Technology is expensive and a considerable investment for any company. So when someone recommends you purchase new technology, how do you know if it's a good investment or just someone trying to make a commission sale?

The answer to this question can make or break the trust in an IT partnership.

How can you know if an IT solution will help your business grow? Will it work for the long-term or short-term? And is your IT solution something that meets both your needs and your budget?

Your IT provider can help you answer these questions to the best of its ability, but it's more challenging to match a client to an IT solution without insight into the client's long-term business goals and strategies.

There are generally two ways to approach information technology strategy: reactive and proactive.

Reactive IT addresses issues as they arise. You do not plan out your IT growth goals or anticipate a crisis. Instead, complications are addressed as they come to light and impede productivity.

Generally, people approach problems one of two ways: “I’ll deal with it when it arises” or “I’m going to prep for the issue before it starts.” In short, some people tend to be more reactive, while others are more proactive. But what does this look like for IT? And why does it matter?

Proactive IT means being aware of your IT systems, its risks, and how to mitigate risk.

A database stores information. A database acts like a digital library by organizing all your information and allowing users to access and edit data. However, databases have limited storage space. If your database is full, it can slow your system to a crawl or even take it offline.

Gartner Research recommends replacing computers every five years and laptops every four years. But why is this? What kind of issues and risks may arise in older hardware?

When your personal computer goes down, you lose time and gain frustration. Likewise, when essential business hardware malfunctions or is breached due to an unfixable security vulnerability, that business loses money each hour it's down.

How would you answer the question, "Does your business rely on technology?"

Most businesses in 2023 would answer, "Yes!" We use email, websites, and texting to communicate with clients. We use applications to complete tasks and store data. Technology is a significant part of our daily operations and lives.

When a client signs a contract with an IT provider, they want guarantees on the level of service and partnership they will receive. But are there problems an IT provider can't correct? Are there issues beyond even the most experienced providers?

As an IT provider, we've narrowed down four issues that providers cannot fix, regardless of their skill.

When looking at IT project options, clients may ask, "Can I have a great, fast result for cheap?"

According to project management experts, the answer is "no." If clients want a quality project completed quickly, the price must match the expertise, materials, and time utilized.

Let's be honest: hardware can be an expensive investment, particularly if you want to furnish an entire office with devices.

In these cases, you often have three choices to acquire hardware:

You can purchase the hardware outright.
You can lease the hardware, paying it off over time.

Professional mobile devices like tablets are growing in popularity across various industries. But have you wondered if they may benefit your business, as well? If so, how do you start using tablets and similar devices as professional tools?

We've outlined five questions to help you determine how mobile devices may fit into your business, IT system, and IT policies.

Technology is in a constant state of change and improvement. Sometimes, it changes so frequently it's hard to keep up. So what are some significant trends in the last half-decade? Where is technology going, and how do you navigate it to your benefit?

We've collected a list of five major technological advancements—good and bad—since 2018. Some changes can help you streamline business functions and encourage growth, while others may increase IT risk.