The ACCENT Learning Hub

Trying to keep up-to-date on how to stay safe from cyber criminals these days can be nearly impossible. Most have no idea how or where to even begin.

No one wants to pay for more IT than what you really need to, but unfortunately costs have a way of creeping up if you’re not effectively managing all aspects of IT. Here’s how it can happen. Let’s say you need more server space. You buy a new server. That one gets maxed out so you add more space. Then it happens again. Pretty soon, you’re trying to manage a crazy big network, and it’s so complicated and burdensome that it’s causing problems in all areas of your infrastructure.

If you go to a restaurant and there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, you’re probably not going to be able to get four plates of food, and then fill a to-go box for lunch tomorrow. Why? Because there are limits to what the restaurant is providing. If the restaurant has had trouble with customers taking “all-you-can-eat” literally, you might find a disclaimer to this effect on the menu, but often it’s implicit. Managed IT Services isn’t exactly like a buffet, but when you’re getting ready to sign a contract, you should make sure that you understand exactly what’s included and what's not included so you’re not surprised later.

During her four years at Accent Computer Solutions, Sarah Crofutt has seen many changes, both in her role and in the company as a whole. The job she’s doing today as Resource Coordination Specialist is very different from where she began four years ago as a Dispatcher, and the company has undergone a major shift in its organization. This reorganization was so dramatic that it’s referred to internally as “Evolution”. Sarah has never been as involved in company change as she has at Accent, nor has she ever had an employer that requests and welcomes employee input like Accent does.

(Rancho Cucamonga, CA, May 13, 2019) – Accent Computer Solutions, Inc. has earned the #1 spot among California IT companies on the list of Top 5 Manufacturing Managed Service Providers (MSPs) by ChannelE2E, an IT service news and research organization. Accent’s place on the list, which is determined by annual recurring revenue, reflects their reputation as a leading IT services provider for Southern California manufacturers. Accent has earned the #2 spot globally. 

Do you have an Alexa or Google Assistant at home? How about a fitness tracker? Does your doorbell have a security camera that lets you know when someone's on your front porch? Will you get an alert if there’s a water leak in your basement? Will your window shades automatically close when the sun reaches a certain intensity? Does your car parallel park by itself? All of these technologies are a part of the Internet of Things (IoT) and, as consumers, we’re jumping on the IoT bandwagon because of the conveniences and new capabilities this emerging technology provides. It’s only natural that we want to utilize IoT technology in our businesses, too. Before you start plugging a myriad of devices into your network, make sure that IoT fits into your IT strategy to ensure it's a good investment.

Think about a time when your significant other asked you to clean the house. You woke up early with a mission, but as the morning wore on, you found yourself outside mowing the lawn. You weren’t neglecting work – in fact, you were doing lots of work – you just had a different idea of what needed to be done. By the end of the day, your yard looked great, but the laundry wasn’t folded and the dishes were still dirty, leaving your significant other frustrated that their request hadn’t been fulfilled.

If Johnny Olesh were a race car driver, the first thing that he would do when he crossed the finish line would be to acknowledge and thank his pit crew. As a team service manager at Accent, Johnny doesn’t drive a race car, he manages a team of IT professionals who consistently receive the highest in client satisfaction ratings. Working with his team is the best part of working at Accent for Johnny, and he much prefers that they receive recognition instead of him.

I got an email the other day from a friend in one of my networking groups. The subject line read, “Please sign - You have received a secure document via DocuSign.” Alarm bells went off in my mind because I was not expecting an email like this from her. Further investigation revealed that this was a “phishing” email – a kind of scam where unscrupulous individuals try to capture information by pretending they’re someone they are not.

“It seems like every time I turn around, I have to write another huge check for IT.” Have you ever said that? While technology costs cannot be eliminated, unexpected IT-related expenses can be minimized. With the right technology planning and budgeting process, you should have a clear idea of what your IT spending will look like for the next few years. What Are Some Things to Consider When Budgeting for IT?