The ACCENT Learning Hub

Did you make any new year's resolutions as the calendar turned over to 2019? In addition to the usual personal resolutions, such as eating healthy and spending more time with family, I encourage business owners and managers to add a few business resolutions to their list. Information technology is critical to operations for most companies and has the power to stop, or at least disrupt, business if things aren’t going well. When utilized properly, information technology can give companies a strategic advantage and help them accomplish their business goals and objectives.

It's not too early for business owners and managers to update their business plan for the coming year. Planning is necessary to not only make sure that you'll meet your 2019 goals, but to set up a realistic timeline for execution. For example, let’s just say that your 2019 goal is to add an additional million dollars to your business. How are you going to do that? What is going to be different about the way your business operates in order to make that happen? Can any functions be automated or outsourced? Will you be hiring any additional resources? Will you be moving or opening a new location?

  IT departments really are some of the hardest working, unsung heroes in your company. You probably couldn’t even fathom all the things they’re doing behind the scenes to “make it work” on a day-to-day basis. For most organizations, it's not feasible to hire enough experts in EVERYTHING you need from an IT support perspective to work in a productive, profitable manner. Adding a managed IT service provider (MSP) to your already stellar IT department, could remedy any gaps in your department’s expertise, and give you the reliable stability you need to thrive.  Sounds like a win-win, right? Unfortunately, we still run into many IT departments of small to mid-sized businesses that feel like having an outsourced IT provider involved is competition --that somehow the IT staff is seen as less competent if they need “outside” help. But hear me out, because I'm going to make a case for the exact opposite.

    Keeping up with technology these days feels impossible, or is it just me? It seems like every day there is a new acronym, or a term that has taken over a new identity, like the Cloud. With advancements happening so rapidly, it can be overwhelming, leaving your business hanging in flux. Trying to define what actually gives your small business a competitive edge and what's fluff is a full time job.

  A lot of small to mid-sized businesses have already made the plunge into Cloud Computing, or some form of Cloud services. For those of you currently thinking about it or planning for it, we'd like to give you a realistic view of what moving your business environment to the Cloud could mean. Unfortunately, it's not the most natural thing for your current business environment to transition to the Cloud. You'll need qualified support to get the process underway. Let’s look at some of the commonly overlooked factors of moving to the Cloud – specifically, how it will impact your employees.

You’ve had an IT manager for the last 15 years, and he’s (or she's) just told you that he’s retiring. He knows your business and your systems intimately – he might have even built them! So, how will you fill his shoes? How will you get what you need once when he’s gone?

Brand loyalty plays a huge part in how we spend our money. And while there are a lot of top software brands, Microsoft and Google tend to be top of mind. This is expressly accurate when considering business email options. But how do you pick one when they both offer such similar functionality? Especially now that they both have such strong Cloud presence.

Considering changing your company's domain name?  Unfortunately, this process is more involved than simply buying a new domain name from GoDaddy or Register.com. After building your brand, plus all the little things that point to your company, like your email domain, changing it up can be a bit scary. If you've reached a point where changing your domain name is the best option, don't worry; we've got it handled. At Accent Computer Solutions, Inc., we’ve led several companies through domain changes. It's not easy, but if it’s done the right way, it can be worth the name change.

You’re gearing up to pick the best outsourced IT company for your business, excited about the potential benefits!  But you aren’t 100% sure how to pick the best managed IT services provider. Or maybe you’ve narrowed it down, but now you’re stuck in a dead tie. Accent Computer Solutions, Inc. has been helping companies develop their best IT strategy for over 30 years. A topic that frequently comes up is, “How can I compare IT support companies? What criteria should I evaluate?”   Since we talk about it often, we’ve compiled a list to help narrow down your search for the right IT support!

To Cloud or not to Cloud, that is the question… Or it WAS the question. Hybrid IT is challenging this idea and it’s changing the conversation entirely. Business executives come to us at Accent Computer Solutions, Inc. to help them figure out the best path for their IT environment. Deciding where your equipment should be and which services you should use are big decisions. There’s a delicate balance between needs and budget. The infrastructure also needs to be adaptable to the ever-changing needs of the marketplace. That’s where hybrid IT comes in handy for some businesses. Let’s explore what hybrid IT is and how it’s working for some  businesses.