4 reasons for start-ups to outsource IT support

Outsourcing is common place in the business world. Take a look at some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies like IBM and Siemens, both of whom benefit from the knowledge and expertise of other businesses to help them maintain their high standards of operation. However, outsourcing isn’t and shouldn’t be restricted to only those businesses who have already established themselves. Here are a few reasons why start-ups should also consider outsourcing certain duties such as IT support.

Cost
One of the key reasons for start-ups to outsource specific tasks such as IT support is their size. Start ups are typically keen to maintain a small and lean workforce in order to grow. This means that bringing on board their own IT specialist and paying their annual salary can needlessly bloat costs. It often makes more sense to rely on a support company who can provide assistance as and when they are needed.

British businesses warned to stay vigilant in the face of Ransomware attacks

A new report from security watchdog SonicWall has confirmed that the threat of Ransomware is greater than ever in the UK and that British businesses in particular should sit up and take note, with over 38 attacks every day on UK based companies and organisations.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a form of malware which locks away a victim’s files and then requests payment to have them returned. Ransoms are paid through a digital currency such as Bitcoin, which allows for highly encrypted and anonymous transactions. While a ransomware attack can be a nuisance for individual computer users, for businesses the repercussions can be far greater. A loss of sensitive data, particularly that of clients and customers can lead to serious damage to reputation and financial losses. In order to protect themselves from Ransomware, businesses should work closely with IT security specialists to ensure that systems are updated with the latest software, patches and firewalls and that they have access to offline backups of their data should the worst happen, and they fall victim to a ransomware attack.

Is it time for you to outsource your IT support?

Every business will at some point encounter IT problems. Not only do businesses need to maintain systems that work swiftly and accurately, but they also need to make sure that they are safe and secure from cyber threats.

To keep things moving, it is important to have someone on hand to help. Let’s look at some of the reasons why you should work with a trusted IT support company.

The cost factor
While in the early stages of your business it can be realistic to manage some aspects of IT yourself, there comes a point when it is no longer profitable to do so. If you want your business to grow then you need to have your attention focused on, well, your business. If you’re spending too much time on working out problems with emails, updating software or guarding against security issues then you should consider asking for help to bring back some balance to your day.

How prepared are you for a massive data loss?

The ability of a business to recover quickly from an IT disaster cannot be underestimated. Getting back on your feet in a speedy manner can help avert financial loss, harm to reputation and other negative impacts. While we all hope that our own businesses will never be affected by disruptive incidents like cyber attacks, theft, fire or flooding, they can happen and failing to prepare is preparing to fail!

A good place to start when considering how prepared you are for a data loss is to look at some of the potential scenarios that could enable one, as while you may think you have plans in place you might not have covered every angle.

Why an offline backup could save your business from ruin

Ransomware attacks were a huge talking point in 2016 with many businesses and individuals forced to pay up after hackers compromised their data and locked them out of their computers with a digital ransom note.

The advice from the majority of IT professionals encourages victims of Ransomware attacks to never pay up to hackers in the event of an attack. But it can be a very difficult decision to make to refuse payment when your entire business is on the line, which is why many Ransomware victims decide to pay their ransom. However, there are no guarantees that you will be given your data back and the hacker may simply destroy your data, ask you for more money, or both!