Tag: Managed IT Services

Why an Azure Managed Service is essential

Posted on by QuoStar

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, more and more businesses are turning to cloud solutions be that private or public to streamline their operations and stay competitive. Azure is one of the most popular cloud computing platforms on the market, providing a wealth of benefits for businesses of all sizes. However, managing Azure can be complex and time-consuming, especially for organisations without in-house IT resources. That’s where an Azure managed service from a managed service provider (MSP) like QuoStar comes in. In this blog post, we explore why an Azure managed service is critical for any business using Azure.

Cost Control

One of the primary benefits is cost control. Azure provides a wide range of pricing options and services, making it easy for businesses to overspend if not managed carefully. An MSP can help optimise Azure usage, identify unnecessary costs, and recommend cost-saving measures. They can assist in selecting the right Azure services based on specific needs, adjusting usage patterns, and leveraging cost-saving opportunities such as reserved instances.

Furthermore, an Azure managed service helps accurately forecast Azure expenses, enabling effective budget planning. This aspect is particularly crucial for small and medium-sized businesses that may lack the resources to handle unexpected costs.

Security

Security is another crucial consideration for businesses utilising Azure. As cyber threats evolve and become more sophisticated, having a robust security strategy in place is paramount. An Azure managed service can help implement best practices for Azure security, including identity and access management, network security, data encryption, and more. They also keep you updated with the latest changes, security patches, and updates to minimise the risk of security breaches and data loss.

A sophisticated Azure managed service, provided by the right MSP, can monitor your Azure environment for suspicious activity and proactively address security threats. This capability is especially important for businesses operating in regulated industries where data security is critical, such as legal or finance.

Technical Landscape

The technical landscape of Azure is constantly developing, with new features and services introduced regularly. For businesses, this presents both opportunities for innovation and challenges in keeping up with the ever-changing Azure ecosystem. An MSP can help navigate this landscape, stay up to date with the latest Azure features, and provide recommendations on how they can benefit your business. They can also help you avoid common pitfalls, such as overprovisioning or underutilising Azure services.

Automation

Automation plays a crucial role in an MSP’s services. Implementing automation on their own can be challenging and time-consuming for businesses. Automation saves time and resources, increases efficiency, and reduces the risk of errors. An MSP can automate routine tasks like patching, backups, and monitoring, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations. It also facilitates the deployment of correct frameworks and enables quick responses to security threats, minimising the risk of data loss or downtime.

Why QuoStar’s Managed Service

At QuoStar, we offer a comprehensive Azure managed service that blends automation and advanced monitoring, ensuring consistent and high-quality support. We’re committed to delivering personalised assistance to each of our clients, taking the time to understand their unique needs and tailoring our services accordingly. Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Azure expertise: Our seasoned team of Azure experts goes beyond the basics, covering everything from Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) to Platform as a Service (PaaS). Benefit from the depth of our Azure knowledge.
  • Microsoft Solutions Partner: We’re not just another service provider; we are a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Infrastructure (Azure).
  • Industry recognition: Finalists for Cloud Services Provider of the Year at the CRN Channel Awards 2023, which shows that we’re among the best at what we do.
  • 24/7/365 support: Count on our UK-based support team to be there when you need them, ensuring your cloud environment runs smoothly around the clock. Rest easy knowing expert assistance is always within reach.
  • Risk-free assessment: Take advantage of our complimentary Azure assessment; if no significant issues are found, there’s no charge.

Don’t let the complexities of Azure management overwhelm you. With QuoStar’s Azure Managed Service, you can confidently take control of costs, ensure security, and smoothly navigate Azure.

Experience Azure’s benefits for cloud success.

Start a conversation with us or book your risk-free assessment today. Whether you need Azure consultancy or ongoing managed services, we’re here to assist you at every phase of your Azure journey. Take the first step towards a more efficient Azure solution, supported by a trusted partner.

Microsoft Solutions Partner for Infrastructure and Finalists for Cloud Services Provider of the Year at the CRN Channel Awards 2023

QuoStar celebrates record growth in 2022

Posted on by QuoStar

We’re delighted to be celebrating another record year of growth at QuoStar, which includes developing the business across the UK and more than doubling our revenue.

With milestones including an impressive 40 new clients brought on board in 2022, revenue growth of 109% and 32 new people welcomed to the business, we are very pleased that the hard work and commitment of the whole QuoStar team has paid off.

In the last 12 months, we have taken more strides to expand the company across the country. In addition to our established Bournemouth and London offices, we have opened new premises in Leeds and will be announcing another location soon.

Our continued commitment to helping clients boost their business efficiencies and gain a competitive advantage was also reflected in our latest feedback survey, which showed an industry leading 99% client satisfaction for the fourth year in a row.

Other highlights of the past year included the announcement of our new partnership with AFC Bournemouth for the 2022/23 season. With many of our staff being big supporters of the Cherries, it has been a pleasure to work with the IT team at AFC Bournemouth to ensure cyber security is embedded in the club’s day-to-day operations.

Giving back to our communities is important to all of us at QuoStar, and we were happy to help raise £50,000 for regional charities close to our hearts, including Wessex Cancer Trust, AFC Bournemouth Cherries Community Fund, Dorset Mind, Lewis Manning Hospice Care, and MYTIME Young Carers.

QuoStar CEO Robert Rutherford said: “The last year is a clear example of what a committed, and talented team living genuine values and working in real partnership with colleagues and clients can deliver – for everyone. I’m genuinely excited knowing we’ve got bigger and better things coming in 2023, all revolving around delivering business outcomes to our clients, whilst also providing real opportunities for our teams to showcase their world-class capabilities. Onwards and upwards.”

2022 Record Year

QuoStar launches 24/7/365 UK-based service desk as part of 2022 rapid growth trajectory

Posted on by Teila Hurlock

247 service

 

QuoStar is one of few UK businesses that is onshoring – while others offshore support facilities.

 

As a leading IT consulting and service provider we are now delivering 24/7/365 service desk support to provide clients with specialist assistance exactly when they need it. This additional UK based service provision has been bolstered by the raft of new, experienced hires that have been employed since November 2021.

Designed as part of our ongoing response to the impact of Covid-19, QuoStar understands that in today’s working world businesses are operating differently, so we have adapted our business model to suit the needs of our clients.

Today’s flexible and hybrid working means individuals are now working outside of the usual office hours, and they require support at any time to continue to work effectively and securely.

For Quostar, it’s not just about support – it’s the why.

A true UK based 24/7/365 operation means we can respond promptly, ensuring the security needs of clients can be managed around the clock and we can take a proactive approach to management and maintenance – which is far easier to carry out outside of a client’s working/open hours.

Having done away with the tradition method of having ‘First Line Support’ means the QuoStar Support team can be more efficient and clients get a better service. All staff are experienced from the first point of contact rather than just logging a ticket for issues to be dealt with in the morning.

The 24/7/365 service desk follows the launch of QuoStar’s on-demand CIO (Chief Information Officer) and CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) services last year, all focused on giving organisations the services they require to operate and compete in the new working world.

 

Robert Rutherford, CEO at QuoStar comments:

“IT services require more support and management than ever before as businesses try to settle between hybrid and in-person working models. Continuing to provide flexible and cost-effective solutions for our clients therefore remains a key priority for us this year. With our UK-based 24/7/365 service desk, we’re adding another tool for our customers to benefit from the support of our growing team of highly skilled professionals.”

“The last two years, whilst challenging, have brought the opportunity for us to assess our ability to remain agile and efficient as a business whilst making us more resilient to dealing with redefined ways of working. QuoStar aims to provide services that respond to our customer’s changing needs in the long term, and we’re ready to bring disruption to the market to achieve that.”

Please get in touch if you’d like to know how QuoStar can help your business. 

How the need for Managed IT Support Services has changed since 2020

Posted on by QuoStar

Need for Managed IT Support Services in 2020 blog

We look at where the IT Support needs of SME’s are heading and why.

Here at QuoStar we’ve certainly seen an increase in the demand for Managed IT Support Services, particularly over the last 12 months. And especially by Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s).

 

The driving force behind the need for Managed IT Support Services

A primary driver is that IT teams have been running flat-out trying to control a significant increase in cyber security threats, whilst dealing with a rapid move towards hybrid working over the last 18 months. And it’s unlikely to slow down any time soon, with security threats and hybrid working both on the rise. Forbes suggests the Hybrid Model will rewrite the future of work.

Gartner predicts that: “By the end of 2021, 51% of all knowledge workers worldwide are expected to be working remotely (up from 27% of knowledge workers in 2019).”  They also estimate that remote workers will represent 32% of all employees worldwide by the end of 2021 – up from 17% of employees in 2019. That figure has almost doubled in just two years!

Most organisations have required the skills, experience and pure horsepower of a managed services business to speed up their projects up, while also taking the reins within various parts of their IT operations, such as IT service, IT security, networking and cloud platforms.

 

What common snags have IT teams been hitting?

The pace of change within organisations in terms of digital transformation and cyber security has been rapid over the last few years, spurred on even more so by the workplace changes forced upon everyone by Covid19.

IT teams have been swamped by internal demands over the last few years, as well as having been diverted onto other internal projects pushed down from the board. When you couple that with some quite large skills-gaps, managed IT services are a perfect solution, both now and into the future.

 

What are the benefits of Managed IT Support Services for businesses?

Put simply, Managed IT Support Services provide organisations of all size access to guaranteed experts and service-levels at a fixed cost.

The information technology space is rapidly changing, yet is absolutely critical in virtually every single sector, and for all sizes of operation. Using a managed IT solutions provider means organisations can pick and choose the right operational support to build the IT operation they desire, without many of the complexities and costs of doing it internally.

It’s often extremely beneficial for an organisation to outsource to managed service providers in order to free up internal IT staff to focus on business improvement and transformation. It takes the pressure off when you can leave others to “keep the lights on” so to speak.

The need to free up internal IT teams by outsourcing to a managed service provider is going to be further fuelled by the skills shortage in the UK and globally while the need for rapid transformation within businesses grows as they try to compete on a national – and in many cases international – basis.

 

Why are managed IT Support services so important to SME’s (small and medium enterprises)?

They don’t need, nor could many justify, a full-time resource. But they do, however, still need access to, and the ongoing support of, an experienced C-level executive. Accessing that means they remain competitive and secure in a rapidly changing world.

 

What managed IT services can QuoStar offer SME’s?

QuoStar provide a wide range of managed services across a broad spectrum of industries. We predominantly work with businesses with 30-300 employees. It’s often these businesses get left behind in the market – even though they are the ones most likely to need the additional support.

In terms of sector, we vary, but we find that we have a strong base within the legal and the recruitment sectors because our experience over many years has given us a great depth on knowledge in those fields – and that in itself is in demand.

We can provide everything a business needs, from the service desk through to IT management and CIO level consultants on a flat fee basis. This allows our clients to pick and choose the right capabilities to support and compliment their needs as required.

 

IT Support & Managed Cloud

We provide businesses – both with or without internal IT teams – with the right skills, teams and service levels to keep them available, stable and secure. We run public, private and hybrid clouds for organisations. This ensures that the cloud services are delivering the right levels of service at the right price point.

  • Fully Managed IT Support: Total Service
  • Co-Sourced IT Support
  • Managed Networks
  • Managed Cloud Services
  • Hybrid working platform: Workspace Ignite
  • Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
  • Hosted Telephony & VoIP

 

IT Security

We deliver a wide range of managed security solutions. We provide technological controls to the risks posed to organisations on 24x7x365 basis. So you don’t have to attract, employ and retain IT Security experts. Something which is virtually impossible in all but the largest enterprises.

  • CISO as a Service
  • SIEM & SOC
  • Audit and review
  • Penetration testing
  • Secure communications
  • Security certifications: ISO270001, Cyber Essentials

 

Consulting as a Service

QuoStar provides top-tier, proven and experienced IT leaders, such as CIOs (Chief Information Officers), CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) and CTOs (Chief Technology Officers) on a fractional basis. This gives mid-sized and smaller organisations access to the support of industry leaders, but again on a monthly basis as and when required.

  • IT Consultancy
  • Cloud Consultancy
  • Office 365 consulting
  • Microsoft Azure Consultancy
  • Network and Communications
  • Infrastructure
  • Agile & Hybrid working

 

Digital Transformation

We help businesses take the next step in their digital evolution. It’s imperative for any business in today’s world – and even more so when looking for expansion.

  • CIO as a service
  • Data & BI
  • IT Strategy & Roadmaps
  • Process improvement
  • Coaching and mentoring

Ensure your business stays ahead of the curve by using the right Managed IT Services Support for your business.

Get in touch with QuoStar today.

13 tips for picking the right IT support provider

Posted on by QuoStar

 

13 tips IT support Provider

 

There are a great deal of IT support providers out there, as you may have notice.

So, your company has decided it wants to outsource some, or all, of its IT function to an IT support provider. Finding the right one for your business can be complicated. Putting a business-critical function, such as IT, in the hands of a third party can be quite daunting.

How do you know if your provider is reliable? If your service is a good value? What will happen if something goes wrong?

Interviewing potential suppliers is a vital part of choosing the right IT support provider. Here are a few questions to get you started and the types of answers you should look for.

 

1. Where are you based?

This doesn’t mean the location of their head office, but more about where your servers are located. This is important if the IT outsourcing company will be providing services such as cloud hosting or VoIP, as it can affect the quality of your services.

GDPR and other laws can also have implications for data storage. Especially for companies working in a highly regulated sector, such as financial services or legal.

 

2. What geographical areas do you cover?

You no longer need your IT support provider based in the same location as you. However, if you plan to move premises or expand into different countries you need to be sure your provider can support you.

 

3. As an IT support provider, do you offer different levels of support?

Many IT support companies offer a choice of services levels to suit different budgets and requirements. This may include:

 

4. What exact IT Support is provided in your contract?

Be wary of a company that claims to “support everything” without actually going into any detail about what is included. Too often companies think they have complete cover, but discover they can only log a set amount of support tickets a month or there’s an extra charge for certain services. It is better to be clear from the outset on exactly what level of support you would be getting. Otherwise, you risk getting tied into an unsuitable contract. If it turns out what you were considering isn’t quite right you can always ask whether there are different levels of support.

 

5. What isn’t covered in the IT support contract?

Although you may think this would be covered by asking what is included, asking this additional question will provide you with extra detail. There may be a number of services that are not included in the contract and it is important that you have examples of what may be billed separately.

If there are any services that are not included in the support contract, ask about their ad-hoc or hourly pricing.

 

6. Do you have any guaranteed response times?

You should expect your IT support company to offer guaranteed response times in the case of a problem. The exact response time may depend on what level of support you are willing to pay for, and there may be different response times for different priority levels. For example for a high priority issue or a P1, the company might guarantee that you will receive the first response in 15 minutes.

It is also important to differentiate between response and resolution times. If your company just says two hours, ask them to clarify if this means they will respond to you within two hours or they will resolve your issue within two hours.

If a company guarantees they will resolve an issue in a certain time period, be cautious. Of course, you should expect a target timeframe, but how can they guarantee when a specific issue will be fixed? It can sometimes take longer than expected to get to the root cause of the problem.

 

7. Do you provide remote management and monitoring?

Prevention is better than cure. You want a company who offers 24×7 monitoring and is proactive in their approach, taking action to prevent problems which would cause major disruption to your business.

 

8. Will we get a dedicated account manager if you become our IT Support Provider?

It’s helpful to have a single point of contact at your IT support company, with who you can build a long-term relationship with. They will get to know your business and plans for the future, to ensure IT aligns with your goals. It is reasonable to expect one or two dedicated contacts you can deal with.

 

9. Will I get a dedicated engineer?

It would be unreasonable to expect to only work with one engineer. All technical staff will have different areas of expertise, therefore it makes sense for an IT support provider to assign the best-suited engineer.

 

10. Do you work with specific hardware and software companies?

It’s not necessarily a problem if a company works with specific manufacturers, but watch out for those who put their vendor relationship above your business needs. If your provider is vendor-agnostic they will focus on finding the best solution for your requirements, rather than where it comes from.

 

11. How and when will I be charged?

Terms vary depending on the IT support company. Ad-hoc or pay-as-you-go work typically comes with 15 to 30-day payment terms. Contracted work depends on your company’s terms. This can be billed monthly, quarterly or annually, and is usually payable in advance.

 

12. How can we raise IT problems with you?

IT problems are frustrating, so you want to make sure it’s easy to contact the company. Ask if your company has a dedicated number, an online support request system or a direct email address. If your contract includes 24x7x365 support, ask how you would contact the service desk out of hours.

 

13. If I phone you, will I be able to speak directly to a technician who can help?

Does your IT support company operate a call centre where someone simply takes your details and passes it on? Or can you reach the service desk directly? There may be occasions where it’s necessary for your problem to be escalated to a second or third tier of support, but it can be frustrating if you can’t at least speak to someone technical directly in the first place.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it will provide you with a good foundation when you start interviewing the company that may become your IT support provider.

 

You can find out more about our IT Support and Managed Services here.