In today’s fast-paced business environment, effectively managing IT equipment throughout its lifecycle has become essential. Equipment Lifecycle Management (ELM) refers to the systematic approach of acquiring, operating, maintaining, and disposing of equipment. By implementing an ELM strategy, businesses can maximize the lifespan and productivity of their equipment, while also minimizing costs and downtime. Let’s explore some of the secret benefits of equipment lifecycle management.
Cost Optimization
IT equipment can represent a significant investment for businesses. Through ELM, companies can optimize costs by planning IT equipment updates and replacements in a strategic manner. With a clear understanding of the IT equipment’s lifespan and maintenance requirements, businesses can budget for these costs well in advance, avoiding unexpected expenses that could negatively impacting their finances.
Increased Equipment Efficiency
One of the primary goals of ELM is to maximize equipment efficiency and productivity. By conducting regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs, businesses can identify and address performance issues before they become major problems. Proactively managing IT equipment ensures that it operates at optimal levels, reducing downtime and improving overall operational efficiency.
Enhanced Asset Tracking and Planning
ELM provides businesses with a comprehensive understanding of their equipment inventory. Through proper record-keeping and asset tracking systems, companies can easily identify the location, condition, and maintenance history of each piece of IT equipment. This information enables businesses to plan for IT equipment updates, replacements, or adjustments based on their lifecycle and performance, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently.
Sustainable and Environmentally Responsible Practices
Efficient IT equipment management is not only beneficial for businesses but also for the environment. By properly maintaining and disposing of equipment, companies can significantly reduce waste generation and minimize their carbon footprint. Implementing ELM strategies, such as equipment reuse or recycling programs, aligns with sustainable business practices and demonstrates a commitment to environmental responsibility.
Effective equipment lifecycle management is crucial for businesses looking to optimize costs, improve productivity, and minimize their environmental impact. By proactively managing IT equipment throughout its lifecycle, companies can maximize its efficiency, extend its lifespan, and ensure smooth operations. Investing in IT equipment lifecycle management ultimately leads to long-term benefits and a competitive advantage in today’s business landscape.
If you haven’t already, contact us to implement an ELM strategy for your business.
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.
Power outages are a common occurrence in our area. While they may seem like a minor inconvenience, they can actually have a significant impact on your computer hardware. In this article, we will explore the negative effects of repeated power outages on computer hardware.
Hard Drive Failure
One of the most common negative effects of power outages on computer hardware is hard drive failure. When the power goes out, it can cause the hard drive to stop spinning abruptly. This sudden stop can cause the read/write head to crash into the disk platter, resulting in physical damage to the hard drive. In some cases, the hard drive may become completely unusable, leading to data loss.
Data Corruption
Power outages can also lead to data corruption. When the power goes out, any unsaved data in your computer’s memory is lost. This can cause files to become corrupted or damaged. In some cases, the entire operating system may become corrupted, making it impossible to boot up your computer.
Power Supply Damage
Finally, power outages can cause damage to your computer’s power supply. When the power goes out, it can cause a surge when the power comes back on. This surge can overload your computer’s power supply, causing it to fail. In some cases, the power supply may even catch fire, leading to a potentially dangerous situation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, power outages can have a significant negative impact on your computer hardware. From hard drive failure to data corruption, and power supply damage, there are many potential consequences of repeated power outages. To protect your computer from these negative effects, it’s important to invest in a high-quality uninterruptible power supply (UPS). These devices can help protect your computer from power surges and other electrical disturbances, ensuring that your hardware remains safe and functional.
If your company is not protecting its computers from the damaging effects of power outages , then contact us for assistance.
We were discussing the price customers paid for their monthly maintenance of computers and the comparison was brought up about insurance costs. As a business owner with employees, it is necessary these days to offer health insurance as part of their compensation package. If the company has vehicles that are used for business, then the government mandates that they be covered by minimum amounts of insurance. These costs are then built into the price the business owner then charges their clients for products or services.
Insurance Statistics:
According to Business.com, the average cost of health insurance for a single employee was $645 per month and $1,850 per month for a family.
According to NerdWallet.com, the average cost of car insurance was $179 per vehicle per month.
Questions:
So what about the “digital” employees of the company, aka the computers and network equipment that make business possible. How much are business owners paying to “insure” these assets? What are businesses willing to pay to make sure that their computers and network don’t have a sick day? Does the cost of insuring them include preventative care? Who does the business call in case of an accident or breakdown in the middle of the day? Does the cost of insuring include on-site service or transport to a service center?
If your company wants to keep their digital employees healthy and insure them from accidents, then contact us for assistance.
Recently had an issue with a backup software that would get stuck in START_PENDING status at every startup. This caused it to be unable to be uninstalled, repaired, or forcefully removed and re-installed. Here is how we fixed it:
1. Find out the Service Name of the service by looking for it in the Services control panel:
2. Open command prompt as administrator
3. To get the PID type in – sc queryex [Service Name]
4. To kill the errant process type in – taskkill /f /pid [PID]
5. To remove the process type in – sc delete [Service Name]
One I had removed the process I restarted the server just to make sure then re-installed the software.
If your company needs help troubleshooting software issues, then contact us for assistance.
Wi-Fi technology is ingrained into our everyday lives WE COLLECTIVELY STREAM more movies and TV shows, play more online games, and make more video calls than ever before, and all this activity puts a serious strain on our Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi 6e has various features to improve the efficiency and data of your wireless network and reduce latency. the latest Wi-Fi 6e standards offers a range of benefits, including faster and more reliable access. So, what is Wi-Fi 6e and what are some of the benefits?
Wi-Fi 6e explained
Existing technologies operate on two frequencies 2.4 GHz and 5GHz which have become more congested over time; Wi-Fi 6e adds access to a third frequency, 6GHz. now wireless devices can also use the 6GHz band. And the 6GHz band opens up the opportunity for higher transfer speeds. On top of that, currently there are about four 160 MHz-wide channels with normal Wi-Fi this 6GHz band brings with it seven 160 MHz-wide channels, More available channels mean more available spectrum for Wi-Fi service “and less overlap between networks in crowded areas like apartment complexes or offices,”. with less overlap and congestion you are able to connect more devices with the same efficiency expectation. Additionally there have been security improvements with Wi-Fi 6E that puts the burden on the router, rather than you, to secure connections between your devices. WPA3 is mandatory for all Wi-Fi 6 certified devices, which provides the latest security and authentication protocols.
Summary of Benefits
Faster, more reliable connection
Transmits data faster with less interference.
You don’t have to compete with traffic from other devices or networks.
Security improvements making it more secure and harder to hack
Accommodates more connected devices
If your company is looking to upgrade the wireless coverage in your office, whole building, or entire business complex, then contact usto evaluate your WiFi needs.
As our business continues to focus on providing white labeled Tier 3 IT support services, RMM as a service, and co-managed IT services this blog will be highlighting tips for using Powershell to fix Credential Manager empty after reboot. There has been several users at a bunch of clients recently that have lost access to a network share due to saved passwords and we found Credential Manager empty after reboot. It was easy enough to re-add their password to Credential Manager, but it was not sticking around. This sounds like a job for automation, so we created a script to clear the errant Credential Manger files and create a new entry for the user to connect to file shares.
Variables
$user = username to add to Credential Manager of network share connection
$pass = password to add to same
Script Snippet
### Remove file folder associated with Credential Manager
Remove-Item -Path %localappdata%\Microsoft\Vault -Recurse
### Install Credential Manager Powershell Module
Import-Module -Name CredentialManager -Force
### Convert password to Secure String and create credential
$password = ConvertTo-SecureString -string $pass -AsPlainText -Force
$Credential = new-object -typename System.Management.Automation.PSCredential -argumentlist $user, $password
# Save the credential object directly without unwrapping it:
New-StoredCredential -Credentials $Credential -Target 'Share Credentials' -Persist Enterprise -Comment "Share Credentials for $($Credential.UserName)" > $null
This script will need to be run in the context of the user who needs the credential created. Please use caution with this script as it will empty Credential Manager completely for the user context run with. Also it is advised to run a full CHKDSK /R on the root (C:\ usually) directory to make sure that nothing else is corrupt on the drive.
If your company is a MSP or wants to become one and automation just seems out of reach, then contact usto run your RMM for you.
This is the eighth 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 Application Whitelisting.
Application Whitelisting
Application Whitelisting is a process of determining which software programs the company absolutely needs to do business, marking them as safe, and blocking any other program that tries to run on company computers. This methodology has the distinct advantage of blocking almost all forms of malware on computers. Pairing this with a good next-gen antivirus creates an impenetrable wall against malware threats. It also prevents users from accidentally or intentionally running something that should not be on company computers. Here are some questions to ask:
Do you know all software on your computers?
Do your users spend time on company computers listening to music?
Have any of your users ever downloaded software without asking?
Do you have a computer use policy? How is that enforced?
If your company is wanting to lock down what is running on company computers, 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.
Had a client walk into their office to find it flooded with an inch and a half of water on the ground and it got me thinking about what could be done to mitigate the risks associated with this sort of “Act of God” at the office.
Can’t Stop the Flood
It goes without saying that there is no way to realistically prevent a flood besides the usual preventative building maintenance that most businesses are not in control of anyways. It makes sense then to choose an office space where the owner is into proactive repairs on the building, even if it costs a little extra per month. It would also be good to talk to your business insurance provider to make sure that such Acts of God are covered. Clean-up and recovery though usually covered by the building owner can get expensive if your contract doesn’t cover it.
Prepare for the Worst
Practically speaking it may not be possible to keep computers out of the water in a flood. At this particular client we did have the computers up on blocks just in case of this very thing. All network equipment should also be in a safe place, ideally in a locked cabinet high off the ground.
Recovery can happen
If the worst does happen, the first thing to do is shut off the electricity to the building. After that take careful inventory of all that is plugged in and remove it from electrical outlets. If equipment is wet, keep it unplugged for a couple days in a dry environment to make sure it is free from moisture. Once sure it is dry, plug in the equipment and test whether it will come back online. If anything was submerged in water, it is best to plan on replacing it as most water has minerals in it that will stick to components in the computer and could cause and electrical short.
If your company is not ready for the worst, then contact us for assistance.
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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