IT ServicesTech Support

How to Fix Common Internet Connection Problems

How to Fix Common Internet Connection Problems

A stable internet connection is more than a convenience—it’s a necessity. A reliable internet connection is essential for work, entertainment, or staying connected with loved ones. However, despite advances in technology, internet connectivity issues can still arise, causing frustration and disruption to our daily lives.

This guide is designed to empower users to tackle common internet connection problems head-on. From sluggish speeds to sudden dropouts, we’ll delve into the root causes of these issues and provide step-by-step solutions to help you troubleshoot and resolve them effectively.

By understanding the basics of home networking, identifying common issues, and learning practical troubleshooting techniques, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to easily tackle internet connectivity problems. So let’s dive in and take control of your internet experience!

Understanding the Basics

Components of a typical home network setup:

Modem: The device that connects your home to the internet service provider (ISP) network. It converts incoming signals from the ISP into data that your devices can use and vice versa.
Router: Responsible for directing internet traffic to and from your devices within your home network. It also provides security features such as firewall protection and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Network Switch: Expands the number of Ethernet ports available for wired connections within your home network. It’s particularly useful for connecting multiple devices in a home office or entertainment center.
Access Point: Extends the coverage of your Wi-Fi network to areas with poor signal strength or dead zones. It’s commonly used in larger homes or offices to ensure reliable wireless connectivity.
Wi-Fi Extender/Booster: Helps to extend the coverage of your Wi-Fi network to areas with poor signal strength.
Ethernet Cables: Used to establish wired connections between devices and the router or switch.
Wi-Fi-enabled Devices: Laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and other gadgets that connect to the internet wirelessly via the router.

Different types of internet connections:

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): Uses existing telephone lines to transmit internet data. It offers moderate speeds and is widely available in urban and suburban areas.
Cable Internet: Delivered over the same coaxial cables that provide cable television service. Cable internet typically offers faster speeds than DSL but may suffer from congestion during peak usage times.
Fiber Optic Internet: Utilizes fiber-optic cables to transmit data using light signals. Fiber internet offers the highest speeds and reliability but may not be available in all areas.
Satellite Internet: Provides internet access via satellite signals, making it available in remote or rural areas where other internet connections are not feasible. However, it tends to have higher latency and lower speeds compared to other types of connections.

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Identifying Common Issues and Solutions

Issue	Causes	Solutions
Slow Internet	a. Network congestion: When many users in your area are simultaneously accessing the internet, it can slow down speeds for everyone.	a. Limit bandwidth-intensive activities during peak hours.
	b. Interference: Electronic devices, physical obstructions, or neighboring Wi-Fi networks can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal, leading to reduced speeds.	b. Optimize the placement of your router to minimize interference.
	c. Outdated hardware: Aging routers, modems, or devices may not support the latest internet standards or technologies, leading to slower performance.	c. Consider upgrading to a newer router or modem that supports faster Wi-Fi standards or technologies.

Intermittent Connectivity	a. Signal interference: Electronic devices, appliances, or physical barriers can weaken or disrupt your Wi-Fi signal, leading to intermittent connectivity issues.	a. Reposition your router away from sources of interference.
	b. Router malfunctions: Overheating, outdated firmware, or hardware failures can cause your router to drop connections intermittently.	b. Update your router’s firmware regularly to ensure optimal performance.
	c. ISP issues: Service outages, maintenance, or network congestion on the ISP’s end can result in intermittent connectivity problems.	c. Contact your ISP to check for any service outages or issues in your area.

No Internet Access	a. Modem or router failure: Hardware malfunctions, power surges, or configuration errors can result in a loss of internet connectivity. conflicts can prevent devices from connecting to the internet.	a. Power cycle your modem and router by unplugging them for a few minutes and then plugging them back in.
	b. ISP outage: Service interruptions, maintenance, or billing issues on the ISP’s end can cause a complete loss of internet access.	b. Check for any service alerts or outage notifications from your ISP.
	c. Incorrect configurations: Misconfigured network settings or IP address	c. Verify that your network settings, including IP addresses and DNS configurations, are correctly configured.

Troubleshooting Steps

When encountering internet connection problems, following a systematic approach to troubleshooting can help identify and resolve issues efficiently. Here are the essential steps to take:

Step 1: Check Physical Connections

Ensure all cables (Ethernet, coaxial, power) are securely connected to their respective devices (modem, router, etc.).
Verify that the modem and router are powered on and functioning properly. Look for indicator lights that indicate connectivity status.

Step 2: Restart Networking Devices

Power cycle the modem and router by unplugging them from the power source, waiting for 30 seconds, and then plugging them back in.
Allow the devices to reboot fully and establish connections with the ISP network.

Step 3: Diagnose Connectivity Issues

Use the network diagnostic tools provided by your operating system or router interface to identify any connectivity problems.
Check for error messages or status alerts on your devices that may indicate specific issues.

Step 4: Update Firmware and Software

Ensure that the firmware/software for your modem, router, and other networking devices are up to date.
Visit the manufacturer’s website or use the device’s management interface to download and install the latest updates.

Step 5: Optimize Router Settings

Access your router’s settings interface through a web browser using the default IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
Adjust Wi-Fi channels to minimize interference from neighboring networks.
Enable Quality of Service (QoS) settings to prioritize internet traffic for specific devices or applications.

Step 6: Test Connection on Different Devices

Check if the internet connection issue is specific to a particular device or affecting all devices on the network.
Connect a different device (e.g., smartphone, or tablet) to the network to determine if the problem persists.

Step 7: Contact Internet Service Provider (ISP)

If all troubleshooting steps fail to resolve the issue, contact your ISP’s customer support.
Provide them with details about the problem, steps you’ve taken to troubleshoot, and any error messages or status indicators observed.

Following these troubleshooting steps systematically can help pinpoint the root cause of internet connection problems and implement appropriate solutions. If the issue persists after completing these steps, seeking assistance from your ISP or a networking professional may be necessary.

Advanced Troubleshooting Tips

For more complex internet connection issues, advanced troubleshooting techniques may be necessary. Utilizing network diagnostic tools can provide deeper insights into network performance and identify potential bottlenecks. These tools, whether built into your operating system or third-party software, can analyze network activity, diagnose connectivity problems, and help pinpoint the root cause of issues.

Analyzing router logs can be beneficial in understanding network events, identifying recurring errors, and assessing the overall health of your network. By accessing your router’s administration interface and reviewing system logs, you can uncover valuable information that may shed light on persistent connectivity issues.

How to fix common internet connection issues

In some cases, performing a factory reset on your modem or router may be necessary to resolve stubborn issues. This process restores the device to its default settings, erasing any custom configurations that may be causing problems. However, it’s essential to back up important settings before proceeding with a factory reset.

Lastly, upgrading hardware components, such as your modem, router, or network switch, can significantly improve network performance, reliability, and security. Look for devices that support the latest Wi-Fi standards and advanced technologies to ensure optimal connectivity for your home or business network.

Additional Resources and Support

For further assistance with internet connection issues, consider exploring online forums and communities dedicated to networking and internet troubleshooting. Websites like Reddit’s r/HomeNetworking or forums on technology-focused platforms provide a wealth of knowledge and expertise from experienced users and professionals.

Manufacturer support resources, including support articles, user manuals, and troubleshooting guides, can also be valuable sources of information. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the manufacturer’s support team via email, live chat, or phone for personalized assistance with hardware-related issues.

If you encounter complex networking challenges beyond your expertise, consider seeking professional networking services or consulting. Experienced networking professionals can diagnose and resolve challenging issues, optimize your network infrastructure, and provide tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. By leveraging these additional resources and support options, you can tackle even the most intricate internet connection problems with confidence and efficiency.

Conclusion

Successfully troubleshooting internet connection issues demands technical knowledge, patience, and persistence. Now you know how to fix common internet connection problems, by following the steps outlined in this guide and using advanced techniques like network diagnostic tools, router log analysis, factory resets, and hardware upgrades, you can resolve a wide range of problems. Seek support from online communities, manufacturer resources, or professional networking services for assistance.

For businesses, Protected Harbor excels as a top Managed Service Provider (MSP) with expertise in network management and cybersecurity. Our comprehensive services, including proactive monitoring and support, ensure secure and reliable network environments. For expert guidance, reach out to Protected Harbor today. Get a free IT Audit and elevate your network with Protected Harbor’s support.

March 21, 2024 by Admin

IT ServicesTech Support

8 IT upgrades that every business owner should implement immediately

8 IT Updates Every Business Owner Should Make Now

In today’s digital age, staying on top of the latest technology trends and IT updates is essential for business owners. Keeping up with the latest technology can help you to stay ahead in your industry, save time and money, plus improve the overall efficiency of your business.

IT leaders always need help introducing new technologies into their company’s workflow. Naturally, they’re focused on the future, trying to predict how the market will change and how this will impact their business.

Spending on IT worldwide is expected to reach $5.32 trillion in 2022. Asia is predicted to impact the worldwide IT market, contributing 31% significantly. ~Statista

Technological advances have been made at a breathtaking pace in the past few decades, with new trends emerging seemingly every day. To make it easier, we have put together a list of 8 IT updates every business owner should make now to ensure their business is up-to-date and running at peak performance.

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Technological Change Drives Competitive Advantage

The effect of technological change can be seen in many ways, including:

Changing Customer Needs and Expectations – This means that customers expect products to be tailored to their individual needs, which is a challenge for businesses as they need to be able to meet each customer’s demands while still maintaining high levels of quality.

Improved Productivity – The ability to produce more with less effort can increase profits and lower costs.

New Business Models – New technologies can open up new markets or enable existing businesses to expand into new markets. This might include selling products or services in an entirely new way of using technology to streamline previously manual processes.

Reduced Costs and Risk – The use of technology can reduce the need for expensive physical assets and enable businesses to operate more effectively in areas where they may have previously been limited by geography or climate (e.g., working from home).

Increased Flexibility – Technology enables businesses to be more flexible in their operations, providing greater freedom over-allocating resources and responding to customer needs.

IT Updates for Tech Leaders

In addition to keeping up with the latest technology, IT leaders should also be aware of some top business trends and how they can apply them within their companies. Here are the 8 most important trends that all IT leaders should be aware of.

Increase Emphasis on Transparent Data Governance

Protecting your company’s data in today’s age is essential, where data is everything. While there are many ways you can go about doing this, one of the most effective ways is by making sure that your employees understand how they should transparently handle confidential information.

You can do this by ensuring that all your policies are clear and easy to understand. You can also ensure that these policies are well-enforced so that employees can be confident about their usage and lack thereof.

Adopt Web3 Technologies

The next generation of cloud applications will be built on Web3 technology and offer various benefits to IT departments, including improved security and reduced expenses. These new apps will also be easier to use than traditional applications, so they’ll help your employees work more efficiently.

Accelerate Cloud Adoption

Cloud computing offers businesses huge advantages over traditional data centers, such as reduced cost and complexity, more flexibility and scalability, and a more remarkable ability to innovate. And yet many companies still need to be more confident about moving their workloads into the cloud. To help speed up cloud adoption, inform your colleagues about how cloud computing can benefit them personally and professionally. Also, be sure to communicate what risks may arise from migrating workloads to the cloud, so they can make informed decisions about when it’s appropriate for them or their departments to move their applications into the public cloud.

Upgrade Your Network Router

You probably know that your router is the device that connects your computers to the Internet. But did you know that routers are becoming more than just a way to share an Internet connection? Many routers now offer enhanced security features, including mini-computers that can perform remote backup and virus protection tasks.

Routers also have built-in firewalls, so if you haven’t updated yours in a while, this may be a good time to do so — especially if you want better protection for your network against hackers.

Update Your Software Licenses

Make sure your software is fully licensed by running the free trial version of our software through our website. This ensures that all the features and tools work for you and your team. If it doesn’t, contact us, and we’ll help you get everything up and running smoothly. You can also check out our list of top 10 small business apps here!

Update Your Network Security

Security updates should be implemented as soon as they become available, so we recommend setting up automatic updates in Windows Update or macOS Software Update preferences. These updates usually fix security vulnerabilities or bugs in the system. Suppose you have other software installed on your computers, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Office programs. In that case, they may also have built-in automatic update settings, ensuring that your devices are always protected against known threats.

Adapt AI

The future of AI is here, and it’s time to get ready. Adapt AI is a platform that helps companies build, train and deploy their custom AI-powered solutions. These solutions can be anything from an intelligent chatbot to an innovative mobile app. It’s an excellent tool for any company looking to take advantage of the latest advancements in artificial intelligence.

Give More Attention to FinOps

Financial operations have always been vital for any business. But as technology advances, financial operations are becoming more complex than ever before — which means they need more attention. FinOps is a new term that refers to the “financial operations” part of your business strategy, including payment processing and calculating taxes owed when customers purchase online. If you want your business to grow, devote more time and money toward this area of your organization — primarily if you sell products or services online.

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Final Words

With technology advancing rapidly, it’s essential to consider whether your company utilizes the best technology available and how you can stay ahead of the competition. This list of IT updates is by no means exhaustive, but it should serve as a good starting point for business owners that want to keep up with the latest IT trends. Updating your business’s IT equipment will not only positively impact productivity and efficiency, but it could also help you achieve increased revenue and growth.

Protected Harbor is the perfect partner for business owners or CTOs who need professional guidance during times of technology change. Our experienced team of professionals can help you make sense of the overwhelming amount of information available, and our services are tailored to each customer’s needs.

With a free IT Audit, we can assess your current system and identify areas where improvements can be made. Let us help you get the most out of your investments and confidently make technology changes. Contact us today!

March 9, 2023 by Admin

IT ServicesTech Support

What is Access IT Support & Why is it Important?

Today’s successful businesses can only function with cutting-edge technological tools. To maximize the return on one of a company’s most significant investments, adequate management by reliable IT support is crucial. Access IT Support is a valuable service that provides businesses with the tools and resources they need to stay up and running in the digital age. Companies must keep up with their IT needs as technology evolves to remain competitive and secure.

The IT services industry is expected to generate $1,114.00bn in revenue by the end of 2022. ~Statista

Scaling a technology-based company requires a skilled team with many years of experience. It also requires the right tools, support, and platforms that encourage growth.

Let’s take a look at what access IT support is, why it’s essential for small business tech growth, and what to look for in an IT professional.

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What is Access IT Support?

Access IT support is a service that ensures your company’s computer systems, hardware, software, wireless connections, and internet service are operating correctly. It also assists with troubleshooting, diagnostics, repairs, and maintaining your computer systems.

IT support services can be provided in-house or by an outside company. In-house IT support is usually cheaper than outsourcing your IT services but requires more time and effort on the part of your employees.

It includes things like:

Basic Troubleshooting – If something stops working or malfunctions, an IT professional will troubleshoot the problem and find out why it happened and how to fix it.

Software Installation – If you need new software installed on your computer or server, an IT professional can finish this quickly and efficiently without disrupting your business.

Network Setup – If you want to set up a new network or a wireless connection for your company or expand an existing one, an IT professional can do it right the first time.

Why is IT Support System Important?

A well-designed IT support system will protect your business and personal information against cybercriminals and help you solve any pesky IT problems. But what exactly does that mean?

Here are a few things you can expect from an effective IT support system:

Protection Against Cyber Crime

High-profile incidents involving corporations like Boots and Facebook, the most recent Government Security Breaches Survey indicated that 31% of businesses and 26% of nonprofits experienced cyber security breaches or assaults over the previous 12 months.

An effective IT support system will protect your network and private information from viruses and other malware that could steal your company data or cause problems within your software. However, if you have multiple devices on your network, it may be more complex than installing antivirus software or firewalls on all of them. You may need to install additional tools with features like intrusion detection and prevention systems that monitor traffic through your network in real-time to detect suspicious behavior by users or applications accessing resources on the web.

Effective Solutions to Tricky Problems

An effective IT support system can help you solve any problem that arises in your business. The support team can deal with it effectively, whether it may be a software glitch or a hardware failure. They know what steps to take and how they must be taken so they can resolve the issue quickly without causing any disruption to your business operations.

Improved Decision Making

An effective IT support system helps to improve decision-making at every level of an organization by providing relevant information and data on demand. This not only enables you to make better decisions but also improves efficiency as well as productivity within your organization.

Data Storage, Management, and Security

Data storage is one of the most critical aspects of information technology support. However, the wrong choice can lead to severe problems in your business. For example, choosing a storage system that is too small or too large for your needs will cost more money in the long run than necessary. It’s also important to consider whether it’s best to use cloud-based or on-site storage solutions when building your IT infrastructure.

Safety from Viruses and Other Compromising Software

While many think that viruses only infect computers, they can infect other devices, such as tablets and smartphones. When this happens, it can lead to data loss or financial loss if private information falls into the wrong hands. An IT support system will help keep your devices safe from viruses by installing antivirus software and regularly ensuring that updates are done.

Enhanced Online Marketing Strategies

An IT support system can help you improve your online marketing strategies in several ways. For example, it can help with website design, social media management, and email marketing campaigns. These tools can help increase traffic to your website and improve conversion rates, ultimately leading to increased revenue for your business!

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What To Look for in a Great IT Support Team?

Your business is growing, and so are your IT needs. It’s time to look at the options for a new IT support team. But how do you know you’re choosing the best one?

Here are some tips:

Flexibility

The best IT support services will be flexible enough to meet your company’s ever-changing needs over time. They should offer multiple levels of support, including basic customer service, maintenance, troubleshooting, and more advanced technical help.

Knowledge & Expertise

You need an IT support team with knowledge and expertise in all technology areas. While some companies may specialize in particular types of technology (such as cloud computing), others may be more generalists and able to work with any software or hardware device.

Cost

When choosing an IT support team, the cost is always a factor. Though you want to choose the right service provider and not just base it solely on price, you want to ensure that their services fit your budget.

Responsiveness

Find out how long it takes for your IT company to respond to your needs by asking about their typical response times before hiring them. If you find they need to be more responsive, keep looking for another company until you find the one that offers you excellent customer service.

Final Words

Chances are, you have come across the term IT support before, as it has become an essential form of support for businesses nowadays. However, deciding on your next IT support move can be challenging and, truthfully, a little scary for a not-so-tech individual.

Protected Harbor makes it easier. We provide unparalleled IT support with guaranteed 99.99% uptime, a 24×7 live help desk, and an IT strategy that can be tailored to your business needs.

Our team of experts can help you identify areas of improvement and risks associated with your IT infrastructure. With our range of services, you can focus on the bigger picture of your business without worrying about any pesky IT issues getting in your way. Furthermore, with our secure and reliable IT solutions, you can rest assured that your business is always safe and running smoothly.

Get a free IT audit today to experience the full extent of our IT support capabilities.

February 27, 2023 by Admin

Protected Harbor

Decipher Complex Board Question

There are usually no deterministic answers to the board question, and responses are generally more about showing options for sponsorship instead of a definitive course of action. The options can vary based on the context of the discussion, the board’s maturity, the SRM leader’s communication skills, and reporting frequency. However, understanding and answering board questions require everyone to understand their roles. Therefore, the SRM leader should know that the board is interested in facilitating the business goal. Any query that may seem immature, ignorant, or complicated has a purpose. Here’s why every executive should understand the basics of cybersecurity.

As we move further into this Digital Age, it’s important for security and risk management leaders to be at the forefront of protection. Unfortunately, there will always be new threats that emerge and risks to manage. However, there are a variety of technologies and strategies that can help reduce the number of incidents and their severity. These include: reviewing third-party vendors, dual-authorization systems, unstructured data protectors, and big data analytics. As long as companies take a proactive approach to their cybersecurity efforts, they will be prepared when potential threats arise, making the job of SRMs much easier.

Ultimately, the complexity of risk management systems makes it impractical for organizations of every size to create their own. Instead, a renowned solution like Protected Harbor is needed. One that can provide the solutions necessary to resolve your company’s unique needs, with a broad suite of capabilities and an intuitive platform that provides users with the tools needed to respond effectively when crises strike. Because we understand your business and what executives desire, we’ve been assisting several executives with their day-to-day operations. Contact us today for a free IT and cybersecurity audit, take charge of your future, and be cybersecured.

May 13, 2022 by Editor

Business TechIT Services

IT lessons learned from the Covid-19 outbreak

The Covid-19 pandemic transformed the IT industry beyond the thoughts of our economies and societies.

It’s the end of the year 2021, and the world is still recuperating from the effects of the Covid-19 crisis that significantly impacted the technology sector. The Pandemic fluctuated the supply chain technology and came as an unusual shock.

The crisis transformed the lives of people around the globe digitally. We started being more dependent on technology than exposed. Now it’s almost two years, and the technology adoption we have seen is revolutionary.

At the pandemic’s beginning, companies opted for temporary solutions for their work and operations. A few months later, it was transparent businesses would need to find new ways to adapt for the long term. This started a rise in digitizing workplace applications and operations.

A recent pandemic news report by Mckinsey concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic brought about years of technology change and innovation in just a few months. Customer relationships and supply chains have been digitized, and internal operations have been moved to the cloud three to four years early. In the last few years, companies have multiplied their digitally enabled products in their portfolio by sevenfold.

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Potential long-term impact on the technology sector

Forecasts indicate that cloud infrastructure services and specialized software will be in demand. As organizations motivate employees to work from home, the telecom services and communications equipment market is also anticipated.
IT departments and solution providers will play a more significant role in transforming businesses to digital. The need for reliable, secure, and flexible network systems is evident.
Demand for cybersecurity software will increase 37% as companies need to secure endpoints, particularly from employees working from home on less-than-ideally secure Wi-Fi. With the increase in report work came a massive increase in attacks. Attacks from home computers connected over VPN are difficult to stop because a VPN is a trusted connection. Still, computers at home, even company computers, are difficult to keep clean from viruses and attacks when there are no corporate firewalls or other layers of protection.
It’s proven that most employees would continue working from home even after restrictions are lifted. During the pandemic, we saw a productivity improvement. Studies show that during COVID, people worked more hours than they previously did when they worked in the office. The organizations must see this as a long-term impact and invest in creating a digitally sustainable environment. Read more here.

Practical next steps

Organizations across the country and from every industry reported a significant increase in customers’ and employees’ needs and remote working. We also saw a rise in advanced AI technologies in operations and business decision-making. Services such as DaaS, ransomware protection, and data centers are most likely to stay in the long term. After living through the impact of Covid-19 on technology and business, CIOs will be defined by their ability to respond, recover, and thrive.

Here are some practical next steps to make your business pandemic proof

The rise in remote work and co-working spaces will push the need for Remote Desktops (RDP) so employees can take their desktop images of apps, documents, and folders anywhere. Therefore developing a budget for technology improvement and implementation to prepare your company for the future sounds like a plan.
With a rise of remote workers comes a drop in in-office workers. Companies will be able to save on office space costs. The reduction in real estate also allows companies to reduce their hardware profile by switching from on-prem to off-prem servers and hosting. Besides saving physical space, off-premise servers are also secured and maintained by the provider.
Flexibility is the key to innovation and understanding how disruptions can be minimized in future events. Because the shift will have long-term ramifications that no one can foresee, custom networking and server hosting are critical to gain the flexibility your company needs for whatever comes next.
In the future, we will see a digitally enabled work environment and advanced tools for business processes, including back-end office functions. The Tech boom has advanced all technology integrations such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Adapt and make use of technology for an edge over the competition.
One of the most important steps is to make your infrastructure and technology sustainable and focus on mental health during pandemic. Because going digital is a new normal now, we are moving towards a highly technology-driven environment. Businesses have to be agile, which means understanding, changing, and adapting quickly to the environment. Consider a solution provider who spends time understanding your needs and provides customized solutions.
If you are ready to migrate your data and applications to a protected cloud network and still own your data, you need to look past a traditional MSP and find a Managed IT infrastructure and design partner.

Take the final step

Post Covid-19 business IT priorities have changed. More than half of the business leaders say they invest in digitization and technology for competitive advantage, creating the entire business strategy. The needs of customers and your employees have become more digital, and as an organization, you must ensure the best of the services.

Remote work is no longer a culture of experimentation; it is a culture of necessity. The companies that invested in cloud technologies and figured out how to fit remote work into their processes were rewarded because the small work culture is here to stay long-term.

With businesses moving to virtual and cloud servers, it’s wise to opt for reliable, flexible, and secured data centers. And what’s even more brilliant is to take the help of one of the industry experts. Protected Harbor works with businesses to create personalized solutions. We keep your data on our internal servers with 99.99% uptime and 24×7 monitoring, ensuring you don’t crash and your team stays working. Remote work has left businesses vulnerable to malware and ransomware.

All Protected Harbor solutions employ custom-solution cyber security protocols to protect your business and your data. We made extra investments into air-gapped servers and triple-backed-up images, so your information is always on and always protected. Does your managed IT provider do that?

January 3, 2022 by Editor

IT Services

What is the best IT solution: MSPs, VARs, or solution providers?

Best IT Solution: Solution Providers, VARs or MSPs?

If you’re looking for an IT Service for your business, you have probably been innodated with acronyms, like VARs, MSP, ASP, NSP, CSP, ISP, SAAS and DAAS. One almost needs a CIA code-breaker to determine which solution does what and what solution is best for their business. Worse, many “wannabe” IT companies make the same promises but fall short on delivery.

There are many IT solutions available, ranging from cyber security, and inventory management to cloud services, and they are provided by IT solution providers, Value-Added Resellers (VARs), and Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

What Do They Offer?

IT solution providers sell specific solutions for specific problems. If your computer is infected, they provide you with an antivirus. Whereas VARs will sell you that same product, bundled with extra software. For example, VARS would offer an antivirus solution paired with a spam filter and backup service.

MSPs allow clients to rent software solutions through the cloud. Where IT solution providers and VARs will sell you software to fix an issue, MSPs will also proactively manage it for you. MSPs roll their sleeves up to control a client’s IT infrastructure and systems. This could include software applications and networks through security and day-to-day support.

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It seems simple. Where’s the problem?

Most IT solution providers and VARs deliver one-size-fits-all solutions to their clients. Pre-packaged solutions are designed to interest the broadest audience. Due to supply contracts, providers are forced to push identical solutions and charge a mark-up. Occasionally they may offer consulting services or monitoring for even more money. From the client’s perspective, these pre-bundled solutions look the same but are less than ideal.

IT solution providers and VARs offer software, not services, where customer experience matters. They can all respond to a customer’s complaints and requests quickly. But responding to an email is not a customer experience. Instead, a company must perceive the needs and goals of the customer. IT solution providers and VARs are constricted by the software they are selling. So, they have finite customization to cover all of a customer’s needs. Such issues will leave customers with unresolved problems to be covered by other products for another cost. Or customers end up overpaying for functionality they don’t need because of a predetermined bundle.

This is where MSPs stand out. Thanks to the internet, MSPs can offer specific services and functionality, a-la-cart. They are not forced into particular solutions and offer actual customizations. Also, MSPs are in the service business. Their business model requires a long-standing relationship. The more problems customers have, the more problems MSPs have. Hence, it’s of utmost importance for MSPs to listen, evaluate, and tailor-make solutions to keep clients happy for as long as possible.

How It Should Be?

In today’s business environment, it is more important than ever to deliver the best customer experience possible. Customers should feel a connection with their service providers. And feel comfortable leaving a vital part of the business in the provider’s hands. The more feedback you get, the better your business can deliver a superior service. It’s as simple as that.

Steer away from IT solution providers who won’t spend time listening to your problems. A reliable managed service provider will design a customized plan covering all aspects of your IT needs. Such as protecting from ransomware and data losses, with the needed antivirus software. They will handle everything from scratch through finalization and ongoing support.

Consider a solution provider willing to spend time getting to know you and your business. A provider who asks questions and interviews you is more likely to design a lasting solution addressing your needs. The perfect IT solution will be tailored to suit your business, empowering you to fulfill and exceed your goals.

At Protected Harbor, we listen to our clients; we consider them our partners and are here to delight them. All of our Technology Improvement Plans (TIP) work on the 3A principle- Attend, Assess and Apply. We listen to customers’ problems, match them to our ability, and provide a solution explicitly crafted for them. This is how we have built long-term relationships with our customers.

With Protected Harbor, you can expect superior system performance and uptime. We specialize in remote desktops, data breach protection, secure servers, application outage avoidance, system monitoring, network firewalls, and cloud services. For quality IT solutions, contact Protected Harbor today.

December 3, 2021 by Editor

Tech News

The Reasons Application Fails

5 REASONS APPLICATIONS FAIL

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99.99% Uptime Is Essential

In today’s modern world of Tele-Medicine, application availability and uptime is more critical than ever.

Healthcare workers and patients are accessing applications at all times of the day and night. The days of “bringing the application down for maintenance” every night are over.

Add to this the fact that most healthcare companies are growing, which adds extra load to these already stressed applications.

EMR and other key applications need to be available virtually 100% of the time.

How Much Does A Single Hour Of Downtime Cost?

According to an ITIC study this year, the average amount of a single hour of downtime is $100,000 or more. Since 2008, ITIC has sent out independent surveys that measure downtime costs. Findings included that a single hour of downtime has risen by 25%-30%. 33% of those enterprises reported that one hour of downtime costs their companies between $1-5 million. 98% of organizations say a single hour of downtime costs over $100,000. 81% of respondents indicated that 60 minutes of downtime costs their businesses over $300,000.

Protected Harbor has found the design of data centers plays an essential role in its ability to maintain application availability which translates into company credibility with clients, employees, and ultimately dollars gained or lost.

The purpose of this white paper is to outline the top five mistakes companies make when designing, building, and managing data centers.

“It’s Much Harder To Manage A Data Center For A Growing Business Than One For A Stagnant Business.”

“This saying has stuck with me over the years. Most of the businesses my company supports are growing companies. They trust I can design, build and manage a data center that will develop with them, and not impede on their growth.

According to a recent article by a top data center management company, only 4% of data center failures are due to IT equipment failure. Only 4%! That leaves 96% of data center failures caused by things outside of your data center equipment, whether it be power failure, cyber-crime, human error, or water/heat.

What does this mean for you? Well, at the inception of designing your Data Center elements that may seem to be innocuous must be considered because these components could have a significant impact on how your data center functions – or doesn’t function. Regardless of whether you are building a data center or migrating, it is imperative that you avoid falling into the traps that have ensnared many before you.

Protected Harbor has enough experience with all the above issues to understand how crippling they can be for small, medium and large organizations. Data centers popularity has increased exponentially over the past decade, and for good reason. They enable a business to expand, while being cost effective and reliable. Recently, a client asked us to list the common mistakes companies make when designing, building and managing their data centers. When compiling this list, we break these mistakes into three major categories; People, Processes and Tools. If you are about to embark down the data center path, make sure you don’t tumble into these pitfalls and wind up in a state of confusion and chaos.”

“It’s much harder to manage a data center for a growing business than one for a stagnant business.
Richard Luna
– CEO, Protected Harbor

Five Mistakes Companies Make That Cause Applications To Fail

PEOPLE: Organizing IT Staff in Vertical Roles vs. Horizontal Roles
Human error accounts for almost one quarter of all data center outages
We believe this has a lot to do with how IT staff is organized at most companies. IT staffs will have DBA’s (both development and production), programmers specific to one system, networking experts, and storage experts, etc. This level of specialization can be a big problem.

In many organizations, managers develop elaborate handoff processes that are confusing and often not followed. The programmer hands off the work to the database expert, who then hands off to the storage person. Often, there is no manager, who understands the big picture, until you get to either an IT Director or the CIO, who is too senior and removed from details to provide real direction. IT staffs lose the ability to view the system horizontally (and holistically), to understand the big picture. Often, steps are missed, mistakes are made, and when the data center crashes, groups point fingers at other groups and the true cause of the outage is not determined, which means it could happen again.

We recommend assigning IT process owners, meaning – IT staff members who are responsible for managing IT processes. These individuals first document the process and then put in end-to-end controls to ensure those processes are followed.

Inadequate Redundancy

TOOLS: Power issues, including issues with the UPS or generator, and other environmental issues, account for over 45% of data center outages

The IT team may understand the need for redundancy but fail to carry it through the entire system. Often, they will ensure redundancy in one network layer (or portion of the system for communicating data). However, the operational stability of the data center requires that multiple networking layers be on-line, all the time.

In other words, each layer needs to be redundant. For hardware, that means two mirrored firewalls, two drops, and two core mirrored switches. For software, this means multiple servers performing the same function configured in a primary secondary or in a pool configuration. If a server fails, the workload is migrated or transferred to a redundant server. We allow for redundancy at every level.

System Software Not Directly Connected To The Firewalls

TOOLS: Cyber-crime accounts for over 20% of data center outages

Any data center needs to be worried about external vulnerability to attacks. Companies can buy a high-end firewall package that does advance monitoring. But what happens behind that firewall? Most companies fail to understand the importance of connecting software login to firewall activity. For example, if the organization has RDP servers that cannot determine a legitimate log-in from an invalid log-in, how do you block it? This isn’t done automatically, because many of the individual apps being used are customized.

The best approach to this problem is to avoid it—design the system the right way, at its inception. For example, deploying a module that after three failed login attempts into a particular app blocks that IP address right at the firewall.

Data System Growth Not Sufficiently Considered In Budgeting

PROCESS: Many data centers crash because the data center environment was designed and built for a smaller organization, and cannot handle the increase in load due to company growth.

Many industries and companies see periods of rapid growth, and try to do their best to predict how that might affect operational needs, like sales, marketing, and manufacturing. However, IT often gets left behind in the budgeting dust, and the result is underfunding and an inability of the IT systems or data center capabilities to match the expectations of the rest of the organization.

Typically, this underfunding leads to attempts to cannibalize equipment, exceed their recommended capacities, and go beyond their expected lifespans. It often causes IT staff to find quick fixes to keep the data center operational. Regarding these quick fixes, we often observe a related error: The IT staff forget to remove the bandages that got them past isolated problems. This results in a lost opportunity to go back and properly resolve the underlying problem. There’s just no resources available to do it.

We recommend the IT leader work closely with his/her company’s leadership team to understand business trends, and works with IT experts to design a data center environment that can grow with the organization. Just like leaders of other departments, the IT leader needs to outline key IT investments that will be needed if the company grows. If a company’s core competence is healthcare, they may not want to be in the data center management business.

Not Having Clearly Written Procedures, Designated Lines Of Authority, And As A Result, Accountability

PROCESS: When completing a new deployment, the people who understand the system and the way it was designed should compile the procedural manual for how to handle isolated issues, maintenance, and system-wide failures. This should also include lines of authority, which defines areas of responsibility. Only once these are delineated, can one expect accountability of the individuals on the IT team. Too often, organizations are barely organized, and these vital documents do not exist (or staff are unaware of their existence).

We recommend that procedures are created, documented, and followed in a specified way, guiding appropriate deployment of IT assets. Clearly stated lines of authority are required to make it work.

We Are Here to Help!

If you are an IT executive, director or decision maker and are concerned you company is falling prey to any of the aforementioned problems, let Protected Harbor help you navigate through them by implementing a comprehensive, secure and durable strategy.

Protected Harbor is an MSP that helps organizations and businesses across the US address their current IT needs by building them secure, custom and protected long term solutions. Our unique technology experts evaluate current systems, determine the deficiencies and design cost-effective options. We assist all IT departments by increasing their security, durability and sustainability, thus freeing them up to concentrate on their daily workloads. Protected Harbor stands tall in the face of cyberattacks, human error, technical failure and compliance issues. www.protectedharbor.com

January 1, 2021 by Editor

External Events	Responses
Our primary competitor experienced a public, successful attack.	We have a similar vulnerability that can facilitate the attack, addressing that weakness. Enhanced monitoring abilities have been implemented.
There are more attacks against the electricity grids in three national presence points.	We don’t expect to become a direct target. Business continuity plans are being tested and updated to overcome the prolonged outage.
We fall under the scope of the new EU General Data Protection requirements.	We have conservative and cautious privacy practices in place.