SteadyTalk Blog

Choosing a managed service provider (MSP) for your business is a critical yet sometimes overwhelming decision. Luckily, this guide covers how to choose managed services providers as well as the best questions to ask an MSP so you can make an informed decision for your business. Discover what to look for when choosing an MSP, along with some key qualifications by reading on. How to Choose Managed Security Services Providers If your organization is one of roughly half of U.S. businesses planning to increase IT spending in 2023 , then you’re likely looking for a potential MSP that can meet your growing support needs. Here are some top factors to look at when deciding how to choose managed security services : [...]

The average cost of IT support services varies. It often depends on whether you opt for managed IT services or hire your own in-house team. Regardless of which route you choose, your business needs reliable IT support to ensure its entire technology stack is running smoothly. Having professional IT support prevents service interruptions and guarantees an excellent customer experience. Given the importance of IT support, it’s no wonder more businesses are making it a pivotal part of their operations. In 2020, the global IT service market was valued at $715.93 billion, with over 77% of the market attributed to outsourcing. Between 2022 and 2030, the global IT support services market is expected to grow at a rate of 11.2% annually. If [...]

The facts are in, and managed IT service providers are proven to help small and medium-sized businesses reduce their annual IT costs by an average of 25-45% AND increase their operational efficiency by 45-65% . So, why use managed IT services ? It seems clear that there are major advantages for businesses to do so. But what are those advantages, specifically, beyond the promise of cost savings and greater efficiency (not that those aren’t important). But, these facts beg the question, “what other positives does working with an MSP bring to businesses? In this blog, we’re going to highlight and explain some of the top reasons why managed IT services are better than the in-house model, or even the break-fix outsourcing [...]

Why is network security important ? That answer is easy: the importance of network security lies in the fact that your network is the backbone of your business. It supports all of your critical operations, applications, and data. So if it's compromised, your entire business can be at risk. That's why you need to make sure your network is secure from external threats like viruses, malware, and hackers. According to statistics, small businesses are three times more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than larger companies. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to fortify your network and keep it safe. By implementing the right security measures - including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and encryption - you can defend against potential [...]

Statistics show that the projected total IT budget for 2022 was $4.5 trillion, with more companies incorporating technology into their processes. With that much reliance on technology, there's no better time to emphasize your company’s IT business strategy. An IT strategy for your business offers direction on how to best leverage tech to meet business goals. Nonetheless, your business IT strategy isn't only necessary when incorporating new technologies and infrastructure into your day-to-day operations. You should also have a plan for updating or making changes to current software/hardware.    This blog post discusses the benefits of IT strategy for business alongside crucial considerations when developing an IT plan for your company. Benefits of Developing an IT Business Strategy Technology can help automate [...]

Unsplash   A business that is able to maximize the output of its technology is a business that wins in our contemporary economic landscape. But getting a handle on your information technology can prove difficult - especially as it grows ever more sophisticated as time goes on. That’s why more and more businesses are turning towards the coveted services of a managed IT services provider. Which brings us to the benefits of managed IT services, chief among them the massive cost cutting potential.  Grasping the Importance of Managed IT Services A managed services provider (MSP, industry speak for your managed IT services provider), ensures that you can get total relief to your technology management burden.  In other words, managed IT services [...]

Credits: Mati Mango   Bring your own device (BYOD) policies have become the norm as businesses adopt remote and hybrid work arrangements. However, by allowing employees to use personal devices for work, there are inherent BYOD security risks many business owners should be aware of. Tech company Zippia reveals that more than half (51%) of employers have adopted network security measures for mobile devices, followed by 37.9% with no policies in place, and 11.1% of employers unsure about the matter. In this article, we explore the nature of bring-your-own-device to work security issues and what can be done to strengthen cybersecurity. Top BYOD Risks for Your Business The blurring of personal and professional workspaces due to the pandemic has highlighted a [...]

Credits: Pixabay   In network security, network vulnerabilities are gaps or underlying weaknesses in the existing system.  This unfortunately creates an opportunity for different types of network security threats and risks that hackers will capitalize on in order to compromise, steal or otherwise corrupt your information. Cyber security vulnerabilities are an essential area to be aware of when reviewing your IT infrastructure. You need to be aware of gaps in your hardware, software, and even processes, because there are different types of attacks in network security—and almost all of them exploit underlying information security vulnerabilities. In this blog, we’re going to explain the most common types of vulnerabilities in network security so that you can learn to avoid them. 1. Outdated [...]

Businesses are heavily reliant on their information technology. When information technology isn’t performing optimally, a company feels the pressure. Perhaps that’s why some of the most successful businesses formulate their IT strategy around a solution-centric infrastructure. A comprehensive approach that ensures business strategy and technology initiatives merge harmoniously. For companies wishing to operate for the long-term, an IT roadmap serves as the blueprint to IT business continuity. To learn more about how a strategic roadmap can help you achieve your business objectives, our blog covers technology roadmap examples, the benefits of an IT portfolio roadmap, and how to meet your strategic goals with a cross-functional managed service provider (MSP). What is an IT Strategy Plan? An effective IT strategy plan helps [...]

As small business owners rely on IT more than ever before, a growing number are turning to managed service providers to obtain the high-tech IT infrastructure, software and assistance they need to be successful. At the same time, there are many entrepreneurs and small business owners who don’t fully understand how managed IT services work and how they can propel a business forward. Following are five extremely important facts about managed IT services that will enable one to make wise decisions regarding when and how to use them. Managed IT Services Save Time Most small businesses can’t afford to hire a full-time IT technician. This means that, more often than not, regular employees must deal with IT problems. Because the average [...]

Estimating managed IT services rates depends on a number of factors, starting with an organization’s size, budget, industry, needs and goals. With many variables to consider, in combination with the various managed service pricing models offered, it can be a challenge getting a ballpark estimate for the pricing of your desired services without a managed IT services calculator. To better understand the managed IT pricing you can expect to pay, this article will cover: Managed IT Services Price List for Business The Most Common Types of Managed IT Pricing Models Factors That Influence Managed IT Services Cost How Much Does Managed IT Services Cost With Steady Networks Average Managed IT Pricing Costs for Business Managed IT services costs can fluctuate depending [...]

If you listen to the news about cyber attacks and cloud solutions, you might think that the three most common technology problems would be internet outages, ransomware and data breaches. However, these are actually the symptoms, and not the causes of IT problems. The root causes of most technology problems in business are: Surprise IT projects Staff training Information silos Let’s take a closer look at these problems with IT one by one, starting with surprise IT projects. 3 Common Technology Problems and How to Solve Them Problem #1: Surprise IT Projects Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar: your business has been humming along for six or seven years. You occasionally have your problems with your IT, but nothing that [...]

Small and medium-sized businesses often outsource IT responsibilities to meet their IT needs. Serving as a cost-effective way to fulfill an organization’s specific IT needs, managed and professional services are often customized to fulfill a specific set of support services - all without the need of having to budget an entire IT department. While both managed services and professional services can help organizations overcome specific challenges and improve day-to-day running, there are significant differences between managed services vs professional services that are worth exploring.  To find out more about whether managed or professional services are right for you, our blog will cover the ins and outs regarding managed services vs professional services, so let’s dive in.  What are Managed IT Services? [...]

Scaling the various IT support tiers offered by a managed service provider (MSP) provides organizations with an easy, cost-effective way to offload their IT support demands.  In addition to offsetting rigorous IT demands, businesses benefit from:  Improved efficiency Better IT cost control The ability to solve IT problems faster Around-the-clock IT support (remote and local) With four core IT technical support tiers to familiarize yourself with, this blog will guide you through why IT support tiers exist, what their differences are, additional benefits to know, and how to discover which IT tier best supports your needs. With this in mind, let’s begin.  Why Are There Tiers of IT Support? IT support tiers exist because no two organizations' IT support needs are [...]

For many businesses, the benefits of remote IT support are fundamental to their success.  From strengthening infrastructure and implementing new technologies, to identifying and remediating IT challenges of all sizes, the benefits of getting remote IT support extend far and wide.  During a time where our reliance on technology and remote work has grown, these capabilities can be the difference between making and breaking it in business.  To discover more about these perks for yourself, our article covers the top 10 benefits of remote IT support you should be aware of.  Top 10 Benefits of Getting Remote IT Support Being able to identify and remediate technical issues faster is a leading advantage of remote IT tech support.  For small business owners, [...]