Zinc Blog

Let me ask you something: what do you do when one of the many, many little icons on your dashboard suddenly lights up? Chances are pretty good that some part of you starts adding up the anticipated costs of whatever repairs are going to be necessary. It’s stressful and can easily throw off your day, especially if that light is immediately followed by your car breaking down.

So, if this experience is so stressful, why use the exact same strategy where your business’ technology is concerned?

How often do you run backups of your business’ data infrastructure? If the answer is “Once a day,” or even “What’s data backup?” we need to talk. In reality, regular backups—when you take multiple backups throughout the workday—are the key to staying ahead of the dangers your business will face over the course of its life.

Cyberattacks are all over the place, and they complicate running a business to no end. If your business is jonesing for a solution, consider upgrading your cybersecurity structure with zero-trust policies and procedures. Here’s how zero trust can make your business more formidable against the constant onslaught of cyberthreats.

There’s no secret that things are getting contentious all over. Costs are up, morale is down, and throughout the entire workforce there is a level of uncertainty that they will be able to prosper the same way their parents and grandparents were able to. This fear is exponential for business owners. Even the most optimistic people are finding cracks in well-laid plans. In today’s blog, we will discuss how to arrange your IT to get the most out of your business. 

You want a return on your investment for business technology, right? Well, it’s not as simple as “buy the thing and profit.” Today, we’re looking at why you can’t always rely on information about modern IT solutions and how you can simplify your tech decisions to align with your business goals.

Shadow IT, when technology is implemented in a business setting without the express permission of that organization's IT department, is a serious issue that cannot be left unchecked. How can you uncover shadow IT and prevent it in the future? That’s what we’re covering today.

With how ingrained technology is in your business’ operations, it’s no wonder it causes so many problems. At the heart of it all, however, issues with technology and the fear of these assets breaking down usually leads to change for the better. Let’s look at how you can transform your tech failures into wins for both your business and its customers.

Data backup can be a bit nerve-wracking to implement, especially as a small business owner with limited knowledge of business IT solutions. One best practice we like to plug for SMBs is the 3-2-1 backup rule, which sounds more complicated than it really is. Today, we’re exploring the details of this approach and how it can change the way you think about backup and disaster recovery as a whole.

Google's recent decision to push more remote staff back to the office, with potential consequences for non-compliance, feels like a step backward in the evolution of workplace flexibility. 

While the tech giant cites the importance of in-person collaboration and a stronger company culture, this rigid stance overlooks the significant benefits and increasing acceptance of remote work, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Let's talk about something that might not be the most glamorous topic, but is absolutely vital to the health and survival of your business: data backups.

Think of your business data as the lifeblood of your operations. It includes everything from customer records and financial information to crucial project files and intellectual property. Now, imagine a scenario where this lifeblood suddenly stops flowing. What would happen?

Running a business is like managing a bunch of moving parts with relationships with employees, customers, operations, and, of course, vendors. Vendors supply your business with the products and services that keep things running, but if you’re not careful, those relationships can turn into time and money pits. So, how do you make vendor relationships work in your favor? Here are some smart ways to get the most out of them without unnecessary headaches.

By now, you’ve heard us discuss how data backup is extremely important for every organization. We try to spread awareness of the negative impacts to a business that doesn’t have a comprehensive backup plan in place. Fortunately, data backup has come a long way in the past decade, making it easier, faster, and way more reliable. Let’s take a look at how things have changed in data backup.

There is no shortage of events that can throw a business off track, from severe storms to human error to cybercriminal activity. Fortunately, a little preparation can make them much easier to navigate.

Let’s discuss creating a crisis plan to address these kinds of events.

Business continuity is a critical element of any organization’s preparations for the future, including how comprehensive the backup is designed to be. Let’s discuss the steps that businesses—especially small ones—need to take to ensure their data is protected.

How much does your business depend on its mobile technology? More likely than not, you have smartphones implemented on your network in some capacity, whether it’s for productivity or security. That said, you need to have a strategy in place to manage and maintain them, which is where mobile device management comes in.

You know what they say: “Don’t make a promise that you can’t keep.” Making promises to your clients and customers can be a sticky business, and we all know that IT can be a bit unpredictable, making promises difficult to manage. Still, we’re confident that we can promise the following three guarantees for your business.

Supercharging your productivity is all about making small, deliberate changes that create lasting impacts. Unfortunately, there is no roadmap to follow, so you will have to figure it out for yourself. In today’s blog, we talk about prioritization, time management, and focus and how they each work to help you get more done.

Now that the holidays have passed and are winding down, you may need to phase out some of your old technology to make room for the new. Maybe you’re looking to the new year as an opportunity to upgrade some of the tech your business uses. In either case, it is essential to dispose of your old tools responsibly and sustainably.

For your business to achieve true business continuity—meaning you can maintain your operations regardless of disasters or issues—a data backup is a critical element of your preparations.

As such, it is critical that your backup is designed to be as comprehensive and reliable as possible.

Downtime is a silent but powerful business disruptor. The moment operations grind to a halt, teams scramble to identify and resolve the issue. But imagine if you could avoid that chaos altogether. That’s our goal for today’s blog—to help you take steps to prevent downtime before it starts.