The Top 5 IT Trends That Will Stand Out in 2016

If a business is thinking about outsourcing their IT needs and decides to follow through with this plan, they will see both immediate and ongoing benefits from this decision. Because there are numerous benefits that go along with outsourcing IT to the right provider, we want to highlight the top five:

Easily Control IT Cost

Outsourcing is the easiest way to control IT costs. Trying to handle IT in-house comes with a lot of unexpected variables and almost always ends up costing more than projected. With outsourced IT, you’ll know the exact costs of specific IT investments before committing to them. The cost transparency provided by outsourcing empowers businesses to make the best IT decisions at different stages of growth.

 Professional Support You Can Count On

Trying to build an in-house IT department is a complicated and potentially risky task. It only takes one bad hire to compromise an entire IT department. For businesses that are just starting to look at IT, trying to figure out what qualities a new hire should possess can be next to impossible. Outsourcing eliminates this complexity. All you need to do is get client references from an outsourced provider and then speak to the references that are similar to the size of your business. This will allow you to easily confirm that the provider is able to handle all of your IT needs.

Save on Labor Costs

Not only does outsourcing put your IT needs in the hands of highly trained and experienced professionals, but the excellent work done by outsourced IT professionals costs significantly less than having a team in-house. The reduced costs of outsourced labor actually makes it possible for businesses to do more in terms of IT than they could afford in-house.

Increase Security and Reduce Risk

 Taking advantage of a managed IT service Contract is the best way for a business to dramatically increase their security and significantly reduce their risk of any type of digital breach. The importance of having an outsourced team that’s constantly monitoring for and taking proactive steps against digital threats can’t be emphasized enough.

 Focus on What Your Cincinnati Business Does Best

While IT can play a key role in helping a Cincinnati business grow and thrive, trying to deal with IT in-house can be a major distraction. Instead of requiring a huge investment of focus and resources, outsourcing allows a business to take care of all their IT needs without getting pulled away from what they do best.

At Full Sky Technologies, we specialize in providing outsourced IT services to small and medium businesses across Cincinnati. We’re able to provide custom IT solutions based on exactly what a business needs. So if you want to work with an IT provider that will treat your business as a true partner, be sure to get in touch with us online at info@fullskytech.com  or by calling 513-206-9971.
www.fullskytechnologies.com 

Add Value to Your Business by Consolidating into a Managed Service

With a Managed Service Agreement you don’t have to worry about handling your IT needs in-house. Instead, you can let Full Sky Technologies handle all your computer network, IT management and technical support needs. If you’re wondering whether or not this type of arrangement makes sense for your business, we want to cover five ways managed IT support can add value:

1. You’ll Save Money

As a business, it’s vital to keep an eye on your bottom line. One of the reasons that managed IT solutions, often sell themselves is businesses can immediately calculate how much they’ll save. When compared to the cost of having one or more in-house IT employees, as well as the potential cost of not taking IT seriously, the savings offered by a managed option are very appealing.

2. Focus on What Your Business Does Best

In order for a business to grow, it needs to have the right IT resources. However, that doesn’t mean you want to turn into a tech company. Trying to deal with IT needs in-house can become a huge distraction for a business. By handing this type of work over to knowledgeable professionals, you can stay focused on the things that your business does best.

3. Benefit from Proactive Solutions

When you hire an IT service provider, they’re not going to wait around for something to go wrong. Instead, they’re going to take the necessary steps to ensure that your business is protected against a wide range of problems. Knowing that a dedicated team is working diligently on all of the IT needs for your business will provide you with peace of mind.

4. Know Costs Ahead of Time

Cash flow is an issue that affects businesses of all sizes. What’s great about the straightforward pricing structure of IT is you don’t have to waste time guessing about price or being worried that you will get hit with unexpected charges. Instead, you’ll be able to negotiate an ongoing standard rate. Not having to deal with fluctuations in pricing is a big plus for businesses.

5. Fast Responses When You Need It Most

While the managed team responsible for your IT support will work hard to keep things running smoothly at all times, there will still be situations where your business requires immediate IT help. Since those are the times when you want to know that help is available, it’s very reassuring to be able to enlist immediate and reliable help with a single phone call to your managed IT provider.

If you would like to talk about the specific IT needs that your business has, you can easily get in touch with us by calling us today at 513 206 9971 or emailing us at helpdesk@fullskytech.com

What You Need to Know about Disaster Recovery

Far too many businesses operate under the assumption that a disaster scenario could never happen to them. Although it would be great if no business ever had to deal with a disaster and the subsequent fallout, the reality is this is something that many businesses will have to deal with at some point. Regardless of their size, there are circumstances that are outside the control of any business. Whether it’s the result of a freak accident or a deliberate sabotage, businesses need to have a plan in place for how they’re going to deal with this kind of event.

Since recovering from a disaster isn’t something that most businesses have experience doing, it doesn’t make sense for them to try to figure out everything on their own. Instead, a much better approach is to enlist the help of disaster recovery services.

At Full Sky Technologies, we offer IT disaster recovery solutions. Because we have so much experience in this area, we want to share our advice about what businesses should do to recover from a disaster scenario:

Have a Master Contact List

If a business experiences a major disaster, it can turn all operations upside down. One of the best ways to minimize the negative fallout from this type of incident is to keep everyone in the loop. By having a contact list that includes vendors, partners and all other individuals who are relevant to a business, they can keep some form of communication open as everything else is being addressed.

Backups and Risk Assessment

Most businesses know that they should back up all of their data. However, due to everything else they have going on, backups often get done far less frequently than they should. Ensuring that no one is caught off guard is why a business should work with an IT provider to create the right type of backup strategy.

Going through the process of pinpointing when and how backups should be handled is also a good opportunity to look for other points of risk. By understanding the potential weak points of a business, it becomes much easier to look for potential solutions.

Don’t Try to Do Everything Alone

Dealing with a disaster of any scale isn’t something that’s easy for a business to do. That being said, it’s not something a business should attempt to resolve all on their own. Instead, they should turn to experienced professionals for help. By working with Full Sky Technologies, data recovery in Cincinnati, OH will be far more effective.

Additionally, businesses can minimize their downside by being proactive. Call Full Sky Technologies today at 513 206 9971 or Email us at helpdesk@fullskytech.com to learn more about what your business can do to help prevent data loss, as well as how we can help you prepare in the event that disaster does strike.

Does IT Support make Sense For your Business? Answer These Following Questions.

Business growth is a very tricky subject. If certain decisions are made too early, they can hurt the business before it gets a chance to establish a solid foundation. On the other hand, putting a decision off for too long can hold a business back from hitting its stride.

One key area of decision making for many businesses is in regards to IT. As a business starts to grow, decisions need to be made about whether or not the time is right to hire an IT service provider. Because not every business has the same needs, the best IT solutions are those that can be customized.

While not every business is going to follow the exact same path with IT, there are some practices for putting the right pieces in place at the optimal time. So with that objective in mind, let’s look at the top five signs that it’s time to invest in IT solutions for your business:

1. You Need IT But Hiring Doesn’t Make Sense

Putting together an in-house IT team can be very expensive. Most companies are going to need IT services long before they have the revenue to support the salary and other costs of an in-house team. In this scenario, a managed IT service provider in Cincinnati can provide the solutions you need in a more cost-effective manner.

2. Your Business Doesn’t Have a Clear Backup Strategy

Far too many businesses take an “it won’t happen to us” approach to data backup. Unfortunately, that type of gamble can lead to major consequences. If you want to properly protect your business and customers, you need an IT service provider that can put a reliable backup strategy in place and manage it.

3. Initiatives Are Being Held Back By Lack of IT Capabilities

If there are things that your company wants to do but are unable to do them because you don’t have the IT resources in place, enlisting the help of IT consultants needs to be at the top of your to-do list.

4. You’re Concerned About Security

As Sony and other high profile hacks have shown, businesses that don’t take the necessary steps to protect themselves run the risk of major cyber-security breaches. If you want to protect your business, then your business needs an IT service provider sooner rather than later.

5. You Can’t Get IT Support When Your Business Needs It

IT issues are going to come up during the course of a normal business day. Being unable to deal with those issues in a timely manner is a clear sign that the time is right to start working with a reliable IT service provider.

Let Full Sky Technologies be your one stop solution for your IT. Call us anytime at 513 206 9971 or email us at info@fullskytech.com  

www.fullskytechnologies.com

Being Proactive Rather Than Re-Active

How Proactive IT Services Can Help Improve Your Business Security

Over the last year, companies of all sizes have found themselves dealing with large hacks and data breaches. While it's easy to assume that these kinds of hacks are events that come out of the blue, that's not an accurate picture of what often happens.

In multiple cases, it's come to light that businesses have failed to take the necessary steps to prevent these hacks. In several high-profile incidents, companies actually went out of their way to avoid spending on the necessary security measures. As these events have shown, trying to cut costs upfront is simply not worth the potential risk exposure that doing so can create.

The Reality of Hacking and Data Breaches

When hackers take the time to go after very large corporations, they generally have a very specific reason for doing so. Whether it's because they see the corporation as a lucrative target or don't agree with the way the corporation does business, these hacks are very coordinated efforts.

What many people don't realize is for the majority of other hacking and data breach incidents, the individuals carrying out these acts aren't targeting their actions in a hyper-focused way. Instead, they're looking for the lowest hanging fruit in terms of weaknesses. From software that hasn't been updated to companies that don't have a strong password policy in place, these are the types of vulnerabilities that hackers can target on a large scale with minimal effort.

An IT Services Company Can Help You Take Preventative Action

Since the majority of hacks and data breaches result because companies have little to no cyber security in place, Cincinnati business owners can greatly reduce their risk of any type of compromising event by working with knowledgable IT consultants.

By actively seeking out IT support in Cincinnati for security, your business can eliminate many of these issues that create hacking vulnerabilities. Some of the steps that IT support in Cincinnati can take include implementing solutions to secure against spyware, malware and viruses.

Remote backup and patch deployment are two more business IT solutions that can play a key role in ensuring that all of a company's data is secure. And whether your business is already utilizing cloud technologies or wants to transition to the cloud in a way that's fully secure, we can assist with all the necessary preventative steps. Another big advantage of working with Skynet Innovations is we can provide ongoing support to ensure your networks and data remain secure.

If you want to be sure that your business doesn't have any large vulnerabilities that could leave it open to a hack or data breach, be sure to contact us today to set up a consultation. 513 206 9971

info@fullskytech.com

www.fullskytechnologies.com

Are You A Small Business In Need Of IT Support???

The Smart Way to Approach Small Business IT Budgeting

Most businesses are aware that they can gain a lot by making the right investments in IT. However, just because businesses understand the value of IT doesn't mean they automatically know which investments they should make. In addition to being unclear about which investments make the most sense, plenty of businesses have questions about the most effective way to approach budgeting for IT.

Since these are questions that come up on a regular basis, we thought it would be helpful to share some of our insights. In terms of IT budgeting, two things that businesses need to take into account are emergencies and unexpected issues that come up. For example, even though it may not be possible to foresee when a computer or server is going to crash, it's important for those types of events to be taken into account during conversations about budgeting.

Preventative Action is the Best Way to Optimize An IT Budget

One lesson that far too many businesses have to learn the hard way is that it costs more to fix something that goes wrong than it does to make an upfront investment in preventing it from happening. That reality is why small business IT support is such a wise investment. When a Cincinnati business takes advantage of IT support prior to anything going wrong, they are able to avoid many of the issues that end up plaguing other businesses at some point.

The reason why preventative action is less expensive than reacting to an emergency is straightforward. When IT professionals are asked to provide preventative services, they are able to do so in a way that is measured and can be carried out in a straightforward manner.

On the other hand, when a business has something go terribly wrong and calls an IT company in a panic, the company doesn't have any reference point for how the business operates. Instead, they have to go into the situation blindly and try to pinpoint what went wrong as quickly as possible. So just as ER visits are more expensive than routine checkups, the same is true for  IT services for small businesses.

Take Action and Stay Up to Date

When you take the initiative to hire professionals who can provide you with small business IT solutions, you can be confident that your software will be kept up to date. Just keep in mind that in addition to software, hardware also needs periodic updating. So when this advice is provided by your IT consultants, it's something that your business will definitely benefit from following.

If you'd like to speak in detail about the IT services for small businesses that are the right fit for your specific needs, be sure to contact us so we can set up a consultation. Info@fullskytech.com or 513 206 9971 to speak with a representative.

Is the Cloud the Right Place for Your Business?

Whether it’s because of Apple’s iCloud, Dropbox or another platform, most people in Cincinnati are now familiar with the basic idea of what the cloud is and what it has to offer. While it’s fairly easy for individuals to get on board with this concept, businesses are often more resistant to making the transition.

The most common reason businesses are hesitant to transition to the cloud is because they have concerns about security. Given the various data breaches that happen to organizations of almost all sizes, it’s completely valid to have concerns about cloud security. That being said, it’s important to emphasize that when the proper security measures and policies are in place, cloud platforms can be just as secure as any other type of storage.

Because moving to the cloud can provide a Cincinnati business with numerous advantages, we want to touch on some of the key benefits, as well as look at the security issue in a little greater detail:

Enjoy Greater Flexibility

One of the big benefits that goes along with the transition from physical servers to virtual ones is the increased flexibility that becomes available. For example, if there’s a sudden spike in usage, there’s no need to worry about a crash. Instead, being on an optimized cloud platforms means that additional server resources can be spun up within minutes.

Save Money and Time

On the other side of the point touched on above, being in a virtual environment means that resources don’t need to run 100% of the time. If resources aren’t being used, they can be turned off for the time being, which means that your business won’t spend on things it’s not using. Having this level of control in a straightforward format also means notable savings of time.

Take Advantage of More Effective Project Monitoring

When any type of project is spread across numerous locations, it can be difficult to accurately monitor how well it is moving forward. The great thing about utilizing a cloud solution is the centralized structure of this type of system means that everyone involved will be able to accurately look at how well the project is progressing.

Dedicated Hardware Can Actually Increase Security

As mentioned earlier in this post, security is definitely an important consideration for any type of cloud platform. But even though security is something that needs to be carefully evaluated, the right cloud system can actually provide an optimal amount of security. As long as firewall, anti-virus and physical security rules are all utilized, a cloud solution can deliver all the benefits discussed above within a very secure system.

Want to learn more about transitioning your business to the cloud in an optimal and secure way? Call (513) 206 9971 to speak to a member of the Full Sky Technologies team about your specific cloud business needs.

How Important Are Battery Backup Units for Servers?

One question we’re commonly asked is whether or not battery backup units should be used for computer equipment like servers. The single-word answer to that question is yes. Since knowing that battery backup units should be used is probably enough to further pique your interest on this topic, we want to jump into a more detailed discussion about battery backup units.

The 3 Main Functions of Battery Backup Units

In addition to the phrase battery backup units, you may also hear this component referred to as an uninterrupted power supply. Often abbreviated as UPS, the function of a battery backup unit is to offer an additional layer of protection in the event of something like a power outage occurring. By having a UPS in place, you won’t have to worry about losing sensitive information in the event of a sudden outage. Instead, you’ll have an extra window of time to save the information. An uninterrupted power supply also helps to protect against data or system corruption.

To offer those different forms of protection, there are three main functions that battery backup units supply. The first is to provide power even when wall power is unavailable. As discussed above, this function means that even if utility power is cut off, data can be saved and a device can be properly shut down instead of abruptly cutting off.

The second function of an uninterrupted power supply involves a term you may have heard in other discussions about servers. That term is clean power. In this context, clean power doesn’t refer to things like fossil fuels. Instead, it refers to power that is consistent in its frequency and voltage. In an ideal world, the power from the wall would always be clean. But in reality, the power that’s delivered varies greatly.

When that power goes straight to a server, the device has to work hard to properly clean it before being used. This can take a toll on hardware and cause it to wear out prematurely. What’s great about the second function of a UPS is it’s designed to take on that role. Because it’s fully optimized for cleaning, it can extend the lifespan of hardware.

Last but not least, an uninterrupted power supply is able to send a signal to a server, computer or other piece of hardware to let it know that the power has shut off. By acting as a buffer, the UPS provides a way for devices to properly shut down or be transferred to another power source. As with handling the process of cleaning power, this type of buffer will extend the lifespan of hardware.

If you have any additional questions about optimizing your server performance and lifespan with help from battery backup units, you can easily get in touch with us by calling (513) 206-9971

What Hospitals Need to Know About Remote Access Hacks

The term remote access refers to the ability for employees to access their hospital’s network from anywhere. Since this enables employees to stay connected from anywhere as long as they have Internet access, it’s easy to understand the productivity benefits that remote access can offer. Because of those benefits, more hospitals are opting for remote access systems. While there are definite upsides to remote access, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides as well.

The biggest issue with a remote access system is that it provides a potential attack pathway for hackers. How significant is this issue? Research shows that insecure remote access is the leading cause of data breaches and hacks. Given the type of sensitive data that hospitals are responsible for protecting, this form of security needs to be taken very seriously.

Not only are remote access hacks the source of high-profile data breaches like Target’s compromise of over 40 million credit and debit cards, but identify theft within the medical industry has increased 21.7% since last year.

How Can Hospitals Strengthen Their Remote Access Security?

When it comes to breaching remote access systems, improperly configured remote management tools are the most common target. The reason hackers target this element of a system is because it makes it possible for them to bypass the system’s firewall and gain remote access to the core system.

While IT security for remote access isn’t a topic that should be taken lightly, the good news is there are a handful of steps that can be taken to significantly increase security. Although the steps are fairly straightforward, the reason they are surprisingly effective is because many organizations never take the time to implement them. As a result, having them in place will serve as a significant deterrent.

The first step is to ensure that every user has a unique username and password, and understands the importance of not sharing those credentials with anyone else. The second step is to require two-factor authentication. Of all the small wins that can occur, this is arguably the most significant. Next up is keeping firewall software updated. Fourth on the list is ensuring HIPAA compliance is maintained. Finally, it’s important to remind team members about the importance of data security on a regular basis. Those occasions should also be used to review current policies and make any necessary updates.

Because this is an issue with no margin for error, it’s crucial for hospitals to work with seasoned professionals. If you want to work with a team that has proven IT security experience, Full Sky Technologies can help. Contact us today at info@fullskytech.com or 513-206-9971 to discuss in detail how we can ensure that all your IT requirements are met in the most secure way possible.

How Can Healthcare Providers Best Utilize New Technology?

Given that the healthcare information technology market is slated to grow by 20% annually for the next three years and mobile health devices are on pace for annual growth of 33% for the next five years, it’s safe to say that healthcare providers are going to be presented with many new types of technology.

While new technology can be exciting and may be the key to unlocking growth, it also comes with a unique set of challenges. This is especially true in the healthcare field. Since any new technology that a healthcare provider is considering can have a significant impact, it’s important to properly weigh every decision.

Because there are so many different elements to consider, we’ve put together the following guide to help healthcare providers evaluate new technology options as they present themselves:

Data is Key

Although the future looks bright, the current reality of home medical devices is only 10% of them are able to generate and share electronic data. Since that creates a significant gap for healthcare providers, shifting to devices that do provide data capabilities needs to be a priority.

Don’t Drown in Data

There’s no denying the fact that data is crucial. That being said, far too many healthcare providers have found themselves in a position where they feel like they’re drowning in data. This is why it’s so important for providers to have a clear understanding of which data truly matters. By taking the time to gain this clarity, it becomes much easier to fully reap the benefits that new technology has to offer.

Focus on Specific Use Cases

Because there are so many different technology options for healthcare providers, it can be hard to figure out where to start. For providers who are struggling to narrow down their list of options, turning the focus to specific use cases can be very helpful. By pinpointing the most pressing use cases, it becomes much easier to determine which technology is worth pursuing and which options can be passed for the time being.

Make Sure You Have the Right Platform

While much of the new technology that’s out in the healthcare industry looks great, things can quickly change when a provider attempts to implement and roll-out new technology. The most common reason for this type of bottleneck is the provider’s existing platform isn’t ideal. If you want to avoid encountering those types of obstacles, you need to make it a priority to review your platform ahead of time and make any necessary adjustments.

If you need an experienced team to help ensure that the integration of new healthcare technology goes as smoothly as possible, contact Full Sky Technologies at info@fullskytech.com or 513 206 9971 to learn more about how we can help.

New Technology In Healthcare

Given that the healthcare information technology market is slated to grow by 20% annually for the next three years and mobile health devices are on pace for annual growth of 33% for the next five years, it’s safe to say that healthcare providers are going to be presented with many new types of technology.

While new technology can be exciting and may be the key to unlocking growth, it also comes with a unique set of challenges. This is especially true in the healthcare field. Since any new technology that a healthcare provider is considering can have a significant impact, it’s important to properly weigh every decision.

Because there are so many different elements to consider, we’ve put together the following guide to help healthcare providers evaluate new technology options as they present themselves:

Data is Key

Although the future looks bright, the current reality of home medical devices is only 10% of them are able to generate and share electronic data. Since that creates a significant gap for healthcare providers, shifting to devices that do provide data capabilities needs to be a priority.

Don’t Drown in Data

There’s no denying the fact that data is crucial. That being said, far too many healthcare providers have found themselves in a position where they feel like they’re drowning in data. This is why it’s so important for providers to have a clear understanding of which data truly matters. By taking the time to gain this clarity, it becomes much easier to fully reap the benefits that new technology has to offer.

Focus on Specific Use Cases

Because there are so many different technology options for healthcare providers, it can be hard to figure out where to start. For providers who are struggling to narrow down their list of options, turning the focus to specific use cases can be very helpful. By pinpointing the most pressing use cases, it becomes much easier to determine which technology is worth pursuing and which options can be passed for the time being.

Make Sure You Have the Right Platform

While much of the new technology that’s out in the healthcare industry looks great, things can quickly change when a provider attempts to implement and roll-out new technology. The most common reason for this type of bottleneck is the provider’s existing platform isn’t ideal. If you want to avoid encountering those types of obstacles, you need to make it a priority to review your platform ahead of time and make any necessary adjustments.

If you need an experienced team to help ensure that the integration of new healthcare technology goes as smoothly as possible, contact Full Sky Technologies at 513 206 9971 to learn more about how we can help

The Impact of IT on Healthcare

The Impact of IT on Healthcare

It wasn’t long ago when the field of healthcare was considered a laggard in terms of technology. However, that’s no longer the case. Because healthcare technology is now leapfrogging other industries, experts have compared the speed with which healthcare and its quality are changing with that of the industrial revolution.

While healthcare technology is rapidly evolving across the board, one key area of focus is IT. Because advances in healthcare IT are having a direct impact on this entire field, let’s take a look at some of the specific areas that are driving the impact of IT on healthcare:

Self-Service

Although there are those still stuck in an older mindset, most of the industry agrees that empowered patients are a good thing. Because technology increases the amount of data and decision making for patients, it makes it possible for communication between patients and providers to happen in a more efficient and effective way.

Telemedicine

In-person visits have an average cost of $180. With an average cost of just $60, employers will save as much as $6 billion as more of medical care shifts towards telemedicine. Even though telemedicine may initially seem like something out of a science fiction movie, once people think about what most visits entail, it becomes clear that this is a great way to get faster care without sacrificing quality.

Wearables

Even though plenty of people are still skeptical about the Apple Watch, the reason this company decided to enter this market now and put much of their focus on health is because the market is expected to explode to $30 billion by 2018.

Implantables

While the growth rate of wearables is going to be very significant in the coming years, what’s really amazing is that implantables will be more than twice as big by 2018. With a projected device market of $73.9 billion, there’s going to be a major need for infrastructure in order to support the wide range of implantable devices.

Connected Hospitals

By putting all the technology in place so that medical devices can be connected to electronic health records, it becomes possible for vitals to be entered in less than 1 minute (as opposed to 7-10 minutes). Since nurses continue to face an increasing number of patients, this type of efficiency is crucial for providing quality care.

Wireless Technology

As wireless technology continues to increase in its robustness, all kinds of new opportunities are opening up. Some of the most exciting include real-time location systems, advanced bed & fall monitors and mobile medical devices.

If your business is in the healthcare sector and you’re in need of an IT company that understands all the special considerations in this space, you can get in touch with Full Sky Technologies by calling 513-206-9971