It isn’t difficult to find evidence of the fast-growing cybersecurity risks that companies of all sizes and in all sectors now face.

For example, as this article was being researched and written, one of Canada’s largest energy producers was crippled by a major cyberattack that took its point of sale systems, website, app, and internal messaging systems offline. Suncor Energy, which owns the Petro-Canada chain of over 1,500 retail gas stations, later confirmed customer information had been compromised.

The attack reinforces the unsettling reality of cybersecurity in 2023: we no longer have to look far to find evidence of its spread. The impact is, literally, right in front of us, and not even global energy giants are immune. 

There’s no way to sugar coat it: the economy is heading into turbulent waters.

As is often the case during a downturn, the impact on businesses will be profound, with tighter budgets, tougher-to-justify business cases, and a general desire to slow down and hold on tight.

Information technology isn’t immune, and conventional wisdom might suggest tech leaders should also be battening down the hatches. But we humbly suggest conventional wisdom needs a dose of modernization; now is the time for IT to hit the gas on investing. 

Outsourcing your IT department offers impressive benefits, such as improving productivity, increasing security, and gaining access to the latest technology. However, one of the main advantages of using a managed service provider is that it is an excellent way to save your company money in many ways. Instead of hiring additional IT employees, a managed service provider will take care of all your technical needs in the workplace at a fixed price each month. Ultimately, this will make it easier to stay within a budget, as you will not have to worry about any unexpected expenses.

Here are a few more ways that an IT service provider can save your business money.

An IT service provider offers a variety of benefits for business owners. Outsourcing your IT support is one of the best ways to save money while maximizing uptime for your company. However, not all IT providers are the same, and it is a wise idea to perform thorough research before you decide to outsource your IT services.

Here are a few things to consider before you choose to invest in a managed service provider:

How does your company’s IT strategy help you to succeed? Would it help to cut down on routine tasks? Could you benefit from a more formal strategy to help you to break away from the pack? Here are some of the best ways to leverage technology by working with a professional IT consultant who can ensure you have the technology you need, that it is set up correctly, that it advances your business, and that the system is robust and secure.

Having a strong technical core and a powerful internet presence can help you reach more clients while freeing up valuable resources, but it can also leave you vulnerable to attacks. Small businesses often struggle to balance the need for technology and the importance of security, and soon learn the value of turning to knowledgeable IT consultants with expertise in precision design and well-rounded tech experience. 

An IT consultant can help your business stay current or even outpace your competitors, but IT is in and of itself a very broad term. Here are a few descriptions to help you figure out which information technology skills are needed for the specific tasks that keep your business operating smoothly.