VoIP Basics

What is VoIP?

Voice Over Internet Protocol, aka VoIP is the best alternative for communication instead of using your local phone company.  This phone system works by using your Local Area Network (LAN) .

The distinct advantage is the capability for use across multiple internet-connected devices. In its most basic level, it is the process of turning analog audio signal into digital “packets”. This signal is delivered over the internet.

Simply, it lets you to make a phone call or video call the same way as you send an email.

Advantages of VoIP

Cost saving is the most appealing benefits of using using VoIP for businesses.  It is less expensive versus the traditional phone line.

Consequently, this is due to using one single network to carry both voice and data. Most users have existing network capacity and can use this phone system without any additional costs. Hence, in some cases, users see phone calls, including International calls as free. Skype is one good example.

Similarly, another advantage is its mobility. Because it operates using internet, you will be able to call and receive calls as long as you are connected. Thus, making business easy and simple.

How to get Started

Finally, consult your IT provider about having VoIP as a priority for your IT Master Plan. With perks and features that business owners can take advantage of, VoIP cannot be taken for granted. Because most businesses have several locations, easy communication between locations is a must. VoIP makes it easy to connect multiple points with a single click.  Hence, it has become a business standard all over the world.

Currently, there are a number of providers available today. Sometimes it is hard to know where to start. Let LEAP Managed IT assist you by assessing what type of business communication solution you need. As partners, we can save time and energy by tailoring a plan for you from VoIP providers in Indianapolis. Contact us leapmanagedit.com today.

 

 

IT Consultant Indianapolis

Indianapolis IT Consultants

Is hiring an IT Consultant  for your organization important? The answer is yes. Their role is to plan, design and install IT systems.  A part of an IT Consultant’s job is to advise on how to use and maximize information technology to meet business objectives. Second, they will have overcome problems.  Third, they will prevent future issues.  Their goal is to improve the structure and efficiency of your IT system. Delivering the best possible results, in the most effective manner. Indianapolis is comprised with a wide range of industries. They include medical, financial services, manufacturing, transport, utility, agricultural and a lot more. To be able to stay on top of management and operations, these industries rely heavily on information technology.  Thus, enhancing IT infrastructure to enable effective business processes. So where do IT Consultants in Indianapolis come in?

Getting the Best IT Consultant

To get the most out of an IT consultant, first thing you should remember is to be honest. Let them know about your plans and goals. Inform them which direction you want to go.  Have a budget goal. Lastly, have a clearer vision on how the IT side will be set up to work to your advantage.  Hence, IT consultants also provide ideas and suggestions. Furthermore, they give guidance and technical expertise.

An IT consultant will determine the requirements of your organization. They will layout a plan, timeline and the resources needed.  After strategic IT planning, you will be the one to decide if it’s a go or a no.  Certainly, you know what’s best fit for your organization.

Going Beyond Computers

An IT consultants skill sets go beyond computers and technical expertise. They have the ability to listen to suggestions and concerns. Ability to understand the needs of the client and the organization. At LEAP Managed IT, our team will prioritize you and your concerns regarding IT and beyond. We’d like to be part and contribute to the realization of the final goal and see our partners successful.

Indianapolis Tech Support: Netflix Themed Phishing Attack

In this Indianapolis Tech Support Update we’ll delve into the latest phishing attack and the risk it poses to Indiana businesses.  Since nearly 50 million households in the U.S. subscribe to Netflix, the Indianapolis Tech Support Update calculates that the attack has the potential to impact over one million Hoosiers.  The Grand Rapids, Michigan Police Department recently uncovered this Netflix phishing attack which tricks recipients into thinking their accounts have been deactivated or suspended.  Individuals who click on the email are at risk of having their personal information stolen along with compromising their computer and network.

Indianapolis Tech Support
Indianapolis Tech Support Update

How your employee’s penchant for ‘Friends’ can impact your business

The confluence of work and personal communications is hard for a company to avoid.  Face it, employees are busy and need constant access to important updates of happenings outside of their work life.  Receiving continual updates bombard their inbox:

  • soccer practice update from Team Snap
  • birthday reminder for that almost forgotten high school buddy compliments of Facebook
  • a heads up from Netflix that season 4 of ‘Friends’ is about to be removed from the line-up

Besides a productivity drain this can’t cause a big issue for a company, right?  Remember the people behind the phishing attacks like the Netflix example are not selective.  They will gladly steal your employee’s identify and if performed on a computer attached to your network, they will be more than happy to try to compromise your technology.  A hacker just needs a way in and this phishing attack might open the front door they need.

Must Do’s from the Indianapolis Tech Support Center

We can’t stress enough that nothing will make your network 100% safe from attack.  You can with some simple steps, significantly reduce your risk.  Here’s what the cyber-security experts at our Indianapolis Tech Support center recommend:

  1. Develop a clear policy for how company owned devices can be used – Can employees use company computers &  email for personal use?  If so, what are the guide posts?
  2. Deploy Multi Layered Protection – Firewall and antivirus are not enough.  If your company is not deploying true multi layered protection you are at risk and trying to fend off sophisticated attackers with 10 year old technology.
  3. Train and Test – Don’t assume your employees know what to click on.  Train them and then test them on a monthly basis.  We conduct regular testing for our clients and see nearly 50% of all employees fail on initial testing.  It takes practice to get good!

How to stay ahead

This Netflix phishing attack is just the latest in what will be many more attempts to get your company’s data.  The technology the bad guys are using is changing fast and companies have to keep up to stay protected.  Leading Indiana companies know that outsourcing IT support is one of the best investments for keeping an organization safe.

Reach out the Leap Managed IT Indianapolis Tech Support team to get more information.

leapmanagedit.com

 

IT Support Indianapolis: 4 Powerful Ways IT Can Enhance Your Indy Business

Find yourself searching for IT Support Indianapolis?  You’re probably finding your IT support a little frustrating and are looking for insights about how other Indianapolis based companies solve their technology challenges.  Let’s face it having a proper IT infrastructure is key to running your day-to-day operations.

As your company grows, you might notice it becomes harder to handle IT related issues in-house.  So instead of focusing on growing your business, you will devote all your energy trying to handle IT maintenance in-house.  We hope the following insights makes your next IT Support Indianapolis search more beneficial.

That’s why leading Indianapolis, Indiana businesses turn to managed IT services – to outsource IT and to spend less time managing the IT department and more time running their business.

Here are four reasons why your business needs dedicated IT support and how it can benefit your company.

1. Access to Trained Professionals

One of the most critical aspects of working with a dedicated IT support team is the fact you will always work with security experts.

Companies which provide managed IT services will make sure their staff is aware of the latest technology and they’re up to date with the best practices when it comes to security.

That way, you won’t need to worry about the quality of their work, their skills and expertise.

IT Support Indianapolis

2. Receive a Complete IT Audit

The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to fixing your IT system is not doing a diagnosis first.

IT support companies companies specializing in managed IT know the value and understand that knowing your current environment an assessing your risk and vulnerabilities is the fist step in understanding your needs and helping create a roadmap for your success.

The audit should include a security threat assessment, state of your network, compliance and contingency planning to just name a few.

This is going to help your provider determine your company’s current state and  figure out how to leverage IT to improve day-to-day operations.

An audit should be done regularly to make sure your provider is helping you stay complaint and help plan for your company’s growth and development.

3. Set up an IT Strategy

Based on the IT audit, a leading IT support team will create a technology roadmap which will address all the issues which were discovered during the audit process.

The IT strategy will not only be implemented, but the team will also continually monitor your IT environment.  Reviewing the strategy after 30 days is highly recommended.  At this time all the collected data can be reviewed and progress can be measured.  Allowing you to see if all the benchmarks and goals are being met.

Having a strategy in place is critical to reaching long-term objectives.  Most importantly making sure your are continually compliant with  with federal, state, local and industry-related privacy laws.

4. Save Time and Money

Let’s be honest, IT support can be pricey.  IT service providers can work with you to pinpoint your most urgent needs.  You can begin the on-board process by attacking the most burning issues first, such as security or data backup and recovery.  This can help your business stay within your budget.

We’re aware IT maintenance can be overwhelming and having a dedicated professional team of experts will bring you peace of mind and time to focus on other aspects of your business.

Ready to Work with a Specialized IT Support Indianapolis Team?

IT Support Indianapolis

IT support is a must for all size businesses, especially due to the fact any company which stores data online, in the cloud or even onsite is vulnerable to cyber-attacks.  Having your company data compromised is a nightmare and explaining the “how” & “why” to your customers is an even bigger ordeal.  Your customers expect certain levels of privacy, security and professionalism when they do business with you.  You help deliver a product or service while mainlining your integrity in all aspects of your business.

It’s important to work with professionals who understand the responsibility of handing your network and will work to ensure your company’s sensitive data cannot be accessed or compromised by hackers.

If you want to find out more about our IT managed services and how we can meet your business needs, feel free to get in touch with our IT Support Indianapolis Team (800) 649-9446.