Being at the helm of a company, I’m always looking for ways to make our organization more cost-effective and efficient.  That’s why I’m having a hard-time understanding why small and medium sized companies say “No” to managed services? Are they over-cautious about what aspects of their business they’ll outsource? Are they afraid to trust an outside provider? Or are they “just comfortable” with their current, less effective approach?  

One thing is for sure, their Fortune 500 counterparts have figured out how to utilize BPO and IT outsourcing to their advantage.  They focus on running their profitable and growing business, while relying on outside expertise for specific functions.  This model has proved to be very efficient and cost-effective for these large firms.  So why haven’t more SMB’s taken advantage of it?  It could be that they don’t understand what managed services is all about or entails.  They may have the wrong perception that they have to “give up the farm”.  In a traditional outsourcing model that may be true, but not using managed services.  

IT managed services provides SMB’s with a dedicated virtual IT department responsive to their every need. It is a combination of 24/7 monitoring of servers and critical services, ”one click” remote support, and on-site support without the transfer of any personnel or property.  The idea behind it is to save IT dollars (up to 60%) while providing a secure, performing and satisfactory employee computing environment. 

If you’re a business leader that’s struggling with the managed services idea or have further questions, I encourage you to provide your comments below… Would love the opportunity to respond.

Ok, we’ve done it!  This weekend we updated our website, and gave it a corporate look and feel.  I hope you like it.  Let me know what you think…

If you own a 6510b, like I do, you may have noticed that your fan is working overtime. 

HP support will try to tell you that this is “normal”, but it isn’t.  The simple fix that I found for this annoyance, is to update the BIOS to the latest version.  Here is the link.  Good luck!

If you currently have Vista Operating System running on your computer, then you may want to find out if it’s worth upgrading to Service Pack 1.   Before you decide either against or for it, the following list of features may prove helpful.

The question of “how does IT Vizion fit in?” comes up more often then not.  Therefore, we decided to come up with an image that tries to explain - how IT Vizion - helps small and medium sized businesses with limited or no internal IT staff.

It comes down to a one vendor relationship.  We become your single-point-of-contact, with anything that deals with technology.  Managing existing systems.  Planning for the future.  Working and helping your end-users.  Dealing with your 3rd party vendors.  We are it.  One number for you to remember…

Everyone talks about recession. Some say we are in a recession already, some say we’re headed for a recession, some say that we’re just now starting to come out of a recession…

IT Vizion, just like any other business, is always looking for ways to do more, with less. We are always on the lookout for the ‘next opportunity’ to deliver more value to our customers. That’s why we provide what is known as a “virtual IT department”. Utilizing a virtual IT department model, our customers benefit from having access to talented, responsive, and dedicated personnel in multiple disciplines from a single-vendor, without the expensive overhead.

Imagine a single point of accountability. One number to remember in times of need. A one-vendor relationship - for all your technology needs.

Our existing customers understand that by utilizing a virtual IT department model for their business, they can easily save anywhere between 30% and 60% per year in IT support costs. Whether they outsource just some functions of IT, or allow us to comanage their technology (with an internal IT staff), they realize the bottom line value and the long term benefits.

Expect get ‘more for less’, from your local IT firm… IT Vizion.

• more readily available expertise
• more resources focused on supporting your firm
• more responsiveness from IT
• more availability from IT
• and, a higher degree of ‘more’ accountability

Get to know us. My personal goal is to position IT Vizion as…

1. Someone that cares very much about our customers
2. A company that hires only talented, dedicated, and customer oriented employees
3. As someone that continuously strives to increase the value of our clients’ IT investment
4. A firm that’s not afraid to invest in technology that delivers results!

So as we go through this recession, keep in mind that we are here to assist in anyway possible.

I discuss our managed IT services capabilities every chance I get. The other day a business executive posed a question regarding one of our features - 24/7 Systems Monitoring. Her question was “Why do I need to monitor my IT systems in the first place?”. My initial reaction was “you’re joking, right?”. And just then it dawned on me. There are some business savvy individuals that may not know or understand why is IT monitoring the new buzzword? Why not discuss the benefits a bit.

Technology is an integral part for almost every small to mid-sized business. Just like their Fortune 500 counterparts, they rely on systems that are efficient with minimal resources, and uptime without sophisticated system management installations. They do not have the budget to deploy and manage these themselves. Nevertheless, they expect the same up-time and Service Level Agreement similar to any Fortune 500 enterprise. Nothing wrong with that.

Our Systems Monitoring capabilities in essence monitors and alerts on various IT assets - servers, applications, websites, etc. - for slow or failing systems, and it notifies your internal IT staff (if any) and IT Vizion’s IT Specialists via email, text, or other methods.

The idea is to be proactive, instead of reactive. Without monitoring, small issues can lead to larger problems, poor performance, and outages. Monitoring catches these problems at an early stage, before they either multiply or causes business interruptions. Of course your customers, internal and external, will be happy too. Monitoring identifies problems at an early stage, therefore our IT Specialist’s can take immediate remedial action to restore functionality, which enhances business productivity.

Besides being proactive, you also benefit from having access to real-time information regarding your current and past IT performance. This historical data allows you to plan ahead, and justify costs.

Feel free to find out more about our managed IT services plans.

In this day and age, every business, no matter the size, whether public or private, in one way or another leverages software to cut costs, simplify processes and improve business performance. Because the software becomes an integral part of their business, they cannot afford to have the system down, or not have access to support personnel for these systems.

Too many times we are called upon in desperate times when companies are faced with the fact that they are left with no in-house expertise to support and maintain critical, home-grown software applications. It seems that we can’t get past the idea that people move on. Technical support professionals, programmers, database administrators, software engineers, and other technical folks - will eventually find greener pastures. Are you prepared for that scenario?

Not matter what you heard, and where you heard it, the bottom line on outsourcing or co-sourcing some of your IT functions, such as application maintenance, is that it’s just plain smart. Some companies do it to save costs, some do it because no in-house expertise, some because they want to protect their assets, and some because they want to protect their jobs. Yes. Their jobs. C-level executives don’t typically care for the “why” are we short staffed, but more for the “how” you will overcome the shortage, while still providing a high level of customer satisfaction.

May I suggest you do it for all of the above reasons? Allowing a firm such as IT Vizion, whose focus is on IT, isn’t just cost effective, but a smart approach to protecting your firm’s investments.

We are not an ‘individual’ that will eventually pack up and go. Our customers can count on us to be there for as long as there is a need, and the synergy still exists. We bring top talent to the table, with extensive expertise in all types of Web and Client/Server applications. Our focus is to deliver cost effective solutions that will boost your bottom line. Whether you need someone to maintain existing applications, or are looking to start with a new software that will allow you to automate your business functions, we are capable and ready to take you to that next level.

If all is well now, then this is the time to plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’re left in the dark. Becoming acquainted with software applications doesn’t happen overnight. The company you choose for this task, will need time to learn and understand your systems and your business, before they can be a real asset to you. Spend the time needed to find a long term IT partner that fits your culture, while bringing the complimentary skills needed to support your organization.

IT Vizion is located in Corona (Riverside County, California). We specialize in Java and .NET applications, Oracle and SQL Server databases, while adhering to the highest software development standards. We are proud to promote ourselves as a one-stop IT shop.

For the past two weeks, I’ve been meeting with IT Managers and Directors for medium to large companies in different industries. I enjoy the opportunity to present our managed services solution to these technical folks whenever I can. They are the men and women in the trenches that deal with the daily IT issues, who understand how IT Vizion’s processes and people could have a positive impact on their overworked and under budgeted department.

In this blog, I briefly want to answer a question that seems to always come up which is “How does IT Vizion do IT?”. Our approach is Agent based. Basically a small client install has to happen on every desktop, laptop or server that we will help manage. These installs do not require reboots. Once installed, the Agent communicates via TCP/IP to our remote Datacenter server. The server sends down command primitives to the Agent to perform rudimentary tasks such as writing a file, getting a file, executing a file, auditing the hardware and software on the PC, prompting a user with question and waiting for a response, rebooting, monitoring resources, and more. These rudimentary commands are combined to perform management tasks, such as remote controlling the PC, deploying patches, monitoring the resource utilization of the PC, installing programs, enforcing policies, and more.

That’s a high level overview of how our process works. Because of the secure communication that happens between your systems and datacenter our server, we are able to have an up-to-date inventory of your IT assets (hardware, software). We eliminate the need to have 3rd party tools deployed and managed within your environment. Some typical systems that we can replace as part of our integrated system include:

1. Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
2. System Center Configuration Manager (SMS Server replacement)
3. 3rd party Ticketing systems
4. 3rd party Monitoring systems (such as System Center Operations Manager)

The concept of managed services does appeal to most IT Managers. Because it effectively enables them to offload a portion of their IT operations without relinquishing full control as they would in traditional outsourcing arrangements that lead to the transfer of the assets to an outside vendor. It boils down to the fact that the Executive Management is no longer satisfied with their current IT suppliers reacting to problems. They “expect” a proactive approach.

By partnering with IT Vizion, the overworked and overstretched IT Manager gains an upper hand in managing their heterogeneous environment, while increasing both customer satisfaction and greater visibility of their IT department. After all, shouldn’t your role as IT Manager be enjoyable and satisfying? I mean most IT Executives become IT Managers because they do what they love. Work with technology and see the superior results when applied to their organization’s business processes. Allow us to make it more enjoyable…

If you’re an IT Manager or Director, what concerns do you have about managed services? I’d be happy to respond.

I’m Pat, Sales Executive for IT Vizion. Those who know me personally will refer to me a blunt, straightforward, and “bottom-line” kind of person. I usually say what I feel and provide various points of view. I try to be as precise as possible. I tend to say things as they are and of what people are thinking of.

I’ve experienced the good and bad in our facility and with some of our current and potential customers. The strangest thing I’ve encountered so far is that the staff at IT Vizion has a different level of confidence in the service provided to current and potential customers. I was working on bringing on a new account with a non-profit organization in Ontario, CA. and provided this prospect with useful, helpful, and one of the best information they can possibly get if they were a customer. Most people would call something like this “being hustled or taken advantage of.” Our staff provides those insights to current customers and prospects.

Does companies have a business code of ethics when it comes to certain information that one company has that another does not? Of course, but IT Vizion has a totally different approach. IT Vizion encourages prospects to have the latest information regarding their IT investment (computers/servers/network) and even if we do not gain a client, we gained the reputation for a company with many resources. The non-profit agency received some technical help and information relating to programs available for their type of business and criteria. IT Vizion provided this prospect with tools and information that saved them $1000’s of dollars, without asking for anything in return. How can a company do this and operate? A company’s reputation speaks for itself. We did not acquire this non-profit as a client; however, this company may refer us to some of their clients and so on. This approach is slow, but certain.

Another encounter experienced was from customers that felt they needed to become a part of every function IT Vizion provides. If this were the case their wasting money with our services. Customers need to understand and trust that we are the professionals when it comes to IT. If customers have a feeling that they can perform better at our business then its simple, don’t utilize us. I’ve experienced unnecessary problems from customers. Leave the IT work to us, we are not here to deceive. Customers who don’t have confidence in our work to change things within a process cause more work and series of frustration. I feel for IT Vizion’s staff and CEO. I don’t mind someone yelling at me for their own mistakes, particularly if it involves a voluntary mistake.

If this next part is true about you or someone you know you WILL agree: (A parent tells their child not to touch the hot iron and the child touches anyways), this is me, I’m one of those guys who does not listen to the warnings and… gets in trouble or hurt.

I wouldn’t tell my parents that they should have told me to touch the hot iron, it does not make sense!

There is nothing wrong with a company that chooses to educate for the right cause, this is how we do business and retain relationships. Our services are not free or cheap; however, we provide the best and more cost-effective solutions for prospects and our clients. Many of our clients including those we had meetings with will confirm the above statement. Our position in this market is to provide support. We have staff members that change their shifts to meet our customers needs and then stay later to meet the needs of others.

While I continue on my path for greatness, I wish the best for the company that acquired me, all staff members, and the CEO for helping me really understand the environment that was given. Throughout the experience and challenges this company may bring, I hope I leave a true legacy with the company as I grow within.