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JUNE 2018
Empowering Small Practices to Deliver the Best Care
IT
3 IT INVESTMENTS That More Than Pay for Themselves
There’s no denying that technology has completely transformed the way businesses operate. Most of that change has been for the better. Businesses can reach more people than ever before, build relationships across multiple channels, and streamline processes that were once time-consuming and arcane. The only major pitfall businesses have to deal with concerns how reliant every company is on their tech. When everything’s running smoothly, you may take essential aspects of your system for granted. Business owners assume that they won’t ever be subject to an attack or malfunction. This thinking breeds complacency and causes companies to skimp on crucial services that could end up saving time, money, and maybe even the livelihood of a business. There’s no way to be a successful business in 2018 without some dependence on technology. With so much resting on the stability of your network, the smartest investment you can make is ensuring that your system is protected, proactive, and progressive. There are three areas in particular where companies tend to cut corners only to end up regretting their decisions. I wanted to share those with you here and note that you can talk to an AZCOMP IT consultant to help you with any of these must-haves. No. 1: Cyber Security As baffling as it sounds, many small businesses still hold the false assumption that they’re too tiny to warrant attention from cybercriminals. Nothing could be further from the truth. A hacker’s favorite target is a vulnerable one. A handful of hackers might seek a challenge or a splashy headline-worthy breach, but the vast majority of criminals are just trying to make money. If you think they’ll lay off a business based on the size of its data stores or revenue, you’re dreaming. According to the most recent State of Cyber Security in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses report, 61 percent of SMBs were the victims of an attack in 2017. The businesses that are attacked often end up paying cybercriminals a ransom to get their data back, because they simply have no other options. You can avoid this fate by having robust defenses that will deter attackers before they get inside your system.
No. 2: Managed IT Services Hacks and data breaches aren’t the only methods for a technology failure to put a dent in your bottom line. Let’s say your servers fail. Every minute they are down costs you productivity and money. Despite the obvious threat this poses to a business’s long-term success, companies still opt for cheap break-fix IT service. Under the break-fix model, the only time your IT provider looks at your system is when something goes wrong. They might be able to put out the fire, but you can bet that it will be an expensive, time-consuming ordeal that will keep you up at night. Wouldn’t you rather have a company constantly monitoring your system, ensuring that sparks are put out before they become wildfires? Managed IT services, like those provided by AZCOMP, give you peace of mind that there’s always a watchful eye overseeing your network. In the event that something does happen, you’ll have the support of somebody who has intimate knowledge of your system, rather than somebody just looking at it for the first time. Managed IT services limit the instances when something goes wrong and drastically decrease downtime when a malfunction occurs. No. 3: Strategies to Get a Leg Up on the Competition Many business owners think their tech needs to be “good enough.” When you aim for the functional, however, you’re at risk of being pushed out of the market by a competitor willing to take advantage of all that technological advances have to offer. Your business doesn’t strive to be just good enough in any other capacity, so don’t settle for IT services that just barely pass muster. Instead, leverage technology to make your business more efficient and increase customer satisfaction. If you don’t do it, somebody else will. Remember, we’re here to help! AZCOMP can make sure your technology is secure, monitored, and doing everything possible to help grow your business.
–Benson Bashford
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IF YOUR INTERNET IS UNDERPERFORMING The Problem May Be Your Router
When it comes to home internet services, most people opt for the highest speed available. Even with available connection speeds at an all-time high, many people still complain about “slow internet.” The reason for slower, laggier experiences usually isn’t the internet connection itself, but rather the router used to transmit your connection wirelessly.
NEED NETWORKING OR COMPUTER HELP? Remember that these are consumer-grade routers designed for home use. If you’re experiencing similar slowdowns at work, you need a different type of router, and you could also benefit from wireless access points. It could also be an entirely different problem. Whatever the case, we can help you get the most out of your connection speed. Give us a call so we can help. the previous generation of B, G, and N models. In addition to higher spectral bandwidth levels (8 x 160MHz), AC routers use beamforming technology to focus your Wi-Fi signal directly to your devices. The Netgear AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router, a great option at $130, is designed to work with more than a dozen devices without slowing down. It also features cloud storage and parental control options. While upgrading your router is a great way to get the most out of your connection, it’s not the only option. Mesh router systems use a series of smaller routers working together to spread coverage throughout your home. If you have a large home and suffer from dead zones, a mesh router system can solve your issues. The Luma Home Wi-Fi System and Eero Home Wi-Fi System are excellent offerings in this category. Luma even includes a parental control feature that will disable the Wi-Fi in your children’s room during certain hours or after a specified amount of use.
Many people have a wide array of devices — laptops, gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets, TVs, etc. — connected to their network at once. All of these devices need bandwidth to operate at maximum speed. The modem that your ISP provided is woefully under-equipped to provide the bandwidth needed without slowing down your system. To avoid a stuttering experience in the middle of your favorite Netflix slow, you’ll need a router that’s worthy of your connection speed. The two types of consumer routers best suited for our hyper-connected age are AC Routers and Mesh Router Systems . AC routers are the most powerful and advanced routers on the market, supplanting
SPOTLIGHT ON HUNTER PAHL
Most companies would probably hesitate to name their all-time favorite
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employee. Not us. That award goes to Hunter Pahl in a landslide. Hunter’s mom, Neili, is our front-desk expert. We guess you could call Hunter her assistant, but he’s really so much more than that. “I work on the days when I’m not at school studying to become a math teacher,” Hunter says. “What I love most about this place is just how nice the people are.” Whenever he’s here, you can find Hunter talking sports with
Learn more about how to get unlimited computer and networking support at www.azcompit.com. DOWNLOAD OUR FREE REPORT
Protect Your Data What every small business owner must know about protecting & preserving their
“What Every Small Business Owner Must Know About Protecting and Preserving Their Company’s Critical Data and Computer Systems” covers the essential information you need to know to keep your network safe. If you aren’t up- to-date on the latest in security, your network will be at risk.
company’s critical data & computer systems!
the AZCOMP team. He’s a huge basketball and football fan, and his favorite teams are the Suns, Spurs, and Vikings. The Vikings might seem an odd choice, but Hunter has a story behind it. “I became a Vikings fan because one of my middle school teachers was.” More than anything, we love Hunter for his great energy and ultrahappy attitude. “He’s definitely beloved here,” Neili adds, “especially by the ladies.”
If you depend on your computer network to run your business, this is one report you DON’T want to skip!
This report is available for free at azcompit.com/protect . Download it today to ensure your computer systems are as secure as possible. With this report, you can enjoy your Memorial Day barbecue without worrying about the safety of your network and data.
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AIAIAI TMA-2 HEADPHONES
Sleek, Customizable, and Upgradable
A good pair of headphones is a necessity for most people. The problem for many shoppers is that there are so many options on the market that it’s nearly impossible to choose one that will meet all your needs. Danish company AIAIAI understands this conundrum and has created a solution so ingenuous that you’ll wonder why nobody thought of it before.
AIRBNB’S SUCCESS PROVES THAT IT PAYS TO BE PERSONAL Just a few years ago, travel lodging options were pretty staid. You could stay in a hotel, motel, hostel, or if you were lucky, you could stay with somebody you knew in the place you were visiting. And that was about it until Airbnb came along. Beginning with a simple idea — to have private residents rent out their properties to travelers — they’ve become the world’s largest provider of accommodations in less than a decade. The essential appeal of Airbnb is that it offers travelers the opportunity to bypass vanilla lodging options in favor of something more local and authentic. Their astonishing success speaks to the changing nature of today’s marketplace. Their business model aligns with consumers who forego the mega-mart for the farmers market. “At Airbnb, we’re trying to build a culture that supports, details, and celebrates them, and gives our teams creativity to pursue them,” says co-founder and CPO Joe Gebbia. Another central aspect of Airbnb’s rise to prominence is a system that works for both the hosts renting properties (Airbnb’s clients) as much as the people who stay in them (the end user). Hosts make money, of course, but they also get to provide guests with an experience they can’t find anywhere else. Travelers get accommodations that are more intimate than even the most bespoke boutique hotel, often for a fraction of the price. It’s a mutually beneficial system, one that seeks to provide a great experience for everyone involved. You can apply this lesson no matter your industry or company size. Airbnb’s approach and ethics are summed up in their mission statement, “Belong Anywhere.” That sense of belonging comes as a direct result of allowing guests to feel like a local even if they’re just spending a weekend somewhere. When a company makes people feel good, they offer value that can’t be measured in dollars alone. Of course, Airbnb has plenty of dollars (read: billions) to go along with the stories they’ve helped people create.
The company’s flagship TMA-2 line is the first widely available system of modular headphones. All of these headphones come in four separate parts: speaker units, headbands, ear pads, and cables. With multiple offerings of each module, you can build the headphones of your dreams at a price that makes sense for you. The copany also offers present models designed for all-round, DJ, and studio use. In addition to being customizable, the TMA-2 modular system makes repairing or upgrading your headphones a breeze. If an ear pad begins to wear, you can just order another one. No need to send them off to a shop for repairs or buy an entirely new pair of headphones. These features alone would make the AIAIAI TMA-2s worth your while, but they also look and sound great. You’ll never go back to those janky old earbuds again.
GINO WICKMAN’S “TRACTION”
Will Help You Get a Grip on Operations
When we talk about leadership, we often fall into the trap of discussing only abstract qualities. While these hard-to-pin-down characteristics are a huge component of leadership, they aren’t the whole picture. There’s also a systemic component to leadership, and it’s often just as important in creating
a successful business. Gino Wickman’s “Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business” deals with this latter category effectively, proposing an Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) that can help businesses grow. “EOS is a holistic, self-sustaining system,” writes Wickman. He’s developed the system over the course of years, working with high- level companies across many sectors. EOS has six components: vision, people, data, issues, process, and traction. As you can probably guess from the title, the book pays special attention to the last component. “In the end,” Wickman notes, “the most successful businesses are the ones with traction. They execute well, and they know how to bring focus, accountability, and discipline to their organization.” If you want to take your leadership operations to the next level, check out “Traction.” We promise you that’ll it be a sticky read for your company’s leadership.
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2500 S. Power Rd, Ste 117 Mesa, AZ 85209 i nside this issu e Is Your IT Support up to Snuff? PAGE 1 The Best Routers for Home Use PAGE 2 Meet Hunter Paul PAGE 2 The Astounding Growth of Airbnb PAGE 3 A Revolutionary Headphone System PAGE 3 AZCOMP Leadership LIbrary: “Traction” PAGE 3 When to Swim Against the Current PAGE 4
TALENT USED IN SERVICE OF OTHERS BY JANA
Our eighth core value, “We Surf Jaws,” is all about using our talents to take on difficult challenges in service of helping our clients deliver the best care to their patients. You never know how your skills can be used to make a difference. I recently came across a story that serves as a perfect illustration of this principle. In July of last year, Jessica Mae Simmons was at Panama City Beach with her husband when she was called upon to surf Jaws. Two boys, the sons of Roberta Ursrey, were trapped in a rip current about 100 yards from shore. In an attempt to rescue the boys, another couple had become trapped as well. The Ursrey family then made an attempt to bring the boys to safety, but to no avail. All of a sudden, nine people were trapped in the current, fighting for their lives. That’s when Jessica and her husband decided to step in. Jessica’s husband encouraged beach-goers to form a human chain reaching as close as possible to the stranded swimmers. Once the chain was formed, Jessica grabbed a boogie board
and made the brave journey to tow the trapped swimmers from the rip current to the chain. Given her experience in the water, she knew that she had the skills to save the day. “I knew I could get them to the human chain of people who wanted to help. I went past the 50-plus people in the human chain and went straight to them,” she recalls. After 30 minutes in the water, Jessica and those in the human chain saved all nine people caught in the current. Despite her unquestionable heroism, Jessica was more inspired by the work of the human chain. “To see people from different races and genders come into action to help total strangers is absolutely amazing to see,” she said. When we say “We Surf Jaws,” we mean that our skills are best used to help our clients overcome their steepest challenges. If we all approach every day with the same passion for service that Jessica deployed on that beach, there’s no limit to what our human chain can achieve.
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