Why Your Business Needs A Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation and its Importance in Business
What is a digital transformation, and why is it important? Technology is essential for all businesses in today’s digital age. From startups to established businesses, it’s imperative to remain competitive and relevant.
Digital transformation ensures digital technology is incorporated into all areas of a business, replacing manual or analog processes with digital procedures and ensuring the effective use of new technology. Ultimately enhancing how you manage and add value to every customer interaction within your company.
Consolidate Information. Streamline Data. Communicate Better.
At Hemi IT Solutions, we provide a seamless transition. Every company’s specific needs, stage of growth and pace of change are factors to consider when implementing a digital change. A digital transformation is intended to improve business capabilities composed of people, process, and technology best practices.
Moving manual or analog processes to digital can be a challenging undertaking that requires time, acceptance and investment but operating will allow you to transform your business and allow your company to adapt to today’s ever-changing digital landscape.
In this article, we will explore the business benefits your company can see through digital transformation.
The benefits far outweigh the challenges. Making your business more accessible to a larger demographic, allowing you to develop more long-lasting relationships with new and existing clients. An effective transformation is a key component in a company’s successful business strategy.
Adaptability and Digital Transformation
If there is one thing that COVID-19 has taught us, it is the importance of going digital. Being able to access your information securely, from anywhere at any time, is a necessity. The pandemic has compelled many businesses to adopt cloud-based software and video technology to ensure the ability to work remotely. The ongoing situation made businesses evaluate their digital capabilities and adapt accordingly.
Integrating digital processes into your business strategy is vital to ensure your business’s success is not reliant on analog processes.
Going digital is pertinent for internal communication and external information when implementing data collection tools and analytics to improve customer experience. Particular customer datasets make it easier to assess, assemble and evaluate customer information, making for improved engagement and acquisition. Essentially, helping enhance business strategies and growth.
Creating digital workplaces is an exciting endeavour for any business as it guarantees longevity, flexibility, and success well into the future. Hemi IT Solutions can help your company adapt to this ever-changing digital age.
Approachability and Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is about improving how your business connects with its customers and adds value to every customer interaction with the company.
Undergoing this transformation can make your company more approachable over the leading competitor. The user experience (UX) or customer experience (CX) is a leading priority. A seamless and intuitive experience can create new and returning customers and consistent ROI.
Today’s customers expect to have information instantly, whether through comprehensive and mobile-friendly cross-functional web platforms or instant messaging systems and chatbots. No matter what industry, whether B2B or B2C, the customer expects a certain level of service and responsiveness. Providing your customer with a consistent experience across platforms will provide your company with a competitive advantage and why companies worldwide continue to make substantial investments in digital initiatives.
Hemi IT Solutions can provide a seamless transition to any new software and hardware implementation. We understand new technologies deliver the greatest value when they seamlessly integrate with existing systems.
Accountability and Digital Transformation
Another benefit of digital transformation is that it keeps the business accountable to its employees, clients, and overall objectives.
An effective digital strategy can empower employees to deliver more productivity by improving internal communication and collaboration through integrated intranets and cloud-based services. Undergoing a digital transformation and incorporating technology in daily operations creates a collective digital culture within a company and allows for additional connectivity and teamwork. Hemi IT Solutions can help you implement modern systems to help your team manage their workloads more efficiently and provide insights into employee and business performance.
Lastly, by helping companies achieve their digital transformation, we ultimately help them develop process efficiencies, streamline operations, and increase productivity, generating a competitive edge for the company and achieving their broader business goals and objectives.
With a successful digital transformation, all departments are empowered to communicate efficiently, manage the appropriate projects and access necessary data with ease.
Make the Change Today
Digital transformation is an essential part of business and imperative to remain competitive and relevant. Integrating modern technologies into everyday business operations is essential for success in today’s digital world and a vital tool in enhancing customer experience, employee productivity and overall success.
Digital transformation positions companies for growth and improves integration between different areas within a value chain, and enhanced business performance. Today, a digital transformation strategy will help your business be more adaptable, approachable, and accountable for future successes tomorrow.
Hemi IT Solutions can help you undergo your digital transformation today and help implement custom solutions. Reach out to our team and learn how we can help you with your digital transformation.
4 Elements You Absolutely Need for a Reliable IT Strategy
Why You Need a Reliable IT Strategy
An effective IT strategy creates a roadmap for technology to shape and support your company’s entire business plan. Information Technology plays a vital role for every individual within the business, including employees, executive leadership, and customers. For an IT strategy to be robust and efficient, it must mirror business goals, projects, and strategy. Therefore IT isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. An IT strategy that works well for one company often won’t suit another perfectly. A reliable IT strategy considers an organization’s mission, values, plans and outlook for achieving goals when building the IT infrastructure.
With the evolution and growth of technology, a cutting-edge IT strategy that supports the security, development and functions of a company is becoming more critical than ever for businesses. An effective IT strategy can boost sales, improve customer experiences, streamline marketing, and support communication between partners, vendors and consumers.
When building an IT strategy for your company, there are four elements to consider: hardware, software, security and support. They must co-operate and accentuate one another to function well and improve business practices.
HARDWARE
High-quality hardware is the cornerstone of any effective IT solution. When you invest in premium hardware, it can save you from unnecessary lulls in productivity. From laptops and desktop computers to wireless routers and network servers, quality hardware keeps things running smoothly and provides added value because of durability.
When it comes to your network server, you need a solution to support your organization’s database, email functions, and additional files in a secure fashion with backup capabilities. Many companies are moving to cloud services for their server functionality. Utilizing the cloud allows companies to scale functions to fit their specific needs. Users can get their applications to market fast. Cloud technology is the most innovative solution available at this point, and when appropriately used, gives users a competitive advantage.
You can choose between public, private or hybrid storage based on the security needs for data, plus the control choices are entirely customizable. Cloud-based applications are easily accessible from practically anywhere and streamline work processes. They regularly update to stay current with changes and ultimately save companies money on servers and other equipment.
SOFTWARE
Software, and the data you’re putting on your hardware devices, is meant to maintain and control the business strategy. Businesses with innovative software solutions automate many business tasks and reports, streamline processes and save the organization time and money.
When building your IT strategy, you want to seek opportunities to program software functionality to fulfill business requirements. Depending on your company’s needs, you could require different solutions for tasks such as tracking inventory, recording accounting information, or storing data to manage other business activities.
SECURITY
Arguably the most critical detail of IT strategy is security. Security puts strongholds and processes in place to protect your company and customers’ data. Without a solid security strategy, your business could be at risk of hackers, cyber attacks, email scams, stolen information or worse.
When creating your IT strategy, it’s essential to list and be aware of potential threats that could affect your system. For each risk, realistic and actionable solutions or preventative measures need to be in place to ensure the risk never comes to fruition or escalates. Strong security reduces potential downtime and sets you apart as a trustworthy and reliable business.
SUPPORT
A reliable IT strategy is a pro-active one, and it’s essential to focus on the future and the present. Ongoing IT support is a big part of innovative technology implementation. Great support always keeps operations running smoothly and introduces new technologies that will propel your business to the next level.
Our team at Hemi IT Solutions is dedicated to building successful, strategic, and customized IT plans for businesses in any industry. We keep up to date with advancing technology, monitor your hardware, software, servers, and provide ground-breaking solutions for your business’s continuity and future. Get in touch with our team today for a complimentary technical assessment and learn how we can help boost your business with our IT managed services.
Which Antivirus Software is the Best?
Antivirus software is essential unless you’re not worried about losing your files, money, or divulging your personal information. However, with a handful of available options, it’s easy to be overwhelmed.
So, which antivirus software is the best? At first glance, you might think they are all the same, but each one can offer a range of different solutions. The minimum that an antivirus program can do is protect your computer from viruses, worms, spyware, ransomware, and all sorts of malware, but protection doesn’t end there. The antivirus software you choose can provide advanced cybersecurity features, too. Think of password management, virtual private network, and parental controls.
The best antivirus software comes with features that improve your computer’s native security systems. The idea is to keep your system as secure as possible, so there’s no way for anyone to get access to your data, especially financial information and login details.
Comprehensive Malware Protection
Choose a product that’s shown to protect against new and advanced malware threats like spyware, viruses, and ransomware – all these things mean nothing but harm to your system. Some antivirus programs only go as far as protecting your computer from the most common viruses but aren’t built to cast a wide net to cover all possible threats. Comprehensive malware protection is what makes for a worthwhile investment in antivirus software.
Efficient and Smooth Operation
You’ll come across various antivirus software solutions that offer maximum protection. However, some of them demand a lot of processing power that can crash or slow down the operating system. What you want is efficient protection that runs smoothly, even on computers with low-end processors. It makes no sense to install a program to protect your files, only to render your operating system almost inoperable due to the lag.
User-Friendly
Learning how to use virus protection on your computer doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. Unfortunately, some products are way too complicated to use. The best antivirus software is convenient to use even if you have basic computer skills. After all, the concept of installing virus protection is for the user to no longer worry about tweaking their system to keep it secure.
In an ocean of options, they are a selection of products that stand out – because they’ve proven their worth through time or they offer incredible value. Whichever product you choose, we’re sure that each prospect in this list is a winner:
1 – Norton 360
Well-suited for both Windows and Android systems, Norton 360 continues to improve its virus and malware protection. The company boasts its industry-best internet security suite that keeps personal information and data in your system private and secure. Norton uses a proprietary scanning engine that detects the most sophisticated online threats. The Windows version of this antivirus software is a breeze to use. Still, it maintains advanced settings if you want to customize your protection.
The standard and most affordable Norton 360 package includes real-time malware protection, password manager, VPN access, and 10GB cloud storage.
2 – McAfee Total Protection
McAfee’s Total Protection pitches the most extensive internet protection for your system, incorporating features like encrypted storage, malware protection, VPN, and a password manager. This product insists on added online protection by integrating a browser extension. McAfee’s coveted trademark feature is “My Home Network,” where you can see a map of all devices connected to your home’s wireless network. It’s online security at its best, preventing intruders from accessing your home network.
The McAfee Total Protection package is perfect for family use, highlighted by its centralized approach to network security. The company throws in a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re unsatisfied.
3 – Avira Prime
Remember when we talked about how the best antivirus software should be light and efficient for any system? Well, Avira Prime gives you just that and more. The anti-malware engine isn’t as demanding as Norton and McAfee, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. Avira uses a powerful antivirus program that features a wide array of internet security packages, including VPN, real-time malware protection, password manager, privacy optimization, advanced ransomware protection, and system optimization.
The system optimization tool is what makes Avira Prime stand out. The start-up optimizer keeps your computer’s boot time at a minimum. At the same time, the power boost option allows you to place all resources in a single task for them not to interfere when you’re performing other activities.
4 – Intego
We put Intego on this list because it’s by far the most comprehensive Mac OS antivirus software. The first three options in this list are for Windows and Android-operated devices, so we also needed to talk about virus and malware protection for systems that run the Mac OS.
Like the other three products before it, Intego combines optimization tools and internet security in one package. It works by improving Mac’s embedded safety features through real-time malware protection, network security customization, advanced Mac backup, parental controls, and some nifty cleaning tools.
You can’t go wrong with any of these antivirus products; they come with an extensive range of features that promote security and enhance data protection. The “best antivirus software” is a subjective term since we all have unique preferences.
If you need help choosing the best antivirus software, contact us at Hemi IT Solutions.
What is Endpoint Security and Why Does it Matter?
The purpose of endpoint security is to protect the network against a possible breach or exposure of data when accessed through a remote device.
The increasing reliance on the use of personal devices, i.e., smartphone, laptop computer, tablets in an office or corporate environment opens up the possibility of exposing protected information, some of which include company secrets and financial data.
With endpoint security, a company or organization protects its network through a series of activities, application and use of software, and regular monitoring.
Endpoint protection systems are installed on every network server within the company or organization, including all endpoint devices. The ever-growing dependence on mobile devices puts enterprise data and confidential files at risk of exposure when that device is stolen or lost. It’s hard to fathom how significant the loss could be for a company if this happens.
How Endpoint Security Works
The point is that businesses and companies must find a way to secure sensitive data that is transferred to an otherwise “unsecured” mobile device. There must be a safeguard against illegal access in case the mobile device falls into someone else’s possession.
But endpoint security isn’t just about protecting sensitive data in a lost phone or laptop. Companies take full advantage of its beefed-up measures to prevent the likelihood of misusing data. There are countless instances of disgruntled employees who were let go and sought revenge by using login details or even financial records as leverage.
How Is It Different to Other Security Tools?
Endpoint security is classified as a network security tool, which puts it on the same boat as an antivirus program and a firewall. However, that’s essentially the only similarity. The term “endpoint” means that it is more of a focus-driven approach.
Whenever a mobile device connects wirelessly to a network, it immediately opens up some vulnerabilities. Unlike the computers and other devices that are wired to the corporate firewall, smartphones and laptops that use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless connections are situated outside of the protected network.
Since they are literally on the “edge” of the network while connecting to the central system, experts refer to them as “endpoints.” It means that they’re the endpoints of the corporate network. The strategy used in safeguarding and protecting data that goes through these endpoints is aptly called “endpoint security.
While the function of an endpoint security software is to “secure” mobile devices, it’s not the same thing as an antivirus program. Antivirus software is installed to protect one or a couple of computers; on the other hand, endpoint security casts a wider net as it works to protect the entirety of the corporate network.
The scope of endpoint security is broad enough that most people don’t even bother to understand it. But if you’re a business or company owner, CEO, or manager who has a genuine concern of protecting your most-guarded trade secrets and sensitive information, you will want to learn about what endpoint security covers.
A comprehensive endpoint security package includes network access control, application whitelisting, and advanced detection and response systems. Those are things that you usually don’t get in an antivirus program. Consequently, the antivirus program may form part of endpoint security. It is part of a broader scope of protection which typically includes firewall and monitoring tools, all to safeguard all endpoints.
Moreover, endpoint security embraces a server-client system to enable an efficient protection strategy for multiple endpoints. The server is the focal point (master) of the program, while the clients (endpoints) get specific representatives installed in them. These representatives connect to the server through each client’s device, monitoring activities from logins, authorizations, and others. Again, the objective is to keep each endpoint as secure as possible.
Meanwhile, the role of the antivirus program is to detect and get rid of a bevy of threats to a PC, including but not limited to adware, spyware, malware, and viruses. It works by periodically scanning the system to find out if there is any viable threat.
In a nutshell, endpoint security tackles a broader perspective compared to that of an antivirus program. Although they are similar in a way that they secure a network, the scale is quite different in terms of scale.
Importance of Endpoint Security
Employing an endpoint security strategy isn’t just for large corporations and enterprises; even small and medium-sized businesses that rely on IT infrastructure to access, store, and pass sensitive data must start embracing this practice. It’s not merely about data protection, but also fluidity.
The increasing reliance on mobile devices makes it a no-brainer for would-be data hackers and thieves to focus on them. Multiple endpoint vulnerabilities in a wireless network is a legitimate concern, which is why endpoint security is no longer just an option.
Back in the day, data and security breaches happened within and through the network. With the popularity of endpoints, centralized protection is no longer enough. So, if your business or organization relies on mobile devices to maintain a seamless operation, you have no choice but to make that crucial investment in endpoint security. Be reminded that security always takes priority over convenience and efficiency unless you’re not concerned about exposing your business or corporate data to the world.
No one will argue against the value of mobile or remote devices in a business or office setting, but don’t forget about the vulnerabilities that they present. Spending money on a premium endpoint security software gives you an all-in-one solution in preventing data loss.