Information technology blog, cybersecurity blog

Connecticut-based Starling Physicians, which operates 32 locations in the greater Hartford area, announced a data breach this month linked to a cyber attack dating back to February. When we first learned of this breach, we were discussing it around the office and quickly learned that three Kelser employees are parents of kids who are patients at a Starling practice. NBC Connecticut stopped by our office both to hear from these parents and for insights on cybersecurity from me.

I recently had the chance to help Reader’s Digest update an article titled “11 Things IT Professionals Don’t Want You To Know”. It’s no secret that IT is a little misunderstood. Part of our mission at Kelser is to connect IT strategy to the overall business strategy of our clients. When integrated into the company as a whole, IT can be a major business enabler, helping achieve goals across the business. It starts with viewing IT as more than fixing things when they break.

Throughout our decades in the IT business, we’ve heard every reason in the book for why you don’t actually need a local IT managed services provider (MSP):

Many business owners simply don’t think about the topic of business continuity and disaster recovery, assuming that they’ll be fine just because they haven’t yet faced a catastrophe. Others argue that their IT department’s budget is too small to spare any funds for a hypothetical future event.

Voice over IP, or VoIP, has come a long way. Where once the call quality of a landline couldn’t be beat and voice communication over the internet was unreliable, companies can now run their entire voice communication system seamlessly through their internet connection and computers. The headsets and phones even look and function the same. VoIP is a very hot topic in the business world as companies evaluate if traditional phone lines continue to make sense for them or if one of the many VoIP options in the marketplace could save money, improve efficiency, or add useful features. This is something the team at Kelser routinely helps our clients navigate and implement. In fact, we even help the media provide information to the business community about VoIP.

With news of another cyber attack in the headlines every other week, it’s hardly surprising that businesses of all sizes and industries are growing more and more concerned. 68 percent of organizations believe that they are “very vulnerable” or “extremely vulnerable” to a data breach.

What Are Managed Services? Managed services are the IT operations, functions, and processes that an organization chooses to outsource to a third-party external managed services provider (MSP). The organization signs a contract with the MSP known as the service level agreement (SLA) that outlines the MSP’s roles and responsibilities when monitoring and managing your IT services.

Many times, when looking for a managed service provider (MSP), price is the main issue that floats to top of mind. Unfortunately, you likely don’t have an unlimited pot of money to work with and this can cause you to lose track of why you’re looking for an MSP in the first place. While cost is a factor, it’s important not to overlook the fact that you’re looking for a trusted partner that can help move your organization forward by transforming your IT department from an operating drain into a critical business asset.