YOUR MANAGED SERVICES PARTNER
SEPTEMBER 2019
Evolving Services for Evolving Companies
including inconsistent application of security updates. We ensure the security updates are applied quickly and successfully. Failure to do so leaves the customer vulnerable to attacks. Routinely managing the process of implementing security updates for Operating Systems and other critical IT applications helps to mitigate the risk of cyberattacks. We also provide backup and disaster recovery services which serve as a last line of defense. EDUCATION Proper staff education is critical to avoiding an attack. Let's take spear phishing, for instance. No, we're not talking about a great day on the lake. A spear phishing attack is when hackers target specific people in a company, usually C-level employees, and send them fake emails to trick them into giving up valuable financial information. Despite what you may think, a phishing attack is not uncommon. Even something like a short email with a seemingly legitimate link is enough to damage your business, so, to prevent any future attacks, we offer educational programs to teach employees how to spot phishing emails and other common threats. 24/7 SUPPORT Once onboarded, our clients see the advantages of our 24/7/365 support, and they wonder how they ever lived without it! We continually monitor their IT systems, so we can immediately address an issue when it arises. Clients don’t have to wait for normal business hours for something to be resolved.
Broadleaf Services, Inc. was founded in 2003 with a focus on providing data center solutions including storage, virtualization, data backup, and disaster recovery. Over the years, the IT industry has evolved into a much more service-centric model. Where once most customers had on-premise IT infrastructures supported by an in-house IT team, today, businesses are looking to focus more narrowly on their business and less on day-to-day management of their IT environment. We have evolved as a company to meet the changing needs of our customers. Initially, many companies were reluctant to relinquish control of managing their IT. The firms we work closely with are ecstatic when they see how our team makes them much more productive and secure! We still provide data center solutions, but the need for security has grown exponentially in the last six years. Most managers are looking to cut their costs as much as they can without decreasing their level of protection. We're able to provide them with a strong, remote IT service along with 24/7 support that gives our clients peace of mind when working with us. Cyberattacks are pervasive and ongoing and pose a serious risk to businesses of all sizes. Through a verifiable security patching program, employee education, and 24/7 support, we can help mitigate the risk of attacks and the woes that result from them. SECURITY UPDATES When we engage with a new client, we typically see some areas of risk,
We have service-level agreements designed around the urgency of the customer’s needs. Most companies don't realize how long they could be down in the event of a cyberattack or system failure. That’s where our backup and disaster recovery services come to the rescue. Downtime means lost revenues and reputation damage. It's our job to understand how quickly the customer needs to be fully operational again and show them what needs to be done to achieve their goals. These are just some of the ways we help our clients solve their security and IT issues. While we've grown and changed over the last 16 years, we're always looking at how we can better serve our clients. If you want to learn more about how we can help strengthen your company’s security and IT functions, or if you think we can improve our services for you and your company, call us at 978-362-0500 or email us anytime at info@broadleafservices.com.
–Chuck Mosca
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BroadleafServices.com | 978-362-0500
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
How to Effectively Protect Your Intellectual Property INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND YOUR BUSINESS
BUILD A MILLIONAIRE’S LIBRARY Book Recommendations From the Ultra Successful
What does every successful person have in common? They read. Avid reading is a key characteristic of the ultra successful because, through great ideas, you can learn how to achieve your full potential. If you want to be more successful in business and in life, you should definitely add these great books to your reading list. ‘Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales From the World of Wall Street’ by John Brooks Who read it? Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Famously loaned to Bill Gates by Warren Buffett himself, “Business Adventures” was written and originally published shortly after the stock market crash of 1962. In this book, John Brooks recorded the successes and failures of 12 major companies of the era, including Ford, Xerox, and General Electric. From 1903–1908, renowned German poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote letters to a young, aspiring poet. These candid thoughts from one of the greatest artistic minds offer insights on life, love, and how to fully experience the world we live in. Each letter is a valuable reminder that we should never underestimate our own artistic spirit. ‘It's Not About the Coffee: Leadership Principles From a Life at Starbucks’ by Howard Behar Who read it? Katrina Lake, founder and CEO of Stitch Fix Starbucks is known for its quick coffee and seasonally controversial cups, but that’s not what turned the company into a world-conquering success. In “It’s Not About the Coffee,” Howard Behar highlights the importance of company culture and the role business leaders play in helping their team members reach their full potential. ‘Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration’ by Ed Catmull With Amy Wallace Who read it? Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, is responsible for some of the most successful animated movies in the history of cinema. “Creativity, Inc.” explores the creative process behind such films and how this process can be replicated in any industry. Forbes has suggested that Catmull’s book “just might be the best business book ever written.” ‘Letters to a Young Poet’ by Rainer Maria Rilke Who read it? Jen Rubio, co-founder and president of Away
Intellectual property is defined by Merriam-Webster as “property (such as an idea, invention, or process) that derives from the work of the mind or intellect.” As you can no doubt glean from this definition, intellectual property can be a lot of things, so it’s important to identify and protect you and your business’s intellectual property. Here are the main categories and protections for your company’s creations. TRADE SECRETS A trade secret is any useful piece of information that the public doesn’t know about and the owner has taken steps to protect. If you have taken the steps necessary to protect your own trade practices, you may have a case if you ever discover your trade secret has been leaked. Having your employees sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is a great way to initially establish your unique business practices as trade secrets. TRADEMARKS The name of your business, product, or service — anything a customer uses to identify a product — generally requires a trademark. This may include your company’s name, product name, etc. Think of the distinctive Nike “Swoosh” and the familiar ending sound of Dell’s commercials. To properly protect your trademark, file a trademark application to have it registered. COPYRIGHTS Most people seek protection under copyright law for a variety of things related to their product or business, like images, specific words on packaging, labeling, the actual product, and the business webpage. The best thing about copyright registration is that it’s inexpensive. Plus, the law allows you to demand attorney fees from those who infringe on your copyright. PATENTS Patents are a fantastic way to protect your designs, and companies have utilized patents to maintain their competitive advantage. A great example of this strategy is when Sony Pictures patented their animation style for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse” which grossed over $375,502,565. There are two types of patents: one for utility (function) and one for design (aesthetic). To apply for a patent, register with the United States Patent Office. Regardless of the type of intellectual property you have, it’s important you identify what type it is and which type of protection is most appropriate. Even a small amount of intellectual property is worth protecting, so start the process now to safeguard it.
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BroadleafServices.com
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Recognition, Flexibility, and Purpose
3 Tips for Attracting Millennial Employees
CREATE A SENSE OF PURPOSE More than anything, millennials are looking for some level of personal fulfillment — not just a paycheck. Create a brand story and work culture that expresses a greater purpose for prospective employees to get behind. Set high standards for the culture you want to create and maintain those standards. If you do this right, the talent you’re looking for will come to you. Just because millennials want more flexible work schedules and individual recognition doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to work hard. In fact, the opposite is true. By adapting your company culture to suit their lifestyle preferences, you can make sure your younger employees take an interest in your business and stick around.
HAVE A Laugh DITCH THE 9-TO-5 STANDARD Offering more flexible work hours is a start, but if you really want to attract millennials, then your entire work environment should embrace modernity. Have the latest tech and tools for day-to-day operations, offer frequent opportunities for promotions and raises, avoid micromanagement, and give your young employees room to learn and grow. You might have heard people call millennials lazy, entitled, and afraid of long-term commitments, but that trend is starting to shift. Today, businesses can’t afford to write off millennials because they actually make up a major percentage of the workforce. According to the Pew Research Center, there were 56 million millennials either working or looking for work in 2017, making up 35% of the labor force. When so much of the country’s available labor is part of one demographic, you must ask yourself this question: How do I get millennials to work for me? CATER TO THE INDIVIDUAL Millennials don’t want to be just another cog in the machine. They want to work somewhere that values their unique skills and lets them use those skills effectively. When seeking millennial talent for your company, highly specific job listings will attract exceptional employees. Once they’re on board, be sure to nurture their skill set. Give them a chance to grow with your company, and they’ll be sure to stick around.
PUZZLE
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978-362-0500
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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6 Fortune Drive, Ste. 103 Billerica, MA 01821 978-362-0500 BroadleafServices.com
Inside This Edition
1.
Remote Services for Personalized Care
2.
Types of Intellectual Property
A Reading List for Real Success
3.
How to Attract Millennials to Your Business
Have a Laugh
4.
Automation Has Come to Small Business
Let the Robots Do It Running a small business means wearing many hats. More often than not, CEOs find themselves moonlighting as marketers, customer service specialists, human resources representatives, project managers, and just about any other job that needs doing. That’s why more and more entrepreneurs are exploring automation to free up their time and focus on growing their business rather than just keeping it afloat.
Automation Has Come to Small Business manager have been automated thanks to applications like Apptivo. With features to track tasks and submit timesheets, this scalable tool allows everyone to stay up to date on the logistics of business and make coordination a breeze. RESPONSE TIME IS EVERYTHING Many small businesses hesitate to bring “bots” into customer- facing operations because they don’t want to lose their human touch. But humans are busy, and an unanswered request for a quote or a delayed response to a question will quickly give current and potential customers a bad impression.
AUTOMATION ON YOUR LEVEL In the past, automated systems were solely within the purview of big businesses. Applications for organization were either too expensive or too wide in scope to fit the needs of smaller companies, but those days are over. Plenty of tools have been developed to help you and your team reduce workloads and run more efficiently, no matter your company’s size. REDUCING THE CHAOS Unless your business is large enough for several project managers, chances are that every employee is responsible for their own organization. This quickly leads to miscommunication, conflicting schedules, and roadblocked projects. Thankfully, many basic functions of a project
That’s why software like Keap exists. Keap allows you to send automated email responses at the first point of contact. This message can be as simple as an acknowledgement that their message was received and will be answered soon. The important part is that your customers are reassured that they are being heard.
Far from making your business more robotic, automated tools allow your team to focus on what
they do best. That means more time for thoughtful customer service emails, personalized interactions with customers, and well-executed projects. That’s something you and your clients will appreciate.
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BroadleafServices.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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