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Experienced Technicians Managed services technicians aren?t your run-of-the-mill computer repair company. They are constantly coming up with solutions to business problems. Sometimes new technology is needed, but most of the time the technology a business has in place can be effective as long as it is managed correctly.  At White Mountain IT Services, our technicians work with businesses every day. That means we have the collective understanding to ensure that any client of ours not only has the technology it needs to succeed, but also has the support it needs. We feature remote monitoring and management of network-attached resources, ensuring that if there is a problem, you know it before your technology fails and causes major problems. While having experienced technicians is nice, it isn?t always enough. You need to ensure that your specific technology has the coverage and support required. Trusting a support team that works to understand the demands of your business, and the technology that makes it work is a true benefit that many organizations can only afford through services like ours. Unwavering Support One reason that some businesses clutch to the notion that they need to have onsite IT technicians is that they don?t think that an outside technology support vendor will provide the response times they need. MSPs are typically confronting every issue right along, and this strategy can save businesses an immense amount of capital. The main draw of managed IT services is the proactive nature of it. Even if your business has an onsite IT team, an MSP can proactively support your business and keep your network resources working as intended. This not only gives you operational stability, it allows your onsite team to focus on technology projects that can expand your offering, and enhance your business? profitability. Not only that, we offer services that provide around-the-clock support, ensuring that your business has the coverage it needs after your in-office technicians have gone home.  Scope of Service Information technology is pricey, and it can be difficult to manage those costs. As mentioned above, with managed IT services, however, your business? whole IT infrastructure is completely monitored and maintained, leaving any IT projects you want deployed real options. Whether you want to build onto your existing network or you need a complete IT refresh, our technicians are not only versed with supporting your ongoing operations, we can help you design and implement technology that allows your business to move forward. Our professional IT consultants not only have great relationships with some of the best vendors in the industry, but have the technical know-how to assist any business get new technology implemented and working properly. The expanse of expertise you get with an MSP is one of the best benefits of using a managed IT services provider.  Cut Costs If you were to staff an IT department with all the tools, experienced technicians, comprehensive consultants, and technical skills that we have, it would cost your business a fortune. Outsourcing some or all of your IT responsibilities to a managed services provider not only gives you access to some of the best technical minds in New Hampshire, it does so at a fraction of the cost than it would if you were to do it yourself. The value you?ll see in the first six months with White Mountain IT Services will make […]

The Decentralization of Electronic Protected Health Information Healthcare data is one of the most private sets of information out there. Known colloquially as electronic protected health information (ePHI), it covers patient data, information shared with insurers, and any other data that has to do with an individual?s health record. Unfortunately, many of the same processes that have been used for decades remain, even with major advances in technology and mandates handed down directly from governments. The lack of innovation is mostly a result of a reluctance by healthcare providers to invest in the technology and risk inefficiencies caused by the implementation of new technology.  As tools get smarter, however, healthcare administrators have started to acknowledge just how much value this technology can have for their organizations? patients. Blockchain is one technology that is on the precipice of changing healthcare forever. It is beginning to be integrated into record-keeping solutions that will give people more control over their health data, and provide the kind of privacy that should be required when dealing with their sensitive information.  Blockchain is an immutable and encrypted ledger technology that provides some of the following benefits: Information is decentralized – The data on a blockchain is not owned by a healthcare organization, but is more of a ledger of an individual?s health profile.  Data on the blockchain is encrypted – The data is secured and cannot be altered. If situations change with a patient, another node is created amending previous information, it isn?t changed. The blockchain itself is reliable – Once information is entered as a part of blockchain, it is on the chain in perpetuity. Any changes need to be created in a new block. Any piece of information about an individual?s health can be identified by looking back over the blockchain. The blockchain improves transparency – Providing patients the ability to track their own health information, rather than relying on insurers or providers to coordinate information if there are questions about it, can give people control over their ePHI and quickly work to provide doctors and nurses useful information they?ll need to provide the best care possible. The technology that blockchain is most identified with is called an Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Electronic Medical Record (EMR). By integrating blockchain technology into these systems, individuals will have more control over their health information. As it stands, healthcare organizations and insurance companies have a monopoly over this information, leaving the patient relatively in the dark about the management of their own individual care. It?s not overstating one iota to consider blockchain technology a major step forward in healthcare reporting.  Integrating blockchain also incentivizes healthcare organizations to provide better care, as there would be a great deal more transparency. Some other benefits of blockchain in healthcare include: Blockchain nodes cannot be altered, and the chain is traceable. Patients will be able to send records to who they choose without the fear of corruption or mishandling.  Blockchain?s encryption will keep all nodes (and information held within) secure until it is shared with the healthcare provider or insurer. Blockchain can incentivize healthy behavior as insurers and providers can set up benchmarks that patients could meet. Blockchain integration could lower healthcare and prescription costs as it would allow and incentivize the tracking of prescribed drugs, lowering supply chain costs.   […]

Internal Fraud Look, we get it?you picked the people who work for your business, so one of them turning out to be a dud or a detriment is (in a very small way) a slight to you. However, this is no reason to discount the reality that you may have misjudged how much you could trust a team member. One way to help avoid issues without feeling excessively distrustful of your team members is to implement access control and other role-based restrictions. Doing so not only protects your data but can help boost your productivity by keeping your team members from exploring file systems they have no need of. Physical Access Control Measures Of course, your access controls should extend into your physical space as well, as the physical devices can easily open your IT to additional fraud. Unattended technology needs to be locked down and protected so it doesn?t contribute more to your vulnerabilities? particularly so that potential threats can?t be carried out on a coworker?s workstation. Insecure Apps Modern businesses rely on multiple applications to function productively. Unfortunately, many of these applications (particularly those used by one of your cloud providers or that were developed by a third party) may be lacking in their security protocols. To avoid data compromise, it is important to be discerning while picking the tools to use in your business. Human Error and Lacking Oversight Finally, we?ve reached the most prevalent, and severe, cause of data loss: the simple mistake. Human beings are inherently prone to accidents, and some of these accidents are bound to materialize in the workplace. Unfortunately, this can often lead to some of the most severe issues you?ll face and leave you open to threats. These threats?and some errors in and of themselves?can in turn lead to true disasters. While not all such errors can be mitigated, many can be through simple diligence, which itself will take awareness. Make sure you?re communicating to your team how important processes are to follow. By combining the right solutions with the awareness needed to protect your infrastructure, securing your business is a more realistic goal to reach. White Mountain IT Services can help you with both. Give us a call at (603) 889-0800 to find out how we can help your business with its specific challenges.

For those who aren?t familiar with biometrics, they are the measurement and analysis of an individual’s physiological or behavioral traits by technology that uses these measurements for authentication. Physiological biometrics are things such as a person?s fingerprints, face shape, eye patterns, or hand shape. Behavioral biometrics include a person?s online behavior, the IP addresses they send and receive information from, voice recognition, and other ?behaviors?. The Pros of Biometric Authentication The first thing that should be said is that biometric authentication is all about enhancing security, whether that is a fingerprint scanner to let you access a device or a state-of-the-art retina scanner to let you into a secure location in a building. As far as keeping unauthorized people out, it has to be said that biometrics work.  That?s the first benefit.  Biometrics Work for Security They provide enhanced levels of security and privacy by increasing levels of assurance that the person looking for access is the person they say they are. Most accounts use passwords and PINs, and while they do offer some security benefits, biometrics present very real obstacles for hackers, scammers, and fraudsters. Fast and Convenient Another benefit is the sheer speed of biometric systems. They don?t take long for authentication as compared with other platforms such as pins and passwords with two-factor authentication that can take minutes rather than less-than-a-second to work.  Can?t Fake It One of the best parts of biometric authentication is that users can?t fake it. They will need authorization to gain access to the resources they are attempting to gain access to. Period. The Cons of Biometric Authentication Like any technology, businesses need to weigh the pros and cons of installing biometric technology. Despite being spoof-proof faster, and better at keeping out unauthorized people, there are some negatives that biometric implementation can bring. They include: Cost To say biometrics are more costly than traditional security methods is an understatement. In fact, if they were a comparable price and brought a relatively rapid ROI, you would see more businesses integrating biometric solutions. As it is, cost is cited as the number one detriment to biometric authentication. Need for Security Ironically, the most secure solution for authentication also carries the need for additional security. The biometric data that is used needs to be secured from outside threats as it is irreplaceable. If it were, it wouldn?t work to be secure. If a password or a PIN is compromised then you can change it, but if biometric identifiers are compromised, they are not usable again. Lack of Privacy Some biometric standards actually work to eliminate or marginalize user privacy to enhance the security of whatever is being secured. This has long been a trade off that people have had to make, but with biometric technology, privacy is all but negated. Whatever you may think about biometric technology, it is the future of security. If you would like to talk to one of our security professionals about biometrics and getting the security solutions you need to protect your most prized assets, call us today at (603) 889-0800.

The shifts in business over the past six months have really left some businesses in flux. Larger businesses, with more access to more resources and far more capital have more people in leadership positions that are better positioned to get through tough periods than smaller businesses do. That?s why it is so important to have strong leadership. Let?s look at a couple of questions that you should ask yourself to help you get through this stressful period.  What Direction Is Your Company Going In? One of the most important functions business leaders have is to give direction. Obviously, businesses are top-down structures with solid leaders setting a course?whether it is reasonable or aggressive?with goals and objectives that are designed to bring success. Typically, the more involved business leaders are in the decision-making process, the more engaged subordinates will be.  Good leadership isn?t just about setting a course, it is also about providing feedback. Most workers don?t like to be micromanaged, but some actually need the constant direction of decision makers in order to fit into the operational environment. Knowing how your managers work, and how they relate to their staff is an extremely important part of running a business. You don?t have to have your fingers in every pie, just the ones that need the most attention. More than that, for smaller companies, the way decision makers lead sets the tone for the entire business. The manner in which business is conducted takes on the personality of the people that are in charge. Some businesses have laid back administration and take on a more relaxed presence, while others are led by aggressive people and have strict procedures that set the tone for business delivery.  Are You Good or Are You a Goof? Business owners and decision makers are being asked to do more with less right now, and it is a difficult task. Keeping calm through tough times is the measure of a great leader, and right now many leaders? patience is being tested. Regardless of how stressed a business? decision makers are, there are some very definite variables that define a good leader. They include: Taking responsibility – Leadership in business is a responsibility. People depend on your ability to make decisions and set the tone for how the business will be run. This means being responsible with your investments, your project timelines, and your decorum. Today, workers are not going to continue working for people they don?t respect, so be a person that a majority of people can respect and you will cultivate positive relationships with your workers. Showing foresight – One of the most important parts of leading any team is the ability to see what is coming and making the requisite adjustments. This is more crucial in a small business where the buck typically stops with very few people. Being able to adjust to the ebbs and flows in business is important to keep it above water, even when the world seems to be working against you. Being receptive – Being a good communicator may be the best feature of any good leader. It is an invaluable quality, especially in a small business, where leaders will have to interact with customers, vendors, and staff. Since small business owners and decision makers need to handle a vast […]