8 Signs It's Time to Switch Your IT Provider
1. The Same Problems Keep Coming Back The clearest sign it's time to switch IT providers is a pattern of the same problems recurring without ever getting permanently resolved — if your provider treats every …
How Much Should a Small Business Budget for IT Support?
Most small businesses should budget 4-7% of annual revenue for IT, with startups and smaller firms trending toward the higher end (around 6.9% on average) and spend per employee typically running $4,000-$7,500 a year for …
If Your WordPress Site Uses miniOrange for Logins, It May Already Be Under Attack
If your business runs a WordPress website and uses a plugin called miniOrange SAML Single Sign On to manage how users log in, this week's tip requires your attention today. Active attacks are underway, and …
ExpertCare vs. Co-Managed IT: Which Model Fits a Manufacturing Plant of Your Size?
ExpertCare (fully outsourced managed IT) fits manufacturers with no internal IT staff who need a complete team monitoring and running their systems. Co-managed IT fits manufacturers that already have one or two internal IT people …
How Much Does an Hour of Downtime Really Cost a Manufacturer?
An hour of unplanned downtime costs the average manufacturer roughly $260,000, according to Aberdeen Research — though the real number for any single plant depends heavily on industry, ranging from $10,000-$50,000 an hour for discrete …
If You Use a Mac With Screen Sharing Enabled, You Need to Update Right Now.
A critical security vulnerability in Apple macOS is being actively exploited right now, and the attack requires almost nothing from the attacker. No password. No special access. Just a Mac with Screen Sharing turned on …
OT/IT Convergence for Manufacturers: What It Is and Why Your Plant Floor and Business Systems Need to Talk to Each Other.
OT/IT convergence is the connection of a manufacturer's operational technology (OT) — the equipment, sensors, and control systems that run the plant floor — with its information technology (IT) — the servers, networks, and business …
What an MSP Actually Does (and Why 88% of SMBs Now Use One)
If you’ve heard the term “MSP” and aren’t quite sure what it means, you’re not alone. Managed Service Provider (MSP) is one of those industry terms that gets used constantly inside the IT world and …
Your Password and Two-Factor Code Are No Longer Enough to Keep Attackers Out
For years, the standard security advice has been consistent: use a strong password, turn on two-factor authentication, and your accounts will be protected. That advice was sound. It is also no longer sufficient on its …
Your Browser May Be "Managed by Your Organization", Even If Nobody Manages It
If you have ever opened Google Chrome and noticed a message at the bottom of the settings page that says "Managed by your organization" — but you do not work for a large company and …