Key Things Perth Retail SMBs Must Know Before IT Support Contracts

For retail small and medium businesses in Perth, reliable IT support is not a luxury, it is a necessity. With every transaction, inventory update and digital payment depending on smooth technology, choosing the right IT support contract can make or break daily operations.

Unfortunately, many SMBs sign agreements without fully understanding the terms, which can lead to unexpected costs, poor service levels and limited support during critical times. Before committing to a provider, it is essential to know what to look out for.

1. Understand the Scope of Services

Not all contracts are created equal. Some may only cover basic troubleshooting, while others include proactive monitoring, cybersecurity and 24/7 helpdesk support. Make sure the agreement clearly lists what is included and what is not.

2. Check the Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Response times and resolution guarantees matter in retail, where downtime can result in lost sales. Look for contracts that outline clear SLAs so you know exactly how quickly issues will be addressed.

3. Watch for Hidden Costs

Some providers charge extra for after-hours support, on-site visits or software updates. Always read the fine print to avoid unpleasant surprises.

4. Evaluate Industry Experience

Retail operations have unique IT requirements such as POS integration, secure payments and multi-site connectivity. Choosing a partner with proven experience in retail technology ensures your systems are managed with industry knowledge. Learn more about GPK’s dedicated IT expertise.

5. Ensure Flexibility for Growth

A contract that works today may not meet your needs in two years. Retail SMBs should choose agreements that can adapt as the business grows, whether through scaling up cloud services or supporting new store locations.

Smarter Choices for Perth Retail SMBs

Signing an IT support contract should provide peace of mind, not added stress. By understanding the scope of services, reviewing SLAs, checking for hidden fees and selecting a partner with retail expertise, Perth SMBs can secure reliable technology support that grows with their business.

For guidance, explore GPK’s tailored IT services designed for retail SMBs. Contact us today to discuss the best IT support options for your Perth business.

Keeping Franchises Connected with Reliable IT Support

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.

How GPK Solves IT Challenges for Supermarkets Across Australia

Modern supermarkets rely heavily on integrated IT systems to support everything from POS systems and inventory tracking to customer loyalty and data security. GPK delivers tailored IT solutions for supermarkets with a focus on reliability, compliance, and operational efficiency. In this post, we explore the common IT challenges supermarkets face and recommend strategies to overcome them, backed by GPK’s proven expertise in retail IT, cybersecurity, and connectivity. Learn how supermarkets across Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney benefit from our end-to-end retail solutions.

IT Solutions for Supermarkets – Challenges and Recommendations

Supermarkets are fast-paced environments that require seamless coordination across inventory systems, checkout terminals, staff devices, and digital promotions. When IT systems fail, even briefly, it can disrupt operations, damage customer trust, and reduce profits.

At GPK, we understand the retail landscape and specialise in delivering IT solutions for supermarkets that are resilient, secure, and scalable. Let’s explore the key challenges and how our services can help overcome them.

Common IT Challenges in Supermarkets

Legacy Systems and Compatibility

Many supermarkets still rely on outdated systems that do not integrate well with modern cloud solutions or digital interfaces. These inefficiencies lead to slow processing, frequent breakdowns, and high maintenance costs.

Network Downtime and Connectivity Issues

Unreliable internet and internal network issues can cause POS failures, stock syncing delays, and communication breakdowns. This is especially critical during peak shopping hours.

Data Security and Compliance Risks

Supermarkets process a large amount of customer data through loyalty programmes and digital transactions. Without strong cybersecurity, this information is vulnerable to breaches and non-compliance penalties.

Lack of Centralised IT Management

For supermarket chains with multiple locations, it can be difficult to manage and monitor IT systems across different stores. Disparate systems reduce efficiency and increase costs.

GPK’s IT Solutions for Supermarkets

End-to-End Retail IT Support

GPK delivers comprehensive retail IT solutions that help supermarkets streamline operations across departments and locations. From system upgrades to proactive monitoring, our solutions keep stores running smoothly.

Scalable Managed IT Services

With IT services designed for retail environments, GPK provides:

  • 24/7 technical support
  • Cloud migration and integration
  • Hardware and software provisioning
  • Real-time system performance monitoring

Advanced Cybersecurity for Supermarket Networks

Cyber threats are on the rise, particularly in high-volume retail. Our cybersecurity services include:

  • Firewall and endpoint protection
  • Secure payment system integration
  • Data backup and disaster recovery
  • Compliance with Australian data privacy laws

Reliable Retail Connectivity

With robust connectivity solutions, GPK ensures that supermarkets maintain fast, secure, and stable network connections across all departments and locations.

This supports: – Efficient POS operations – Real-time inventory updates – Seamless communication between stores and headquarters

Serving Supermarkets Across Australia

GPK provides supermarket IT support across major Australian cities, including:

  • Adelaide
  • Brisbane
  • Perth
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney

Our national coverage allows us to offer consistent service and rapid response, while tailoring each solution to local infrastructure and operational needs. A RetailBiz article on supermarket innovation shows how IT-led strategies are driving growth in regional and urban locations alike.

Partner with GPK for Supermarket IT Excellence

Supermarkets can’t afford downtime or data vulnerabilities. With GPK as your trusted IT partner, you gain access to industry-leading support, proactive solutions, and secure systems that scale with your business.

Contact us and explore our full suite of retail IT services and request a custom solution tailored to your supermarket operations.

How GPK Delivers Scalable IT Solutions for Shopping Centres Across Australia

Shopping centres rely on robust IT systems to ensure seamless operations, customer engagement, and data security. GPK provides tailored support for retail environments, including managed IT services, cybersecurity protection, and scalable solutions that grow with your business. From point-of-sale systems to secure networks and retail analytics, this article explores how GPK helps shopping centres stay ahead in a competitive retail landscape.

How GPK Supports IT Systems for Shopping Centres

In today’s digital first retail landscape, shopping centres need more than just physical infrastructure. A strong and secure IT ecosystem is essential for supporting tenants, ensuring operational uptime, and enhancing the customer experience. That’s where GPK comes in.

With decades of experiene in retail and small business IT, GPK delivers tailored solutions that help shopping centres across Australia thrive. From network design to managed services, here’s how we support complex IT systems for shopping centres.

Managed IT Services Tailored for Retail Environments

Every shopping centre has unique IT demands – from managing multiple vendors to supporting individual retail tenants. GPK offers customisable IT solutions that scale with your needs, including:

  • 24/7 IT monitoring and support
  • Infrastructure design and deployment
  • Helpdesk and remote support
  • Tenant IT onboarding and support

These services reduce the burden on centre management and ensure your tenants receive timely technical support, improving overall satisfaction.

Cybersecurity to Protect Your Retail Ecosystem

Retail environments are frequent targets for cyber threats, especially with increasing digital transactions and data collection. GPK implements cybersecurity strategies that safeguard your infrastructure and protect customer data.

Our services include:

  • Endpoint and network protection
  • Real-time threat monitoring
  • Secure Wi-Fi deployment
  • Compliance with data protection regulations

By staying ahead of threats, we ensure shopping centres can operate securely and minimise risks to reputation and revenue.

Supporting Small Retailers and Multi-Tenant IT Needs

Many shopping centres host dozens of small-to-medium retailers who each need reliable IT support. GPK provides small business IT support designed to empower tenants with scalable, cost-effective IT solutions.

This includes:

  • POS system setup and troubleshooting
  • Network access and configuration
  • Cloud migration and email setup
  • Data backup and recovery

With GPK, tenants benefit from expert IT support without the overhead of building their own in-house tech teams.

Retail IT Solutions Across Australia

GPK specialises in Retail IT Solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of shopping centres and retail environments. Whether you’re managing a local precinct or a national portfolio, our solutions are tailored to deliver performance, reliability, and security.

We proudly support retail businesses and shopping centres in key locations across Australia, including:

  • Adelaide
  • Brisbane
  • Perth
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney

With teams in every major city, GPK ensures localised support backed by national expertise. From onsite troubleshooting to large-scale rollouts, we help retailers succeed no matter where they’re located. Learn how technology trends are shaping Australian shopping centres and why integrated IT infrastructure is now a competitive necessity.

Get in Touch with GPK Today

Looking to future-proof your shopping centre’s IT environment? Let GPK tailor a solution that supports your tenants, secures your network, and enhances your operations.

Contact us to learn more about our retail IT solutions and how we can help your centre thrive in the digital age.

What Common IT Services Require Onsite IT Support?

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.

Onsite IT Support

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!

How Much Should Small Businesses Spend on Cyber Security?

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.

Small Business Cyber Security Cost

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?

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.

Enterprise Cyber Security

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.

Related Article: What are the different types of cyber security?

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

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.

Remote IT Support Benefits

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.

Related Article: Essential Small Business IT Security Checklist

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.

5 Essential Questions You Should Ask Your IT Support Company

5 Essential Questions You Should Ask Your IT Support Company

These days, every business has an IT support service. But there may come a point where you want to upgrade those services, and look for another provider that suits your evolving needs.

When you do, you want peace of mind; you’re making the right choice. 

So more than the standard services they provide, more than the software and tools they use, here are five essential questions to ask your new IT support company in Adelaide to ensure you’re getting the most out of your relationship with them.

IT Support Questions

What are your service-level agreements?

Getting the right service-level agreement (SLA) is a crucial step in ensuring you’re getting the best level of IT support for your Adelaide business.

The SLA sets the baseline of their service delivery to your business. It clearly lays out what you can expect from them, the level of service they provide, and how they measure performance when working with your business. It helps to cut out any ambiguity, so there are no miscommunications, no misinterpretations, and both parties know exactly what level of service and expectations are out on the table.

It includes things like their response time, hardware and software fix & repair time, downtime, case priorities, change requests, and escalations.

While SLAs can be fairly standard, every business is different. So your IT support provider needs to offer flexibility in their SLA too. It needs to be tailored to your business, so your specific needs and requirements are met. It can also define who your main point of contact is, and what to expect when dealing with this person.

Can you advise me on the best IT hardware and software for my business?

This question helps determine whether the provider is the right IT company in Adelaide to deliver on your business’ requirements.

They can work with you to assess your IT needs—not just now, but for the future. They can ensure your IT budget and infrastructure needs are planned out for the long term, and are matched with your business goals.

This isn’t just about getting the best equipment. It’s about the best equipment for your business. It’s also about confirming that you’re working with a team with your business goals in mind, and not just about what’s best for their bottom line.

What’s your step-by-step process for managing IT support issues?

This is a crucial question to ask, and one any good IT support company will be happy to answer. This helps you identify if their service is right for your needs.

Ask to see their workflow for managing your issues. They should be able to help you understand each step, and what this can deliver for your staff. Is it more streamlined than what you have now? Does it offer more in terms of solutions?

They’ll be able to clearly show you how your problems get escalated and solved, and the platforms and software they use to achieve this.

Look at all the communication touch points, too. Is it a simple IT ticketing system, or do they have instant messaging systems as part of their support service? This indicates how responsive and available they’ll be to your staff.

What are you doing to continually improve your services?

It may sound like an obvious question, but this one is what separates the good IT services from the great. A mature, experienced IT company in Adelaide will have a long-term plan in place for growth. Not necessarily in terms of size, but in terms of evolving as the industry does.

And while they won’t necessarily walk you through this in detail (it’s likely highly confidential), they’ll be able to have a chat with you broadly about what they’ve got planned to ensure their staff, teams, infrastructure capacity, and business as a whole stays at the top of its game.

This gives you a good indication on just how this business will be placed to grow with your business as it scales.

How will you keep my business’ data secure?

Data security is your business’ safety net, so you want to make sure that your new IT support company can deliver. So be sure to ask about their data security practices.

Identify whether they offer on-site data storage and backup, remote storage, or cloud backup solutions. Determine what their protocols are for IT security: what are their processes when any threats are identified, and their response plan for neutralising threats? What does their incident response plan look like, and what does it cover?

These questions are all designed to give you peace of mind that you’re getting the right IT support for your Adelaide business.

The first step? Getting on the phone and organising a discussion with your new IT support company.

GPK is an experienced IT company in Adelaide that delivers comprehensive, cost-effective, and—most importantly—powerful IT support services. Get in touch with us today to discuss what we can do for your organisation. We can even prompt you on the right questions to ask, to demonstrate what we can help you achieve.

What Are The Different Types of Cyber Security?

What Are The Different Types of Cyber Security?

Cyber security is an industry that has greatly appreciated since the rise of technology. It is also one of the few industries that have benefited from a worldwide pandemic, with many employees forced and elected to work from home. When it comes to cybersecurity, most of us know a little about the industry and what basic things we can do to keep ourselves from being exposed to blatant cyber threats—but lack anything more than superficial knowledge on the different types of cyber security. 

Now, if you’re looking for premium cybersecurity solutions and don’t need (or want) to know the nitty-gritty details of this rapidly evolving digital landscape, then contacting the best Perth cyber security team should be your first step before reading on.

With that being said, as a business owner or professional part of this new digitised world, it’s always better to broaden your understanding of the systems around you.  

So, let’s dive deeper into the types of cybersecurity you will likely come across and use in the future. 

Types of Cyber Security

Categories of Cyber Security

With dozens of new cyber attack tactics seemingly rearing their ugly heads every day, businesses and cyber security firms have to tighten their defences on all fronts. Given that simple phishing attacks are capable of causing millions in damage and occur very frequently, knowing how to protect your data from cyber attacks is key to keeping your business moving forward. 

Password Cyber Security

You and your employees likely use passwords for every account you manage. The most common way of breaching these passwords is via phishing attacks, breaching less secure accounts such as social media or email, or just bypassing the password entirely if it’s an especially simple one. Although obvious, many individuals underestimate the power of a regularly changed, strong password that does not follow patterns. 

The best part of this type of cyber security is that it’s simple, easy to do and free! If you or your employees use the same passwords for multiple accounts or haven’t changed them in a long time, it’s probably time to do so! 

Network Cyber Security

This sort of cyber security involves safeguarding the network on your computer from both internal and external cyber threats. It utilises a variety of ways to keep dangerous malware and other information leakages that could cost your business at a minimum. To prevent assaults, this is a type of cyber security that still allows permitted users access to a protected network. 

One of the essential parts of establishing network security is initialising a firewall that functions as a buffer zone of sorts with the network you’re using and the threats to which it is exposed. When you engage GPK’s expert team to implement high-grade cyber security, one of the first things we will do will be to shield your emails at greater risk of phishing attacks. A program can be implemented to examine the messages on your email, whether they’re outgoing or incoming.

App Cyber Security

Another way to safeguard you or your business is to implement application cyber security. Crucially, this is the process of safeguarding any delicate information residing on the applications currently in use by your employees. Before indulging in the next-best app that comes along, you should ensure you are following strictly app cyber security measures.  

This is one of the categories of cyber security that may also incorporate elements like two-factor authentication, safety questions and other precautions to guarantee that a person is who they claim to be.

Cloud Cyber Security

Most of our data is stored in a cloud system. The most popular systems online are Google Drive, Apple iCloud, and Microsoft OneDrive storage. There are huge volumes of data stored in these systems, most being highly valuable to cyber criminals. This is why it’s of utmost importance to keep these areas of your business as secure as possible to keep valuable data falling into the hands of cyber criminals. 

Although storing your data on a cloud is a safer alternative to on-site, outdated databases, there are still cyber security measures that must be followed to shield the data stored inside reliably. One of the simpler ways you can achieve this is to use a premium program that can keep an eye out for any potential attacks being initiated in your cloud storage—alerting you or your IT team immediately if something triggers the warning system. 

Operative Cyber Security

Operative cyber security refers to the risk of management procedures for different corporate types of cyber security solutions. This form generally uses a series of regulatory experts to guarantee that if a user’s data is compromised or breached, a fail-safe plan is initiated. This is often a reactive step that only needs to be taken when all the other aspects of cyber security have failed to prevent an attack, but is fundamental to any holistic cyber security plan. 

Workers must be trained on keeping their personal and even corporate details and credentials extra safe as part of the operational security procedures.

Types of Cyber Security Attacks and Putting a Stop to Them

Aside from a scary amount of phishing links, dozens of other cyber security attacks occur on a yearly basis. The categories of cyber security solutions that we’ve mentioned earlier have their strengths and will deal with the types of attacks differently—reaffirming the need for a comprehensive cyber security plan.

A few more known types of threats are DoS and DDoS attacks (Denial-of-service and Distributed Denial-of-service), malware, drive-by downloads, man-in-the-middle attacks, SQL Injection, and the ever-so-popular, password attacks. 

These attacks, in turn, have their ways of infecting your data and comprising every piece of information in it. For instance, the Malware and SQL Injection implement a worm, trojan, virus, or spyware type of threats. In contrast, the DoS or DDoS attacks are implemented to get information from larger businesses and computers with a really big database.

While on the topic of how to stop these attacks, you can use methods such as VPNs, email scanning programs, advanced firewalls, strong anti-viruses, software for preventing malware and simply not clicking on suspicious links.

What Types of Cyber Security Are The Most Appropriate?

The answer to this question lies in the type of cyber security threat or attack you want to be defended from. If you have sensitive data stored in cloud-based databases, it’s imperative to implement strong cloud security. On the other hand, if you need to shield your private network or the corporate network of the business, then focusing your budget on stronger network cyber security will be a more efficient use of your resources. 

When you work with GPK’s elite team we will help you find the exact cyber security needs of your business—guaranteed! 

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