14 12, 2018

CompTIA State of the Channel Study Highlights Need for Partnerships

2019-05-16T19:00:28-05:00December 14th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , |

CompTIA’s yearly State of the Channel report covers trends in the technology ecosystem by surveying hundreds of U.S. IT businesses. We looked at their 2018 report as it pertains to channel partnership trends and found some key information that we’d like to share with you. Optimism for the Future CompTIA reports that businesses in the channel are very optimistic for the future. The report states, “Nearly across the board, respondents in 2018 ranked factors that bolster good feelings about the channel’s future significantly higher than they did two years ago. The broader use of technology among customers, for example, inspired optimism for the future in 37% of 2016’s respondents; in 2018 that figure jumped to 52%.” However, businesses face concerns when it comes to the availability of skilled IT workers, a gap that CompTIA says the channel hopes to “tackle with the help of third-party experts.” Creating Agility Within the Channel As the IT channel grows and gains momentum businesses must be agile to maintain growth. More and more clients are looking for a technology provider that has expertise in a broad array of skills and can provide comprehensive support. Despite the fact that it is nearly impossible for one provider to effectively deliver on all solutions and services, the client wants “one throat to choke” and will look for a provider who can fully manage their technology. Organizations miss out on valuable business when they are unable to meet specific needs for their clients and may even face losing the client completely to [...]

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20 11, 2018

Investing in IT: How to Choose the Best Option

2020-12-07T21:43:37-06:00November 20th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

One thing we see a lot at ImagIT is that many people don’t think about the true cost of a job well done. When we submit a proposal for IT services, it’s always based on our real experience of the work and resources required for a quality solution that meets your needs. But for people who aren’t working in IT day in and day out, it’s hard to know the true cost of dependable, skilled IT services. When someone tells you about cheap IT services, it can be tempting to assume the best about the integrity and experience you’ll get for your dollar. Unfortunately, this often results in higher overall costs when all factors come to light. Is it Apples to Apples? It’s important to understand what is and isn’t included in the proposals you receive. Begin by making a comparison chart of primary aspects such as price, delivery time frame, and services so you can truly compare apples to apples. Look for proposals that spell out exactly what you will receive, rather than ones that make broad or vague statements. Companies that are not detailed about what is included in the contract, such as hours of training, change orders, on-going costs, etc., will not deliver what you think they promised. Don’t Assume All IT Companies Are Equal Price quotes can vary for a multitude of reasons, and so can a company’s experience. When it comes to IT services, and especially large-scale projects, you want the most qualified company for the job. A lesser-experienced [...]

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28 09, 2018

Windows 7 End of Life Countdown

2019-07-05T17:22:05-05:00September 28th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , |

Windows 7 is nearing end of life yet is still in use by almost half of businesses. Many organizations have yet to develop a strategy to migrate to Windows 10 and some are not even aware of the impending deadline. Read on to learn more about preparing for Windows 7 end of life and scroll to see our infographic with key information about the countdown. windows 7 end of life Mainstream support of Windows 7, in which Microsoft provided security patches and new features, ended on January 13, 2015. Windows 7 moved into extended support at that time, ending complimentary support and active development of the product. During extended support bug fixes and patches are still deployed to ensure the safety of the operating system; however, the product is being phased out. Once the extended support ends on January 14, 2020 the outdated system will be unsupported and a risk for any machine that runs it. For companies using Windows 10 Enterprise or Education that do not complete their migration to Windows 10 by 2020, Microsoft has announced that it will offer Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) through January 2023. The ESUs will be sold on a per-device basis (with the price increasing each year) and provide a short extension during which organization could continue to use Windows 7 as they complete migrations. We strongly recommend that businesses purchase ESUs if they need to continue using Windows 7 past January 14, 2020 in order to protect machines from threats. The end of life for [...]

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10 08, 2018

Introducing onIT

2019-07-05T17:59:17-05:00August 10th, 2018|Tags: , , , |

Onboarding New ImagIT Teams (onIT) is our internal process for finding, vetting, and ultimately recruiting skilled engineers and technicians to come aboard with us. In the ever changing, constantly dynamic world of information technology we pride ourselves in providing excellence in service and maintaining successful relationships with our clients as well as engineers. The onIT program helps us ensure that we maintain the ImagIT standard. This vetting and training program has been helping us select qualified engineers for years and we are happy to share a more transparent look at our process. What does onit mean for our partners? When you work with ImagIT, you know what you're getting. While some companies will add engineers to their roster after a quick quiz, ImagIT dives deeper. Our program is customized for each individual and has several key components for both internal checks and onboarding.We start with what we would consider to be the basics: things like coverage area, resume, references, and credit/background checks. Once an engineer clears stage one they enter our onboarding process. This includes steps such as: a toolkit check to make sure they have what's needed to do each job, a standards checklist to discuss the look and feel of an ImagIT engineer on site, and vetting for ImagIT standard IT competencies and knowledge. With these checks and more we do our due diligence so that when your ImagIT engineer comes on site you know they have the skills and training to complete the task at hand. What does onit mean for [...]

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6 08, 2018

Determining the Best Internet Option for Your Business

2019-07-05T18:08:52-05:00August 6th, 2018|Tags: , , , |

Understanding your organization’s internet needs and selecting the right service provider is a key component for success in today’s connected world. Reliable business internet is crucial to many business functions. Establishing the needed bandwidth speed to fulfill your office’s needs as well as how many access points your office requires is key to ensuring your office runs smoothly. Your IT service provider can consult with you to determine the required Internet bandwidth based on known factors such as number of employees, square footage, teleconferencing and voice setup, and additional features of your specific location. Determining the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) for your company is vital to ensure reliable and stable internet and voice connections. Conducting research and consulting with your IT service provider and various ISP companies can help you make the right choice. Your organization may also choose to go with two different ISP companies for Internet redundancy and high availability, ensuring that your employees always have maximum speeds and zero downtime. The primary factors to consider when asking for recommendations are reliability, stability, and cost. When assessing your needs, it is important to keep in mind both standard internet usage and voice (phone) internet usage. Internet is essential to keep your organization connected, but hard-wired connections and Wi-Fi both come with pros and cons. Wi-Fi is often used in business due to its flexibility. Changes in the network can be managed without cords and cables and employees are able to easily connect to the network from any company device. However, Wi-Fi [...]

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18 06, 2018

Improve Business Productivity with Structured Cabling

2019-12-05T18:19:06-06:00June 18th, 2018|Tags: , , |

Businesses today are enjoying greater data capacity and processing power than ever before thanks to rapid advances in technology. This is revolutionizing the way that we do business and companies of all sizes are benefiting from the efficiency and productivity gains that are necessary for success in an increasingly competitive environment. Your IT network is the foundation of your organization, keeping communications running and keeping your business connected to partners and clients. Without a strong network, your employees experience a lag in productivity and increase in downtime every day. In fact, although cabling usually only accounts for a small portion of network deployment costs, studies indicate that up to 70% of network problems are caused by poor cabling practices or components. In investment in cabling offers many advantages, and eliminates many problems that can plague infrastructure, making it a valuable investment with high ROI potential. We’ve created a guide about The Importance of Understanding and Utilizing Proper Cabling to help walk you through everything you need to know about your cabling including: The Hindrances of Inadequate Cabling Why Businesses Should Use Structured Cabling The Benefits of Structured Cabling Choosing the Right Network Cabling Take a detailed look at your cabling and make sure your organization is set up for success — click the button below to download your free guide. Download Our Cabling Benefits Guide Now! Many businesses can benefit from a cabling upgrade. Although the choices available to a business that is looking to upgrade can be overwhelming, these can [...]

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17 05, 2018

Six Important Benefits of Project Management

2020-12-07T21:42:51-06:00May 17th, 2018|Tags: , , , , |

If you want to ensure your project’s success, it is important to use dedicated project managers to oversee your project from conception to completion. Project management helps balance a project's timeline, budget, and scope as teams work to meet their objectives. Project managers oversee the individual tasks that move a project toward completion, so the ultimate success or failure depends in large part on the skill and competency of the project manager. Effective project management techniques can help your organization carry out large-scale projects on time, on budget, and with minimal disruption to the rest of the business. Here are some of the key benefits of project management: leadership and direction Project management provides the vision, control, purpose, and coaching that enables a team to do their best work. In addition, project managers seamlessly integrate resources across several departments, vendors, and other involved parties. With a project manager in place there is no confusion about who to turn to for direction. Project managers enforce process and keep everyone on the team in line because they are accountable for whether the project fails or succeeds. Organizations that use project management to monitor processes and schedules can more effectively complete their projects on time and on budget. Quality Control Projects are usually under enormous pressure to be completed according to a set plan. Without a dedicated project manager who has the support and ‘buy-in’ of executive management, tasks are underestimated, schedules tightened, and processes rushed. The result is a project that exceeds the timeline or budget, [...]

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26 04, 2018

Does Your Company’s Security Policy Address These Seven Points?

2021-02-19T17:00:27-06:00April 26th, 2018|Tags: , , , |

Data breaches and ransomware attacks have become more prevalent than ever, with almost 7 billion records breached in the past two years. Many cybersecurity issues still involve basic, fundamental security missteps, which directly or indirectly lead to these incidents. These attacks can be reduced by establishing clear security guidelines and providing training for your employees. Implementing these key components in your security and disaster recovery plans will help your organization’s network combat attacks. Here are some points to address as part of your company security policy: Emphasize the Importance of Security It’s important to instill that security is everyone's responsibility. Employees should be told why cybersecurity is important and the potential risks should be explained in detail. If data is lost or stolen it most likely will negatively affect the individuals involved, as well as severely jeopardize the company. If the company systems are infected with malware, this could hamper the efficiency of the organization. Ask employees to take an active role in security by reporting suspicious activity to their IT administrator. If employees become aware of an error, even after it has happened, reporting it to IT means something can still be done to minimize the damage. Cybersecurity is a matter that concerns everyone in the organization, and each employee needs to take an active role in contributing to the company’s security. Secure Computers and Devices When employees leave their desks, they should lock their screens or log out to prevent any unauthorized access. Laptops and cellphones should also be physically locked when not [...]

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27 03, 2018

ImagIT CEO Brian Gardner on Technori Podcast

2019-07-09T19:49:43-05:00March 27th, 2018|Tags: , , , |

ImagIT CEO Brian Gardner was recently interviewed by Chicago tech media outlet Technori about how he built ImagIT from the ground up and his keys to success as an entrepreneur. Chicago, IL -- Technori, local media outlet and technology community, recently interviewed ImagIT CEO and founder Brian Gardner to learn more about his success with ImagIT. In his interview with CEO of Technori Scott Kitun, Brian discussed his personal story, how ImagIT has reached success, and what technology to look for in a coworking space. We're proud of our history and the amazing growth accomplished through Brian's dedication and determination. Listen to the interview to hear more! About ImagIT Solutions ImagIT Solutions is a network engineering company that provides comprehensive IT services for channel partners, managed service providers and enterprise businesses with multiple locations. ImagIT was founded with the goal of providing comprehensive, IT services for multi-site organizations. Built on providing exceptional customer service with the most trusted technicians in the field, we continue to grow with our clients and expand internationally. Our team of 400 expert engineers and full PMO are ready to take on any type of networking engagement!  Whether its proactive support, an emergency call, long-term projects or ongoing break-fix services, ImagIT will deliver a solution that is customized to best fit your organization. About technori Technori is a media outlet for Chicago startup companies to share their story and join an entrepreneurial community focused on tech & innovation to connect with future customers, employees and investors. Their Showcases allow entrepreneurs [...]

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23 03, 2018

9 Benefits of Virtualization

2019-07-09T19:28:29-05:00March 23rd, 2018|Tags: , , , , |

Virtualization helps businesses improve operations and decrease spending. Learn about the benefits of a virtual environment and decide if this technology is right for your business. What is virtualization? Virtualization is the process of creating a simulated virtual version of something such as a server, storage device, network, or operating system. This is done by partitioning a single physical machine into several virtual machines which can then interact independently and run different operating systems and applications. Virtualization makes the relationship between computer hardware and software far more flexible and presents capabilities that would never be possible within a physical infrastructure. Virtualization is more than just a buzzword; this technology is the most effective way to reduce IT expenses while increasing efficiency and agility. Businesses of all sizes are reaping the benefits of virtualization and we are seeing more and more companies requesting assistance in creating a virtual environment. Check out these nine ways your business can benefit from a virtual infrastructure: reduced spending Companies spend a significant portion of their IT budget on hardware every year, with the majority spend allocated to multiple servers. Virtualization reduces the number of servers needed as well as extending the lifespan of existing hardware. Many servers are grossly underutilized, using only an estimated 5-15% of their actual capacity. This is because many applications require their own server, which without virtualization means many more physical machines. A single physical server can run approximately 16 virtual servers, allowing companies to considerably reduce hardware and software costs. In addition to reducing [...]

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