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.

Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

Is your small business protected from ransomware?

Yes, you want to have good backups and antivirus software, but that by itself isn’t enough.  There are effective and cost-effective steps that a small business can take to up their level of security and protection, including:

• Download NSG’s security baseline for small businesses
• Backups, backups, backups!
• User training and awareness
• Password policies
• Multifactor Authentication
• Security software that is regularly updated and monitored
• DNS filtering
• Next generation firewall
• Patching policy
• Network monitoring
• Auditing and logging software
• Regular security reviews

Secure Your Business with an Ann Arbor Computer Service

Ready to secure your business?

Network Services Group is an Ann Arbor computer service that can help you defend your small business from and cyberattacks. Contact NSG today to discuss how you can take your cybersecurity to the next level.

Network Services for Cybersecurity

Are you up to date on best cybersecurity practice?

Cybersecurity is serious business.  Hackers, scammers, and ransomware are everywhere, and it seems like you can’t go more than a few days without hearing about some business being the victim of ransomware.  It almost seems like cybersecurity is a fulltime job and many industries have specific security requirements that would be difficult or impossible for a small business to meet.

What can you do to protect yourself as a small business?  The answer is to work with a qualified and knowledgeable network service and support company to take your cyber security to the next level.

Support Your Business with Computer Service in Ann Arbor

Ready to secure your business?

Network Services Group is an Ann Arbor computer service that can help you defend your small business from and cyberattacks. Contact NSG today to discuss how you can take your cybersecurity to the next level.

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.