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The computer network infrastructure at your company is one of the most important aspects of how you do business. From data storage and client management to point of sales integration and inventory, to accounts payable and receivable, the strength of your network and IT infrastructure is the linchpin of almost everything you do, which is why you need IT services you can rely on. Don’t believe us? Take a moment and consider what happens when — or would happen if — your computers went down for just one hour. How much would that cost you? How much would it limit your productivity? How far behind in your work would you get?
At Rapid Networks in Denver, CO, we are IT specialists who help small and medium-sized businesses deploy and maintain secure, reliable, and fast networks and infrastructure through IT services that are as robust or as minimal as makes sense for your unique situation.
In today’s blog, we will examine seven telltale signs that your network or infrastructure are outdated or insufficient for your needs. If you experience any of these issues, contact us — the friendly, experienced experts at Rapid Networks to avoid downtime and loss. We can provide the right IT services for you quickly and effectively.
1. You Experience Compatibility Issues
One surefire sign that your IT solutions and equipment are out of date is that you begin to experience compatibility challenges with new software and hardware. If you think this is inconvenient now, you need to consider what will happen when you lose the ability to update even more programs, terminals, or devices in your network. This problem can start small, but if left unchecked, it can quickly spiral, leaving your company without the ability to conduct business seemingly out of the blue.
2. A Lack Of Storage Space
A lack of storage space or power will affect virtually every aspect of your networks ability to do its job. Furthermore, it can pose a serious risk to your ability to effectively backup your daily, weekly, and monthly data and records — something that could potentially put your company at risk in more than just a transactional sense. Important accounting, or even legally required records could be lost if your systems are not up to the task of running daily maintenance.
3. Slow Applications
Slow running applications are another sign that you are in need of better performing IT services and solutions. At a glance, sluggish programs and applications seem like more an annoyance than anything else. However, over time they begin to add up in terms of wasted time, productivity, and potential revenue generation. If you are experiencing consistently slow applications, don’t wait — contact Rapid Networks and get a free 10-point technology evaluation.
4. Software Crashes
If your software and applications are not launching properly or are crashing during use, you have a serious problem. A single program that continually fails might just be an isolated compatibility issue, but multiple programs going down is a clear sign of an outdated system or infrastructure that are in immediate need of professional help.
5. Increasing IT Costs
One subtle way that you can tell you have a systemic IT problem that needs to be addressed by a team that provides a wide range of IT services and solutions, is increasing IT costs. If you’re monthly or annual It service costs are increasing, it is a sign that your infrastructure is due for an upgrade. Continuing to pour money into an old, outdated system is a poor investment when compared to getting better equipment and software that won’t drain your bank accounts over time.
6. The Presence Of Cyber Security Threats
If your business network has been infected with spyware, malware, ransomware — you have already suffered the consequence of outdated infrastructure or software. If this is the case, it’s imperative that you get the IT services you need from a reputable, experienced IT company that can protect you, your business, and your clients.
7. Downtime
Besides instructions into your supposedly protected cyberspace, downtime is the single worst thing that can happen to your business. Downtime is not only indicative of IT infrastructure that is sorely overdue for an overhaul, but it can cost your business thousands of dollars an hour or more. If you are experiencing any kind of repeating or frequent downtime, you need to address your IT infrastructure immediately.
Get Help From The Pros At Rapid Networks
If your small business is struggling with any of these problems, you need professional IT services to address them before they get any worse. At Rapid Networks, we are committed to helping local small businesses along the Colorado Front Range get the quality IT services they need to remain productive, profitable, and to serve their customers well.
Contact us today for unparalleled IT services, customer care, and communication.
Whether you are an established business or a brand new start up— big or small— your partnership with your IT company is one of the most important business relationships you have. A quality IT provider ensures that your network is up and running when you are doing business, that business operations run smoothly, and that your client’s data is protected. If any of these facets of what you do is compromised so is your reputation.
Rapid Networks is a Denver based IT company that has been serving Denver and the Front Range dutifully for the last 15 years. We know that choosing the right partner to meet the networking, security, and hardware service needs of your business is important. That’s why we’ve created this checklist of questions to ask any IT company you are considering doing business with. If you have any questions or would like to talk more about our services, give us a call and one of our friendly experts will take great care of you.
What Kind Of Service Can I Expect?
Not all IT companies are created equally. So what services does the company you are talking to offer? Denver has a thriving economy with businesses of all sizes and types. Many larger IT companies are well suited to provide managed enterprise solutions but are poorly equipped to handle a two-person operated flower shop. Rapid Networks specializes in working with small and medium-sized businesses in Denver, and has been helping them stay secure, up-to-date, and running smoothly for 15 years.
What Happens When There Is A Problem?
We all understand that an important part of your IT company’s job is to address technical problems, handle updates, and troubleshoot. But, what does that process actually look like? Is there a phone number to call or a ticket portal to submit problems to? Is their support service locally based, or outsourced? What are their answer rate and average response time? Making sure that you feel confident your IT partner will be rapid in their response is one of the most important things you need to feel comfortable hiring them.
What Kind Of Client Are You Best Able To Serve?
Rapid Networks is an excellent choice for small business IT support. But as mentioned above, not all IT companies are built to handle a wide variety of businesses, so make sure you spend some time discussing what you do, how you need to do it, and discovering what services an IT company can provide that will meet your needs. If we’re not a great fit for your company, we promise to make a recommendation you can trust.
How Do You Measure Client Satisfaction?
At Rapid Networks, we pride ourselves on our clients’ satisfaction with the service they receive. Being entrusted with the safety of reliability of someone’s business is a badge of honor, and we constantly work to make certain that our customers are happy, successful, and being well taken care of. If customer relationships and satisfaction isn’t at the top of the priority list for your current company, it might be time to consider making a change.
No matter what kind of business you have or what your Information Technology needs look like, Rapid Networks in Denver would love the chance to earn your business and show you why we’ve been the preferred small business IT support company along the Front Range for so long. Call us today for a free 10 point technology evaluation and see if your infrastructure is ready for you to grow.
All of your employees should have uniform email signatures. You can update them periodically to inform customers about special deals, or whatever is new at your company. They also make it much easier for email recipients to quickly and easily call you back, without having to look up your phone number.
There are a number of free or low cost email signature generators available, such as HubSpot , Si.gnatu.re , and Code Two. Or call Rapid Networks, where we can get email signatures set up for your whole company!
Step One:
Find the settings icon, and tap it. It will look something like this:
| General Information: |
| Instructions to set up iPhones and iPads. Instructions to set up Android phones & tablets. Instructions to set up Blackberry phones. |
| Also, you can access your mailbox at the website portal.office.com for corporate accounts, or www.office.com for personal accounts. |
Email hosted with Rapid Networks
Setup for Apple Devices
Setup for Android Devices
Step One:
Find the settings icon, and tap it. It will look something like this:
We use high-quality, reliable equipment from Axis technologies.
Unlike traditional, analog security cameras, digital cameras from Axis are sharp and clear, and can easily record full motion video. Video can be recorded to regular PCs, and even viewed remotely over the Internet.
Cameras are available in many form factors, including secure cameras in protective housings, outdoor cameras, and wireless cameras.
Axis also makes equipment that can take advantage of existing camera infrastructure and digitize the video and make it available online, including over the Internet.
Background
Having an effective antivirus program on your PC is a bit like getting children vaccinated. It helps keep your computer running clean and uninfected, and it also helps everyone else, because your computer will never become a reservoir from which a virus spreads.
Current recommendation (as of 03-2015)
Based on recent (12-2014) results from AV-Comparatives.org
, which is an independent lab that tests all available antivirus programs, my current recommendation for PCs is Webroot SecureAnywhere
, and for servers, it is ESET
File Security for Windows Servers.
Explanation & recent antivirus history
Prior to this change, I had been recommending Microsoft's Security Essentials
for years. While Microsoft's antivirus solutions have never been as effective as their competitors, during the period from 2011 thru approximately June of 2014, they had been effective enough to do the job. Also in their favor, they are free, they don't slow down the systems where they are installed, and they run quietly, instead of constantly popping up with questions.
As recently as December of 2013, Microsoft's antivirus solutions were rated at 91.9% protective - and that mix of reasonable effectiveness, low impact footprint, and no cost made their solutions an easy choice.
During 2014, however, the performance of Microsoft's products declined significantly, until the December 2014 testing revealed a low, 83.5% protection rate.
At that point, I tested both Kaspersky and Bitdefender. Both have excellent reputations, and consistently score at the highest level on tests. But I found that Kaspersky, which highly effective, had too heavy a negative impact on the machines where it was installed, as well as frequently popping open windows asking if it could do this or that. Bitdefender was much better behaved, so it got the nod.
Free recommendation
For those looking for a free antivirus solution, my current recommendation is AVG Antivirus Free. As of 12-2014, it was found to be 97.5% protective. I have found that it has a significantly more negative effect on system performance than Bitdefender. It will occasionally pop up nag screens asking that you purchase the full product, and it will also want you to install the latest version frequently, during which time it will also try to get you to purchase the paid version. But despite these annoyances, it is an effective program.