The first report that a CEO should receive on a regular basis is called the “Client Risk Report”. This report is essentially an executive summary of network performance. It covers overall risk, issue summary and proposed recommendations in order to immediately correct both simple and complex problems. One example of an issue that this report could detect is user passwords never being set to expire. When user passwords remain static, it makes the network immensely more vulnerable to attack from all types of intrusion. This fix is unbelievably simple to administer, yet it dramatically boosts overall network security, because it makes the infrastructure environment dynamic. In other words, hackers now have a moving target to hit. Other areas this report covers are Internet speed tests, asset summaries detailing equipment on the network, active and inactive users and more which all give pertinent insight into the network.

The second report is called, the “External Vulnerability Scan.” While many MTSPs have different names for this report, essentially it scans the network to see how susceptible the business is to outside threats from hackers, security by passers and general data theft. By running this report, a business owner will know what kinds of steps they need to take in order to shore up the network so that it’s much harder to get past firewalls and through other key access points.

The third report is called the “Network Assessment: Full Detail Report.” This report shares which discovery tasks are being run on a network before an MSP can provide recommendations. Essentially, it outlines what is being “assessed,” during a network assessment. It is usually the most comprehensive report and gives the business owner an overall map of the network, all users and security groups spread throughout the entire organization. This report is so important because as most businesses scale quickly and unexpectedly, the network is usually haphazardly constructed. For example, when a business decides that it needs to hire additional staff they don’t usually make sure that everyone is utilizing the same firewalls and anti-virus programs on their computers. Years later this can be discovered, when the security of the network has already been compromised and it’s too late.

The fourth report is called the “Network Management Plan.” This is the final report a business owner needs to see because it prioritizes the challenges that the specific network is facing and custom tailors all of the recommendations accordingly. It’s no secret that most networks have plenty of issues that need to be solved, but this report provides a tremendous amount of peace of mind, because business owners can see all of the steps they need to take, in order of most critical to least. Whether budget, human capital or additional resources are sparse, this enables CEOs to make decisions that met available budget constraints. 

All of these reports contribute in their own way towards improving the technological environment within an organization. However, one big takeaway for business owners is to utilize these reports doing financial forecasting. As a business grows, it becomes incredibly important to know what big cash outlays are coming, when funds need to be available and when owners need to start making upgrades to their infrastructure. For example, if a business runs a technology assessment and discovers that they’re presently using 80% of their technical capacity and they have plans to double staff in an attempt to double productivity, it becomes glaringly clear that they will need to invest in more technology in order to accomplish this end. Planning early for these kinds of changes ensures that a business has the necessary cash on-hand when the timing is critical and that these expenses can be gradual, instead of sending the owners in a frenzy to come up with large cash outlays in short time periods.

The other big benefit of utilizing these reports is that it provides a significant amount of transparency to the otherwise murky technology environment. As businesses grow in complexity it can be very difficult for non-technical owners to objectively assess how well the network is actually performing. These reports provide unbiased feedback on what is working and what is not, so owners can make decisions, take actions and lay the foundation they need to bring their visions to life.

 

ABOUT BLACKCSI

Since we were first founded in 2002 by Ruthann Black, BlackCSI has provided small and medium-sized businesses with comprehensive IT support and consulting services.

Our mission is to maximize your return on investment by providing the kind of technology management services that are ordinarily reserved for large enterprises. From IT network management, unified communications to physical and logical security integration and much more, BlackCSI is committed to providing quality services to our clients with honest communication that you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere, for prices that are fair and affordable.

We believe that the best way to solve an IT issue is to prevent it from ever happening in the first place. This is why we leverage a proactive service approach to predict and eliminate your technology issues - before they influence your business.

We are dedicated to serving our clients by listening to them, learning about the problems that they face, clarifying our process to maintain transparency, and reiterating how our solutions are of benefit to those we assist.

With Managed Services from BlackCSI, you will be able to enjoy: Proactive Care - The most effective way to avoid downtime and data loss is to be prepared to mitigate and avoid the circumstances that lead to them. 24/7 Maintenance - IT issues don’t stick to a 9 to 5 schedule. Neither do we. For a predictable monthly fee, you can enjoy anytime access to remote and on-site services, keeping you in operation. Live Help Desk Support - Need one-on-one assistance with your IT? Our Help Desk services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

With the assistance of BlackCSI, a Pennsylvania-certified Small Diverse Business, you can improve your operations through the use of top-of-the-line IT solutions and service - as well as boost your internal productivity and inspire growth.

We’d love to be a part of your success story. For more information about how BlackCSI can assist your business and fulfill your particular needs, Contact us today! For more information, please call (717) 620-3042 or visit us at https://www.blackcsi.com.