It seems like eons have passed since email promised to make office communication easier, more pleasant, and more fun. Remember the feeling? No more navigating awkward voicemail menus, missing connections, or squinting at smudged faxes.

But now, as we confront our overflowing inboxes with dread every morning, many of us long to go back to the days when the desk phone was more than an inert prop and critical information was shared — shockingly — face to face.

Topics: IT Support

Every successful company is built on a foundation of best practices and finely tuned systems. In the case of early stage biotech companies, few systems are as important to calibrate than that of your IT staffing. Without the right IT systems and staffing in place, your company runs the risk of costly emergencies, slow response times, pivots in workflows, and more.

 

We know that experience, cost, and timeliness are all important factors when considering your IT hires (or outsourcing). Below are some thoughts on the pros and cons (as well as our staffing recommendations) of in-house versus outsourced IT staffing.

 

Topics: IT Outsourcing, IT Support, IT partners

If you think about your business’s technical infrastructure the same way you think about your office furniture or your business lunches, you’re doing it wrong. You will miss out on valuable opportunities and open yourself up to significant risks. You shouldn’t view IT as business expense; view it as an investment.

The truth is that the decisions you make about IT can pay huge dividends down the road, but only if you approach it carefully and strategically. Instead of thinking of IT as just another check to write, think of it as an essential component of your future success.

 

Topics: IT Outsourcing, Backup and Disaster Recovery, IT Support, Data Security

Wireless internet technology has progressed so far, so fast, that it is easy to take it for granted. Many people assume that installing effective WiFi is simply a matter of running out to your local big box store purchasing and plugging in the access point or router. If you have set up a wireless network for your home, or handled some of the IT installations at your small business, you may think you can handle your own professional WiFi setup. This can be a mistake, a fact that too many small business owners learn too late.

Topics: IT Support, Managed Service Provider, WiFi

For too many small businesses, IT exists as an abstract concept. It is a vague combination of computers, servers and software that are important for getting business done, but are rarely a business concern. This attitude is understandable, but it is also risky. IT is more than just a one-time expense, it is a living breathing ecosystem that needs constant attention.

 

Topics: IT Outsourcing, Backup and Disaster Recovery, IT Support, BDR, IT investment

If you have ever bought something online, you understand that it’s not always necessary to work with a local business to get the level of service you want. This is especially true for information technology (IT), in which managed service providers (MSPs) can remotely monitor and maintain your IT infrastructure without ever setting foot in your office.

Topics: IT Outsourcing, Small Business IT Support, IT Support, SMB, Managed Services, Hybrid MSP, Local IT Service Provider, MSP

In the rush to get your laboratory online, your offices equipped, and your experiments initiated, it can be difficult to honestly evaluate your IT needs. But once you start setting up computers, installing software and dealing with ballooning data storage, you will understand how important it is to have biotech startup IT expertise on your side.

Topics: IT Outsourcing, IT Support, Biotechnology Startup, Startup

Do a simple online search for “IT Service Provider” and you will quickly realize how many companies are prepared to offer technical assistance to your small business. How do you separate the good from the bad? Keep these three considerations in mind when you evaluate any company you are thinking of working with.

Topics: IT Outsourcing, IT Support, Local IT Service Provider

Choosing the right IT service provider is one of the most important decisions you can make for your small business. There are many factors to weigh, but one of the most critical is whether or not to use a local company, or one that provides strictly virtual services. Both have their advantages, but many small business owners will find that the benefits of working with a local provider outweigh the convenience of a virtual provider. Here are four reasons why:

Topics: IT Support, SMB, ITO, Local IT Service Provider

There are a lot of factors to consider when you’re deciding on an IT service provider for your small business. Do you want to work with a large or small company; one that is brand new and ambitious, or long running and proven; one dedicated to your industry specifically, or one with wide ranging IT expertise? All of these are important considerations, but one of the most fundamental and most commonly overlooked choices you need to make is whether to work with a local IT company or one that is not in your region and provides its services remotely.

Topics: IT Outsourcing, IT Support, ITO, Local IT Service Provider