Certified Blog

Are Hosted Services Right for your Company?

Steve_-_CI_HeadshotLately, we seem to be running into many small businesses who are looking to reduce their yearly IT expenditures or increase their return on investment (ROI).  One such way is to utilize a combination of free online services along with paid hosted or cloud computing solutions such as Microsoft's Business Productivity Online Suite or Google Apps.

However, move slowly dear reader!  I wouldn't recommend jumping into either of these without planning and making some long term business decisions!  We have seen a few of our competitors implement these solutions only to have them fail due to improper planning and lack of discussion with their clients to determine the best choice for a particular client.

Here are some questions to ask before choosing a cloud computing platform:

  • What exactly do we want to put in the "cloud"?
  • Do we have enough bandwidth to support access to a cloud application? (Are you also using VoIP?)
  • Is my internet connection stable enough to depend on a remotely hosted solution?  (It doesn't work if you can't get online!)
  • What is my monthly budget for an online hosted platform?  What trade-off are we looking for?
  • Does the chosen service support migration from my existing infrastructure?  (What if we don't like it - can we migrate back?)
  • Does the hosted service provide the appropriate SLA for system up-time?
  • Does it support our phones and mobile needs?
  • Will our users want to use exising LOCAL installations of Microsoft Office Applications vs Google Apps' Online Applications? 
  • Do we plan on upgrading to Office 2010?  (Which includes online applications which match the desktop versions?)

As you have now realized, there are a number of considerations to be made before jumping into a hosted configuration!  I do believe that hosted solutions can provide some significant savings especially for smaller offices with few employees, businesses with multiple locations, or businesses where they have a mobile workforce without a central office.  Additionally, because many of these solutions have flexible contracts (if any), they are a perfect solution for startup businesses instead of making a capital investment in a local server.  As you might guess, there are also many reasons NOT to go with a hosted solution over an in-house solution!

If you have been thinking about hosted soltuions such as Google Apps or Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) give us a ring, we'd be happy to help guide your decision, provide some structured planning and when you are ready implement your solution for you!  The first step is to give Certified CIO a call!

- Steve

443-283-0666 x301

Certified CIO Cancels Agreement with Kear IT, Inc.

Certified CIO Cancels Agreement with Kear IT, Inc.

Following a series of unmet milestones, Certified CIO now resumes its role as a completely independent company and will retain all clients that it brought into the original acquisition agreement with Kear IT, Inc.

 

Baltimore, MD – February 09, 2010 Information Technology service provider, Certified CIO (www.CertifiedCIO.com), announces that it has canceled its acquisition agreement, with Kear IT, Inc effective December 1, 2010. Certified CIO canceled the agreement because a series of agreed upon milestones were not met by Kear IT. The newly independent Certified CIO has returned to full operation and will retain all of the clients brought into the original deal.

"We are excited to be back under the Certified CIO brand,” Says Steven Plumlee, President of Certified CIO. "We have used this opportunity to retool our staffing and infrastructure to deliver even better service than before." 

As a provider of Managed Services and Information Technology Solutions for business minded people, Certified CIO’s goal is to help companies by efficiently maximizing their Information Technology investments. As their clients’ Chief Information Officer, Certified CIO is able to help guide them through complex business cycles such as system-wide Information Technology upgrades, enabling a mobile workforce, and ensuring that the Information Technology infrastructure matches a business’s expansion plans. This, of course, is in addition to keeping the network running on a day-to-day basis.

 As of this week, Certified CIO’s website, www.CertifiedCIO.com has re-launched with additional, updated information about the company’s capabilities and services.

Steven Plumlee is available immediately for interviews. For further media information, please contact: James Hills, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call: (630) 233-8336.

 

About Certified CIO
Certified CIO, LLC. is a full-service Information Technology services and solutions company.  Certified CIO provides outsourced Chief Information Officer services and business technology leadership to companies who may not require a full time Information Technology staff due to the size or budget constraints of their organization. Certified CIO is a full service systems integration and solutions provider.  Certified CIO's solutions and portfolio of services include managed hardware and software support, proactive network and system monitoring and network support services utilizing all major business technology solutions combined with proven processes performed by certified and professional staff.  Certified CIO's clients include small and medium businesses that cover a wide array of industries and organizations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia.
For more information: www.CertifiedCIO.com

Upgrade Completed for Facility Engineering Services

fes-logoOn January 29, 2010 we completed a major upgrade for Facility Engineering Services of Reisterstown, MD by upgrading their older, failing, Small Business Server 2003 system to Windows Server 2008 and Exchange 2007.

Quoting Mike Maholchic of FES:

"Although the project to update the system understandably had some 'bumps in the road', both my staff - particularly Sue - were quite pleased with the overall results and 'service attitude' of your technical staff. FES looks forward to a continuing and mutual relationship in the future."

Certified CIO thanks the staff of FES who also assisted during the upgrade through their patience and clear direction in triaging their needs so we could quickly and efficiently address their post upgrade concerns, training, and issues!

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Are Hosted Services Right for your Company?
02/15/2010 | Steve
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Lately, we seem to be running into many small businesses who are looking to reduce their yearly IT expenditures or increase their return on investment (ROI).  One such way is to utilize [ ... ]


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