Category: Thought Leadership

In every industry, companies need to be aware of foreseen changes in the technological world. This is the year that more widespread change is expected and top businesses, regardless of size, need to be prepared.

Studies show a high correlation between firms that have significantly invested in technology and those that are the top-ranking firms in each field. We have compiled 3 technology trends that leading businesses are embracing to help them drive efficiencies and gain a competitive edge in 2019.

1. The Days of “Break/Fix” Are Over

There will always be systems that break and an internal staff or Managed Service Provider who will provide a quick fix. If you want your business to thrive, your IT service levels must extend beyond the simple realm of “break/fix.” Most leading companies already have a planned timeline with a full roadmap of IT projects that will lead them to future-focused solutions at a steady pace. At Entara, we derive our client IT roadmaps from the Gartner Business Model and divide them into four categories: Run, Grow, Transform, and our newest addition – Secure.

2. A “Red Team, Blue Team” Approach to IT Security

Security is becoming an increasingly noticeable issue for all organizations. Despite an elevated focus on security projects, many companies lack confidence in their technology infrastructure. Originally, the “red team, blue team” approach was employed by the military to test-force readiness. As the military has long known, it is not smart to have the same people who manage systems also audit them for cybersecurity holes. Companies need to invest in this approach to IT security to better protect their employees and clients.

3. Process Automation that Drives ROI

If you have not yet begun the journey toward automation, then 2019 is your year. Automation is one of the most transformational projects that companies are currently undertaking. The first step toward your future in automation is to identify your most basic and repetitive business processes. At Entara, we provide the capability to automate with EntaraWorks, a Service-Now based platform that leverages a fully-managed underlying platform for clients.

Key Takeaways: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond

Today – you need to ask the appropriate questions to prepare yourself for the future in IT. How is your company using technology to transform your business? Grow your businesses? Secure your data?

Tomorrow – Nail down your security strategy. This needs to include a partnership of internal and external resources.

Beyond – Once your timeline is planned and your IT roadmap is set, looking at your company’s future becomes even more clear and exciting.

Interested in learning more? Download Entara’s new guide: 3 Technology Trends Top Businesses Are Embracing in 2019

As your company uses more and increasing varied technology—including desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, servers, storage, network infrastructure, on-premise applications, cloud applications, and more—the way you manage all that technology becomes more critical.

An exponentially increasing number of businesses are engaging with IT service providers to help them achieve their technology-related objectives. However, choosing the right IT service provider isn’t easy, and many businesses make a mistake the first time they choose an outsourced IT partner.

There are five main areas you need to understand before making your IT service choice. Below is a snapshot of the first area to tackle, “Clarifying Your Needs”. You can find all five in our guide, A Businessperson’s Guide to IT Service Providers.

Clarifying Your Needs

Before shopping for an IT service provider, it’s a good idea to clarify the needs of your business. Every business has different needs—but, generally speaking, your requirements will likely fit into one or more of the following categories:

1. Help desk/User support

In today’s high-pressure, round-the-clock business environment, many businesses are finding that maintaining an internal help desk is a losing battle. Since few businesses can afford to staff a three-shift internal help desk, the demand for a true 24×7 help desk has made outsourcing IT help desk/user support increasingly popular.

A few of the factors to consider when looking for help desk/user support (full list of factors are available in the main guide):

• How important is it that your service provider will be on site when needed?
• What kind of response times do you expect for helpdesk calls?

2. Infrastructure monitoring and management

These services focus on ensuring the health of your servers, storage and networking equipment. Your partner should monitor this equipment on a 24×7 basis and take immediate corrective action if a problem occurs. You also want a partner that can make recommendations about upgrading or evolving your infrastructure as your business grows.

A few of the factors to consider when looking for infrastructure monitoring and management include (full list available in main guide):

• Will the service provider complement internal IT staff or take full responsibility for the health of your IT infrastructure?
• If the latter, what is the technical depth of their engineers? Does the service provider have key man dependency of their own in certain technologies?

3. Fixed-term IT projects

Businesses often need outside help with specific fixed-term projects. These can include infrastructure transformations such as cloud migrations, moving to virtual servers, deployment of new applications and databases, security overhauls, office moves, etc.

Factors to consider when choosing a partner to assist with fixed-term IT projects include:

• Is your service provider competent in the areas in which you need help? Can you speak with multiple references for similar projects?
• What is their track record for successful project completions?

Click here for the full guide to choosing the right outsourced IT partner for your company.

Entara, a leading IT Managed Services Company in Chicago, announced that CRN_®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Entara to its 2019 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Security 100 category. This annual list recognizes North American providers with innovative approaches to managed services that help companies improve operational efficiencies, maximize return on IT investments, and navigate complex IT challenges.

In a rapidly changing tech environment, managed service providers are integral to the success of businesses everywhere. They empower companies to implement and operate complex technologies while staying within their budgets and keeping focus on their core business. CRN’s MSP 500 list identifies the most groundbreaking managed service organizations, with advanced solutions that have endless potential for growth.

This annual list is divided into three categories: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premises and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premises, cloud-based security services.

Cybersecurity threats are evolving and growing continuously for businesses across industries. Technologicial developments that drive efficiency and connectivity, such as remote access, cloud usage, and backup data storage, also create security vulnerabilities. Entara works collaboratively with clients to build a robust organizational culture of cybersecurity awareness and preparedness. Entara’s comprehensive cybersecurity solutions include 24-hour managed detection and response services, security awareness training, and cost-effective backup and data recovery solutions – safeguarding clients’ current and future business interests.

“Capable MSPs enable companies to take their cloud computing to the next level, streamline spending, effectively allocate limited resources and navigate the vast field of available technologies,” said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. “The companies on CRN’s 2019 MSP 500 list stand out for their innovative services, excellence in adapting to customers’ changing needs and demonstrated ability to help businesses get the most out of their IT investments.”

“We are thrilled to earn a place on the MSP 500 list as an exceptional managed services provider,” said Linda Maclachlan, CEO of Entara. “We are constantly developing new solutions and making improvements to our current systems to better serve our clients, and it’s an honor to be recognized along with other outstanding industry leaders.”

The MSP 500 list is featured in the February 2019 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/msp500.

As the military has long known, and as breached enterprises figured out, it is not smart to have the same people who manage systems also audit them for cybersecurity holes. That’s why businesses are turning to the tried and true “red team, blue team” security approach to provide a fully transparent breakdown of the areas they need to address to remain secure.

Originally, the “red team, blue team” approach was employed by the military to test force-readiness. The red team would attack something, and the blue team would defend it. In the 1990s, this tactic began to be used by security companies to test IT security systems. The aim of this exercise is to understand a business’ ability to detect and respond to a cyberattack. It is also a way to determine the level of security maturity the business has reached.

When this strategy is used for cybersecurity purposes, the red team is typically focused on assessing the security of either an application, an IT infrastructure, or in some cases even a physical environment. This often occurs in the form of penetration testing, assuming the role of a hacker that detects and exposes vulnerabilities that pose a threat to a company’s cybersecurity. Other techniques include phishing attempts aimed at employees, as well as social engineering that involves impersonating an employee to try to obtain access to protected information.

On the other hand, the blue team deploys and manages a company’s infrastructure and defenses. The blue team is typically tasked with finding ways to prevent the red team from accessing protected information and thwarting their attack. They often employ software like an intrusion detection system (IDS) that provides them with an ongoing analysis of unusual and suspicious activity.

This strategy addresses best practices when it comes to preventing a cyberattack. Simply “checking compliance boxes” for security and risk management is not enough to protect businesses from the day to day realities that are ever-evolving. As cybersecurity threats continue to grow and show no signs of stopping, businesses are rightfully looking to experienced security experts for help. No one person or organization should be expected to holistically protect the firm from ever-increasing complex threats.

In an era of ubiquitous managed services firms, where many advertise a “complete” cybersecurity offering, others choose to stand by the tried and true principle of “red team, blue team.” The danger of having one company handle all of your cybersecurity needs – from infrastructure to penetration testing – is that they may not be able to be truly transparent about their findings. A complete and effective security infrastructure is only possible when two teams, without bias, are working together to prepare for a cyber-attack.

Discover your ace “blue team” partner in Entara, as we collaborate with your “red team” to conduct detailed assessments, address findings, and provide input to policy discussions. Click here to start putting the military’s best insights into action to protect your business.