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Keeping Franchises Connected with Reliable IT Support

Posted on July 31, 2025 by GPK Group

Managing a franchise business involves more than overseeing multiple locations. It requires consistent systems, centralised technology and secure connections that ensure every site operates smoothly. Whether you run retail stores, restaurants or service centres, your success depends on technology that performs reliably and supports growth.

IT support plays a crucial role in helping franchise networks stay connected, efficient and protected. In this article, we explore the unique technology needs of franchise operations and how GPK Group delivers tailored IT solutions to support franchises across Australia.

Understanding the IT Needs of Franchise Businesses

Unlike a single site business, a franchise network requires IT systems that can be replicated easily and scaled as new locations open. Each branch must run efficiently on its own while staying in sync with the systems used by the head office.

Typical IT needs for franchise networks include:

Centralised point of sale and inventory management
Secure data exchange between locations
Cloud-based communication and file access
Consistent cybersecurity protocols across all sites
A dedicated helpdesk for localised technical support
Seamless onboarding and system setup for new franchisees

Without a reliable IT partner, these needs often go unmet. This can lead to system failures, security gaps, inconsistent customer experiences and slow issue resolution.

Why Reliable IT Support Is Essential

When you run a franchise network, even small technical problems can quickly affect business across multiple sites. For example, a point of sale outage during trading hours can result in lost revenue. A single network failure can impact reporting across the entire chain.

Having the right IT support means your business is better protected and more efficient. It allows you to:

Reduce downtime with proactive system monitoring and fast response times
Ensure consistency in software and hardware across every location
Support expansion by making it easier to onboard new sites
Protect customer and business data with strong cybersecurity
Help your teams focus on service and sales, not technology issues

A reliable IT foundation helps your business run smoothly today and grow confidently into the future.

Scalable IT Solutions for Expanding Franchise Networks

As your business grows, your technology must evolve to meet increased demands. GPK Group provides flexible and scalable IT support tailored to the needs of franchises in Australia.

We offer:

Managed IT support with responsive helpdesk service
Secure Wi-Fi and network infrastructure
Cloud-based communication and Microsoft 365 management
Integration with point of sale and enterprise systems across sites
Cybersecurity planning and data backup solutions

Whether you are adding your third location or your thirtieth, GPK ensures every site is prepared, secure and aligned with your operational standards.

Supporting the Onboarding of New Franchisees

Adding a new franchisee to your network is an exciting step, and a smooth IT setup helps that process succeed. GPK supports franchisee onboarding by providing:

Pre-configured devices and software ready for immediate use
Remote or onsite installation and system configuration
Technology training for franchise staff
Continued support to handle future issues or updates

This approach ensures consistency across your network while reducing setup time and errors.

Why Choose GPK Group as Your Franchise IT Partner

With more than three decades of experience helping Australian businesses, GPK understands the operational challenges of managing a franchise network. We support various business structures, including corporate owned networks, master franchises and independently owned locations.

Our team takes a proactive, people-first approach to service. We ensure both head office teams and local franchisees receive prompt, effective support so your business can keep moving without disruption.

When your technology works, your business works—and GPK is here to make that happen.

Get in Touch with GPK Group

Looking for an IT partner you can trust to support your franchise network? GPK Group provides reliable franchise IT support solutions Australia-wide.

Essential Cyber Security Checklist for Retail Businesses in Australia

Posted on July 25, 2025 by GPK Group

Retail businesses in Australia are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. From ransomware and data breaches to phishing scams and point of sale compromises, the risks are real and evolving quickly. With strict privacy laws in place and growing customer expectations around data protection, strong cyber security practices are no longer optional, they are essential.

Whether you operate a single store or a nationwide chain, this cyber security checklist will help safeguard your business, your customers and your brand reputation. Explore our full Retail IT Solutions and Support to see how GPK Group helps Australian retailers strengthen every layer of their technology.

Keep Software and Systems Up to Date

Outdated software is one of the easiest ways cybercriminals gain access to your systems. Ensure:

Operating systems and applications are regularly patched
POS systems are updated with the latest firmware
All third-party plugins or extensions are secure and maintained

If you run a small retail business without dedicated IT staff, explore our small business IT support to help manage updates, system performance and security.

Automated patch management tools can help ensure nothing is overlooked.

Secure Access with Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Retail staff often use shared logins or repeat passwords, which increases risk. You should:

Enforce strong, unique passwords for each user
Require MFA for admin and sensitive accounts
Use password managers to help staff securely manage credentials

This simple step prevents many brute-force and credential-stuffing attacks.

Protect Customer and Payment Data

Under the Privacy Act 1988 and PCI DSS requirements, retailers must safeguard customer information. Best practices include:

Encrypting customer and payment data both in transit and at rest
Limiting access to sensitive information to only essential staff
Never storing full credit card details on-site or online

Partnering with secure payment gateways and POS vendors also helps reduce liability.

Train Staff in Cyber Awareness

Human errors are a leading cause of security breaches. It’s essential that retail staff undergo consistent training to stay alert and recognise potential threats.:

Recognising phishing attempts and scam emails
Safe internet and device usage
Procedures for reporting suspicious activity

Your team’s awareness is key to preventing cyber incidents.

Secure Your Wi-Fi and Network Infrastructure

Retail stores often rely on wireless networks for POS, stock management, and guest access. To secure them:

Use strong passwords and WPA3 encryption
Segment guest Wi-Fi from internal networks
Regularly monitor and restrict unknown device access

Working with an IT provider like GPK Group ensures proper network segmentation and real-time threat detection.

Back Up Data Regularly

If you’re hit with ransomware or suffer data loss, backups can save your business. Ensure:

Daily backups of customer databases, financial records, and inventory data
Backups are stored securely offsite or in the cloud
Regular testing of backups to confirm data can be restored

A backup strategy is your safety net in case of emergencies.

Implement Endpoint Protection

All connected devices—registers, tablets, laptops—are entry points for attackers. Protect endpoints with:

Antivirus and anti-malware software
Firewalls and device encryption
Remote wipe capabilities for lost or stolen devices

GPK’s managed IT services include comprehensive endpoint security solutions tailored to retail needs.

Have an Incident Response Plan

Breaches can still happen, despite having the best precautions. A response plan should outline:

Immediate steps to contain and assess the breach
Notification procedures for regulators and affected customers
Roles and responsibilities for team members

Learn more about how GPK Group protects businesses through our comprehensive cybersecurity services tailored for Australian organisations.

Preparation reduces downtime, reputational damage, and compliance penalties.

Stay Secure with GPK Group

GPK Group delivers complete cybersecurity solutions for retail businesses in Australia. From secure payment systems and network protection to compliance support and team training, we provide everything you need to stay protected in today’s digital landscape.

Ready to secure your retail operations? Contact GPK Group today for a customised cybersecurity assessment.

What Are The Benefits of Managed IT Services for Small Businesses?

Posted on July 11, 2023 by GPK Group

What Are The Benefits of Managed IT Services for Small Businesses?

Since 2015, over 64% of businesses—small ones included—have adopted the ongoing trend of using Managed IT Service Providers, or MSPs. Many of our Australian and International clients who leverage our Managed IT Services have seen that budget-wise, efficiency-wise and predictability-wise, MSPs cannot be beaten. They represent outer parties that provide maximum security, functionality, and uptime for any small business.

Having quality expertise to call on around the clock and a seamlessly running system are the leading perks of using managed IT support for all small businesses.

With that being said, finding the right provider for your small business can be tricky if you’re not sure what you are after.

To paint you a better picture, we’ve put together this article to clearly show you what the benefits of managed IT services are for your small business.

Defining Managed IT Services

Firstly, a quick rundown of what Managed IT Service providers (MSPs) actually are.

Essentially, MSPs have the responsibility of managing, maintaining and foreseeing a set of IT services on behalf of any small business in need.

Improving client productivity and enhancing the overall business operation are both considered some of the main priorities and goals of using MSPs.

In-house IT support can often come at a skyrocketing price—as technology evolves, small businesses can find the use of MSPs to be the perfect budget-friendly management alternative.

In essence, MSPs tackle various tasks on behalf of a small business—they manage training, backup data, offer tech support and ensure every business improves its daily operations intending to keep their clientele or end-users satisfied.

Now, selecting the right MSP can be tricky, but reputable experts like our Managed IT services team come more than prepared to tend to your small business—taking a major portion of the professional burden off your shoulders in the process.

The Benefits of Managed IT Services for Small Businesses

The Managed IT Service support industry is rapidly expanding.

In the face of existing tech perils, MSPs provide small businesses with several perks that keep their workflow, budget and security seamless. Such perks include:

Expertise

Managed IT support manages a small business’s networks, enforces its security protocols and optimises and improves its existing sources, thus providing a smooth-sailing business operation all-around.

MSPs often have access to a wide range of experts that allow small businesses to save up on resources and use the time otherwise spent on constant setbacks on coordinating their internal staff to keep up with the latest developments.

Security and Steadiness

Ask a small business if their cybersecurity is up to scratch and they’ll likely avoid the question. This is understandable, as low budgets can often result in low-security spending. However, an open network makes a business vulnerable and puts it at risk

Cue MSPs.

Luckily, MSPs have both the expertise and manpower to monitor possible spammers or detect cyber-attacks and thus successfully prevent them from penetrating all layers of a small business.

Cost Savings

Having a controlled budget and investment-redirected finances, in our opinion, are a fast-track to business success. Instead of spending money on setting up infrastructures and staff training—let MSPs do the job.

With MSPs, a monthly fee pays for the comfort of well managed IT support.

The difference in cost may not be massively significant, but knowing the business is in good hands is invaluable and brings peace of mind to all small business owners. Having managed IT support makes room for greater flexibility in managing your expenses and monthly budget limits.

Productivity

Creating a stable and reliable working environment provides the opportunity for small businesses to expand. With the right managed IT services in your business’s corner, you can make purposeful adjustments to the business setting and kick your productivity up a few notches!

What to Look for in a Managed IT Services Provider When Talking Small Business

Picking the most suitable MSP for your small business is imperative—here are some quality criteria to look at:

Responsiveness and fast service—managed IT support should be responsive in resolving any small business issue. The business cannot suffer and wait for the issues to be fixed, therefore, ask for guaranteed responsiveness.
Availability—having 24-hour availability and assistance is crucial. Look for providers that offer remote and on-site support. Not every issue can be resolved remotely, so also find local providers that can offer on-site support.
Expertise—small businesses need expert planning advice concerning annual budgets for IT stipulations. Choose an experienced MSP provider to protect your business interests.
Security—ensuring your business receives the highest level of security to protect its data is mandatory. Choose a provider that offers the latest security technology.
Maintenance and backups—IT support is a round-the-clock job so proactivity is a requirement. We’re talking regular backups and timely updates, just to name a few.

Managed IT Services for Small Business: The Verdict

Having 24/7 reliable expertise and fast solutions to problems is an advantage. Small businesses don’t have much time and resources to dedicate to IT issues. Every person and every cent counts.

To make sure that all the valuable time you’re dedicating towards building your small business is maximised in its efficiency, let a Managed IT service provider do all your IT and cybersecurity heavy lifting. It’ll save you time, money and a whole lot of stress in the short and long term.

What Common IT Services Require Onsite IT Support?

Posted on May 10, 2022 by GPK Group

What Common IT Services Require Onsite IT Support?

Nobody enjoys powering up their computer and finding nothing but errors preventing them from working. When you’re up against deadlines and customers breathing down your neck—you need to get back online and fast.

Onsite IT support is purely for those very issues. When a problem arises and can’t be resolved remotely, you need a pro in the office to help you get back up and running.

In this article, we’ll tell you all about onsite IT support and which common services require it the most.

What Is Onsite IT Support?

IT onsite support is there to answer ‌all tech-related questions and issues in your daily operations. Productivity is threatened when the technology you work with begins turning on you. Onsite IT support services ensure you never lose precious hours.

At GPK, we provide the best IT Support Perth has to offer. We’ve been doing this a long time, and we know what works, so we make sure your resources are always being used best.

What Are the Benefits of Onsite IT Support?

Many benefits come with using onsite IT support as opposed to remote services.

Here are a few of the most prominent benefits you might encounter when working with onsite IT support services:

Communicating in person is more accessible.

Talking to anyone on the phone can be a challenge—talking to an agent in person makes everything more straightforward. Effectively communicate your problems, be able to answer questions and expect smooth sailing.

More capable and likely to ask questions and for help when an IT onsite support professional is around.

Knowing you’ve got a professional in your midsts means being more comfortable asking questions you need answers to. Sometimes Google doesn’t have all the answers, and even the ones they give are confusing. Having an onsite IT support services pro on the premises means learning to troubleshoot minor issues before they become significant issues.

Not all problems can just be fixed remotely by tech support.

IT onsite support only exists because some problems a person on a computer far away can’t fix. This is especially true with hardware issues. Technicians need to diagnose the problem, fix the issue, and get everything in working order, which requires being there in person.

Progress is made in real-time.

Waiting on hold for someone to help you with a technical issue can be infuriating. Progress sometimes feels slow or non-existent. Having onsite IT support means managing the situation, getting updates in real-time, knowing what’s going on, and maybe learning a thing or two—usually in half the time!

What Common IT Services Require Onsite IT Support?

There are tons of common IT services that require onsite IT support. These are the most common ones:

File Servers & Cyber Security

For years, companies have drifted away from internal file servers, instead opting for more accessible and cheaper options like backing their data up on the cloud. In an age of cyber security attacks, it’s no surprise people are rethinking their data storage methods and are looking for the most protection for their data.

Having file servers onsite requires an onsite IT specialist to make sure things are always in working order. Even major cloud storage companies need onsite IT support for their massive data centres. With cyber security increasingly becoming an issue for just about every company out there, ramping up your protection for your data is more essential than ever.

Computer Repairs

To understand the issue, you need to be there to see it for yourself. For someone who doesn’t understand computers, detailing the problems can be a challenge for everyone involved. Onsite IT specialists will have a much easier time finding and resolving the problems themselves.

Network Equipment

Network equipment to keep a business running can be extensive and highly complicated. All the devices that work together to ensure smooth operation in the workplace can come crumbling down with just one faulty wire or one corrupt device or hard drive. Onsite IT professionals are necessary. They don’t waste time because they’re likely aware of the potential problems or weak links before even knowing the situation.

POS

Point-of-sale systems frequently have issues, and when they do, they can cause havoc. Not being able to access or properly use your POS can cause severe delays and other problems that can lose your business customers and money.

Key Takeaway

Knowing what common IT services require onsite IT support can help you make better decisions for your business. By securing the right company to provide IT support, you’re ensuring that your business is always operating to the best of its ability!

Managed Services vs Outsourcing, What Are The Differences?

Posted on May 10, 2022 by GPK Group

Managed Services vs Outsourcing, What Are The Differences?

As your business expands, your IT sector could easily become overburdened, increasing the risk of your company’s data being hacked and exposed.

That overburden and risk can be easily avoided however through careful implementation of either managed IT solutions or outsourcing services.

But what makes the two different from one another and what solution will work the best for your business?

This is the million-dollar question.

If you’re looking for managed IT services Perth businesses rely on, then get on a free call with our experts at GPK. If you’d like to take a deeper dive into your outsourcing options and read how the two solutions compare, then this guide is for you.

Managed Services vs. Outsourcing

Outsourcing companies specialise in managing specific business operations or projects, typically on a smaller scale.

In layman’s terms, outsourcing involves hiring a third party to successfully run selected business operations, including help desk support, tailored IT solutions, staff coordination, file preparation, and data management.

Outsourcing, when done correctly is quite effective, as seen in the rising number of jobs being outsourced every year—around 300,000 jobs according to one study.

Managed services, in comparison, provide more systematic solutions to technical support with a spectrum of choices.

Here, you won’t have to search for specific third-party IT solutions, since managed services will offer almost everything—from starting and finishing a complex project to various types of technical support and services.

If a company, say, has an overburdened IT sector, managed services do a splendid job of coming and picking up the slack and then some, covering a business’s IT aspects.

An outstanding managed service has a broad staff of qualified IT specialists, all with a wide array of experience in different fields.

On a global scale, in 2021 alone, managed services were valued at around $161 billion, with a prediction that, by 2027, this value will double. The numbers speak for themselves—these services are extremely effective and valued.

Managed Services vs Outsourcing: The Differences

Generally speaking, outsourcing means that you’ll get more specific and not generic problem-solving from a third party, whereas with managed services, you will receive all-encompassing IT solutions within the company, or through a designated ERP system.

In our experience, we have found several larger differences between managed services and outsourcing. They are as follows:

Managed Services are a Long-Term Investment

It can be argued that if you opt for outsourcing, then you’re opting for a more short-term option. This typically indicates that you are doing so because you only need these services when a particular issue or business need arises.

Companies that are in favour of long-term and safe solutions, however, will usually resort to incorporating managed services since, here, IT specialists work interchangeably with your staff and ensure your business runs flawlessly day to day.

This is in stark contrast with outsourcing—a business will typically collaborate with a single IT specialist who only works on resolving or improving one particular issue.

Upfront Prices vs Paying After the Job is Done

The most significant distinction between outsourcing and managed services has to do with the payment method each uses.

Despite being a recurrent solution or service—with managed services you’ll often have a fixed amount to pay upfront, more along the lines of a retainer or subscription model.
Your managed services billing may also be customised to meet your predetermined selected services.

Paying for outsourcing, however, is rather different.

It is more likely you will agree on a fixed, one-off payment—sometimes held in escrow—that will be released once the job has been completed.

However, in outsourcing, the prices for the service can also include individual performance compensations or unforeseen costs that revolve around the task at hand.

Down the line, outsourcing can ultimately be a more expensive route. This is expected though, given their often short-term solutions.

Differing IT Service Models

With outsourcing or managed services, one is not always better than the other. This is because, from project to project, managed services and outsourcing can take many shapes and in some instances, overlap.

As a generalisation, however, if you have many IT aspects that need managing regularly, you’ll find managed services to be a more effective and affordable solution.

If you’re not a fan of overspending and are a smaller operation with only a few issues to fix, outsourcing could be a better solution for your business.

The Verdict

All in all, outsourcing services are neat for businesses that want to resolve a specific IT issue or project—whereas, if you’re looking for IT services to serve your business in the long run, managed services will be the support system your business thrives off.

We’ll leave you with this—managed services have been known to ultimately reduce IT costs by 25% to 45% and improve IT operations’ efficiency by 50% to 60%.

If you’d like to know more about managed IT support, then give us a call!

What is Fully Managed IT Support and Why Do You Need It?

Posted on March 21, 2022 by GPK Group

What is Fully Managed IT Support and Why Do You Need It?

Fully managed IT support is the blood flow of almost every modern business. If your company has a website and an online presence, an IT support team is imperative for proper and seamless functioning.

To be constantly present and active online, one will need 24/7 monitoring of all computers a company has, whilst also ensuring the company operations are not exposing themselves to data exposure, cyberattacks and information leaks.

By finding the best fully managed IT support in Perth, your IT hassles will disappear faster than your phone’s battery.

Because proficient IT support teams also ensure your organisation’s safety, security, and seamless flow of operations, you’re likely to see a boost in profits and performance with these professionals in your corner.

So, What Does an IT Management Service Offer?

A fully managed IT support comes with a designated contract.

The contract could range from acquiring minimum help, all the way up to 24/7 monitoring and assistance.

Some contracts offer limited help desk assistance, whereas other more comprehensive protection involves proactive monitoring and routine maintenance.

In addition, a fully-managed IT support will include all the above-mentioned perks, plus resolve all day-to-day IT-connected issues. On top of that, the IT managed service provider will take care of the overall flow of the business software and operating systems, provide on-site and cyber security support, as well as standardised setups, installations, regular reporting, and more.

What separates GPK from the chaff is that our primary focus is on fostering lasting partnerships and looking to plan long term. When you partner with us, you’ll have regular structured IT meetings with your personal GPK Business Account Manager (BAM) and Technical Account Manager (TAM), as well as partner stakeholders.

This collaboration allows for holistic managed IT support and ensures we always meet goals and strategies that we have outlined on your behalf.

Last but not least, a fully managed IT service will take care of your company just like an internal IT department would.

What are the Upsides of Fully Managed IT Support?

There are more than a few pros of hiring a fully managed IT support team, with some overshadowing others.

Here’s what the perfect IT management can help you with:

Simplifying organisational systems
Enabling reliable IT support for predictable issues
Improving company proficiency and effectiveness
Decreasing employee time and stress spent on manual tasks
Increasing overall security and safety
Monitoring company expenses
Using technology to remove barriers
Achieve your organisational goals and targets leveraging IT systems and technology

Simplifying the Organisations’ Systems

With the significant development of technologies, IT systems have become much more complex and in-demand. The more complex an IT system is, the more monitoring and attention it requires.

Adding external support, however, allows easier monitoring of the systems and troubleshooting of any potential issues.

Enabling Reliable IT Support for Predictable Issues

More than a few IT issues arise from predictable circumstances that can be easily prevented when fully managed IT support is in place.

If you have planned routine checkups, or optimisation services and maintenance, you’ll rest easy knowing that the systems are taken care of and supervised at all times.

A fully managed IT support will also know which updates to install without wasting extra work hours.

Improving Efficiency

If you have an IT team working to stop any unnecessary disturbances during work hours, you increase your workers’ proficiency.

The maintenance and protection protocols include properly taking care of PCs, printers, and laptops and their regularly required cleanups.

Decreasing Wasted Time and Stress

With fully managed IT support, your business will function far better than before.

It will ensure no system is crashing, and that you don’t waste any extra time targeting an issue and resolving it thereafter.

On top of saving valuable resources, you will also save yourself the stress from having to monitor the company’s performance without apt IT support.

Increase Security Ten-Fold with the Essential 8 Model

Anti-viruses aren’t the only necessity for enjoying a secure IT system.

In fact, IT security goes far beyond firewall antivirus software and includes many more tactics that advanced IT professionals can implement to mitigate the frequency and damage of cyber security attacks.

Known within the industry as The Essential Eight, these mitigation strategies include but are not limited to:

Application control
Patch applications
Configuration of Microsoft Office Macro settings
User application hardening
Restrictions on administrative privileges
Patch operating systems
Multi-factor authentication
Regular backups and restorations

Our experts can install and implement these mitigation strategies to various ‘maturity levels’ depending on the exact needs of your business.

Monitor Expenses

By paying only a small monthly fee, you save yourself from maximum costs when something gets broken and needs quick fixing. With progressive monitoring and reporting on what your organisation lacks, you’ll be able to save yourself from a lot of extra costs.

The Verdict

A fully managed IT support system is more than a beneficial extension of your business.

And given that the growing popularity of online safety had 49% of all businesses outsourcing their IT functions and praising this approach for a myriad of reasons, the urgency to get fully managed IT support for your company is greater than ever before.

Speak to our team of IT support experts today.

Top Benefits of Managed Data Backup and Recovery

Posted on March 7, 2022 by GPK Group

Top Benefits of Managed Data Backup and Recovery

Data security is one of the most discussed topics among leading businesses. There is constant debate on whether data storage and backup should be kept in-house or outsourced.

Every business, no matter the size, ought to have a backup and recovery plan in place.

Unfortunately, most businesses don’t realise the amount of money, staff, equipment, and time that is required to undertake this serious task. Not to mention that completing the recovery and securing of data is not guaranteed if you don’t have the experience.

Of course, if you are after the best-managed data backup providers in Australia, our Managed IT Services Perth are your business’s one-stop-shop for unparalleled data backup and recovery.

But, before you book a call with our team, it’s best to read on and learn more about managed data backup and recoveries and why you should always have a plan.

What are the Top Benefits of Managed Data Backup and Recovery?

Many businesses opt for strong backup and recovery systems to stay protected in a worst-case scenario. As the saying goes, the best defence is a good offence.

Let’s take a look at some of the top benefits your business will be exposed to if you take the step to install a solid managed data backup and recovery plan.

Security

A growing concern among companies has always been data privacy and protection. Businesses depend on ensuring customers that their stored data is safe. Once businesses lose this customer trust, it’s very hard to get it back.

Our managed data backup teams ensure complete on-site and secure physical storage, alongside cloud-based secure storage, and backup for better access to your data.

We also have a disaster recovery strategy for emergencies.

Expense Control

Outsourcing is a great way to save money. Think of everything you’ll need to set up a strong and reliable data backup and recovery system.

When you entrust professionals to keep your data safe from both natural disasters and cyberattacks, you can be confident you’ll be protected when the time comes.

Regulatory Compliance

The way data is collected and stored is strictly monitored and regulated. Not complying with these regulations may bring legal and financial troubles to your company.

If you want to get that burden off your shoulders, many IT support teams have extensive training and knowledge of the constantly evolving regulations—ensuring that your company is compliant with the current regulations in your industry.

Dependable Replication

Replication of data is a time-consuming, costly and stressful process that can have an impact on your daily business operations.

Our experts can assist you in applying the process of retrieving and recovering data. When it comes to managing huge amounts of data, minor errors can cause big headaches. It’s better to leave this to professionals.

Easy Management

Backing up and securing data can be a drain on resources and energy—just imagine the stress level of having to recover lost data. Recovery of data is time-sensitive as well, and no one really knows the state of the lost backup data until it is retrieved.

Luckily, managed data backup teams provide you with a comprehensive data backup and recovery strategy.

Experienced Teams

Vast experience is needed in managing data backup and recovery, especially in case of a disaster or cyberattack. Do you have anyone on your IT team that has the training for this? If you don’t, this is the right time to outsource this service.

Managed data backup teams have all the training and expertise to handle delicate data assignments. They will also provide you with a detailed disaster recovery plan on how to quickly and efficiently handle the issue, that should be read by all members of staff.

Maintain Client Reputation

We witness many companies losing their reputation due to the loss of clients’ data. Customer distrust may hurt your business in the long run.

You must be able to fix a disruption in your operation in no time or your customers will be knocking on your competitor’s doors.

What Managed Data Backup and Recovery Solution is Right for You?

Businesses today are faced with increased cyber and ransomware attacks. An Emsisoft report states that the US has witnessed ransomware attacks that affected around 966 governmental bodies, costing them around $7.5 billion.

Natural and other disasters are also potential threats to consider—although highly unlikely to occur, one is ‘preparing to fail if they fail to prepare’—according to the late, great IT Expert, Benjamin Franklin.

To make sure our clients don’t fall victim to Franklin’s adage, we recommend a form of the 3-2-1 data management system.

The beauty of this system is in the many ways it can be set up and installed, dependent on the exact needs of the individual. In it’s most simplest terms however, the 3-2-1 method is:

3 copies of your data
across 2 types of media
with 1 copy of your data off site

When set up correctly, it covers 99.9% of failure scenarios.

At GPK we go one step further and also recommend that a copy of that data is immutable. This gives you the best recovery time, by leveraging local backups on site and having the protection of complete site loss & a cloud copy.

Choosing the right data backup and recovery solution is important. With 40% of small businesses reporting they have experienced eight or more hours of downtime due to a cyber breach in the last year—it’s undeniable that cybercrime costs businesses time and money.

Exactly how much resourcing is required can be hard to estimate, and is dependent on each business, but it’s best to be prepared.

Keeping it in-house might be what you prefer, but outsourcing it will grant you the luxury of a solid plan and long-term benefits.

Get in touch with our team and get your data protected today!

How Much Should Small Businesses Spend on Cyber Security?

Posted on November 24, 2021 by GPK Group

How Much Should Small Businesses Spend on Cyber Security?

Small businesses and entrepreneurs understand the need for accurate budget planning. To optimise revenues, it’s important that small businesses conduct meticulous budgeting and forecasting on all expenditures—cyber security costs to the business being no exception.

Managing a budget to the nines is a must when operating a small business. It covers anything from monitoring the business cash flow, reducing unnecessary expenses and distributing revenues evenly.

Running a small business is no small task. There’s so much to consider all at once. Unfortunately, in today’s business climate, business owners must consider the potential of cyber threats and weigh up the cyber security costs to their business accordingly.

As cybercrime has risen massively in these past few years, many small business owners have become more aware of the importance of adequate cyber security, but there is still some confusion as to how much is too much to invest in cyber security.

This is where Perth’s cyber security experts step in. In this article, we’ll help you understand what cyber security costs to your small business should look like and what the approximate cyber security services pricing is.

What Does a Standard Cyber Security Expenditure Look Like?

You’re probably wondering what a normal, or standard small business expenditure looks like. Well, there isn’t such a thing as a normal cyber security price for small businesses since there isn’t a standard modelled small business. However, there are some things to consider when you’re calculating how much the standard cyber security cost to your small business should be.

As for the aspects to pay attention to when making a budget-friendly cyber security investment for a small business, they are as follows:

Calculate the average amount spent on cyber security;
Consider technology expenses for businesses of your sort;
Understand the importance of your database—a financial business has a particularly susceptible database to cyberattacks as the customer data you have is of high value;
Make inquiries from your stakeholders and customers.

General Cyber Security Cost for Small Businesses

Many shield experts state that the cyber security price should account for roughly 10% of the said business’s expenditure, whereas most businesses spend closer to 20%. Small financial businesses and companies highly involved with technology and databases have much larger expenditures to keep those enormous databases safe.

A designated analysis by Forbes states that expenditures on data protection are expected to expand by 33%, or roughly around $585 million, while the security of the business database is expected to climb by 7.2%. Big firms are doing everything they can to protect themselves against cybercrime. Intriguingly, smaller businesses are doing almost the same thing—now seeing the importance of a pragmatic and proactive approach to cyber security.

In terms of figures, if your small business employs 100 people and has a monthly technical budget of $5,000, you ought to set aside about $500 for cyber security costs. You may expand it too since some IT services offer flexible cyber security services pricing. What’s more, you can even ask your supplier for a risk evaluation, to prevent potential data leakage.

Consider that the 10% of your monthly IT revenue spent on cyber security costs will amount to approximately 0.5% of your total income. In the simplest of terms, this is a minor expense for gaining high-quality cyber security for your small business.

Return of Investment Method: The Small Business Hero

Another method to consider when analysing the cost of cyber security for your business is in terms of a policy called Return on Investment (ROI). It would be an enormous success if you spend $10,000 on a cyber security price every year to avoid losing, let’s say, $50,000 in sales.

It’s worth mentioning that maintaining a bigger budget is less necessary than hiring a reliable IT company. You may spend the vast majority of your technological expenditure and never receive the exact degree of protection as you would with 5% expenditure. This is because you must carefully select your collaborators and examine the cyber security groups that provide these services.
As a cherry on top, it is advised you do thorough research and compare different providers before making an informed decision.

Another study shows us that financial businesses tend to spend anywhere from 6% up to 14% of their IT expenditure on cyber security costs. On average, the cyber security services pricing ranges between $100 to $500 for small businesses with a smaller database.

One issue concerning cyber security danger is moving a tad faster than usual. The moment any data is received, a new risk scenario that you lack sufficient data for emerges. As a result, there is no way to develop models to anticipate annual losses.

To mend the issue, make a list of digital records and assets and estimate the value they earn your small business. Next, evaluate the requirements that your organisation needs to comply with to meet the industry standards concerning your small business.

Keep your total IT spending on your mind at all times. Should the overall IT expenditure amount come to 20% or lower, consider that you have a good starting point to evaluate future cyber security prices.

Strategies for Establishing Cyber Security Expenditure

When designing any form of expenditure pay special attention to separate statistics and analysis. This way, you’ll have a better understanding of your common IT challenges, and you’ll be able to address and expand these by implementing any useful strategies down the line.

Regarding the questions you need to be asking before hiring cyber security IT specialists, they are as follows:

How many times did your web page collapse?
What was the reason behind it?
How many DoS or DDoS attacks were made against your system?
Has your computer database recently been infected by malware or other viruses?
Are you facing continuous database threats? If so, how often?
Has your database been hacked only once or numerous times?
Is there anyone in your workplace who has fallen prey to phishing attacks?

Collecting all of this data will undoubtedly assist you in properly forecasting your threshold for future cyber security expenditure—whilst also ensuring your small business efficiently avoids exposure to cyber risks and threats.

Cyber Security to Small Businesses’ Rescue: The Verdict

All in all, if you haven’t got a clue on how to calculate your IT expenditures, or you don’t have any IT specialists at hand, there are numerous security expenditure calculators out there.

But, if you’re running a small business in Australia, then cyber security Perth, is your best bet. If you care to get your database secure, pronto, our experts at GPK group will deliver high-quality and offer low cyber security costs to keep you safe and sound from cyber attacks.

Enterprise Cyber Security, What Is It And What Are The Solutions?

Posted on November 24, 2021 by GPK Group

Enterprise Cyber Security, What Is It And What Are The Solutions?

Though safety is a major priority for any company, there are distinctive problems bigger organisations face when looking to become secure. Enterprise cybersecurity solutions are, indeed, required for enterprises, to safeguard the entire workplace and workflow. Because these securities need to span across numerous web pages, teams, locations, and departments, cracks can begin to show in enterprise cyber security if not implemented by experts.

But, what exactly is enterprise cyber security? Moreover, what are enterprise cyber security solutions, and how does one put them in place?

Wonder not, because Perth’s cyber security experts come bearing answers—and we intend to put your enterprise on the safe side, cybersecurity-wise.

What Exactly is Enterprise Cyber Security?

For starters, enterprise cyber security solutions are measures aimed to deter, monitor, and safeguard both the infrastructures and apps of large businesses. In essence, the enterprise security structure is a type of enterprise risk management cyber security protocol, tailored to any enterprise’s safety needs. It essentially controls all aspects of an enterprise across the multitude of websites they incorporate.

Enterprise cyber security solutions are a lot more complicated than your traditional cyber security, typically implemented into all of the layers of current corporate computers. This implies that enterprise cyber security should defend your on-premise software and cloud software— whilst also screening third-party suppliers and safeguarding the increasing number of terminals linked to your servers, through the Internet of Things.

That’s why—if you’re dealing with large and complicated systems, implementing an enterprise risk management cyber security solution is your best bet.

Enterprise Risk Management Cyber Security and How It Works

The act of detecting and analysing any risks that affect routine company tasks is known as Enterprise Cybersecurity Risk Management or ERM for short. Decision-making concerning these risks, the preparation, plans and coordination required to answer any type of risks—these are all part of the safeguarding process.

Risk in the context of enterprises refers to the possibility of an external factor inflicting harm to company resources and assets. A catastrophic natural event that damages a facility or a projected economic slump that affects income would be the most appropriate example in this case.

To successfully control any risks, you must have a thorough awareness of anything going on within your company, as well as any external events that could have a certain damaging influence. Moreover, you must be aware of anything that’s going on behind closed doors, alongside any external events that could have certain damaging influences that might take effect.

Enterprise Cybersecurity Solutions

Now, we’ll take a detailed peek at the 3 key elements of contemporary enterprise cybersecurity solutions. Those are appropriately named intruder detection, invasion prevention, and prediction technology.

Intruder Detection

Even the most advanced cybersecurity solutions will not be able to defend you from every conceivable cyber assault. According to resources, 60% of any small businesses out there close their business after only 6 months of being attacked by a cyber-criminal.

As a result, enterprise cybersecurity solutions have to go along with some of the enterprise cyber risk management solutions, to entirely prevent the downfall of their business. These include swift detection of an attack happening at that moment, neutralising the cyber attack to reduce potential harm and offering detailed information about the actions of the cyberattack—from start to breach.

Invasion Prevention

Cyber threats and data breaches enter your system through a variety of entry points, referred to as attack vectors. Servers of your network and the devices connected to the said network are the most popular attack vectors out there.

A firewall can be of great assistance when talking about enterprise cybersecurity solutions, which operate on a regular server of a given network. Here, even an incorporated hardware or software solution that includes a specialised device that the firewall might be implemented.

Contemporary enterprise cybersecurity solutions provide sophisticated “perimeter hardening” through two technologies—Next-Generation Firewall and the Next-Generation Endpoint Security.

These enable the following benefits:

Both have continuous access to the most up-to-date cybersecurity;
Both can be reinforced instantaneously upon such cyber threats;
Both are intelligent enough to spot possible hazards that have yet to be recognised.

Prediction Technology

The quicker the data on fresh cyber threats and data breaches—the more swift the response is implemented. To have a good prediction enterprise cybersecurity solution, a supplier must have a huge base installed, one that instantaneously gives feedback on the cybersecurity threats and attacks.

This is a must so the supplier may evaluate the new cyber threat and immediately toughen elements, such as endpoints and firewalls to prevent any future attacks imposed by this newly established enemy.

The Bottom Line on Enterprise Cyber Security

All things considered, if you are a larger business, you should be fortifying your network security with enterprise cyber security. Proactive enterprise cyber risk management can help you avoid potential cyber threats, data breaches, and full-blown attacks that have the potential to cost you irreversibly.

If this sounds like you, contact the cyber security experts in Perth for flawless enterprise risk management cyber security. The GPK group is at your service!

The Top 5 Benefits of Remote Support IT Services

Posted on November 14, 2021 by GPK Group

The Top 5 Benefits of Remote Support IT Services

Remote IT support services are crucial for modern workplaces. So if you’re still deliberating about whether or not to engage a remote IT service for your Adelaide business, here are five big benefits that you’re currently missing out on.

It’s a more comprehensive service

Remote IT support teams are made up of tech experts, whose whole business model relies on being able to offer an IT service that a more traditional or in-house IT team can’t. They’re fully trained and up-to-date with the latest IT tools and protocols, and undertake regular training to ensure their skills remain sharp.

This means they offer a more in-depth IT service, made for Adelaide businesses with more advanced IT needs.

Rather than the traditional break/fix IT model, and rather than a reactive IT service, remote support services are designed to be proactive. They undertake ongoing monitoring of your business’ systems and network to identify issues and ensure these get fixed before they become problems.

This proactivity also includes working with your specific vendors to ensure your business has the latest software and products. They can also negotiate better prices on your behalf, and in turn pass these savings on to your business.

Save your business money

Remote support IT providers deliver an off-site service. This means that the entirety of the IT support your Adelaide business accesses, and the bulk of the IT infrastructure needed to deliver the service, will be housed offsite too.

This IT infrastructure can be a significant drain on your business’ energy use. By engaging remote IT support services, this effectively removes all this equipment from your office, thereby reducing your energy bill. Your remote IT support service provider can work with you to determine exactly what you need in your office, so you can remove any unnecessary power-draining hardware.

It’s not just energy—it’s your software licences and devices too. Your remote IT provider can undertake a complete IT audit for you to determine where your business is overspending on software licences and user accounts that aren’t being used, and where you’re paying for unnecessary devices.

Engaging a remote IT company for your Adelaide business is also a massive cost saving measure in general. Rather than paying for an in-house IT resource, you’re outsourcing these skills to a remote team that you engage to undertake the work for you. You pay a regular, predictable fee, typically monthly, that ultimately works out to be much cheaper than even one full-time IT resource. You’re not paying for overheads or training, but purely for the services received—which are limitless.

Improve your business’ IT security

Your remote IT support provider delivers a service that’s designed for the modern workplace. Rather than simply adopting remote working capabilities, these businesses were effectively built with this capacity in mind—moulded by it, you could say. This means their processes and workflows, and indeed, the full spectrum of their service, are already created with remote capacity in mind.

This also means they’re already across your IT security needs. They can ensure that your business is equipped with the latest software updates, that all your platforms are patched, and your antivirus and cyber security software is all running the latest versions. They work to ensure your firewalls are dialed in, your email filters are optimised—all much faster and more effectively than a traditional IT service provider.

They can also provide you with improved data security, through remote and cloud storage solutions. This gives you an added layer of security; remote data storage ensures that if your business’ data in one location is compromised, your alternative storage location will provide the same level of coverage.

Enable a scalable business

Your business’ in-house IT support team helps you manage the day-to-day IT business that your staff need. And, if we’re being honest, their role is a very static one; it manages the current IT needs of your business.

Remote support IT services are designed to grow as your business does, and hence they enable your business to scale far more readily. Their entire role is to provide IT support to businesses of all sizes, so they’re already equipped to work with organisations larger than yours. They can offer remote IT support at scale, and they’re not tied down to the physical limitations of your office.

They’ve got the tools, technological expertise, and knowledge to service your business’ IT needs whether you’ve got a team of seven, 70, or 700. And, as they’re located remotely too, you don’t need to worry about including them in your headcount—their service can evolve as your business needs do.

Improved emergency response

Remote IT support services already have an upper hand over in-house teams: they’re located remotely. It sounds obvious, and, well, it is. But it’s a crucial differentiator in how your business responds to emergencies.

Your remote IT company in Adelaide is already working offsite, so their infrastructure, collaboration tools, databases, and platforms are all set up for fast and flexible remote work. This means they can deliver a faster, more streamlined emergency response for your business, and ensure your business’ important data is safe and secure in offsite or cloud storage solutions.

Take the very real example of COVID-19. The world was forced to work remotely, and continue to deliver services in a time of extreme flux. But remote support IT services were already providing this, and their workflows were already set up for it.

At GPK Group, we deliver comprehensive remote IT support for Adelaide businesses. Get in touch with us today to discuss an IT support solution that grows as your business does—wherever you’re located.