Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone knows when you own a car, it is important to do regular maintenance to ensure the critical components are protected. If we never change the oil or repair known manufacturing flaws (recalls), things can break down in a hurry. Your IT infrastructure is not all that different. Managed IT Services focuses on properly maintaining your equipment and completing regularly scheduled maintenance that is crucial to ensuring your network is operating at peak performance.

Remote Monitoring and Management platforms (RMM) provide managed services providers, like Partner Systems, with the tools necessary to securely perform the much needed maintenance and management tasks for your network. Through RMM technologies we can automate many of the mundane, yet crucial tasks that are required to ensure your technology is running smoothly. We leverage this technology to monitor network performance, ensure proper patching and identify potential holes in security (i.e. – missing antivirus). They provide the ability for our technicians to remotely (and securely) access your endpoint devices to provide support to your employees, quickly and efficiently. In short, RMM tools are a key component to ensuring your network is an asset to your team, not a liability.

Small to medium-sized businesses are in a tough spot when it comes to technology. Implementing technology to operate their business is crucial in competing in today’s marketplace; however, they’re often too small to justify having a full-time IT staff to maintain and support that technology. Relying on employees to do so is not the answer either, as they do not have the time nor the expertise to properly maintain the critical components of the network. Partnering with a professional team to automate and regularly perform critical tasks like patching, monitoring, and protecting the infrastructure can guard your business from outages that can cripple your operations. Having a trusted partner to provide your employees the support they need when things go wrong is essential to keeping things running smoothly.

Unfortunately, this is a difficult question to answer, as no two businesses are alike. Partner Systems has, however, developed plans that can be customized to meet your specific needs and budget. Our job is to evaluate your network and make recommendations based on the size and nature of your particular situation. Click here to schedule a free consultation today.

Not all managed services providers are created equal. To better equip you, we have developed a free IT Buyer’s Guide that covers some key things to look for in an IT partner. Click here to download!

Yes! Cyber attacks are on the rise, and many of these threats focus on the small business sector. In 2020, 62% of small businesses reported experiencing a data breach, and 82% of small businesses reported that malware had evaded their antivirus solution (Sophos 2021). Whether you want to believe it or not, your small business is a target. Phishing attacks, malware and ransomware (just to name a few), put your business at risk, and you must take action to protect your assets.

When it comes to cybersecurity, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. No two businesses are really the same, so it is important to first understand your vulnerabilities and then take a multi-layered approach to protecting your data. Gone are the days when we can rest easy with a single security solution. Cyber criminals are working hard to identify vulnerabilities in your network, so it is best to leverage the latest in cyber protection to secure your business.

No! Partner Systems recommends a layered approach to cybersecurity. Network vulnerabilities exist at different places within your network. The fact that your business has access to the internet opens the door for potential trouble. A layered defense focuses on different points of exposure. There’s the perimeter layer, where it is important to deploy a firewall and block potentially dangerous incoming email. There’s the endpoint layer, where enhanced, behavior-based antivirus and application whitelisting can protect your PCs and laptops. There’s the human layer, where a mistake by your employees can have serious consequences. These are just a few examples of why it is important to take a comprehensive approach to protecting your business’s mission critical data.

While remote access for employees has been important for years, the pandemic demonstrated why this can be a make-or-break issue for your organization. At the same time, we have seen an exponential rise in cybersecurity threats to company networks. Implementing a safe and secure remote access solution can provide your business with peace of mind, knowing that your employees have access to your mission critical systems when they need it. Implementing a secure, multifactor authenticated VPN option for your employees can be the first step in giving you the flexibility your business needs to continue running in today’s uncertain environment.