Bowes IT Offers Hybrid Solutions, Customization Tailored to Suit Your Business Needs
Unlike traditional Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Bowes IT offers a unique approach that doesn’t demand an overhaul of your existing network infrastructure to accommodate our management tools. We recognize the importance of proactive services such as patch management and monitoring, but we implement them differently.
At Bowes IT, our focus isn’t solely on profiting from managed services. Instead, we provide a cost-effective management solution that includes essential features like patch management, routine maintenance, and round-the-clock system checks. You only incur charges for services when they’re actually required, ensuring a transparent and economical approach to IT management.
Traditional Service Options
In the IT support world, there are two methods for delivering support, Managed Services and On Demand Services
Managed Services
Managed services offer comprehensive network management solutions, wherein your network infrastructure is overseen and maintained by a dedicated team of experts. By leveraging shared resources such as routers and antivirus software, alongside centralized monitoring and management, businesses can streamline their IT operations effectively.
This approach is particularly beneficial for companies looking to minimize the overhead of employing a full-time IT staff or to augment existing in-house IT capabilities. Costs are typically structured on a per-computer or per-server basis, with all operational expenses, excluding project-based work, bundled into a fixed monthly fee.
On-demand or break/fix service is a common approach to IT support for many small businesses. Simply put, when something within the IT infrastructure breaks, you contact a service provider to resolve the issue.
This model operates without set fees, meaning you only incur costs when repairs are necessary. While this flexibility may suit the sporadic needs of some small businesses, it lacks a proactive component. For instance, if a critical system fails due to overlooked maintenance tasks, such as neglected backup monitoring, the resulting downtime can be both costly and potentially result in data loss or other serious consequences. Click here for more information on what we can do for your business!
What Can Bowes IT Do for Your Business?
Proactive IT Solutions for Businesses in the Niagara Region – We Are Flexible in Our Approach to Meet Any Business’s Needs
We offer IT support that combines the best of both break/fix and traditional managed service models, making it proactive, flexible, and tailored to your business needs. This provides you with various options, especially as your business evolves over time. We aim to be your long-term IT partner.
If you’re looking for improved visibility into your network and the security of proactive monitoring, our solutions provide cost-effective ways to achieve peace of mind. There are no binding contracts, allowing you to explore the benefits at your own pace. Below is a list of proactive monitoring options available for our clients.
Backup
We can monitor most backup systems freeing staff from having to keep an eye on backup logs.
Antivirus
Keeping antivirus current is key to keeping malware out. We can also monitor most antivirus products.
System Health
Overall system health is monitored 24/7.
RAID Array Health
Mirrored hard drives in servers are an important piece of the security puzzle. We can tell when one of those hard drives fail before it affects the business.
Disk Usage
A lack of disk space can cause serious problems and knowing what space is available is vital for planning.
Disk Health
No component fails more often that hard drives and as they contain all of your files, you want to know right away that the drive is failing – before it fails completely.
Microsoft Patches
No one likes installing updates but, they are important. Patches have security and bug fixes and should always be up to date.
Third Party Patches
Third party products like Adobe Reader, Google Chrome, etc also need to be patched to stay as secure and stable as possible. Software like Java can be extremely vulnerable to attack and should be updated constantly.
Performance Monitoring
Computers have finite lifetimes. When it comes time to replace or upgrade them, insight into which computers would benefit the most is very useful. Keeping computers running efficiently is also a benefit of performance monitoring.
Temp File Cleanup/Disk Defrag
This one is completely up to you – we will schedule a periodic temporary file cleanup and/or disk defrag.
Vulnerability Scan
There are few computers out there that don’t have security holes. Yours doesn’t have to be one.
Critical Services Check
Mission critical software and resources need to be available to users continually. When they go down, we want to know immediately to take corrective action.
Failed Login Check
The number of break-in attempts to a network is incredible, but they often go undetected.
System Inventory
Know the hardware specifications of every computer and server on your network.
Software Inventory
Know what software is installed on every computer and server on your network.
Critical Event Check
The Windows event logs can provide early warning that something is about to go wrong. Monitoring unusual critical events is important to ward off trouble.
Windows Services Check
Line of business programs, and other vital software. often rely on Windows services. Knowing when these services start or stop can be crucial to productivity, security, and reliability.
Ask about our Cogeco & Phone Options!
Bowes IT: Your Proactive IT Partner
Unlocking the Advantages of Partnering with Bowes IT
Peace of Mind
Proactive network management means catching issues before they escalate into crises, preventing the stress and costs associated with prolonged downtime.
No Vendor Tie-In
I’ve spent a good deal of time testing RMM (Remote Management and Monitoring) systems and because my business model doesn’t require clients to opt in or adopt canned network equipment, I chose one that supports the widest array of devices. You can add this service without spending thousands of dollars to replace your router, and backup system, and antivirus, backup devices, and on and on.
Ability to Repair While Staff Uses Computer
In many cases we can start/stop services, manage processes, and use the command line on a staff command without interrupting the user. Patches etc are pushed out automatically and all of the information we need about the system is available with no user interaction at all. If we do need to connect to the computer screen, the ability is there as well.
Better Security
A regularly patched and monitored system is inherently more secure, mitigating the risk of cyber threats and data breaches.
Off-load Employee Responsibility
Delegate critical tasks like backup checks, router log monitoring, and antivirus management to our team, freeing up your key employees to focus on core business responsibilities.
Book Your Discovery Call
Would you like to see if Bowes IT Solutions is a good fit for your growing business? Book a discovery call now so we can learn more about each others’ business. Glen Bowes – CEO
