The Benefits of IT Support Contracts for Businesses in South Africa

The Benefits of IT Support Contracts for Businesses in South Africa

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses of all sizes rely heavily on technology to enhance productivity, streamline operations, and stay competitive. However, technological challenges can disrupt workflows and hinder growth. That’s where IT support contracts come into play, offering invaluable assistance in overcoming these obstacles. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of IT support contracts and why they are a wise investment for businesses in Cape Town, South Africa.

  1. Proactive Issue Resolution: Keeping Businesses Running Smoothly

When technology malfunctions, time is of the essence. Downtime can result in lost productivity, missed deadlines, and dissatisfied customers. IT support contracts take a proactive approach by providing 24/7 monitoring and swift response times to address and resolve issues promptly. With the assistance of experienced professionals, businesses can minimize downtime, ensuring seamless operations and maximum efficiency.

  1. Expertise and Specialized Knowledge: Accessing a Skilled Team

IT support contracts offer access to a team of knowledgeable experts with diverse skill sets and extensive experience in various IT domains. These professionals stay up to date with the latest technological advancements and industry best practices, enabling them to effectively tackle complex problems. Their expertise spans hardware, software, network infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data management, making them a valuable resource for troubleshooting and optimizing IT systems.

  1. Cost-Effectiveness: Maximizing Value for Businesses

Hiring an in-house IT team can be a costly endeavor, especially for smaller organizations. IT support contracts provide a cost-effective alternative. By outsourcing IT support, businesses in Cape Town can access a team of specialists at a fraction of the cost. This eliminates expenses associated with salaries, benefits, and training. Additionally, a fixed monthly or annual fee allows for better budgeting and predictability.

  1. Scalability and Flexibility: Adapting to Evolving Needs

As businesses in Cape Town grow and evolve, their IT requirements change. IT support contracts offer scalability and flexibility, adapting to the shifting needs of organizations. Providers like Complete IT Solutions can align their services accordingly, whether it involves expanding IT infrastructure, migrating to cloud services, or integrating new software. This ensures that businesses remain agile and capable of meeting their technological demands.

  1. Enhanced Security and Data Protection: Safeguarding Business Assets

With the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats, robust security measures are paramount. IT support contracts often include comprehensive security solutions such as firewall management, antivirus software, intrusion detection, and data backup and recovery services. These measures safeguard critical data, protect against unauthorized access, and mitigate the risks of data breaches and downtime due to security incidents.

  1. Focus on Core Competencies: Empowering Business Growth

By entrusting IT support to external professionals, businesses in Cape Town can free up valuable time and resources to focus on their core competencies. Internal staff can concentrate on strategic initiatives, customer service, and revenue-generating activities. IT support contracts allow businesses to offload the burden of IT maintenance and troubleshooting, enabling them to stay competitive and agile in their respective industries.

Conclusion

Investing in an IT support contract is a strategic decision that brings numerous benefits to businesses in Cape Town, South Africa. With proactive issue resolution, access to expert knowledge, cost-effective solutions, scalability, enhanced security, and the freedom to focus on core competencies, IT support contracts ensure that organizations can navigate the complexities of modern technology with ease.

For businesses in Cape Town seeking a trusted IT support provider, Complete IT Solutions is here to help. With their extensive industry experience and commitment to delivering reliable and effective IT support services, they are equipped to meet your unique needs. Contact Complete IT Solutions today to discuss how they can empower your organization with the right IT support contract.

Firewall Protection

Firewall

A firewall is a security tool, either computer hardware or software, that can assist in safeguarding your network by filtering traffic and preventing unauthorised access to the personal information on your computer by outsiders.

What is a firewall used for, and how does it work?

A firewall acts like a gatekeeper, tracking attempts of unwelcomed “guests” to your site and those accessing your operating system; the firewall stops the unwanted or unidentified activity.

A firewall or network gatekeeper stops network traffic from coming in that hasn’t been asked for and checks access by looking for viruses and hackers in the flow.

For instance, a firewall will only let connections in that it knows how to handle. It does this by deciding whether or not to accept a set of data packets, which are the units of communication you send over digital networks, based on security criteria that have already been set.

DID YOU KNOW that a firewall is typically pre-installed on your computer system and security program?

TIPS:

  • check that standard firewall functionalities are enabled
  • make sure your security settings are set up to execute updates automatically.

There also are cloud-based firewalls, known as firewall as a Service (FaaS).

One benefit of cloud-based firewalls is that they can grow with your business and, similar to hardware firewalls, do well with perimeter security.

Complete IT Business Solutions provide these firewall options:

Next-Generation Firewall from Sophos – https://www.sophos.com/en-us/products

Ishield – https://www.cloudgroup.co.za/managed-firewalls/

Reach out today for more information on IT protection for your business!

Thank you for your support once again, and know that we truly value your support and commitment to the Complete IT Business Solutions family!

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.

Email Protection

Email

Businesses exchange emails and attachments containing sensitive data internally and externally daily. Email encryption ensures that only the intended receiver can see email content. However, unencrypted emails can be read and exploited in phishing attempts by hackers and cybercriminals.

WHO CAN READ PROTECTED MAIL

Only individuals with the decryption key can read encrypted emails. The sender encrypts the email with the public key; the recipient decrypts with the private key. In today’s digital age, email is a common attack vector. As a result, most businesses integrate Microsoft Office 365 and other email security tools into their email architecture.

Theft of sensitive data via email can undermine a company’s ability to communicate safely with customers, coworkers, investors, etc. Email encryption protects this info. In addition, advanced email safety solutions protect you from email threats, prevent data loss due to network or email server problems

EYES OFF SENSITIVE INFORMATION

Businesses often email ID numbers, bank account details, credit card numbers, and financial terms. Unencrypted email passwords risk identity theft. If a malicious actor gets a person’s username and password, they can send phoney messages. Only the intended recipient may read encrypted emails addressed to them.

By installing an email security system, businesses can help employees distinguish genuine, legitimate senders from spam or phishing emails.

At Complete IT Business Solutions, we offer the following email protection options:

Reach out today for more information on IT protection for your business!

Thank you for your support once again, and know that we truly value your support and commitment to the Complete IT Business Solutions family!

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.

Birthday Celebrations

Birthday

The month of May, Complete IT Business Solutions celebrates its 20th birthday!

As a business, we may be twenty years old, but as a team, we are young, dynamic and innovative, constantly evolving to stay at the forefront of our industry, offering our valued clients IT support that is up-to-date, industry-relevant and on point!

Management and staff of Complete IT Business Solutions want to take this opportunity to thank our loyal customers, suppliers, and employees for their unwavering support during the past 20 years.

INTERNAL GIVEBACK

We are incredibly proud to have launched over 80 young adults’ careers in the ICT industry. We accomplished this through our internal internship program, fully funded by Complete IT Business Solutions.

OUR PARTNERS

Over the years, we have built loyal relationships with the best-of-breed ICT vendors in the world. For example, Microsoft Certified Partner, HP Business Partner, HP Enterprise Partner, Dell Business Partner, Molex Cabling Certified Partner, and Sophos Certified Partner, to mention just a few!

The future is bright and the world of technology is ever changing so we look forward to building steadfast and collaborative relationships with our customers, suppliers, and employees to provide innovative, relevant business solutions that will best serve our customers.

Thank you for your support once again, and know that we truly value your support and commitment to the Complete IT Business Solutions family!

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.

Why Outsourcing your I.T needs is Beneficial for your Business

outsourcing

Why should you outsource your I.T.?

The two main reasons for outsourcing your company’s I.T. is cost and time-saving!

Outsourcing can help save your company money by not hiring additional employees, not increasing the hours your employees are currently working and not having to buy new software with every advancement.

Each person in your team has limited time; allowing them to do what they do best and not get distracted by complex I.T. problems; saves them time, with their core focus remaining on the business success – not the backend success!

Reduced Downtime in your Business

An effective managed I.T. support provider will be able to respond to I.T. issues promptly, reducing downtime and disruption in your business operations.

This benefit positions your business to get more work done with fewer interruptions.

Hiring and Training I.T. Staff can be very Time Consuming and Expensive

Employing someone qualified for various I.T. skillsets can be very difficult, too. Outsourcing gives you access to a team of experts with a higher level of skill and technological know-how, providing your business and your staff the best service and expertise at a reduced rate.

As a support contract client, we become your I.T. department and you have access to your very own I.T. manager to assist you with your I.T. strategy, planning, budgets and management.

By outsourcing your I.T. functions, you allow a professional I.T. Services company to do what they do best, so you can focus on what you do best.

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.

Does the POPI Act Affect Sending Emails to your Clients?

POPI

The yes or no about sending an email

As we all know, with new rules come new limitations.  With these limitations comes the fear of pressing the SEND button. But, do we need to be wary or do we simply need to be aware!

The straightforward answer is regarding sending emails – BE AWARE!

Must we change the way we communicate with our clients?

Emails are a standard modus of communication for any business. Therefore, sending messages to relay various information is a common practice, and when private and confidential information is not be shared with other parties, you are well within your rights.

The main difference comes into play because of how businesses market themselves, not how they communicate. This will be impacted by the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popi Act) which came into effect on July 1. Under the act, marketers face the prospect of a cookie-less future as the protection of personal information becomes increasingly pertinent.

No is no! Accept that the first time!

Section 69 of the Act outlaws direct marketing using any form of electronic communication unless the receiver has given their consent. Such electronic communication includes emails, SMSs and automatic calling machines. Once authorisation to send has been declined, the sender may not request permission to send again.

There are consequences to not complying

Most businesses are affected by the government implementing the new act, particularly banks, insurance companies, hospitals, and medical aids. This is because they have access to identity numbers and other information like addresses and banking details.

If you fail to comply with the POPI Act, whether intentional or accidental, you can be liable for an administrative fine of up to R10 million. Furthermore, if a data breach impacts your clients, POPIA even empowers them to take civil action for damages.

No longer is the adage ‘’ask for forgiveness over permission’’ true. Now, more than ever, permission over forgiveness is pertinent!

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.

How safe is your data?

data

‘How safe is your data’ is like asking ‘how long is a piece of string’, we assume there is no accurate answer…

How wrong we are to assume that! Smaller businesses, operational anywhere, from commercial premises to your living room, are all at threat and our data, entered into our machines from wherever needs to be adequately protected!

Back up your data; somewhere other than in the sky

Create a backup copy of your data, and do this at regular intervals. Store it somewhere other than your primary workplace, if possible. That way, if there’s a break-in, fire or flood, you don’t lose everything.

Remember, if you’re using an external device as your backup, you’ll probably want to encrypt it.

Take care when working remotely.

Working remotely is a norm for many of our staff and something like data security wasn’t given much thought when COVID-19 struck! It is never too late though so if you, or people you work with do their work remotely, make sure the devices you use are as secure as the equipment you use in the office.

You lock your front door, don’t you?

When leaving your home, your lock your door! Your personal belongings are housed there, and you want to protect them. Do the same with your computer and make sure your staff do the same. Taking steps to lock your screen when you leave your desk is a simple thing to do but will prevent someone else from accessing your computer.

Make sure you know who knows what!

You have to restrict who has access to your IT systems and buildings – you can’t let just anyone in because this will leave your systems vulnerable. The fewer people with access, the better. Ensure you limit IT access to people who work for you, where possible. If a staff member leaves your company or is absent for long periods, perhaps suspend their access to your systems.

We can offer you backup solutions to ensure your data remains safe on site and off.

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.

How safe and reliable are Cloud Storage and data-sharing?

Cloud storage

Flop Proof?

How safe and reliable is cloud storage? Do you think cloud storage is hack free and watertight, or are you living with your head in the clouds? While cloud storage keeps your data secure from fires, floods, hurricanes and computer meltdowns, it is still vulnerable in the sense that it is in the hands of a third-party system.

Security measures are configured to protect cloud data, support regulatory compliance, protect customers’ privacy, and set authentication rules for individual users and devices. From authenticating access to filtering traffic, cloud security can be configured to the exact needs of the business.

But can we secure our data offline, and why should we?

Yes, absolutely!

Off-site cloud data backup tends to be more secure and reliable in comparison to traditional methods. The procedure for off-site cloud data backup is automated, which means all of your data will be backed up at regular intervals, typically every day or whatever works best for your business.

The best feature of an offline cloud backup is that they let you restore a system as per the last backup, and you can complete the restore far faster and more efficiently!

Cloud storage is more reliable when used in tandem with another storage system.

How can we use the Cloud for data-sharing?

Using shared files and storing them into Cloud data-sharing applications like Dropbox, SharePoint or One Drive,  you can ensure that anyone you give access to can quickly locate the files through a web-based platform.

Sharepoint is one of the best web-based collaboration platforms to use within a working environment. Benefits are such as easy data-sharing, centralised administration, improved data management and simplified business functions.

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.

Cybersecurity is critical while working remotely

cybersecurity

Cybersecurity – first things first, get protected!

Understanding remote working and the cybersecurity awareness that goes with that is the first step in protecting your business! Your business is to make sure all employees know that data security is a priority. Believe it or not, some employees today might still not be aware that data security is something they should be concerned about, at both personal and professional levels.

Many employees might assume that if they are not working directly with customer data, they don’t need to worry about cybersecurity. Don’t assume your team understand cyber threats.

Where to start with getting protected?

The best place to begin is by establishing a cybersecurity policy. Ensure all new and existing employees review and sign the policy, regardless of whether they work remotely or not.

The policy document should delve into the following; the reasoning behind having a policy in the first place and details outlining all of the various security protocols employees are expected to comply; how the company will support them in complying; and a place for the employee to sign their commitment to following the policy. This buy-in is crucial in data security.

Ensure all Internet Connections Are Secure

Working remotely means that your staff use an internet connection that you as a business may not have supplied. Everyone needs to get out of the house now and then as a remote worker, and the lure of the local coffee shop — with the camaraderie of other remote workers and your favourite hot beverage — can be the perfect break.  Using an unsecured Wi-Fi network is the most common way to expose your company to a data security breach.

Encourage your staff to use a VPN. Before signing on to public Wi-Fi networks, VPNs will encrypt the remote worker’s internet traffic and monitor for any signs of infection.

Password please or NO ENTRY!

Password safety is another relatively easy way to protect your organisation’s data. Many people joke about password safety, admitting they use the same password from device to device and program to program, but educating remote workers about password protection is key to securing your company’s data. Give your employees training on password importance. Start with the basics of keeping passwords strong and why it’s essential not to use the same one repeatedly.

For more about what we are about and what services we offer, do reach out to us by heading on over to our About and Services pages or simply giving us a call on +27 21 556 3524.

We look forward to welcoming you into the Complete IT Business Solutions family.