According to Statista, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are expected to increase their spending on technology to $684 billion by 2021. This is a significant uptick from the $602 billion spent in 2018. However, as SMBs continue to spend on new technologies, they often run into the issue of not having someone on staff who is able to effectively manage that new technology. Having to rely on outside resources is a growing trend, and IT services in Boston are in high demand as a result. Finding the right partner to help with managed IT services takes a bit of work, though. Knowing some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to managed IT services can help you find the right team to come in and assist.

When it comes to data breaches, the numbers don’t lie. The most recent Cost of a Data Breach Report from Ponemon shows that the average cost of a data breach is $3.92 million, and the average size comes in at over 25,000 records lost.

SMBs are no longer safe from the crosshairs of cybercriminals, either. According to Fundera, 43 percent of cyberattacks target small businesses, and three out of four SMBs don’t feel they have the personnel to properly address IT security.

As a network grows, ensuring it’s functioning correctly becomes increasingly difficult. Managing IT infrastructure requires knowledge of the devices connected—the inventory—and continuous and regular insight into their health, performance, and availability. Some networks will have hundreds of connected devices; others may have thousands. As the network increases in size, the number of components to be ... Read more 7 Best Infrastructure Monitoring Tools + Best Practices Guide

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SQL statements are the primary means through which businesses and organizations retrieve information from the database. However, these statements aren’t always as efficiently composed as they could be, which can lead to slowdowns from the server. That’s why you hear so much about SQL query optimization—it’s a necessary process if you hope to ensure high ... Read more How to Check and Improve Server Performance With SQL Query Optimization and Tuning

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In this article, we look in-depth at both synthetic and real user monitoring and pit these two monitoring methods against each other. We discuss what you can expect to test and track, what insights you can expect to glean, and how you can use this knowledge to improve the performance of your website. After reading, ... Read more Synthetic Monitoring vs. Real User Monitoring: Which One Is Right for Your Project?

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The IIS web server is a central element of any Windows IT structure. SharePoint, Outlook, and general web activity all rely on IIS server availability and performance. Maintaining high-quality IIS performance is integral to ensuring uptime, reliability, and security. If there’s a problem with your server, your web presence will be negatively impacted, and end ... Read more IIS Performance Monitoring and Logging – 5 Top Tools You Should Know

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Virtualization technology has been revolutionary in the world of server computing, and in a several other aspects of computing, including storage, applications, desktop virtualization, and cloud computing. The use of virtualization and cloud computing has given rise to several new, flexible services, such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), software as a service (SaaS), and ... Read more Benefits and Advantages of Server Virtualization Technology

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Network security predominantly falls into two different categories: on-premises and cloud-based. Enterprises choose which one they use to protect their system by considering several factors including individual needs and operational costs. Both approaches are concerned with keeping a network as secure as possible, but cloud security measures get the most scrutiny. So, which is it? ... Read more Is Cloud More Secure than On-Premises Security? Cloud vs. On-Premises Security Tools

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Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are used for collecting data from your entire network or enterprise environment. By scanning logs and other data from across your system, they then can analyze the event data to help determine security threats potentially facing your organization, so your security teams can appropriately prevent and respond to ... Read more Top SIEM Use Cases for Correlation and SIEM Alerts Best Practices

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Remote access technology is an incredibly useful tool, enabling IT support staff to quickly access and control workstations and devices across vast physical distances. When deployed effectively, the technology has the potential to maximize the efficiency of IT departments and provide rapid, responsive support for an organization’s end users. However, like any other networked connection, ... Read more What Is RAT? Best Remote Access Trojan Detect Tools

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Joomla is a powerful content management system that enables users to create stunning websites to exact specifications. The control over your site, and the customization options using a CMS like Joomla gives you, is second to none. However, alongside the flexibility Joomla offers, also comes the extensive selection of choices—add-ons, tools, extensions, and more. While ... Read more Joomla Essentials – Add-Ons and Extensions You Should Know

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DNS is one of the most crucial internet services. It’s the communicator and concierge of online experiences. Everything, from the web content you browse and the email and chat services you use to social platforms like Facebook and Instagram, depends on DNS functioning on a round-the-clock basis. Given its importance, it’s no surprise this fundamental ... Read more 7 Best DNS Monitoring Tools + How to Monitor DNS Server

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Managing IT in an organization was never a simple task. No matter the size of the organization, being an IT staff member has always required a comfortable level of knowledge and experience with technology. However, the complex nature of today’s technology solutions has caused many businesses to take a different approach to providing Boston IT services. IT systems are growing so complex that 76 percent of CIOs are worried that the increased complexity will make it hard to manage IT solutions, according to a report from Dynatrace.

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) refers to a subsection of ITSM (IT service management) focused on making sure businesses can keep up with their IT needs. Since digital needs change quickly and change often, ITIL is less of a step-by-step list than a guiding framework. You can break down ITIL best practices in different ways. ... Read more Why ITIL Should Be Important to You: Top 10 Benefits of ITIL + Best Tools

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Optimizing your website for performance is one of the most important tasks you can undertake as a page owner. If your website is suffering from regular bouts of downtime, or just continuously running slowly, your users aren’t going to hang around. It’s important to implement tools and strategies that help ensure high performance levels across ... Read more Boost Your WordPress Performance with Top Monitoring and Optimization Tools

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Being aware of how quickly your website’s pages are loading is crucial. Slow loading times upset existing users, increase bounce rates, affect search engine rankings, and have a serious impact on revenue. So tracking your site’s loading times, and understanding problems that affect the speed of your website, can be the difference between a failing ... Read more 5 Common Issues Slowing Down Page Load Time (And How to Deal With Them)

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Apache HTTP Server is an open-source, cross-platform web server capable of running on Linux, Unix, or Windows environments. It’s often used in combination with Linux, MySQL, and PHP/Perl/Python. Apache currently powers around 40% of active websites, including those of Cisco and Apple. Apache offers a modular architecture, making it appropriate for different use cases. Apache’s ... Read more 10 Best Practices for Monitoring Apache Server Metrics

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NetFlow, developed by Cisco, is a network protocol designed for the collection of IP traffic information and the monitoring of network traffic. It’s an efficient and popular way of gaining both a broad and detailed picture of what’s happening in your network. Analyzing flow data with NetFlow gives you comprehensive insight into network traffic flow ... Read more Best NetFlow Analyzer and Collectors in 2020

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Adopting effective Microsoft SQL Server monitoring tools is an essential part of maintaining the long-term health of not only your database, but also your larger network. Monitoring server performance and activity can have a direct impact on minimizing downtime and cost-efficiency — not least because addressing a server failure can involve a hefty price tag. ... Read more Best SQL Server Monitoring Tools + SQL Basics Guide

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If you’re working in a large enterprise or business setting, monitoring your network, servers, and workstations is essential for maintaining productivity, reputation, and service levels. With many networks primarily using Windows devices, finding high-quality Windows monitoring tools can be critical. In several companies, it’s not only employee devices using Windows operating systems—in many cases, the ... Read more Best Windows Monitoring Tools for Servers and Workstations

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Systems management is a crucial part of any SysAdmin’s role. A successful systems management solution will streamline your IT processes, making every component involved work more effectively and economically, at both an individual and a collective level. As IT systems become more complicated, the demand for systems management solutions is growing, which means there are ... Read more Best IT Systems Management Tools in 2020

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The open-source Kubernetes platform is designed to help simplify application deployment through Linux containers. It supports tasks like deploying workloads in the form of pods, clustering nodes, managing container runtimes, and tracking resources. The Kubernetes microservices system has risen in popularity over the last several years as an easy way to support, scale, and manage ... Read more Top 7 Kubernetes Add-ons

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When your web applications perform below optimal levels, the impact can be significant. Your organization might lose productivity, or end users may have a poor experience and leave your site. That’s why optimizing performance is a top priority for many businesses. Web application performance optimization involves monitoring and analyzing app performance and pinpointing the ways ... Read more Tips for Optimizing your Web App Performance

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Over the years, technology has grown increasingly complex. Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) could, at one time, have a small IT staff or rely on a consultant to handle their technology needs. A deep knowledge of products from vendors is the new norm because a deep base of knowledge and expertise is required to configure and manage these technologies.

One of the most important functions of an IT infrastructure is to ensure apps are working properly. When a user interacts with the network, a slow application can immediately drag down their quality of experience and can have a potentially damaging impact on business productivity. Slow and unreliable applications can also hamper your productivity, cut ... Read more What Is Application Performance Monitoring? How to Measure App Performance

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All businesses need a way to detect vulnerabilities on their networks. This is especially true for larger businesses and those with sensitive data—banking, government, finance, law, health care, and education are all industries in which safeguarding network data and infrastructure is paramount. But smaller businesses must also ensure their information is secure, without pouring all ... Read more Top 15 Paid and Free Vulnerability Scanner Tools in 2020

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What is load balancing all about? Well, the truth is you can’t afford a web server overload—nobody can. A slow, faulty network can impact critical business services and result in a poor end-user experience. As external end users leave your site, profitability plummets. But external end users aren’t the only ones impacted. Every time an ... Read more What Is Server and Application Load Balancing? Types, Configuration Methods, and Best Tools

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Databases are at the center of most fundamental business processes. As applications become more complicated, IT infrastructures become increasingly diverse and sophisticated. This is a good thing—our IT technology is advancing, becoming more versatile and evolved. But with this evolution comes the issue of troubleshooting and problem rectification. In such wide-ranging infrastructures, finding the source ... Read more Ultimate Guide to Database Monitoring + Best Tools List

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Virtual machines are way more common now than they used to be, and every enterprise administrator will need to deal with setting up virtual servers and other virtual machines. Knowing how to follow best practices with this process can help keep your enterprise machines running with high levels of functionality and performance. In this guide, ... Read more How to Set Up and Configure a Virtual Machine Server and Best Tools to Use

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Nagios is an extremely popular network monitoring solution. It’s an open source program driven by a large developer community, with users including massive enterprises (like Yahoo, Amazon, and Google), ISPs, and governmental bodies. It was released in 1999, under the name NetSaint, and has been refined over the years by numerous contributors. Nagios has certainly ... Read more Best Nagios Alternatives 2020 for Windows & Open Source

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Application performance management is the process of managing and monitoring applications to ensure they’re behaving normally and aren’t impacting service levels. Ensuring good application performance keeps your end users happy and prevents low-quality experiences like slow applications or bugs. Using a professional application performance tool is critical to managing your systems and ensuring all your ... Read more 2020 Best Application Performance Management Tools and Software

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In server and application monitoring, response time is one of the most critical attributes to track because it tends to have the biggest effect on end users. If a server response time is slow, then so are the applications or websites, regardless of how well-tuned your other resources are. It’s important to use ongoing server ... Read moreHow to Check, Measure, and Improve Server and Application Response Time With Monitoring Tools

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The 2018 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report showed that businesses with fewer than 250 employees were the victims of 58 percent of cyberattacks. It has been a trend for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to be targeted by cybercriminals for some time now. To them, the SMB represents low-hanging fruit. A lack of security knowledge and inadequate security technologies help fuel this trend. 

This is where Check Point Software Technologies, a partner of Rutter Technologies, can help. When combined with a knowledgeable team of professionals from the right managed service provider (MSP), your organization has the tools in place to stop malware and other cybersecurity threats before they do damage to your network and reputation.

Virtualization can be useful everywhere, whether for home office and small business use, or in large enterprises and data centers. Using appropriate software to manage those virtualizations is important—if you aren’t using the right tools, your virtual environment can be messy and ineffective at best, or buggy and non-functional at worst. In this guide, I’ll ... Read more2019 Best Virtualization Software Comparison

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If you’re an IT admin responsible for managing your organization’s critical assets in an enterprise network, Active Directory (AD) should be your number one tool. Whether you’re running a small network or a large one, managing a slew of assets, users, and permissions can be a tedious ordeal. AD facilitates and streamlines this process. A ... Read moreActive Directory Forest and Domain Guide 2019 + Best Tools

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Patching software tends to be an annoyance for end users—and all too often, recommended patches go ignored. At the same time, admins may find it difficult to ensure all systems are adequately patched. Software patches and updates are of paramount importance, as they can prevent your software and systems from being vulnerable to bugs, malware, ... Read moreWhat Is Patch Management?

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Data loss prevention (DLP) refers to the process of safeguarding data to protect it against thefts and leaks. This is typically done through software identifying and monitoring sensitive data to ensure only authorized users are accessing it. DLP software also helps ensure those authorized users aren’t putting the data at risk, whether intentionally or unintentionally. ... Read moreWhat Is Data Loss Prevention (DLP)?

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You have numerous options when it comes to data loss prevention (DLP) solutions. Investing in the right one for your company will help you to strengthen the security of your business and better ensure the trust your customers place in you is justified. In this article, I review the best DLP solutions available on the ... Read moreBest Data Loss Prevention Software in 2019

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Businesses typically rely on network storage setups, in the form of either network attached storage (NAS) or a storage area network (SAN). These can be harder to manage and monitor than simpler storage infrastructures. In many cases, especially for larger businesses, storage performance monitoring software is a must. In this article, I’ll focus on SANs. ... Read moreBest Storage Monitoring Software + SAN Performance Tools

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Statista expects the size of the managed services market to reach nearly $300 billion a year by 2023. This growth, up from an expected $190 billion in 2019, is due in part to the fact that so many organizations realize the value a good managed service provider adds when it comes to their IT needs. 

However, if you are looking for Boston IT companies to help with IT in your company, you need to make sure that you find the right partner. As in any industry, with growth comes more competition. And not all Boston IT companies are the same. To ensure that you bring the right partner on board, avoid the following mistakes when vetting managed service providers. 

The central processing unit (CPU) is the core component of any device on a network, and it has the potential to dramatically affect the performance and stability of the network. When it comes to network management, effective CPU usage monitoring could be the difference between network stability and network performance deterioration. A powerful and dependable ... Read moreBest CPU Monitor Software and CPU Usage Programs

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SNMP, short for Simple Network Management Protocol, is a widely used protocol and an essential piece of any network management strategy. IT administrators use SNMP monitoring to detect and manage devices, gain insights into performance and availability, and ensure the health of their network. In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know ... Read more12 Best SNMP Monitoring Tools + Complete SNMP Guide

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Cisco is one of the largest networking companies in the world, providing a huge number of products and services. Most businesses could be assumed to have at least some Cisco equipment forming part of their network, and in some cases an entire network infrastructure might be comprised of Cisco equipment. This includes routers, switches, and ... Read moreBest Cisco Monitoring Tools for Network Performance and Routers

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Networks and network-related technologies are constantly evolving as networks become more complicated, bigger, and increasingly sophisticated. The cloud, software-defined networking, and the Internet of Things (IoT) all contribute to the speed of this growth. In this landscape of rapidly advancing technology, businesses must find ways to adapt to and manage the configurations of their many ... Read more10 Best Network Configuration Management Tools

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Companies depend on their server infrastructure for most IT functions, including data storage, hosting websites, emails, and applications. While many businesses have shifted to cloud services using servers located in enormous, distant data centers, a significant number of organizations still have in-house servers or use a hybrid environment of in-house and cloud services to host ... Read moreWhat Is Server Management? Definition, Best Practices, and Best Software in 2019

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The advent of virtualization technology revolutionized the way hardware could be used in many different businesses. Virtualization of applications and desktops has allowed easier access to users and employees, making remote work increasingly possible, and the virtualization of networks, storage, and servers improved efficiency and performance metrics for organizations in need of powerful and reliable ... Read moreVirtualization Technology vs. Cloud Virtualization

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If you’re an admin, you’re likely already familiar with SolarWinds and its array of highly rated products suited for just about every aspect of IT management. But you might not be familiar with SolarWinds® Access Rights Manager (ARM). This software exists because it’s critical for you to manage and audit access rights across the system—the ... Read moreSolarWinds Access Rights Manager Review 2019

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Virtualization technology is rapidly spreading, with many enterprises having infrastructure heavily comprised of virtual machines, servers, and storage. These kinds of virtualization are created with technology called a “virtual machine manager” or a “hypervisor,” and this technology can (and should) be monitored and managed with other software. Using monitoring software like SolarWinds® Virtualization Manager or ... Read moreWhat Is a Virtual Machine Manager Software for Administrators?

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More and more businesses are turning to managed service providers (MSPs) to handle the complex IT solutions required to stay competitive in today’s marketplace. However, some still view the MSP as the guy who fixes the computers when they go down. The role of the MSP has evolved since the days of the single consultant who would come in and reconnect the printer or remove a virus from your computer. 

Real user monitoring (RUM) and application performance monitoring (APM) are two different but related methods of IT monitoring that share a goal: improved application performance. In this guide, we’ll break down the differences between RUM and APM, how each of them work, and their typical purposes. I’ll also explain how RUM and APM can complement ... Read moreRUM vs. APM – How They Work and Where’s the Difference

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