May 27
What Is Recovery Time Objective (RTO)?
RTO is a measurement of your tolerance for downtime, and it’s an important metric for every business to consider.
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May 25
How Much Is Enough When It Comes to Backup and Disaster Recovery for Small Businesses?
Data loss can lead to a closed sign on a small business’s door. Client information, intellectual property, accounting and tax info, and data makes a business tick. If they lose it, they might be out of business. Even though they know their data is critical, few businesses are taking steps to prevent data loss. In… Read more »
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May 21
8 Ransomware-Fighting Tips for Healthcare Companies
It sounded so promising. Well-known cybercrime gangs announced they wouldn’t attack healthcare organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, criminals rarely keep their word and the recent ransomware attack on Magellan Health, Fortune 500 company, drives that fact home. It took five days for Magellan to discover that the hackers had gained access through a social engineering… Read more »
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May 18
Backup and Disaster Recovery Best Practices in the Work-From-Home Era
With the massive number of office closures brought on by COVID-19, millions of employees are now working remotely, creating new backup and recovery challenges for IT admins. While some businesses are already reopening, many will continue having their employees work remotely. Google is one example of the new normal, with plans to have most employees… Read more »
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May 14
What Is Your Recovery Point Objective (RPO)?
RPO is a measurement of your tolerance for data loss. Calculating RPO allows you to set your backups in ways that works for both your data and your budget.
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May 11
How OneXafe Solo 300 Simplifies Backup for Small Business
Whether it’s protection from the ravages of downtime or to provide a last line of defense against the growing ransomware threat, many small businesses are turning to backup and disaster recovery (BDR) appliances like StorageCraft® OneXafe® Solo. Appliances like these are great for small businesses because they’re easy for anyone to use but don’t skimp… Read more »
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May 7
Overcoming On-Premises Server Backup and Recovery Challenges When Access Isn’t Possible
With the business climate in flux, you’re probably one of the many businesses affected by lockdowns and changes in our social behavior. That means you’re already facing plenty of challenges. But there’s one area you may not have considered, and it’s critical. Ask yourself the question: What happens if my on-premises servers go down and… Read more »
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May 4
Backup vs. Replication: What’s the Difference?
It’s common in the IT world to hear people use the terms backup and replication interchangeably. And it’s easy to see why. Backing up a file, folder, application—or even an entire system—involves some replication. But it’s important to understand that there are distinct differences between the two—important distinctions that impact how you can integrate them… Read more »
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April 30
How to Implement a Cost-Effective, Enterprise-Class BDR Solution for Your Small Business
IDC reports that nearly 1.8 zettabytes of data will be generated worldwide per year by 2025. Far too often that data goes un-protected. It gets worse: Ponemon Institute reports that 61% of businesses don’t have an incident response plan. Despite persistent threats of ransomware, hardware failure, or user error, many businesses are unprepared. Some of… Read more »
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April 27
What Small MSPs Should Look for in Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions for Their Customers
If you’re a small MSP, chances are you apply a lean-and-mean philosophy to everything you do. Like any small business, every choice you make impacts your bottom line, your reputation, and your ability to find and keep new customers. For a business whose sole purpose is to put technology to work—and keep it working—no product… Read more »
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April 23
4 Ways MSPs Can Protect Themselves From Ransomware Liabilities
Ransomware is a costly threat to consumers, enterprises, and SMBs alike. According to data from Emsisoft, 2019 saw a 41 percent increase in ransomware compared to the year prior. Security firm Coveware reports that the average ransomware payment climbed to $190,946 in December of 2019. Of course, nobody understands these threats quite like managed service… Read more »
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April 20
Preparation Is the Best Defense: 5 Internal Training Tips for Fighting Ransomware
It’s no surprise that ransomware attacks are on the rise. In fact, Malwarebytes reports that their users saw a 363% year-over-year increase in ransomware attacks between the end of Q2 2018 and Q2 2019. Along with an increase in number of attacks, the average ransom jumped to more than $190K in December, 2019. Cybercrime Magazine… Read more »
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April 16
Rethinking Your Data Backup and Recovery Strategies in the Work From Home Era
In its 2018 Global State of Remote Work study, Owl Labs found that 44 percent of companies don’t allow remote work. That was before the arrival of the novel coronavirus. Now, the new normal is working from home (WFH). Today there are millions of additional devices, managed and unmanaged, connecting to corporate networks from everywhere…. Read more »
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April 13
OneXafe Solo 300 Redefines Appliance-Based Backup with Simple Flexibility
Any MSP can back up client data. But high-caliber MSPs know that business continuity is about more than backups. A great business continuity strategy demands flexible recovery options, simplified management, and perhaps most importantly, quick recoveries that minimize downtime. These days MSPs can choose from many backup and recovery solutions. But finding one that boasts… Read more »
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April 9
Grimes County Sheriff’s Office Handcuffs Data Disasters with StorageCraft
The Grimes County Sheriff’s Office has already suffered one disastrous data loss incident from a malware attack. Learn how StorageCraft helps ensure that never happens again. About The Office of Sheriff for Grimes County, Texas Established in 1846, the Sheriff’s Office in southeastern Texas’ Grimes County serves its community from the county seat of Anderson…. Read more »
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April 7
Why It’s Time to Standardize on One Storage and Backup Vendor
Your vendors provide essential tools, software, and services, but let’s face it—they can be a hassle. It’s not that any individual vendor is a problem, it’s that there can be so many. IT providers must develop solutions that map to a client’s needs and budgets. With so many options out there, the tools become the… Read more »
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April 2
4 Critical Ransomware Prevention and Recovery Steps Enterprises Should Take
Hackers have learned to attack where the money is and that means enterprises are among the ripest targets of all. We’re talking big money: according to IBM’s annual study of the financial impacts of data breaches on organizations, the average cost is $3.92 million. Even worse, Symantec’s 2019 Internet Security Threat Report found that in… Read more »
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March 30
World Backup Day is March 31st: Do it Now.
According to IDC, people now create and generate more than 1.8 zettabytes of data per year, so there’s plenty of data to lose. Yet, there are still huge numbers of businesses and individuals that don’t back up their data regularly. How many? Nearly 30% of consumers have never backed up their data, and of those… Read more »
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March 26
Disaster Recovery as a Service: 4 Reasons You Should Consider Working With an MSP
Savvy businesses take steps to protect data and essential IT systems. The problem is that these same businesses put most of their efforts into keeping data safe without considering the impact downtime has on their business. According to Gartner, downtime can cost as much as $5,600 a minute. And, while most businesses have a plan… Read more »
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March 23
Today’s New Business Challenge – Everyone Works Remotely: A Quick Start Guide
A key measure in slowing the spread of COVID-19 is social distancing, with many state and local governments now issuing mandatory shelter-in-place orders. This has resulted in IT teams scrambling to build work-from-home setups for entire companies practically overnight. As millions of people all over the world suddenly need to work remotely from their houses… Read more »
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March 19
4 Critical Data Protection and Recovery Software Features You Need
Cybercrime will cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. That’s up from $3 trillion in 2015—a 100% increase over just six years. Cybercriminals are siphoning precious dollars from companies in lost productivity, remediation, ransoms, and thefts. But there is hope. While there are plenty of technologies to help you better… Read more »
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March 16
3 Reasons MSPs Should Offer DRaaS (And How to Avoid the Pitfalls)
Growing managed service providers (MSPs) are always on the lookout for profitable revenue streams. But, with new tech entering the scene all the time, it’s easy to get lost in the mire. What’s a boom and what’s a bust? While some technologies require tons of time, effort, and specialized talent to execute, others are easier… Read more »
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March 12
4 Steps to Defeating Ransomware in Government, Healthcare, and Education
Every organization must be concerned about ransomware attacks. According to Malwarebytes, users of their software saw a 363 percent year-over-year increase in ransomware attacks between the end of Q2 2018 and 2019. At one time, ransomware attacks focused on soft targets like individuals who don’t have security solutions or don’t understand how ransomware works. But… Read more »
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March 9
3 Reasons MSPs Should Consider Agent-Based Backups
What’s better: agent-based or agentless? Admins have taken sides in the discussion for years. The question affects everything from remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools to backup solutions. But why should MSPs get involved with this discussion at all? For one thing, it’s an important decision when it comes to backups because a business’s data—essentially… Read more »
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March 5
Scale-Out Storage: The Cost-Effective Key to Scaling
Organizations large and small face the same data management challenges as the amount of data they generate continues to grow exponentially. In fact, IDC predicts worldwide data creation will grow to an enormous 175 zettabytes (ZB) by 2025. That’s roughly ten times the amount of data that was produced in 2017. Many of these organizations… Read more »
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March 2
Ransomware Outlook for 2020
According to Cybercrime Magazine, an organization will fall victim to a ransomware attack every 11 seconds by the end of 2021. You know the threat. And, chances are you or someone you know has already dealt with a ransomware attack. But as we look ahead, what will the remainder of 2020 hold? Will ransomware attacks slow… Read more »
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February 27
2019 Ransomware Recap—Inside the Biggest Attacks
Ransomware took an unfortunate big leap forward in 2019. A SonicWall report lists a total of 151.9 million ransomware attacks through Q3 last year. That’s a staggering number, but the interesting thing is that it’s a five percent year-over-year decrease. To some degree, cybercriminals are shifting focus. Rather than going after small ransoms on thousands… Read more »
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February 24
How Much Can You Trust the Cloud?
We’re all in too deep to walk away from the cloud now. But how much should we trust it? Are we putting too much faith in others to take care of our precious data? In this piece, we’ll look at a few reasons why you might reconsider how much confidence you put in the cloud…. Read more »
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February 20
How to Protect Backups from Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware has become one of the greatest threats to data security. Between the rise of attack frequency and the increasing sophistication of malicious software, ransomware-specific disaster recovery solutions will be critical for businesses in 2020. Investing in reliable backups is a great place to start, but many organizations don’t realize that backups also require protection… Read more »
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February 17
How a Concert Hall in Ireland Manages and Protects its Data
Located in Dublin, the National Concert Hall (NCH) is “the home of music” in Ireland, hosting more than 1,000 events each year. Of the more than 300,000 ticket holders attending events every year, more than half buy their tickets on NCH’s website. With such a busy schedule and so many customers, maintaining uptime and having… Read more »
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February 13
5 Lessons in Ransomware Mitigation: Why Schools Need a Better Backup and Disaster Recovery Solution
Educators have plenty on their hands these days without also having to worry about ransomware. Unfortunately, that’s one worry that isn’t going to go away anytime soon. More than 500 schools were hit by ransomware attacks through Q3 2019. These schools paid dearly, in either ransoms or the cost of rebuilding their data, wasting precious… Read more »
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February 10
Why MSPs Need to Practice What They Preach in Regards to Cybersecurity
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) often have their hands full managing the IT and data protection services of their clients. But are they being vigilant about their own cybersecurity? Increasingly, MSPs are targets of cyberattacks. And if their systems aren’t secure, that can have far-reaching consequences for both MSPs and their clients. It is important for… Read more »
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February 6
How to Build the Perfect DR Response Team
Regardless of how detailed your backup and disaster recovery (DR) plans are, they’ll fail without the right people. For any business, a disaster can be a turning point. If they can recover effectively, they’ll be OK. If they can’t, they can lose thousands or even end up closing their doors for good. So, who are… Read more »
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February 3
MSPs: Growth “Hacks” Don’t Work. These 4 Growth Tactics Do
Many business owners dream of business growth with minimal effort. This leads them to look for quick hacks, but growth doesn’t come from finding a hack. It comes from putting real work into strategies and tactics that make sense. The following tips only help you succeed if you put effort into them—there’s no magic way… Read more »
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January 30
How to Create a Culture of Innovation
Innovation is anything that changes the status quo. It might be a tool, process, or philosophy that drives a better way of doing work. For your business, innovation can be a competitive advantage. It can improve customer service, make you more agile, and improve your bottom line. But where does innovation come from? How do… Read more »
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January 27
IT Disaster Recovery Planning: A Checklist
Disasters are weird. Some give you fair warning and time to prepare. When a hurricane or tornado is spotted in your area, you know you’re up against something that could potentially take out everything in its path. Others literally strike out of the blue and immediately thrust you into response mode. With no warning, your… Read more »
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January 23
The Top 5 Reasons You Need Backup and Data Recovery for Office 365
Today, Microsoft Office 365 can only be described as ubiquitous. In fact, Microsoft recently reported that Office 365 now has more than 200 million active commercial users. Many of those users probably assume that their Office 365 data is securely backed up in the cloud and easily recoverable. They’d be wrong. While there’s no denying… Read more »
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January 20
Should We Be Worried About IoT Ransomware?
The first reported ransomware attack on Internet of Things (IoT) devices happened in 2017: Traffic cameras in Victoria were infected by WannaCry ransomware. The infection wasn’t the result of a targeted attack—the cameras were mistakenly connected to hardware that got infected—and there was minimal damage. But the incident illustrates that IoT devices, from smart TVs… Read more »
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January 16
5 Best Practices for Cloud-Based Backup
According to Gartner, the global public cloud service market will grow to $331.2B in 2022. By 2021, 90 percent of enterprises will be using the cloud. Many use it for basic services like storage and email, but infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) are also on the rise. With the… Read more »
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January 13
HIPAA-Compliant Practices for Backing Up Healthcare Data to the Cloud
The healthcare industry is responsible for housing our most sensitive and private information. And in the event of an illness or emergency, it’s also potentially life-saving information that must always be easily and rapidly accessible. Thus, healthcare organizations are tasked with achieving a balance between finding effective ways to access, store, back up, and recover… Read more »
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January 9
Agile or Waterfall? Which Is Best for IT Project Management?
Project management (PM) keeps teams focused and effective. In many ways, more efficiency allows you to take on more work, create more value, and increase profitability. But with so many philosophies to PM, how do IT leaders know which is right? The choice depends on where you place value. Are you flexible on deadline but… Read more »
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January 6
Why Your SaaS Provider’s Backup and Recovery Capabilities Aren’t Enough
It’s no secret that most enterprises have migrated to the cloud to meet some, if not all, of their SaaS initiatives. The number is a whopping 94%, according to RightScale’s 2019 State of the Cloud Survey. The benefits driving this migration are clear: lower costs, increased flexibility, and enhanced data security. SaaS solutions providers certainly… Read more »
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January 2
5 Tips for Leading an Effective IT Team
Leaders set the pace. They create expectations. They lead teams to victory. If they’re good, they help make each member of the team better personally and professionally. As an IT leader, you may wonder how you can improve and build a better team. What does it take to make people more productive? What’s the best… Read more »
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December 30
How Governments Can Protect Themselves Against Ransomware and Cyberattacks
Ransomware attacks against local governments are on the rise. From schools to police forces, many different types of crucial public sector organizations have been targeted over the past several years. In 2019 alone, more than 70 known cyberattacks on government institutions have taken place. The 2019 State of Cybersecurity Study found that, even when disclosure… Read more »
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December 23
How This UK-Based MSP Protects Its Customers’ Office 365 Data
The cloud has changed not only how we communicate, but how we work as well. Cloud applications offer the immense advantage of data access from anywhere, any time. The cloud also makes it possible for multiple users to change the same document on the fly, from anywhere. But businesses are often surprised to learn that… Read more »
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December 19
What You Need to Know About Mobile Malware
Many of us spend a significant portion of our day using our mobile devices. From web browsing, taking photos, and messaging, to emailing and banking, there’s not a whole lot you can’t get done on your smartphone. Unfortunately, hackers have leveraged our fascination with our devices against us. Mobile cyberattacks are on the rise. Nearly… Read more »
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December 12
How the Average Business Can Reduce Downtime the Easy Way
Any time your company isn’t doing business, you’re losing money. Downtime is expensive. Production delays impact profit margin. The cost of lost opportunity can be high. And that’s before considering the toll downtime can take on your company’s reputation and ability to serve customers. Trouble is, many businesses aren’t taking steps that help reduce downtime…. Read more »
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December 9
A Roundup of the Best Cloud Certifications
Over the last decade or so, it is difficult to think of another technology that has garnered as much attention as the cloud has. Investors have rushed to profit from companies moving large portions of their infrastructure to cloud services. Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have invested billions building out large-scale data centers…. Read more »
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December 2
3 Data-Focused IT Services That Bring Serious Profit
Most MSPs have basics like antivirus, firewalls, storage, backup, and VPN covered. But these days, the biggest path to profit isn’t just setting up systems, it’s helping clients get the most from their data. It’s no longer just about managing data. It’s about making it actionable. Here’s a look at three data-focused services that can… Read more »
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November 28
How Standardization Can Simplify the Lives of MSPs
In today’s increasingly competitive market, MSPs face plenty of challenges when it comes to staying ahead. The surge in data creation has ignited a worldwide focus on the importance of data security—and with it, the demand for trustworthy and efficient data management, storage, and protection has grown, too. Good news for MSPs, right? The problem… Read more »
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November 25
MSPs, What Your Website is Missing to Turn Prospects into Clients
Having trouble closing a sale? You’re not alone. Many MSPs struggle to turn prospective buyers into long-term clients. Why? Sometimes because their information isn’t displayed in a customer-friendly manner on their websites. IT can be daunting, especially to those who don’t have a background in it. Your prospects will be relatively new to a lot… Read more »
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November 21
4 Technologies That Will Change IT in 2020
Tech will always be evolving. With 2020 knocking on our front door, it’s time to think about the tech that’s going to shape it. What will change about IT infrastructure, security, and productivity throughout next year? Here are four technologies that will make an impact. Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence is becoming a business… Read more »
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November 18
4 Ways to Dip (or Dive) into the World of Coding
We start a new year (and a new decade) very soon, and many people will resolve to develop new skills, find ways to become more valuable to their companies, or just learn something new that they’re interested in. In the tech field, many people are curious about coding. Understanding the world of code can unlock… Read more »
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November 14
Build or Buy a BDR – Where Do You Stand?
Most MSPs know that using a backup and disaster recovery (BDR) appliance is an easy, profitable way to roll out backup and disaster recovery solutions to clients. But when it comes to how, MSPs often wonder: Should I build my own BDR, or should I buy hardware off the shelf from one of the many… Read more »
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November 11
How to Keep Clients Safe from Ransomware Forever
The FBI recently issued a PSA on the impact of ransomware on U.S. businesses. The frequency of ransomware (and other cybercrime) is going up, according to the FBI. Over the past year, ransomware infections at businesses have risen a staggering 365 percent. You’ve heard stats like these, and you’ve probably taken steps to thwart ransomware…. Read more »
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November 7
What You Can Learn from the IT Providers on the Inc. 5000 List
Each year, Inc. Magazine lists the top fastest-growing private companies as determined by revenue-percentage increase over the last three years. The top among them don’t grow a few percentage points—they grow tens of thousands of points. These are the elites. The movers and shakers. These are the companies thriving, driving innovation, and hustling to get… Read more »
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November 4
How a BDR Can Be an MSP’s Most Profitable Piece of Hardware
In the realm of IT services, backup and disaster recovery (DR) are among the most essential, but also some of the most profitable. With options ranging from file-and-folder services to cloud-based backup and more, the challenge isn’t just backing up and recovering data, it’s finding the right way to do it. Any solution you use… Read more »
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October 31
Key MSP Growth Metrics Part 2: Sales
In our last piece, we looked at marketing metrics like pipeline and awareness. In this piece, we’ll look at the important metrics for sales when marketing hands over leads. We’ll also look at a few numbers that impact both sides of the house. Essential Sales Metrics With leads in hand, sales must move deals forward… Read more »
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October 28
Data Protection as a Service: Different from DRaaS?
You may have seen buzzwords like DPaaS (data protection as a service) and DRaaS (disaster recovery as a service) thrown around. We’ve discussed the importance of data protection and disaster recovery in previous posts, but now we’ll delve into what these services are and why they’re essential to the long-term success of your business. Data… Read more »
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October 24
Are Your Clients Protected From Lateral Phishing Attacks?
Some claim to be reporting an issue with your credit card account. Others have innocuous offers but hide something more nefarious—we’ve all seen phishing emails like these. According to a 2018 Symantec report, 71.4 percent of cyberattacks on enterprises used phishing emails. Meanwhile, Verizon says that 30 percent of phishing messages were opened in 2016…. Read more »
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October 21
Key MSP Growth Metrics Part 1: Marketing
There are dozens of metrics that can indicate growth at your company. With so many potential items to measure, it can be tough to determine which metrics make sense for your company and which departments are responsible for which goals, not to mention how everyone’s combined efforts impact your bottom line. In this two-part series,… Read more »
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October 17
The 4 DR Essentials Some MSPs Forget
There’s no denying the importance of backup and disaster recovery plans. The goal of any DR plan is to keep data secure and keep downtime to a tolerable minimum. With many spinning plates, it’s easy for MSPs to forget these four important essentials that will ensure success when their plans are tested for real: Recovery… Read more »
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October 14
How Company Culture Can Help MSPs Find and Keep Top Talent
With average unemployment rates right around 4 percent in the United States, there’s war for top talent in the tech industry. Headhunters are ruthlessly pursuing high-performers. Businesses can no longer rely on salary and benefits alone to keep their best employees. These days, your company’s culture is what makes the biggest impact. In fact, 94… Read more »
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October 10
SMB IT Security Budgets Are Decreasing—Here’s What MSPs Can Do
According to a report by Untangle, a network security provider, 48 percent of all surveyed SMBs said they have less than $5K budgeted to spend on IT security, down from 54 percent last year. More than half (52 percent) said they don’t have an in-house IT security professional on staff, leading them to spread security… Read more »
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October 7
How to Protect Against Domain Hijacking
Shadesdaddy sells authentic sunglasses from big names like Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Prada. But in early 2015, someone in China was able to hijack the Shadesdaddy.com domain. The thief did this by gaining access to the registrar account that hosted the domain. Once he had control of the domain, he could redirect traffic to another site… Read more »
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October 3
Video Marketing Primer for MSPs
These days, no marketing strategy is complete without a plan for video. With attention spans shrinking and loads of competing messages, your marketing content has to be quick and compelling, which is where video excels. Video is great for grabbing attention, holding it, and ensuring that your prospects retain the information they see. There’s just… Read more »
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September 30
Top 5 Tools for Diagramming and Documentation
When it comes to IT best practices, solid documentation is critical. For backup and disaster recovery, thorough documentation is your only guide to getting clients up and running. So, whether you’re using it for DR, network diagrams, or even process workflows, an easy-to-use diagramming tool is an essential part of any IT pro’s toolkit. And… Read more »
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September 26
5 Best Practices for MSPs Building Disaster Recovery Solutions
When it comes to a disaster or cyberattack affecting an SMB, it’s more a matter of when than if. According to The 2018 State of SMB Cybersecurity report released by the Ponemon Institute, 67 percent of SMBs have been victims of cyberattacks or data security breaches. However, only 28 percent of SMBs rate their strategy… Read more »
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September 23
How to Choose the Right Data Backup Solution for Your Business
As an IT decision-maker in your organization, nobody knows the data needs of your business better than you do. When you’re searching for a data backup and recovery solution to suit your business best, be sure to ask yourself the following questions first. Then, shop accordingly: How Much Data Does My Company Have? First and… Read more »
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September 19
Why MSPs Should Provide Data Management Services for Clients
When it comes to business data analytics, we’re in one of the richest periods in technological history. The amount of data businesses have in their arsenal is unprecedented. From user information to website data to sales stats, big data presents an opportunity for companies to master the data they store. From there, they can improve… Read more »
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September 16
Do the Math: Calculating the Cost and Benefits of Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions
The list of disasters that can befall a business is virtually endless, from fires to floods, hurricanes to hacker attacks. That’s why many organizations have made disaster planning a priority. The primary goal: Keep the business running when bad things happen. In a competitive marketplace, being out of commission for any length of time may… Read more »
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September 12
The Cybersecurity Recruitment Challenge: Attracting Talent in a Tight Job Market
According to a recent Conference Board survey, cybersecurity risks are the number one fear U.S. CEOs face in 2019. More money is being spent on cybersecurity than ever before, so how is it possible that organizations of every stripe, from NASA to the city of Baltimore, have still had their systems breached? One obvious answer… Read more »
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September 9
MSPs: The Anatomy of a Fantastic Email Newsletter
Sending regular emails can keep you top-of-mind for prospects and let you demonstrate your expertise so that when they need a hand with IT, you’re the first one they contact. We’ve explored the fundamentals of email campaign management in previous posts, but what goes in your emails warrants its own discussion. In particular, let’s look… Read more »
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September 5
Why Law Enforcement Needs Efficient Data Management
We often write about the challenges organizations in various industries face when it comes to data management. From healthcare to education, several sectors are trying to determine how to organize and analyze the vast amounts of data they store. Law enforcement, in particular, is one industry that’s finding it hard to cope. Law enforcement agencies… Read more »
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September 2
MSPs, How to Stop Skills Gaps from Slowing Revenue Growth
The global information technology industry is on pace to reach $5 trillion this year. Although IT is a thriving market and an excellent business to be in, there are still challenges common to all MSPs. Cybersecurity, infrastructure management, and data protection can be challenging areas for MSPs. But many of the biggest hurdles for growing… Read more »
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August 29
4 Ways Educational Institutions Can Benefit from Cloud Services
Since the cloud emerged on the scene as a revolutionary concept in the mid-1990s, the way businesses store, sort, and protect their data has completely changed. The cloud is a time- and money-saver and almost always a safe bet. According to Domo, we, as a society, create over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every single… Read more »
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August 26
The AI Services MSPs Can Start Providing Clients Today
The artificial intelligence market is growing fast. According to Stanford University’s AI Index, there’s been a 14X increase in AI startups since the year 2000. Jobs requiring AI skills have grown 4.5X since 2013. Forward-thinking companies are considering how AI fits in their organizations, and many of them have a defined AI strategy already. For… Read more »
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August 22
Be Ready Before Disaster Strikes: The 3-2-2 Backup Rule and Beyond
Last year, technical failures due to defects and cyberattacks were so widespread that ZDNet termed it “miserable,” and MIT Technology Review called it a “bumper year” for misfires. The hope was that 2019 would be much better. Unfortunately, that’s not been the case. From various cities being held for ransom by cyberattacks to IT outages… Read more »
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August 19
How to Develop New Skills Through Volunteer Opportunities
Whether you’re in the technology field or not, you know how important experience is when it comes to finding a job or advancing your career. But the need for experience can put job seekers in a tough spot. You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. How do… Read more »
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August 15
The 4 Ways Your Data Storage Strategy Must Evolve
The companies that thrive over the next few years will be the ones harnessing the power of data, yet most companies don’t analyze much more than a third of the data they have. With data so critical to business success, your clients should think about data intelligence along with data storage. But does your current… Read more »
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August 12
Best Practices for Creating IT Documentation
Good documentation does not happen by chance. In a world where everyone is a publisher, the ability to create documentation has never been easier. But creating quality documentation that provides value to the reader takes practice and discipline. The best documentation helps transfer knowledge to the reader while anything less often causes confusion. The same… Read more »
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August 8
7 Ways to Make Working Remotely More Secure
At least one day a week, 70 percent of employees around the world work remotely, exposing companies to a multitude of security headaches such as phishing attacks, unsecured servers, and weak passwords. Factor in the workers who also use cafes, coffee shops, or airport terminals to do company work, and the headache can turn into… Read more »
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August 5
Sharpen Your Skills with These 5 IT Certifications
IT certifications are more than badges of honor. They validate your proficiency and prove to employers or clients that you know your stuff and hone your skills. Since the tech world moves so fast, it’s crucial for IT professionals to understand new technologies and what they mean for today and the future. Certifications are among… Read more »
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August 1
How to Prevent Former Employees from Attacking Your Business
Although we often hear about the threat of foreign cyberattacks, the truth is that one of the biggest threats to small and medium-sized American companies is former employees. An AppRiver survey finds that 24 percent of small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are concerned that attacks will come from dissatisfied ex-employees rather than publicized threats from… Read more »
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July 29
The Pros and Cons of the One-Size-Fits-Most Approach to IT Services
Something a lot of IT providers struggle with is deciding exactly what to provide. Should you offer a la carte or custom IT services for each customer? Or should you use a one-size-fits-most approach across as many customers as you can? For some context, think about the experience of using a Mac vs. a PC…. Read more »
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July 24
OneXafe Solo 300 Redefines Appliance-Based Backup with Simple Flexibility
Any MSP can back up client data. But high-caliber MSPs know that business continuity is about more than backups. A great business continuity strategy requires flexible recovery options, simplified management, and perhaps most importantly, quick recoveries that minimize downtime. These days MSPs can choose from many backup and recovery solutions. But finding one that boasts… Read more »
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July 22
On SysAdmin Day, Celebrate the Heroes Who Keep Companies—and Your Laptop—Running
Forgot your password? Got a computer virus? Can’t figure out why your report won’t print? If so, then you’re probably like the thousands of other people who are confronted with such problems and do the one thing guaranteed to solve such issues: Call the system administrator. System administrators don’t wear superhero capes (although they may… Read more »
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July 18
Client Onboarding Is Essential—Here’s How MSPs Can Do it Right
Managed service providers depend on long, trusting relationships with their clients. Forging a lasting bond with customers begins the moment you come in contact with them, but the onboarding process in particular is critical. This is when you must prove to clients they chose the right provider. The onboarding process will differ from company to… Read more »
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July 15
Brute-Force Attacks: How Organizations Can Protect Themselves
When you hear the term “brute-force attack,” you may think about a savagely violent person or animal aggressively attacking another being. But if you’re in cybersecurity, you may envision something completely different—although no less frightening. In technology, a brute-force attack is when a hacker uses automated software to hammer an organization’s system with usernames, passwords,… Read more »
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July 11
Steps to Take Immediately After a Data Breach
Few topics catch at the attention of the media like a data breach at a large company. When Target, Home Depot, and Equifax suffered data breaches, their stories were covered by every major network. Moreover, the news traveled fast and far given the millions of consumers who had their private data stolen. Large companies like… Read more »
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July 8
Will Brexit Affect StorageCraft’s Cloud Products?
As we continue to follow the developments and decisions around Brexit in the U.K., we want to address questions about the flow of personal data between the U.K. and EEA that some U.K.-based users of StorageCraft Cloud Products, including StorageCraft Cloud Services (SCS) and StorageCraft Cloud Backup, may have. Generally, StorageCraft believes that concern about… Read more »
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July 4
5 Tenets of Building an IT Team
Technology is rapidly changing how we conduct business. IT departments are undergoing drastic changes as their efforts spill over into sales, customer service, accounting, and other key areas. In some organizations, IT is a multifaceted spark plug that drives all aspects of the business. With a much bigger role to play, the importance of having… Read more »
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July 1
The Top 4 Human Causes of Data Breach (and How to Stop Them)
The hackers of today are bold and sophisticated and they’re looking for the next big score. According to a recent study by Ponemon Institute, the probability that a company will experience data breach increases year over year, and the average cost of a data breach incident is a whopping $3.86 million. Interestingly enough, sensitive data… Read more »
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June 27
Top Tips for Improving a Client’s Storage Infrastructure
MSPs need to be strategic as they develop and maintain storage infrastructure for their clients. Solutions must be affordable, scalable, and easy to manage. It’s a big challenge, but luckily, storage tech is more powerful and sophisticated than ever. If you’re thinking of ways to help clients take advantage of the latest in storage, keep… Read more »
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June 24
Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: What’s the Risk?
The risk associated with artificial intelligence (AI) is a popular topic these days. Will AI take human jobs and become an enemy of the people? Will AI develop killer robots with no moral compass? Will AI become a superpower with greater control over humans? These are all important issues, but those tasked with cybersecurity currently… Read more »
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June 20
Open-Convergence v. Hyper-Convergence: Where Should You Place Your Bet?
Research firm Forrester predicts that hyper-converged systems will “become ubiquitous” as a common platform for deploying on-premises infrastructure. Compared to legacy infrastructure approaches, converged infrastructures promise lower costs, more scalability, and more flexible management. But as with any technology, there are a few competing philosophies in the infrastructure realm. How do you know whether to… Read more »
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June 17
Staying Vigilant as Ransomware Becomes More Targeted and Frequent
Ransomware threats continue to grow in 2019 as cybercriminals become sneakier and more targeted in their efforts, which means only organizations that are continuously proactive in maintaining security may come away unscathed. Consider the latest: The group behind the Dharma ransomware is now bundling it inside a fake antivirus software installation. Phishing emails that reportedly… Read more »
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June 13
MSPs: Conquering the Top 3 Revenue Growth Challenges of 2019 and Beyond
Although every business has challenges in growing revenue, MSPs will continue to face three in particular in 2019 and beyond: 1) How do you keep current customers satisfied when the customer experience is more critical than ever? 2) How do you attract new customers so you can grow and thrive? 3) How do you do… Read more »
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June 10
Top 5 Reasons to Stick With a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure
For many SMBs, it’s practical to use a private cloud for everything from software as a service to storage infrastructure and more. With benefits like cost savings, live support, and more, it’s tempting for enterprises to also ditch their hybrid cloud infrastructure in favor of public cloud offerings. But before you jump ship altogether, there… Read more »
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June 6
Inside ShadowXafe: A Look behind the Curtain at the Industry’s Most Powerful Data Protection and DRaaS Solution
Sophisticated MSPs know that trading basic backups for SLA-driven disaster recovery as service (DRaaS) offers outstanding profitability. But for many, DRaaS isn’t the easy-to-manage cash-cow it should be. To provide high availability and maximum data protection, MSPs may have to work with a complex array of vendors, solutions, and (sometimes messy) integrations, resulting in unnecessary… Read more »
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June 3
Why You’re Not Ready for Cloud Computing Challenges – and What to Do About It
Research shows that companies are losing billions of dollars by not having the necessary cloud professionals. Why? Because fewer cloud professionals means there is less innovation and revenue. That may be why some companies are actually hiring tech people before there are jobs available – they know the talent pipeline isn’t overflowing and they don’t… Read more »
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May 30
Top 3 Reasons MSPs Use ShadowXafe for Data Protection
MSPs are responsible for stopping downtime, safeguarding data, and ensuring that no disaster—large or small—stops the productivity of their clients. It’s no easy task when MSPs must juggle vendors, become experts in various solutions, and integrate them, all while trying to make operations run as efficiently as possible. We expanded the functionality of ShadowXafe™ to… Read more »
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May 29
What Is a Modern Backup & Recovery Solution Anyway?
As a StorageCraft evangelist, I find it worthwhile to download and read competitors’ white papers. This tactic usually gives me a good angle on the strengths and weaknesses of different vendors’ product offerings. Well, very recently I downloaded a “buyer’s guide” type document from another vendor. The buyer’s guide was tailored to the vendor’s own… Read more »
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May 27
Reduce Your Organization’s Vulnerability to a Ransomware Attack
In March of 2018, the city of Atlanta spent more than $2.6 million responding to a ransomware attack that targeted its municipal operations. While city officials won’t confirm whether they paid the $50,000 ransom, it is clear that the price the city paid for its recovery efforts have far exceeded the ransomware demand. Ransomware attacks… Read more »
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May 23
Why MSPs Should Test Their Backup Solutions
Imagine finding out the hard way that your home alarm system wasn’t working. You arrive home to an open front door with your personal items scattered around your place. Some expensive purchases—jewelry, your stereo system, or your computer—are missing. You get in touch with the home security company and alert them to the fact that… Read more »
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May 20
How MSPs Can Succeed in the Cloud Security Market
If you own or work for an MSP, you’ll likely understand the struggles of developing the perfect solution for your clients. Besides all the difficulties that go along with pricing your services, deciding which services will sell well and should be bundled together can be a real challenge. One thing’s for sure, if your MSP… Read more »
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