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Explore expert tips and practical recommendations, from cybersecurity essentials to optimizing IT infrastructure, tailored for businesses of all sizes.
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Doing IT Project Planning Right
By Chris Bierasinski, VP of Business Development
IT Insights of Rochester is a local information technology managed service provider (MSP). They offer business technology solutions in Rochester and beyond. Learn more about IT Insights’ essential use of project planning initiatives.
Businesses are increasingly relying on IT infrastructure and systems to stay competitive and efficient. However, the successful implementation of IT projects is no easy feat. It requires a well-thought-out approach that incorporates project planning and management.
Here, we’ll delve into the significance of project planning, essential project planning tools, project management best practices, and the value of project management experience.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROJECT PLANNING
Project planning is the cornerstone of successful IT project management. Without a clear and comprehensive plan, IT projects are susceptible to scope creep, delays, and budget overruns.
Effective project planning:
- Defines project objectives and goals
- Determines the scope of work and deliverables
- Identifies project stakeholders and their roles
- Establishes a timeline with milestones
- Allocates resources and budgets
- Anticipates potential risks and mitigation strategies
- Designates responsibilities for both internal and external parties
LEVERAGING PROJECT PLANNING TOOLS
Project planning tools are essential for streamlining the planning process and enhancing collaboration among team members. At IT Insights, we utilize Autotask as our central hub. This tool seamlessly integrates and retrieves our client data while also connecting with other relevant tools like Datto, IT Glue, and more. It serves as a versatile hub, accommodating various needs, whether you require additional tools or not.
IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
To ensure the success of your IT projects, consider these best practices:
THE RIGHT TEAM AND EXPERTISE
Experience matters in IT project management. Experienced project managers come equipped with a rich repository of knowledge, insights, and strategies that enable them to anticipate and effectively mitigate risks. Moreover, they possess the agility to adapt swiftly when confronted with unforeseen challenges and excel in optimizing the allocation of resources. This helps ensure that each component of a plan aligns seamlessly with the project’s objectives.
Planning Projects with IT Insights
The importance of project planning cannot be overstated. At IT Insights of Rochester, we understand that doing an IT project right is a multifaceted process that requires careful planning, the right expertise, and a commitment to excellence. With a clear vision, comprehensive planning, effective communication, and a focus on quality assurance, we ensure that your IT projects are not only completed successfully but also position your organization for future success in the dynamic IT landscape.
Ready to take your IT strategy to the next level? Reach out to learn how our thorough project planning services can benefit your business and keep you ahead of the technology curve.
Ensuring Business Continuity
IT Insights of Rochester is a local information technology managed service provider (MSP). They offer business technology solutions in Rochester and beyond. Learn more about IT Insights’ innovative approach to preventive maintenance.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Ben Franklin
Staying ahead of the curve is not just an aspiration, it’s a necessity. For modern businesses, information technology (IT) is the backbone of operations, making it vital to ensure that your IT systems are not just functional but optimized for peak performance. This is where preventive maintenance comes into play.
WHAT IS IT PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE?
Preventive maintenance, in the context of IT, refers to a proactive approach to managing your technology infrastructure. It involves a series of scheduled tasks, checks, and updates performed by IT professionals to identify and resolve potential issues before they can disrupt your business operations. These tasks can include software updates, hardware inspections, security assessments, and data backups, among others.
WHY IS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Create an IT Preventive Maintenance Checklist
To get your assets on track, start by setting clear objectives for your preventive IT maintenance plan. Determine what you want to achieve and the specific goals you want to meet.
Develop your IT preventive maintenance checklist to stay accountable and on schedule. It should include tasks such as:
- Regular software updates and patch management
- Hardware inspections and cleaning
- Data backups and disaster recovery tests
- Security audits and vulnerability assessments
- Network performance monitoring
It’s important to periodically review and adjust your preventive maintenance plan. Technology evolves, and your plan should adapt to new threats and opportunities.
YOUR PARTNER IN PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
At IT Insights of Rochester, we understand the critical role that preventive maintenance plays in the success of businesses. Our dedicated team of IT experts specializes in helping businesses achieve tailored preventive maintenance solutions to ensure the health and performance of their IT systems.
With our proactive approach, you can focus on what you do best – growing your business – while we take care of your technology infrastructure. Don’t wait for IT issues to disrupt your operations. Invest in preventive maintenance and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your IT systems are in expert hands.
Ready to take your IT strategy to the next level? Reach out to learn how our holistic preventive maintenance services can benefit your business and keep you ahead of the technology curve.
Everything You Need to Know About Business VoIP Phone Systems and the Sunset of Landline Calling
If you have considered converting your business’s telephone voice over IP (VoIP), there are several reasons it makes sense to do so sooner than later. VoIP offers several benefits not available with traditional landlines or analog phone lines. Another factor to consider is that, as of August 2022, telephone providers can deactivate and raise prices on plain old telephone service (POTS).
Keep reading to understand what the sunset of POTS landline networks means and why this could be the time to switch to a business VoIP system.
POTS Lines: Why it’s Time to Find a Replacement
WHY ARE POTS LINE GOING AWAY?
Are you wondering, “What is a POTS line?”
Check out this post from our partner Ooma explaining everything you need to know.
If you think the sunsetting of landline phone networks has Alexander Graham Bell spinning in his grave, a POTS replacement could be long overdue. The first POTS networks were introduced in the late 19th century. For over a hundred years, POTS phone systems remained the primary means of telecommunication. No doubt, POTS lines were a revolutionary technology that allowed people to make long-distance calls without sending a telegram or relying on operators.
As telephone technology advanced, POTS lines evolved to support features such as call waiting, caller ID, and voicemail. As we moved into the digital age, more and more businesses and consumers ditched landline phones altogether as cell phones and internet-based communication tools became available to the general public.
This shift has had a profound impact on the telecommunications industry.
BYE, BYE LANDLINE
Even for those still clutching their landlines and answering machines, POTS lines going away is a fact. Soon, analog phones will be entirely replaced by digital phone systems and cloud VoIP phone systems. Telecommunications companies are no longer required to maintain POTS systems. And, for many, landline revenues don’t support reinvestment. Instead, they now focus on developing and deploying new technologies, like 5G networks and internet-based communication tools.
Keep reading to learn what you need to know about replacing your landline telephone with a voice-over IP number.
VoIP for Business: Why It Makes Sense
WHAT IS VOIP AND HOW DOES VOIP CALLING WORK?
VoIP entered the marketplace in the 90s as a tiny player with a big idea. Thirty years later, VoIP is a dominant system with a significant footprint. Many more businesses are adopting this technology for its ease of use and management, price point, and scalability.
Using your internet connection and internal network, VoIP phone systems pass all your voice traffic through the internet to make calls. To the end user, VoIP calling functions in the exact same way as POTS analog phone lines.
5 REASONS TO CONSIDER CONVERTING TO VoIP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
While we work with all sizes and types of businesses to implement VoIP solutions, the fastest-growing sector of business VoIP phone systems are small businesses. Large and enterprise businesses have relied on VoIP for decades because it is easily scalable and provides advanced telecommunication features. In the past, VoIP phone systems for small businesses weren’t practical, but that isn’t the case today. Transitioning to a VoIP phone system is probably more realistic than you think.
Here are a few VoIP benefits you may not have considered:
VoIP vs. POTS
1. It’s more affordable.
In most cases, implementing VoIP systems is more economical than traditional phone systems. In fact, pricing is a major reason IT Insights’ clients switch to a VoIP system. Pricing varies based on the needed solution and specific case. The main driver of VoIP phone system cost is the number of users, calling platform features, and network support enhancements (if needed). Most, if not all, VoIP providers will provide unlimited local and long-distance calls. In the past three years, we have not had a VoIP vs. POTS quote that wasn’t an improvement for the client. You might be surprised that hardware often isn’t a significant cost pain point.
Will my old phones work with VoIP calling?
That depends. Sometimes, phone systems are universal and do not need replacement. In other cases, your VoIP provider may require specific phones. However, digital phone systems are still more cost-effective than traditional methods, even with the additional cost of phone purchases or rentals.
2. VoIP is user-friendly and scalable.
Not all phone systems are created equal. The average user only cares if they can pick up the phone and speak to another person.
- Can they make and receive calls?
- Is it easy to check voicemail?
- How about transferring? Is it a hassle or easy and intuitive?
But businesses and managers might also want more features.
- Want to change which phone rings when you dial an extension?
- Need to add seats when user counts change?
- Can you easily forward calls to an after-hours extension or cellphone?
You can do all this and more with VoIP calling. Plus, customer support is significantly better and can be self-managed. You can make changes through the platform’s management portal (without being an IT expert) or call support and have them fix it for free!
Scalability and accessibility are huge factors for many businesses. As mentioned, adding and removing seats by yourself or using customer support is very easy. You can also set up phone trees, out-of-office and holiday closure automations, and manage voicemail through desktop and mobile applications. You can even seamlessly transition calls to your mobile device to take calls on the way to meetings or when working remotely and get notified via email when you have a new message. Anything you associate with phones, VoIP can do. Plus more, all while driving down costs, reducing infrastructure footprint, and providing a universal business solution.
3. Implementing a virtual phone system for small businesses is easy.
Many business owners are reluctant to embrace VoIP because they are concerned about the work involved with system set-up and installation. In reality, setting up a VoIP system is rather straightforward. You only need a modem, a router, and a VoIP provider. Tech-savvy business owners might even be able to manage the VoIP transition themselves.
However, working with an IT service provider, like IT Insights, to manage the analog to digital switch has some benefits. First, an IT service provider has the expertise to help you evaluate options, determine opportunities for cost savings, and implement upgrades if needed. Many small business owners prefer to focus on growing and maintaining their core business. Working with IT pros takes this off your plate.
Determining hardware and network compatibility is the most common hurdle in transitioning to VOIP. You’ll need to understand if you can reuse your existing handsets and if your internet is fast enough to handle the additional voice-call traffic. VoIP systems require significant bandwidth. A minimum speed of 300 down is recommended – fiber or coax connections are ok.
You’ll also want to install desktop and mobile applications and train your staff on the system to benefit most from your new VoIP phone system. Both are relatively easy, especially if you work with work with an MSP to manage your IT needs.
4. Various VoIP telephone software options are available to suit your business needs.
Regardless of your industry or business needs, there is a VoIP platform to fit. VoIP systems can be customized and built to any compliance requirements. This is especially important for financial services, healthcare, and other regulated industries. IT Insights recommends our partner, Ooma, for VoIP business phone systems because of their flexibility and all-in-one system options. However, we can and do support any VoIP platform. Not all VoIP software is created equal. Typically, the sticking points are back-end management and system support. We’ll help you evaluate all options to implement the right solution.
5. VoIP platforms have backup options for power and internet outages.
The most common questions regarding VoIP are:
- Does it work during power outages?
- What happens if my internet goes down?
Many people mistakenly think their VoIP phone system will not function during a power or internet outage. But this isn’t true. A local network or power outage will impact your onsite systems, no doubt. But VoIP providers have contingency services that protect your phone system. Your system can be set up to direct calls to voicemail or to have failover numbers that ring to a cell phone (or another number). It is also recommended to have a failover internet service in place as a standard business practice. Customers implementing VoIP best practices report none to minimal system failures and even less downtime.
Small Business VoIP Phone Systems: Common Roadblocks and Questions
How is VoIP calling different from traditional POTS phone systems?
It’s not! With an internet-based phone system, users experience all the same functionality and more.
What is a VoIP number?
A VoIP phone number is no different from a landline phone number, except that these calls connect via the internet instead of via POTS systems (telephone poles and lines).
How much does a VoIP phone system cost?
A lot less than you might think! The actual cost of a VOIP phone system varies depending on the provider, features, user seats, and business needs. In almost all cases, VoIP phone systems are less expensive than traditional landline phones.
Can I use my existing telecommunications systems?
It depends. You may be able to use your current phones and internet network, or you may need to upgrade. We’ll help you evaluate all the options to find the lowest-cost, easiest-to-implement solution that meets your needs.
How to Transition Your Business to VoIP
LET’S GET STARTED
Regardless of your reasons for converting your analog phone system to a voice-over-IP phone system, we can’t stress enough that working with the right team and tools is crucial. At IT Insights of Rochester, we work with VoIP systems daily and primarily use Ooma phone systems. But we can support any existing VoIP platform, help you evaluate other VoIP platforms, and determine hardware, software, and network needs to get the most out of transitioning your landline phone to VoIP.
Contact IT Insights today to get started! We’re happy to answer any questions and are fully equipped to support your business by implementing a virtual phone system, and many more services!
More Resources
Looking for more insight? Here are some other blogs we think you might like:
How to Create a Strong Password
2 Factor Authentication: The Best Defense Against Cyberattacks
What is a Strong Password, and Why Does it Matter?
We live in a world where we are barraged with more online apps, virtual platforms, online services and digital accounts than ever before. And, every single one of them requires a password. Whether it’s your Hulu login credentials or online banking double encryption, you need strong passwords to protect yourself and your personal information no matter where you go on the internet. Combine your ever-growing list of digital accounts with the increasing frequency of data breaches and cybercriminals lying in wait, it is smart to ask yourself, “Just how strong is my password?” and “How many passwords do I really need?” Read our tips on what makes a strong password and how to make a good password to keep yourself, your data and your personal information protected.
How to Create a Strong Password
In reality, it’s common for people to use the same passwords for years. But, experts recommend using a different complex password for every site and account. Let’s face it, it’s less daunting to remember one or two passwords with slight variations. The problem is that many of us not only use similar passwords multiple times, but we use these same variations across multiple platforms too. There are two problems with this:
- If you’ve been using your password for more than a year, it’s likely already been part of a past data breach.
- If you’re reusing passwords across platforms, one breach puts all other platforms at risk.
That means if you’ve saved your personal data or forms of payment on one site, you’ve potentially opened yourself up to breaches on another site by using the same password in both places. For example, perhaps you use the password DogLover123 for your online bank account. Your bank likely has strong security. However, let’s say you have also used that password for your Yahoo email address. But, just a few years ago, Yahoo had one of the most significant data breaches in history, and if your password was compromised there, it could also be used to access your bank account. It is crucial that your passwords should be not only unique in terms of characters and symbols but also unique to the platform they’re being used on. While this might sound like a lofty goal, like your doctor telling you to exercise every day and get at least eight hours of sleep every night, we have some tips and strong password examples to help you keep your accounts secure.
How to Remember Your Passwords
Our number one tip for remembering all those passwords is to use a password manager. There are several advantages to using a password manager, like one of these recommended by PCMag. First, password managers use encryption to keep all your passwords secure in a single location. This beats any spreadsheet or handwritten list, because it provides secure, encrypted access. Second, most password managers have the option to autogenerate, save, and autofill your passwords. These features make it easy to remember, store and secure your passwords. But, if you’re looking for an alternative to generate your own strong passwords, we have some examples and tips to help with that, too.
Things to Avoid When Creating Passwords
Weak vs. Strong Passwords
Weak passwords are easy to spot and easy to hack. Our DogLover123 example above is a primary candidate of what to avoid. Here are examples that illustrate what not to do:
- DO NOT USE common words, phrases or names. A good rule of thumb is to avoid using words found in the dictionary for your password. You also shouldn’t use any information a stranger could know about you. For example, your first or last name, date of birth, year you graduated, etc.
- DO NOT USE sequential letters, numbers and symbols. No more ABC, 123 or !@#. These are easy to guess and leave you vulnerable to hacking.
- DO NOT USE something that relates to our hobbies or interests. Reach outside your interests, especially for your password hints.
What is an Example of a Strong Password?
Strong Password Examples
An easy way to make a strong, memorable password is to make it a sentence. For example, if your password was DogLover123, an alternative making the password stronger would be I<3myGoldenDoodle! Here are some more strong password examples:
- XVwlNNx4rh9W
- N4]39#(^h{CV
- pHRUn.[‘K&mU
They’re not always pretty to look at, but the degree of randomness and a mixture of unpredictable letters and symbols keep your personal data and account secure. Things to keep in mind when creating your password:
- Make it long. At the very least, 8 characters. 12 characters are even better.
- Use a mix of random characters. Uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
- Use a password manager with a password generator. You can find some great recommendations here.
How Strong is Your Password?
Many people don’t see security as an investment, but cyberattacks can result in huge losses for your company. Along with strong passwords, you should also be using two-factor authentication (2FA). If you have questions or need help setting up a password manager or 2FA in your organization, that’s what we’re here for.
By Adam Baker
What are Firewalls?
Firewalls are a last line of protection separating your network from the world network/web. At the most basic level, it should be stopping the traffic that you have not specifically allowed. A modern/layer 7 device will protect you from malicious application level intrusions onto your network. They are smart devices. For example, if you want to look at Facebook, you don’t want to look at the virus that is sitting on Facebook.
Why a Firewall?
A firewall is extremely valuable because your data and your employees’ time is valuable, and it helps to preserve that. It is the best/first line of defense into your company. You lock the door to your office when you aren’t there to keep people from intruding, so you need to lock your network in the same way.
Firewall Recommendation
For a small business, Meraki is the name of the game. It offers excellent features at a great price point for small businesses. Avoid all-in-one options, as wi-fi standards upgrade at different rates. It just adds a different point of failure to the device.
Important Final Facts
Everyone should absolutely have a firewall. Ideally, you are buying it with growth in mind. You want it to last your organization approximately seven years, and you should size it for where you want to be and will be, not where you are today. Otherwise you will be replacing it before you really need to be.
If you’re looking for a firewall expert, that’s what we’re here for.
