How IT Support & Services Accommodates Data Strategies


There has been an evolution of the value of data in business, and IT support & services help organizations realize their data’s potential. In bygone days, data needed to be stored but was otherwise considered to have little to no value. On the contrary, as many tech leaders have revealed, data is an organization’s greatest asset with the exception of its personnel. Maximizing the potential of data requires a well-rounded data strategy, which few small and medium businesses have going for them. Learn more below about how to develop a data strategy with the assistance of IT support & services.


What is a Data Strategy?


A data strategy is similar to a road map that aligns various activities across data management disciplines and improves the method in which data is acquired, stored, managed, and shared. IT support & services cannot achieve this alone. Members of an organization plus IT leaders complete the task together. The various disciplines that need to be brought into harmony in a data strategy may include:


  1. Metadata, which is a set of data that describes and gives information about other data, e.g. the data’s origin, definition, location, domain values, and more.
  2. Master data management.
  3. Data migration.
  4. Data governance.
  5. Data quality.
  6. Data integration.

An organization’s business goals and strategic priorities must be identified in order to pinpoint all the ways data can help reach goals and stay aligned with company priorities.


Establish a Metadata Process


In each business application in which data is collected, it is essential that it be made available throughout the organization for access and use. A metadata process must be established for this to happen, and enterprise content management (ECM) can help. ECM is the technology utilized to capture, preserve, store, manage, and deliver documents and other data related to organizational processes. Your company may have the data you need but, as yet, it isn’t being used to achieve your goals. Or it could be that you are collecting only a portion of the data you need from your customers, suppliers, or business partners.


Determine How Data Will be Analyzed


Until pertinent data can be accessed, analyzed, and used to make informed decisions, it hasn’t yet become a business asset. Data is often loaded with valuable information, but it starts out as a raw commodity at the point of creation. Process being an integral part of data strategy, it determines the programs or activities needed to generate a finished good from a raw “product.” IT support & services can provide the tools and know-how to come up with process.


Best IT Support & Services


Move your data over from the “burden” column of things simply to be securely stored to the “asset” column, ensuring that it helps your business meet its goals and objectives. IT support & services from Info-Link Technologies will put your data to work and improve your organization’s bottom line.


Contact Info-link Technologies

VoIP Provider Right for SMB


More small and midsize businesses (SMBs) today are replacing plain ol’ telephone service (POTS) key systems with VoIP. Why? Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offers dynamic features that boost productivity and lower costs. 


If you currently use a POTS office key system, the odds are against finding replacement parts should it malfunction. Like it or not, your organization will soon be using VoIP.


Trust us, you want VoIP. More flexible and scalable than POTS, it offers myriad call management, mobility and collaboration features not available with legacy landline service. What’s more, VoIP costs less than POTS since it uses the same connection as your Internet.


Cost-Effective Pricing


Vendors charge divergent prices for VoIP hardware and installation as well as system management, maintenance and updates. When evaluating communications needs for your organization, don’t overlook budgeting for one-time and ongoing expenses. Avoid providers with “hidden” surcharges or extra fees for standard features such as voice mailboxes, custom messages, auto attendants and ring groups. Look for transparency in pricing and service.


Vigorous Cybersecurity Capability 


Since VoIP relies on an Internet connection, it’s subject to the same cyber threats as email and web browsing. Ensure that your VoIP provider follows best practices when safeguarding your organization against malware, phishing scams, etc.


Availability of Call Management Features


Below is a laundry list of features available with VoIP service packages. Not all are offered by every provider, or some may be considered “basic” while others are “advanced.” Make sure your provider offers features specific to your organization’s needs.


    Basic

  1. Caller ID
  2. Voicemail
  3. 3-Way Calling
  4. IP Fax
  5. Call Blocking
  6. Call Forwarding
  7. 411 or Phone Number Directory Search
  8. Local Number Portability

    Advanced

  1. Remote Management by web portal
  2. Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR)
  3. Automatic Call Distribution
  4. Unified Communication Platform (i.e., Voicemail to Email, Video Call to Conference Call)
  5. Bandwith and Call Duration Monitor
  6. Conference Calling (4-30 people)

Dependable Tech Support


You want reliability benchmarks of service and support. This means delivering VoIP over a “High Availability” (HA) network with 24/7 tech support that can be contacted via phone, email or live chat when needed. Support should also include disaster recovery (DR) planning in case of catastrophic system failure. A provider should detail what protocols are in place to address disasters and restore connectivity.


Third-Party Integration


A provider should allow your organization to integrate VoIP with third-party services such as applications, extensions, plug-ins/add-ons, and processes. These include Dropbox, Google Drive, Salesforce and apps found at Google Play Store or Apple App Store.


Make sure you completely understand the security ramifications of using any third-party application. Ease of data integration is also a consideration. Otherwise, your organization faces the daunting (and time-consuming) task of creating new databases or data transfer. 


E911 and Local Area Code Support


Since VoIP works differently from POTS, E911 should be available in case of medical or law enforcement emergencies. Local area code support means that inbound POTS calls to your organization will not incur toll charges.


Contact Info-link Technologies to learn more about our VOIP services for your business.

Learn how endpoint detection and response (EDR) provides continuous endpoint monitoring and analytics to quickly evaluate and respond to cyber threats.