

Publish Date
14/11/2023
Categories
Blogs
When we consider small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), it’s evident that they span a wide array of industries, processes, objectives, and offerings. Yet amidst how diverse each SMB can be, there’s one unifying factor that’s paramount for all businesses: compliance.
Beyond the typical day of an SMB, lies a complex web of rules and regulations, all designed to protect mass amounts of sensitive data. This is the world of compliance – a critical aspect of modern business that ensures personal and confidential information remains securely protected and ethically managed.
Compliance isn’t confined to just large corporations as some may think; it’s a mandate that applies to SMBs as well. At times, there’s a misconception that only sectors dealing with sensitive data, like healthcare or finance, are required to adhere to compliance regulations and maintain backup protocols. But this simply isn’t true. If a company mishandles data or fails to comply with regulations, the outcomes could be dire, including reputational damage, financial losses, and erosion of trust. As a result, any one of these outcomes could result in an SMB to cease trading.
Navigating this landscape can be extremely overwhelming, especially for those without an in-house IT team to guide them through the complexity of GDPR and privacy laws. Keeping up to date with the latest regulations is not only timely, but also deters you away from what you do best – innovation. Ignoring the problem however, could result in a much larger consequence for your business…
Sometimes when things get a bit overwhelming, it’s best to not be left alone…
A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is the emerging norm for businesses seeking a reliable compliance solutions.
Outsourcing to an MSP enables companies to dedicate themselves to innovation while entrusting experts to manage internal systems, secure networks, apparatus, and data.
Partnering with an MSP is to form an alliance with expertise. These service providers extend their proficiency to compliance and data privacy matters, offering valuable recommendations to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
The relentless demand for cyber security vigilance is nothing new. Businesses should have processes and software in place to mitigate risks, fend off breaches, and keep a constant data backup. However, for those without an in-house IT team to manage these systems, staying ahead can be challenging.
MSPs excel in constant network monitoring and vulnerability scanning, immediately alerting potential malicious content. They also conduct regular security assessments to uncover system vulnerabilities that hackers might use to their advantage. As a result, a competent MSP will provide clients with detailed reports from these assessments, giving recommendations and empowering your business to make informed decisions.
With an MSP by your side, compliance regulations are no longer a burden. The advantage of partnering with an MSP means proactive response mechanisms ensure that potential issues are identified and addressed before they snowball into significant problems. If consistent patterns of insufficient performance arise, a trigger for immediate action will occur, saving your business from expensive downtime disruptions.
Navigating ever-evolving data policies while aligning with industry regulations can be a daunting task. To eliminate these complexities, MSPs enforce data policies and access controls, allowing businesses to focus on core operations without compromising on their compliance.
Ready to safeguard the future of your business?
At Cobweb, our partnership goes beyond a simple connection – we become an extension of your team, dedicated to ensuring your security. With a loyal customer base of over 4,000 customers, we specialise in strengthening SMBs with the best IT solutions, tailored to their business. It’s time to ensure your business’s data integrity, and Cobweb is here to become your trusted compliance partner – why not have a chat with us about it?
Your Team, Extended.
Publish Date
07/11/2023
Categories
Blogs
Is it time to re-evaluate your Managed Service Provider’s (MSP) effectiveness?
While changing MSPs might seem like a hassle, a poor relationship or lack of two-way communication with your provider can lead to bigger issues down the road, including cyber security vulnerabilities.
Here are 5 warning signs that suggest your company needs a new MSP:
An MSP should do what it says in the name – manage. This means frequently assessing and recommending improvements to your IT infrastructure. It should not just be a one-time job, just as it is not a one size fits all approach. Building a relationship with your MSP based on trust and frequent communication ensures a better understanding and personalised service for your business.
What’s one of the main reasons a company will go to use an MSP? The expertise and skill they provide. If your current MSP doesn’t meet it’s SLA (Service Level Agreement), or is slow responding to queries raised, it’s a clear indicator that you may be better served elsewhere.
Your MSP should not merely offer basic licensing and support. Instead, they should act as a strategic partner and advisor, guiding you in mapping out future services and solutions, enabling effective budgeting and long-term strategic planning.
Transparency is crucial in any MSP-client relationship. Your SLA should clearly outline:
The last thing you want is a surprise invoice or bill! Moreover, If you don’t understand some of the technical jargon used in the contact, your MSP should attend to this matter and never force you to sign into a contract which you don’t understand.
An effective MSP stays up-to-date with IT infrastructure and your company’s needs. Do you always find out the latest industry news, price increases and new offerings from your MSP? They should be there to guide you on industry changes to make sure you can plan and budget your IT roadmap.
If you’re not receiving this support and advise, it might be time for a change.
Don’t let your business be short-changed. At Cobweb, we offer highly personalised and flexible managed service options, empowering you to focus on innovation while we handle the rest. Book a free consultation with our experts to discover the right fit for your needs. Your success is our priority.
Publish Date
31/10/2023
Categories
Blogs
In the ever-evolving world of IT management, businesses must adapt to keep their competitive edge. Reacting to IT issues as they arise is no longer an effective approach and to truly keep ahead of the game, companies need to stay proactive with their technology which is why many IT directors are turning towards a managed service. But why should you invest in a proactive action? Let’s have a dive into the world of IT response types…
Not too long ago, the standard approach to IT management was predominantly reactive. Organisations would wait until an issue emerged—be it a server crash, a data breach, or a software failure—before taking action. Yes, that has us quaking in our boots too. While this approach may have provided a temporary fix, it was far from ideal. Downtime would disrupt operations, productivity would suffer, and costs would skyrocket as IT teams scrambled to resolve the problem…
We understand that the old reactive model is simply not sufficient in today’s digital landscape. The solution is clear and it’s what most IT decision makers are turning too: a managed service. Pairing with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is one of the quickest, easiest and most affordable ways to optimise your proactive IT management. Here’s how…
Proactive: A proactive approach, means consistently monitoring IT infrastructure to catch and rectify issues before they become significant. Using advanced tools, an MSP will identify potential threats or breakdowns early, averting bigger crises.
If a business was only to address these problems as they arise, extended downtimes, disruption, and potential data loss could easily become the consequence.
With the digital landscape becoming increasingly more complex, when partnering with an MSP, you should find they prioritise cyber security. By staying updated with the latest threats and security measures, they implement and maintain robust security protocols within your IT systems. This ensures that your business’s data stays well-protected against cyber predators.
Without a proactive approach, you may find yourself having to pay thousands due to a surprise ransom attack or explain to your customers how their data was stolen…
MSPs don’t just offer solutions to existing problems. They engage in strategic IT planning, working alongside businesses to ensure that their technology infrastructure aligns with long-term goals and objectives. This proactive collaboration facilitates technological growth and drives innovation tailored to the business’s needs!
Partnering with an MSP is a cost-effective decision. By proactively preventing issues, optimising systems, and streamlining IT processes, businesses will see a reduced total cost in their IT ownership.
On the other hand, having a reactive model can result in unbudgeted spend as unexpected remediations occur.
An MSP proactively manages daily IT operations, meaning you can allocate internal resources more effectively. This allows teams to concentrate on strategic initiatives, core competencies, and other vital areas of the business.
If you were to stay reactive, focusing on the core of your business may be out of your control if your systems suffer a failure, meaning increased downtime is the consequence.
One of the key advantages of partnering with an MSP is the inherent scalability of managed services. As a business expands or contracts, its IT support structure can adjust accordingly. This ensures that your IT infrastructure remains robust and responsive to business needs, without the necessity for extensive hiring or substantial infrastructure investments.
With reactive action, you may find your infrastructure can’t so easily be altered to large expansions or team growth, resulting in a lack of time to focus on revenue driving activities, and ultimately, what you do best.
The magic of managed services lies in their ability to transform businesses from reactive to proactive IT management. By partnering with us at Cobweb, your business can harness the power of technology to drive growth, enhance security, and let you focus on innovation. With over 27 years of experience and a portfolio of satisfied customers, Cobweb specialises in safeguarding and empowering SMBs with tailored IT solutions, joining them on their cloud journey. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, embracing an MSP is not just a choice; it’s a necessity for businesses looking to thrive and reach that next competitive edge in the 21st century.
Cobweb Managed Services
Publish Date
24/10/2023
Categories
Blogs
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face unique IT challenges compared to larger corporations, that can significantly impact their operations, growth, and competitiveness. These challenges range from budget constraints to cybersecurity threats and everything in between.
Fortunately, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are the advantageous solution. In this blog, we’ll explore five common IT challenges faced by SMBs and how an MSP’s extensive offerings of solutions can solve them.
A large challenge faced by SMBs often surrounds tight budgets, leaving little room for substantial IT investments. This limitation often hinders their ability to acquire and maintain advanced technologies, unfortunately leading to inefficiencies and a disadvantage in terms of competitors.
Our Solution: Having a managed service provides cost-effective IT solutions, allowing businesses to access up to date technology without a hefty price tag. With Cobweb, you can stretch your IT budget further and invest in the right tools to drive growth – there’s no taking last place this time!
As cyber attacks continue to rise, SMBs are becoming more attractive targets for hackers as they are usually less protected when it comes to security. This challenge is particularly difficult for SMBs to overcome, as they often lack the resources and expertise to establish robust cyber security measures, making them highly vulnerable to data breaches and financial losses.
Our Solution: A Cobweb Managed Service includes top-notch cyber security solutions. Our experts keep your systems secure, monitor for threats, and provide proactive 24/7 protection. With Cobweb, you can safeguard your data and your customer’s trust, letting them know that their privacy is one of your top priorities.
SMBs often have small or non-existent internal IT teams. This lack of in-house expertise can lead to longer response times for IT issues (which are often reactive), increased downtime (of your systems), and hindered business operations.
Our Solution: Cobweb becomes your extended IT team. Our 24/7 support ensures rapid issue resolution and minimal downtime, meaning you stay efficient and ahead of the game. Whether it’s troubleshooting, updates, or strategic planning, our experts are here to keep your IT systems running smoothly.
It’s obvious all SMBs aspire to grow, but scaling IT infrastructure can often get in the way of expanding your team. Traditional setups won’t easily adapt to business expansion, meaning operational bottlenecks are a further disadvantage for SMBs.
Our Solution: Cobweb’s Managed Services are specifically designed with scalability in mind. As your business grows, we seamlessly adjust our services to match your evolving needs. You won’t have to worry about outgrowing your IT capabilities!
Data is a critical asset, but many SMBs lack comprehensive backup and recovery strategies, which is a worry in terms of GDPR practices. In the event of data loss or a disaster, the ability to recover quickly is crucial, and you shouldn’t want your response to be reactive as it may lead to more extensive issues such as a lack of control (and as we all know, that’s any decision makers’ worst nightmare!).
Our Solution: A managed service includes the latest backup and disaster recovery solutions. Your data (and most importantly, your customers’) is regularly backed up, with proactive recovery plans in place to ensure minimal disruption in case of unforeseen events.
Cobweb’s Managed Services are tailored to address the specific challenges that SMBs face in the IT landscape. At Cobweb we like to see our business partnerships based on trust, dedicated to growing their many successes. With over 27 years’ experience partnering with SMBs and their cloud journey, we understand that each challenge is unique. So, yes, we get it. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! Just give us a call!
Your Team, Extended.
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