Prestige Tech - Vol 1 - Issue 4

PRESTIGE

TECH GET BACK INTO THE OFFICE SAFELY Use This Checklist WHAT DOES MSP MEAN? ... PLUS OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY VECTOR CHOICE IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU

VOL 1 | ISSUE 3 | $8 .50

LETTER FROM THE CEO For over 20 years, I have proudly worked to build a business in an invigorating and ever-changing industry. Vector Choice is the culmination of all my efforts and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with you.

Our team is comprised of knowledgeable, dedicated professionals who focus solely on the integrity of our services so that they can readily assist you in keeping your business front of mind. We select our partners with great care and vet only the best in the industry, which allows us to offer superior service at the best value to our clients.

However, great technology is not about what goes on behind the scenes. It should be about how it works for you and if it allows you to focus on your greatest assets — your staff and your clients.

Vector Choice Offers: We would be honored to be considered your partner for all of your business technology needs.

WHAT WE DO

info@vectorchoice.com

877.468.1230

www.vectorchoice.com

MANAGED I.T. SERVICES It’s the lifeblood of our business and yours. By outsourcing your network monitoring, Vector Choice is in control of problems before they even happen. We have customized solutions that meet the needs of clients of all sizes. Mitigate downtime and eliminate questions by outsourcing your IT with us.

EMAIL HOSTING Still using an AOL email address for your business? G-Suite just not cutting it for your growing team? Email is the lifeblood of today’s business communication and you should have confidence that it will maintain the bandwidth, storage and capabilities that your business needs to function and grow.

75%

of consumers are more likely to trust a business with an email that matches their URL (GoDaddy Study, 2016)

Best In-Class Service, Including Quarterly Meetings Unprecedented Tenure in the Industry — Over 20 Years and Growing Global Presence and Experience with National and International Compliances Expertise with Mid- to Large-Sized Companies

PHONE HOSTING

61%

Our digital environment still demands personal communication. Voice Over Internet Protocol is the most innovative way to manage your telephone connectivity. If your business utilizes the internet, your phone system can seamlessly run via your online connection and provide your business with high quality phone service.

61% of consumers find it extremely important to be able to call businesses during the purchase phase of the decision making process (Google Survey, 2013)

CEO Nationally Recognized Expert in the Technology Industry With all our growth and all of our success, we know that the most important member of our team is you and we will always define I.T. with you in mind. In. Touch.

Sincerely,

CYBER SECURITY SERVICES Maintaining security on your network is likely the most important decision you will make. Unsecured networks account for over 80% of attacks and most business owners are surprised how easily their “secure” network can be breached.

CLIENT DATA APPEARED ON DARK WEB

Will Nobles, CEO

CLIENTS UNAWARE OF NETWORK BREACH CLIENTS UTILIZING OUR CYBER SECURITY SERVICE

98%

76%

62%

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WHAT WE DO

877.468.1230

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www.vectorchoice.com

BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES Your business is not just behind a screen. We can help protect

FAQ’S WHAT DOES “MSP” MEAN?

and monitor your physical structure as well as upgrade the

Managed Services Provider. MSP is just a fancy

existing cable housed within it. This is a simple service that

way of saying that one company manages several

clients often feel is the first step toward ultimate security and

of your technology services--hosting your email

superior network performance.

or phone, maintaining hardware like servers or laptops or even more complex solutions like building software.

BUSINESS INTERNET The possibilities are endless, but how do you know if you’re ever truly maximizing the available plans? We have relationships with all the major players and can do the research for you, present pricing and help you choose the plan that’s right for you. It’s that easy.

WHAT DOES “MSSP” MEAN? Same as above, but the extra “S” simply accentuates that particular MSP also specializes in offering security services like dark web monitoring, data recovery if you were ever hacked

CONSULTING AND TRAINING Technology should not be a foreign language and we work

and other security services that maintain the safety and integrity of your company’s technology environment. Vector Choice is an MSSP.

diligently with our clients to simplify the process and the implementation. From strategizing about your needs, to training your staff on how to maximize your investment, we are passionate about being in touch with our clients.

WHY SHOULD I HIRE AN I.T. COMPANY? It all depends on what your needs are. Some companies just want additional resources when it comes to simple solutions like their phone

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

systems. Some need far more support with data

When your business needs demand a customized solution, let us

some even HAVE an I.T. department or dedicated

design the software to help you stand out from your competition.

person on staff, but find that it’s financially more

Our development team has a breadth of knowledge that will take

beneficial to outsource than to hire additional full-

your needs from concept to creation and from app to application

time staff. The truth is, maybe you DON’T need to

for internal or external projects.

hire an I.T. company, but we promise, we’ll be the

storage, monitoring and technical assistance. And

OUR COMPANY IS VERY SMALL/LARGE. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SUPPORT US? We have 1,000+ person, multi-national clients all the way down to a five-person law firm. Our philosophy is that size doesn’t matter, but service does. We are able to adapt to your needs and requirements based on how you feel we can serve you best. Our staff of technicians is accustomed to quick-response for new installations and service requests because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what service you offer if you don’t do it well.

Vector Choice specializes in best-in-class service no matter the size of our clients.

WE ARE UNHAPPY WITH OUR CURRENT MSP. HOW HARD IS IT TO SWITCH? The truth is, disruption is never an enjoyable experience. However, short term discomfort far outweighs long-term frustration. We help to mitigate the change-process sulk with copious amounts of up-front communication followed by step-by-step involvement during the switch. From on-site technician support to back-end sales and service contacts, you are assured to make it to the other side unscathed.

first to tell you.

CIO OUTSOURCING Every business should have one, but not every business needs a Chief Information Officer on staff full-time. We have a few dedicated professionals who stand in as your acting CIO to attend meetings, consult on major decisions and guide your company’s technology strategy without a hefty dent in your payroll.

WE HAVE SPECIFIC COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS CAN YOU HANDLE THOSE? HIPAA, PCI, GDPR...the list will forever go on and we have experience with them all. Data security is of the utmost importance to us and we help our clients navigate the intricate waters of achieving and maintaining compliance no matter which rules you need to follow.

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“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”

— Jim Rohn

Protect your empire from “shark” attacks and dark web hackers.

Will Nobles featured on the Nasdaq build board in Times Square

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

Will Nobles with “Scorpion” Walter O’Brien, Businessman and Information Technologist

— Will Nobles with Barbara Corcoran, “Shark Tank” Real Estate Mogul

— Henry David Thoreau

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info@vectorchoice.com

www.vectorchoice.com

877.468.1230

info@vectorchoice.com

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a profile that assesses each employee based on

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Establish an open line of communication with

their need to physically be in the office, potential

your employees.

COVID-19 exposure, commute methods (do

Create a cadenced stream of communication

they take public transportation?), and other

with your employees and ensure they understand

considerations (like childcare, for example). Use the

the channels available to them should they have

profile to build out your priority list for those who

questions, comments, or concerns.

are first to return to the office. Consider a phased approach with a schedule that rotates between Work From Home, and work from the office.

RETURNING TO THE OFFICE AFTER COVID-19: A CHECKLIST FOR BUSINESSES

Establish an ongoing Work From Home policy.

This will help to ensure your office isn’t overly crowded. It will also enable those employees who are concerned about returning to the office to “take it slow,” will help you establish safe, socially

As countries, states, and cities begin to ease lock down restrictions, this checklist for reopening the office can help you jump start your return.

You and your employees have been quarantined in your homes for the

will support your employees with children at home due to school cancellations.

Review and update your policies.

past few months, and now authorities are looking to lift restrictions and

Look at sick leave, vacation time, travel policies, etc.,

open up. You may be thinking, “We’ll be back soon, and I can get out of

and determine if you should make any changes or

OFFICE SPACE

this house!” The problem is, if you just pick up and go, and don ’t prepare

updates based on COVID-19.

While the office may be open, practicing social

for having people back in the office, you may run into issues that could have been easily avoided. Now is the time to prepare.

Encourage appropriate safety practices in your office.

This checklist is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but it can help

Practices include frequent hand washing, use of

provide guidance as you look to reopen the office. It’s organized into four

hand sanitizers, eliminating high-touch areas, and

sections: People, Office Space, Technology, and Your Clients. Everyone’s

wiping down work spaces.

situation is unique, but evaluating your plan with these components in mind can help you get organized and anticipate obstacles.

Tell employees to stay home if they, or someone they live with feels sick or exhibits any known

PEOPLE

COVID-19 symptoms.

Keep in mind that your team may be nervous about returning to the

to your employees.

office. If you prepare properly, you can alleviate many concerns for your employees, enabling them to focus on the work, not on the global health crisis. You and your employees should expect that returning to the office will not be the same as it was prior to COVID-19. The new normal is, and will be different for the foreseeable future.

Create a “Return to the Office” task force, or point person.

This may seem obvious, but it needs to be explained

Encourage your employees to “ease” into the grind they may experience when they return to the office.

Expect that your employees will be “out of office shape” when they return. Working at home is very different than working in an office. Encourage

Depending on the size of your organization, consider appointing

frequent breaks, and expect that people will need

someone, or an entire team, to lead the efforts of assessing and

to adjust.

optimizing the office for return. They will also help communicate changes and updates to employees.

Over communicate to your staff about returning to the office.

Check with local health officials about health screening recommendations.

You may want to consider a daily health screening

Make sure they understand what precautions you have taken, and

procedure, such as temperature checks, but make

assure them they can return to the office safely.

sure you reach out to your legal representative for

Create a “Return to the Office” schedule.

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distanced working arrangements in the office, and

Your goal is to manage how many people are arriving and working in the office throughout the day and week. Consider developing

guidance before you deploy any new procedure.

distancing will still be of utmost importance. Be prepared to make changes to your floor plans, conference rooms, and office signage to ensure your employees can abide by social distancing guidelines.

Your goal is to create an office environment that is safe for all employees.

Perform a thorough office cleaning before you reopen the doors to your employees.

Make sure you communicate to your employees the steps you have taken to ensure their safety.

If you share your office space with other tenants, ensure they are practicing safe and effective social distancing guidelines.

If appropriate, post any building management or local health official’s notices in visible locations throughout your office.

Ensure your office seating is in line with social distancing guidelines, and schedule employees to be in the office accordingly.

In alignment with your Work From Home policy and “Return to the Office” schedule, establish proper working conditions for those employees who do come into the office. Limit the use of conference rooms if the space doesn’t allow for proper social distancing.

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Be prepared to enable social distancing and good health behavior.

www.vectorchoice.com

TECHNOLOGY

Conduct a gap analysis.

Plan for the future.

Document the technology gaps that were exposed

COVID-19 was a shock to most people. Work with

Make sure your office is well equipped with enough

Keep in mind that your team may be nervous about

during the crisis and create a plan on how to

your clients to create a plan for the next time

hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, etc. so your employees

returning to the office. If you prepare properly, you can

address them.

something like this happens. Consider developing

can be as comfortable in the office as possible.

alleviate many concerns for your employees, enabling

Develop traffic flow patterns in your office.

Just as many grocery stores have implemented during this crisis, consider setting up traffic flow patterns in your office. This will help to ensure employees don’t “accidentally” bump into others, and will enable proper social distancing.

Establish guidelines for conducting group meetings.

This will be especially important if you will be meeting in any conference rooms. Make sure your employees understand social distancing guidelines. Consider labeling conference rooms with occupancy limits and seating arrangements that allow for social distancing.

Establish guidelines for any visitors entering your office.

Post the guidelines to ensure your visitors understand and comply. Don’t forget to communicate the guidelines to your employees.

Remind your employees of the recommended social distancing guidelines.

Place posters throughout your office to remind your employees to be diligent with their social distancing.

Communicate to your employees the steps you have taken to ensure their safety.

Keeping your employees informed will be absolutely critical to everyone’s health and safety.

Create a reclosure plan.

Ensure you have a plan in place in the event an employee in the office shows symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, or if officials close nonessential businesses again due to another wave in the global health crisis.

them to focus on the work, not on the global health crisis. You and your employees should expect that returning to the office will not be the same as it was prior

Schedule a review of your Disaster Recovery (DR) and/or Business Continuity plan.

What can be improved upon? What worked well?

a grab-and-go approach for Work From Home, and implement it with your clients.

Review the current Disaster Recovery plan with

Were you able to easily transition from the office to

your clients.

the foreseeable future.

Work From Home? How was your business impacted

Utilize lessons learned to update the plan.

Evaluate any new technology deployed during

Continuity plan accordingly.

to COVID-19. The new normal is, and will be different for

the crisis.

The tools your employees used to work remotely may or may not be required when you return to the office. Create a list, including any new devices, and decide if they stay or go. Evaluate how the new tech was implemented, determine what worked and what fell short, and if you still need all of the licenses you purchased. Examples include new Office 365 licenses, Zoom, new laptops, etc.

Evaluate any service providers you use to run your business.

Identify any vendor that was not able to achieve their SLAs, and determine the cause. Pay particularly close

during this crisis? Update your DR and/or Business

Schedule regular DR and Business Continuity testing.

This should be a routine part of your business. But given this recent crisis, regular DR and Business Continuity testing will be even more crucial moving forward. Don’t be caught unprepared.

YOUR CLIENTS From the perspective of returning to the office, once your people, your office, and your technology are in order, it’s time to focus on your clients. This is where you and your team can play a critical role in helping your

15 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS FROM A CYBER ATTACK! 1. SECURITY ASSESSMENT 2. SECURITY AWARENESS 3. MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICIATION 4. SIEM/LOG MANAGMENT

attention to those critical vendors and how they

clients get back to the office.

5. FIREWALL

performed during the crisis.

Schedule a review of each client’s current state.

6. SPAM EMAIL

For any employee who will continue to Work From Home, audit the tech they will be using.

Determine if the tech is appropriate, secure, and is sufficient to enable optimal productivity.

Run an audit on any workstations in the office.

An audit will help you determine if the workstations are properly patched with the latest OS and other critical updates.

Document a list of those employees who used their personal computers to Work From Home.

Develop an appropriate action plan to ensure the ongoing use of personal computers or devices complies with your company’s security standards.

Consider requiring your employees to change the passwords on any personal devices.

Catalog items that were removed from the office.

Expect changes to your clients’ businesses. Be their trusted advisor and learn what new challenges they expect.

Utilize this checklist to build out your clients’ office reopening plans.

Now that you’ve built out a plan for your own office return, you can be prepared to help your clients do the same. Tweak your approach based on their business and use the sections of this checklist to guide them through a successful office return.

Develop and conduct an After Action Review with your clients.

When most of us got the word to start working from home, we had little time to prepare. Use the lessons learned during this crisis to update the planning process with your clients. What did they learn? What did you learn? Document this, and prepare as this

Protect your business and intellectual property

may happen again. Next time, you and your clients

by ensuring any devices, technology, files, folders,

will not be caught off guard.

7. COMPUTER UPDATES 8. WEB GATEWAY SECURITY 9. ENCRYPTION 10. PASSWORDS 11. ADVANCED ENDPOINT SECURITY 12. DARK WEB RESEARCH 13. MOBILE DEVICE SECURITY 14. BACKUP 15. CYBER INSURANCE To learn more vist vectorchoice.com or call 1-877-468-1230

contracts, customer lists, and documents, etc. are properly returned to the office. This list may include electronic files left on the employee’s personal

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workstation or device.

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WHY YOU’LL WANT TO OURSOURCE YOUR COMPUTER SUPPORT TO VECTOR CHOICE CRAZY NOT TO SWITCH The vital function of our Department within our community demands a reliable support and infrastructure. The readily available and knowledgeable support from Vector Choice has enabled our Fire Department to support the community’s needs better and faster than ever before.

Any company that requires consistent and dependable support would be crazy not to give Vector Choice a try!

David Sawyer West New Bern Fire Department YOU DEFINITELY GET YOUR MONEY’S WORTH We choose to work with the Vector Choice team because they consistently deliver rapid response. Before working with Will and his team, it would take multiple calls to resolve our IT issues.

Now we can count on issues being resolved the first time we call in, within a matter of minutes.

Vector Choice is a great company to partner with due to their friendly, helpful staff and their fast service; you can’t go wrong in selecting Vector Choice to support your network.

Larry Asher Fleet & Purchasing Manager, Giant Development Inc. EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE WORKING WITH VECTOR CHOICE Our phones have never been easier to use! We are in total control of our system, and given our flexible schedule, love the ability to change settings without a technician. Vector Choice’s response time is amazing, even when our issues are not urgent. They have been wonderful partners during our upgrade, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with!

Kelley Hunt Austin Veterinary Animal Hospital

VIP SERVICE Vector Choice’s Management system allows them to quickly remote into any of our machines and solve issues.

They are the very best at what they do and they continue to get better. They respect our company’s time by always focusing on exactly what needs to be done and what is best for the company.

Nick Nicholson Harley Davidson ALWAYS AVAILABLE The staff is available 24/7 and will work on any problems we have at any time of the day or night. Vector’s team of experts take personal care of us and our company unlike other IT firms I’ve dealt with in the past. One of the biggest benefits with Vector Choice is not having to deal directly with other technology vendors and the many down times. Vector Choice serves as our point of contact, allowing us to take care of our clients.

Patty Azar Menders Inc. TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS The Vector Choice difference is clear.

They provide a high level of support but focus on tailoring the program to ITR’s specific, unique needs now and building for our future growth.

PEACE OF MIND WITH VECTOR CHOICE SECURITY Without a doubt the single biggest benefit to Fastax since moving to Vector’s management services is Peace of Mind. We really care about the security of our customer’s private information. Many of our customers are also our friends so employing a good security network goes way past compliance. We did it because it was the right thing to do. Vector Choice is proving they do more than just sell the product. They have proven that they are a very responsive organization with real people responding to real issues.

A lot of companies can offer security and make a whole bunch of promises but Vector Choice has proven they provide excellent customer service after the sale.

Nowadays, that says a lot.

Marche George Fastax VECTOR CHOICE IS THE TYPE OF COMPANY I WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH Vector Choice is the type of company I want to do business with. One experience I had this week is an email problem in which I followed the process and put a ticket in the portal. I am not patient, but quickly Jeremy sent me a text and asked when we could talk? Wow, I hit the JACKPOT! Just what I needed, a one on one to make sure my problem would go away and get a clear understanding of everything. He took the time to explain why it happened in the first place. He did not have to take the extra time to go out of his way, but he did, and I will never forget it as it speaks volumes about the type of company Vector Choice is.

Blonnie Cox Blinds By Noon

ITR has been very pleased upgrading to our Cloud-based phone system. The phone system’s convenience and great features have been enhanced by the excellent installation and support of the Vector Choice team. ITR no longer worries about losing its vital link to its customers and vendors due to any localized phone line failure! Since Service is the key to our business, having continuity in responding to our customer needs is essential.

Vector Choice has a proven track record and has been engineered to provide the highest level of IT support to its clients. You are not a number with Vector Choice! They become a valued partner in enhancing our ability to deploy the latest technology to insure our marketplace competitiveness.

Mike Givens ITR Parking Solutions

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