All posts by WPAdm15

What Is Information Technology Managed Services?

We all want to protect our businesses. They are a part of who we are, and it would be devastating to the business if anything bad happened — including an unexpected cyberattack. But these things happen, especially when you least expect them. Businesses are attacked every single day; some being left in ruins. Some can pick up the pieces but at great cost. Then there are businesses that are back up and running in a matter of hours as if nothing happened at all.

The businesses that said “yes” to managed IT services and made the commitment to protect their business, employees, and customers are the ones that bounce back quickly. If your business lacks managed IT services and you have not yet embraced total IT security, it is time to say “YES!” and give your business the top-notch IT support it needs to be protected from the countless IT threats that exist in the world today. 

Managed services offer complete IT support without having to hire dedicated in-house IT support staff. You get full-time access to network and technology experts without having to pay a full-time team. In other words, you save money, and you have someone keeping a close eye on your network. The good news is, Kore is an IT company that offers managed services — you just must ask for it! (If you do not work with an IT support company or managed service provider (MSP), it is highly recommended that you do!) 

Here are a few reasons why managed services should not be ignored: 

It is a proactive service you cannot find anywhere else. Proactive IT support is HUGE. You must be proactive because guess what? Hackers and cybercriminals are proactive. They are smart people, and they are relentless people. Managed services will give you access to your own outside team of exceptionally smart people and systems that can identify potential IT problems before they become actual problems. 

On top of that, proactive managed services ensure your network — and everything connected to your network — receive regular updates, security patches, and routine maintenance. They help keep your business protected while minimizing downtime which can cut into your bottom line. 

It helps you save money — and you know how much you will be spending month-to-month. One of the most common reasons why many small to medium-sized businesses do not invest in good in-house IT support is because it is expensive. The sticker shock is too much. But managed service takes away the sticker shock. 

Instead, you get the exact support you need, and you pay a set fee every month. It makes it MUCH easier to set a quarterly or yearly budget. Also, because managed services are customizable, you can put together a specific plan for your business and pay only for those specifics. Managed IT is also scalable, so as your business grows or changes, your managed IT services can change as well. 

It protects you in many ways. You can count on your MSP to minimize malware, spyware, ransomware, phishing scams, and exploitative hacks. You are protected by advanced software, hardware, and old-fashioned human knowledge and experience. But the protection does not stop there! Managed service providers can also protect you against things that are impossible to predict yet possible to prepare for, such as potential natural disasters, such as fire or flood, or hardware failures. 

They can also protect you when it comes to compliance. There are many industries where compliance is important, from banking to health care. If you operate in one of these industries, you know how important this is. 

 
Having a managed IT service means your network is up to date with all the fine print. You do not have to worry about anything slipping through the cracks or breaking compliance, which can lead to all kinds of costly headaches. 

It gives you TIME. This is the most precious commodity of all. If you are running around dealing with network issues yourself, or trying to, you are spending a lot of time doing everything you DID NOT want to be doing when you started your business. Wouldn’t you rather be focused on growing your business and taking care of customers? 

When you bring managed IT into the fold, you have so much less to worry about. No, it is not set-it-and-forget-it, but it is close. Your MSP handles your IT, while you handle your business, and you collaborate when you need to. You can rest assured that someone is keeping a close eye on your network and that your MSP is a quick phone call or email away. 

These few points only scratch the surface of why managed services are so important. Stop putting it off and make the phone call. Tell Kore Technology Resources you want managed services, and you are ready to protect the future of your business! 

Responsible Disposal of old hardware

Now I have updated my network infrastructure, my business has new routers, laptops, desktops, and printers. Now, what do I do with all this hardware that has all my company’s deepest darkest secrets? Kore has many solutions & will dispose of your old technology responsibly without putting your data in jeopardy. Peace of mind on this subject is invaluable, you have bigger things to worry about, such as the day-to-day operation of the business. Not to find years down the road your private data has been leaked & employees not to mention customer-sensitive data has been stolen. Let Kore put those worries out of your mind.

Is my data secure?

As you are aware data systems are always changing. The demands of an ever-evolving world mean your business technology structure is always updating. Therefore, you always want to make sure your data is backed up and secure daily. Kore Technology Resources always makes sure redundancies are bred out of our process. Your data is backed up and protected, so it can be accessed on any device. Moreover, this way your machine is always running optimally. Now you need to get rid of your old hardware.

My dead computer can’t pose a security risk, right?

That is not the case. There are numerous issues that will “kill” a computer but leave the data untouched. Fortunately, Kore can retrieve data if this happens and get you back on track. The bad news is those who know what they’re doing can also retrieve that data. We will make sure that never happens. Our IT experts will properly transfer or secure the data, then wipe the hard drive. Clearing data off your computers is no easy process. To ensure that no sensitive company or customer data can be recovered by data thieves, Kore completes this multi-step process.

  • Delete all your files. You may have heard how hard it is to permanently delete data from your hard drive. Simply emptying your recycling bin isn’t enough—the data might be removed from your file structure, but it’s still on your hard drive until it gets overwritten with more data.
  • Unlink and uninstall all your programs. Many programs automatically sync with online cloud backups. This is a great boon to you in case of anything happening to your machine, but it also means you can’t leave these programs on your computer while they’re still connected to your information.
  • Clear your browser. It’s not just your browsing history: many of us save important passwords and account information in our browsers to make logging into our various online accounts easier.
  • Wipe and restore to factory settings. Kore will restore the device to its factory settings and wipe all data from it using a hard drive erasing program, which will overwrite your deleted files. Some programs overwrite your old data once, while others overwrite multiple times for added security.

Avenues for old devices

Now all of your data is secure, but how do I dispose of the hardware? For a company leaving it on the curb or taking it to a recycling center poses a security risk. Many of these institutions are not transparent about how they recycle the technology. Most of it gets outsourced to other countries, which is not a favorable solution. Furthermore, Kore is the solution if you want to work with a company that will dispose of or ethically reuses your technology.

Lastly, you could also donate your system once you’ve wiped or replaced the hard drive. Many good causes could use computers, but don’t always have the means to procure them.

Contact Kore at 724-574-8990 or email us at info@kore-technology.com for the solution for your hardware disposal needs. As always, we make technology work for you.

5 Ways to optimize your new laptop

So you’ve just unboxed your brand new laptop — what do you do next? Before you start using it to surf the internet or finish your tasks for the day, take these steps to optimize its performance and ensure it meets your needs.

1. Update your laptop’s operating system

One of the first things you should do before using your laptop is to update its operating system (OS). Assuming you did not purchase the laptop when it was first released, it will still be running an older OS. Because important patches and fixes are released with each new update, you must install the latest ones to ensure your laptop doesn’t have vulnerabilities that malicious third parties can exploit.

2. Remove bloatware

When turning on your laptop for the first time, you might notice that there are several preloaded software in the system — some of which you will probably never use. These are known as bloatware.

These apps take up a lot of your valuable drive space, so consider getting rid of them. The easiest way to do this is by downloading a bulk uninstaller, which allows you to check all the bloatware apps you don’t want and remove them in one fell swoop.

3. Install protection software

It’s no secret that there are cybercriminals who would steal sensitive data, such as your account credentials, protected health information, and sensitive company files. It is, therefore, necessary to protect yourself from losing important data from your computer. The solution to this is very simple. By installing antivirus software that can scan your computer at a scheduled time or whenever you feel like it, you can thwart potential attacks.

Not only is the data stored in your laptop vulnerable to cyberattacks, but there is always a chance that your laptop will get lost or stolen. While there are preventive steps you can take — such as being mindful while using your laptop in public places — installing anti-theft software like Find My Device for Windows 10 can help you locate your device if it’s ever stolen or misplaced.

4. Optimize your power settings

One of the most frequent problems that laptop users have is that their batteries run out of juice too fast. However, you can actually extend the battery life by making a few tweaks to your power settings.

Reduce your display brightness, but not so much that it causes eye and mental fatigue.
Use the Sleep or Hibernate mode for your operating system.

5. Set up a backup plan

Imagine spending months working on an important project and suddenly finding it corrupted because your laptop crashed. Deadlines will be missed. Profit margins will decrease. Customers will leave unhappy. And if worse comes to worst, you’ll be out of business.

Why add stress if you can prevent it from happening in the first place? By setting up an automatic backup system, you can regularly save all your important files. This way, you’d still be able to recover your data should anything happen to the original file.

You can also store all your important documents in the cloud, which ensures access whenever you need it, even if your laptop crashes or gets stolen.

Getting a new laptop can be fun, but the joy might be short-lived if you don’t set up any preventive measures from the start. Call us for information on how we can help you secure your company’s laptops today.

https://www.techadvisory.org/

Microsoft Server 2003 EOL

Microsoft will be ending all support for Windows Server 2003 on July 14th, 2015. What does this mean for your business? If you currently have a server running Windows Server 2003, YOU ARE AT RISK!

 

Why is Microsoft doing this?
Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it’s no longer supported. The lifecycle will be ending for Windows Server 2003. The software is over 12 years old at this point and is just simply outdated.

 

What does this mean for me?
This means that if your office has a older server running the older server software, you will no longer receive updates or support from Microsoft. If something goes wrong with your system, there will be no channels of support available to get you up and running.

 

Do I have to upgrade
YES! Without upgrading, your company is at risk. End of life means that Windows Server 2003 will no longer receive any updates from Microsoft. These updates ensure your system is secure from viruses and hackers. Without them, your system is vulnerable.

 

What can Kore Technology Resources do to help?
We will continue to support your system until an upgrade to a newer version of Windows Server is installed. We will assist with the upgrade process, and get you the latest security updates to make sure your business is secure. Plus, when you upgrade from an existing Windows Server 2003 system, we will give you a $100 discount on your service! (must mention discount at signing)

 

Where can I get more info?
Contact us here!