5 Ways Managed IT Services Help Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs)

Nonprofit organizations are known for their important missions. These groups of people dedicate themselves to making our world a better place, and they do so in many different ways! 

The ability of nonprofit organizations to succeed is based not only on their seemingly bottomless determination and selflessness but also on making the best use of available digital technology. The majority of nonprofit organizations are not using technology in a way that benefits them the most. Only 11% view their digital approach as highly effective, according to NetCharge’s long-running survey on this topic. That is why most NPOs are generating less revenue and achieving limited success. They rely on outdated processes and waste their financial resources by supporting legacy infrastructure that doesn’t serve users’ needs well enough or provide them with any value in return. While they also spend time trying to solve technical problems when none can be solved effectively from within these organizations themselves. 

The answer? Partnering with an MSP that understands the unique technological needs of NPOs and has plenty of experience in overcoming typical constraints in all organizations. The right Managed IT services firm then helps in the following ways.

1. Hassle-Free Access to New Technologies

The information technology (IT) industry has been evolving faster than most nonprofit organizations can keep up. For the last several years, we’ve witnessed an explosion in cloud computing. The cloud is a revolution in IT. It has allowed businesses to scale their infrastructures quickly and enjoy increased security and efficiency at lower costs than ever before, with no risk of data loss or disruption due to the advancement of technology. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are presumed to be the following vast drivers of competitive advantage, with artificial neurons being able to help us enhance our productivity in many ways.

MSPs are committed to making new technologies more accessible for their customers, and they do so by leveraging economies of scale. It allows them to offer affordable prices that even cash-strapped nonprofits afford with best-in-class digital solutions!

IT is a complex and quickly evolving field. MSPs provide organizations with assistance from initial planning through implementing their selected solution, eliminating any need for an in-house IT department while still offering tailored support that can be scaled based on your needs– all this at minimal costs!

2. Predictable IT Budgeting

Finances are tight, so every IT expense must be justified well and planned even better. It’s unfortunate when an IT employee resigns from their position. It is a significant setback for any organization, especially one struggling to find qualified staff members in this tight market environment. They say that peace of mind is worth more than any other gift and outsource your IT needs to an MSP for just this reason. You’ll never worry about budget cuts again! 

MSPs offer a variety of pricing options that reflect each customer’s size and complexity level. It allows them to accurately predict how much an IT project will cost while reducing all other expenses into one fixed fee. When NPOs know precisely how much money they need to allocate toward IT each month, the other essential business functions are better supported.

3. Robust Data Security and Compliance

It’s not just the money that NPOs spend on building relationships with their donors, but even one data breach incident is enough to harm them irreparably. It’s a sad situation when donors discover that their personal information has been exposed in breaches. They often feel betrayed and mentally impacted by the attack, making them susceptible to legal consequences for soon donating again. 

The cybersecurity landscape is so vast and complex that even small NPOs with a limited online presence need to see it as a necessary investment. Cybersecurity-savvy MSPs can perform initial vulnerability assessments that discover all weaknesses before suggesting implementing a set of controls and policies for eliminating threats. 

4. Ongoing Business Continuity Management

The smaller organizations sometimes believe that the mere existence of backups provides sufficient protection against all kinds of data loss disasters. In reality, backups are helpful if updated recently and tested to ensure their recoverability. They should also be stored in multiple safe locations across the world. 

The most comprehensive business continuity management program meets all three requirements to ensure your organization’s stability in case of disaster. What’s the worst thing about these types of plans? They typically realize how inadequate their backup is only when it’s too late.

NPOs shouldn’t spread themselves thin in a data loss incident by implementing their business continuity management program from scratch. They should leave this critically important task up to experts at what they do. 

When you work with an MSP with a wealth of experience in backup and disaster recovery, they can help avoid common implementation mistakes to guarantee that your data is always recoverable under the worst conditions imaginable. 

5. Workplace Flexibility and Scalability

The needs and means of NPOs also change rapidly. We live in challenging times, but this gives us more reason to persevere! The volunteers are collecting donations from members of their communities. The next day, they must shelter in place and work only from home as a safety measure for themselves or others around them during an emergency. 

The unpredictable nature of uncertainty in the current climate means that NPOs must be flexible and scalable, which isn’t possible when they rely on static IT resources or staff.

MSPs know that their customers’ needs will change, and as such, they offer a variety of services to meet those fluctuations best.

MSPs make workplace flexibility and scalability a reality with their vast services. It includes everything from flexible pricing to cloud migration support, making it easy for businesses who desire greater control over how they operate in the modern office environment while still meeting business needs throughout various stages. 

Managed IT Services for Nonprofits from ITsGuru

At ITsGuru, we strive to work with nonprofit organizations so that they can use available technology solutions and better accomplish their essential missions.

We have a team of experts devoted to providing comprehensive IT services. Our wide range includes everything from managing your networks and servers to cybersecurity solutions – even end-user support! We take care of all aspects to eliminate unexpected expenses to provide this service at an affordable price every month without interruption or delays. 

Contact us today to learn more about how our managed IT services can help your nonprofit organization thrive.

Don’t let your IT services provider taint the view you have of cloud computing

Through your managed IT provider in Houston, you can get various types and levels of support that will best suit what’s needed for each client. Cloud computing has become a vital part of today’s commercial setup. The service promotes business continuity and aids in disaster recovery, making it an essential tool for any company looking to stay competitive. 

In its simplest terms, a backup ensures that your data will be preserved. In other words: It’s like an insurance policy for all those important files you store on the Cloud! The cloud solution is a great way to access your company’s information anywhere.

Understanding the Primary Cloud Solutions

Houston MSPs provide a wide range of cloud services for businesses and organizations. Understanding which solution best fits your needs is essential, so it’s wise to research the different options before deciding how you want this technology implemented. What are the two most popular forms of cloud services?

Many companies and non-profit organizations use cloud services commonly referred to as ‘total clouds’ or ‘hybrid clouds.’

When you’re looking at two excellent options, there’s a lot to consider. But the differences between these cloud storage and computing solutions are clear-cut–so much so that it’ll be easy for any business to choose one.

The advantages of using total Cloud are that it allows companies to store and backup their data in a remote location. The Cloud is an environment where your information can be accessed from anywhere. The managed IT services provider owns the physical servers and other forms of hardware required to create this ”cloud”. The cloud storage provider is responsible for managing your data’s long-term management, security, and accessibility. The total cloud solution is also an excellent option to consider when adopting Desktop-as-a-Service or Software As A Service.

Hybrid cloud solutions are an expensive approach to providing storage, backup and computing services for businesses. The model for this project will involve using both cloud storage provided by an managed it services provider in sugarland and local servers on-site. When you generate data during normal operations, the digital material will be stored in your office server and sent to an offsite cloud. Installing a cloud solution is not an as intuitive or straightforward process. You will need to purchase server hardware and other storage devices for your company’s data needs.

Benefits of Total Cloud over Hybrid Cloud

When you choose total cloud solutions, your business will be able to operate with greater efficiency and lower costs. In addition, it becomes much more economical by not needing hardware purchasing in-house! The hybrid cloud solution is unnecessarily expensive because you must purchase hardware and pay for the usage of MSP’s servers.

The scalability of the cloud solution is an excellent feature for growing businesses. When using MSP’s infrastructure as a service, your needs can be increased when needed without any hassle or problem! You can scale up your business without bothering the service provider by only informing them of a significant increase in clients. With a hybrid solution, you will need to purchase servers capable of meeting your needs for optimal performance. Hardware sellers and cloud advocates in Houston typically represent managed IT services providers. Contact ITsguru today if you want to learn more about the benefits of total storage.!

How IT Support in Houston Keeps your Computers Safe from Hackers

Security Tips to Consider

IT Support Managed Service Provider in Houston offers a great way to restrict the losses from lax security. Still, they can’t prevent your employees from doing insecure things independently.

To enjoy the highest level of security, you need to define where leaks exist and patch them proactively. There are many areas where you can often find security lacking.

• Employee log-in procedures
•  Insufficient monitoring
•  Lack of firewall protection
•  Insufficient security software
• Lack of regular backup
•  Insufficient employee security training
• Antiquated software

Log-Ins

The process of updating employee log-ins should not be overlooked when implementing new digital applications. Your password needs to be reset monthly or weekly, depending on the sensitivity of your operations. Passwords should either be memorized or stored under any lock and key. It’s better not to have them anywhere but in an employee’s mind, but this isn’t always feasible for everyone. We all know the risks of a data breach. If you don’t have log-in parameters, any old custodian could enter your systems and cause havoc with the corporate spying tactic. It is a critical step in maintaining security for your company. The larger you get, the more integral this becomes to ensure that all assets are protected and accounted for on an ongoing basis.

Firewalls

In today’s increasingly digital world, firewalls are an essential security requirement for any business. Cybercrime as a service (CaaS) is an industry that has been valued at over $5 billion. These operations work primarily by looking for any weakness and exploiting it, which means they have access to virtually unlimited resources when hunting down vulnerabilities in their target networks or systems across the web. The hackers will follow the path of least resistance, which means that if you don’t have firewalls in place, then your business could be vulnerable to hacking.

Monitoring

Monitoring operations is critical to protecting your company. It would help if you had eyes in the sky, constantly checking on what’s going down so you can rip any problems before they become significant issues.

Insufficient Security Software

You should invest in some security software to help protect your business! IT support firms can analyze how you work and recommend products that will be perfect for what needs protection.

Employee Security Training

You can’t expect your employees to automatically know how important it is for them to follow all of the necessary protocols, so make sure that there are solid explanations and guidelines. However, it’s not as intuitive, and security must be transitioned consistently. A better and more helpful way of doing this is by training your employees on how they can keep their businesses safe from cybercriminals.

Backups

The future is here, and it’s not a matter of “if” but rather when.

Human error is the most common cause of losses, but you’re also going to experience cybercrime and economic fluctuation. There are always hardware failures or weather events that can lead to cyber security issues. It is vital to back up the systems continuously, and it’s recommended that you do so through the cloud. It will help to avoid downtime!

Antiquated Software

The hackers can no longer use whistles because the phone systems have been upgraded. Third-world countries are not immune to hacking, and if hackers get through, they will still use the same technique. You’re leaving yourself wide open for security compromise without updating your antiquated software. Update as budget allows you to stay safe!

Get Protection

The need for remote it support in houston is pressing. 50% of small businesses have been successfully cyberattacked, and your business mustn’t join them! With so many security risks out on the market today—with new threats emerging every day–you can rely heavily upon our team to ensure Cybersecurity plays a massive role within all aspects of operations from hereon forward. Cybercriminals are after your business, no matter what size it may be.

Hackers will always go after smaller companies because they can easily exploit any weaknesses or vulnerabilities within these organizations. They know that small businesses have fewer resources for protection, making them an easier target than large corporations with security measures in place.

ITsguru offers security solutions to help you avoid being targeted for cyberattacks and can also provide recovery if your company has fallen victim. Secure your operations today with our innovative solutions.! 

Need to Hire IT Support in Houston For Multiple Virtual Servers

Businesses in need of IT support should consider hiring IT support companies in Houston that specialize in virtualization.

The future of business is cloud computing and virtual machines. The era where you were entirely relying on your local architecture for data storage or processing power has ended with companies flocking towards the Cloud, utilizing services that are faster than ever before.

Businesses should be utilizing modern technology to run more smoothly. Here’s how they can do it!

Virtual Servers

Virtual servers are more efficient as they provide faster resource control while cutting costs. It is because virtual machines can share both hardware and software with other operating systems, saving you money in the long run. Virtual servers provide greater security from viruses or other malicious software attacks that might try accessing information stored within them without permission. IT support in Houston is there to help you run your business smoothly, intending to make it as easy and stress-free for companies like yours. They can manage multiple virtual servers while focusing on what matters: making money.

Managed IT services are a fantastic way for businesses to avoid the hassle of managing their virtual servers. It is expensive and time-consuming, so it’s best to leave it in experienced hands.

The need for an outsourced managed services team becomes apparent when you deal with a network of numerous computers, and various departments want the virtual servers that run software specifically tailored to them. It can get intense. The cost and risk of such an infrastructure are pretty high since it involves making multiple backups. 

The more virtual machines a company has, the harder it becomes to manage them.

But there is an easy way out – single-domain infrastructure where resources are shared between all departments in one roof or campus space. Security is one of the primary priorities for any company. But when businesses become so compartmentalized with different systems, it opens the door to expanded risks and potentially much higher IT costs to maintain security within these walls. 

Keeping Downtime Limited

If a company’s budget is tight, it should limit downtime. Limited downtime is vital for any company, but it becomes even more crucial when you have large budgets and resources to fall back on. Be careful when working with a small network and don’t tie up too many computers at once. Maintenance issues such as backing up data can arise from having too many machines on the line, so make sure your organization is stable before expanding. The more separate backups you have, the greater your chances of overlooking mistakes. 

Virtualization has been used for decades, and it’s still one of the most effective ways to manage large networks. Many companies have found that virtualized servers can devote more physical computer resources to their actual workloads. To improve application performance, you must pay attention and keep up with network system management. It’s critical to have a quality IT team that monitors your physical servers. Without them, you could experience company frustration and even downtime due to lazy or inexperienced workers who make the problem worse by not observing the work properly. 

Quality Virtualization

For benefitting the most from their virtual machines, businesses should use a managed IT service provider, with expertise in planning and running them. 

The best way for companies that rely on VMs is to use an expert who can plan out your needs and provide regular monitoring of performance levels. The expert team will spot inefficiencies and eliminate idle VMs that waste resources.

Experts recommend a private cloud solution to free up resources and protect data better with advancements in technology.

Private clouds make operations more complex, but they provide a level of transparency that is not available with public systems.

They also give a clear picture of resources and how those relate to expenses. It becomes easier to manage network infrastructure with a clearer view of the big picture. With a private cloud, employees are empowered to access applications they need while remaining compliant with security policies.

Overview

Houston’s IT needs are changing with the introduction of virtualization. As more businesses opt for cloud-based solutions, they’re also seeking advanced technical support to accommodate these new technologies.  Contact us at ITsguru to learn about the most cost-efficient and reliable digital management services!

Having a Local IT Support Service in Houston

When choosing a company to maintain your commercial information technology network, there are many factors that you need to consider.

The outcome of a wrong choice is severe. Your office may experience unscheduled downtime, delayed repairs or not delivered on time, and poor customer service. Virtual or local IT support? That is the question. Local has its advantages, but for those who need expert advice quickly and conveniently, there’s nothing like a virtual service provider in Houston that can provide what you need without any hassle from your end.

There are many advantages of choosing Houston IT support services over ample virtual alternatives. Some of them are:

• Swift Onsite Support

Virtual IT support is a convenient option if you need to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. However, the problem is all the issues that can be resolved more effectively when there’s physical contact between technician & client’s computer hardware–especially ones related directly or indirectly to virus removal rates.

When you engage an IT services company from the local area, experts will be able to respond and arrive in your offices immediately. Instead of relying on an employee or contractor to explain the problem, they can use their diagnostic expertise and implement appropriate solutions.

When your Houston-based virtual company is not available, you might have a lot of downtimes. You will also need to spend money on offsite repairs and troubleshooting, which could be difficult without an office in the city.

• Customized Solutions

You can’t force a single solution to work for all businesses. Businesses have different needs; depending on the type of operation and scale, they are looking at long-term goals with their budget in mind, so you must find an IT support team to meet those varied demands. Virtual IT service providers are often forced to take a more generalized approach to problem-solving because they don’t constantly contact their clients.

Moreover, there are many other ways to achieve the desired result. The local IT support companies in Houston understand that every business has unique needs, so they provide customized solutions for each client’s problem-solving process, which are tailored according to the specific requirements. Typically, our technicians will come to your facility and study available resources. They’ll learn about what you do to create customized solutions that work best with how things are structured at a company level.

• Personnel Training

Without specialist knowledge of information technology, most employees will become confused by changes in the hardware and software. It is due to their insufficient understanding of how things work together. What can be done after installation?

Your business can be more productive and profitable with the proper IT support. They will provide employees training that teaches them how to use new software or hardware tools and answer any questions regarding their workstation’s functionality. With a local IT company, you’ll have access to experts who can guide how to best handle your needs. Without one in the area or no base for technicians, this becomes difficult as they only offer tutorials and manuals, which might not be enough.

• Physical Disaster Retrieval

In a disaster, most IT services providers offer reliable assistance to their clients. Whether remote or virtual problems with malware attacks and data loss, the company is prepared for any situation. When disaster strikes, virtual companies are limited in providing services. Your information technology is vital to you, but it can be damaged by natural disasters or power failure. A local machinist will come to your office to evaluate the damage that has been done. They’ll help salvage any hardware problem if there’s an opportunity for restoration and smoothly guide users through this process.

Conclusion

Contact our experienced experts at Itsguru to learn more about Houston’s IT support services when you need trusting and top-tier services.