spauldinghillnetworks.com Blog

IT Operations for Small Businesses

Administrator — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:29:25 +0000

Being a small business owner is tough and sometimes you have to wear many hats. If you are a small business owner lucky enough to have some employees, they likely spend time on many tasks outside of what you hired them for but have become essential. Although multi-talented multi-tasking employees could rocket your company to success, it isn’t practical to rely solely on staffing decisions for all critical business tasks. IT is one of the most important aspects of running any sized business but with technology changing so quickly it is hard to keep up while also focusing on marketing, sales, operations and more.

The infographic below shows some powerful information about how small businesses are using IT services. A huge majority of small businesses are utilizing in-house resources for IT support which means this 78% is missing out on cost saving benefits of out-sourced IT technology and services. These in-house resources can get stretched thin and also have a hard time staying on top of new technology. While 52% of small businesses cited their reason for outsourcing IT as cost-effectiveness, having access to better resources was also a large factor in the decision.

IT support is critical for a small business to have a competitive advantage and outsourcing is a great way to ensure you optimal support. Test your in-house IT abilities by asking yourself a few questions:

How much time are IT staff spending on non-IT activities?
When have we looked into new technologies for productivity?
Are we using any of the new cloud technologies?
What advantages do our competitors have in the IT field?

Computer Repair Services at Spaulding Hill Networks

Administrator — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:13:23 +0000

View full PDF brochure here: Computer Repair Services Brochure

SafetyNet Maintenance Plan Promotion

Administrator — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:08:45 +0000

Choosing the right Managed Service Provider

Administrator — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:02:41 +0000

Previously we covered why your business needs a managed service provider, here is a recap:

MSP’s are a cost effective way to run your business by providing the capabilities of an internal IT department without large initial capital costs and staffing fees. With an MSP you have the benefits of reliable equipment, 24/7 support, updates and security, and more. When making your choice for an MSP it is important to look at certifications, equipment that is used, as well as support provided. While doing your research, keep the following questions in mind.

Do they offer proactive monitoring of critical network devices and components?

Constant monitoring of your critical IT infrastructure is important to avoid costly downtime of both your voice and data systems. The provider should offer around the clock support and alerting of critical issues and security problems. It is best to combine both voice and data to provide comprehensive coverage.

Does the MSP provide reporting and communication?

Along with the constant network monitoring, your MSP should provide email and phone access to you for support and questions regarding your system. Scheduled status information should also be shared such as a monthly email report detailing the overall health of your network. Detailed tracking of help desk issues are also important activities for you MSP to offer.

Is remote management available?

After the initial setup period, your MSP should be able to manage and maintain your network remotely during normal operation. Giving remote assistance as well as providing patch updates and network administration duties can be done outside of your office. Services in some cases may include an on-site visit as part of a contract which is a nice feature to have for those concerned with remote management.

Spaulding Hill Networks provides quality MSP services to businesses from small to large, learn more here.

Image: xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Spaulding Hill Networks, LLC – Announces addition of NEC Sphericall IP PBX

Administrator — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:35:06 +0000

Nashua, NH, January 5, 2012 –Today, Spaulding Hill Networks, LLC announced their plan to carry NEC’s Sphericall product line.

Under the agreement, Spaulding Hill Networks, LLC will offer the Award-winning NEC Sphericall IP PBX. NEC Sphericall is 100% software and interoperates with a wide variety of standards-based telephony devices, SIP trunking services, gateways, conferencing and other communications endpoints. Through its unique distributed software architecture, Sphericall scales to 30,000 ports and achieves 99.999% reliability.The Sphericall product line will complement and extend Spaulding Hill’s product portfolio, which includes the Cisco SBCS, NEC Univerge and NEC DSX family of phone systems.

About Spaulding Hill Networks, LLC:
Founded in 1999, Spaulding Hill Networks, LLC has provided clients throughout New England with innovative technology solutions to meet their networking and communication challenges. Spaulding Hill Networks, LLC provides cost-effective Networking Solutions to clients helping them to be more efficient and productive. For more information, visit www.spauldinghillnetworks.com or call 866-441-7469 today.

About NEC America:
NEC Corporation of America is a leading provider of innovative IT, network and communications products and solutions. Empowered by innovation, its solutions, products and services are backed by the leadership and expertise of one of the most successful global companies of more than 100 years. NEC Corporation of America delivers one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of technology solutions and professional services to carrier and both SMB and large enterprise clients across multiple vertical industries. For more information, visit www.necam.com.

Does your business need managed data and voice solutions?

Administrator — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:13:59 +0000

If any of the following describe your business or organization then adding managed IT services should be a goal for 2012.

Trouble Staying up-to-date with new technology and IT skills
Trouble maintaining and managing hardware and software
Reducing overhead costs and remaining competitive
Increasing services and/or expanding new markets
Move focus from support elements to core business
Concerned with protecting against security and privacy threats

How managed services will help you in 2012

Quality Networks

In this increasingly global economy where rivals are competing 24/7 a quality communication network can make or break any business. Having the best technology available to your employees will enable them to reach their highest potential. Remember having a quality network is nothing without the means to secure, update, and maintain it.

Freedom To Do What You Do Best

Managed services let you focus on what you do best and leave technology to the professionals. Running a business has many challenges but IT doesn’t have to be one of them, using managed services will allow you to focus on your strengths and reaching your clients with less worry. When you partner with a company that has a passion for IT and stays current in their field, you can’t lose.

Cost Effective

Utilizing managed data/voice services benefits you by avoiding initial capital costs, maintenance fees, staffing, and more. You have the advantage of support from qualified and trained staff with the latest technology at a fraction of the in-house costs. With a predictable fixed cost, managed services will put your mind and budget at ease.

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to asses your business and find areas to be more efficient and save money. Continual care of your communications equipment and networks will likely cost less and increase productivity rather than waiting for something to break. Make it a goal this year to reduce your technology worries and see if managed services are right by getting a free assessment.

Learn about the managed services Spaulding Hill Networks offers here.

Read more about the benefits of managed services here.

Image: cooldesign / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controller

Administrator — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:09:19 +0000

Teleworking has never been as prominent in the work place as it is today. With the cost of fuel and the environmental factors, businesses are striving for their employees to be able to access their networks without safety concerns. The newly release Cisco Wireless Controller is the answer for most businesses.
The Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controller enables system-wide wireless functions in small to medium-sized enterprises and branch offices. The 2500 Series provides low total cost of ownership and flexibility to scale as network requirements grow.
There are many benefits to the Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controller such as the ability to have up to 50 access points and 500 clients/employees connected at any given time, which is essential in today’s world. This cost effective Wireless Controller can save companies the headaches of hacking while keeping their network secure with the trusted Cisco name.
Contact our Sales Department at 866-441-7469 for more information.

Cisco’s Latest Small Business Phone Solution UC300

Administrator — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:24:33 +0000

Cisco’s Latest Phone System for Small Business
Have you always wished for the best brand name on the market phone system but it was out of your budget? Well Cisco has finally made an affordable solution for the small business market. The UC300 Series is an alternative for the small business owner with most of the bells and whistles that Cisco provides with less of a hit on the wallet.
The UC320W is designed to support up to 24 employees with the same Cisco business class with full key system and small private branch exchange (PBX) features. The system will support a variety of Cisco SPA Series IP phones. With this product you can lower your expenses and improve productivity with peace of mind. The system is also designed with growth in mind.
Some of the features included in the UC320W are: voicemail, auto attendant, voice mail to email notification, support for Cisco SPA300 and SPA500 IP Phones, licenses for up to 24 phones, and state-of-the-art, web –based configuration, to name a few.
Contact our sales team for more information on the latest and greatest Cisco phone system at sales@spauldinghill.com or (866)-441-7469.

The Cisco Cius Tablet

Administrator — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:37:22 +0000

If you are one of our many Cisco Customers then this tablet may be for you! The Cius (see us) Tablet is geared for businesses looking for desktop capability built into a tablet. Cisco is planning on launching the new tablet July 2011. Read the full article here http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/37936/?p1=A1&a=f As the launch date gets closer we will continue to provide our Cisco Customers more information on the tablet.
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The Desktop The Dinosaur

Administrator — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:12:01 +0000

Will the desktop become a dinosaur? Some experts say “yes”. With all of the new technology today between laptops, smartphones, tablets and applications such as Cloud Computing, the desktop will no longer be useful to most.

Personal computers have dropped significantly in price so have the sales because of the surge in laptop purchases because the price of laptops has also decreased. They are no long just a luxury for CEO’s and traveling executives which is why so many more people are opting to skip the big and bulky desktop purchase and go straight to the laptop.
And let’s not forget about the Smartphones and Tablets of the world as well. Smartphones and tablets are taking the IT world by storm with their size and ease of use. More and more people are using them as their primary connectivity to the internet.

It is hard to say if the desktop will become extinct (maybe irrelevant) in the future but it will certainly become less of a tool as most work and communication will be done by use of a laptop, smartphone or tablet.