Posted by Richard Schissler on Thu, Jun 13, 2013 @ 11:17 AM
The mere thought of choosing a new IT service company can send even the sanest businessperson into a tail spin. I am not sure what it is about us business people and IT but many times there seems to be a disconnect. In my opinion it is often driven by the businessperson or client failing to connect with an IT firm that they can communicate with. IT firm’s that can understand business are worth their weight in gold. Many IT firms can fix IT or even monitor but they do not have a the answers to the business questions.
The Houston IT Firm WesTec Services meets all the criteria necessary to give a client the “business knowledge and understanding” required to set up and maintain a business IT network that works for the business.
1. We GUARANTEE 1-hour response time to network emergencies. When your computer network goes down in the middle of a busy work day, you need it fixed immediately so your employees aren’t sitting around taking a $10,000 coffee break waiting for their computers to come back online. We also offer remote monitoring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to prevent problems before they interfere with your business.
2. We are big enough to handle any computer job, and small enough to still provide you the individual attention you deserve. Whether it’s building a new network from the ground up or helping you figure out why you’re getting an error message when you open a document, you can count on us to help. As a client, you will have a dedicated senior technician, a team of back-up support technicians and access to our help desk to ensure you get the highest level of support. You can also count on our Chief Technology Officer to get involved with your project to make sure you are getting the best solutions and highest level of service possible.
3. Our “geeks” have personality. They won’t try to keep you in the dark or dazzle you with 
acronyms. We’ll answer every question you have in plain English and make sure you understand what options you have available so you can make decisions based on your priorities and budget – not just because we say so.
4. Our technicians are seasoned, qualified, professionals with years of real world experience. We require ALL our staff to complete ongoing training to ensure that we are up-to-date on the latest technologies and solutions. You won’t find better qualified team of professionals anywhere.
5. We GUARANTEE to provide you with the most cost-effective solution to your problem. We understand the importance of keeping overhead costs to a minimum. That’s why I require that all our technicians are trained to find the least expensive solution to your problem without sacrificing quality. We never charge clients for expensive upgrades, hardware, and solutions that aren’t 100% necessary.
6. We give flat rate project pricing. Unlike other computer support companies that give you an estimate with an hourly rate for “unexpected circumstances”, we’ll give you the option 
of one flat rate for a project and guarantee to deliver your solutions without charging a penny more. This gives you peace of mind knowing you won’t end up with a bill 2 or 3 times more than you anticipated, or getting hit with hidden charges or extra hours.
7. We schedule system upgrades and fixes after normal business hours to save you thousands of dollars in lost productivity. System upgrades, fixes, and installations can 
bring down your computer network for several hours. For your convenience, we’ll schedule our technicians to perform this work after hours so there is minimal interruption to your normal business activities.
8. We only offer flat-rate monthly pricing for our services. You can choose Professional (remote only services) or All-Covered (you only pay additional for any needed hardware). All services include unlimited help desk assistance. You are able to budget your IT service costs, with no surprises!
9. We listen first, and offer solutions second. No one knows your network better than you. When you have a problem, the last thing you need is someone to come in and waste time performing the same system checks you’ve already done. We’ll work with you in solving your problems and keep you involved with what we are doing.
We are the ONLY technical support company that offers a no-risk, 100% money back guarantee. Hire us to come on-site and put an end to your most challenging computer problems. If after our first visit you are not happy with our technicians or the work we perform, you can cancel your service agreement and we will refund your payment for that full day. No risk, no hassle, and no obligation. What could be fairer than that? No other technical support company will stand behind their work the way we do at WesTec Services.
These basic criteria will give any business person the list they need to find a quality IT service vendor. The missing link between most IT Service companies and the client is the lack of knowledge and understanding of the client’s business needs and processes. This lack of knowledge and understanding translates into an IT system that just does not function for the client. My suggestions is instead of starting your interview with a prospective IT service firm with technical questions, ask them how well the understand your business and its particular IT needs.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, May 31, 2013 @ 03:25 PM
As a business owner or manager your business is the foundation of your livelihood. For this reason, it essential that you do everything that you can protect your business from threats both internal and external. One of the best ways to do this is through the use of video surveillance.
Wikipedia defines surveillance as, “the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people for the purpose of influencing, managing, directing, or protecting.” Video surveillance is essential tool in modern business environment. Surveillance offers you the 
opportunity to not only know what is going on inside and outside of your business when you're out there, but also provide valuable evidence and deterrence against crime.
Video surveillance in the workplace protects both the company and its employees. A quality video record of an illegal activity or incident offers protection to everyone involved except the perpetrator. In 2010, on average, 10 cameras were installed in a commercial setting, and the average total cost for a video surveillance installation was $13,280, according to the Security Sales and Integration website. The cost of such systems can more than be offset by the overall protection that it affords the company.
There are a number of reasons to install video surveillance in the workplace and here are a few:
Protect the Company from Crime
The cameras can act as a crime deterrent. Video surveillance systems installed inside and outside the workplace can record criminals who vandalize or steal company property. These video images can help the police in their ensuing investigation. Video surveillance cameras
can also record acts of employee theft. When criminals see a surveillance camera, or employees know surveillance is in place, it discourages criminal activity.
Protect the Employees
Video surveillance systems offer protection to employees in a several ways. Video cameras in company parking lots and outside the building are able to record criminal activity and assist company security officers insure that employees reach their vehicles safely. The video system can also record instances of employee abuse or harassment towards other employees, which can be used as evidence against the antagonist. Video surveillance further protects employees indirectly by monitoring each visitor who comes into the building. This monitoring provides a certain level of protection against suspicious activity.
Productivity
Many companies use video surveillance to monitor employee productivity, determine job performance areas where the employee needs improvement and insure that employees follow company safety rules. Maintenance employees can use video surveillance cameras to detect equipment that needs repair and equipment that is operating in an unsafe manner. The proper positioning of video surveillance cameras allows fewer people to monitor productivity.
Customer Activities
Retail establishments use video surveillance to monitor what customers are doing when they are on premises. For example, if a customer claims to have purchased an expensive item but does not have the receipt, video surveillance records are used to determine whether she was in the store on the day in question, and if she did purchase the item in question. Video surveillance can 
also clarify an exchange between a client and a store employee. If the customer is looking for financial compensation because she claims an employee was rude to her, and the video evidence says otherwise, the store can present its evidence to support the employee's case. Another example is the slip and fall claim that is all too common. The camera can show what really went down.
Video surveillance is an important tool to have in your business for a wide variety of reasons. The presence of video cameras and active recording devices can deter employee theft, provide evidence of crimes against the business from outside elements, and help make the workplace safer by making employees more conscious of their duties. Increased productivity and monitoring of customer activities are two other direct benefits. To have a safe and secure business you must have video surveillance in place. The investment is worth the peace of mind.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, May 24, 2013 @ 03:49 PM
From Wikipedia (definition of Computer Backup)-
‘In information technology, a backup, or the process of backing up, refers to the copying and archiving of computer data so it may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. The verb form is to back up in two words, whereas the noun is backup.
Backups have two distinct purposes. The primary purpose is to recover data after its loss, be it by data deletion or corruption. Data loss can be a common experience of computer users. The secondary purpose of backups is to recover data from an earlier time, according to a user-defined data retention policy, typically configured within a backup application for how long copies of data are required. Though backups popularly represent a simple form of disaster recovery, and should be part of a disaster recovery plan, by themselves, backups should not alone be considered disaster recovery. One reason for this is that not all backup systems or backup applications are able to reconstitute a computer system or other complex configurations such as a computer cluster, active directory servers, or a database server, by restoring only data from a backup.
Since a backup system contains at least one copy of all data worth saving, the data storage requirements can be significant. Organizing this storage space and managing the backup process can be complicated undertaking. A data repository model can be used to provide structure to the storage. Nowadays, there are many different types of data storage devices that are useful for making backups. There are also many different ways in which these devices can be arranged to provide geographic redundancy, data security, and portability.
Before data is sent to its storage location, it is selected, extracted, and manipulated. Many different techniques have been developed to optimize the backup procedure. These include optimizations for dealing with open files and live data sources as well as compression, encryption, and de-duplication, among others. Every backup scheme should include dry runs that validate the reliability of the data being backed up. It is important to recognize the limitations and human factors involved in any backup scheme.’
The definition above really provides a great description on how a complete computer backup system works. Many IT firms provide only a cookie cutter approach in their backup systems. One size does not fit all.
My experience has taught me that each company has a unique set of needs and requirements. A quality IT firm will spend the time to evaluate your system, needs and requirements. Then and only then will they present one or more recommended solutions.
The biggest driver of what type of system is recommended beyond needs and requirements is 
cost. For example, in general the quicker you need your business to be back up and running, then the more your backup system will costs. You also can expect to pay more, as always, depending on how sensitive your data is. The protection of one’s privacy always has its own cost factor.
The steps for picking the right computer backup system for your firm are the same as for any capital purchase. You need to determine your needs, requirements and budget. Then communicate these to the IT firm(s) that are going to give you a bid for the system. Finally, you have to make sure that what you need and what they quote is truly apples to apples. Otherwise, unfortunately you will find out when you can least afford to, when a data disaster strikes!
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Wed, May 15, 2013 @ 11:34 AM
Today small businesses are positioned for the perfect data storm: more data, at more value, with more risk. Small businesses are creating more data than ever, the value of their data is increasing, and there are more risks of losing the data. This is a fact for every business, more information and in most cases little or no attention is being paid on how to protect it.
The need for a robust backup and disaster recovery (BDR) solution has grown in importance—no business can any longer rely on over-simplified backup solutions to protect their data and keep their businesses running. A challenge, however, is in having fewer resources to manage and protect their data. In fact, small businesses are often more at risk than their large enterprise counterparts and have distinctive challenges. They are:
• Limited financial resources
• Limited IT resources
• Limited and inadequate solutions designed for small businesses
Still every business, of any size, must find a way to install a robust solution to back up their business-critical data. With a small business’ limited people and financial resources, the most effective way for them to implement a BDR and business continuity solution is via a managed service provider (MSP). The MSP brings specialized skills and management to the situation that the typical small business cannot otherwise afford.
6 CRITERIA FOR SMALL BUSINESS DATA PROTECTION
1. Recoverability
In a disaster a small business cannot afford lengthy downtime since most carry less than a month of operating cost in cash. Does the solution have instant restore capability? Does it meet both recovery time and recovery point objectives? Each business must establish what their own unique objectives are since the quicker the recovery the more it typically costs.
2. Comprehensiveness
Small businesses generally do not have a dedicated IT department that can manage separate backup, recovery and business continuity solutions. Does the solution provide key functionality that is seamlessly integrated? Experts agree that a combination of on-premise and cloud-based services offer the best total protection for businesses of all sizes, especially small businesses.
3. Ease of Use
Small business owners or the IT person doesn’t have time to learn or manage complexity. Is the system easy to use, deploy and manage? Is it supported by a MSP’s who understands the businesses capabilities and limitations in managing their own solution?
4. Performance and Reliability
A recent study shows that only 17 percent of SMBs feel secure and confident in their backup plan; while another 14 percent say they feel very insecure and vulnerable. Quicker and more frequent backups limit data loss. An ideal solution is incremental backup, where the technology adds what you’ve changed or deleted, rather than backing up the entire volume of data repeatedly. The small business must be comfortable that the data will be there when they need it.
5. Affordability
Small businesses have often been relegated to cheap (both in price and technology) backup solutions. With limited resources it’s been difficult for a small business to purchase a business continuity solution; they’ve been limited to a glorified backup solution at best. Is the solution cost-effective and affordable with a small business’ budget in mind? A quality MSP can help the business make the right decisions that fits their budget and needs.
6. Scalability
Small businesses grow into larger businesses. Make sure the solution not only meets your data backup needs today but can scale as your company grows.
The use of a Managed Service Provider who works everyday with computer networks and backup solutions is a critical business decision. Each business must find a MSP who they can trust to work with their situation and needs so that the data is there when it is most needed.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, May 03, 2013 @ 04:06 PM
A computer network is a telecommunications network that connects a collection of computers to allow communication and data exchange between systems, software applications, and users. The computers that are involved in the network that originate, route and terminate the data are called nodes.[1] The interconnection of computers is accomplished with a combination of cable or wireless media and networking hardware. (definition from Wikipedia)
Computer Network Services
What are they?
• Hardware Installation and Support
• Virus & Spyware Removal and Protection
• Security Solutions
• VPN (Virtual Private Networks)
• Secure Remote Access
• Network System backup – onsite and offsite
When you open a new office or just want to repair or upgrade your current network, you need a qualified IT Service Company to assist or consult with you regarding design and implementation of the system. A qualified IT team will bring an organized, engineered approach to network design, configuration, and maintenance. They will know the details that really do matter and make sure that things are done right the first time. This is the key to a smooth network integration. Working together you can come up with a solid plan to configure your network to better serve you. A typical IT Services group serves many industries faced with strict regulations, network conformance with regulatory expectations that must be considered.
The security of your network is the main priority. Network security, must be taken personally by everyone involved. The No. 1 priority is ensuring that your valuable business data is completely secure. IT security should provide protection across all aspects of the network, including the perimeter, internal assets, communications, remote users, and client information.
Your IT Network should be protected with Intrusion Detection & Prevention Systems (IDPS) which allows you or your IT Service firm to monitor network activities and to eliminate malicious packets before they compromise the network. Software is used to evaluate and eliminate any viruses or malware that may be infecting your system.
Two main factors to Network Security:
1. Proper configuration and maintenance of the network; and
2. The ability to track traffic within the network, allowing us to detect malicious files and remove them accordingly.
Your IT provider should be able to provide you with a properly configured Firewall that protects IP communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP-packet received in a data stream.
The integrity of a Wireless Network is another important function of network installation and maintenance. Wireless Network capabilities allow businesses to expand their offices and bring WiFi to employees and clients. Many wireless systems go under or unsecured.. The risks of an open business network are too great to ignore.
Private Company WiFi - A secure private wireless system for your internal company needs using the latest wireless security technologies is not hard to setup. Peripherals such as printers and scanners can be conveniently connected through your Private WiFi as well.
Private Company WiFi - A secure guest wireless system can be setup for your guests. This network should be segemented so that the guest WiFi traffic will not be allowed to co-mingle with the local area network (private network).
Secure remote access can accelerate your businesses’ productivity by implementing remote access solutions that allow you to work securely from anywhere. Using a Virtual Private Network, above industry standard encryption, and an internet connection, you can access your business computer from the beach. Unique user logins can be established and communication between the remote user and local network is totally secure and can even be used for Legal and Medical offices.
Remote access can also be setup for third party contractors, remote employees, business owners and anyone else you think should have access to the network. If you have multiple offices and want to be able to jump between networks, or integrate information from one to the other, site to site VPN networks can be set up.
Remote management and monitoring is a service you might want to consider for your wireless or wired networks. These days, technology provides affordable, secure IT solutions to give you access to your data files from a home office, a remote business meeting, or even from out of town. The management and monitoring of your network system 24/7 provides the ultimate protection and proactive service that many active businesses need. Remote access capability allows your IT Service Provider to offer off-site maintenance and support, saving on-site visits to your office, and thus saving you money.
The final element for a good computer network is to have the proper backup for your data and other systems. The best backup system has an on-site piece as well as a virtual and off-site piece. All of these systems require monitoring in order to maintain their integrity at the highest level.
The smart answer to building a solid business computer network is to first find the right vendor partner. A qualified IT Provider who is willing to take the time to understand your systems, processes and business needs. The right Provider will then present you a plan you can understand for the installation and maintenance of the network system. A properly priced managed services contract from the Provider will assure you that they believe in their work and will stand behind it in the future.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Mon, Apr 22, 2013 @ 04:01 PM
Disaster recovery (DR) is the process, policies and procedures that are related to preparing for recovery or continuation of technology infrastructure which are vital to an organization after a natural or human-induced disaster. Disaster recovery is a subset of business continuity While business continuity involves planning for keeping all aspects of a business functioning in the midst of disruptive events, disaster recovery focuses on the IT or technology systems that support business functions. (1)
Now that we have a technical definition we can address what exactly is disaster recovery and what kind of system does our business need to protect it. I will suggest that the first step in this process is to identify what threats are there to our IT or technology systems. The first threat would be man-made and the following are examples:
• Viruses 
• Theft
• Hardware damaged
• Software corrupted
• Human error
Any one of these man-made threats can disrupt our IT or technology system. This in turn poses a threat to our business. On one end of the scale the threat could be minor problem with a workstation and the other end of the scale would be the shut-down of the entire business. In either case the business will suffer a loss of productivity and thus profit potential.
A second threat would be those caused by natural causes. These are the types of threats that usually make the 6 o’clock news and are more widespread in their impact. The following are examples of natural threats:
• Hurricanes 
• Floods
• Fires
• Lightning
• Power Surges
Several of these natural threats, in particular hurricanes, floods and fires typically affect more than one business. The scope of their damage is more widespread and the cleanup from the damage they cause usually takes much longer. Again, the damage to the business’s IT and technology systems will cause a loss of productivity and profit potential.
Two Basic Types of IT System Backup
A local back-up solution is an absolute necessity for businesses that need to get back in business immediately. A local back-up solution typically creates nightly “images” of your most important servers and workstations and keeps these back-ups on a storage device for easy access and recovery. The greatest benefit of this solution is that these backups contain an exact replica of your entire server or workstation which includes all software and users & settings in addition to your most important data. The back-ups are essentially images of your computers.
A fast and simple restore process puts your computer back exactly the way it was. That means all the same files in the same folders, the same applications, the same operating system and all custom settings. All your important work restored to exactly where you left it. Everything back to normal like nothing happened! This type of solution works well primarily when man-made disasters are the cause of data loss.
A online backup solution is intended for businesses that need to have their data backed up off-site A data-only or image online backup solution will back-up your company’s most important data in a safe, secure online repository that will allow for easy access in the case of a disaster that renders your physical network unusable. Your data can typically be retrieved withiin 24 business hours.
The use of an online or off-site backup solution protects the additional protection of data in the event of a catastrophic natural disaster that destroys or severely damages the business’s facilities.
Where Do I Go From Here?
No one can predict when a catastrophe may happen, but everyone can be prepared. Whether an interruption in service is due to an natural disaster or because of a man- made disaster, it still means downtime – an unnecessary and often costly problem for your company. You need a plan to re-establish a level of operation as swiftly and smoothly as possible.
The following basic issues are the first step in developing the right plan for your business:
- What to back up
- How often to back up
- Whether to perform complete or incremental backups
- How and when to practice restore procedures
A quality IT Service Company can assist your company in the formulation of a disaster recovery plan so that processes and procedures are in place to ensure that essential functions can continue during and after a disaster. The number one goal is to minimize the interruption in service and restore data in a precise and rapid recovery time based on your company’s needs.
(1.) Systems and Operations Continuity: Disaster Recovery. Georgetown University. University Information Services. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, Apr 05, 2013 @ 03:26 PM
Very few business owners or managers ever take time to really consider the events that can destroy their business. I am not talking about the loss of a client or large account or the breakdown of a piece of production equipment. In this case, I am looking for the unusual and unpredictable events that come out of “left field” to threaten or wipe out a business. More importantly in many cases there are certain steps we can take to minimize the effect of these events on the business if and when they happen.
The first event that comes to mind is a fire. Fires destroy millions of dollars of business property every year. Entire buildings with the equipment, fixtures and business information in the buildings are destroyed or severely damaged. The source of the fire could be arson, utility failure or an accident. You need to ask yourself if this happened to your business would you be able to recover? If so how long would it take to bring the business back to full profitable operation?
The second event that can impact the survival of a business is weather such as thunderstorm. Thunderstorms produce lightning that can strike a business and start a fire. The effects of such a fire are discussed in the previous paragraph. Another result of a thunderstorm is a tornado which can destroy the business with its tremendous winds. Torrential rains resulting from a storm can cause flooding which can literally wash a business away. The impact of severe weather can literally destroy your business in a matter of seconds.
A third event is a non-weather related flood event such as the sudden failure of dam or spillway. If the business is located downstream from a river which is dammed up then there is always the potential for such an event to impact the business. A similar event would be an earthquake, which are frequent in some parts of the country. In either case the loss of business property including business records can be devastating.
A fourth event is an explosion caused by say natural gas. The effect is the same as the business, building and its contents, are severely damaged or destroyed. Although this event is not as common as the other 3 events discussed above, it does happen and again the impact to the business is the same.
The fifth event is the loss of your business data. The primary cause of this event is the failure of business management to put in place a system or process to backup data both on-site as well as off-site. Data loss can happen at any moment and it is a lot more frequent than the other events discussed above. It can be caused by a simple computer server failure or by one of the other events discussed above. The end result however is the same, the data is gone and thus the business has to try to operate without accounting, customer or employee records. It has been estimated that over 50% of small businesses do not survive a loss of their critical business data.
The good news is that there is a simple solution for all of these types of disasters and that is insurance. Insurance can be purchased to cover the loss of buildings, business property and loss of profits. It can also be purchased to protect the business from loss of data. Here I am not talking about insurance to recover the data, which is available, but the purchase and implementation of a backup disaster plan to protect your data.
A good backup disaster plan that is implemented correctly not only can protect your business data, but it can have your business back up and running in no time at all. It has been estimated that new recovery technologies can reduce unplanned downtime by 85%. The reduction of downtime, regardless of cause, is one of the overlooked areas in disaster planning. The loss of a server during business hours may not qualify as a disaster in some manager’s mind. However, when the business cannot access its needed business data I would suggest that costs money and would indeed qualify as a disaster.
Ever business, regardless of size, needs to develop a disaster recovery plan. It should include both onsite and offsite backup of important data. This is the type of insurance that can make the difference between being in business tomorrow if disaster strikes and simply being another failure statistic.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Thu, Mar 28, 2013 @ 01:48 PM
Many times we are oversold things, products or services, without ever knowing it until it is too late. IT Services is one of those things that are probably oversold more often than not. Part of the reason is that it is an intangible. Sure we go through the whole process of selecting the right vendor, checking references, listening to the salesman tell us how great his company is, and on and on and on. However, until the IT Consultant actually takes over your IT system you really don’t know what they know and how well they can manage your computer system.
For example take what is typically called Cloud Services. It is all the rage now in IT circles, promising low upfront cost and fast access to the technology you need. Both of these promises are true, most of the time. Hardly a week goes by and we don’t read about one of the cloud 
providers such as Amazon or Microsoft having a meltdown. This means that all of the clients whose local IT consultant tied them into one of these services are down, out of business while the outage last. These outages can last anywhere from a few minutes to a day or two when they happen. How many businesses can really afford this type of downtime; and this is from their IT not a fire, hurricane or some other unforeseen event.
Please don’t get me wrong there is a place for certain cloud services. However, let me suggest that these type of services need to be part of an overall plan that your IT consultant puts together for your business. This is really where the “rubber meets the road” when you have to evaluate an IT consultant. The company you select should put together a comprehensive plan for your business and be able to walk you through each step on how they are going to implement and manage your IT. The IT plan should be like any other plan or process that your business uses in that you should understand it and feel comfortable that it will optimize the performance of your business.
One area of IT services that every firm considering a change should review is the use of Managed Services. A properly structure Managed Service plan will call for your IT system to be proactively managed. In most cases potential trouble areas are identified and repaired before they actually cause a problem. This is primarily done through proactive maintenance and monitoring. The alternative is the break-fix model which only provides service when the system is broke. Thus instead of having employees standing around while their workstation is repaired or a group of employees doing the same while the network is brought back up, everyone can stay productive throughout the day.
One of the most important but least talked about services sold with most Managed Services plans is VCIO Services. VCIO stands for Virtual Chief Information Officer, which means the managed services client gets the use of a CIO. It is very typical for large corporations to have a CIO on board, but it is one of those positions rarely found in the SMB size client. The key advantage to you, as the client, is that you get technology planning services. As discussed earlier, the proper planning of your IT system is the key to how well it performs. Thus the managed services approach to IT services is a significant improvement over the break-fix model or some variation of it.
The bottom-line is that if your current IT consultant or anyone you consider to bring on who does not offer technology planning, then you have already lost the game before you have even started. I would encourage you to make any IT consultant candidate prove to you that they can provide you with a technology plan that will work for your company. Understanding the technology, as many IT consultants do, is only one skill they need to put the right plan together. They must understand business issues, processes and work flows among other issues to build you a plan that fits your needs. In turn losing your current IT consultant or any applicant for the position who does not have the needed planning capability will save/make your firm a lot of 
money in improved productivity and less downtime.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Fri, Mar 22, 2013 @ 05:22 PM
Does the hassle of dealing with your IT outweigh the benefits? IT consulting services give you a technology strategy that’s built around your business, so you can rest assured that your IT is a sound investment. The key here is that you let a professional firm handle your IT and you focus on what you know best, your business.
Professional IT consultants can offer you IT outsourcing and Virtual CIO (Chief Information Officer) services, bringing you affordable, customized solutions that work for your Houston area company. Such services should be budget friendly in that they can be purchased for a fixed cost.
Further quality IT consultants should offer you:
- IT Planning –expert consultants pinpoint the faults in your current IT infrastructure to design and create a cost-effective IT solution that is unique to your business challenges;
- Technology Installation – using strategic vendor partnerships and diligent planning, they can install your custom IT plan to make sure you get the highest quality IT solution; and
- IT Supervision – the IT consulting firm will have a team of experts develop a comprehensive security solution to protect your business from the catastrophes you can’t control.
Network Security and Data Security for businesses is one example of the special services a professional IT Consultant can offer.
Does anxiety over the possible threat of computer viruses, Internet attacks, and malware keep
you from accomplishing your business goals? Are Internet attacks, internal threats or accidents such as lost laptops or USB drives keeping you from what’s important?
With quality Computer Data Security solutions, your company is ensured security from external and internal threats. Network and Data Security added to virus removal, malware, and spam protection services protect you from all that’s out there. Let the professionals take care of your security, so you can take care of your business.
First class security solutions should include:
- Trespasser Detection – protection from online threats like hackers and predators;
- Risk Assessment – we find the possible faults in your network and show you how to repair them;
- Anti-Virus Strategies – protect your company from viruses, spyware, and malware; and
- Secure Entry for Users – such as passwords, encryption, and VPNs.
Email/Spam Protection to protect your business from online threats is another area IT consultants can help
Fast, efficient communication is one of the most important tools for running a successful business. While the benefits of email are undeniable, if you’re not adequately protected, you are leaving your business vulnerable to online attacks including spam, phishing, viruses and malware. Again, the professional IT consultant can provide services that allows your business to enjoy a reliable email system without being exposed to the safety threats associated with email.
Houston, IT networking consultants can make your business more productive
A IT consultant should provide you with affordable custom IT consulting services. An IT strategy is more than installing hardware and software. As your IT network consultants they can devise a network plan customized to your company's goals. They can install a network information 
management system with network performance and security features to keep your business running smoothly. From everyday troubleshooting to long term strategy, you should be covered.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Thu, Mar 14, 2013 @ 01:26 PM
There are literally hundreds of IT service companies in the phone book. How does one go about selecting the right one for their company? One major concern in this market especially, is that most companies are trying to cut every corner and save every dime without forgoing necessary service. Therefore the pricing issue versus the value issue becomes critical in the selection process. We must understand what we are going to get for our dollar and thus it’s important to make our selections carefully in terms of who is going to provide these services to us and for us.
Generally you can find a new service provider in one of three ways:
- Select a provider from the phone book or internet or use a friend of a family member
- Get advice from a trusted resource or friend
- Go through a formal selection process
The worst thing we can do is #1 – it takes no thought or comparison and rarely leads to the best provider…unless it’s by pure luck. #2 means a friend or colleague has used them and likes them.
However, if you’re buying something – a service or contract or large item for your business – then #3 is a smart way to go. These organizations want your money – ask them to show you why your money should go to them. I’ve outlined a five-step process below to go through in selecting the best vendor to provide whatever service you need to you and to your organization. It’s important to your bottom line to analyze the options available to you and make the right choice.
Step 1 – Document Your Organization’s Need
Before you can do any kind of selection of the potential vendors to provide the service you need, you must first document in detail – or at least at some high-level – what it is you need. This will help you out greatly later on when you look through your notes and the vendor material and realize that their offerings aren’t the same. (need to be apples to apples) When you meet with potential vendors, you need to be able to judge what they can do for you against what you really need them to do and make sure that there’s a good match.
Step 2 – Identify the Potential Sources
Whatever type of service or equipment it is you need provided, your best next step is to do your own research and identify which organizations seem to do the best job in supplying what you need.
Once you’ve done that, contact each vendor by phone and/or by email and state your needs and that you would like them to participate in your selection process. Understand that if this is a fairly small dollar item, they won’t be too interested in going through a lot of effort and resource hours and dollars to acquire your business. But if you’re, say, looking for a new managed service IT provider, then you’ll likely be able to get people’s attention.
Provide each identified service provider with the following, if possible:
- An introduction of yourself including your contact information
- A summary of your business need
- An invitation to participate in the selection process
- A proposed date/time for a one-on-one discussion
Step 3 – Initial Vendor Discussions
This is where your potential service providers come to your site – separately, of course - and present their offerings and discuss how they are going to meet your needs. They need to sell you on why they’re the best provider for your organization. Typically, it’s ideal if you can select up to 3-5 vendors to participate initially – especially if this is something you are going to end up spending serious money on. At this point you weed out those that just are not a good fit for any variety of reasons including price.
Step 4 – Final Vendor Round
This is the final chance for each of the finalists to make their offer stick and to win your business. Bring them back in separately again and have final discussions about price and your needs from their offerings. Now is when you may want to get even more specific about any
special needs your organization has. You’re looking for ways to pick the absolute best vendor, both in terms of price and service, so give them all the information possible for them to sell themselves on or trip themselves up. You’re looking for the differentiators in this step.
Step 5 – Make a Decision and Stick With It
Now it’s time to review your material and notes from the two meetings with each vendor and make a decision. Hopefully it will be based both on cost and ability to meet your requirements, but how you make that final decision is up to you. The key is to make it and stick to it.
Changing providers again quickly can lead to extra costs for you. After all this effort, it’s unlikely you’ll make a really poor choice. However, if you realize at some point that you should have picked Vendor B over Vendor A, make the switch. However, keep in mind there will always be cost such as cancellation fees but more importantly the indirect costs of educating and bringing on a new vendor.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
