Information technology blog, cybersecurity blog

Software used to be such an adventure. Your company would buy a new program and then essentially be on your own to install it and learn how to use it. It might work out great, or it might be a frustrating fiasco. You bought it—it’s your problem now. Wisely, software companies have largely switched to a software-as-a-service model in which customers pay a recurring fee for use of software that is maintained and supported with customer service. Hardware is undergoing a similar transition with desktop-as-a-service, also known as device-as-a-service, or DaaS. Desktop-as-a-service shifts technology hardware from a capital expense to an operating cost. Rather than buying new computers and other technology in one large, up-front expense and then burdening your IT department with the massive task of setting them all up and maintaining them, a technology partner or managed service provider (MSP) will manage the assets for the entire lifespan.

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.

IT hardware, like cars, are depreciating assets. As soon as you drive them off the proverbial lot, they begin to lose value. The reason for this depreciation is twofold: the product will eventually wear down, and newer models will be released with greater specs. Keeping this in mind, how often should you refresh your IT assets? To understand the answer to this question, let’s look at the IT-asset lifecycle management. 

As technology continues to play a vital role in the success of businesses today, developing an IT roadmap is very important. It helps you to identify all the critical issues in your organization, giving you an edge over your competitors. However, small firms may not be economically stable to maintain fully dedicated IT departments like their large counterparts do. That is mainly due to the time, money, and dedication required.

As technology relentlessly pushes forward, you and your organization will undoubtedly need to upgrade your hardware. However, you can’t simply forget about your old hardware while reaping the benefits of replacing it with the latest and greatest. You should be excited about the upgrade, but how will you transfer data from your old equipment to the new? How will you erase data from the original hardware?

HARTFORD – Kelser, HP Inc., and Intel educated guests about security threats to their mobile workforces and how to protect against those threats during a lunch and learn at VIVO Seasonal Trattoria.

With the proliferation of devices in the workplace, IT asset management is turning from a 'nice-to-have' to a 'must-have' concept. It’s no longer acceptable from a high-level IT perspective to have a smattering of devices without knowing relevant, critical information about them such as how old devices are, what components they use, what they cost (then and now), their effect on network security, and their expiry date.

iPads, tablets, and other ‘smart’ devices are well known as popular entertainment mechanisms. But considering how distracting these devices can be, should your company allow and encourage their use?