5 Biggest MSP red flags to watch out for

Managed IT services providers (MSPs) in Salt Lake City offer varying levels of service. Some are thorough and will help you maximize your business’s IT systems, while others may cut corners and fail to deliver the results you need. Therefore, you must choose your MSP carefully. To help you make the best decision for your business, watch out for these red flags when choosing an MSP.

The MSP charges you for services you don’t need

Unless you belong to the tech industry yourself, it’s likely that you don’t have extensive skills or knowledge about IT. Some providers know this and will take advantage of you by pressuring you to sign up for services you don’t actually need. For example, they might say your system requires a certain type of software when the one you’re currently using is enough for your needs or that you need to purchase additional licenses when you don’t.

Make sure you have a rough idea of your business’s IT needs before consulting with a prospective provider so you aren’t caught off guard. Ask for a second or third opinion from other MSPs or IT experts if you’re unsure about the advice you’re getting. A reputable MSP will assess your needs first and will be upfront about which services are essential for your business and which ones can wait. They’ll also explain why certain upgrades are necessary so you can make the most informed decision possible.

A reputable MSP will assess your needs first and will be upfront about which services are essential for your business and which ones can wait.

They don’t communicate clearly and frequently

Ongoing communication is key to a successful relationship between your business and your MSP. After all, your MSP is responsible for keeping your business’s IT systems up and running, so they must be proactive in inquiring about the state of your IT infrastructure. If they don’t communicate with you, certain tech issues may not be discovered and resolved on time, if at all.

Ideally, an MSP should assign someone from their team to act as a dedicated point of contact for your company. It is this personnel’s job to regularly check on your company and coordinate all developments and issues that require attention.

They have few or negative customer reviews

Online reviews can tell you so much about an MSP, including how they treat their clients and whether their services match your business’s needs. Of course, very few or nonexistent reviews could simply mean that the MSP is new. However, you’d want to entrust something as important as your business’s tech to a provider with a track record of quality service, so choose an MSP with numerous and consistently positive reviews.

They respond too slowly

Downtime can have severe and costly consequences for your business, so your MSP must be able to mitigate or immediately resolve it. Before committing to an MSP, ask about their turnaround times and see how fast they can respond to your concerns over the phone.

On a related note, it might be better to choose a provider within your area. Although MSPs can manage most of your IT needs remotely, hardware issues and certain tech hiccups may require an on-site visit. In such cases, working with an MSP within your locale helps resolve problems quickly.

They can’t help you with cybersecurity insurance

Data breaches are occurring more frequently. In fact, the Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2021 Annual Data Breach Report shows that there were 68% more data breaches in 2021 than in the previous year. This makes it all the more important for your business to secure cybersecurity insurance, as it protects you from the financial risks associated with cyber incidents.

Ask your prospective MSP if they offer cybersecurity insurance. If they don’t, inquire if they can help you apply for the insurance policy. Reputable MSPs will at least know what you need to secure such a policy and point you to a trustworthy insurance provider.

Your IT systems are crucial to your business’s survival and success, so you need to leave them in the hands of an MSP like [company_short]. Our team of IT specialists has years of experience in addressing the needs of Utah businesses like yours. Talk to us today to get the best IT services for your business.

Here’s how to make remote work succeed for your business

Many organizations in Salt Lake City now grant their employees the option to work remotely or in the office. If yours is one of them (or if you’re considering implementing flexible work arrangements), here are tips for making remote work effective for your business.

1. Establish remote work policies and procedures

Don’t just let employees work from home because it’s convenient for them. That is, they may be out of the office, but you’re still paying them to work for you, so your remote work setup ought to be beneficial for your organization, too. To ensure that remote workers are productive and accountable, you must set what you expect from them by implementing remote work policies and procedures. Examples of such policies include:

Production quotas for output-based staff
Requiring staff to use virtual private networks or VPNs when using public Wi-Fi
Making attending team catch-up meetings compulsory

Examples of procedures include:

Clocking in and out (for shift-based employees)
Logging on to the team’s chat app and indicating oneself as “available”

2. Make sure remote workers have the tools they need to be productive

This includes a good internet connection, a comfortable place to work in, and the necessary software and hardware. If your remote staff are accessing critical company data, issue them firewalls or other network security tools. To completely protect your organization regardless of where your staff members work, get the cybersecurity services of a trusted managed IT services provider like [company_short].

3. Create regular check-in points

Regularly check up on your staff to ensure that remote workers are staying on track and meeting deadlines. You can do this through video conferencing, chat software, or simply by calling them in for a meeting every so often.

4. Encourage remote workers to meet up in person with their colleagues now and then

Your staff must occasionally meet face to face occasionally so as not to lose touch with one another as well as with the company culture. It’s important for remote workers to still feel like they belong in your organization and play a role in shaping its future.

5. Provide communication training

Take the time to teach remote workers how to best communicate with their team and other remote employees. Training can be for honing technical skills (e.g., how to use chat apps, how to prepare for video conferencing sessions) or soft skills (e.g., asking for feedback or questions throughout the course of a meeting). All of these can help prevent misunderstandings and increase accountability among remote workers by making them feel like they’re part of the team.

6. Give remote employees the same opportunities as everyone else at your company

Don’t let remote staff feel like they would be missing out on growth and career advancement opportunities — or even just fun moments with the team — just because they don’t work in the office. For example, if you hold monthly meetings for all staff members who work in the office, then those working remotely should be invited too. This will help remote workers develop relationships with their colleagues and feel like they’re part of the team.

Implementing remote work policies can be a great way to increase employee productivity and satisfaction. With the right IT tools in place, remote work can be a win-win for both your company and your employees. For more tips on making remote work effective, please contact us today!

5 Benefits of Outsourcing IT Services

Today’s work environment is constantly changing. Companies are relying on IT support more than ever to help them quickly adapt to the work environment and rapid technology advancement. Outsourced IT services have become a popular solution for companies of all sizes. Here are five benefits to outsourcing your IT services no matter what size your company is.

Businessman's hands with calculator and cost at the office and Financial data analyzing counting on wood desk

Reduce Costs

One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing your IT needs is that it will help your business save money and reduce your overall cost. The investment of training and hiring an IT team can be very time consuming and expensive. Rely on our team of experts to fill that need for you saving on overhead costs as well as resources spent on hiring and training an IT team. Also, by outsourcing IT services, you only pay for what your current needs are. As your company grows and changes, we can quickly adapt and support any new requirements.

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Scalability

By taking advantage of outsourced IT services, your company can quickly scale and grow without incurring huge cost or time limitations. NetWize provides companies with the flexibility to implement new technology and respond to the current work environment. It is essential to be able to reach your customers and address their needs quickly. We will work with you to develop a business strategy that will meet your needs as they change.

Business woman busy working on laptop computer at office.

Limit downtime

System outages and downtimes are incredibly costly for companies. Outsourcing IT services can be a very effective way to prevent and reduce downtime. Constant monitoring, management of software and hardware, and our help desk will help keep you up and running. At NetWize, we pride ourselves on being the most responsive IT service provider in Utah. So, when you encounter downtime, we will be there to help you get back up and running.

Access to information technology experts

Working with an IT company provides you with access to certified IT experts and consultants with a wide range of skills. NetWize has been providing IT services for over 20 years and we have experience addressing IT needs for companies of all sizes. You can rely on our knowledge and specialization as our business consultants work with you to develop an IT strategy that will work for your unique company and goals.

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Decrease risk

Relying on an internal IT team, or even managing it yourself can open you up to a lot of risk. At NetWize, we can help ensure your business information is safeguarded and cybersecurity measures are in place. Our IT services also include ensuring compliance which is very important for a wide variety of industries from government agencies to law firms.

If you’re still wondering if your company could benefit from IT services, check out these commons signs that it is time to consider outsourcing. If you would like to learn more about how NetWize can help you, please contact us today and one of our IT business consultants will be able to discuss your unique needs.

Nepal Earthquake Disaster Relief

DONATION LINK: https://apasherpafoundation.org/donations/

On April 19, 2015, our company’s audacious leader and President, Todd Winzenried left for a month-long humanitarian trek in Nepal, along with three other Utahns. The purpose of the trek was to travel through the Himalayas visiting remote schools along the way to deliver the most essential and basic supplies for children; things such as notebooks, rulers and pencils. Their small group of four is guided by the, “Tiger of the Himalayas” Apa Sherpa, who jointly holds the world record for reaching the summit of Mount Everest more times than any other person. Before they departed, we bid Todd a joyful farewell, assured that he was in good hands.

Very shortly after the team arrived in Nepal, an earthquake of 7.9 magnitude hit the region on Saturday, April 25^th. Todd and the group were on their way to the village of Namche crossing a bridge that was suspended 200 feet above ground at the exact moment the earthquake struck. Gratefully, they were able to cross the bridge safely. The aftershocks continued throughout the day as they traveled to a safer area within Namche.

After securing the group’s safety, group leader Apa headed to his home city of Thame. The city of Thame and Upper Thame were hit very hard and all of the homes are completely destroyed. The primary source of income for the city is tourism, so this is event is devastating for the people.

We are asking for you to give financial aid to the city of Thame by donating to the Apa Sherpa Foundation. Netwize is donating $10,000 to the foundation and the proceeds are going directly toward aiding the residents of Thame in this difficult time of destruction and loss. DONATION LINK: https://apasherpafoundation.org/donations/