What Distinguishes a Business Router from a Consumer Router?

If you are on the market looking for a router for your business, you are tempted by the high speeds, the flashy functionality and the low cost of consumer routers. The latest models seem nothing short of attractive.

But do you think that a consumer router can provide everything an average business needs? Do you think it’s safe enough? Is it scalable and can it offer redundant Internet connections? If it is a wireless model, do you think it has an adequate range to cover your desk? Should you invest in routers designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses?

What exactly distinguishes from consumer Routers Business class models?

Consumer Router

As soon as you enter a store, you will find a dozen wireless routers available at variable prices. These are offered by well-known brands and the prices at which they are available are also very attractive. They also have all the required features.

• Compatibility with the IEEE 802.11n wireless network standard
• Integrated firewall
• Wireless encryption
• 4-port Ethernet switch

Most routers here include 2 × 2 antenna arrays for theoretical 300 Mbps throughput. It's difficult to see the real-world performance so quickly. However, the distance between the router and the client, the overhead costs and environmental factors can reduce this number.

Small Business Router

You might be surprised to learn that most business-class routers don't even include an integrated wireless network. If the selected router does not have one, you can add this functionality by distributing some wireless access points. High-end professional routers offer redundancy, scalability, and advanced security features.

Scalability defines the router's ability to grow with business growth. It is quite easy to extend the wired capabilities of a particular network. Another multiport Ethernet switch can be connected to one of the ports on the router.

You now have multiple doors.

If you manage a complex network that includes multiple VLANs, a RADIUS server and several other features, you may need to invest in a Managed Router.

The best way to increase Internet bandwidth is to get additional connections to the ISP through the Wide Area Network (WAN) ports on the router. While professional low-end routers and consumer routers have a single WAN port, high-end business-class routers have multiple WAN ports to help you establish multiple connections to one or more ISPs.

Since the router is the heart of the network, it is necessary to choose it carefully. Any router can share the connection between your computers and other network devices such as tablets and smartphones. The best models include features that can improve network and performance. Here are some features you should look for when you find a commendable Business Class Router.

What is a NOC Engineer?

Being a network operations center engineer or a NOC engineer means that they are experts in managing and monitoring a network from any centralized location. A NOC technical team is made up of qualified IT and NOC engineers. They monitor the IT environment and ensure that the IT system uptime and connectivity are transparent 24/7.

Responsibilities of the engineer NOC

NOC engineers solve all server, network and telecommunication problems by solving and constant monitoring. The skills required for an NOC or network operations center include network support, network administration and management, switching and routing, and Linux. Their responsibilities are vast and require highly qualified people.

Essential responsibilities of the NOC engineer

The work of the NOC entails many responsibilities, as they are responsible for the rigorous surveillance of different networks and systems. They must maintain the availability of all computer systems. These NOC Analysts continuously monitor network errors, malware, and all security problems. Their decisions must be made quickly, requiring an informed NOC engineer in order to maintain organizational efficiency and an ideal network.

Troubleshooting and resolution: Being a NOC engineer means that they are responsible for solving all problems related to their IT services. The NOC engineer uses standard procedures to resolve and resolve any network problems. They always work with other IT teams, customers and suppliers to improve path performance.

Alarm management and escalation: the main role of the NOC engineer is to solve all technical and quality problems. In some cases, the problems are too complex to be solved quickly. It is at this point that the NOC engineer must turn to senior management for assistance. They must keep in touch with suppliers and the team at the same time to ensure they stay up to date on any issues.

Customer Interaction: Being a NOC engineer means that they must interact with customers on a regular basis. In addition, they must treat customers with diplomacy and courtesy. Although the role of the NOC engineer varies slightly depending on the situation, he must manage the client's non-technical and technical requirements.

Documentation and reports: the NOC engineer provides online assistance by working closely with suppliers and customers. The NOC engineer must ensure that his knowledge base is updated and accurate and that all technical problems must be followed and documented in a detailed format. Many NOC teams use a ticketing system to allow them to update the details of the issues resolved every minute.

The additional skills of the NOC engineer

·       Email hosting services

·       Voice and video data management

·       Documentation and reports

·       Management of data storage

·       Power failure monitoring

·       Manage system backups

·       Management of supplier tickets

·       Monitoring of common threats, DOS attacks and viruses

·       Hardware requirements, including firewalls and routers

·       Network analysis and routine troubleshooting

·       Maintain the stability of the core network

·       Join guard rotations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if necessary

·       Identification and prevention of any potential network problems

·       Provide recommendations to improve organizational and network productivity

NOC engineer training

A standard requirement for NOC Jobs is a computer science degree. Indeed, this diploma covers a wide range of topics related to computers. These courses provide all the information necessary for network security, IT, design, programming, network administration, and IT algorithms.

The three-year degree in computer science allows students to start a career as a CNO engineer. The core subjects teach students how to understand and solve the problems of a wide range of network errors and the complications expected. Due to the fact that there are no prerequisites for being a NOC engineer, once students have graduated, they can immediately begin their career. Excellent written and oral communication skills are an added benefit for this career.

Recommended skills of NOC engineers

The general responsibilities of the NOC engineer include responding to alerts, handling calls and communicating with technicians to ensure that all incidents are resolved. Being a NOC technician means that they must keep records of all technology-related questions and solutions. They are responsible for the maintenance and management of the customer's infrastructure.

NOC engineering skill set

·       Support, configuration, maintenance and updating of all networks and infrastructures for companies

·       Knowledge of Sysadmin and Linux skills

·       Desire to learn and develop all the necessary technical skills

·       Strong analytical thinking

·       Operational knowledge of VoIP technology

·       Strong skills in working with customers and communication

·       IT experience supporting and solving hardware and software problems

·       Multitasking ability

·       Solve problems creatively

·       Knowledge of network cabling, network classification and network topology

Common requirements for the work of the NOC

·       Degree in computer science or computer science

·       Excellent knowledge of technologies, operating systems, networks, antivirus, backups, systems and firewalls

·       Knowledge of at least one of the products of the following suppliers: - Juniper, VMWare, Microsoft, Cisco

·       Motivated, enthusiastic and able to handle various support cases

·       Strong writing skills to keep documentation organized

·       Customer-oriented and able to provide a high level of customer satisfaction

·       Collaborate and work well with others

Full-time NOC engineer salary vs. independent NOC engineer salary

According to the Ministry of Labor, the salary of a full-time NOC engineer for work in The United States is between $ 15 and $ 27 an hour. The average salary for a NOC Engineer Salary is $ 21 an hour. For an independent CNO engineer salary, he can reach $ 29 an hour for an independent CNO engineer. In fact, a freelancer does not have a specific time period and his working time depends on the specific requirements of the project. This offers more flexibility and therefore fluctuations than a full-time employee.

How to determine if the managed IT services are right for your business

Technology plays a central role in companies, making it a key component of almost all companies. Staying on top of your company's computer game can be a real challenge because the technological environment is constantly changing. Overflowing with choice and lack of expertise, many companies often spend too much on IT without understanding which technology expenses are vital, luxurious or redundant.

This is especially true in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as large companies work on larger budgets and have a greater ability to maintain internal IT roles. But it's the SMEs that can really struggle to stay afloat when it comes to the crisis. It is always worthwhile to reduce costs and maximize efficiency where possible for all companies. The IT department is exactly where outsourcing can give rise to an advantageous scenario in terms of saving time and money, not to mention improving the productivity of the team.

Definition of managed IT services

Managed IT Services consist of outsourcing the coordination of everything related to IT, from the maintenance of office equipment to network security needs and cloud storage and processing services. Examples include outsourced help desks, outsourced CIOs, disaster recovery and backup planning. If you are not a technology expert, something as simple as forgetting to make sure that all your antivirus software is up to date can risk an attack that could disrupt your business services and seriously damage your internal security systems. as well as your company's reputation. There is no single solution when it comes to IT, as the needs of each company can vary considerably.

It has been estimated that the economic impact of the traditional internal role represents up to 70% of a company's IT budget just to make critical systems work. With the growing importance that IT continues to play in any business transaction, this is certainly not a viable formula to follow, especially when experience has a higher price. In addition to the economics of these Remote Managed Services, they also help you take advantage of the most advanced skills that your team may lack.

Where to start with managed IT services

Some companies may recognize that they must start downloading parts of their IT infrastructure but are not yet ready to seek a complete plan from a third party. In this case, some la carte services are a good place to start. A common strategy is to outsource your company's cloud infrastructure management. This way, you have more free time to work on new features that offer better value to your customers. Outsourcing an MSP to manage a single feature that is routine but necessary, such as specific software maintenance or virus protection, may also prove to be your most profitable first step. In this way, it takes less time to remain aware of the technical details involved in managing these standard responsibilities.

Managed Routers

Today's corporate networks have been built for years, so there is no comprehensive architectural plan. Managing and consuming time is very difficult.

As more and more applications move to the cloud, businesses find their networks unable to keep up with increasing network traffic. The same is true of bandwidth, as well as the ability to prioritize more volume and different types of traffic.

How you got here One of the reasons for this is that businesses rely on traditional telecommunications providers and their services. In many cases, carriers are making managed routers the first sale through promising companies. The carrier monitors the router and, if looks good, adjusts the router remotely.

In today's world of MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) networks, it is not enough to manage the use of routers as it must carry both voice and data with variable quality of service (QoS). Not only do businesses leave a lot of control, they also lose the ability to adapt their networks to their needs. As a result, businesses need a managed network to ensure the highest performance of voice, video, data, and cloud applications within the enterprise.

Managed networks Vs managed routers what's the difference?

Today, network operators offer network services, and a few more. For example, many companies today do not offer the active monitoring and support services required by their networks, including security monitoring. The provider usually waits for the line to take action to resolve the service issue. This means that during the repair of the line, the business risk loses valuable network presence.

In addition, network operators only offer routers with flexible and individual IOS standards that do not allow user-defined configurations. This is important to support the ever-evolving development of cloud-based applications today. Also, due to the large amount of equipment available, the company will pay for hardware upgrades and replacements.

In the meantime, businesses can use a cloud-based network management strategy to prioritize and manage critical business applications from routers. This will improve the efficiency, execution and agility of the company by not only focusing on the company's profit packets, but by integrating many into the overall network strategy, including network design, management and control. You can

24/7 Outsourced NOC Services

• 24/7 Outsourced NOC services 
• Outsourced NOC services involve continuous monitoring and management of an organization's IT infrastructure to ensure its smooth and efficient operation 24/7. NOC provides proactive monitoring and management 24 hours a day. to enable detection and troubleshooting before they become potential arrests. Effective NOC depends heavily on automation; in particular, the use of sophisticated remote monitoring management tools (RMM). 24/7 Outsourced NOC services
• Monitoring Network Monitoring Monitoring Server Monitoring Monitoring Application Monitoring router Router and Switch Monitoring Monitoring Website Monitoring  NOC Services  Firewall Monitoring Functions for Outsourced NOc Services
• Why is it profitable to outsource NOC services?  It's cheaper: - Reducing costs so that you can increase results and save customers is important for any business, MSP or small business  Save labor and time: - By outsourcing these activities to a third party NOC, the IT department can focus on business growth strategies  Provides excellent support: - NOCs offer 24/7 services, which can not only help mitigate the damage caused by cyber attacks, but also prevent them  Proceed with services Outsourced NOC: - Once you work with a NOC, you will not only find you have more time to focus on growing your business
• Companies have become more familiar with MSPs, which means that they are now beginning to understand how outsourcing can benefit certain IT functions, such as email hosting, data archiving and monitoring of network.  Improved efficiency  Improved reliability and less downtime  Improved security and compliance  Improved ROI and savings Businesses need managed NOC services
• Helpdesks are an essential part of the operation, as they allow MSPs to establish a personal relationship with customers. This is essential for identifying needs and improving services. The problem, however, is that it takes too many resources and too long. Why should MSPs Outsourced NOC Services?
• Significant reduction of downtime  Immediate management of incidents that occur 24 hours a day  Reduction of operating costs  Greater productivity and job satisfaction for your network and IT support staff  Free your IT resources  Increased end user / customer satisfaction satisfaction Reduced management time and effort / human resources Benefits of outsourced NOc services
• The size of the NOC (room and number of engineers) generally depends on the size of the data center and its commercial criticality. Not all data centers, he adds, have a NOC room with a 24/7 team. Smaller data centers often use automated monitoring and resolution software instead of a NOC to attempt to manage these functions without human intervention. How does NOC improve data center availability?
• New MSPs: When a new company or division offers a managed service, setting up a NOC or help desk can be expensive. If your new MSP offer has a legitimate need for a NOC and you cannot justify creating its cost, outsourcing can be a good solution.  High growth: there are real periods of high growth within a company where the use of resources can be difficult. I have also seen MSPs with existing NOC capabilities outsource to another MSP just to get real 24/7 coverage.  Non-essential offers - It is also quite possible that, like MSP, you have a range of service offers that do not require a NOC. However, having a NOC as a "nice to have" feature seems attractive. In this scenario, exploiting an Outsourced NOC can be an excellent decision 24x7x365 Supporting high availability during NOC outsourcing is smart

The key to Excellent Internal Help desk Management

In this article we are going to learn about how to run a help desk 

Managing the internal help desk can be one of the most difficult use cases for support software.

"Support services are not always well documented or communicated, so they can be unclear and / or undefined, even for those in them," said Paul Ille, director of technical services at Alloy Software, one from leading software management providers. asset management and services. and network technical support software solutions that help organizations of all sizes automate IT operations. “It makes it difficult to set goals and define success metrics because employees who receive internal customer support may have very different expectations. Ultimately, this can lead to frustration on both sides of the support ticket.

While the management of the help desk is ideally defined by an internal guide to handle the delivery procedures, there is not always a process for creating or respecting a single source of truth. Expectations are then left to guide the process. SaaS guru Matthew Monahan says expectations come from two sources: experiences and requirements.

"If the typical customer experience is that it takes two days to resolve a support problem, they expect the problems to take two days to resolve them," says Monahan. “Conflicts generally arise when a client has an urgent request, but he knows from experience that his needs will not be met during this period.

The path to improvement consists in synchronizing the clocks, in agreeing, as a team, service level agreements or SLAs, for the resolution time or the first response time. Here's how to start creating and deploying SLAs within the team:

1. Create a service catalog

Agreeing and defining your services internally and externally will improve customer service and will ultimately be a better way to manage expectations. Once you accept what you deliver to your customers as a team and organization, you can move forward with setting expectations, says Ille. Help desk software that includes an SLA solution allows you to easily join the workflow.

2. Develop a culture of help within the helpdesk

If help desk management is too focused on cutting costs, you end up providing poor support to your users, ”says Monahan. "However, if you focus on providing users with everything they need to get the job done, you win twice." Monahan says the first win is that your team will become more proactive, looking for opportunities to help users before waiting for them to report problems. The second win is that your user base will see Help Desk as a problem-solving partner, rather than screaming when things go wrong.

3. Hire good employees to keep good employees

When your business has excellent help desk management, it often means your best hires stay. The support organization wins with less turnover and agents can become more skilled over time, able and willing to solve more difficult problems.

4. Create a workflow that tracks problems from start to finish

The customer and help desk personnel should be able to identify the problem at a glance. This transparency reduces frustration and anxiety on all sides and, from a metric point of view, speeds up resolution. "Any staff member should be able to intervene at any time, knowing exactly where the previous person stayed, as well as the next step that needs to be completed," said Monahan. "The user must have regular updates, with the possibility of following their problem online or by e-mail."

5. Remember: helpdesk is a partner

The helpdesk is not only there to eliminate errors, a cultural message that must permeate the entire company. The help desk is indeed a valuable partner for each department. Think of it this way: where would the captain of Star Trek Kirk be without Scotty in the engine room? If Kirk needs a warp speed to get the job done, Scotty uses his technical prowess to find a way to give it to him and save the day. As a result, Scotty, our helpdesk, is cheered and not cursed by the rest of the crew. "Likewise, the help desk's mission is to make sure that each user is as successful as possible," says Monahan.

6. Provide a knowledge base or self-service portal

Help desk software should also be provided with an option for a knowledge base. Often, end users are simply looking for a quick solution to a simple problem. Rather than submitting another ticket, a knowledge base allows employees to research and resolve their own problems. This reduces the pressure on the ITSM team to solve more complex problems that require 1: 1 support.

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all aspects of help desk management: support software, knowledge management, ITIL; not to mention the ticket queues and the always active nature of customer service. But the right strategy, great talent, and the right help desk software can help you provide fast and efficient customer support to your employees.

What is Help Desk Outsourcing?

This is the era where the business world can take advantage of many opportunities and options to support rising operating costs. A company can now easily and easily call on an external or third-party company to provide technical support on its behalf. This is what is known today as an outsourced help desk.

The proliferation of many help desk outsourcing companies makes this business option a very viable and attractive strategy for contemporary businesses. If the technical support staff of a company does not have the necessary IT skills or if the number of employees is low, it makes sense to simply outsource the help desk function. Contrary to what many might initially think, it can be profitable. In fact, intense competition between outsourcing providers reduces costs.

A help desk outsourcing company may not belong to the same community as the outsourcing client. In fact, in many current configurations, technical support is often outsourced to a supplier located in another country or continent. The advent of modern communication technologies violates the reverse of geography.

Why Outsource the Help Desk?

Increased knowledge and use of electronic support, as well as an increased demand for more dynamic feedback on Help Desk support services, are shaping the Help Desk market today. Many companies, from small to large, are now choosing to outsource their technical support services and this is not surprising.

There are many reasons to outsource help desk functions. First, the complexity of computer systems forces companies to cope. These companies may not have the skills and scale to support the devices and software they currently implement.

Second, outsourcing the help desk opens the door to cost minimization. A business will find it cheaper to outsource help desk functions than it is to hire internal employees to do so. In addition to reducing costs, the company can also avoid problems such as limited space and compliance with specific government regulations.

Elements of Help Desk Outsourcing Programs

The seller is the outsourcing service provider. As mentioned, it can be based in another community or another country. Today, it is very common to outsource help desk functions to countries where labor costs are cheaper and the IT skills required are higher. The practice has become so widespread that it is now an industry in its own right.

The deal or deal is what starts the business. In the contract, the company and the supplier agree to the specific terms and conditions that would be observed in the subcontracting relationship. This is very important as it will determine the profitability and overall effectiveness of the outsourcing program. The contract can make or break the scheme.

Finally, the relationship is what exists between the business and the seller. This is important because the help desk must be aligned with what the company represents. Customers should always have the impression that the company is providing the help desk. This professional relationship must also be managed effectively.

mac support services

Finding the right IT "IT" can be very difficult. It's even more difficult if your desktop works with PC and Mac products. Not all companies are equipped to handle both PC and Mac support Service and the challenges that can arise with the integration of Apple hardware and software with applications. for PC and Microsoft.

Why?

Because, as you probably know, PC and Mac run on completely different operating systems and many techs specialists are not familiar enough with the Apple product line to really help. However, there are large companies specializing in PC and Mac support and you are ready to find the right partner for your company.

The first step in determining which IT support company is right for you is determining which services are important to you. There are many technical support specialists, but not all of them are able to provide exactly what you need. If you intend to invest your hard-earned money, you want to make sure that every penny spent has an impact on the productivity and efficiency of your business.

The First Choice for MAC-Based Companies?

Let's face it. There are many support companies that claim to support Apple products. Usually, this means that they have a cousin who has replaced one or two iPhone screens.

We have over twenty years of experience and we will not offer a service that we cannot 100% support.

If your company is heavily invested in Mac technology,  Staff is the team you are looking for by your side. We will work with you to get the most out of your Apple devices throughout their life. In addition, we will work closely with you in the implementation, inventory, security and management phases of these devices as they are integrated and functioning within your network.

You will be able to be more productive and enjoy a more user-friendly environment thanks to our native management of Mac devices, our exclusive correction capabilities and the integration of third-party applications.

To summarize our Mac management offer, we will take care of your Apple products in a systematic and automated way so that everything is managed from a centralized platform and nothing is left to chance. This provides optimal IT efficiency for the daily workflow.

Key items to look for in a PC and Mac support provider

We live in the "do it yourself" era. The hugely popular "For Dummies" series has taught millions of people how to tackle projects alone at home. But some things require an expert. IT services for PC and Apple require an IT service company with advanced training and knowledge of these two very different computer systems.

An experienced team of PC and Mac

The team has more than twenty years of experience working with various platforms, including PC, Mac, and Linux. Our certified engineers have the tools to provide Apple and PC proactive technical support and troubleshooting solutions. Whatever system you use, we have the skills to help you avoid roadblocks and help you achieve your business goals.

Even better, can help you integrate your platforms for a seamless IT experience. Will simplify your IT infrastructure and improve the efforts of your collaborative company.

Comprehensive support services for PC and Mac

Problem prevention is an an essential part of any fully operational technical system. However, the ideal support team for PC and Mac also offers customized services to improve your current level of functionality.

support services for PC and Mac includes:

Network integration

Network planning and design

Microsoft Office 365

Integration with Windows server

Cloud-based email email integration

Training, troubleshooting and support programs

24/7 remote access to the main support solutions for PC and Mac

In business, 90% of the battle for success occurs. A supported client is a satisfied client. It is no different with IT services for PC and Apple. You should know that if something is wrong, someone will be there when you need it to fix it. Many IT companies can easily manage IT problems. But when a Mac problem arises, they should call a specialist. And finding a specialist takes time ... the time you don't have.

The staff provides proactive support for PC and Mac. Our team of qualified professionals is at your disposal whenever you need it. We know that stopping productivity is equivalent to a financial loss and we take it seriously. We are in this sector to prepare you for success and we have a specific mission to maintain the optimal functioning of your Apple and PC systems.

Perfect integration of Mac and Apple systems

Part of the challenge of operating in a cross-platform office is to simplify data sharing and other collaborative efforts. Will consolidate PC and Apple acquisitions into a coherent infrastructure. By combining Mac and PC systems, you will increase employee efficiency by purchasing valuable time in one business day.

System integration doesn't have to be painful! We will guide your staff through the collaboration process on these different platforms and provide them with the training necessary to operate their new simplified system.