The IoT, as it’s referred to, is expanding rapidly and is expected to reach far beyond watches that track our health stats and thermostats that learn our comfort levels. The IoT is in cars, hospital equipment, shoes, cash registers, trains, and on and on. We are finding new ways to connect things, collect their data, harvest that data, and feed it to other things. So what does this mean for you and your business?

The Internet of Opportunities

Businesses need to figure out how to translate this hyper-connectivity to the customer experience. The move to the cloud is intrinsic to the IoT. This means less hardware, more data, and easier customization.

To take advantage of this pivot, ask yourself these questions:

• Can your offerings be purchased via subscription? The rise of the subscription model will continue to influence how consumers view commerce and convenience. The sale of physical products will decrease in importance as services become more and more prominent. More and more, your revenue will come from the services you offer.
• Can everyone in your company get the data they need? The IoT will bombard your business with information. But unless you know how to organize and distribute that info to the right people on your team, it won’t help your business grow. You’ve got to have the business intelligence in place to make it work.
• Are you ready to educate your staff? The growth of the IoT will be fast and inconstant. The learning curve might look like a roller coaster. In order to keep your team engaged and informed, you’ll need to place a high priority on training. Encourage your people to keep their eyes on emerging trends.
• Are you willing to re-up your security? All connected devices can be hacked. The IoT requires a security force field and an ever-present vigilance. If you can’t put the most secure measures in place, you won’t be able to compete.
• Have you embraced the cloud? The IoT doesn’t work without cloud computing. If your company has been hesitant to make the move to the cloud, it’s time to rethink your resistance. The cloud makes it possible for your company to adapt quickly, take on more capacity, and offer more options to your customers—all at a lower cost, as additional physical infrastructure is no longer necessary.

Roll with the Changes: The Internet of Things Is Now

If you think your business could benefit from the impending ubiquity of the Internet of Things, the time to get on board is now.

Need a solid IT team to lead the effort? Solvere One is ready to take on the challenge. Call us at (202) 905-2722 or contact us online to learn more about our IT support services.

When businesses start thinking about moving to the cloud, their first concern is typically “is the cloud secure enough?” It’s an important consideration.

A few years ago, many IT experts insisted that no, the cloud was not secure. But the technology has advanced quickly, and so have the needs and attitudes of business owners and managers.

Data Security No Matter Where the Data Is

If you or your management team is skeptical of the cloud’s security, you may want to assess your on-site system’s security. Is everything there as secure as it could be? (You can find out by taking advantage of our free network security review.) Chances are, your data might be more secure in the cloud.

Best Practices for Cloud Security

Cloud security, when done correctly, is incredibly robust. Make sure your cloud provider is fully implementing the following:

• Antivirus and intrusion detection solutions
• Application firewall
• Attack mitigation tools for DDoS attacks
• Content delivery network
• Firewall segregating environments
• Intrusion detection tools
• Log correlation
• New generation firewall

For cloud-based email:

• Anti-spam and antivirus protections
• Creation of specific rules for blocking
• Data leak control
• Email monitoring

Your code must also be secured, and you must have a strictly-adhered-to access management policy in place.

What Does the Cloud Offer Small Businesses?

The cloud is:

• Elastic– Cloud computing services are completely elastic. You can pay for as much or as little service as you need—making your IT department more cost-efficient.
• On-Demand– Cloud computing services are delivered to you and billed on demand.
• Fully Managed– Solvere One manages your cloud services, meaning less demand for your in-house IT department.

Cloud computing services have revolutionized the way companies are doing business. IT departments leveraging cloud services can provide superior IT support with lower costs, increased accessibility, and more flexibility.

Learn more about cloud services and cloud security. Call Solvere One at (202) 905-2722 with questions—we are here to help.

Why Outsource Your Managed Security?

Outsourcing your network security allows you to get the most innovative, up-to-the-minute managed security services at a much lower cost than hiring onsite, specialized IT staff. A qualified network security provider will always be updated with the latest security patches and technologies—leaving you to enjoy peace of mind while you manage your business.

What Do Managed Security Services Cover?

• Access Controls and Identity Management – Identity proofing, credentialing and granting access via two-factor and multi-factor authentications. We also offer a unique authentication system through Anakam TFATM that uses cell phones, pagers, and home or office phones that offers an 80% savings over hard-token key fob systems.
• Data backup – Implementing a sound backup and recovery plan is critical in order to minimize loss of user data and database corruption in the event of even the smallest disaster. Solvere One’s managed network security assessment will help you to first identify your overall needs, determine the types of backup options available, help choose which option is best for your company, and prepare plans and policies followed by execution and maintenance.
• Content Filtering – Ensures that parameters are placed on which Internet sites can be accessed and what bandwidth limitations should be set in order to avoid recreational surfing, and also ensuring adequate bandwidth for critical business needs. Content filtering helps your company save money and increase productivity.
• IM Instant Messaging Auditing and Control – Policy management and perimeter security for Instant Messaging, Skype, and other real-time web-based communications. This service also provides the capability to identify and stop spam, viruses, worms, rootkits, keyloggers, bots, and other “greynets” designed to gather and destroy sensitive data.
• Incident Response, eDiscovery, and Information Assurance – Using forensics, computer audits, insider threat and incident response, and other tools so that clients can see what is stored or occurring on any computer in their network, and if necessary, forensically preserve and/or remediate it without disruption of current operations.
• Virus and Firewall Protection and Monitoring – Making sure that your network is continually monitored and checked for suspicious content, unexpected traffic, and other anomalies that cause unwanted behaviors through intrusion prevention systems (IPS).
• Windows RMS (Rights Managed Systems) technology – Windows RMS enables organizations to “control” information. Working with the highest level of encryption, content security is addressed in storage, in transit, and as it is being used – ensuring against malicious and/or accidental misuse.
• Wireless Security – Advanced wireless intrusion prevention systems (WIPS) put in place to counteract wireless intrusion risks, allowing for the continuity of operations.

Can Managed Security Services Keep Cloud Applications Safe?

Yes. And many experts say that using an outside managed security service is typically more effective for cloud computing, since cloud security requires more advanced IT skills as well as increased bandwidth. It’s likely far more beneficial for your company to rely on an outsourced MSS than to keep an in-house IT staff up to speed while continually paying more money to get needed additional bandwidth.

MSS Outsourcing in DC, Maryland, and Virginia

Learn more about the benefits of outsourcing your managed security services to Solvere One by calling us today at (202) 905-2722. Or contact us online for more information.

The term “web-scale IT” has been batted around among tech insiders in the recent aughts. It was put into official parlance in May of last year by information technology research juggernaut Gartner, who named it as one of the top IT trends for 2015.

So what is this concept and what does it mean for business IT? Web-scale IT is “all of the things happening at large cloud services firms such as Google, Amazon, Rackspace, Netflix, Facebook, etc., that enables them to achieve extreme levels of service delivery as compared to many of their enterprise counterparts,” says Gartner’s vice president of research, Cameron Haight. He goes on to lay out the six elements of web-scale IT:

1. Industrial data centers
2. Web-oriented architectures
3. Programmable management
4. Agile processes
5. Collaborative organization style
6. Learning culture

How Small to Mid-Size Businesses Can Benefit from Web-Scale IT

For smaller businesses competing with corporate entities, embracing web-scale IT can help them be more agile and proactive. For instance, cloud computing can help a company be more available to its clients and provide more useful and flexible services. The cloud lays the foundation for a system that allows employees to communicate, collaborate, and serve customers across multiple platforms.

Haight explains how smaller companies can use some of the elements of web-scale IT to their benefit. “Through a mixture of cloud services and in-house equipment that is right for their organization, a Web-scale approach can turn IT into a tangible competitive advantage for smaller companies in the way it has for internet giants. Web-scale techniques are applicable to organizations of many sizes, and can be adapted to support a wide range of business outcomes.”

Cloud computing can be a game changer in retail. Imagine doing what Apple does in its stores—completing customer transactions via mobile device so that no one has to wait in line. Web-scale IT is making that possible even for small businesses.

When you can respond faster to customer needs, you can start taking advantage of opportunities to grow your business in ways you may have thought impossible before.

Small Biz Web-Scale IT Starts with the Cloud

If your company isn’t on board with cloud computing, you may be missing out on the chance to use web-scale IT to broaden your business horizons. To learn more about the cloud for small business, contact Solvere One.