My role as Director of Business Development/Project Management(damn sales guys right) has done little to prepare me for my most recent and apparently urgent assignment:
-Evaluate company’s desktop equipment, software installations, VoIP service and local network and web application environment. The purpose being to identify opportunities for improved security, connectivity, scalability, efficiency and maintenance.
-Question Numero Uno, and the specific goal of this post, is whether I should continue as the confused/uneducated party responsible to maintain the local network, leaning on tele-support options like Geek Squad when I need guidance or clarification to continue? Or am I anywhere near justification for outsourcing and the associated costs? Lastly, can y’all make suggestions outside the two options currently on the table?? Maybe a hybrid solution or tech/hardware/software driven solution that simplifies local network administration for dum-dums like this one???
Just a little tidbit on our business and technology’s role within it:
-We are a Small Business clocking sub$5MM in annual revenue. We employ 23 people and assign work to thousands of subcontractors nationally every month. - The office with the local network, is what I’m most concerned about this minute. There are 20 work-stations for our 24, soon to be 25 employees. Around 5 people generally work remotely, using their own personal computer to access the web ab and with private cell phones. -Keep in mind that no info data, etc -Most key work flow processes are carried out by our team, predominately using our proprietary PreCloudEra-cloud based application. Our CEO guided its development back in 08 working with a seemingly well-talented programmer. He since made a change and we parted ways. We were referred to a development firm in India and we now pay a monthly amount to have them staff one top quality full-time, dedicated developer who handles ALL updates and new coding related to our application. He also created and maintains the hosting environment(AWS redundant servers, etc...) I’m very excited about task automation too. Can anybody give me a little feedback on their favorite platforms for such an item?
-Being I’m addressing the local network, which is used exclusively for internet connectivity and networking printers, (lately those of us with laptops that we can’t plug in to Ethernet, have been greatly affected by WiFi interruptions.) No file sharing occurs locally. We utilize many of the office 365 apps, including one-drive for cloud sharing.
Please stick with me one minute more. Summary of local network: cox for business powers—-> zyxcel router powers——>24 port Cisco switch connects——->live Cat 6 at each station powers——>20+ polycom VoIP desk phones on Intermedia’s platform, powers——- ——-->each of 20+ desktop PCs, all HP, running varying versions of Windows 7-10 home, and varying antivirus/security software all with different renewal dates/trial lengths/associated svc plans..... We are not storing or saving anything locally on the network except what’s saved to our actual individual computers. from our owned software to the office 365 apps, nearly everything we do is cloud based. That said, I’m wondering if vulnerability in the local network could ultimately offer a path to our web application that our on-site/remote employees are logging in to and working in daily. The MySQL database for our web app stores a lot of protected data, so we would want to be leaving a back door.
Solution: This is where you come in. -I have already identified the value in paying for and installing Windows 10Pro on all of the company’s equipment. Especially since we use the office apps and they sync up nicely. -Next, should I shop firewalls, antivirus softwares, upgrade switch (24 ports will be too small within 30-60 days), WiFi router apart from firewall? -Is there any good reason to evaluate security the same way where I have offsite folks who A) use the same phones which connects them to same cloud phx? B) log directly in to our web application with near admin level access from their personal PCs. -Is it realistic, as we near 30+ devices including printers and TVs, for me to continue handling this with as needed tele-support? If so, can y’all suggest a more user friendly solution for setup and for maintenance review? Perhaps an automated solution for risk alerts and guided steps for configuration changes? All of this coupled with kickass security we can be proud of will be a huge weight off my shoulders. You see most of our clients are fortune 500 and either subject to FCRA or HIPPA, so we wanna tighten up before they audit.
IMPORTANT: if we are better off to outsource to a 3rd party IT mgmt company, please give me any available advice on finding a good dependable accountable solution!
Thanks Reddit!!
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