IT Support Services

What Does MSP Stand For in Technology?

The basic answer is “Managed Services Provider.” An MSP manages the IT infrastructure and systems for a business in a variety of ways.

What Are Common IT Support Problems Businesses Face?

Cybersecurity Threats

Cybersecurity threats include Ransomware (malware that holds sensitive data hostage for extortion), Phishing (emails that look and feel oh so familiar but if you interact with them in any way *boom* they just stole your credit card number), and Password Attacks (that hacker trying to steal your password, there’s too many ways they try to list here).

Compliance & Regulation

Regulation and compliance standards that feel like a burden for individuals and organizations. But the reality is these standards and requirement are bent on mitigating the number and severity of cyber-attacks. That’s why the healthcare industry needs to follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPPA) requirements, anyone accepting credit card payments is bound by the Payment Card Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), and, overall, the US Department of Commerce established the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) established guidelines for businesses of all sizes protect their networks and data.

Technology Costs

Technology costs which amount to much more than monthly support and subscription services. Businesses must pull back the curtain to reveal how to handle expenses like server replacement, tech that fails outside of warranty, and other surprises (that shouldn’t be surprises). We call forecasting for these recurring expenses “road-mapping,” a.k.a. “budgeting,” to make your IT spend predictable.

Data Backup Issues

Inadequate data backup/lost data, or not having you have what you need (hint: it’s “redundancy”) before you need it. Lost data equals enterprise downtime, which costs more than any business can afford (Veeam’s 2022 Data Protection Report clocks downtime at $1,467 per minute).

Data backup and disaster recovery solutions guarantee reliable backup and data restoration. File-based backup is great for single and multiple files, whereas image-based backup creates a copy of the whole system or selected partitions to make it recoverable en masse. That’s why image backups are better for disaster scenarios where an entire system restore is required.

Bottom line: talk to managed IT support services to determine how to safeguard data, including options for automation and utilizing the “1,2,3” system: cloud, hard drives, and on- and off-site locations. Why so many repositories for your data? Consider this: It’s not just cyber criminals causing loss: each week, 140,000 hard drive failures occur in the U.S., 82% of security breaches are caused by human error, and 96% of businesses do not back up their workstations. Oops.

Printer Won’t Print

That printer that won’t print, which is only made worse when it’s a multifunction printer (MFP) that acts as the office scanner/copier, thereby killing productivity and making everyone extra grumpy. Once you’ve covered basic diagnosis (power on, paper loaded, cables connected, wireless connections working, ink and toner ready to rock) and punched the wall a few times, take a breath and see if any of the following apply:

• Won’t Print – Correct the print settings following the prompts on the device. If all else fails, turn it off then back on (“power-cycling”).
• Bad Print Quality – Don’t use the cheapest paper or mix paper brands in one tray, and make sure the printer settings are set for what you’re printing (for example, images vs. text only).
• Uncertain Security – Change the default password and install security updates so hackers don’t open the backdoor into your network.
• Won’t Scan – Reinstall the printing software package, or check with the manufacturer’s website to see if the hardware needs replacement.
• Constant Paper Jams – Check for foreign objects, overfilled paper trays, or improperly inserted paper.
• Prints Too Slowly – Higher quality prints = takes longer, as does printing on both sides of the sheet.
• Too Expensive – Evaluate what can be printed with less ink (lower quality), one-sided, and what pages can be skipped. Also make sure your ink cartridges match your device and come from a trustworthy vendor.
• Can’t Print From Mobile – Check for app and software updates (after making sure the app is compatible with your printer).
• Wi-Fi Printing Takes Too Long – Move the router and printer closer together, or make sure your router has 802.11n support, updated firmware, offers the 5GHz band, and has 2.4GHz.

Internet is Slow and Drops Off

The Internet that’s slow or frequently disappears is a nightmare that transports you from the digital age to approximately 1925 as far as collaborative speed is concerned. Old routers can’t accommodate the bandwidth you’re paying for, and even new routers get wrecked by the wrong configuration, wireless interference from concrete and other electronics, or simply by being placed in a location less than central.

If business is good, it’s also possible your growth has outpaced the bandwidth you pay for, so it may be time to upgrade that Internet plan. And consider how many personal devices folks are bringing to work—it’s a security risk, but what’s often lost is those phones and tablets are bandwidth hungry, bandwidth-eating little monsters.

Simple steps to get Internet speed back on track include rebooting your modem and router, running regular virus and malware scans, and kicking unauthorized users off the network (as in, the next-door neighbor who isn’t a customer, and doesn’t work for you).

Here’s a great way to compare your Internet speed with what you’re paying for: speedtest.net.

Safe and Secure Access to Files From Anywhere

Maintaining safe and secure file access, from any place, at any time, which is pretty much like having electricity these days. But you need a few guardrails to keep everything locked down:

• Start with strong passwords (at least 12 characters consisting of letters, numbers, and symbols) that you both don’t share, and update regularly.
• Get Single Sign-On (SSO) – one set of login credentials to open all technological doors, which saves times and beefs up security – as well as two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA)  to add a layer of confirmation as to who’s doing what through a unique code sent through text.
• If you want to be on top of the security game, multifactor authentication juices it all up by working with facial and/or fingerprint recognition.
• Set up a virtual private network (VPN) so your remote desktop server isn’t directly connected to the Internet, which makes it less vulnerable to hackers.
• Build firewalls using software, hardware, or both to restrict remote access by cyber ne’er-do-wells.
• Don’t ignore those security updates – new malware and viruses launch every day, so security patches are essential. However, do not set your updates to “automatic” unless you’re feeling lucky. We handle the updates.
• Collaborate safely with Microsoft 365 – including Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive—where you can upload documents, then review them and make changes together while controlling access, permissions, and maintaining an overall robust system for security.

Why Hire a Managed Service Provider?

There are several different reasons hire a professional managed IT support company. Here are a few factors that should go into your decision:

• type of managed service you need
• quality support technicians
• degree program
• advanced computer software knowledge
• we only hire qualified candidates
• professional technical support
• include network monitoring 
• qualified support specialist will assist you
• top of the line computer systems
• curling-edge software and hardware
• only the best computer hardware
• amount of computer users

To be honest, there are even quite a few more things that could go into making the decision. For example, here are a few more:

1. You’re in the business of running your business, not running (or keeping up with) information technology. MSPs provide the freedom you need to be the expert at what you do.
2. Reduce risk, for yourself, and your customers.
3. The willingness to ask for help is an undercelebrated character trait. We can’t all be good at everything, so ask the masters of the technology craft to lend a hand.
4. Avoid downtime, which depending on which study you reference and the size of the business, costs between $1000-$5000 per minute.
5. Remain compliant with the ever-changing federal (and global) data security standards.
6. Control costs by leasing what you can’t afford to buy. If you can’t hire a full, in-house IT team, outsource the cost and rely on the experience and expertise you need, when you need it most.

IT Solutions for Small Business (and Large Companies)

Small business IT solutions and corporate IT solutions. We’ll simplify your experience with technology so you can worry less and focus on the steps that will lead to business success.

Here are a few city-specific IT Support pages, however, we offer our services in many more cities than just these listed.

• IT Support Portland, Oregon
• IT Support Salem, Oregon
• IT Support Eugene, Oregon
• IT Support Medford, Oregon

For a full list of our locations, please check out our locations page. If you are curious as to whether we offer these services in your city, please contact us. Chances are… we do!