What to watch for when your IT provider is acquired
The IT industry is consolidating at an rapid pace right, especially in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) space. As a buyer we focus on acquisitions that will allow us to provide an enhanced level of services to the Clients and opportunities to the team members we bring on. If you find yourself the Client of […]
Stringfellow Technology Group acquires CTC Networks
Stringfellow Technology Group (“Stringfellow”), based in Nashville, TN, has acquired CTC Networks (“CTC”) based in Franklin, TN. CTC was founded in 1993 and provides managed technology services to the healthcare, manufacturing, and life science industries. All CTC team members joined Stringfellow on November 1st, 2020. CTC president Jim Marable wanted to provide his customers with […]
Your Status matters more than ever working from home!
Status is now a communications tool in your office, not something to brag about! What we are talking about is the usage of the Status setting in Teams (or other products) to effectively communicate during the Work From Home (WFH) world we are transitioning to. In the physical workplace we could literally see what someone […]
Trust is crucial in a remote workplace
Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, clearly shows that Trust is the basis for developing high performing teams. Until this is addressed, it will be difficult for any team to achieve consistent and repeatable results. Unfortunately, some managers attempt to achieve results by imposing various controls on their employees which ultimately reduces […]
Why a technology business review is vital
Identifying opportunities in all areas of business is vital for growth. However, one area that’s often overlooked is technology. Although it’s tempting to adopt an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude with IT, conducting regular technology business reviews is necessary if you want to achieve your business goals. A technology business review reveals […]
What the end of Windows 7 REALLY means
Today marks the last day that Microsoft will provide updates for the Windows 7 operating system. Depending on who you talk to, your computer may burst into flames OR it may continue to work perfectly for the next several years. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of that debate, the following three points […]
Do you need a technology phase shift in 2020?
If your business and technology planning are out of sync, it may be time for a technology phase shift. Fortunately technology capability is not cumulative, skipping some steps is allowed! The services-first, app-first approach to technology planning can enable much higher productivity without a huge lag in implementation or capital expenditure. First, let’s review some […]
DIY IT needs to stay at home
The DIY (do it yourself) movement has taken off with the advent of social media. Pinterest runs an entire business off of it! The two biggest drivers of DIY are saving money, and being creative. Neither of these are good reasons to DIY your corporate technology! The number of businesses STILL taking a DIY approach […]
Increase the success of your Microsoft Teams implementation
Microsoft Teams is fast becoming the go-to application for managing communication and information flow within organizations. We wrote HERE about how Teams will be supplanting email for internal communication in the near future. Many organizations don’t plan their technology deployments and this is a big mistake. Just because you can “turn on” Teams and start […]
Shift to managing data, not devices
It is time to shift your focus from managing devices to managing your data. The threat landscape changes quickly but the target remains the same, your data! Data is everywhere, and attempting to secure all the places it can be does not scale. Starting with a “data first” mindset will help secure you in a […]
Three cybersecurity standards most businesses are missing
Cybersecurity has finally been elevated to a “standard” in the business world. A business of ANY size needs to have a cybersecurity as part of their basic business planning checklist. This is especially important for businesses that are in the 50-500 employee size range, as these groups often are utilizing processes, and tools that have […]
MFA is like green beans, you just gotta eat them!
MFA is no longer optional in today’s threat landscape. Over three YEARS ago we started talking to our Clients about utilizing MFA, as passwords are no longer keeping your information safe. The number of IT providers that STILL do not ENFORCE this critical security configuration is very surprising. No one likes to be told what […]
The three illusions executives have about internal IT versus outsourcing
The first step to improve your business productivity is to understand the three illusions executives have about internal IT versus outsourcing. These illusions are reinforced by unsophisticated technology providers, vendors what want you to use their (on-premise) products, and internal IT’s need to stay employed. The illusion of control What is the first thing we […]
Netflix outsources their IT, what is your excuse?
Netflix has changed the way we consume video content, and grown into a streaming giant. A key to their success was knowing what parts of the business to outsource, and which ones to keep in house. Starting in 2008 they shifted their infrastructure over to a partner, and unplugged their last corporate datacenter in 2016. […]
Know before you grow, have a Strategic Technology Roadmap!
Congratulations, you are part of a growing business that is about to make an acquisition! All the financials are thoroughly reviewed, corporate culture is synergistic, and everyone is excited. Did anyone do a technology capacity and alignment review? Nah, we will let the “IT folks” figure that out later, no big deal….except that it is. This […]
Does your business strategy take technology consolidation into account?
Large technology companies are masters of technology consolidation, think Microsoft, Salesforce, and Apple. They watch new technologies emerge from other groups, and then buy or replicate that functionality. Over time, all the DIFFERENT technologies you need to accomplish a goal now show up under a single integrated application from a vendor. Your business strategy needs […]
Three ways you should STOP using email
Email is the defacto communication standard in business today. This is interesting considering the first email sent was in 1971, and the fax machine has come and gone since that time. Email continues to be useful in the business environment, BUT it time to consider alternatives for many scenarios. Here are three ways you should […]
Moving to an App-based delivery model
If what physical device you are using determines what applications and services you have access to, it’s time to reevaluate your technology setup! It still surprises me at the number of organizations still dependent on VPN, local file shares, and legacy applications. The “cloud” has become a common solution to many technology issues, but the […]
Do you still think the world is flat?
Digital natives will not hang around long with a company that still things the world is flat! This shift of mentality is real and happening now. Make sure that you are keeping an open mind about how technology can improve your productivity, profits, and results. If you agree with any of the following statements about […]
How to avoid technical debt
Debt refers to the state of owing something, usually money, to another party in the future. Technical debt is when you “borrow” from your company’s FUTURE PRODUCTIVITY by not making the proper investments TODAY. The justification is usually based on not having the actual financial capacity to invest in your business technology. This leads to […]
Goldilocks and the right level of technology involvement
Delegating is a key driver for growth and scalability in your business. You can’t do it all! Delegation does not remove responsibility, so you still need some understanding. Many executives and business owners struggle with the right “level” of understanding of technology. You don’t need to be an expert, but ABDICATION differs greatly from DELEGATION […]
Top reasons for technology business reviews
Small- and medium-sized businesses don’t have the time to maintain IT infrastructure, let alone assess whether it’s still driving value for the company. However, if you want to ensure everything runs smoothly, it’s important to be proactive and conduct technology business reviews when you can. What is a technology business review? A technology business review […]
Cyber Liability Insurance is Not Optional…
Would you consider NOT having a general business liability insurance policy? What about insurance for your property and equipment? Of course, you wouldn’t! So take Cyber Liability Insurance just as seriously. These types of insurance have been considered a cost of doing business since Lloyd’s of London was started in 1688. Fast forward – past the […]
Strategy
A proper technology strategy should have a meaningful impact on your business. Meaningful means more than keeping on budget, maximizing useful life, or calculating pay back periods on capital outlays. Meaningful is giving your business ALIGNMENT with a technology strategy that has been proven to deliver increased ROI over time, increased productivity, and improved competitive […]
Tips to add value to your blog
Blogging has gone from being a fun side project for aspiring creatives to an absolute necessity for businesses of all sizes. For many companies, especially small to medium-sized ones, it’s likely to be just about the only web page that is updated with any regularity on their websites. And that’s why you need to be […]