Category: Blog

Last week, Elevate Services Group, in concert with our partner McGhee Productivity Solutions, hosted a productivity workshop to help business leaders unlock the power of technology for their businesses. CEOs, Business Development, HR Directors, Supply Chain and Finance leaders gathered to learn how technology can accelerate the path to achieve their business objectives.

“[The workshop was a] Great way to continue to learn best practices and using technology more efficiently.  So many applications don’t get fully utilized and these workshops help unlock functions not commonly used.” – 2019 Attendee

Are you reading this blog post wondering if your company is truly productive? Is your business using technology to create productivity or has it grown into a distraction? Forbes recently published the 5 things leaders can look for to help answer these questions:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/03/19/is-your-company-truly-productive-look-for-these-five-things

We find that our clients earn back time in their schedule through Elevate’s proven methods for appropriately harnessing technology investments. If you are a leader in your business and want to have a conversation about getting the greatest return on your technology investments, please contact our team.

About Elevate Services Group

Elevate Services Group was founded by business owners and corporate executives that understand the changing landscape of technology.  No longer is technology simply an operational function to support the business, but rather a strategic business asset that creates deeper relationships with customers, increased productivity through streamlined processes and competitive differentiation in rapidly changing markets.

To get the best Denver IT support available for your business, contact Elevate Services Group at {phone}.

What IT Services do Small Businesses Need the Most?

Discover the three IT services that are essential to your business’s success and learn which MSP is best positioned to offer these services in the Denver area.  

Your IT department is a strategic asset that can help you identify business opportunities, boost your company’s income, minimize business operational costs, and more. However, expert help is often in order to make the most of your IT hardware and software. That is why every single small business owner should seriously consider availing him or herself of the following IT managed services.

Comprehensive IT Assessment

A good IT managed service will always provide an initial IT assessment for first-time clients. This assessment will enable the IT company to:

• Identify vulnerabilities that may be exploited by a cybercriminal
• Determine what hardware and software would be the best fit for the business
• Customize its services to suit a company’s exact needs
• Develop IT training programs for the company’s employees

Cybersecurity

Every single day, hackers create well over 200,000 malware samples. While many of these samples are used to successfully target large corporations, small business owners are usually the ones who face the brunt of cybercriminal attacks. Recent stats show that well over 43% of all cyberattack victims were small businesses that don’t have the ability to hire multiple IT experts to safeguard their IT systems.

IT managed services level the playing field by providing small business owners with the same expertise available to large, multinational companies. IT MSP cybersecurity services include not only up to date software but also employee training, secure storage options, and a disaster recovery plan to ensure business continuity in the event of a hack.

IT Monitoring and Support

IT monitoring is an essential service that ensures a business’s IT systems are working properly and efficiently at all times. What is more, an IT managed service provider that continually monitors a business’s IT department will be able to address problems before they arise and offer advice on IT upgrades that can enable a company to become even more profitable in the future.

Furthermore, many IT managed service providers also offer 24/7 support in the event something goes wrong. This professional assistance minimizes downtime and the loss of income that invariably comes with it. It also shows customers, suppliers, and business partners that your company can be trusted to meet deadlines and provide fast, efficient service.

Introducing Elevate Services Group

Elevate is a leading IT managed service provider in the Denver area. The company is known not only for providing cutting edge IT solutions to small and mid-size businesses but also offering top-tier customer service, making it easy for business owners who aren’t tech-savvy to get expert advice and assistance without undue delay. What is more, we offer flexible service packages to meet your IT needs at a cost you can afford. Get in touch with us to learn more or to make an appointment with one of our certified, experienced IT technicians.

Microsoft Office 365 Scam

High-value Microsoft Office 365 users are being targeted in a new phishing scam intended to compromise their login credentials. Victims of the ongoing attack have willingly given up their login info to hackers, providing direct access to business data, as well as other accounts that use the same password.

How Does The Scam Work?

Targets receive an email informing them that they missed a phone call, with an audio excerpt of the voicemail attached. They are prompted to login and hear the full voicemail, and are directed to a fake website that collects the username and password entered.

This is a form of phishing, a method in which cybercriminals send fraudulent emails that appear to be from reputable sources in order to get recipients to reveal sensitive information and execute significant financial transfers. In this case, it’s known as “vishing”, one of the latest variants of phishing being tracked by cybersecurity professionals.

Instead of attaching malware to an email and disguising it as a PDF, cybercriminals specifically disguise it as an audio file and make it so the email appears to be from an automated voicemail service.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Scams Like This?

It all comes down to whether the target can tell it’s a phishing email or not. Learn to recognize phishing emails by these common red flags:

1. Incorrect Domain: Before even taking a look at the body of the message, check out the domain in the sender’s address. Maybe they claim to be from your bank, or a big name company – but talk is cheap. It’s much more difficult to spoof an actual domain name, and so it’s more common to see domains that are closer, but not 100% correct. If it seems fishy, it probably is.
2. Suspicious Links: Always be sure to hover your mouse over a link in an email before clicking it. That allows you to see where it actually leads. While it may look harmless, the actual URL may show otherwise, so always look, and rarely click.
3. Attachments: Phishers will often try to get you to open an attachment, so, if you see an attachment in combination with any of the above indicators, it’s only more proof that the email is likely part of a phishing attempt.

In the end, the key to phishing scams like this is that they don’t rely on digital security vulnerabilities or cutting-edge hacking technology; phishing targets the user, who, without the right training, will always be a security risk, regardless of the IT measures set in place.

Like this article? Check out the following blogs to learn more:

A World of Possibilities for Law Students and Young Lawyers

What Business Owners in Denver Should Know About IT Costs

Discover the three IT service options and their advantages, disadvantages, and associated costs in order to pick the best IT solution for your business.  

Small businesses in Denver have three IT service options. These are hiring an in-house IT technician, outsourcing all IT services to a local IT service provider or hiring a part or full-time technician in conjunction with outsourcing some IT jobs to a qualified IT company.

Which option is the most cost-efficient? Following is an overview that can help you make a well-informed decision.

In-House IT Services

The average annual salary for an IT technician is $75,412. That’s a lot of money for a small business, especially when one considers the fact that a business owner will also need to shell out money for benefits. Furthermore, your business will also need to cover other IT expenses, including:

• Networks and network infrastructure
• Software applications
• Data storage
• Communications systems such as VoIP

In-House IT Services Combined with IT Managed Services

A business could save money by outsourcing complex IT jobs to a firm while hiring a relatively inexperienced IT technician for a fraction of what it would cost to hire an experienced one. The IT technician could handle simple in-house jobs such as updating software, backing up data, and providing cybersecurity assistance to employees. Many IT managed service companies offer combined assistance to companies with their own IT “point person” so it wouldn’t be hard to find a service who will work with your resident IT technician.

The main disadvantage of this solution is that the overwhelming majority of data breaches are caused by human error. It’s unwise to trust your IT system to a IT technician who may not have the training and skills needed to do the job right. You may save some money by cutting IT costs but bear in mind that the average cost of a data breach is currently a whopping $3.9 million. In the end, you need to know that your IT system is being managed by an expert.

Working Solely with an IT Managed Service Provider

Working with an IT managed service provider that offers small business IT services is usually the best option for most small business owners. IT managed services offer:

• Scalable solutions so you only pay for tools and services you need
• 24/7 help and assistance
• Top-tier cybersecurity to prevent attacks
• Regularly upgraded software
• Experienced technicians who receive ongoing training in their field

While it’s impossible to say exactly how much it will cost to obtain customized service and assistance from an IT managed service provider, it can be said with certainty that the price tag is well worth it.

Elevate Services Group is a Denver-based IT managed services that specializes in working with small and mid-size businesses. We offer cutting edge people, process and platform to not only keep your computers running safely but also full optimization so you can use technology’s full potential to grow your business. Get in touch with us today to learn more or to make an appointment with our team of IT experts.

Reduce Business Disruption When Moving Data To The Cloud

Business disruption when moving data to the cloud is inevitable but you can minimize the impact with proper planning and professional assistance from an IT MSP.

Cloud computing is fast becoming one of the most integral technologies in the business world and it’s not hard to see why. Cloud storage offers many benefits, including easy, secure access to business data, scalable storage that can be increased or decreased as needed, and significant savings as companies no longer have to purchase additional hardware and software to grow a business.

Even so, some business owners are hesitant to transition to the cloud because they are concerned their business operations will be disrupted while data is moved to a cloud server. This is certainly a valid concern as moving terabytes of data to the cloud will result in business disruption. However, there are ways in which a business can facilitate the transition process in order to gain the benefits of cloud computing without enduring long hours of downtime.

Know What Moves and What Stays

Many companies are moving 100% of their data and apps to the cloud but that doesn’t mean this is the best solution for every single business. Some businesses do best with a hybrid storage solution that allows some data to remain on office computers while other data and applications are moved to the cloud.

Once you have decided what to do with all your data and apps, it’s time to decide which type of cloud server you will use. Public cloud servers are ideal for many small to mid-size business owners as they are inexpensive, efficient, and have good cybersecurity standards. On the other hand, large companies and companies that need to remain compliant with strict industry regulations do best with a private cloud storage solution.

Pick a Good Moving Time

Once you know what moves and what remains, choose a transition time that best suits the needs of your suppliers and clients. Companies with peak seasons and slow seasons will naturally want to transition to the cloud during a slow season to avoid inconveniencing clients. Even companies that are busy year-round will find that certain times of the day are slower than others. Data transition doesn’t have to happen all at once; it can be broken up into different time periods to suit your company’s needs.

Make Sure Your Data is Encrypted as it Moves

Cloud security does not ensure your data is safe as it moves from your computers to the cloud. You will need an encrypted connection to keep your valuable information safe as it transitions; otherwise, cyberhackers will be able to access it while it’s being moved.

Get Professional Help

Moving large quantities of data to the cloud is no small feat. A lot can go wrong; in fact, more than 40% of companies experience a failed or stalled cloud implementation when transitioning some or all a company’s data to the cloud. Professional help from an IT managed service is one of the best ways to ensure the transition is efficient and successful.

Elevate Services Group is a leading IT managed service provider in Denver. We provide cloud transition and storage services in addition to IT network monitoring, email security and encryption, business continuity planning, and more. Give us a call at your convenience to find out more or to make an appointment with our IT team.

Microsoft Support in Denver

Discover how to find a top-tier IT managed service in Denver that offers Microsoft support and training in conjunction with other important tools and services.  

Microsoft Office usage is growing; in fact, there are currently over 155 million Office 365 business users in the world, along with 500,000 companies that use Microsoft Teams. These tools have a lot going for them; however, chances are you aren’t getting as much out of them as you could be with expert, customized support in your local area. The following are some ways in which Microsoft Support in Denver can help you grow your business.

Training

Do all your office staff members know how to use Office 365 properly? Are they aware of shortcuts that could make their work fast and easy? Do they know how to keep Office 365 files secure? If not, an IT managed service that offers Microsoft training can help your employees learn how to master the many features Office has to offer.

Elevate offers free Microsoft training to all its clients. The training sessions are done via webinar to allow your business to offer the training at the time and place that best suits your needs. Ongoing training sessions cover all aspects of Office 365 so your employees know how to use the most important features in any given program.

Avoiding Downtime

Office 365 has an uptime rate of well over 99%; however, that doesn’t mean you’ll never suffer downtime while using Office programs. Common causes of downtime may include a cyberattack, IT equipment failure, human error or a cyberattack. When downtime happens, the results can be devastating. Experts estimate that the average cost of downtime is a whopping $5,600 a minute.

One of the best ways to prevent IT downtime is to partner with an IT service provider in your local area. Localized IT MSPs offer 24/7 IT monitoring and assistance to keep your systems running at all times. If a problem occurs, experts will immediately come to your aid to not only fix the issue but also prevent it from reoccurring. Furthermore, IT managed service providers offer top-tier cybersecurity programs to keep your system safe from common cyberattacks such as phishing, ransomware, malware, and DDoS.

Introducing Your Microsoft Support Company In Denver

Are you looking for an IT managed service that offers Microsoft support in Denver along with other important IT services? If so, Elevate maybe your best option. The company offers a wide range of services, including:

• Microsoft training and support
• Cyber and network security
• Scalable cloud storage solutions
• A comprehensive technology assessment that enables you to see what needs to be done to improve your business IT in order to successfully grow your company.

Elevate is a Denver-based company run by experienced former business CEOs and CTOs who are not only familiar with cutting edge IT solutions but also the needs of small and medium-sized business owners. Get in touch with us to learn more or to make an appointment with one of our IT experts.