Our Formula for IT Success

Have you dealt with unresponsive IT support in the past?

Fed up with companies talking big game but not delivering on their promises?

We understand that the small companies we work with are on strict timelines, so we make an honest effort to do what we can to make their lives easier so they can put their energy into running their business. 

Our Formula for Success 

The principles we live by are knowing what it is, getting it done, and effectively communicating the results. We put the best interests of our clients first, and we work diligently to put all the pieces together to make them work. Above all, we believe in making it a great experience for you!

Imagine how great you’ll feel when you know that your network and computers are secure, your backups are working, and your computers are working. 

We want to see you succeed!  We’ll take care of the technology so that you can focus on taking care of your other tasks.  Technology that works the way you want it to, when you want it to.  If you’d like to learn more, check out our latest article. 

Achieve Your Business Goals with Our IT Solutions in Ann Arbor 

At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to make technology work for you so you can focus on what really matters – running your business. With our proven formula of clear communication, reliable solutions, and a customer-first approach, we’re here to make sure your IT needs are met efficiently and effectively. 

Achieve your business goals with our trusted IT solutions in Ann Arbor – because your success is our success!

Contact us today to get started.

Our Recommendations for Protecting Yourself Online

 Are you confident your current online habits are keeping you safe from potential risks?

The internet is full of potential threats like viruses, malware, and scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting users. Without taking the right precautions, browsing online can put your data and devices at risk. To help you stay safe, here’s a short list of things you can do to protect yourself:

1. Scammers are trying to trick you.  Don’t click on links you receive in emails.  Be suspicious and always verify unexpected or unusual requests via a known source.
2. Protect yourself and make sure you have good backups.
3. Antivirus software is a good start, but you also need to be diligent about keeping your computers and devices up to date with security patches.

There is no substitution for user training.  Make sure your entire team is aware and has some basic training. If you’d like to learn more, check out our latest article.

Strengthen Your Online Security Through Our IT Solutions in Ann Arbor

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to online threats. Staying vigilant, keeping your systems updates, and ensuring that both you and your team are educated about potential dangers are key to protecting your data. 

If you’re looking for additional support, our IT solutions in Ann Arbor can help you strengthen your online security against evolving threats. Contact us today to get started!

Benefits of Our Newest Content Management System

Is your website taking too long to load?

Are you having a hard time customizing it to appear how you picture it in your mind?

If so, then our new content management system is the solution you’ve been searching for!

Over this past summer, we created a new version of our CMS.

Why would someone go through the hassle of creating their own content management system when there are so many options already available?  Because our core team has been hosting and developing websites close to 30 years and we know we can do it better.

We specifically focused on security, SEO, versatility, and speed when designing our CMS (the latest version was released this summer).

Our updated CMS lets people who aren't programmers make complicated edits to their websites and gives them a powerful platform to manage their online content.  All this without the security headaches of WordPress.

Dan Holland, one of our web developers, says: “It's extremely versatile, fast, and built with a modern PHP framework. Pages score very well on https://pagespeed.web.dev, even with large media files and complicated scripts.”

The reason speed is important to you is that Google uses it as one of its metrics for ranking sites in its search results.  If your site is bloated and slow (all too common if it’s built on top of a do everything for everyone platform such as WordPress) it likely won’t be ranked as high as similar sites that have been optimized and that load more quickly.

Want to learn more? Check out our latest article here.

Our New CMS Takes Website Hosting in Ann Arbor, MI to the Next Level!

Our newest content management system is designed to enhance your website’s performance, flexibility, and ease of use.

Built from the ground up with a focus on security, SEO, and user-friendliness, it empowers even non-programmers to take control of their website.

Ready to elevate your online presence? Explore our web hosting in Ann Arbor, MI today, and experience the difference our CMS can make for your business!

Contact us today to get started.

 

Benefits of Our Business Class Web Hosting Services

Considering working with a new website host?

Searching for a partner that delivers on their promises, provides top quality service, and a high level of customer service?

Our business class web hosting offers significantly faster performance than free hosting. It’s hand-coded to provide you with peace of mind by not having to worry about your site going down, running on insecure servers and software, and not being backed up.

Wondering what our business class gives you?

Not all web hosting plans are the same. Many name-brand hosting offerings cram your site onto overcrowded servers (ensuring slow performance), limit your support to someone in a call center reading off a script, and try to get you off the phone as quickly as possible. Additionally, these plans typically include limited bandwidth and don’t provide adequate backups or redundancy.

Our business class hosting takes it to another level. We have redundant servers in different data centers to ensure reliability. We go to great lengths to ensure our servers are well maintained, kept up to date with security patches, are regularly backed up, and are not overcrowded.

And if you need support, rest assured you are dealing with a local company with knowledgeable people who not only care about you but can actually provide you with the support you need.

Don Prior, the owner of Network Services Group has this to say about local website hosting: “One thing people need to realize is that when we host their sites, it represents the shortest possible path between the people who care about what's happening with their site and the people who can really work the magic to make things happen, if there's a problem or if they need something special. With canned hosting providers, there's a very big gap there.” 

Want to learn more about our web hosting and we design services? Check out our latest blog here for more information!

Enjoy Customizable Web Hosting in Ann Arbor, MI!

Choosing our business-class web hosting services means opting for reliability, performance, and a partner committed to helping your business succeed online.

Don’t settle for less – experience the peace of mind that comes with business class web hosting in Ann Arbor, MI.

Contact us today if you’re ready to elevate your online presence.

Rank Higher on Google by Custom-Building a Website with Network Services Group

The beauty of WordPress lies in the power to easily change the look of your site by installing themes and plug-ins. This also is the most frightening thing about WordPress. Popular themes and plug-ins are at risk should hackers ever discover any an unexpected vulnerabilities. 

This along with several other factors are why custom-built sites are a smarter option. Learn more about the great benefits of a custom-built website from our Webmaster, Autumn Mahoney, and Web Developer Dan Holland:

Search Engine Friendly

Custom-built websites typically rank higher in search results than WordPress sites. This can result in better leads and more traction to your site. 

Google constantly changes how it evaluates websites for search engine placement. Even if a website was well-built in the past, it doesn’t mean it will remain in good standing as new standards are imposed. 

Our sister company Michigan SEO Group consistently monitors how users find your site and tweaks keyword usage for superior optimization. This paired with our updates, ensures your site ranks higher in search results. 

Faster Service

Our tech support’s consistent monitoring of your site results in faster loading times and better compatibility with mobile devices, modern browsers, and software. Websites are most effective when treated as a living system that needs ongoing care and attention. We see plenty of folks who hire someone to build a site, that then sits untouched until it’s broken, slow, and outdated by modern standards just a few years later.

We constantly follow technical advances with the experience to know when to take advantage of new possibilities and security advances – all while being discerning enough to know what works without chasing trends. 

Enjoy Customized IT Solutions Near Ann Arbor with Network Services Group

We’re eager to build custom solutions to help our partner companies take advantage of web-based technology, while providing security, SEO, speed and convenience. 

We would love to talk with you about ways we could do the same for you! If you are seeking IT solutions near Ann Arbor, submit a contact form today to get started.

How long ago was your business’s website created?

Our team has been developing and hosting websites and web applications since the dawn of the commercial Internet. We know the technical stack inside and out, and we know what works. We don't just blindly outsource our infrastructure; every time an Amazon outage makes the news for taking out a large swatch of the web, our sites stay running.

We are at a sweet spot to be uniquely responsive to the needs of our small and medium-sized business clients. You may be able to find cheap commodity hosting, but then you become a commodity customer — dealing with automated systems, self-serve interfaces, and little recourse when things go wrong. On the opposite end of the spectrum, enterprise-scale corporations hire entire teams of developers and IT workers to keep their online presence running. With NSG, you get the benefit of an easy-to-reach, responsive team that works with you as a technology partner without having to hire your own programming department.

In addition to standard websites, we also specialize in building web-based applications that companies use to run their business processes — from internal systems to track production and work orders, to external-facing applications that help automate workflows with your customers. There are so many ways that technology can be used to make your business run more smoothly; we've built plenty of custom solutions to help our partner companies take advantage of web-based technology, and would love to talk with you about ways we could do the same for you.

Revamp Your Business’s Website with Ann Arbor Tech Support

Ready to bring your business into 2024?

When it comes to premier business-class website design, development, and hosting, you can rely on our Ann Arbor-based tech support. To get started, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

Antivirus and Backup Services

Are you up-to-date on cybersecurity threats?

Network Services Group offers the following backup and antivirus services:

Backups

• Reliable multi-generational backups
• All critical data stored in approved areas and backed up
• Offsite backups
• Backups are encrypted
• Periodic restore to test backups

Antivirus

• Business class antivirus software installed (centrally managed)
• Systems up to date with security patches (recurring)
• Regularly scheduled virus scans

Protect Your Business with Ann Arbor Computer Services

If you aren’t satisfied with the security, performance, or reliability of your network, please contact our computer support specialists at Network Services Group. We strive to make your experience with computers and technology a positive and productive one! To set your business up with Ann Arbor-based computer services, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here. 

Update Your Network and Servers

Do you know how your network is setup?

Network Services Group offers the following services for network infrastructure and servers:

Network Infrastructure

• Business Class Router and firewall
• External Port Scan / No Unnecessary Port Forwards
• Use VPN instead of port forwarding whenever possible
• External vulnerability scan
• Router Firmware Updated
• Router default password changed
• Switches / Other network devices – default password has been changed
• Business class Wi-Fi
• Wi-Fi admin password has been changed from default
• Wi-Fi uses WPA2 with reasonable password
• Wi-Fi guest access (if any) is isolated.

Servers

• Servers kept in secure location (physical security)
• Servers up to date with security patches (recurring)
• Administrator passwords are on a need-to-know basis
• Strong password for administrators
• Shared folders require authentication
• Restrict access to shared folders to those who require it
• Access to servers is restricted – do not use your server as a workstation, unless it is specifically configured as a terminal server.

Check Out More Computer Services from Ann Arbor

If you aren’t satisfied with the security, performance, or reliability of your network, please contact our computer support specialists at Network Services Group. We strive to make your experience with computers and technology a positive and productive one! To set your business up with Ann Arbor-based computer services, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

IT Hiring vs Outsourcing

Unsure whether it’s better to hire an IT crew or outsource?

Consider what it would cost to hire someone fulltime.  The more experience they have, the more you are going to pay.  Even so, a typical IT person has maybe worked at 4-5 different companies, and thus has experience with a limited number of systems.  

Now consider an IT support company that has been around for 20 years, and has a diversified staff that has worked with hundreds of different customers supporting dozens of different systems.

Also keep in mind that good people are hard to find – trust me, I’ve looked.  Most IT people today are highly segmented.  “What do you know about servers?”  “Uh, not much, I’m the desktop guy.”  “Well, what do you know about the network?  We need to make some changes to the firewall?”  “Uh, not much – better call the network guy.”  Weak!

As a small business, you need support for all of that stuff (desktops, servers, and networking), and you don’t want to have to go out and hire 3 different people to get it.  Worse, a lot of inexperienced IT support people have only a limited understanding of network and computer security and disaster recovery.  In this day and age that is a huge liability, not only for them, but for any business that hires them.  

Outsource Ann Arbor IT Solutions

Focus on your core business and leave the IT to the experts.  At Network Services Group, we’d love to have a chance to work with you and your company and help you experience the positive side of what technology has to offer. If you’re tired of searching for IT solutions near Ann Arbor, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

The Benefits of Outsourcing IT Support

Does your small business have access to IT services?

At Network Services Group, we work with a lot of small businesses, helping them with their computer and network support needs.  For most of them, it makes more sense to bring us in and outsource their IT rather than hire their own in-house IT person.  

The benefits of outsourcing your IT support include:

• More resources (access to the entire NSG team versus just one person)
• More knowledge and experience (20 years supporting small business networks and computers)
• Remote monitoring and maintenance
• Less expensive as compared to the cost of hiring a fulltime employee
• You control costs (select pay as you go or full managed services)

As a small business, hiring an in-house IT support person with limited experience and knowledge of security could be a huge mistake.  By outsourcing with the right company, you save money and gain access to a team with a broader array of knowledge and experience.

Protect Your Small Business with Ann Arbor IT Solutions

Focus on your core business and leave the IT to the experts.  At Network Services Group, we’d love to have a chance to work with you and your company and help you experience the positive side of what technology has to offer. If you’re tired of searching for IT solutions near Ann Arbor, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

The Cons of Commercial Web Hosting

Are you considering one of the big-name, free-to-use website hosts?

There is a wide selection of website hosts to choose from— BlueHost, HostGator, and GoDaddy are three of the most popular. These are not necessarily bad services, but when it comes to website hosting, there is a direct tie between your connection to the host and your connection to your website. If you’re using a commercial host and things go sideways, it’s likely that your issues won’t be addressed in a timely manner.

Here are three challenges of working with a commercial website host:

No personal connection. Commercial hosting providers are disinterested by nature because there is no personal connection. Usually, you’re not even interacting with the employees unless you’re trying to solve an issue.

Inexperienced crew. The people answering your calls at a commercial hosting company may not be trained in tech or website hosting. Often, these companies are so large that they hire people just to make sure they have enough bodies to fill the positions. They might know very little about your problem, or they might be incredibly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of clients that they have to keep track of.

Data is less secure. Template-based websites are easy to use, but that also means they’re easier to hack. DIY website hosting makes your information more vulnerable than local hosting. It’s also common for commercial hosts to keep all of their client data on a single server—if something happens to that server, then all of your website data could be wiped out with no way to recover. 

Read more about the cons of commercial website hosting here.

Reliable Website Hosting in Ann Arbor

Ready to build your website with local professionals?

Network Services Group has been helping business build and maintain their websites since 2001 and has twenty years of happy clients to show for it. If you are looking for website hosting in the Ann Arbor area, NSG has you covered. Call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here to get started.

The Pros of Local Web Hosting

Are you looking for a website host?

Have you considered going local?

There are many benefits to working with a local website host over a commercial (or “canned”) host. Here are three major benefits:

Fast response time. Because a local host knows you personally, and doesn’t have a massive sea of faceless clients, they can respond to you much quicker. They also care about responding to you as a valued client.

Secure databases. The servers at Network Services Group are hosted in different tier-1 data facilities, all with redundant internet connections and backup battery/generator power. It is extremely rare for something to happen to the NSG servers—but on the off chance that something happens to one of them, your data will not be lost. 

Professional experience. A local company has the power to hire people with a specialty in IT and web hosting, rather than hiring anyone just to meet a body count. Updates are performed faster, content is posted on time, and problems are solved quickly.

Read more about the benefits of local website hosting here.

Go Local with Website Hosting in Ann Arbor

Ready to build your website with local professionals?

Network Services Group has been helping business build and maintain their websites since 2001 and has twenty years of happy clients to show for it. If you are looking for website hosting in the Ann Arbor area, NSG has you covered. Call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here to get started.

NSA Discovers Security Flaw in Windows 10

The NSA recently discovered a major security flaw in Windows 10.

Microsoft’s CryptoAPI service helps developers prove validity and trustworthiness when Windows checks for it on a user’s device. A hacker could potentially exploit the bug by undermining or bypassing usual protections and subsequently gain control of victim’s devices. 

The implications of this bug are huge. Hackers are undoubtedly racing to exploit the flaw, while many users are still unaware of its existence. Microsoft has released a patch for the bug, and the NSA is urging network owners to install it immediately. After all, over 900 million PCs run the Windows 10 operating system so this is a big issue!

This is a recent development, but certainly won’t be the last. Keep reading about cyber security on our website!

Windows 10 Has A Major Security Flaw

If you run your own business, you know how critical it is to have working technology. Your website needs to function flawlessly every day. Your network connections need to be working at all times. You need to be able to make secure connections with your vendors, customers and your employees. To do that, you have to have functional hardware and software.

But how much do you know about the hardware and software you’re using? When was the last time your PC was updated? Early this year, the NSA took an almost unprecedented step in disclosing a serious weakness it identified with Microsoft’s CryptoAPI service in Windows 10. Rather than immediately alerting the public to vulnerabilities, the NSA used them for digital espionage. However, the NSA is making strides toward transparency and the flaw they found is so serious, they alerted the public.

Visit our website to keep reading about this security flaw!