Unlock Your Business Potential with Managed IT Services

Managed IT services can be a game changer for businesses of all sizes. Whether a one-person shop or a large enterprise, these can provide you with the resources, tools, and information technology expertise you need to succeed.

For most businesses, they were unheard of several years back. That’s because these services were offered only by the big companies. Fast forward to today, and managed services are now available to everyone thanks to a slew of cloud-based solutions.

The expected value of the global IT Managed Services market is US$ 244670 million in 2022, and it is anticipated to reach US$ 399170 million by 2028, with a CAGR of 8.5% throughout the analysis period.

These cloud platforms offer potent tools which allow even the smallest businesses to get an edge over their competitors. This has led to almost every business owner/CEO, including Managed IT Services in their budgets.

You can handle your IT problems as a business owner. This is true for some businesses, but most large complex companies will be well served by outsourcing their IT service model to a managed service provider (MSP).

This article goes over why managed services for businesses are essential.

What is Managed IT Service?

Managed IT services are the ultimate in business technology support. Whether it’s security, disaster recovery, or network design, managed service providers eliminate the headache of keeping your business up and running.

Outsourcing, managed services, security services, data management, and cloud computing comprise the larger market for IT services. End-user spending on cloud computing is expected to reach nearly 500 billion dollars in the United States in 2022.

Managed service offering is a proactive solution that provides you with around-the-clock hardware and software support for your computer network. This means you’ll never have to worry about being left in the dark when something goes wrong — because a professional team of experts is all taken care of

These services typically include a variety of services, including:

• Help desk support and remote monitoring and management.
• Security monitoring and threat protection.
• Software and hardware installation, configuration, and deployment.
• Telecom expense management services.

Managed service provider msp companies provide their clients with 24/7 monitoring, assistance in identifying and resolving issues before they become problems, backup and recovery plans, and focus on improving other services designed to keep your business running smoothly.

Different Types of Managed IT Services

There are many types of managed IT services available, but here are some of the most common:

Managed Networks and Infrastructure – This service includes monitoring and managing remote servers, desktops, and laptops. These services also include application management support and help desk support.

Managed Security –Managed Security refers to outsourcing security operations and management to a third-party service provider. MSSPs offer a range of security services, including threat detection and response, vulnerability assessments, security monitoring, and incident management. They use specialized security software and tools to monitor and manage the client’s security environment, identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities, and respond to security incidents in real-time.

Managed Support Services – Managed support services provide all the technical expertise needed to keep your systems running smoothly without downtime due to technical issues or problems with software applications such as Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Online and Microsoft Azure Active Directory Cloud Services.

Managed Wireless and Mobile Computing – This type of IT service involves the management of wireless networks, mobile devices, and applications. With these services, companies can have more control over the performance of their employees’ mobile devices by ensuring they are secure and up-to-date with the latest operating systems.

Managed Communication Services – Managed communication services are designed to help companies improve productivity by ensuring that all employees can communicate effectively with one another through email and instant messaging. These services also include other forms of communication, such as video conferencing, web conferencing, and more.

Software as a Service (SaaS) –  Software as a service provides clients with access to applications hosted on the cloud, typically through the internet. This means that users do not have to install or maintain any software on their systems. 

What are the Benefits of Using Managed IT Services?

Managed services are a great way to maintain your IT infrastructure’s security, performance, and reliability. This is especially true if you’re a small business or a startup company with no budget for full-time IT staff.

Of the 451 large businesses surveyed by 451 Research, 45% planned to collaborate with a MSP, and 42% prepared to deploy additional security software. The industry is changing as a result. Managing service contracts have replaced the old break-fix model in 59% of IT services.

Managed IT providers offer several benefits in their service level agreement sla over doing things yourself:

Contractual Terms: A managed service provider often has a contract in place with their clients that outlines the responsibilities of both parties. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding what they’re expected to do, when they’re expected to do it and how much they’ll be paid for it.

Reliability: An MSP will work hard to avoid any potential issues — from hardware failure to cybersecurity threats — so that you don’t have to worry about them taking down your entire system or causing data loss.

Cost Savings: It can help you save money by reducing spending on technology. Your service provider can take care of all your IT needs, from network management to infrastructure upgrades, so you only pay for what you use. This can save you more of your total cost of ownership.

Reduce IT Spending: These providers offer fixed monthly rates that allow you to budget for your entire year’s expenses upfront and avoid unexpected costs that could hurt your bottom line.

Dependable Service: Instead of wasting time troubleshooting problems yourself or waiting on hold with technical support, let us handle it! Our team will monitor your network 24/7, so you have peace of mind knowing there’s always someone available to help when something goes wrong.

Managed IT Services Provider Inclusion

To qualify for inclusion in the Managed IT support services category, a service provider must offer their clients a range of IT services and support:

• Provide Constant Monitoring of IT-Related Functions: This includes monitoring of the server, applications, and network, as well as security systems.
• Provide On-Demand Support: A MSP should have a team of technical experts that can be deployed whenever an issue arises. This could include a help desk, online chat, or phone support.
• Provide IT Consulting: A good MSP offers advice and guidance on improving your business’s technology infrastructure and processes.

Final Words

The benefits of managed services are clear. By outsourcing their IT management services and maintenance, businesses can free up their internal IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives and benefit from improved security, compliance, cost savings, and customer service. However, finding the right managed IT services provider for your business is essential. Be sure to look for a provider that has experience working with companies of your size and industry, is reliable and has a good reputation, and offers competitive prices.

If you’re looking for a managed services provider in Rockland County NY or Hudson Valley, Protected Harbor can help. Protected Harbor is one of the top Managed IT Services providers in the US and offered a range of services to meet your business’s IT needs.

With digital and technological techniques that support your company’s objectives, IT specialists at Protected Harbor will assist in transforming your enterprise. Reduce stressful day-to-day IT operations, minimize costly downtime, and improve operational maturity. Gain access to a whole team of IT professionals to help you manage the newest technology and a wealth of knowledge that will accelerate your growth, boost your profitability, and improve your business.

Get a free IT Audit today and unlock your business potential with Protected Harbor.

Why is IT Experience Important for Businesses?

The role of IT in modern business cannot be underestimated. Companies now must pay attention to the importance of information technology (IT). In this role, every business must own and implement IT systems. The failure to innovate means rejecting best practices.

You can’t expect to keep up with the competition if you don’t give your company an edge in technology adoption. The fact should be noticed – with the proper IT solutions. Your organization could succeed entirely.

The annual value of the global information technology (IT), business services, and IT services markets exceeds USD 1 trillion. The Americas area will account for most of the sales in 2021 with 555 billion US dollars. After dropping revenues in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the market is predicted to see rising revenues during the following four years. ~Statista

Even If you’re a small business owner, you might know how important technology is but need help understanding it. We’ll tell you what technology can do for your business and why it’s essential.

What is Information Technology in Business?

The term “IT” is often used in today’s business world. This is simply because of the importance of Information Technology in almost all businesses. Information Technology is a broad term that covers a range of topics, including information systems, computer networks, database management, and software applications.

In general, Information Technology is applying computer technology to support business operations. Word processing and spreadsheet software are the most common IT applications; however, many other types are also used in businesses today.

Generally, a wide range of technologies and infrastructure strategies that work in concert shape the IT services sector. The use of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in business solutions and a rise in the demand for IT security measures like zero trust frameworks are a few of these trends.

Information technology has become the backbone of business because it can help companies do things faster and with less effort. It allows companies to communicate with customers, employees, and suppliers more quickly; it helps companies coordinate operations across multiple locations and time zones; it enables companies to share information in real-time with customers or employees who need it, and it provides access to data that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for a company to collect.

Why is IT Important for Businesses?

The IT department is the backbone of any business. It has a direct impact on the productivity and efficiency of your business.

Simplifying Employee Communication

IT infrastructure enables employees to conduct their work efficiently and effectively. Adequate IT infrastructure can make all the difference between a thriving and a failing business. It also helps in improving employee communication as well as collaboration with each other.

Enhancing Productivity

An efficient IT infrastructure allows you to focus on core competencies and critical activities, which help you in enhancing productivity significantly. You can also focus on innovation and creativity, which are essential for your company’s growth.

Better Data Management

Data management is one area where an efficient IT infrastructure helps you immensely. With proper data management, you can analyze past data and use it to shape plans for your business. A good IT infrastructure ensures that all critical data remains safe. This provides no loss of valuable information due to unforeseen circumstances or accident-related failure of data files, hard drives, etc.

Improving Financial Management

IT makes it easier to manage your finances by automating all your financial transactions. You can also easily monitor and analyze your financial data, which helps you make better decisions about where to spend money, saving time and money in the long run.

Maintaining Network Security

Your network is one of the most vulnerable areas in your organization. IT personnel can help protect it from hackers, viruses, malware, and other threats by developing security policies and implementing them promptly. This ensures that your data remains safe and secure at all times.

Boosting Marketing Campaigns

In today’s fast-paced world, you must constantly be on your toes to survive this cutthroat competition. You must stay caught up with competitors if you want to maintain your position in the market. This is where IT comes into play by offering you an array of tools that will help you streamline your marketing campaigns and give them the boost they need.

Management of Cloud-Based Solutions

Today, businesses have started adopting the cloud computing model for their IT infrastructure needs. This allows them to access all their data anytime and from anywhere in the world. This system will enable businesses to easily manage their entire information technology infrastructure by deploying just one application across multiple devices or locations. This will help them track down what’s happening with their systems in real-time and minimize downtime if there are any issues with the system.

Future of Information Technology in Business

Businesses increasingly rely on information technology (IT) to run efficiently and effectively. Companies use IT to improve the quality of their services and products, reduce costs and increase revenues.

According to Statista, there will be over 15 billion mobile devices in use in 2021, with 18.22 billion projected by 2025. According to Zippia, the smartphone market is growing at a CAGR of 16.4% on a global basis.

When planning for the future, it’s essential to consider the impact of technology. Introducing new technology has always been a game-changer in the business world and will continue to be so.

In recent years, there’s been a lot more focus on “big data” and how businesses can use it. The amount of data available today is staggering, yet companies are only scratching the surface of what they can do with it.

Businesses are becoming more dependent on IT systems for day-to-day operations. This is because these systems provide a better way of managing business processes than using manual methods.

In addition, the global economy has become more digitized. It has led to the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cloud computing, and Big Data analytics, improving productivity levels in businesses across all sectors.

Final Words

Overall, businesses need to implement a strategy for IT, with priorities and plans in place. There are many different moving parts to the equation, and the company must understand the landscape of IT to create an operating environment where IT can effectively serve its needs. How important is technology? The stakes couldn’t be higher​—businesses that ignore technology run a greater risk of failing.

Businesses depend on rapid, reliable data and high-speed internet in today’s global economy to remain competitive. To keep your company at the cutting edge of international business, you need a business partner with the expertise to tackle the challenges of today’s technology. And at the same time, you must ensure that your company’s data remains secure. You don’t want a single mistake or oversight to risk your business’s reputation or financial stability. And you don’t have time to waste on unnecessary headaches. Finding a partner that can offer technical expertise and detailed awareness of your company’s needs can make all the difference for your business.

Protected Harbor has the right solution for you, whether you are just starting or looking to upgrade your current setup. Our expert team will work with you to discover your needs and recommend the best technology to meet those needs. We will also support your team as they get the new system up and running. We are also recognized as a top cloud computing and cybersecurity company by Goodfirm and Designrush.

Learn how the experience makes a difference. Get a free IT Audit today.

Data Breach at LastPass, How Safe is Your Information?

On December 22^nd, 2022, while millions of people were preparing to celebrate and ring in the new year, cybercriminals were hard at work laying plans to breach the popular password manager, LastPass’s cloud server leaving all of their users exposed.

Due to a prior breach back in August of 2022, LastPass first sent word to its users about a limited security incident within their development environment. At first, it seemed as though there wasn’t too much cause for concern as the hackers had compromised a single developer account and “took portions of source code and some proprietary LastPass technical information.”

However, this past month, LastPass learned that though no customer data was accessed in the prior incident, there were certain source codes and technical information that was taken and used to dupe a LastPass employee into providing the hacker with credentials and keys to access and decrypt particular storage spaces within their cloud. LastPass’s CEO Karim Toubba has done his best to assure users that so long as they have followed their password guidelines, as restated in their statement above, they should be safe. But how safe is their customers’ information completely?

Let’s break it down.

What is LastPass?

For those who don’t know, LastPass is a popular password management software that allows users to store all of their important data, specifically, passwords. Whether it’s an individual’s banking info, logins to a frequented website, or even saved credit cards, insurance cards, memberships, etc. LastPass secures all of it for you, keeping it safe within their cloud software…at least it did, at one point.

How Safe is My Information Now?

The truth is, we can’t speak on behalf of LastPass, but it’s important to note that there are never any sure-fire ways to keep your most important data safe from the ever-advancing cyber-criminals. There are only so many measures companies can take themselves in order to promise your security. Now, this isn’t to say that password management software’s such as LastPass can’t ever be trusted. For example, LastPass went so far as to instill quite a few security measures including their zero-knowledge policy, but it’s important to take the extra precautions yourself to ensure your own safety.

Aside from following the guidelines set forth for password protection from LastPass or any other website, we recommend for individuals to do the following:

• Instill 2-Factor Authorization (2-FA): We understand the ease of being able to just click sign in/login on a screen and having the website right at our fingertips. However, not instilling a 2-FA can cause you more harm than good in the long run. With 2-FA there are many different versions websites tend to use in order to keep your data safe whether that’s by sending a unique code to your phone or email, asking you security questions, and so on. We recommend whenever a user is signing up for any website to always enable 2FA for that extra boost of security.
• Change Your Passwords Often: Let’s be honest, we all have that one favorite password that we’ve been using for years on multiple sites because it’s the easiest thing to remember. That one password however can result in our immediate downfall if it’s exposed in a breach. We recommend updating your passwords and following the specifications provided by the websites you are signing up for to prevent any potential exposure.
• Store Your Passwords on Your Own Cloud: Just because LastPass experienced a data breach through their cloud doesn’t mean that all cloud servers can’t be trusted. The safest cloud option that you have available to you, is your own. Whether your passwords are stored on your own personal device in a folder, on your phone, or on your iCloud/Google Cloud, you are the gatekeeper of your passwords as you set the security measures.
• Don’t Login on Public Computers or Servers: Though this seems obvious, we have to reiterate the importance of staying off of your most important websites when you are out in public. You never know who is around and who is waiting for you to login in order for them to gain access to your most personal files. Always login on a private, personal computer or a private network.

Final Words

Data breaches at this stage in the game of today’s ever-evolving world are inevitable. A security breach on a source like LastPass was something that was unfortunately bound to happen as every single person, including hackers, has their one lucky day. The only thing that internet users can do in order to prevent their information from being spread is to take their own private security measures.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an average consumer or a company using password managers like LastPass; you need to be sure your data is always safe and take the proper security precautions.

Nervous about how secure your company’s files are after reading about this breach? Contact us today for a Free IT Audit and put your fears at ease.

Deploying Servers in a Virtualized Environment

The term “virtualization” can seem a little perplexing. It’s something that the business world is going crazy over, but something you’ve never entirely understood.

Currently valued at between 40 and 60 billion dollars, the worldwide virtualization software market is anticipated to reach at least 120 billion dollars over the coming years. ~Statista

Virtualization is a technology that may be used for virtually all types of IT infrastructure, including servers, PCs, networks, storage, data, applications, data centers, CPUs, and GPUs. Virtualization is thus a crucial component of cloud computing.

Whether you’re deploying new servers or additional instances, it’s a good idea to know how to do it right. In the past, deploying servers required having three separate tools: one for deploying the operating system, one for installing the database, and another for installing all the other services. With virtualization, all those tasks are combined into one or two tools. The result is a streamlined process that is both quicker and easier.

What is Virtualization in a Cloud Environment?

Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual version of an existing system. This virtual copy can be executed as an independent machine or performed on the current hardware.

Cloud computing is built on top of virtualization technology and has become one of the most popular trends in IT over the last decade.

Virtualization allows you to deploy multiple instances of an application or operating system in a single physical server. This means we can use fewer physical servers while still serving more customers, reducing our hardware costs, power consumption, and cooling needs. In addition, it also allows us to easily manage our computing resources by allowing us to move them between servers as needed without disrupting services for clients or internal users.

Benefits of Deploying Servers in a Virtualized Environment

The benefits of deploying servers in a virtualized environment are substantial. For example, virtualization companies can save money by consolidating their servers and reducing hardware costs. They can also benefit from more flexible hardware that allows them to deploy and remove servers as needed quickly.

In 2020, it was predicted that the virtualization software market would be worth $38.7 billion.

It is projected to reach $149.4 billion by the conclusion of the analysis period, which runs from 2020 to 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4%.

The benefits of Deploying Servers in a Virtualized Environment include the following:

Protection from Failure and Disaster

When you have your data stored on physical servers, one failure can cause all your data to be lost or inaccessible. By using virtualization technology, you can create multiple copies of your server and store them in different locations. If one location fails, you still have access to your data through another location. This is especially useful if you have important data that must be kept safe.

Lower Costs

Virtualized servers can reduce your costs because they use fewer physical servers, which means fewer servers to purchase and maintain. Additionally, the lower price of virtualization software can offset these savings. Still, even if you have to pay more upfront, it will quickly pay itself over time as your IT environment becomes more efficient and stable.

Reduced IT Footprint

Virtualized environments require less space than traditional physical environments because they don’t need as many racks or cabinets. This can significantly reduce the space required to support your users and data centers. It also makes it easier to scale up or down as needed without spending money on additional hardware or software licenses.

Risk-Free Testing

Virtualization allows you to test new hardware, operating systems, and applications without risk affecting your production environment. This is especially important when you’re adopting new technology. Virtualization allows you to test the waters before committing. In addition, it makes it easier to move between different hardware vendors and operating systems without significant changes to management processes.

Security

Data security is another area where virtualization technology excels. With physical servers, there are only so many ways to protect them from hackers looking to steal sensitive information. With virtual servers, however, each instance can be covered with its firewalls and other security measures, making it much more difficult for hackers to access sensitive data stored within these instances.

Ease of Data Transfer

A cloud environment consists of multiple data centers connected via high-speed networks. The data center where your virtual machine resides can be anywhere in the world as long as it is connected to the internet. You can quickly move your virtual machine from one cloud data center to another without having to move it yourself physically.

Simplified Data Center Management

Virtualized servers make it easy for you to manage your data center. You don’t need to worry about managing individual servers or installing updates because everything is managed at the hypervisor level. This also means that you don’t need to hire specialized IT staff members with expertise in managing servers and networking equipment — all you need is someone who can manage virtual machines using a console or command line interface (CLI).

Common Challenges of Deploying Servers in Virtualized Environment

Organizations are adopting virtualization to reduce costs and improve agility. However, there are many challenges associated with virtualization that can impact the success of your virtual environment.

Here are some common challenges organizations face when deploying servers in a virtualized environment:

Resource distribution: It is challenging to plan for resource distribution in a virtualized environment because of its dynamic nature. For example, if you have 100 VMs on a physical host, it is difficult to predict which VMs will run at any given time and how much CPU or memory they need. This makes it challenging to plan for resource distribution upfront.

VM Sprawl – If not appropriately managed, VM sprawl can lead to increased costs and security risks due to raised attack surfaces on the network. Organizations must implement policies that allow them to manage VM sprawl before it becomes unmanageable.

Overrun storage network – With flexible deployment options like VMware DRS and vMotion, organizations can quickly move VMs around physical hosts without worrying about breaking applications. However, this can also lead to problems when multiple VMs try to push data through the same storage network simultaneously, as there may need to be more bandwidth available for all of them.

Final Words

Virtualized environments are becoming incredibly popular, both among hosting providers and customers. However, only some people are familiar with deploying servers in a virtualized environment.

Protected Harbor offers expert services for the cloud in a virtualized environment. We provide full support throughout the process so that you can ensure that all aspects of deployment are done professionally and efficiently. We will help you to set up virtual machines, migrate your data, and set up security. We will also assist you with ongoing management and troubleshooting of any issues with your virtual environment.

We also offer various services like data backup, disaster recovery, and network monitoring. Pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for all your technology needs, whether hardware or software. With our team of experts on board, we can easily tackle any of your technology issues. Whether you are looking for a new data center or want to migrate your system to the cloud, we are here to help.

We want to be your go-to resource for all things cloud, so please do not hesitate to ask questions and receive expert advice to help you make the most of this valuable technology. Get a free cloud consultation today.

Top Data Center Management Issues

The backbone of every successful network is the data center. Without it, emails would not be delivered, data would not be stored, and hosting multiple sites would not be possible.

Spending on data center systems is anticipated to reach 212 billion US dollars in 2022, an increase of 11.1% from the year before. ~ Statista

Data centers often support thousands of small and large individual networks and can run several other business-critical applications. Many things however can go wrong within the data center, so you should know what exactly to look out for. Here are some significant data center issues and how to fix them.

What is a Data Center?

A data center is an industrial facility where people store, process, and transmit computer data.

A data center is typically a large complex of servers and associated devices, as well as the physical building or buildings that house them. Data centers are usually integrated with other services, such as telecommunications and cloud computing.

Unlike general-purpose facilities such as warehouses and office buildings, data centers are generally dedicated to one user. The major types of data centers are:

• Private enterprise data centers, which corporations or other private organizations own;
• Public enterprise data centers, which government agencies own;
• Community enterprise data centers (CEDCs), which groups of individuals own;
• Hybrid enterprise data centers (HEDCs), which combine private and public ownership.

Challenges of Data Center Management

The data center is one of the most critical components of an organization’s infrastructure. With the growing demand for cloud services and business agility, the data center has become one of the most complex systems in any enterprise.

The increasing complexity is a result of numerous factors, such as:

1. Maintaining Availability and Uptime

The primary focus of any IT organization is to ensure that its services are available at all times. This means they need to have a disaster recovery plan in place in case there is a failure within the system.

Technology Advancement

Managing data centers has become more complex due to technological advancements. Various new technologies have been introduced into the market that require efficient management for their practical use. State-of-the-art systems require proper maintenance and management to deliver the desired results. This can be difficult if the required expertise is unavailable within an organization.

2. Energy Efficiency

The cost of powering an entire building can be very high. Therefor it makes sense for an organization to invest in new technology and equipment that reduces power consumption while still performing at an acceptable level.

3. Government Restrictions

Data centers are becoming critical for businesses, but various regulations have restricted their operations in certain countries. For example, there are some countries where it is illegal to store data within their borders. This makes it difficult for businesses to operate within those countries because they have no real options other than moving their servers elsewhere or hiring local staff who can handle their cybersecurity.

4. Managing Power Utilization

Data centers require a lot of power to run their operations smoothly and efficiently. If not managed properly, this could lead to wasted energy consumption, increasing costs significantly over time. To avoid this, organizations should invest in energy-efficient equipment like rack-mounted UPS (uninterruptible power supplies) systems.

Monitoring software should also be installed that will alert companies when something goes wrong so they can react quickly and prevent any potential damage caused by power failure or overloads in the electrical grid.

5. Recovery From Disaster

Data centers have seen an increase in disasters caused by hurricanes and earthquakes as well as man-made disasters like power outages or fires. These events can destroy or even compromise equipment and systems that will take weeks, possibly months to repair or replace. This can leads to losses in productivity and revenue if critical servers or storage devices are affected.

Tips to Overcome Challenges in Data Center Management

Taking the time to ensure the building is safe, your personnel are knowledgeable about cyber security prevention, and you satisfy compliance standards goes a long way in protecting your assets from bad actors. ~Shayne Sherman, CEO of TechLoris.

Here are some tips to help you overcome common challenges in managing your data center:

1.  Audit Your Security Posture Regularly

The first step in overcoming data center management challenges is regularly auditing your security posture. This will give you an idea of where you stand and allow you to identify your vulnerabilities before they become threats. You can do this by using a third-party assessment service or hiring a qualified person to assess your current situation and have them provide recommendations.

2.  Use a DCIM System to Manage Uptime

A DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management) helps you to identify issues before they become problems by providing visibility into the health of your equipment. This allows you to proactively address issues before they impact operations or cause downtime.

3.  Scheduled Equipment Upgrades

Scheduled upgrades ensure minimal downtime during planned upgrades while also ensuring that any unforeseen issues are resolved before significantly affecting operations.

4.  Implement Data Center Physical Security Measures

Using these measures will allow you to control who has access to your facility and what they can do once inside. They also help to limit unauthorized access by preventing cyber-criminals from entering through any possible open doors or windows.

5.  Use the Right Tools to Secure Your Data and Network

You must ensure that your network is secure when it comes to data security. This means using the right tools and resources to protect your network from cyber threats. For example, you can install a firewall to block attacks or malware from entering into your system.

Final Words

Data centers are far from being stationary. New challenges are emerging while old ones are still evolving due to technological innovation and changes to data center infrastructures. Spending on data center management solutions is increasing due to other difficulties in addition to managing power, data storage, and load balancing.

Protected Harbor offers the best-in-class data center management with a unique approach. You can expect expert support with 24/7 monitoring and advanced features to keep your critical IT systems running smoothly. Our data center management software enables us to deliver proactive monitoring, maintenance, and support for your mission-critical systems.

We focus on power reliability, Internet redundancy, and physical security to keep your data safe. Our staff is trained to manage your data center as if it were our own, providing reliable service and support.

Our data center management solutions are tailored to your business needs, providing a secure, compliant, reliable foundation for your infrastructure. Contact us today to resolve your data center issues and switch to an unmatched data service solution.

What Is a Managed Data Center Service?

When it comes to data center services, managed services are becoming more and more popular. Many people don’t understand what a managed data center service does or how it can help them. It’s understandable why some people might feel this way – after all, there are so many other managed data center service available that you may not at first see the point of this service.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of IT infrastructure, businesses are increasingly relying on colocation data centers for enhanced performance, security, and scalability. This blog explores the intricacies of managed data center services, shedding light on key aspects such as colocation data center, data center management, data center services, and data center solutions. Dive into the world of managed data centers to discover how businesses leverage these services to streamline operations, ensure data security, and achieve optimal performance for their digital ecosystems.

Managed Data Center Service Definition

A managed data center service is a service that provides you with a fully managed data center environment. When you sign up for this service, you do not need to worry about the data center itself – the service provider will take care of all aspects of the physical data center and many IT-related aspects of your business. It is designed to make your data center operations more accessible and effective.

Some companies also offer ongoing IT support as part of the package, so you can have everything you need under one roof. It is different from a colocation or managed hosting service in several ways: managed hosting and colocation both require you to have your data center and take care of the physical space, while with a managed data center service, the physical data center is managed by the service, with you being provided with a remote access connection.

Why Use a Managed Data Center Service?

There are many reasons why an IT company would recommend a data center service over other IT services. Here are just some of the main ones:

• A managed services provider can offer better uptime because they manage the physical data center, making it easier for them to keep everything running smoothly.
• Data security is often better as they’re more aware of and can react quickly to any potential security issues.
• It can reduce costs because they’re more efficient and often provide better value for money than other managed services.

These aspects make a data center service an excellent option for many businesses.

3 Things To Look For In A Managed Data Center Service

When comparing data center services, there are several factors you should look out for. Here are the key things you should consider:

1. Security and compliance – A managed service should have strong data security and compliance capabilities. You want to be sure that your data is safe and that it’s being handled in a way that meets your compliance needs.
2. Technical skills and Experience – You want to ensure the service has the technical skills to handle your data center effectively. A skilled data center team can keep things running smoothly and ensure your data remains secure and accessible.
3. Customer service – You also want to ensure the service has good customer service capabilities. You’ll deal with the team a lot, so it’s essential to have a good relationship with them and feel like they’re always responding well to your needs.

How To Find the Right Managed Service?

Finding the right service is essential, as it can make a big difference to your business. You can do a few things to find exemplary service: – Contact potential services and ask them about their offerings. Find out what they offer and what their rates are. You can ask for a referral from a friend or business. They might recommend an experienced service provider. Compare different managed service providers and their offerings. Also, look at the above criteria to find a service that’s the best fit for your company.

Final Words

Managed data center services can hugely benefit many businesses, especially those with complex IT needs or large amounts of data. This service can offer many advantages over other managed services, including better uptime, data security, and reduced costs. When comparing these services, look at the above criteria to find the best service for your company.

As data centers become more crucial and companies are expected to meet new business requirements, the need for modern data center solutions is increasing. Data centers, from application delivery to the cloud, have become integral to businesses and their operations. These solutions help companies protect, manage, and cost-effectively secure their data. To deliver these solutions and keep your company’s operations running smoothly, you need a professional team of Data Center Engineers. A Data Center Engineer has data and cloud solutions expertise and can help you achieve your goals.

Protected Harbor offers solutions to help you get your data center operations and security up and running. We are a company based in the United States, with data center experts on staff who have deep experience with many of the top data center operators in the world. We stay in close contact with our customers, working together to develop solutions that meet their unique requirements.

Contact us today to set up a free IT Audit and consultation with our data center engineer.

Reflections on 2022: What We Learned and What We Accomplished

One thing is certain as we reflect on the year 2022: the Protected Harbor team has grown as individuals and as a company. We have faced the challenges of a global pandemic, economic downturn, and social unrest with resilience and courage. We have seen cyber-attacks that have impacted almost every industry and businesses of all sizes. We have also embraced the power of technology, which has enabled us to stay connected and create a meaningful change for our clients. Despite the many challenges, we have emerged as a more united and engaged team, better prepared to face the future.

Challenges Our Team Faced During the Year

Environments for Enterprise Technology are Getting More Complex – Businesses were forced to embrace a more complicated and extensive enterprise technology infrastructure and systems due to expanding commercial operations, increased markets, and interconnected worldwide business circumstances. As a result, managing the infrastructure became more challenging. Finding flaws or compromises becomes increasingly difficult as the system becomes more complicated.

Because CTOs (Chief Technology Officers) oversee these problems, this increases their stress.

Data Breaches and Cyber-Attacks – The increasing use of personal devices, such as smartphones and wearable technology, exacerbated the risk of data breaches, placing critical infrastructures and sensitive data at greater risk. More sophisticated attackers and artificial intelligence-driven tools made detecting and preventing attacks more challenging.

Technology’s Role in Overcoming Challenges

Using artificial intelligence (AI) tools and machine learning has helped businesses to overcome many of the challenges they faced in 2022. AI was used to detect abnormal activity in operational systems, assisting companies in managing complex datasets better. AI was also used to automate the onboarding process for new employees to reduce bias and provide consistent review results. AI even helped healthcare providers to rapidly analyze and interpret massive amounts of health data to detect disease outbreaks and develop new treatments and vaccines.

New technologies, such as blockchain and quantum computing, were used to secure data and provide increased trust between parties, such as supply chain partners. The Internet of Things (IoT) was used to create smart environments, reduce energy usage, and provide better experiences for customers. Newer technologies, such as 5G, helped businesses to scale and provide both reliable and fast connectivity. Augmented and virtual reality was used to create immersive experiences, improve training, and engage customers.

Cybersecurity Risks and Solutions

The continued threat of cyber-attacks and data breaches increased during the year 2022. Cybercrime is typically estimated to cost businesses around $600 billion in lost revenue each year. Most companies must create an effective cybersecurity strategy or implement best practices.

A greater focus on cybersecurity education and training would help businesses to better protect themselves. Implementing the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), designed to protect EU citizens’ data, is a positive sign that companies are taking cybersecurity far more seriously than before. However, more can be done to help businesses to better protect themselves. Implementing better data management and protection tools, such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, would be a start to better protect enterprises from cyber-attacks.

What We Have Learned From the Year 2022

Everyone agrees that the pandemic has dramatically increased the complexity and scope of the difficulties companies face. But, as part of their duties, leaders must be ready to meet such challenges head-on. Technology is advancing at a never-before-seen rate, and it keeps upgrading industries for the better. All CTOs working within the corporate world will face the same difficulties as others and it will soon become apparent. Even though challenges have newer aspects, all of them are manageable.

Companies will benefit from developing technologies like AI and machine learning. Having an offshore development business at your disposal can alleviate many of your concerns. You can get all the knowledge and experience you need for the company’s successful technical transitions without worrying about it.

What We Have Accomplished in the Year 2022

We have now reached a stage where we can say that we are a robust and secure data warehouse. Our team has achieved an ideal state where the number of threats to our data warehouse has dropped to zero. We can now expand our capabilities and serve millions of new customers.

In order to accomplish these targets, we have invested heavily in hiring new talent, building new infrastructure, and upgrading our existing technology to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve and continue providing state-of-the-art service to our users. We have improved our ability to respond to and prevent cyber-attacks.

Looking Ahead to 2023 and Beyond

As we look ahead to the year 2023 and beyond, it is essential to note that the future will not be a linear path and that the world will continue to change.

Our strategic plan focuses on accelerating small businesses’ growth by empowering them with enhanced modern-day infrastructure and cybersecurity tools. We’re making big strides, but there’s still much work to be done. We have big plans for 2023, including expanding our security and monitoring capabilities with new AI-powered bots, launching an AI-powered recommendations engine, and extending our services for our partners and clients.

We’re also focused on growing our business in new ways, like extending our downloadable products feature beyond e-commerce and partnering with new companies to better serve our customers. We are excited for what the future holds.

Protected Harbor launches new resources daily to update clients and potential clients, on the latest threats as well as how to stay safe in the cyber world. Also, with our series Uptime with Richard Luna that is posted every Thursday, we discuss trending business topics and reassure any doubts for our viewers.

We want to extend a very special thank you to our customers for your loyalty and for choosing us as your trusted software vendor for the past two decades! Contact us to know how our experts can help you.

Data as a Service – Everything You Need to Know

As the volume of data that businesses encounter increases, so does the necessity for efficient data governance. For data management, many enterprises are turning to cloud service providers. In this environment, Data as a Service, also known as DaaS, is becoming an indispensable instrument for data integration, data storage, and data analytics management.

Data as a Service is the latest buzzword, promising to deliver ready-made data sets to organizations looking for ready-to-use business systems.

While it has been around for a few years now, it has recently reached a tipping point with far more high-profile services becoming available. It’s tempting for companies to just sign up for DaaS, ditch their data team, and never look back.

What is Data as a Service?

Data as a Service is a cloud-based platform that provides companies with the necessary tools to manage their data. It’s a subscription-based model that allows users to access unlimited resources at an affordable cost.

The global market for Data as a Service is anticipated to reach a revenue of 10.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, representing a steady increase over the following years. DaaS uses cloud computing technologies to provide data-related services such as storage, integration, and processing. ~Statisita

There are two types of desktops available in DaaS:

• Non-persistent desktops are temporary, and you can delete them at any time. They will also automatically be deleted when the lease period expires, usually around 15 minutes.
• Persistent desktops are always available and cannot be deleted by users. You can only delete a persistent desktop if it has been idle for more than 24 hours or if it has become inactive, for example, during a reboot.

Use Cases for Data as a Service

Data as a Service is a niche solution offering the ability to analyze data without worrying about the infrastructure. It can be used for many different purposes, including:

• Benchmarking – comparing your company to others within the same industry or across different industries.
• Business intelligence – using data to make better business decisions, including predictive analytics and reporting.
• Data marketplaces – buying and selling data, such as government datasets, corporate databases, and social media streams.

What are the Benefits of Data as a Service?

Data as a Service can help your business by providing a wide range of benefits, including:

Improved Accessibility

The first benefit that DaaS offers is improved accessibility. This means that users can access their data anywhere, regardless of location or device type.

Improved Scalability and Security Posture

One of the most significant advantages is its scalability. You only pay for what you use, whether it’s storage space or processing power, so there’s no need to buy extra servers or upgrade equipment every time your business grows (or shrinks). This helps to keep costs down while ensuring that your IT infrastructure remains secure and reliable.

Lower Operating Costs

Another essential benefit is lower operating costs. This is because you don’t need to worry about maintaining your own data center or ensuring its security and compliance with regulations. Instead, you can focus on your core activities while IT experts handle all the other tasks related to managing your virtual desktops and applications.

Increased Agility

Cloud-based data access provides an affordable option for businesses that want to take advantage of new technologies without investing in hardware or software. This allows them to quickly adapt to changes in their business environment and respond more rapidly to market demands.

Improved Business Intelligence

Data is the foundation of a successful business, but accessing it can be challenging when multiple applications are involved. Cloud-based DaaS integrates your company’s enterprise applications into one seamless interface, allowing users to view all relevant information from one place. This enables faster decision-making across multiple departments and improves operational efficiencies by eliminating duplicate workflows and manual processes.

Higher Workstation Lifetime Value

Another benefit is a higher Workstation Lifetime Value (WLV). WLV refers to how long a computer will last before it needs repairing or replacement; this value increases when fewer parts are needed because they have been replaced by software only or, in this case, virtual machines. The longer a computer lasts before needing repair or replacement, the more money an organization will save in the long run.

Final Words

In the end, businesses can benefit from Data as a Service in several ways. Query response times are sped up, which is a massive benefit for reporting on a business. There’s also more flexibility in how data sets can be structured and processed, making it easier for organizations to work toward their goals and move faster as they do so.

Some enterprises already use Data as a Service to improve data integration and governance, speed up the process of extracting insights from data, and do so more efficiently. These companies can then use better data governance and integrity to maintain a competitive advantage over rivals and expedite internal processes.

Protected Harbor makes it simple to use cloud-based data management solutions and on-premises infrastructure (if needed) to gather, regulate, transform, and distribute trusted data. Additionally, it provides the fastest, most secure, and most inexpensive data solutions with the most flexibility for creating a cloud-based data solution customized to your organization’s needs.  Consumers can choose which particular data products they employ or just embrace the complete platform all at once.

Try Protected Harbor today and use a dependable, secure cloud-based data solution that operates at your organization’s speed.

Best Data Center Managed Services 2022

Data centers are no longer isolated and individual units but have become part of integrated, collaborative, and, more importantly, digital infrastructure. It has experienced exponential growth in the last decade and continues to grow at an accelerated pace. Various factors, such as adopting digital services, cloud computing, and IoT, have triggered this growth.

Data center managed services are one of the fastest-growing segments within the industry. A managed data center service is a broad term that covers a range of data center operations, monitoring, reporting, and other support services that third parties provide to businesses that want to outsource these responsibilities.

As businesses adopt new technologies and upgrade their data centers, managed services will become an even more critical element in the ecosystem. This blog looks at the best-managed data center services in 2022.

Why Managed Data Center Services?

The global adoption of digital services, IoT, and cloud computing has resulted in exponential growth in the data center industry. The increased requirement for data center management services, infrastructure, and facilities drives the service demand. There has been an evolution in the way data centers are being managed. Businesses now prefer managed data center services to reduce capital investment and operational expenditure.

Data centers house mission-critical IT infrastructure that guides the daily operations of companies of every size. The security and integrity of this infrastructure must be monitored and maintained at all times, or it could lead to severe financial losses in the case of a breach. The best way to do this is by outsourcing data center operations to a managed services provider.

Colocation facilities are an increasingly popular option for companies looking to modernize their data centers. These facilities provide a secure, reliable, and scalable infrastructure for housing IT equipment, allowing organizations to focus on their core business activities.

2022 Data Center Managed Service Industry Trends

Colocation data center services are evolving to provide end-to-end infrastructure solutions, integrating with physical infrastructure seamlessly. Previously, data center management primarily focused on infrastructure services, including IT infrastructure, colocation, and managed services, with minimal interaction with customers’ end-to-end physical infrastructure. However, the landscape is shifting, with traditional data center providers now offering fully managed and integrated services.

Cloud computing services are increasingly merging with data centers, a trend set to dominate the data center services industry in the next decade. Organizations are opting for hybrid cloud environments, blending on-premises data centers with cloud service providers. This shift allows data center providers to differentiate themselves by offering higher-value services to clients.

Datacenter redesign is crucial for modernizing IT infrastructure. It involves updating the layout and technology to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Fault tolerance is a critical aspect of successful data center redesign, ensuring continuous operation during hardware or software failures. This necessitates redundancy in critical components, including power supplies, network connectivity, and storage devices.

Effective data management and security are paramount for organizations reliant on IT infrastructure. With escalating cyber threats, ensuring data security is vital. Data center solutions encompass robust physical security measures like access controls, CCTV, and alarms, alongside cybersecurity measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software.

Best Data Center Managed Services 2022

As discussed above, the technology industry is proliferating. Organizations of every size rely heavily on cloud services for their day-to-day operations. This is increasing the demand for data center-managed services.

Here are the Top Managed Service Vendors for Data Centers in 2022.

1. IBM – The fully managed, highly secure, and production-ready cloud environment offered by IBM Cloud Managed Services is built to deliver performance and availability at the level of an enterprise. Users may protect data and applications with built-in security, which includes alternate-site disaster recovery for the most critical workloads.
2. Accenture – Global management consulting company Accenture provides various services and products in strategy, consulting, technology, and operations. Regarding management consulting, it ranks alongside IBM as the largest and most well-known organization on this list. Accenture wants to work with clients to develop high-performance organizations and governments.
3. Infosys– In terms of consulting, technology, outsourcing, and next-generation services, Infosys is a world leader. Infosys helps its clients in more than 50 countries stay on the cutting edge of innovation. Infosys assists businesses in reinventing themselves and finding new ways to make money.
4. Rackspace – Since its founding in 1998, Rackspace has been a pioneer in the data center cloud industry, returning to the ASP (application service providers) era. With the help of the company’s hybrid cloud-based services, organizations can operate their workloads in either a public or a private cloud.
5. Protected Harbor – Enterprises can get strategic foresight on the future from Protected Harbor. We have experience in almost every area of information technology, which is essential for projects involving the movement of data centers. Protected Harbor can scale up or down a customer’s resources extremely quickly and help the customer find the best financial solutions for each project.
   It works with clients to modernize their commercial, operational, and technological models for the digital age. Its clients may imagine, create, and operate more cutting-edge and effective data centers thanks to its industry-based consulting approach.

Conclusion

Due to the increased digitalization, digital realty, and adoption of cloud services, the industry has seen exponential growth in the last decade. Data centers have evolved from being just mere units to delivering integrated service paas and fully-managed services.

Protected Harbor is among the top managed data canter service companies that provide managed hosting services and data centers for cloud computing and IT enterprises. We provide a single-provider solution for managing and safeguarding mission-critical IT services, such as cloud computing, infrastructure, platform, colocation, and data centers. According to Goodfirms, Protected Harbor is routinely regarded as one of the world’s most admired companies and the top Cloud Computing company in the US.

Click here to talk with our engineer and learn more about cloud-managed data center services and how we solve your cloud problems.

What is Scalable Infrastructure and Why is it Important?

While business owners and leaders often focus on the immediate aspects of their business, it is also essential to work on the company’s long-term viability. One of the most critical components of this is the scalable IT infrastructure.

Scalability is more than just moving to the cloud. It involves building an inherently stable system. Future development and expansion are made more straightforward to manage and safer for your business when scalability is incorporated as an essential component of your current infrastructure.

Effective IT operations and management depend on a stable IT infrastructure which is why companies should never undervalue its significance as this can lead to your business suffering if your data is ever exposed due to your system needing to be either fixed or maintained.

You can have an amazing product developed by a dedicated group of developers. However, if your technology isn’t up to the task, you will waste money on resources and fail to realize returns on marketing and development efforts.

Continue reading to find out what a solid IT infrastructure involves and why your company needs to prioritize it.

Scalable IT Infrastructure – An Overview

A scalable IT infrastructure is based on the idea that you can reduce the cost of operations by reducing your physical footprint when it’s not needed.

In the upcoming years, public cloud services are anticipated to represent a more significant portion of cloud infrastructure spending, reaching nearly 46% by 2024. ~Statista

You might have fewer servers, storage systems, or employees working within your data center. But, when you need more capacity, it’s easy to add back in these necessities and increase your use of the cloud.

Achieving this type of flexibility requires careful planning and management of your hardware, software, and applications so that they’re able to scale up or down without disrupting service delivery. A good example would be having multiple layers of redundancy built into your storage system so that if one component fails, another can take over seamlessly without any noticeable impact on users accessing their data.

Reasons for Having a Scalable Infrastructure

There are many reasons to have a scalable infrastructure, such as:

Growth

The most important reason is growth, which can happen in two different ways:

• Growth of your company or business
• Growth of your users or customer base

Growth is inevitable, and you need to be ready for it. You can’t just build an application and expect it to work forever without any changes.

Cyclical Demand

The second reason is cyclical demand. It means that there are times when more people use your application than others. An example of this could be heightened traffic during the holidays. To handle this situation, you will need a scalable infrastructure that can handle increased demand without sacrificing performance.

Why is IT Infrastructure Important for Businesses?

It’s no longer enough to have just a good product or service. The competition amongst businesses is fierce, and it’s not enough to be just good. You need to be great, which means having an infrastructure supporting your business.

Businesses need reliable IT infrastructure to operate efficiently and effectively.

The following are some of the reasons why having this IT infrastructure is crucial for businesses:

Productivity

The first reason you should invest in your infrastructure is that it will help to increase the productivity of your employees. The more efficient your employees are, the more work they can do in less time. This means that they will be able to get more done every day, which leads to an increase in revenue for your business.

Security

Another reason why infrastructure is critical is that it helps protect your data from cyber-attacks.

By 2025, experts predict that cybercrimes, such as phishing scams, spyware, ransomware, and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks on small and large businesses, will total $10.5 trillion yearly.

If you don’t have a sound security system, hackers can easily break into your network, steal customer information, or even eradicate data. This can lead to devastating consequences for your company, so you must have a robust security system.

Compliance

Businesses must ensure that they comply with industry regulations, standards, and legal requirements such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) and SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act). An efficient infrastructure will allow businesses to quickly meet compliance requirements without negatively impacting their operations or productivity.

Efficiency

A company’s employees will be more efficient if they have access to an adequate infrastructure. For example, if you have an employee who works from home and needs access to your company’s servers or databases, you must ensure they can access them both quickly and easily. An inadequate infrastructure would lead to slow access times and frustration on both ends of the spectrum. Having an adequate infrastructure in place will ensure that your employees can access all necessary data efficiently, leading to happier employees!

Benefits of IT Infrastructure

The major benefits of a scalable IT infrastructure are:

Greater Ease of IT Operations

IT infrastructure is the foundation upon which all other components and services are built. Without it, there would be no way to perform the tasks that support an organization’s mission. This includes introductory emails and office productivity applications to complex ERP systems and CRM solutions. Considering how much time and money is spent on IT infrastructure today, it becomes apparent that any operational efficiency improvement will significantly impact a company’s bottom line.

Reduced Overall Capital and Operating Expenses

Since no upfront costs are associated with hosting your IT infrastructure with Cloud providers, your overall operating expenses can be significantly reduced. Your IT budget will also become easier to manage because it will no longer include capital expenses such as hardware purchases or upgrades and maintenance contracts for servers, storage devices, network equipment, and more.

Flexible Pricing Model

Cloud providers offer more flexible pricing models than traditional enterprise software companies because they don’t have to build physical infrastructures like data centers or server farms. They just have to buy enough capacity from their suppliers (e.g., Amazon Web Services) to offer customers the best prices possible.

Final Words

Focusing on scalability means you will not have to worry about the server’s ability to handle your website traffic or the potential of technical debt eating away at your budget. Scalable IT infrastructures are a good choice for scaling businesses and startups, especially in the beginning phases of growth.

Protected Harbor’s solution is designed to be a scalable, reliable, and flexible IT infrastructure optimized to support various data-centric workloads like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Business Intelligence, High-Performance Computing, and other data-centric workloads. Doing so enables enterprises and service providers to transform their businesses, drive new revenues and provide better, more efficient customer service.

Protected Harbor is here to serve as your reliable partner. We help keep your business secure without slowing you down by providing top-notch IT infrastructures that work for you. With real-time monitoring and capacity planning, integrated security, and on-demand scaling, our IT infrastructure or Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) is designed for data-intensive workloads and business-critical applications.

Get a free IT Audit today and learn why your business needs a highly scalable infrastructure without losing out on reliability and security.