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Everything you need to understand the cross-section of technology and business
To have the best relationship with a managed IT provider, your expectations and their scope of service must be aligned. An ideal IT partnership is based on mutual understanding. That’s why it’s important to know what to expect from an MSP from the very start.
Every business faces IT challenges. The question is, how are you solving yours? If your internal IT support structure starts to fail, it’s time to seek external help. Frequent downtime, overwhelmed IT teams, and cybersecurity issues are all signs that your business needs managed services.
If you’re looking for an easy way to reduce your IT overheads, managed IT is the way to go. Working with an MSP drastically lowers your labor spend, optimizes your IT investment, improves your system’s reliability, and boosts employee productivity.
Staffing and capital issues are the main IT pain points for most small and medium-sized businesses. Business leaders need to think outside the box and ditch traditional solutions to solve these problems. Enlisting managed IT services is one of the ways to do just that.
Does your IT cost way too much to run, maintain, and secure? Outsource your IT services and trim down your IT budget in so many different ways. What’s more, you’ll enjoy the convenient perks of working with a trustworthy IT partner as you cut down operating costs.
Did you know that up to 85 percent of all successful data breaches are caused by human error? Poor cybersecurity awareness is the main reason most employees ignore critical security policies or make ill-informed choices that jeopardize cybersecurity.
The recipe for an IT budget includes careful planning, aligning expenses with business goals, understanding the business, learning from the past, and looking to the future. Remember, an IT budget reflects your IT strategy — it’s not just about the numbers.
Do you know how much money ends up in your business IT infrastructure and how it gets used up? Developing an IT budget is the only way to predetermine IT funding and formulate an IT strategy at the same time. IT budgeting entails so much more than just crunching numbers.
I’m honored to be part of CompTIA’s cybersecurity advisory council. It’s a powerful group of highly skilled people with a stated goal of “To develop the tools and resources that tech companies can use to increase the cyber resilience of the IT industry and accelerate the adoption of best practices.”
To have the best relationship with a managed IT provider, your expectations and their scope of service must be aligned. An ideal IT partnership is based on mutual understanding. That’s why it’s important to know what to expect from an MSP from the very start.
Every business faces IT challenges. The question is, how are you solving yours? If your internal IT support structure starts to fail, it’s time to seek external help. Frequent downtime, overwhelmed IT teams, and cybersecurity issues are all signs that your business needs managed services.
If you’re looking for an easy way to reduce your IT overheads, managed IT is the way to go. Working with an MSP drastically lowers your labor spend, optimizes your IT investment, improves your system’s reliability, and boosts employee productivity.
Staffing and capital issues are the main IT pain points for most small and medium-sized businesses. Business leaders need to think outside the box and ditch traditional solutions to solve these problems. Enlisting managed IT services is one of the ways to do just that.
Does your IT cost way too much to run, maintain, and secure? Outsource your IT services and trim down your IT budget in so many different ways. What’s more, you’ll enjoy the convenient perks of working with a trustworthy IT partner as you cut down operating costs.
Did you know that up to 85 percent of all successful data breaches are caused by human error? Poor cybersecurity awareness is the main reason most employees ignore critical security policies or make ill-informed choices that jeopardize cybersecurity.
The recipe for an IT budget includes careful planning, aligning expenses with business goals, understanding the business, learning from the past, and looking to the future. Remember, an IT budget reflects your IT strategy — it’s not just about the numbers.
Do you know how much money ends up in your business IT infrastructure and how it gets used up? Developing an IT budget is the only way to predetermine IT funding and formulate an IT strategy at the same time. IT budgeting entails so much more than just crunching numbers.
I’m honored to be part of CompTIA’s cybersecurity advisory council. It’s a powerful group of highly skilled people with a stated goal of “To develop the tools and resources that tech companies can use to increase the cyber resilience of the IT industry and accelerate the adoption of best practices.”
What does it take to hire a co-managed IT provider? Well, not much. But you have to understand the need for a co-managed partner in the first place and what they bring to the table. It’s essentially matching the right provider with your IT team and business requirements.
A managed services provider should serve as an invaluable partner that enables your employees to work more effectively and supports business growth. Is your IT service provider bringing true value to your company? If not, it’s time to switch to an MSP that delivers tangible benefits.
Choosing a managed IT partner to suit your business is no easy task. But remember, you can always switch to a new provider if you get it wrong the first time. The important thing is to review each potential candidate based on your expectations critically.
It’s time to take action against the ever-growing cybercrime threat. Large and small organizations continue to fall victim to waves of devastating cyberattacks. Yours could be next if you do not implement a well-structured, proactive cybersecurity plan.
This article will introduce the subject of data protection and why you should invest your time and money to create a data protection policy. The article will then delve into the circumstances that may force a business to create a data protection policy.
Have you trained your employees to respond to cyber incidents? If not, you risk incurring avoidable damages to your business in case of an attack. Bring your entire staff on board with cyber incident response planning to ensure company wide threat awareness and preparedness.
The web is full of success stories about investors making millions from Bitcoin trading. As it turns out, this is not just a case of “too good to be true” – you can genuinely earn decent returns through crypto investments. The only catch is, you have to tread cautiously.
This article introduces the subject of cryptocurrencies and how they work. It also lists the major cryptocurrencies and why more people and companies are investing in them. Finally, the article tries to explore the pros and cons of investing in cryptocurrencies.
The threat landscape will keep changing, but that doesn’t mean your business has to take on more risk. With the right security strategies and a tailored, proactive approach to cybersecurity, you have total confidence that your information and IT systems are protected.
Remote work, supply chains and the Internet of Things have brought an expanding cyber attack surface. 2021 will see continued threats and responses from these entry points. Cybersecurity is more important than ever as organizations and critical infrastructure face ransomware and other threats.
Business continuity planning is far more sensitive than most entrepreneurs realize. Every business has several moving parts; it’s up to you to decide which are worth protecting against disasters and how to do so. That’s the basis of an effective and mature business continuity plan.
Nothing says IT resilience like a cloud-based digital workflow. The cloud brings you robust computing power, dependable data security, remote work capabilities, and 24/7 access to digital resources – all the core elements of a failsafe disaster recovery strategy.
How much of your business continuity plan is directed toward communications and workflow? If your business lacks a secure communications platform or a solid virtual workflow structure, you’re dangerously gambling with your disaster recovery strategy.
Some businesses think that a strong defense is all they need to protect their business against external attacks. Other businesses believe that powerful disaster recovery strategies will always protect them. This article shows why both approaches should be used.
Every organization has a unique way of keeping its data safe. Most data loss prevention plans include access control, physical security, firewalls, and data backup systems. The trick is finding the right solutions with the expert guidance of a professional cybersecurity partner.
Business disruption can trigger serious problems that can be difficult to rebound from. A holistic approach to business continuity can ensure your company survives any type of disaster – whether it’s a global crisis, a regional natural disaster, or an incident that impacts your business alone.
To survive through unforeseen disasters, business owners must prepare to cope with unpreventable emergencies. Disaster recovery planning is a big part of proactive disaster preparedness. Develop and test a DRP to cushion your business against various setbacks.
There is a lot more to data protection than implementing conventional cybersecurity measures. A data loss prevention plan safeguards your data against corruption, unavailability, and leakage. It takes a strategic approach to secure data within an organization.
The benefits the cloud offers can improve your employees’ experience. A tailored cloud strategy can lead to enhanced collaboration, connectivity, and flexibility. When you work with an MSP specializing in cloud computing, you can achieve the streamlined workflows and better performance the cloud promises.
The IT market is awash with cloud-based IT services and products from different vendors. It’s up to you to decide the cloud applications your business needs to scale its digital performance and grow. Instead of sampling each service, ask the experts which solutions are right for you.
How secure is your public cloud platform? That’s often a difficult question to answer given all the different factors in play. But one thing is clear – adopting the public cloud broadens your cybersecurity risk profile and exposes your business to new threats.
Data loss, unauthorized access, and legal compliance risks are major hurdles for many entrepreneurs looking to integrate the cloud into their business processes. Cloud security is complicated and varies between hosts and businesses. It takes a keen eye to make the right security choices.
Private or public cloud – which will best serve your business’s needs? To decide what will serve your business goals, look at all of your requirements, including security and compliance, scalability, and flexibility. The more tailored your approach to cloud services, the more your business stands to gain.
The huge shift to remote work in 2020 revealed how beneficial working from home could be for businesses. To get the most out of the remote model, leverage the right technology, and make IT management and support a priority. Then, you can keep your data secure and empower your remote teams.
A considerable percentage of the American workforce currently works from home. And due to the many benefits it presents, remote work is quickly replacing the traditional physical workplace. But without the right preparation, working with remote employees can be challenging and even risky.
The cloud provides endless options to augment business IT infrastructure while minimizing investment and operational costs. Understanding what cloud solutions can do for your business is the first step to leveraging the power of cloud computing to improve your enterprise’s performance.
If any organization that handles healthcare information violates HIPAA, the government may impose massive fines. Following IT security best practices and working with a co-managed IT provider to ensure your systems are safe can save your organization from the consequences of a HIPAA violation.
All U.S. businesses involved in holding, using, or transmitting personal health information (PHI) electronically, must abide by strict HIPAA data security and privacy rules. What does it really take for covered entities to become HIPAA complaint today?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) outlines protections and guidelines to which businesses of all sizes must adhere. Co-managed IT services are a cost-effective way to ensure HIPAA compliance by providing both administrative standards and cybersecurity requirements.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets a framework for protecting medical data and healthcare records. But how do you know if the Act applies to you, and what happens if there’s a violation? Here’s a comprehensive rundown of what you need to know.
Cybersecurity management is about learning what to expect and being ready for it. And, on that note, running a cybersecurity risk assessment helps you evaluate and improve your organization’s security stance through discovering new threats, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures.
A multi-layered security approach ensures you protect your company’s critical data and infrastructure from all angles. But what exactly is multi-layered cybersecurity, why does comprehensive enterprise security matter, and how do you deploy it across your business? Here’s what you should know.
Cybersecurity is both proactive and responsive. Besides putting in place preemptive measures to deter cybercriminals, you also need an IT incident response strategy to counteract imminent threats. Think of an IR plan as a damage control measure.
There’s a lot to pen testing, and it’s critical to do it right. When you know how to perform penetration testing, you can better protect your network from cyber threats and reduce the risk of a data breach. Do it yourself or partner with experts to ensure success and safeguard your network.
Many companies allow remote working, but they often neglect the most important thing: device security. The problem? If you don’t protect your devices when working remotely, you risk serious data breaches. So, here’s why security matters and how to write an effective remote security policy.
Intelligent IoT technology is the heart of modern automation. Although ideal for enhancing workplace efficiency, some IoT devices harbor critical digital security risks. Cyberattacks perpetrated through IoT networks are increasing, mounting concerns over the safety of using these devices.
October 2020 is Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM 2020) — a month of events designed to promote safety online. CSAM has been held annually since the National Security Alliance and the United States Department of Homeland Security inaugurated the first session of awareness back in 2004.
Having a solid data security plan is an absolute must for all modern businesses. If you don’t have one in place, your business may be at risk of fines and significant financial losses. Now’s a good time to start prioritizing your data security.
It’s imperative that organizations have a plan to protect their data in the event of a disaster or cyberattack. Your data is important for all operations in your business. Data contains all information, from files and account folders to business applications and client information.
In order to realize the many benefits of co-managed IT, you need to properly incorporate it into your business strategy. To do this, you must properly understand the pressures faced by your in-house IT team so that you can best use co-managed services to free up resources and allow your team to focus on strategic projects.
IT staff often ends up overburdened, which reduces performance and limits your company’s potential to meet its strategic goals. When this happens, it’s essential to identify overburned IT workers and take steps to assist them. Here’s how.
IT is the core of business development. Enterprise IT ties together all the essential business processes from sales, inventory, and financial management to marketing. Co-managed IT services can expand your IT coverage and technical support framework to empower business growth.
Managed services are growing in popularity, with the global market expected to reach more than $200 billion by the end of 2020. But what if you already have an in-house IT team you don’t wish to replace? That’s where co-managed services come in. Find out how they generate ROI in this post.
Businesses are more reliant on technology than ever before, and cybersecurity has never been more important. But more IT means more IT issues. That’s where co-managed services come into play. Let’s take a look at co-managed services, their benefits, and how they can improve your security posture.
Your network is critical for your business, and network problems and downtime can be costly. However, good network management involves constant, time-consuming monitoring that is best left to an external co-managed service partner.
Co-managed IT lets you keep control of your IT infrastructure while absorbing the tasks that your in-house staff lacks the time or skills to complete. Basically, co-managed IT services augment your IT department with new skill sets and a capable workforce.
Co-managed IT lets you keep your in-house IT team while still enjoying the many benefits of outsourcing IT support services. At times, you may need both external assistance and close-range support to meet your IT objectives — co-managed IT makes that possible.
Are you ready to reopen your office or workspace after COVID-19? Don’t worry — below, we take you through the key steps to transitioning back to office life after remote working, including how to address technology concerns and how to prepare your staff for their return.
With more people working remotely than ever before, communication platforms have become essential tools. Our favorite communication platforms, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Apple’s FaceTime are great for keeping teams connected and maintaining high levels of productivity.
There are many vendors that support our peer groups and they deliver strong content not only about their product but what they see in the marketplace. These vendors are solidly committed to the overall success of their partners. We couldn’t do our job without them!
Have you made the necessary security preparations to facilitate a smooth transition from an on-site workplace to remote working? Security is a priority concern when collaborating with remote employees, considering that you have limited control over critical security details.
Security threats can endanger not just your team but your clients as well. Have you candidly reviewed your security situation? Take the time.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses everywhere are forced to operate remotely. This poses risks because employees will be using unsecured wifi and devices which hackers can easily access. Your company data could be on the line and you need to take the necessary steps to protect it.
You did it! Your new technology solution is up and running and that big project is over. Time to start reaping the benefits of that new solution. But where do you start?
Businesses can face a variety of challenges when implementing new technology. As you work to make it part of workflows and integrate it into your IT, it’s critical to define an adoption strategy for your new technology. Learn about the best practices for adoption to ensure success.
New tech only works if your employees actually use it, so how do you boost employee engagement levels and get the most from your IT? From cutting downtime to increasing staff productivity and collaboration, here’s a rundown of why new tech matters, and why it’s time to get your staff on board.
When was the last time you measured the ROI you’re getting from your managed IT services? If your technology isn’t providing the benefits it should, team productivity and morale go out the window. So, it’s not surprising that partnering with the right managed IT service provider is an investment worth making.
Finding the right IT partner can be a struggle. You need one who will help grow your business, decrease IT problems, and can help your business navigate the threat landscape so you can focus on your day-to-day activities without interruptions.
Through all of that growth, development, and success, if you don’t keep your business processes in step, you’re going to be facing a difficult situation when the next big transition occurs.
You are able to devote more focus on streamlining your processes to increase efficiency and revenue.
But if you’re siloing your IT and your business processes, you could be shooting yourself in the foot.
That’s why I’ve made this 5 blog mini-series. In each of the 5 parts, I’ll give you a question to ask your vendors to ensure that they are taking the right precautions and implementing the best processes to help and protect your business.
Whether it’s the new OS update on your iPhone or a new software stack for your business, technology adoption is a critically important factor that determines the overall success of your solution.
In each of the 5 parts of this mini blog series, I’ll give you a question to ask your vendors to ensure that they are taking the right precautions and implementing the best processes to help and protect your business.
Good MSPs genuinely value the time clients take to explain their business and growth needs. That’s because having that information in hand makes their job easier with better client outcomes.
Sometimes with specialized services, like those an MSP provides, it can be hard to assess how well they perform their job. But there is a simple way to tell if your MSP is falling short: listen to the office.
It’s important to know the exact level of coverage a vendor has for your business. You shouldn’t be trusting your business to a vendor with coverage you aren’t 100% comfortable with.
While it is important to have a solution in place for your IT, it is equally important to be able to regularly assess that solution.
That’s why I’ve made this 5 blog mini-series. In each of the 5 parts, I’ll give you a question to ask your vendors to ensure that they are taking the right precautions and implementing the best processes to help and protect your business.
Every business owner dreads when they get to the point that their current services and solutions no longer work for their company. They dread it because it means that change is coming, and change is rarely easy or fun.
Your values are the foundation of your business. They keep you on track to ensure that you meet the needs of your employees, partners, and customers. Check out our handy guide to reevaluating your core business values. In this quick read, you’ll learn why sometimes values need to be reevaluated.
If you are not happy with your current IT provider, it’s time to start thinking about the transition process. In today’s digital world, every business relies on IT to execute critical operations. Downtime can be disastrous. What does a successful IT provider transition look like? Let’s find out.
It’s all too easy to fall into a hands-off mentality with your MSP. After all, that’s why you hired them, right? But just because everything is working doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check in from time to time to make sure you’re technology is ready to grow with you.
Are you in a relationship that’s just not working? They don’t return your calls. They cancel plans last-minute. And they promise they’ll do better next time – but they just don’t. In this article, we’ll take a look at four signs you are settling for your current IT services provider.
When you have a sturdy disaster recovery plan in place, you’re doing one of the best things you can do for your business. If you’re in an industry that commands strict data protection compliance, you need to make sure your disaster recovery plan meets relevant standards. Here are some top tips for making sure your […]
Things go wrong. When they do, the better prepared you and your team are, the more likely you’ll overcome the hurdle and get back to business. Let’s look at what disaster recovery plans should include, as well as 3 best practices for businesses. Have a read and protect your organization from the inevitable.
Disaster recovery plans outline how vital support systems – such as communications, hardware, and employees – will be restored full working order.
Do you know the difference between disaster recovery and business continuity? Read on to find out.
Unified communications can allow for improved teamwork and increased flexibility for employees. These things are crucial for helping a business run smoothly.
f there’s one thing that’s true of IT, it’s that somewhere, somehow, something will go wrong. For businesses, the most important strategy is preparation. After all, computer systems fail for all kinds of reasons. That’s why one of your biggest priorities should be to protect your company’s data.
Unified communications is a real thing. It’s not just jargon. And it represents a legitimately helpful approach to managing every aspect of your company’s interaction, both internal and external. Today, we’re going to explain what it is and why you want it.
Voice-over IP is a disaster-proof way to set up your company’s phone system to ensure flawless communication in your business, promoting further maturation and growth.
Effective risk management is essential in the fast-paced corporate environment of today. As regulatory standards are constantly tightened, it becomes necessary to mitigate risk as much as possible.
Simply put: a security risk assessment is a risk analysis performed on your network and cyber security measures to determine exactly how vulnerable you are, and just how difficult (or easy) it is to hack into your system
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth investing in cyber liability insurance, here’s everything you need to know about this relatively new policy coverage.
If you’re legally obliged to abide by healthcare compliance regulations, it’s your responsibility to stay current on any changes to the law. Here’s how to do it.
Federal government agencies issue thousands of rules every year. If your business is required to follow these regulations it can seem overwhelming keeping up with all the requirements. Here are tips on how to stay up-to-date and keep compliant.
Is your MSP maturing as a business? To become a truly helpful partner for business growth, you’ve got to ask the questions to uncover the truth of your MSP.
It may strike you as counterintuitive, be the truth is that partnering with other managed IT services providers actually helps everyone—you, the competition, your clients and the community. In fact, if you commit to genuine partnership full-force, you’ll get way more out of it than you give up.
When it comes to business expenses, few are as confusing as your phone or ISP bill. You know you need these services, but are there ways to lower the cost? Finding the right balance between savings and the service levels you need to stay competitive can be a tall order. We’d like to help.
Too many businesses overlook one key part of their cybersecurity plan—their people. According to one recent report, 49% of all security breaches can be traced back to a mistake made by a human being. The only way to close this gap is through cybersecurity training.
Phishing comes in a few forms, but the core tactic is the same: trick your employees into thinking something unsafe is safe. If you’re not prepared to deal with phishing attacks, your network could be in very real danger. So, what is phishing and how can you stop it?
Data security is essential for every small business. Find out why small businesses are at risk and what you can do to protect your organization.
If you’re a small business owner, there’s a good chance you have three traits: ambition, work ethic, and heart. Sponsoring a local charity is a great way to showcase those qualities. Here are three reasons why we think it’s a great idea to give back.
Millions of records are accessed by malicious hackers every year. Here are 6 steps you can take to reduce your risk of identity theft.
While backing up critical data and services is a good first step, developing a full business continuity plan that ensures a comprehensive approach for consistent service. Let’s take a look at the important differences between basic backup and business continuity.
KME Systems, an all-inclusive managed IT services provider for businesses in Southern California, has again earned the Pinnacle Circle of Excellence Award by Digium, Inc. KME received the 2019 honor for their performance as an outstanding technology deployment company delivering excellent customer service.
As cybercriminal become increasingly sophisticated, corporate cybersecurity must stay one step ahead of the evolving threats. Luckily, there are steps any SMB leader can take now to improve their cybersecurity. Here’s how any small business can boost their cybersecurity protection right now.
At KME we love our dogs almost as much as we love. . . well, we couldn’t think of anything we love more than them right this moment. We do have other interests, trust us. But right now we’re talking about dogs. We’ve compiled our favorite facts that you probably don’t know about them!
There are times when sending data over Wi-Fi makes it more vulnerable to attack, like on public Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports and coffee shops. Even your office network could have vulnerabilities. Follow these tips to make sure your data stays safe no matter what wireless network you are using.
The only real way to protect your data – and, by extension, your company and its reputation – is to get an accurate sense of your cybersecurity risk. Which parts of your digital infrastructure are vulnerable? Every company has risk points. Here are a few steps to figure out what yours might be.
Cybercriminals seem to love attacking small businesses. Part of the reason may be that small businesses aren’t as careful about security as their larger peers. To add a layer of protection your business, consider using one of the best antivirus programs described below.
KME Systems is a great firm, and we work hard to earn our clients’ trust. We try to be a great place to work, not just a job. And we sincerely try to create an environment for success, fun and achievement. It’s an honor to be nominated and be among other great firms.
Cloud storage is on the rise, but how secure is your data in the cloud? Here’s the good news: security is a top priority cloud storage providers. In fact, many cloud services providers offer better security than you could deliver on your own. Let’s take a look at cloud security for business use.
When it comes to your company’s cybersecurity, don’t try to do it on your own. Don’t shop based on price. Don’t let a fast-talking sales guy seduce you into an agreement that doesn’t really fit your company. Instead, find someone you can trust who is willing to just have a conversation with you.
Your business reputation may be an intangible thing, but it’s real. It can make or break your whole business. Just one cybersecurity issue can undo years of hard work. You can’t afford to roll the dice with this. Get out in front of a reputation-ruining event by being proactive.
Data breaches can have big consequences not only in the moment but for a long time to come. If your company has a cybersecurity issue, it can haunt you. But many cybersecurity problems are easy to avoid and easy to fix. Avoid these four biggest pitfalls.
Workers in the United States are some of the most overworked in the entire world. With millions of people pulling 50 to 70 hour work weeks and unable to unplug when they get home, it’s definitely taking a toll. Too many Americans experience an overall lower quality of life because of their jobs.
We love Orange County. Community is important at KME and we believe in giving back. That’s why we’re so thankful for the amazing nonprofits who work daily in our community to improve the lives of everyone who lives here. Check out how these nine charities are changing and empowering lives.
Budgets. Whether you love them or hate them, they’re a necessary part of running a successful business. That’s especially true when it comes to your IT budget. Investing in IT is an important priority, especially for small to midsize businesses.
SMBs are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, but they may not have as many resources to deal with serious breaches or serious protection as larger companies.
Luckily, some of the biggest threats to small businesses are easy to fix with a few changes to company policy or a bit of education.
As an MSP, you can never know enough about how to protect your clients from criminal activity. Millions of dollars are lost every week. Don’t let your company become a victim. Take the time to learn what you need to know to protect your company from these dangerous criminals.
Transform the way you work with these six Office 365 tips. Improve communication, take control of your inbox, and become a master collaborator with new and improved tools. Give your productivity a boost and stay one step ahead of the competition.
Data loss is an issue that should always be taken seriously by small businesses. Keep your business up and running even in the face of data loss by heeding these scary facts about how data loss can hurt a small business.
Looking for family-friendly activities for Halloween? To scare up a few thrills and chills this Halloween, Orange County has a lot of activities for the entire family. With so many ghoulishly fun ways to enjoy Halloween activities with your family, you might have a hard time selecting just one!
You would be hard-pressed to find a company that’s not dependent on software, networks or the cloud. All these powerful tools, though, are nothing without the hardware that runs them. The problem is recognizing when it’s time for a hardware upgrade.
Some business owners think that simply having the right software in place is enough to keep their network secure. The reality is that network security is a team effort. That’s why providing proper employee education is an important part of keeping hackers at bay.
With crisp, refreshing air and trees ablaze with color, fall is the perfect time for outdoor adventures. And there are plenty of fun fall activities in Orange County, from apple picking to festivals. For inspiration, here’s a rundown of the best outdoor things to do in Orange County this fall.
When traveling for work, it’s important to remain connected. However, it’s also important to maintain mobile security in the process. While avoiding public Wi-Fi may not be an option, there are ways to remain connected and secure. Here are a few tips to help you stay on top of mobile data security.
Organizations that fall victim to ransomware attacks can face significant disruption to their business operations. It makes sense for you to learn all you can about ransomware, avoid common technology mistakes, and learn how to protect yourself against an attack.
For a fun-filled OC Labor Day weekend with plenty to do, Orange County has a host of great activities. Attend a street fair, listen to one of several live bands, check out an art show, or let the kids have fun with plenty of games, rides, attractions and exciting activities!
VoIP gives you ways to lower your costs while taking advantage of flexible features that make your business more efficient. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses never get beyond the basic features offered by VoIP, so they never discover the benefits VoIP advanced features.
Not all computer maintenance requires professional assistance. In fact, these 6 DIY PC maintenance tips offer several benefits, such as protecting your investment in equipment, improving your business’s efficiency and even keeping malware at bay.
Planning for disaster is essential in business. But because it’s not pleasant to think about, some SMB owners just put it off. Big mistake. Huge. Your disaster recovery communication plan helps your company continue operations no matter what else is going on. And it can save your reputation.
If you’re a business interested in giving back to the community, there’s good news. Being active in charitable work can strengthen business relationships, partnerships, stakeholder relationships, local causes, and the community that supports you.
Whether it’s for clients, employees or project collaboration, small business owners need an instant messaging app that’s dependable and affordable. Here are five of the top instant message apps for your business. All are user-friendly and packed with options.
Hybrid cloud solutions give SMBs the opportunity to increase the pace of digital transformation and provide more agility and less risk. SMBs need to do careful planning to select the applications that belong in the cloud and which should be kept on-premise.
Make this the best Fourth of July with fun activities like building your own splash park, having a fun cooking challenge and backyard barbecue or celebrating Independence Day by viewing the best fireworks right in Orange County with friends and family!
As an Office 365 user, you’re probably very familiar with the suite’s main tools and features. You probably use the most common ones on a daily basis. But you can achieve even more by taking advantage of some of Office 365’s lesser known (but incredibly helpful) features.
The right technology brings value to small businesses, but there are a few common mistakes that negate those advantages. Follow these technology tips to avoid five of the biggest mistakes SMB owners make when it comes to business technology. This is how you avoid common IT pitfalls.
We had an amazing time at our recent Infinity War premiere. It’s always great to spend time with our clients and friends, and it was fun to see the movie before the official release. We’d like to thank everyone who was able to join us, as well as our sponsors.
Ready for the dog days of summer? Finding fun dog-friendly activities for the summer is easier than you think. From running on the beach to relaxing in a pool to playing in the backyard sprinklers, here are 5 cool ways to get out of the office and enjoy the summer with your dog!
Managing your team’s collaboration and customer engagement efforts can be challenging without the right tools. Unified communications gives your company the ability to communicate effectively while maintaining maximum productivity. Improve team collaboration and employee satisfaction all at once.
Part of working as a team is holding each other accountable. It’s not always fun or easy, but it doesn’t have to be torture. In fact, there are simple ways you can create a company culture of accountability. To help you get started, we’ve created a list of our 4 favorite tactics.
Does your staff struggle with the latest tech? Share these tips with your employees to improve productivity and efficiency in the workplace. What kind of results can you expect? You don’t need to call in an expert and spend hundreds of dollars on training.
Of all business projects your organization can take on, IT projects can be some of the most complicated—and prone to failure. Following the right project management steps can help ensure a more seamless completion of your next project, whether it is a simple upgrade or more complex software integration.
Volunteering with your employees is a great way to spend time together and make a positive impact. This post is all about how to share your passion for charity work with your whole company. To help you get started, we’ve created a list of 4 ways your team can start giving back to Orange County charities.
You don’t have to give on the level of corporations like Coca-Cola or General Electric to have a positive impact. Making small donations to local nonprofits and getting involved on a grassroots level goes a long way toward making the world a better place. Here are 6 creative ways you can give back to your local community.
When you start talking to a new managed services provider, you may experience some sticker shock. They may want to make some pretty big changes to your network setup. It’s natural to wonder if they’re shooting straight with you. The truth is, a good MSP will likely insist on some pretty big changes.
At KME, we understand the importance of giving back. We’re serious about finding ways to get involved with Orange County charities because we really do care about helping others. In this post, we’re going to show you how your business can get started giving back to the local community, too.
What if cybercriminals could hack all cryptocurrency, data encryption methods and security software in the time it takes you to sneeze? That’d be pretty crazy. But here’s the thing. That’s possible. Quantum computing can be a powerful tool in the hands of hackers—whether they’re after cryptocurrency or data.
Heroes do everything in their power to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. Similarly, you need to find a way to proactively take on challenges like new compliance regulations, emerging cyberthreats, and business growth. Your custom superhero suit is designed to help you overcome these obstacles.
IT support takes the burden of minor issues and complicated technology projects off of your shoulders, so you can focus on more important matters. J.A.R.V.I.S. is dedicated to giving Iron Man the support he needs to save the day, and we’re committed to providing you with the resources you need to accomplish greatness.
You waited until the last minute and now you have to scramble to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other—something that embodies the subtle complexity of your heart’s desire . . . without breaking the bank. If your sweetie digs on tech, we have suggestions for every budget.
Good managed services providers want to deliver on their promises. They made a commitment to your management to keep end-users productive and happy. Sometimes the smallest annoyance can become the biggest complaint. Just tell us and we’ll fix it. After all, you’re paying for that computer support. Use it!
Powers are what make superheroes unique. Without them, they wouldn’t be able to fight evil. Similarly, your business needs reliable technology to be successful. That technology is like your superhero suit. At KME, our goal is to equip you with everything you need to achieve greatness. Because we give a damn.
Ultimately, you are the hero of your business. At KME, we’re simply here to provide high-quality support and reliable IT so that you can focus on conquering your goals. We’re confident that with a custom-designed suit and access to the right tools, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.
At KME, we love dogs. So much that we allow our team to bring them to the office. After all, we humans have our jobs, our friends, and our lives outside of our homes. Our wonderful furry friends often only have us. Leaving them at home for 8-10 hours a day is hard on pet owners and pets alike.
At KME Systems, we envision our role as a managed services provider a little differently. We’re not the ones jumping tall buildings in a single bound. That’s you. You’re the hero of your story. Our IT support is like your superhero suit. It protects, enables, enhances and equips as you pursue your goals.
We saw some pretty big tech trends in 2017, like the rise of the Internet of Things, machine learning, and cloud computing. Those advances even made it into the mainstream business world. And robots haven’t risen to destroy their human overlords as a result. Yet. In 2018, we expect these tech trends (and others) to […]
There are a variety of Office 365 features that allow for increased collaboration. We’ve put together a list of 11 ways the program helps you save resources and boost productivity in your business.
The ultimate goal is to get the most value from your Switchvox. That’s your goal because it makes you more efficient, more effective and more profitable. It’s our goal because we really do give a damn about your investment.
Without a coach, teams would find it a heck of a lot harder to come together and win games. Similarly, without Office 365 support, your team will likely find it challenging to integrate the solution into your business game plan.
Regulatory compliance is not something to brush off. To avoid future headaches, start getting your contingency plan in place today.
Hire an IT consultant who is familiar with compliance. They will provide your company with a compliance risk assessment that details everything you need to remedy in order to achieve compliance.
Before you turn out the lights and turn off the AC unit, I’ve got a few suggestions for how a room, once critical to your operations, can become even more important to your business.
KME Systems was honored by Microsoft to be the spotlight company for the western regional call for Microsoft partners on May 5, 2017.
As a business person you may not understand all that much about network security. You know it’s important, and you know that a breach can be bad for business, but do you understand why network security should be one of your main priorities? Network security is about more than just safeguarding corporate data, it’s about […]
IT could be your Achilles’ heel if your network isn’t up to scratch. Make sure you have a network security plan in place.
KME systems, an all-inclusive solutions provider for business IT services in Orange County and Las Vegas, has received the Pinnacle Partner Award.
Your business is the Watchtower and your employees, your heroes. Give them the advantage in the field by utilizing VoIP service.
It’s the 21st century, and the days of traditional phones are ending. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is taking over modern business communication.
Office 365 is an incredible business tool. However, many users simply do not understand how to properly use it and hence waste a lot of time in their day.
ou can still have your own, personal Gandalf to help you along your journey. Well, okay – not really Gandalf . . . but an IT consultant is kind of like Gandalf. Here’s how:
Security is a constant struggle, and it’s my firm’s job to swim upstream against that current at all times and ensure you have data access.
Sure, your technology may be running sufficiently. But is “sufficient” enough for your company? Or would you rather it THRIVE within your company?
I asked for a lunch meeting with Ed, the CEO of one of our high tech customers, so I could check in with him and discover his personal as well as professional experience with our support for his business. Ed’s firm is growing quickly as they have great products and smart people. While KME […]
Mark Essayian, founder and chief executive of KME Systems, has been a top reseller of Voice over IP (VoIP) business phone systems, unified communications (UC), networking, and end-to-end IT solutions for 15 years. Based in Orange County, California, Mark is a visionary for emerging technology-based IT solutions. In this interview, he shares trends his company is […]
Electronic Document Signature Solutions allow you to securely sign and manage your documents online. This helps your business transition from antiquated, paper technology, to secure electronic transmissions and authorizations. Electronic Document Signature Services from many of the leading eSignature organizations ensures the security and integrity of your documents, and is recognized in courts around the […]
Parkview Health System, Inc., a nonprofit health care system that serves residents in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, must pay $800,000 for HIPAA noncompliance. Parkview OCR (Office for Civil Rights) received a complaint from a retiring physician reporting that on June 4, 2009, Parkview employees, knowing the physician wasn’t home, left 71 cardboard boxes with […]
Nobody likes to pay for a service only to be told they owe extra. Hidden fees are not only aggravating, but they’re also dishonest. Here are five ways to avoid paying more than the original agreement.
KME Systems, an all-inclusive managed IT services provider for businesses located in Orange County and Las Vegas, has yet again been awarded the Pinnacle Circle of Excellence Award by Digium, Inc. for their performance as an outstanding technology deployment company. This is the second consecutive year KME has earned this award. Winners of the Pinnacle […]
Why is local support important? Because technology breaks. And when stuff physically breaks, there’s a chance you’ll need someone onsite for the fix. These days, much of the value a good MSP provides for your business is leveraged through remote resolution, but there are still situations where an onsite, flesh-and-blood engineer is your only salvation. How […]
As a MSP, we’re all too familiar with frantic calls from prospects whose hardware have been infected with Ransomware. You can hear the panic in their voices as they ask for immediate help. Though they want us to rush in like the A-Team of IT and fix their problems, we always make sure we have […]
Sounds crazy, right? Almost all our clients have a hard time believing that statement the first time they hear it. Since they have trusted all of their critical IT applications to the Cloud, they believe cloud data protection is just part of their package: that “someone” is watching over their applications to ensure they run […]
Ever wonder where we IT folks get our secret cyber security news? Oh, it’s nowhere special. We just all meet up every couple weeks at Area51 and get our briefings straight from the men in black and their lizard people overlords running the Underground White House. All kidding aside, we simply stay on top of […]
There is no way to improve your company’s efficiency unless you truly understand your own internal processes. Peter Drucker, acclaimed management consultant and author, said it very well: “What gets measured gets improved.” Without a full diagnosis and documentation of which processes your business does well or poorly, working at efficiency is little more than […]
Reviews can be intimidating. People often avoid them in the hopes of not having to tackle touchy subjects or some underlying concern. Though it might be tempting to avoid your discomfort, KME feels that a responsible IT service provider doesn’t shy from reviews. In fact, we feel the opposite. Having a constant, open line of […]
Technical support is more than firefighting. A managed service provider can react fast, but there’s still a chance that you will get burned before the fix is completed. That’s why we always promote proactive technical support. It’s part of the value of a managed service provider. Yet once you have proactive tech support, can you […]
Are you getting what you’re owed from your MSP? Good managed service providers work to deliver proactive support, but we can’t fix what’s not on our radar. That means, your team needs to fire up the Bat Signal when problems rear their heads. Sometimes, there’s a sense of disconnect about when it’s okay for client […]
Last week the U.S. government charged five Chinese military officials with spying on U.S. companies in order to steal vital trade secrets. The Chinese cyber thieves targeted some of the largest American makers of nuclear and solar technology, stealing confidential business information, sensitive trade secrets, and internal communications. The Justice Department said this should be a national […]
When a client asks us to design a new LAN, our team always points out a few items to help our clients acquire the right gear the first time. Unfortunately, we’ve been brought in after the fact to “fix the new gear we just bought online” only to end up suggesting it’s the wrong equipment […]
Plenty of IT support firms tell you they monitor hundreds of things on your LAN and can present a huge 500 page report “proving” they are doing their job. While many things are important to monitor, there are a few we see constantly ignored by competent IT staff. Save yourself a lot of trouble by […]
There are several good IT firms in the valley, so why should you talk to KME Systems? Because we are local and know the area. My family moved to Las Vegas in 1963 and I was born here, making me a native of the Silver State. To be fair, I presently spend more time in […]
Many businesses feel that since they are paying for their employees, their PC’s and their Internet connection, they don’t want staff wasting time on social media, shopping, or other distracting sites. As an IT firm, we get the following question quite frequently from our clients: Should we block Internet traffic? My answer is typically yes […]
