In today's fast-paced business world, communication and collaboration are essential. Thanks to productivity-boosting tools and apps, we can now connect and work with others remotely. In fact, a recent report by the Chamber of Commerce revealed that 95% of small businesses in the U.S. have already adopted at least one IT platform. And among larger organizations with more resources and staff, the adoption rates are even higher.
However, having efficient and secure IT systems comes at a cost. Budget-conscious businesses often face a dilemma between building and maintaining their own in-house solutions, or partnering with professional providers for managed IT services. This is where Ascendant Technologies comes in, offering various IT solutions for companies to consider.
But why do businesses need these IT solutions in the first place? Well, in today's digital age, almost every business relies on technology, from a solopreneur creating their first business plan to a global corporation with thousands of employees. However, with this reliance comes risks. When solutions fail or underperform, the consequences can range from costly downtime and security vulnerabilities to lost productivity.
This is why it's crucial for businesses to choose efficient and scalable technology. Doing so can unlock robust cybersecurity, lower operational costs, and improve performance across the board. In turn, this leads to a more resilient organization with a much higher potential for growth.
Now, let's take a closer look at some of the essential IT solutions that Ascendant Technologies offers, tailored to the unique workflow of each business.
Firstly, managed IT services are a popular choice for businesses that heavily rely on their digital infrastructure. With routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and real-time support, managed IT services help minimize downtime and maintain productivity. Whether it's a company-wide outage or a single employee locked out of their workstation, managed IT can quickly resolve issues, allowing teams to stay focused on their tasks. And while the monthly cost may seem daunting, it's essential to view it as an investment in stability, efficiency, and long-term growth. Without it, frequent system failures and unresolved tech issues can lead to missed opportunities, lost revenue, and wasted payroll hours.
Next, cloud computing services offer a secure and reliable way for businesses to store and access their data, such as emails, documents, spreadsheets, and images. This eliminates the need for physical hardware and complex security infrastructure, as cloud providers offer built-in cybersecurity expertise. Additionally, cloud services also boost productivity, as authorized users can access files from anywhere, enabling flexible work, secure sharing, and seamless collaboration. The cost varies depending on the provider, but most charge only a few cents per gigabyte, allowing businesses to scale their storage based on their needs and budget.
Of course, with the increasing reliance on technology comes the risk of cyber threats. This is where cybersecurity services come in. These providers install protective software, such as firewalls, antivirus, and encryption tools, to keep data safe from cybercriminals. They also offer training for employees to spot and prevent potential threats, such as phishing scams, malware, denial-of-service attacks, and SQL injection attacks. The cost of cybersecurity services can vary, depending on the services received, but it is a worthwhile investment to protect sensitive data and prevent potential losses.
Another essential IT solution for businesses is accounting and payroll software. These programs streamline invoicing, payroll, and taxes, automating repetitive tasks and organizing financial documents. They also offer customizable reporting tools and help businesses comply with tax regulations. With all these features, accounting teams can increase productivity, reduce the risk of errors, and save time and money.
And when it comes to the unexpected, businesses need to have a plan in place to ensure continuity and backup of their data. A robust continuity strategy allows organizations to maintain essential services in the event of a disruption, while professional data backup solutions protect files, software configurations, and system settings. These components, such as automated backups, redundant systems, and disaster recovery plans, can be managed in-house or outsourced to expert providers. While the cost may vary depending on the scale, it's a worthwhile investment compared to the potential losses businesses may face in the event of an outage or cyber threat.
Lastly, we have VoIP and unified communications, which offer alternatives to traditional phone services. With VoIP, businesses can make domestic and international calls over the internet, saving on extra fees for long-distance calls. It also provides additional functions, such as call recording, dial-in conferencing, and forwarding voicemails to email. Unified communications take it a step further, consolidating various tools such as voice, video, messaging, file sharing, and screen sharing into a single, integrated platform. This enables seamless collaboration across devices and locations without juggling multiple apps or providers.
In conclusion, the business landscape today demands instant communication and remote collaboration, facilitated by various productivity-boosting tools and apps. While these IT solutions may come at a cost, they are crucial for businesses to stay efficient, secure, and resilient in the face of potential risks and disruptions. So whether it's managed IT services, cloud computing, cybersecurity, accounting and payroll software, business continuity and backups, or VoIP and unified communications, Ascendant Technologies has got you covered with tailored solutions to meet your business's unique needs.
In the fast-paced world of business today, effective communication and collaboration have become essential for success. To keep up with this demand, companies are turning to productivity-boosting tools and apps that allow for instant communication and remote collaboration. A report by the Chamber of Commerce revealed that in 2023, 95% of small businesses in the U.S. had already embraced at least one IT platform. Even larger organizations with more resources and staff have reported even higher adoption rates.
However, maintaining secure and efficient IT systems comes at a cost. Budget-conscious businesses often face a tough decision between developing in-house solutions or partnering with professional providers for managed IT services. Ascendant Technologies offers a range of IT solutions that companies can consider in order to meet their unique needs and workflow.
So why exactly do businesses need IT solutions? The truth is, technology has become an integral part of nearly every business, from a solo entrepreneur drafting their first business plan to a global corporation with thousands of employees. But with this reliance comes a certain level of risk. When IT solutions fail or underperform, it can result in costly downtime, security vulnerabilities, and lost productivity.
On the other hand, companies that invest in efficient and scalable technology can reap the benefits of robust cybersecurity, lower operational costs, and improved overall performance. This ultimately leads to a more resilient organization with a higher potential for growth. This is where Ascendant Technologies comes in.
So what specific IT solutions do businesses need? Well, it really depends on the unique needs of each company. However, there are some essential add-ons that every business should consider.
Managed IT services, for example, are a popular choice for companies that rely heavily on their digital infrastructure. These services include routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and real-time support, all of which minimize downtime and maintain productivity. Whether it's a company-wide outage or a single employee locked out of their workstation, managed IT services can quickly resolve issues, allowing teams to stay focused on their tasks. And while the monthly cost may seem daunting at first, it's important to view it as an investment in long-term stability, efficiency, and growth. Without proper IT support, frequent system failures and unresolved technical issues can result in missed opportunities, lost revenue, and wasted payroll hours.
Another crucial aspect of IT solutions is cloud computing services. With the sheer amount of data being generated by businesses today, it's essential to have a secure and reliable way to store and access information without risking unauthorized exposure. While some companies may choose to manage their storage in-house, many have shifted to cloud services, eliminating the need for physical hardware and complex security infrastructure. Cloud providers offer built-in cybersecurity expertise, which helps businesses protect sensitive data while also reducing overhead costs. Additionally, cloud services also improve productivity as authorized users can access files from anywhere, enabling flexible work, secure sharing, and seamless collaboration. The cost of cloud services can vary depending on the provider, but most offer flexible pricing options based on the company's needs and budget.
In today's world, cybersecurity is also a top priority for businesses. Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to exploit IT vulnerabilities and compromise a company's reputation. This can happen through phishing scams, malware attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and SQL injection attacks. To protect against these threats, businesses can invest in cybersecurity services, which involve installing protective software such as firewalls, antivirus, and encryption tools. These services also often include training for employees to spot and prevent potential threats. The cost of cybersecurity services can vary depending on the specific services received, but it's a worthwhile investment when considering the potential consequences of a cyber attack.
Accounting and payroll software is another essential IT solution that can greatly benefit businesses. These programs not only streamline invoicing, payroll, and taxes, but they also automate repetitive tasks, organize financial documents, provide customizable reporting tools, and ensure compliance with tax regulations. This can greatly increase the productivity of an accounting team, reduce the risk of errors, and ultimately save the company time and money.
In addition to these solutions, businesses should also consider investing in business continuity and backups. These strategies allow companies to continue operating and securing data even in the event of a power outage, hardware failure, or cyber threat. A robust continuity plan involves assessing potential risks and determining how to allocate resources in a crisis. On the other hand, professional data backup solutions protect important files, software configurations, and system settings, allowing teams to resume work quickly without having to rebuild their entire IT environment. While some businesses may choose to manage these systems in-house, many opt for outsourcing to expert providers to ensure reliability and scalability. The cost of these services can vary depending on the scale of the business, but it's a worthwhile investment when considering the alternative. According to a 2023 Uptime Institute data center survey, 54% of respondents reported outage costs exceeding $100,000, with 16% facing losses over $1 million. Investing in continuity and backup safeguards against much greater risk in the long run.
Lastly, businesses should consider investing in VoIP and unified communications. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an alternative to traditional phone service, allowing companies to make both domestic and international calls over the internet from a phone or computer. This can greatly benefit businesses that regularly make international calls, as they can avoid extra fees for calling far-off locations. Unified communications takes this a step further by consolidating various tools such as voice, video, messaging, file sharing, and screen sharing into one integrated platform. This allows for seamless collaboration across devices and locations without the need for multiple apps or providers.
In conclusion, in today's business landscape, IT solutions are more important than ever. They not only facilitate instant communication and remote collaboration, but they also provide essential cybersecurity, increase productivity, and reduce costs in the long run. Ascendant Technologies offers a variety of IT solutions to meet the unique needs of each business, ensuring that they can thrive in an increasingly digital world.