Episode 89

Following on from last week’s episode, here are more of the key highlights from the CRN Pipeline conference and how what we learnt applies to your industry.

• IT challenges with managing & supporting remote working
• The current state of Digital Transformation
• Optimise your business with the Cloud
• Ransomware-as-a-Service & why Cyber Insurance is essential for today’s businesses
• And more!

Tackling the IT Skill Shortage

Since Covid19, all businesses have had to alter the way in which they work. For many businesses, this meant that employees shifted their workplace from the office to work from the comfort of their home. This was intended to be a temporary solution as the pandemic hit, though, years later, many have chosen to avoid the morning commute and stay in their pyjamas as they continue working remotely. While this is the dream for many workers, this change does pose a number of new challenges for businesses, particularly in relation to IT.

In the office, technical arrangements are generally handled by the company’s IT specialists or chosen managed service providers (MSPs). Most employees do not have to worry about the specs of their computer, the quality and security of their internet connection or if their software or applications are up to date to do their work. But it is the opposite for remote workers. With shared computers and unreliable connections, for those who are not tech-savvy, it can lead to complications such as technical hiccups, interruptions or even security breaches.

So, how can MSPs help? The answer is they can provide knowledge, training and maintenance services that are catered to remote workers as part of managed IT services.

• Assess the setup and internet connection of each remote worker, either in person or via a video chat through Microsoft Office 365. 
• Recommend the best technical options for your employees’ needs.
• Help set up Cloud storage to collect and maintain software tools for employees to access.
• Help you establish security protocols and firewalls to prevent data breaches. 

The Current State of digital transformation

As we rely more and more on technology, businesses have had to digitally transform to remain current and keep pace with their competitors. Software applications are shifting the way businesses are run as they replace manual processes with automation. This can greatly increase a company’s efficiency and improve their work processes as, essentially, you can do more with less. If you’re still using Excel spreadsheets or doing any work on paper, there are tools you can use to improve your business.

Want to learn more? Check out our article on 4 Ways to Succeed at Digital Transformation.

Optimise Your Business for the Cloud

Gone are the days where every business relied on in house servers to store their data and all desktops would communicate over a single local area network. It’s safe to say that, these days, almost all businesses function either partially or entirely in the Cloud. Many do not even realise the extent to which their business relies on Cloud based applications or software to function as it has become so commonplace in the workspace. Whether you send an email in Microsoft Office or host a Video call in Microsoft Teams, the Cloud can streamline communications and optimise business workflows. Though, as many businesses hastily shifted their business to the Cloud since Covid, they may not have the best set up to suit their needs. There is always room for improvement, and we recommend you use the best tools to optimise your business.

Have you run an audit on your business’ Cloud environment?

Ransomware-as-a-service & why Cyber Insurance is essential for today's Businesses

Ransomware-as-a-Service is a subscription-based model that allows cyber criminals to sell or rent ransomware to other cyber criminals via the dark web. Much like businesses are using automation to speed up and improve their business processes, cyber criminals are also utilising automation software to create viruses and cyber-attacks. This means that it is only getting easier and faster for cyber criminals to access your data. Cyber Insurance is a way you can protect your business. No matter how big or small your business is, it’s time to take IT Security seriously.

Have you considered getting cyber insurance for your business?

are you ready for the future?

As the way businesses are run changes and we adopt more technology into our everyday lives, it is important to keep your business up to date and secure. The best way to do this is by working with a reliable and local MSP, so let’s talk!

Wine of the Week

The Wine of the Week is a 2017 Mountadam from the High Eden range, ‘The Red’. With 24 months in French oak, ‘The Red’ is a rich, smooth and full-bodied Cab-Sav with notes of blueberry, cassia and tannins.

⭐4.3/𝟱⭐