, and system maintenance, ensuring that SMBs’ IT remains secure and up-to-date. This proactive approach helps SMBs minimize the risk of costly IT failures and ensures smooth business operations.
Enhanced Data Security:
Data breaches and cyberattacks pose a significant threat to SMBs. MSPs play a vital role in safeguarding SMBs’ sensitive data and protecting them from potential security breaches. They implement robust cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption, to ensure data confidentiality and integrity. MSPs can also conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address any potential weaknesses in the IT infrastructure.
Scalability and Flexibility:
As SMBs grow, their IT needs evolve. MSPs offer scalable solutions that can adapt to changing business requirements. Whether it’s adding new users, expanding storage capacity, or integrating new software, MSPs can quickly and efficiently accommodate these changes. This scalability and flexibility allow SMBs to focus on their growth without worrying about the limitations of their IT infrastructure.
If your company could use the cost-effective solutions, access to expertise, proactive support, enhanced data security, and scalability that come from using a MSP, then contact us for assistance.
This is the seventh in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on software patching.
Software Patching
Software patching is a neccesity because no person who writes code is perfect and hackers are actively looking for these mistakes. The hackers find the mistakes and then develop ways of using these to exploit the software, computer, or whatever else they can gain access to. The only way to combat both the mistakes and the exploits is to discover them before the hackers do and patch the hole in the software. This patch can however lead to unforseen consequences to the software, so a plan for testing and deployment of patches is needed to avoid unexpected downtime to businesses.Here are some questions to ask:
Do you know all of the hardware and software on your network?
Do you check for hardware, operating system, and other software regularly?
How do you check for updates, patches, or upgrades to software?
How do you install these patches? Is it automated?
Are these patches tested before installation?
What happens if a patch causes problems?
Do you have a log of all installed updates?
Are any systems or software on your network no longer supported for updates?
If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.
There has been information released by a security research firm called Eclypsium that there is a vulnerability dubbed Boothole in Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Secure Boot that would allow an attacker to completely take over a workstation, laptop, or server and be nearly undetectable. All hardware vendors will have to send out updates in the near future to patch the UEFI code to secure it against this “BootHole” vulnerability. Due to the difficulty in designing and testing these types of updates it will be some time before they are released. We will keep you posted as to the release of these updates as they become available.
If your company is concerned about security, then contact us for assistance.
According to the following Microsoft Support Post published in October 2018, the HomeGroup feature has now been removed from Windows 10. Most people won’t need to worry about this, but recently ran across a business that had relied on this feature to run their network. With HomeGroup removed from Windows 10 they were left without the ability to share properly with a new computer on the network. So here is how to fix the issue:
How to fix Windows Networking after HomeGroup Removal
Turn off all sharing:
Open Network & Sharing Center
Click on Advanced Sharing Settings
Turn off network discovery (Private & Public)
Turn off file and print sharing (Private & Public)
Turn off Public folder sharing (All Networks)
Turn off Password Protected Sharing (All Networks)
Save Changes
Remove old password:
Open Credentials Manager
Change to Windows Credentials
Remove all $HomeGroup users credentials from networked computers on all computers formerly in HomeGroup
AutoStart Services
Open Services
Find Function Discovery Provider Host and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
Find Function Discovery Resource Publication and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
Find SSDP Discovery and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
Find UPnP Device Host and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
Add Users
Get username and password for all computers on network
On each computer on the network, open command prompt
For each username, use the command – net user [username] [password] /add
Turn on all sharing:
Open Network & Sharing Center
Click on Advanced Sharing Settings
Turn on network discovery (Private)
Turn on file and print sharing (Private)
Turn on Public folder sharing (All Networks)
Use 128-bit encryption (All Networks)
Turn on Password Protected Sharing (All Networks)
Save Changes
Recreate Shares (if needed)
Right-click on folder and choose Properties
Click on Sharing tab
Click on Advanced Sharing
Check Share This Folder
Name the share
Click Permissions
Click on Add
Select username and add Full Control then click OK
Repeat for each username
Click OK to return to Properties window
Click on Security Tab
Click on Advanced
Click on Add
Select username and add Full Permissions (or appropriate level) then click OK
Repeat for each username
Check Replace Child Permisssions and click OK
Click OK on all previous windows
Hope this post helps some other techs save the time in fixing Windows 10 networking when HomeGroup is removed.
If your company is still using HomeGroup or needs any help with advanced networking, then contact us for assistance.
It is official – the month of September marks three years in business for Farmhouse Networking. We have been truly blessed by God to have been able to serve the Grants Pass and surrounding business communities by providing exceptional IT managed services. We look forward to many more years of giving you the highest level of support possible so that you can focus on getting business done. With this anniversary we plan on rolling out some enhancements to our monthly service offerings:
Enhanced Monthly Maintenance
Standard Maintenance: For those who are not current managed clients, these basics have always been a part of our service offering:
5-year Technology Plan & Budget
Full Network Inventory
Hard Disk Checkups (Bi-Monthly)
Hard Disk Defragmentation (Monthly)
Temporary File Cleaning (Weekly)
Anti-Virus Software (Constant Monitoring)
Operating System Updates (Weekly)
Error Log Monitoring (Constant Monitoring)
Power Settings Management (Constant Monitoring)
Windows Services (Constant Monitoring)
Continued Improvements: Over the past 3 years we have also added the following features to our service at no additional costs:
Ticketing System Portal
Email Support to Create Tickets
Security Incident Response Plan
Vendor Information Tracking
Third-Party Software Updates (Monthly on Firefox, Chrome, Acrobat Reader, ….)
Email Blacklist Checking (Daily)
Warranty Checking (Monthly on All Major Brands)
Operating System Intrusion Detection (Constant Monitoring)
Support for MacOS & Linux (Constant Monitoring)
Server Applications (Constant Monitoring)
Hardware Events (Constant Monitoring)
Enhancements to Come: In September, we will be adding these new exciting features to our service:
DNS filtering – this will further protect your network from external threats by stopping accidental surfing to malicious sites. It also can increase productivity and network speeds by limiting wasteful frivolous surfing during company time.
Dark Web Scan – Each monthly client will have the “Dark Web” scanned to see if any email addresses connected to the company have been involved in a previous password breach.
Weekly Security Newsletter – Farmhouse Networking is partnering with a national security non-profit to deliver up-to-date news and information about how to stay safe online. These weekly newsletters will be packed with valuable information and delivered to everyone in your organization.
As our service offering has expanded, we have deepened our ability to monitor our customers networks to proactively respond to alerts before they become problems. We have continued to add levels of protection to make sure that our clients systems are safe from the ever-expanding list of threats. All this has been done at no additional cost, despite inflation, up to this point. To continue offering this high level of service, Farmhouse Networking is making a couple small changes to its prices that will be effective September 1st, 2018.
Monthly Maintenance Clients – our services are based on a per device basis and the cost per workstation will be $25 per month for remote maintenance and $50 per month for full service maintenance. All other prices will remain the same for every other device on the network. This will only effect clients whose contracts are renewing after September 1st, 2018 – any renewed before that will keep their prices the same for the next 12-month term.
Small Business Clients – those who do not have a server and have less than 5 workstations, our hourly rate will be $80 per hour for on-site service and $40 per hour for remote service (billed in 15-minute increments). That is only $10 more for on-site support and $5 more for remote support.
Standard to Medium Clients – those with a server or more than 5 workstations, our hourly rate will be $120 per hour for on-site service and $60 per hour for remote service (billed in 15-minute increments). That is only $10 more for on-site support and $5 more for remote support.
Tier-3 Clients – those technology companies that utilize our advanced expertise to better serve their clients, our hourly rate will be $40 per hour for remote service (billed in 15-minute increments). That is only $5 more for remote support.
Charity Clients – those non-profits that pay for support, our hourly rate will remain at $70 per hour for on-site service and $35 per hour for remote service (billed in 15-minute increments).
For all our monthly maintenance clients, we will be calling to schedule our semi-annual meeting to check-in with you during the month of September. At that time we will be performing another network inventory to insure that all network assets are covered properly under your current contract. We cannot thank all our clients enough for your continued use of our IT services. We look forward to continuing to serve you.
Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls.
Proverbs 27:23-27
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. - 2 Corinthians 9:8-10
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