What is Hybrid IT Support and how can it benefit organizations?

a woman wearing headphones and using a computer

Hybrid IT Support is becoming increasingly popular among organizations looking to balance their IT needs between in-house and outsourced services. This model combines internal staff’s control and expertise with external vendors’ flexibility and scalability, offering a higher level of service than either option alone. Outsourcing can provide cost savings and access to specialized skills. Still, it may present security risks, while relying solely on in-house staff can limit growth potential and require additional resources.

This article will explore the benefits of outsourcing IT Services, assess the potential results of combining in-house and outsourced IT Support, and understand the cost implications of Hybrid IT solutions. By considering all these factors, organizations can optimize their network setup and remain competitive. 

What Is Hybrid IT Support?

Hybrid IT Support is a combination of outsourced and in-house IT Services. This approach combines the flexibility, scalability, and cost savings associated with outsourcing with the control over technical expertise provided by internal IT staff. Co-managed IT Support offers organizations a higher level of service than if they solely relied on in-house or outsourced options alone.  

Outsourcing can benefit companies that do not have an extensive technology infrastructure or lack specific skillsets internally; however, this option may also present security risks due to its reliance on third-party providers. In contrast, having only in-house staff can limit growth potential and require additional resources to manage service levels.  

The Hybrid model offers a comprehensive view of outsourced and internally managed systems while providing access to specialized external vendors when needed. It allows businesses to maintain their core competencies while utilizing specialized knowledge through outside sources and greater insight into overall system performance. Additionally, this method enables better alignment between business objectives and IT goals while ensuring data security protocols are met.  

Understanding The Benefits of Outsourcing IT Services

Organizations that outsource IT Services can benefit in a variety of ways. One primary advantage is the cost savings associated with outsourcing; companies can reduce their overall operating costs by having external contractors provide IT solutions and support instead of hiring in-house staff members. Furthermore, given the scalability of many outsourced services, organizations can quickly increase or decrease their resources without incurring additional fees. Therefore, businesses have more flexibility when managing their budget for IT needs.  

Another major benefit related to outsourcing IT Services is access to specialized skills and expertise which may not be available within an organization’s existing staff composition. By relying on third-party providers specializing in particular areas, such as cybersecurity or software development, firms can ensure their systems remain secure and up to date with the latest technologies. Moreover, since these vendors typically offer a wide range of products and services from various suppliers, businesses have greater choices when deciding which solutions best suit their requirements.  

Finally, large enterprises often find working with multiple service providers more efficient than dealing directly with hardware manufacturers or software developers. This arrangement allows them to take advantage of competitive pricing while enjoying reliable customer service and technical support. In addition, most vendors offer maintenance contracts that guarantee long-term functionality and performance levels while helping clients avoid expensive repairs due to system failures or obsolete equipment.  

Assessing The Potential Results of Combining In-House & Outsourced IT Support

When considering the potential results of combining in-house and outsourced IT Support, assessing both short-term and long-term effects is important. Combining these two elements can increase efficiency within an organization, provide a greater level of technical expertise, and reduce costs associated with hiring dedicated staff members.  

In terms of immediate benefits, Hybrid IT Support can help organizations:  

  • Gain access to specialized skillsets on a pay-as-you-go basis  
  • Streamline operations by utilizing existing resources more effectively
  • Receive assistance from remote experts when needed
  • Leverage cutting-edge technologies without needing to invest heavily in hardware or software infrastructure
  • Improve customer service via faster resolution times for tech issues  

Additionally, several long-term advantages come with this model as well. Hybrid IT Services eliminate the need for training new personnel, eliminating time-consuming onboarding processes. They also allow organizations to scale up quickly during growth and downsize just as easily when demands decrease. Furthermore, businesses will benefit from the increased flexibility of outsourcing certain IT needs while maintaining control over key projects such as system upgrades or data migration tasks.  

Overall, Hybrid IT solutions offer numerous benefits businesses should consider when optimizing their network setup. By taking advantage of internal and external resources, companies can reap the rewards of improved productivity at reduced cost levels compared to traditional methods.  

What Does Hybrid IT Support Cost?

When estimating the total final cost, consider including a few things. Such as in-house personnel costs, hardware and software budgets, and additional services from external providers.  

It is essential to factor in internal staff salaries and any fees associated with outsourcing IT Services. For example, an organization must pay separately if it opts for outsourced help desk services or managed IT solutions. Additionally, depending on the project’s complexity, there may also be a need for specialized consultants or outside experts who can provide technical advice and guidance throughout the process. It is, therefore, essential for businesses to consider these potential expenses when budgeting for Hybrid IT Support solutions.  

Hardware and software upgrades should also play a part in calculating overall expenditure related to Hybrid IT Support. Depending on the scope of work required by the company, this could involve purchasing new servers or other compute resources; updating operating systems; installing security patches; upgrading storage capacity; implementing cloud computing solutions; or investing in custom applications development. While some of these implementations may incur substantial one-off costs initially, over time, they can yield numerous benefits, such as improved performance levels and scalability options that could save money.  

Considering all these elements, it becomes clear that there is no definitive answer as to how much Hybrid IT Support will cost a business due to its individualized nature. A range of variables must be assessed before evaluating what level of investment makes sense financially – not only in terms of initial expenditure but also ongoing maintenance fees -to obtain optimal results and remain competitive within their industry. 

Conclusion

Hybrid IT Support, a combination of in-house and outsourced IT Services, is becoming increasingly popular among organizations looking to balance their IT needs. This model combines internal staff’s control and expertise with external vendors’ flexibility and scalability, offering a higher level of service than either option alone. Outsourcing provides cost savings and access to specialized skills, but it also presents security risks, while relying solely on in-house staff can limit growth potential and require additional resources.  

By considering all these factors, organizations can optimize their network setup and remain competitive. The cost of Hybrid IT Support varies depending on several factors, including in-house personnel costs, hardware and software budgets, and additional services from external providers. Organizations must assess these potential expenses when budgeting for Hybrid IT Support solutions. Overall, Hybrid IT solutions offer numerous benefits that businesses should consider when optimizing their network setup, such as improved productivity at reduced cost levels compared to traditional methods. 

To learn more about how Hybrid IT support can benefit your organization, speak with a skilled IT consultant at WheelHouse IT today. We can help you create a custom plan that maximizes productivity and reduces risk. Thus, delivering the outcomes you need to succeed. Reach out to us now for help getting started!

Haunted Office – A Phone Story

a long hallway with several doors leading to another room

The following story and events are true, however, to protect the families of the innocent, all names have been changed. Thus, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or businesses, is purely coincidental.

This is a transcript of a police interview with Stephen Corey. Taken by Det. Giles Gerald at 11:05 a.m. this morning. 

Det. Gerald –

Please state your name and title. 

Mr. Corey –

I’m the founder and CEO for North Shore Software Inc. 

Det. Gerald –

Tell me what happened. 

Mr. Corey –

We’ve been at the 1692 Osborne Ave location since May 10th. It was rainy, but it was actually pretty warm that morning, if you recall? I got to the office at 6:30; which is an hour and a half early as I like to have some time to myself before the staff arrives. It was strange that there were several cars in the parking lot, but it’s not really unheard of to have cars in the lot from people that get a ride from the bar just across the street on Sundays this time of year. 

I didn’t think much of it as I gathered my things and went up to the office, but the first real curious thing was that the door to the office was already unlocked. This is Monday, mind you, ya’know, and there have been maybe one or two instances in the thirteen years I’ve owned this company that someone has beaten me to the office on Monday. I’m always the first one there; especially on Monday. So, I suddenly got a very cold feeling and was extremely worried that we’d had a break in. So instead of just barging in and potentially putting myself in a bad situation, I decided to go back to my car and call the office to make sure that I was just being paranoid and that there was, ya’know, people there who were, um, ya’know, were supposed to be there.

The phone rang twice and then Sarah answered. “Thank you for calling North Shore Software, this is Sarah, how can I direct your call?” 

Det. Gerald –

This is Sarah Glanvill? 

Mr. Corey –

Yes, she’s our receptionist.

Det. Gerald –

Continue

Mr. Corey –

I was immediately, ya’know, put at ease when I heard her voice, so I hung up without saying anything and headed into the office. Mind you, this was a very brief stretch of time; less than a minute or two. Then, I got back to the door and went to open it and it was locked. Obviously, this was alarming, but I thought that, ya’know, it being Halloween and all that, someone was trying to mess with me a bit. So my first thought was to pound on the door. At this point, I wasn’t so much scared or annoyed, but was trying to be a good sport. I thought that Sarah, who is one of my longest-tenured employees, was just having a little fun with me. After a few seconds, there was an identical pounding on the other side of the door. 

I remember saying something like, “Okay, okay, this is fun,” as I went to unlock the door with my key. Mind you, the plan is to move over to electronic locks pretty soon, but right now we still have the wood door that came on the place with your typical locks, ya’know. Well I put my key in and it won’t turn. Now I’m starting to get annoyed, because all I want to do is start the day and I’m thinking this prank is going a little too far. I pound on the door again, and again the knocks are returned. You’ll see all this on the CCTV, but I tried to unlock the door a couple other times with no luck.  Then, I call to end the charade and convince myself that Sarah is doing all this to mess with me. I ask her to unlock the door. 

So, as I went around the back to get in the building, I’m annoyed. I call up and she answers “Thank you for calling North Shore Software, this is Sarah, how can I direct your call?” I’m like Sarah, “This isn’t funny anymore. Let me in the building!” I get nothing, but “North Shore Software, this is Sarah, how can I direct your call?” At this point, I’m at the back door. I hang up, not finding the humor in this whole thing, and I go to unlock the back door. I unlock the door and I get halfway in and the door slams and locks. 

At this point I’m just standing there angry and dumbfounded. I try the lock and the key won’t turn. It’s as if the locks were magically changed. I start pounding on the door yelling and swearing. Just then I see headlights shining down the alley on the south side of the building. They are coming from the parking lot. I walk toward the parking lot and the lights go off and as I get to the front of the building. I hear: “Good morning, Mr. Corey. Happy Halloween.” It was Sarah. Even though I just saw her pull up, my blood is up, so I start yelling at her, asking her why she would keep the prank going so long? She has no idea what I am talking about. 

I start barraging her with questions, and accusations, really. She starts to plead and cry, not only because she is being accused, but because she must have thought I was losing my damn mind. By now it’s 7 (a.m) or just after and I’m in a frenzy. Then, I put my phone on speakerphone and Sarah, who is standing right in front of me, on the verge of tears, answers “North Shore Software, this is Sarah, how can I direct your call?”

I’m not so sure I’ve ever felt more insane and more sorry. She was as surprised as I was to hear her voice. I knew then that I was dealing with something I didn’t understand. Ghosts I don’t believe in, but at that moment I thought for sure there was something paranormal going on, ya’know. I was, um, well, scared. Other employees began to pull up and I didn’t know what else to do so I called you guys and told them to go on home and work remotely until I knew what was going on.

Det. Gerald –

What happened when the responding officers got there?

Mr. Corey –

Obviously, I’m upset. At this point I was convinced there is someone in my place of business who isn’t supposed to be in there…or ya’know, something… I couldn’t see any lights on, but someone is actively trying to keep me out of the building. Officers Mather and Cotton came pretty fast and asked Sarah and I a bunch of questions about what was going on. I told them what I told you and they said if I let them in the building they would go in and see what is going on. I told them that the door was unlocked when I got there and then was locked and that someone slammed the back door on me after that. 

We went up to the door and the door unlocked fine. They went in and it was quickly pretty evident that no one broke in. They returned in minutes to say that there was nobody there and the place was clear. By then more officers had showed up and Sarah helped me by sending workers away as I looked around to see if I could figure out who the hell was there. Then, the officers said the back door was not locked. Obviously, this surprised me. 

Det. Gerald –

So who do you think was there?

Mr. Corey –

That’s the thing, nothing is missing. I looked through the CCTV footage and I didn’t see anyone entering or leaving. The only thing I saw on those tapes was me struggling with the doors. Someone broke in; I’m sure of it, but I can’t tell you for certain who it was. 

Det. Gerald –

Maybe you imagined it. Have you been dealing with more stress than usual?

(Just as Det. Gerald asked the question, an unknown number called Mr. Corey’s phone).

Mr. Corey –

No. 

(Mr. Corey ignored the call)

No. I can’t really explain any of it, but I…

(Phone rings again)

Can I take this?

Det. Gerald –

Yeah.

Mr. Corey –

(into the phone) Hello? (inaudible; Mr. Corey then presses the speaker button on his phone) 

Phone –

“…this is Sarah, how can I direct your call?” 

Mr. Corey –

Who is this? Who is this??! (hangs up).

Det. Gerald –

What was that?

Mr. Corey –

That was Sarah the receptionist, but it obviously wasn’t. 

(Just then the phone rang again: Unknown number)

Det. Gerard –

Give me the phone. 

(Mr. Corey handed the phone to the officer and he answers it and puts it on speaker)

This is Detective…

Phone –

“…North Shore Software, this is Sarah, how can I direct your call?”

At 4 Corner IT, we can assist you and your company’s technological needs. Thus, you will have the peace of mind that you will get the end-to-end telephone customer service your business needs without the chance of being haunted by a human or specter. Contact us today at 954.474.2204 for more information. 

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Vendor Management Can Really Waste Your Time

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As a business owner, vendor management is very important. Vendor relationships must be cultivated and maintained in some way on the off chance you need them for support. However, working with vendors can be stressful and downright frustrating at times. Let’s examine a specific situation that demonstrates these challenges and what you can do about them. 

Imagine that you need to contact a vendor about an issue you have with an application you use daily. You want it to work for your company, but you have to adjust the settings to allow it to work well with other applications on your network. These other applications are not necessarily managed by the same vendor. Next thing you know, you are calling other vendors left and right to see what your options are. Meanwhile, you have tasks piling up on your desk because you are too busy on the phone with vendors. A simple task turns into a wild goose chase for the correct solution to your problem. 

In the end, you might not even find the right answer. You might waste all of this time on the phone with vendors and be no closer to solving your problem. You’ll have to repeat the process again and again until someone is able to help you. This frustration might lead you to just give up on the solution entirely. Even if your research is telling you that it is the best tool for the job. 

When you have so many solutions on your infrastructure, including software and hardware components, vendor overload can happen. It can be difficult to keep everyone straight. Especially when you have countless points of contact for the plethora of vendors your business works with. It would be easier and much more simple to have a single point of contact for all vendors on your list, but surely something like this is too good to be true… right? 

Not necessarily—it turns out that managed service providers can offer a vendor management solution that can make working with your vendors much easier in the long term. The biggest issue is managing points of contact and dealing with them, so vendor management services allow you to bypass both of these by reaching out to one point of contact—your managed service provider—thus streamlining the process. 

A managed service provider effectively creates this single point of contact for your technology needs, vendor management included. If you need help setting up a new solution, we’ve got your back. If you need some support with that new solution, we’ve got that covered, too. We act as the mediator between you and your vendors so you can have one phone number on your contact list for all of your technology needs instead of a hundred. If you do need to get in touch with your vendors, just let us know and we can take care of that for you. 

4 Corner IT wants to help your business with managed services. To learn more, reach out to us at (954) 474-2204. 

The Benefits of Managed IT Services in 2021

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When it comes to your business technology, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best. Unfortunately, technology is one facet where many business owners feel they have the least amount of control. Perhaps due to its many moving parts and overwhelming complexity. The question becomes how you want to approach managing your business’ technology. Then, finding the right skill sets to do so. Enter the benefits of managed IT services.

You generally have two options for your IT needs. Hire an in-house department or outsource the responsibilities to a third party. Which approach best suits your needs?

Hiring an in-house department of IT technicians can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. Just like with any other position at your company, you will have to put together the job description, duties and responsibilities, and preferred requirements. That’s not to mention the time it takes to advertise the position, collect resumes and applications, put together a search committee, and interview successful candidates. Add in the onboarding process and any training that they might need and you have a lengthy process. Additionally, that process isn’t conducive to the “I need help right now” mode that many organizations find themselves in with their IT.

The alternative is to outsource your entire IT department to a dedicated third party. Believe it or not, this is a remarkably valuable asset for your organization to have. Plus, most IT maintenance and management can be done remotely without an on-site visit. This means that you are not limited by the traditional barriers to finding top talent. You could work with a reputable company halfway across the country if you want to. Additionally, you can afford to be picky with who you hire for the job.

Note the key difference between your in-house IT talent and outsourcing. Hiring an in-house IT department is dependent on other peoples’ qualifications rather than what you want for your IT needs. When it comes to your business, you should do what you think is best for your specific needs. If that is outsourcing to find the best fit for your company, then you should never be ashamed of that.

We always recommend that you start with an IT audit to ascertain where you currently are in terms of your IT infrastructure versus where you want to be. 4 Corner IT is happy to help with this process. After we gauge your current network infrastructure, we can work with you to identify your company’s major IT challenges. Then, implement solutions that address them.

Or, if you would rather hire in-house technicians, we can supplement their duties and responsibilities by covering the more mundane parts of the job, like supporting your team and performing routine maintenance. This frees up valuable time and resources for your technicians to focus on what you hired them to do: innovate and implement. It does not matter where you currently are in your IT processes–we can jump right in and provide value for your company.

To learn more about our benefits of managed IT services, reach out to 4 Corner IT at (954) 474-2204.

5 Reasons Remote Monitoring and Maintenance is Essential

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While reliable technology support has always been important, the sudden and widespread adoption of remote work by so many businesses has made it an essential component for an organization’s success. However, for your team members to have technology that continues to serve them as they do so, it is important that they are able to receive the same support as they would in the office. To accomplish this, remote monitoring and maintenance has proven to be a critical resource, providing a litany of benefits. Let’s go into what these benefits are, and how they take shape through the implementation of this method of receiving support.

What is Remote Monitoring and Maintenance (RMM)?

As a managed service provider, a considerable portion of our responsibility is to be sure that our clients’ technology is operating as it should. To do so, a methodology known as remote monitoring and maintenance is employed.

RMM solutions give our team the capability to keep track of our clients’ technology solutions from a distance, thereby enabling us to diagnose, mitigate, and resolve many IT issues that would otherwise cause operational headaches (or worse). As such, we can deliver considerable value to those we serve. With our real-time monitoring tools, many issues can be detected before their impacts become noticeable.

This, in turn, translates to considerable benefits. Let’s go over these benefits now, to demonstrate how RMM supplements a business’ operations:

Proactive Maintenance, and All That Comes With It

Our services as an MSP are all about embracing proactivity whenever the opportunity arises, and remote monitoring and maintenance is the perfect vehicle to this very outcome. Our solutions will keep an eye on your infrastructure, alerting our team at the first sign of an issue and enabling us to solve it—often before you or your team members realize that an issue is present.

In addition to active issue resolution, this proactive maintenance means that we’ll also keep track of any updates that are available for your solutions and apply them appropriately.

Minimized Downtime

As any business owner knows, “downtime” is technically a four-letter word in the workplace. Depending on the severity of the event, even a brief instance can incur significant financial costs. Thanks to the inherent proactivity of RMM, most downtime events can be avoided (and their financial repercussions sidestepped) so that your business processes are effectively untouched by any issues.

Improved Security

RMM can also help you to keep your business better protected against threats. One of the primary reasons that cyberattacks can get to be so severe is that many are not detected until long after the fact.

However, with remote monitoring in place, our team of professionals can be alerted of even the smallest sign of a potential breach. This puts us in place to resolve the underlying problem and keep your business safe.

Ensured Productivity

Let’s jump back to the impacts of minimizing downtime for a moment. One of the most important, and most prioritized, aspects in any business is the level of productivity that can be maintained. Eliminating your downtime is one of the few ways to do so that can have a 100 percent impact on your productivity. The fewer issues your employees encounter, the more they will be able to accomplish—something that our proactive maintenance facilitates.

Streamlined Cost of Ownership

Everyone likes to save money, right? Unfortunately, a lot of the technology that a business relies on can swiftly cause costs to rise expeditiously. A lot of this is due to the combination of maintenance needs after the fact, and the downtime that is incurred in the meantime.

However, by avoiding this by means of proactive maintenance through a predictable and budgeted service, these costs can be reduced significantly, helping your business that much more.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the benefits that remote monitoring and maintenance provide—or you’d like to experience them for yourself—give 4Corner IT a call at (954) 474-2204.