| IT outsourcing occurs when an entity outsources its IT | | | | firewall depends on a detailed security audit of your |
| needs to a managed IT services provider, including but | | | | network, as well as making regular, necessary |
| not limited to the following services: server | | | | improvements to a firewall once the right type is |
| management, desktop and laptop support, remote | | | | installed. IT service providers make these |
| access/VPN, spam control, firewall security, data | | | | improvements free of change, and remain on the |
| backup and disaster recovery and IT budgeting and | | | | cutting edge of firewall security to protect your |
| planning. In some cases, an entity outsources multiple IT | | | | company against the latest hacking technologies. |
| needs, while in others, only a single need is outsourced. | | | | Spam Control |
| However, there are four areas of IT that all companies | | | | Inefficiently filtering spam won't cause you nearly as |
| can benefit from outsourcing, if only due to the cost | | | | much trouble as having the wrong firewall. But it can |
| savings that come with IT outsourcing versus using an | | | | eat up your company's Internet bandwidth, even when |
| internal IT system, and the inability of internal systems | | | | browser-based spam filters are used. Once spam |
| to offer remote access: remote access, firewall | | | | enters your Internet domain, it instantly detracts from |
| security, spam control and data backup. | | | | its bandwidth. IT service providers prevent this from |
| Remote Access | | | | happening by filtering out spam before it reaches your |
| Remote access is valuable to companies that have | | | | domain, allowing you to receive legitimate emails only |
| more than location that contributes to same projects, | | | | and never worry about an internal spam filtration |
| including companies that have employees who | | | | system malfunctioning. |
| telecommute. Remote access is typically a key | | | | Data Backup and Disaster Recovery |
| feature of project management software, as it allows | | | | Research shows that most companies consider their |
| all system users to remain up to date on project | | | | data their most valuable resource, and 50 percent of |
| information in real time. However, even where project | | | | companies that suffer a significant, unrecoverable data |
| management isn't the goal, remote access serves as | | | | loss go out of business within a next year. Therefore, |
| a valuable tool for keeping a company connected with | | | | backing up your data in the best way possible should |
| remote employees and business partners, as well as | | | | be a top priority if your company relies heavily on data. |
| for making offsite presentations. When your system | | | | By storing your data offsite with an IT service provider, |
| has remote access, your employees can access it | | | | you can ensure that it won't be lost to flood or fire, and |
| from any Internet terminal worldwide. | | | | that it won't be stored on tape, which has 40 percent |
| Firewall Security | | | | fail rate when tested for restore. Instead, your data will |
| Everyone knows the value of a firewall. But they | | | | be encrypted and stored in a secure, certified data |
| rarely know what goes into implementing the best | | | | center, where it is backed up in real time and can be |
| firewall. Although firewalls are often perceived as a | | | | completely restored within a few seconds in the event |
| one size fits all security solution, implementing the best | | | | of loss. |