5 Reasons Small Businesses Are Outsourcing IT

Small business owners are busy with the day-to-day operations of running a business. This often means that technology support becomes an afterthought.

In-house IT might be on the plate of one employee, or maybe it’s something that’s briefly touched on when there’s time to spare. IT outsourcing is changing that reality for many businesses. 

Outsourcing has become the new standard. With persistent cybersecurity threats and evolving technological needs, outsourcing means less downtime, fewer breaches, and greater productivity. 

Here are five reasons why small businesses are outsourcing their technology needs: 

1.        The cost is more predictable than in-house IT.  

Emergency repairs, unexpected hardware failures, and unplanned downtime all come with unpredictable costs. IT outsourcing usually follows a flat or flexible monthly plan agreed upon at the time of signing. 

No surprises and no scrambling for your technology budget. 

2.        You’ll have a full IT team, not just one person.  

One in-house individual can only handle so much, and their scope may be limited. 

Outsourced IT gives access to a wide range of specialists: network engineers, security analysts, and help desk technicians, all available without the cost of keeping them on the payroll full-time.  

3.        Problems get caught before they become crises.  

Skipped patches, old hardware, and security gaps left unmonitored can build up and cause costly downtime, security risks, and performance issues. Proactive managed support tracks systems continuously and addresses issues early. 

4.        Cybersecurity gets the attention it needs.  

For small businesses managing their IT, security often falls to the side. Outsourced providers keep security tools updated, monitor for threats, strengthen your defenses, and respond quickly when issues arise. 

5.        Growth becomes easier to manage.  

Hiring new staff, moving to a new location, or upgrading infrastructure goes more smoothly when a knowledgeable team knows your setup. 

Learn more in our latest article.

The Bigger Picture  

Outsourcing allows small businesses to proactively manage technology needs with an experienced team, with predictable costs that fit your budget. 

Ready to see what it looks like in practice? 

NSG has provided IT outsourcing in Ann Arbor and the surrounding Southeast Michigan area for 25 years. Call 877-815-6974 or visit the contact page to get started.

Your Business Email Needs More Protection Than You Think

Email is one of the most important tools your business uses every day—and one of the easiest ways for attackers to gain access. 

Cyber threats are no longer obvious! Phishing emails are carefully crafted to appear legitimate, often mimicking trusted contacts, vendors, or internal communications. 

Unfortunately, they are difficult to detect without proper safeguards in place. 

That’s why we offer tech support in Ann Arbor that focuses on two things: prevention and awareness.

Basic spam filters may catch some unwanted messages, but they are not designed to handle the volume or sophistication of modern attacks. 

Relying on basic spam filters alone can leave gaps in your security.

Email filtering plays a key role by reducing harmful emails, limiting exposure, and reducing human error. 

But filtering is only part of the equation.                                     

Active monitoring is equally important. It helps: 

• Detect unusual behavior
• Identify compromised accounts
•  Flag potential threats 

Through tools supported by partnerships with companies like Huntress, businesses can gain deeper insight into what’s happening behind the scenes.

Without monitoring, threats can go undetected until damage has already been done.

Many businesses are not as protected as they think, and without the right combination of filtering and monitoring, the risks increase significantly.

Learn more in our latest article. 

Tech Support in Ann Arbor You Can Rely On 

 

If you’re looking for tech support in Ann Arbor, you’ve come to the right place! We help businesses evaluate their setups and identify risks.

Call 877-815-6974 or contact us for a review of your current setup.

Spam Isn’t Just Annoying… It’s a Security Risk

Email remains one of the most common targets for cyberattacks. For businesses looking for tech support in Ann Arbor, understanding these risks is the first step in building a stronger defense. 

Spam, phishing attempts, and malicious attachments can lead to downtime, data loss, and financial damage. These threats happen to businesses of all sizes.

Email filtering helps reduce risk by:

• Stopping harmful messages before they reach your inbox
• Acting as a critical first line of defense
• Preventing employees from making judgment calls

However, filtering alone is not enough. Threats continue to evolve, and some will inevitably succeed. That’s why active monitoring is equally important. Our partnership with Huntress provides businesses with active monitoring, visibility into suspicious activity, and response before issues escalate.

Many organizations assume they’re protected because they have basic spam filters. Those alone are not designed to stop today’s advanced threats.

Without proper filtering and monitoring, businesses may face compromised accounts, exposure of sensitive data, and costly disruptions.

If you’re not completely sure how your email is protected, now is the time to take a closer look.

Learn more in our latest article. 

Tech Support in Ann Arbor You Can Trust 

If you’re looking for tech support in Ann Arbor, you’ve come to the right place! We help businesses evaluate their setups and identify risks.

Call 877-815-6974 or contact us for a review of your current setup.

Cybersecurity Reality Check for Small Businesses

Did you know that cyberattacks are getting more frequent and more devastating?

The good news is that you don’t have to become a cybersecurity expert overnight. You just have to stop treating backups and security as an afterthought and start treating them like the insurance policy your business can’t survive without.

Here’s the reality for most small businesses we talk to in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Novi, Howell, and the greater Detroit area:

• Your data is growing faster than ever (QuickBooks files, customer records, invoices, project folders, emails).
• A single ransomware incident can cost thousands (or more) in downtime, recovery, and potential ransom.
• Most owners assume “it won’t happen to me”—until it does.
• Simple, affordable solutions exist that didn’t ten years ago.

This year, make the resolution that actually matters: commit to protecting what you’ve worked so hard to build.

Our Ann Arbor-based tech support specializes in helping small businesses just like yours implement reliable backup systems and layered cybersecurity protections that fit your budget and your team size—no overwhelming jargon, no unnecessary complexity.

Learn more in our latest article.

Looking for Tech Support in Ann Arbor?

Fill out our quick contact form or give us a call for a free, no-pressure review of where you stand today. We’ll show you exactly what you need (and what you don’t) so you can focus on growing your business instead of worrying about losing it.

Here’s to a secure, successful 2026!

IT Goals for 2026

Happy new year, Michigan businesses!

January is here, and while you’re planning growth goals, new hires, or that long-overdue website refresh, there’s one resolution most small business owners keep pushing off: finally treating data backups and cybersecurity like the critical priorities they are.

You’re busy. We get it. We’ve worked with hundreds of small and mid-sized businesses across Southeast Michigan since 2001—restaurants, law firms, manufacturers, medical practices, and retailers just like yours. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when “I’ll get to it later” turns into a frantic 2:00 a.m. phone call because files are encrypted, customers can’t be reached, or an entire week’s worth of work is gone.

2026 isn’t bringing fewer threats—it’s bringing smarter, faster, and more targeted ones. Ransomware groups are now going after small businesses in record numbers because they know most don’t have enterprise-level protections (or even basic offsite backups). One attack can wipe out years of profit in days.

Learn more in our latest article about Ann Arbor tech support.

Looking for Tech Support in Ann Arbor?

Fill out our quick contact form or give us a call for a free, no-pressure review of where you stand today. We’ll show you exactly what you need (and what you don’t) so you can focus on growing your business instead of worrying about losing it.

Here’s to a secure, successful 2026!

RMM Case Study

In our last blog, we gave a brief rundown of our Remote Maintenance and Monitoring (RMM) plans. To
demonstrate its usefulness, here is a real example of a client with an RMM plan:

One of our accounting firm clients faced a server crash during the height of tax season—a nightmare scenario for any practice. Our RMM system sent us an alert over the weekend, prompting us to investigate immediately. We discovered the server had rebooted but needed intervention to fully recover. By the time we checked our voicemail and found the client’s message, we had already restored their system.

When we called to confirm everything was back online, the client was astonished. “How did you know we had a problem before seeing our voicemail?” they asked.

“Simple,” we replied. “Your RMM plan alerted us the moment your server went down, so we jumped in to fix it.”

The client was thrilled—not only was their system back up quickly, but they were amazed we caught the issue proactively, even on a weekend. That’s the power of NSG’s RMM plans: peace of mind knowing your IT is monitored and maintained.

Learn more in our latest article.

Is your business in the greater Ann Arbor area? We can provide tech support!

Ready for complete IT peace of mind? 

Get your business set up with an RMM plan by calling (877) 815-6974 or submitting a contact form and letting us know what services you’d like in the “Message” box! 

NSG primarily provides tech support for Ann Arbor businesses, but we’re not limited to a single city! If you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to call and see if we serve your area!

Intro to Remote Monitoring and Maintenance Plans

Did you know NSG offers Remote Monitoring and Maintenance (RMM) plans? 

Well, you do now! And now that you’re in the know, you might wonder what RMM is and how it benefits your business.

Our RMM plans leverage Barracuda RMM to keep your systems running smoothly. This powerful tool automates routine maintenance tasks, installs critical security patches, and equips us with advanced remote access options to deliver fast, efficient support. 

The real game-changer? Proactive alerts. We’re notified instantly about critical issues like low disk space, high CPU usage, or even a complete site outage. This allows us to investigate and resolve small problems before they snowball into costly disruptions.

Learn more in our latest article.

Is your business in the greater Ann Arbor area? We can provide tech support!

Ready for complete IT peace of mind? 

Get your business set up with an RMM plan by calling (877) 815-6974 or submitting a contact form and letting us know what services you’d like in the “Message” box! 

NSG primarily provides tech support for Ann Arbor businesses, but we’re not limited to a single city! If you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to call and see if we serve your area!

When was the last time your business’s website was updated?

Google constantly changes the way it evaluates websites for search engine placement. It's always tweaking its algorithm and enforcing new standards for qualities it deems important. Even if a website was well-built in the past, it doesn't mean that it will remain in good standing with Google and other search engines as new standards are imposed. 

WordPress is the most ubiquitous CMS—and therefore the most maliciously targeted. It needs to be kept up to date. So do all its themes and plugins. And when a plugin or theme has a severe vulnerability, it needs to be temporarily disabled until the developer patches the problem, or permanently deleted and replaced with something similar.

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 [link to KWP]. To get started, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here. 

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.

Keep Your Servers Up to Date

Reminder that on October 10th, 2023, Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 will no longer be supported.

Keeping your business on an outdated server means you’ll likely experience frequent crashes, incompatibility with new software, limited or terminated technical support, and (arguably most importantly) high vulnerability to ransomware and other cyberattacks. And those are just the bigger issues—issues with performance and efficiency are sure to plague you daily as well.

Update Your Business with Ann Arbor Tech Support

Network Services Group can help you migrate all your old system data to new software and hardware. Our priority is keeping your sensitive data safe and secure, as well as keeping your business running smoothly. Reach out to Ann Arbor tech support to speak with an IT expert, and we’ll help you make a plan to update your tech and protect your business. 

To get started, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

October 10th is End of Support for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2

Is your business still running on Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2?

According to Microsoft, support for these servers will end on October 10th, 2023. This means that after October 10th, they will no longer be getting security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. This makes all businesses running on these servers easy targets for hackers.

If your business is still running on a Server 2012 system chances are you’re relying on other old hardware and technology at your office. Keeping your hardware and software up to date is best business practice—relying on old, unsupported hardware automatically puts your business at significant risk.

Keep Your Business Secure with Ann Arbor Tech Support

Network Services Group can help you migrate all your old system data to new software and hardware. Our priority is keeping your sensitive data safe and secure, as well as keeping your business running smoothly. Reach out to Ann Arbor tech support to speak with an IT expert, and we’ll help you make a plan to update your tech and protect your business. 

To get started, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

NSG is a Selected Lenovo Legend Reseller

 Are you in the market for a new business computer? 

Do you know what processor you need to work efficiently?

NSG offers professional tech support services, so you won’t have to worry about computer specs as our specialists will help you figure out exactly what you need and recommend a great product.

NSG is a part of the Lenovo Legends

NSG is part of the Lenovo Legends program! Lenovo is the leader in the global personal computer market with a 24.7 percent share. They’re well known for their sturdy and reliable Thinkpad laptops.

If you’re looking to purchase a Lenovo brand product let us know! NSG gets special pricing on Lenovo products, so we’ll help find the computer that’s right for you!

If you’re interested to learn more about what makes NSG Lenovo Legends, click here! 

Working With Computer Techs in Ann Arbor Helps You Save

If you’re in the market for a new computer, NSG’s computer tech support in Ann Arbor can coach you through the purchasing process. Contact us or call (877) 815-6974 so you can get the best use of your tech! 

No More IT Horror Stories!

We help companies with all their IT needs big and small.  Everything from “my computer is slow” to cloud and server migrations.

In addition to providing tech support to our clients, we also help set them up for success with our proactive maintenance and monitoring plans, ensuring their computers and devices are up to date with security patches and reliable and robust backup systems are in place.

Some of our clients tell us horror stories about dealing with their previous IT support companies, saying things like “they were hard to get ahold of, they wouldn’t call us back and don’t show up for appointments, and worse – when they do show up nothing gets fixed and it seems like we have the same problems over and over again.”  

If any of that rings a bell with you, then maybe it’s time to make a switch. Don’t “open a ticket” and get “put in the queue.” Instead call NSG at 877-815-6974 and get the help you need and the personalized service you deserve. 

Tech Support Ann Arbor, Michigan

Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Network Services Group is dedicated to providing professional computer and network services and expert tech support to businesses throughout southeast Michigan. We’ll make sure your needs are taken care of, gets done as promised in a thorough timely manner. Contact us or give us a call at (877) 815-6974 today.

Tech Support for Your Ann Arbor Business

Are you struggling to find the right tech support for your business?

Technology powers your business. When it doesn’t work, productivity goes down and frustration levels go up. When you need tech support you don’t want to have to “open a ticket” and be “put in a queue.” You want to pick up the phone and call and talk to someone who can provide you with the help you need.  

At Network Services Group we’ve been providing tech support and consulting services to small businesses for over 20 years, offering a more personal level of service, and helping our customers experience the positive side of what technology has to offer.

Tech Support Ann Arbor, Michigan

Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Network Services Group is dedicated to providing professional computer and network services and expert tech support to businesses throughout southeast Michigan. We’ll make sure your needs are taken care of, gets done as promised in a thorough timely manner. Contact us or give us a call at (877) 815-6974 today.

Tired of Unreliable IT Support? We Can Help!

How many messages do you have to leave before your "on call" IT support calls you back?

Cyber-attacks are on the rise and every business connected to the internet is at risk. You can’t afford to have IT problems. You really can’t afford to have unreliable IT support.

When a technology issue has brought business to a grinding halt and your IT support specialist is unreliable, what is it costing you? 

• Lost productivity
• Potential for data breach or loss
• Lost revenue
• Potential damage to client relationships and reputation

That’s a lot of damage because someone didn’t care enough to show up. We think that’s unacceptable.

From NSG’s founder, Don Prior: “I started NSG in 2001 – 20 years ago at the time this article was written.  They say most businesses fail within the first 3-5 years. I’m happy to report that we made it over the hump, and I’m so very grateful for our customers, many of whom have been there from the beginning.

I’ve also worked hard to build a great team over the years, and am also grateful for their support and commitment to helping our customers with their technology needs.”

Want to take your IT to the next level?  We can help! Spend less time worrying about security issues or frustrating PC problems and spend more time growing your business.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

Take Your IT Game to the Next Level

Are you looking for an IT team with experience and a proven track record?

Are you searching for reliable network monitoring and maintenance services for your business?

NSG is proud to celebrate its 20th year as computer consultants in the Ann Arbor area! We’ve seen the technological landscape drastically change since we’ve been in the business, but we’ve remained highly committed to providing cutting-edge tech services to our clients and staying on the forefront of computer security. 

Over the years, we’ve picked up many new clients who switched to us after becoming unhappy with their previous support company.  Usually the complaints are similar:

• “They don’t show up or call us back.”
• “We have the same problems over and over.” 
• “I asked them to setup a new computer for me and they didn’t install all my programs or copy over my data.” Worse, upon closer inspection (which is the first thing we do), we find that they don’t have backups or antivirus, and are running older and unsupported systems and software.  
• “Our systems are slow and we’re having so many computer issues.”

Sound familiar?

These problems are easy to fix when you have the right team!

Get Rid of IT Headaches with an Experienced Team on Your Side

Technology has certainly changed over the years, but our focus and commitment has remained the same – helping our customers get the most out of their technology investment and setting them up for success.  This is even more important in today’s technology driven world, and especially with viruses, malware, and ransomware becoming more and more prevalent.

Want to take your IT to the next level?  We can help! Spend less time worrying about security issues or frustrating PC problems and spend more time growing your business.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

Support for Windows 7 & Server 2008 Ends Jan. 2020 - Are You Ready?

Do you still run Windows 7 on your work computers?
Do you still have Server 2008 in your network?

It's time for an upgrade! January 2020 may be a new year but it also marks the end of support for Windows 7 and Server 2008. Even if you have premier anti-virus software to protect your business’ important information, you need to consider software support. Upgrading your hardware or updating to Windows 10 is a financial commitment, you'll have to weigh the costs versus the risks.

3 Steps You Can Take Right Now:

Double Check Your Hardware Specs

• You may have enough memory or only need a simple upgrade to upgrade to Windows 10.

Check Your Software Compatibility

• If your business uses third party programs for inventory or accounting, they may have announced their end of support for Windows 7

Download the Latest Security Updates

• Making sure you have the latest versions and updates to your security software will at least offer some protection. This isn’t a perfect solution.
  
  

CLICK HERE to learn more

Network Services Group LLC

IT Solutions and Tech Support in Ann Arbor, MI since 2001

Does Your Business Have a Dedicated IT Support Specialist?

Who’s taking care of your business' tech support?

Is there someone you can call that will actually pick up the phone when your computer crashes or gets hit by a virus? 

Do you know who to call when your website suddenly disappears?

At Network Services Group we’ve been helping businesses in Ann Arbor and throughout southeast Michigan since 2001. From computer support and technical support in Ann Arbor, to IT outsourcing, to computer support – there are ways we can make sure your business has the latest technology and always stays up and running.

If you don’t have prompt, reliable, and experienced IT support service for your business, Click Here to learn more.

4 Tips to Improve Your Cyber Security

Anyone is can get hit by a cyber-attack. It happens all the time and businesses lose customers. At Network Services Group we have provided expert cyber security and IT solutions to business throughout Michigan for over 17 years. We’ve seen critical attacks and we’ve helped businesses recover. 

If you want to improve your cyber security you must:

• Train Your People
• Backup Your Data
• Maintain Your System
• Have Business-class Virus Protection

Click Here to learn more about improving your cyber security.