THE FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WINDOWS 11

QUESTION #1 – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINDOWS 10 AND 11?

Windows 11 gets a significant boost in performance, functionality, and style compared to Windows 10. Here’s a small rundown of the critical upgrades Microsoft made for its latest OS: · Windows gets a makeover: If you’ve used Apple before, you might see the similarities between the design of the macOS and the latest Windows model. Windows now also sport tightly rounded corners and the taskbar icons are permanently centered. But at least the ever-handy Start button is here to stay. · Streamlined Productivity Functions: There are many small but significant upgrades that Microsoft did for Windows 11. For one, your PC will now remember the last layout of your choice when docking. Each of your virtual desktops can also have a different background. Also, widgets are back like never before. And Windows 11 features a Snap Layout function that lets users choose from a variety of layout options at the click of a button. · New and Improved Teams: With hybrid work becoming the new normal around the world. Teams entered the spotlight. Because of this, Microsoft made sure to include reasonable upgrades to the application. For example, Teams is now integrated into the operating system, making it easier to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues. · Better Gaming Experience: Microsoft made sure to think about not just business people and workers when designing the new Windows 11. Gamers will love the fact that playing games on Windows is made even better, with Xbox Game pass and Cloud gaming supported on the Xbox app in Windows 11. · Android Apps on Your PC: Aside from offering better compatibility with the Xbox, Microsoft has successfully integrated Android apps on your PC using Windows 11. But here’s the catch: We’re not yet sure if these Android apps would work optimally on PC.

QUESTION #2 – DO I NEED TO MAKE HARDWARE CHANGES TO SWITCH TO WINDOWS 11?

It depends. Here’s an essential checklist of what you need to have to run Windows 11 smoothly: · At least a 1GHZ dual-core processor · 4 GB of RAM · At least 64 GB of storage · A graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver · 720p display, at least 9” diagonal size, with 8 bits per colour channel

· TPM version 2.0 · UEFI, Secure Boot capable firmware If your PC or laptop covers or does more than what’s listed above, then you can safely upgrade to Windows 11, worry-free. On the other hand, you might have to make some hardware upgrades or buy a new device altogether if your current one does not meet the minimum requirements.

QUESTION #3 – IS THE MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITE AVAILABLE ON WINDOWS 11?

You have to pay for a Microsoft Office subscription first. But if you have an existing subscription to Microsoft 365, then you’re all set. You just need to install the Office suite after upgrading to Windows 11. Note that support for older versions of Office (2010 and below) has been discontinued since last year. So if you’re still using that, I suggest you make necessary changes to avoid making yourself vulnerable to security risks.

QUESTION #4 – HOW CAN I SWITCH FROM WINDOWS 10 TO 11?

If you’re looking to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, you have nothing to worry about.

You just need to go to the Windows Update section of your Settings and click “Check for Updates.” Windows 11 will just be there available in the upgrade section. Click the “Download and Install” button, and that’s it.

QUESTION #5 – DO I REALLY NEED TO SWITCH TO WINDOWS 11?

No. If your computer is not compatible or can’t run Windows 11, you don’t have to upgrade. On the other hand, if your PC is compatible with Windows 11 but you find the upgrades unnecessary for your current workflow, there’s nothing wrong with staying with Windows 10. Even Microsoft said that Windows 10 is still the right choice for those who aren’t ready to transition to a new operating system. In fact, they made sure of this by scheduling an update for Windows 10 later this year. At the same time, the company will continue supporting Windows 10 until October 14, 2025. This gives you about four years to think about upgrading to Windows 11 or switching operating systems altogether.

TECHNOLOGY THAT WORKS FOR YOU

The new era of Windows has finally arrived. Microsoft made it a point to make their latest OS worth it for old and new Windows users. And with these new updates, it is clear that the company has made an effort to find out its users’ pain points and address them. But despite these new features, you have to understand one thing: Technology is just a tool used to increase our everyday productivity and efficiency. That means you don’t need to jump ship to Windows 11 if you’re not ready to do so outright. Technology is only as effective as how much you use it. So if you’re already a master of Windows 10 and it makes you 100% productive, then change is unnecessary. Now, suppose you’re seriously thinking about making the switch to Windows 11. But you want to know more about its hardware compatibility and security updates. In that case, you need an IT service provider that’s willing to talk you through it. If you need any help in fully understanding the pros and cons of switching (or not changing) to Windows 11, schedule a 15-minute, no-obligation conversation with our team today. Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

TECHNIQUE #1 – USE VIDEO CONFERENCING

Attending meetings can be an enormous time sink, especially when attendance requires commuting to a different office. The time spent on the road is time that you cannot spend working, which creates inefficiency. Video conferencing technology overcomes this problem. With it, you can attend meetings from the comfort of your own office. Furthermore, many video conferencing tools, such as Zoom, allow attendees to share their computer screens when speaking.This allows for on-the-fly demonstrations of ideas that may not be possible in traditional meetings. The ability to record these video meetings also means that attendees can review crucial details later, eliminating the need to revisit issues.

TECHNIQUE #2 – IMPLEMENT TIME TRACKING SOFTWARE

As workplaces move towards increasingly digital and remote operations, time tracking becomes a key concern. For example, you may have virtual assistants who do not work in your physical office. This creates a lack of oversight that some unscrupulous employees may take advantage of. Thankfully, there are several time tracking software packages available. These tools allow you to track the activities of your remote employees using several techniques. Some log key presses, allowing you to determine how active the employee is. Others may take screenshots of a virtual employee’s screen at random intervals during the day, allowing you to check if they’re dedicating all of the time you’re paying them for their work. These tools allow you to confront the issue of time theft. Furthermore, they allow your HR department to save time it may otherwise have to spend on manually examining and editing time logs.

TECHNIQUE #3 – UPGRADE YOUR WORKSTATIONS

Many businesses avoid upgrading workstations and other hardware due to the immediate cost. Replacing hundreds of computers requires an upfront investment of thousands of dollars, leading to many businesses struggling with using outdated hardware. Unfortunately, this creates long-term issues. While sticking with old hardware allows a business to save money in the short term, it also slows down the workforce. The hardware won’t be capable of operating at the speed required. Aging systems may also not be compatible with modern software solutions, meaning employees get stuck dealing with antiquated systems that aren’t fit for purpose. This leads to hours of wasted time spent waiting for old systems to do their jobs. Upgrades may be costly in the short term. But over the long term, they lead to time savings and more efficient employees.

TECHNIQUE #4 – IMPLEMENT ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING (ERP) SOFTWARE

ERP software allows for simpler management of a wide range of business processes, including project management, accounting, and supply chain management. Think of it as a centralized database that provides employees with rapid access to the information needed to do their jobs. Instead of having to examine dozens of different spreadsheets to find what they’re looking for, they can use ERP to get what they need fast. Having all relevant information stored in a single location eliminates soloing, allowing for more effective communication between departments. It also provides enhanced visibility to the management, allowing them to detect issues early and implement solutions quickly.

TECHNIQUE #5 – ELIMINATE MANUAL FILE SHARING

Imagine that you need access to a file before you can complete the task you’re working on. So, you send an email to the person who has that file. However, they’re just gone out for lunch and won’t be back in the office for about an hour. That means you have to wait to gain access to the file, resulting in the completion of your task getting delayed. These are the sorts of productivity problems that manual file sharing creates. By eliminating the manual aspect of file sharing, you can improve office productivity immensely. Some of the techniques shared in this article can help you to do this. For example, you could use Slack, or other similar software, to pin key files to a channel so that employees also have access to them. However, it also helps to have a dedicated cloud-based file sharing platform, such as Dropbox or Box. Both allow you to create file systems with shared access, ensuring everybody who needs access to certain files can get them with no delays.

TECHNOLOGY BOOSTS PRODUCTIVITY

There is no getting around the fact that implementing new technological solutions often requires investments in terms of both time and money. You may need to buy new hardware or spend time training your employees. However, the long-term productivity benefits far outweigh the short-term costs. Each of the technologies discussed in this article empowers your people to work more efficiently. In doing so, they enable increases in office productivity that your company benefits from. If you need any help with installing these technologies, or would like to determine which will be a good fit for your business, please schedule a 15-minute no-obligation conversation with a member of our team today.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

No longer faced with the need to commute to the office, people may find that they’re less focused on their health. Some may also find they have limited access to exercise equipment or other resources that help them to stay fit. In this article, we’ll share six tips on how you can stay healthy when working from home.

TIP #1 – REGULARLY DO SQUATS

A simple exercise, squats involve using your own weight to strengthen your lower body. The following are the steps for this exercise: · Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. · Stretch your arms out in front of you and then sit back as though you’re sitting on a chair. Go as low as you comfortably can while keeping your back straight. Keep your hips parallel to the ground while ensuring your knees stay behind your toes. · Stand back up into the starting position and repeat nine more times You can use dumbbells to create further resistance if you’d like to make this exercise more challenging. However, only do so when you’re already confident in your technique without using any additional weights.

TIP #2 – MOVE EVERY HOUR

It’s easy to spend too much time at the computer when you’re working from home. What’s more, you may choose to spend your breaks sitting in front of the television. This leads to long periods of sedation in which your body isn’t moving. Sitting for several hours at a time is linked to a range of health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. And by committing to moving for a few minutes per hour, you reduce your risk of experiencing these conditions. Consider setting a timer to remind yourself to get up every hour. Spend a little time walking around the house or go for a quick walk around the block before resuming work.

TIP #3 – USE AN ACTIVE SITTING CHAIR

In addition to walking every hour, there are several ways that you can stay active even when working. For example, sitting on an exercise ball is a great way to keep your body engaged while you’re in front of a computer. The unstable nature of the ball forces you to use your core muscles to stay upright, strengthening your body in the process. Some take this a step further and choose to work while standing. Keep in mind that while this is an effective technique, it does require you to have a desk with a suitable height that

will allow you to stand while working. If your desk is too low, you may cause issues with your posture due to having to stoop constantly.

TIP #4 – CREATE A STRESS-FREE ENVIRONMENT

One of the best things about working from home is that you have complete control over your environment. Use this to your advantage by creating an environment that allows you to tackle stress. For example, placing scented candles around your desk creates a more relaxed environment. So, too, does ensuring you have plenty of plants in your home office. Working near a window also helps to reduce stress, as having a view of nature can prove soothing.

TIP #5 – DO JUMPING JACKS

IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-in-the-fitness-center-doing-jumping-jacks-6339345 An exercise that most people are familiar with thanks to school gym sessions, jumping jacks elevate your heart rate and work your entire body. The exercise is simple: · Stand perfectly straight, holding your arms to your side and keeping your knees together. · Bend your knees slightly before jumping into a stance where your feet are shoulder-width apart and your arms are extended above your head.

· When landing, return to the standing position and repeat the exercise at least nine more times. Jumping jacks allow you to improve your cardiovascular conditioning without requiring a lot of room. You can also add resistance using free weights, although this should only be done when you’ve mastered the technique.

TIP #6 – STOCK HEALTHY SNACKS IN YOUR KITCHEN

The kitchen is only a short walk away when you’re working from home. Unfortunately, this also means that it’s very easy to access sugary snacks at any point. The solution is to eliminate unhealthy snacks from the kitchen. Instead, stock the kitchen with fruits and healthy snacks. Make these healthier options visible by placing them on the counter while hiding the unhealthy snacks in the cupboards. This ensures your healthy snacks act as a visual reminder to stick with the foods that are good for your body.

YOUR HEALTH IS A PRIORITY

While working from home offers a range of benefits in terms of flexibility, productivity, and work/life balance, it can also lead to a more sedentary working environment. Overcoming this requires you to come up with ways to keep your body active, even when you’re spending long hours sitting in front of a computer. The six tips shared in this article will help you do just that. And best of all, none of them require you to buy expensive exercise equipment. Now, there are many more challenges related to remote work that both employees and businesses need to stay on top of. If you need any help creating the most effective remote work environments possible, schedule a 15-minute no-obligation conversation with our team today. Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

The Rolling Stones sang, “Hey you, get off my cloud,” yet businesses might want to think instead about leaving the public cloud. Weigh these possible public cloud concerns against the advantages of alternate cloud solutions.

When most people think of the cloud, they are thinking of the public cloud. Apple users are on its iCloud. Others may be storing files on Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Cloud, or other services. These all typically have a free level of service. You can pay a monthly fee to upgrade based on the resources you use.

Cloud data is easy to store and access. This can enhance business productivity and efficiency. Added advantages of hosted cloud services – public or private – include the following:

• Speed. Hosted cloud services come on demand or self-service. It’s possible to have cloud resources up and running in a matter of minutes.
• Performance. Cloud providers focus on running secure data centers with the latest infrastructure. It’s their job to worry about hardware setup, software patching, and network reliability.
• Scalability. Add cloud capacity without buying equipment or software, or training employees.
• Mobility. Employees can access the cloud from anywhere, on any device.
• Disaster recovery. Providers build in redundancies to ensure uninterrupted service.
• You don’t need to invest in on-site equipment, maintenance, and management.

Yet there are some drawbacks to the public cloud. The public cloud is affordable because businesses share resources. The cloud service provider relies on economies of scale. They bring many businesses together for the same services, and it all adds up. But if you’re in an industry with high compliance requirements, the public cloud is a risk.

Advantages of the Private Cloud The private cloud offers the same benefits as the public cloud – and more.

A private cloud solution is dedicated to your business: yours is the only data on the server. This is a more secure solution offering greater visibility and infrastructure control.

A private cloud can be on- or off-premises. On-premise, your IT team sets up, manages, and maintains the cloud infrastructure. Off-premises, a cloud services provider customizes a dedicated and secure cloud.

The private cloud is appealing to regulated industries, government agencies, and tech companies needing strong controls. It is more expensive but allows businesses to easily access data, applications, and backups, and with reduced security risks.

Cloud Flexibility with a Hybrid Option A third alternative is the hybrid cloud. The business takes advantage of both public and private cloud solutions. You decide which apps and data workloads need more security. Meanwhile, the public cloud is available to offer cost savings and efficiency, plus, it can be a backup for sporadic traffic spikes.

The hybrid option, though, requires strong integration between private and public cloud deployments. Managing the mix of architectures can prove challenging.

Understanding the difference between these cloud offerings can help you choose the best for your business.

Need help migrating to the cloud or changing your cloud solution? Our IT experts at Northern Technology Services can help you weigh the tradeoffs and determine the best one for your needs.

A firewall sounds like a pretty intense thing – unless you’re an action-movie stuntman. Yet when it comes to internet security, you may not have as much firewall protection as you need.

Many internet security products bundle antivirus and firewall software, and many users think this is enough. But first, let’s be clear about what a software firewall actually does:

• It regulates data through port numbers and applications.
• It allows you to block incoming traffic from certain locations.
• It distinguishes between computer programs allowing data to one program while blocking another.
• It blocks traffic attempting to leave a device to access other devices on your network.

There are drawbacks, though. Software firewalls work only on the computers on which they are installed, and you’ll need to buy multiple licenses to protect several computers.

You also need expertise to administer the firewall to keep up with changing threats. And there are security threats. Bad actors target software firewalls. They’re right there on the computer they seek to exploit.

Beefing Up Your Firewalls

Many businesses also use hardware firewalls to add security. A hardware firewall around your office network acts as a perimeter boundary. The hardware firewall is like the border guard keeping an eye out for dangerous traffic. The firewall inspects incoming internet traffic to protect you from malware and cyberthreats.

IT experts can set up firewalls to pass only safe data. This adds a layer of protection to your network and also secures network-connected devices. Workstations, printers, digital equipment, and telephone systems often don’t have software firewalls.

So, combining firewalls protects both local computers and other devices on your network. The hardware firewall checks traffic coming in from and going out to the internet, whereas the software firewall secures what’s coming into or out of the computer, even from internet sources.

Think about it this way: A cybercriminal is trying to access your systems. They take many approaches, one of which is trying to breach your network perimeter. Another is sending targeted communications to sucker someone into clicking on a virus-laden email. The hardware firewall could stop the perimeter attack, but the software helps stop the malware infection spreading from the user’s computer to others in your office.

Partner with a Firewall Expert

Firewalls can give your business tremendous control over:

• how users connect to the internet;
• what information is retrieved from the internet;
• whether files can leave the company over the network;
• what devices are accessible and from where.

Yet both software and hardware firewalls need the right expertise to install correctly. Firewalls must be regularly monitored and managed, because threats are constantly changing.

Combining firewalls adds protection but only if you configure them to minimize weaknesses. You’ll need someone to identify compatibility issues and avoid blocking legitimate data.

Partner with an IT expert. We know how to work with firewall rules, and understand what they mean and how to react to alerts generated. Have you heard of a breach that compromised Target’s point of sale systems? That fiasco involved ignored firewall alerts! Don’t let it happen to you.

Northern Technology Services can help you set up and maintain the firewall protection you need.

Working from home is a big change in an already tumultuous time. Yet there’s a bright side. The quarantine could be your opportunity to reinvent how you work for the better. Migrating to Microsoft Microsoft 365 has benefits now. Plus, when you’re back to business as usual.

Microsoft 365 is the cloud-based version of Microsoft Office. With a subscription, you get both the desktop and online versions of apps you already know. This includes Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint, Teams, Yammer, and more.

Microsoft 365 enables collaboration in many ways, on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. For example:

• Outlook: primarily associated with email, but also lets you share notes and files
• Teams: a hub for instant messaging, video conferencing and calls
• SharePoint: an internal content management platform. SharePoint lets you customize team sites where you automate workflows and share resources
• Yammer: a social network connecting all the users in your organization
• OneDrive: allows users to share and co-author documents securely

Remote Work with Teams

Microsoft teams at its core is a chat program. But it does so much more. On all your devices, both iOS and Android, Teams allows “channels”. You can have company-wide or small task group channels. Or use a separate channel to instant messaging to a single person.

You can also invite clients or customers into channels to join the discussion. Additionally, you can set up security features that filter what they can access. You don’t want them to know the ingredients to your secret sauce!

Within Teams channels users can share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Teams also integrates with other software. The options include Zendesk customer support, Asana project management, or Zoom video conferencing.

Using Teams in Microsoft 365 creates a streamlined platform for remote work.

Remote Work with OneDrive

Working on premises, your users always had access to the business file server. OneDrive is the cloud equivalent. Yet, since it’s online, it’s always accessible. Microsoft’s hosts the file storage to let you access and share work files from all your devices.

Employees can even work offline. Any changes or edits to files automatically upload when you next connect.

Share OneDrive folders or files with external partners as well. Again, you can secure access with limits on who can see what and specifying what actions they can take. You can even set up automatic revoke access after a set time limit.

Microsoft 365 & Business Security

An Microsoft 365 subscription protects from viruses and cybercrime. It also offers ways to recover your files from malicious attacks.

Microsoft 365 apps update with security patches without any effort on your part. Plus, Outlook scans email attachments and checks links for viruses or phishing scams.

OneDrive helps you restore files, so they’re not held captive in a ransomware attack. Microsoft 365 also lets users encrypt email, prevent forwarding, and secure sensitive files.

Microsoft 365 lets your business communicate and collaborate in real-time. Work on any device, anywhere, at any time. Enjoy business agility and flexibility with internal and external users.

Migrating to the cloud isn’t as simple as pressing the “start” button. Still, our tech experts can get you up and running quickly and with ease. Let us help you go online and get back to business as usual, even working remotely. Call us today 231-881-3123.

A staggering 269 billion emails are sent every day. Your business is receiving only a small fraction of those emails. Yet your staff likely feel as if at least 269 of those are coming their way daily. In fact, the typical employee in 2018 received 90 emails, and sent out 40.

Email is a powerful tool. But its help with doing business ever faster creates added business pressure. Consider these five strategies for better email management.

1. Don’t start your day with email. Many people do. It’s how they set up for the day. However, beginning the day with a cup of coffee and clicking through your inbox, can backfire. Many of those emails become items on your to-do list. You put off important tasks from your day responding to other people’s requests. Plan your day around your business needs first. Even knock off some of the more important tasks, before diving into that inbox!

2. Think twice about checking email constantly. It’s tempting to open emails as soon as they arrive. But, you only want to tackle your inbox when you have the time to take action. If you open an email planning to get back to it later, you’ll likely forget. When you have to revisit an email to remind yourself what it’s about, you’re doubling the time you spend on that message. Avoid interrupting your momentum by turning off email alert notifications and phone badges. Instead, set regular times to read and respond to accumulated emails.

3. Write clear, concise emails. Avoid contributing to a colleague’s inbox chaos. Provide as much relevant information as possible. Now, that doesn’t mean writing a War and Peace-length email. Focus your message for your audience, anticipate questions, and answer in that email. Starting the message with an informative subject line can make a big difference too.

4. Save time with reusable messages. You often end up answering the same questions over and again. Create templated emails that you can have at the ready to provide relevant details. Depending on your email software, this capability may be built in or you may need to add a plug-in.

5. Use filters and folders to sort email. Learn how to use automatically filter your messages into the appropriate folders. For example, if the email is from accounting@yourbusiness.com then send it to your “Accounting” folder. This can save hundreds of hours a year. The better your folder system, the less time you’ll spend looking for specific emails the you need them. In Outlook, you can also set up a filter to change the color of email for different senders. Your boss could be red, and you’d know to handle that one first. Also save time by setting up strong filters for junk and spam. Unsubscribe from mailing lists that you don’t need any longer. Cleaning out the clutter can make your inbox much less overwhelming.

Email is an essential tool in business today. Don’t let it become a drain on your energy and attention. Make the most of the time you spend in your inbox with smart strategies for email management.

Need help selecting the right email or setting up useful mailbox management tools? Give us a call at 231-881-3123

If your computer had a virus, you’d want to know about it ASAP, right?

Before your important files become corrupted, you lose your photos and your digital life is essentially destroyed. Even thinking about it is terrifying.

Tech scammers know we’d be lost without our computers, and that we don’t always know what’s going on behind the screen – which is why they’ve been able to swindle millions from every day people across the world.

The scam goes like this:
You receive a random phone call from someone with a heavy accent (usually Indian) saying they’re from Microsoft, or an alarming pop-up appears on the screen, saying it looks like your system has been infected with a virus.

To fix the problem, they need to you to download some support software, which they’ll give you a special link for.

A technician then uses that software to gain access to your system and make it appear your system is riddled with viruses. Flashing screens, mysterious diagnostics whizzing by, fabricated errors…they’ll do or say anything to make you panic. They’ll even go as far as claiming your system has been infected with illegal content and if not corrected, you’ll face criminal charges.

Demands for credit card information follow immediately after. Once paid, they simply stop fiddling with your system to make it seem the problem is fixed. To continue the scam, they’ll soon access your system to recreate the problem, this time offering a subscription for ongoing protection.

What to Do If You’re Targeted by A Tech Scam

1. Don’t taunt them. Just hang up. Right now you’re only a phone number in their system and they’ll move onto the next – if you give them cause to target you personally, you may find yourself in a dangerous situation.

The real Microsoft will never randomly call people like this. Ever.

2. If a pop-up appears, immediately run an anti-virus scan. Don’t click the pop-up or call the number.

What to Do If You’ve Already Been Scammed
It’s okay. It feels horrible, but you’re not alone and the situation can be corrected.

Call your financial institution and have the charges reversed and your card reissued. It’s easier than you might think and helps the authorities locate the scammers.

Then give us a call and we’ll make sure they no longer have access to your computer.

No one is safe from cybersecurity threats or able to ignore digital transformation. But the healthcare industry faces extra pressures to keep its information technology healthy. Here’s why that’s the case and why a Managed Service Provider (MSP) partnership is just what the doctor ordered.

Healthcare shares many of the same concerns as other industries. Leaders want to reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve the bottom line. Many doctor’s offices are moving away from relying on paper files, insurance providers receive faxed claims, electronic medical records (EMR) have replaced rooms of filing cabinets, and medicine has gone mobile with data available on a centralized server in the cloud. Everything from surgery scheduling to patient payments can be processed online.

So, healthcare business technology needs to stay current. Remote access to patient records, imaging, and prescription history is expected. Virtual collaboration with colleagues is a new norm. Dashboards providing data analytics are in demand, too. Plus, all these new technologies need to be secure.

Every industry faces cybersecurity threats, yet healthcare handles personally identifying patient information and financial data, which makes it a prime target. Consider the ransomware attack that crippled Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). That 2017 WannaCry attack cost the NHS 92 million pounds, according to reports, that’s not including the damage to the NHS’s brand reputation.

High Standards for Healthcare IT

Healthcare must also address industry standards and compliance concerns. Data breaches are expensive for any organization. But healthcare regulations make even the loss of an unencrypted laptop costly. Healthcare clinics face fines for sharing patient data or falling victim to a cyberscam.

Partnering with an MSP is a prescription for IT success and security. An MSP provides an outside opinion on technological health. The MSP’s IT experts begin by diagnosing the current software, systems, and networks. They then track and manage the technology.

An MSP can also provide an IT strategy to support compliance. This could include introducing remote and mobile access policies, or taking steps to better protect and backup sensitive information. Patching and upgrading systems is a proactive move against cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

You might think of partnering with an MSP as a wellness check. Keeping an eye on the business’s IT health makes it easier to avoid something debilitating. Plus, if something does go wrong, MSPs have guaranteed response times. Your partner will develop a business continuity plan to get you back to IT fitness quicker.

IT Managed Services Do More Than You Think

On the heels of the headache of moving to electronic health records (EHR), businesses may be reluctant to add MSPs to the mix. Still, a savvy MSP can integrate EHR/EMR solutions with any new IT strategies. Interested in telemedicine applications or social media management? The MSP can help.

An MSP does much more than risk assessments. Stopping smoking has many benefits beyond cleaner lungs. Similarly, working with MSPs can help healthcare treat several symptoms at once.

The MSP supports medical clinics or healthcare organizations in:

• using IT to provide a better patient experience;
• securing networks for medical professional and patient access;
• streamlining operational efficiencies with cloud-based computing solutions;
• improving medical professional communication with patients and other partners;
• managing IT security;
• spearheading digital business transformation.

Healthcare providers and related businesses want to modernize and master cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Partnering with an MSP for IT strategy and support lets you focus on building a healthy business.

Want a consult about our Managed IT Services? Call us today at 231-881-3123

Why is Hardware as a Service one of the greatest ideas for your business than Excel speadsheets? Because with this new avenue you get to minimize your risk with outdated hardware and licensing, as well as reduce your overall capital expenses. Every companies accountants dream.

Lets think about this here. How many pieces of equipment do you have running your business that are just old, or out of date, or in general its time for a refresh? Many times this is postponed for one reason in specific. CAPITAL EXPENSE! Than after you start to really see the affects to your companies efficiency, or lack there of due to malfunction or antiquated hardware will cost you more in downtime then it does directly to your pocketbook. That’s why Northern Technology Services has decided to bring Hardware as a Service (HaaS) to our clients.

Our team at Northern Technology Services can provide you with all the devices you need to run your business! While this is normally limited to just Firewall Appliances, like our Sophos UTM Solution, we have increased our partnerships and our ability to provide you a complete HaaS solution for your business!

This includes:

• Servers
• Workstations
• Access Points
• NAS Devices
• Essentially any piece of IT related you could need

No Upfront Cost to Upgrade

Simplify your hardware renewal into your monthly service plan

Just like any of our Managed IT Solutions, our HaaS solution comes in the form of a simple monthly recurring subscription. Hello Operating Expense, Good Bye Capital Expense! Since no upfront payment is required, you can get your new hardware up and running without anxiously waiting for a giant invoice. Spreading your payments out in an affordable monthly rate allows you to incorporate your HaaS program into your budget while keeping your technology up to date. Before your equipment becomes obsolete, we replace it. It’s really that simple!

Gain Peace of Mind with HaaS

With one of the best HaaS solutions in northern Michigan, Northern Technology Services will show you how to eliminate the unncessary burden of rebuilding your budget after a major hardware expense. The freedom of having your hardware tied directly to your Managed Services subscription gives you a peace of mind, and lets you know that an affordable monthly rate will keep all of your technology up to date. As an added bonus, all support, remote monitoring and management, and protection is included with all HaaS devices in accordance with the device type! Further simplifying your IT within your business!

Ready to learn more about HaaS and your business?

Contact Northern Technology Services today! 231-881-3123 or info@ntsmanaged.com