Virtual CIO

How a Virtual CIO Can Help Your Business Succeed

For a business to be successful and secure in its industry, it needs to invest in technology. Technology is ever changing, which means that a team of in-house IT experts is usually employed to keep up with new trends and ensure that technological practices are constantly monitored and upgraded. However, employing a full team of IT experts can become quite costly. Believe it or not, there is a more cost effective way that you can provide your business with the crucial IT support that it requires – hire a virtual Chief Information Officer, or CIO.

What is a virtual CIO? Essentially, it is a title that is given to a signal entity that manages all aspects of your business’ IT, from virus protection to management of infrastructure. So, how can this individual help your business? Here are a few benefits to having a virtual CIO:

  1. Cuts Costs. Hiring a virtual CIO can significantly cut costs for your business. Since this person handles all aspects of IT, you no longer need to employ an entire staff of IT experts who specialize in one specific area. Minimizing your payroll from several people to one person greatly reduces costs. Add to that the fact that this individual is virtual, meaning you don’t have to provide office space or equipment, cutting your expenses even more.
  2. Constant Maintenance, Management and Monitoring. You’ll have the benefit of comprehensive and consisted management of your IT needs. This can make all the difference in the world to how your IT runs. This means that a virus can be identified as soon as it tries to knock down a firewall, and that can save your business a tremendous amount of time and money, not to mention a ton of aggravation.
  3. Round-the-Clock Expertise. Knowing that you have an expert IT professional monitoring all of the aspects of IT, you can gain peace of mind knowing that whatever problem may come your way, the virtual CIO will be able to apply his or her expertise and nip the problem in the bud.
  4. Staying Current with Technology. In order to stay successful, you need to stay current with technology – or even one step ahead of it. A virtual CIO is on the cutting edge of technology, which means that he or she can employ the latest and greatest advances to your business, and will constantly be on the lookout for new advances.

If you want your business to flourish, consider hiring a virtual CIO. The benefits that this professional can provide your business are certainly worth your while.

Growth chart breaking through monitor

3 Ways IT Management Can Help Your Company Grow

There is not one business in the industry that does not aspire to grow. In fact, growth is probably goal number-one. The right technology strategy will fuel that desire and efficiently support you along the way. From cloud services to IT management and support, you can’t do it all on your own, and you don’t need to. Modern businesses are using the support of IT management and reaping the benefits of  the virtual support.

3 Benefits of IT Management

When you employ IT management, you get personalized and dedicated services, and expertise in the field.

1. Reduced IT Costs

An IT expert works with you and your business to determine your immediate IT needs and future plans for growth. The team gets to know you and your business to implement the most effective model for your daily operations. With the benefits of professional services under your IT management, your infrastructure and IT needs are tailor-made to fit your model and your budget. You pay for only what you need. When you hire IT services you don’t have to shell out loads of cash to hire, train, and house your own IT team because everything is virtual. Virtual access to top industry professionals is seamless.

2. Improved Efficiency

Efficiency will improve on many different levels. You and your company won’t have to worry about the daily IT tasks that often plague businesses. When your team can get back to doing what it is they are hired to do, without worrying about IT, productivity and profit increase. Your entire system will also work better. The tailor-made design ensures that you have the very best system for the job. Professional services IT experts look at all the ways your business operates and offers suggestions for improved management. Professional services will work with you to devise and launch a comprehensive plan that includes cloud services, security, mobility, IT management and communication.

3. Reduced Risks

When your office closes for the day, your IT team doesn’t go home when you choose to outsource your IT needs. Your company has 24/7 access to support and security monitoring and cloud services. While your business is in full swing during the day, the IT team is monitoring systems and possible threats, and taking steps to resolve issues before they begin. If you or an employee have IT concerns during the day, immediate access to support ensures your business doesn’t have to stop operations to resolve IT hiccups. Having a professional service IT team means you don’t have to worry about compliance and constant security and software updates. The team takes care of it for you behind the scenes. IT management are necessary for daily successes, long-term goal support, and business continuity.

 

Contact Us today and let’s discuss the right technology plan for you.

 

A Network without Limits: Teknique IT powered by Brocade Provides Enterprise Technology with all the Perks at a Small Business Cost

Networks are under pressure. Applications and services on networks are transforming rapidly, challenging the load on the network as each requires more and the number of devices increases. Networks have to change to adapt to the modern business’s needs. An all-encompassing approach addresses the need for adaptability, reliability, and support. Many businesses don’t know they have accesses to an affordable network option that delivers more than traditional network system. Brocade provides an open-ended network solution that is flexible and easy to adapt the changing business environment. A network without limits delivers a wealth of benefits to the business without locking the company into a long-term commitment or costing more than the company can afford. Network Consulting services allow businesses to design a network around its needs.

The modern, technology-driven companies of today are challenging the way we look at wireless network. Too many network provides pre-determined rules and limits, and companies are expected to adhere. Many small businesses feel as if their revenue and lack of corporate resources leave them with few solutions. IT managers are tasked with discovering systems that work now and into the future, but constant business changes present unique challenges, and the way current networks are configured prevent IT managers from making the most efficient and affordable decision. Network consulting professionals take the time to get to know the business, its current network needs, future plans for growth, and network demands. Network Consulting takes the weight off the business owners and IT managers, relieving them from network struggles, commitments and uncertainties. A Brocade Network Subscription challenges everything businesses understand about network, and a professional in the industry can show the business how to create its own network without siphoning the company’s revenue. Network systems can be refreshed as needed, and capacitates can be increased or decreased without costing a fortune. The flexibility and scalability Brocade offers permits companies to focus revenue elsewhere to grow the business, not to accommodate the network provider’s terms. Businesses determine “what they need, when they need it, where they need it, and how they want it.”

A Brocade Network without limits is a pay-as-you-use design. Small and midsize businesses pay for only what is needed, which releases companies from locked agreements and depreciation cycles. The lack of long-term commitments permits companies to upgrade as often as the company needs. Businesses have an unlimited ability to scale the system up or down to fits its individual need at any given time and to plan for growth in the future. Businesses become their own network architects.

With businesses owners at the helm, and dedicated support from IT professionals, such as Teknique IT, business owners can reconfigure the company’s network to match IT capacity, project costs, and growth demand. At Teknique IT, we can bridge the gap between you and Brocade to help create a network that meets your current needs. Contact us today.

wine bar

Growing Trend of Wine Bars

Wine bars started appearing in the 80’s and 90’s, primarily in large cities, with an upscale and glamorous feel. Patrons could stop in before a show or after a dinner date to enjoy a fine glass of wine then move on. While these places still exist, they barely resemble today’s laid back, rustic and retro, neighborhood wine bars.

Basic History of Wine in the US
Wineries have only been in the United States for about 40 years – starting with a handful of wineries in California in the 70’s. The success of those wineries meant no longer depending on wine from countries like France or Italy. Not surprisingly, California and it’s Sonoma and Napa Valley regions are known to produce the bulk of wine in the US, with New York State coming in a distant but respectable second with its Finger Lakes region. What may be surprising, is that there are over 8000 wineries in the Unites States, with all 50 states producing at least some wine.

Wine Went Social
With the growing number of wineries, and thus greater availability of wine, it makes sense that wine has gained popularity and wine drinking turned into a mainstream activity. Wine is no longer just for the fine dining crowd but has evolved into a social experience – particularly with the evolution of the wine bar. A wine bar opening used to mean a city had reached a certain level of sophistication. But as their popularity increased, wine bars began cropping up in smaller towns and cities, places where you’d find a favorite neighborhood bar. They are as common and frequent as a coffee shop now.

Wine Bar Environment
Many wine bars of today tend to be laid back, with the intent for customers to linger and enjoy the experience in a non-stuffy environment. Customers are encouraged to experiment and learn about wine, not to be intimidated. There is an eclectic feel to many of these places, some making their homes in re-purposed old buildings or barns on the winery grounds. You may see exposed beams, reclaimed wood, or old brick facades, paired with comfy seating, and warm lighting. Some are a bit funky, with the goal of providing an alluring and welcoming ambiance. Much like a coffee-house, customers are encouraged to spend an afternoon catching up on work or meeting a few friends for a relaxing evening. You might even find the gang from Teknique IT in a local wine bar!

The Food & Wine
At many wine bars, you’ll find local wines or wines from small growers who don’t have large distribution capabilities. This provides a great opportunity to discover amazing new wines.

Usually you won’t find a lot of food at a wine bar – not a full meal anyway. The most extensive offering is typically a cheese & charcuterie plate, with scrumptious cheeses, meats and accompaniments like mustards and relishes. All designed to make the wine the feature, not the food.

new website

New Year, New Website, New Marketing Partner!

As the New Year approached, we were working hard behind the scenes and making a lot of changes to serve our customers better, including the creation of a new, mobile responsive website, and partnering with an IT Marketing company.

The development of our new website means you can get the information you need from any device – your laptop, desktop, mobile phone, or tablet. We’ve added custom videos to show you in about 90 seconds how we can help solve your business challenges and bring you closer to your goals. And, we’re building a free information resource center with whitepapers and ebooks on technology topics you need to know about to improve the efficiency and productivity in your workplace. You can refer to our resource center monthly, as we’ll consistently add new resources in our effort to keep you informed.

Our new website also features this blog! We’ll of course cover the technology stuff you expect and need to know about, but we also plan to keep it interesting with a wide variety of articles that talk about:

  • Food & Wine/Cooking
  • Boating
  • Travel/Camping
  • Sports
  • Family
  • School Districts/Education

If there is anything you would like to see covered in the resource center or on this blog – please don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know. We want to answer your questions and provide useful information for you – so speak up and let us know what your current challenges are!