According to a 2020 survey performed by Infrascale, network downtime costs up to $50,000 per hour for small to mid-sized businesses.
This is why Evan Thompson is a big believer in having a backup plan.
Given the complex nature of the information technology (IT) sector, this should come as no surprise.
But picture the myriad of calamities that can strike in the tech world when you go it alone, lack a contingency plan, or, even worse—don’t partner with a trusted IT expert.
As president of Highway 99 Technology Solutions Inc., Thompson helps small businesses in finance, engineering and other fields avoid IT catastrophes through a steady, proactive approach.
Highway 99 Technology Solutions provides comprehensive managed IT services, offering the full range of support typically delivered by an in-house IT department for larger businesses. This includes help desk support, network infrastructure management, server maintenance, cybersecurity, data backup, consulting services and more.
“You get the full-time support without having to pay a full-time person,” Thompson explains.
Thompson employs what’s known as a 3-2-1 backup rule that protects data against fire, cyber criminals or virtually any other disaster. It’s a system that ensures critical data is stored across numerous platforms and locations to help save time, money and data.
“There is always a plan in place to make sure there is a way to recover if something disastrous occurs,” Thompson says.
The reality is, overseeing your own IT brings with it a myriad of concealed costs, risks and hidden expenses that aren’t solely financial. They encroach upon your precious time, focus, and your ability to maintain a competitive edge in your field.
And firms overseeing their own IT may not be able to keep eyes on their systems at all times of the day.
“Part of what I implement at a managed client's office is an endpoint detection and response (EDR) system backed by a 24/7 security operations centre (SOC) so that SOC staff are completely up to date on exactly what they cyber criminals are doing, how they operate and what the indicators behind a compromise may look like,” Thompson says.
Thompson points to an IT term known as “technical debt” to underscore the importance of the work he does. When a company avoids important upgrades, defers necessary maintenance, or implements solutions without the requisite expertise, this “fix” can inadvertently turn one problem into four, with skyrocketing costs and delays.
Take, for example, a client Thompson works with that recently lost its IT tech and was planning a move. Everything from email migrations and internet and phone service was jeopardized, along with wiring issues and slow server speeds that could have cost the business months in backlogs. Thompson, however, was able to mitigate all of those issues in mere weeks.
Scenarios like these illustrate Thompson’s ability to serve as a de facto chief information technology officer – one that not only has the technical abilities, but the in-depth understanding of a business’s goals and long-term vision.
And it’s all bolstered by Thompson’s linear approach, where time and money are never wasted.
“I hate when projects linger on more than they actually have to,” Thompson says. “We answer the phone, we check the email and we get things done.”
Offering comprehensive managed IT services and proactive solutions, Highway 99 Technology Solutions Inc. ensures your systems are secure, efficient, and prepared for the unexpected. Partner with a trusted expert—learn more at hwy99.tech.
