One of the keys to being able to efficiently manage, support and use your IT systems is standardized documentation. At White Mountain, we utilize a secure, state of the art database for documentation and client SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures).  As we implement, manage and support your systems we are continuously referencing and updating the documentation that outlines what we did and how we did it. The goal is to empower the support team to be as efficient as possible and to avoid depending on a single individual for critical information or knowledge.  Ensuring a high level of efficiency and responsiveness on our end, allows us to keep your costs down, and productivity up.  Having a professional Managed Service Provider supporting your business provides exponentially more value than a single employee or very small IT provider. Here are a few of the things that should be included in your IT documentation: Network diagram and floor-plan ISP and circuit info Inventory of all software and hardware Complete documentation of servers Security profile of data, share and user group access Data backup requirements and system configuration User census and profile Firewall configuration and security profile Remote access configuration Third-party vendor information and much, much more! At White Mountain, we make changing IT vendors EASY! Thanks for visiting, we look forward to hearing from you. Frequently Asked Questions Here are some common questions that we hear from companies your size. What is involved with a lock-down procedure? What types of things should be documented? What is a comprehensive data backup system? What should be included in an Acceptable Use Policy? What are employee onboarding and separation procedures? My IT person is the only one that knows my systems, won’t it be painful to switch? I have a dispute with my current IT provider, can you help me lock them out? OK, I want to know more, what’s the next step?

We believe that there should be multiple levels of backup for all company data. When using modern backup, synchronization and virtualization tools, there is really no excuse for data loss, even small businesses can afford to have a robust backup platform. Having said that, we understand that every situation is different and all budgets are certainly not equal, but here are a few guidelines that we like to consider. All servers should be backed up at a minimum of once per day with a copy of everything streaming to a secure off-site location.  Servers should be completely imaged, or better yet virtualized, to allow for easy restores or live fail-over to different hardware or even to a different location. Desktop computers and laptops should also be imaged to minimize downtime when a hard drive fails, this way all updates, installed software, and drivers are preserved and ready to go with a simple restore.  There is no reason to have to rebuild a computer and reload everything from scratch just because a hard drive failed. Laptops should also have a live file-backup running that will allow changed files to stream to the cloud while you are on the road, or out of the office. At White Mountain, we make changing IT vendors EASY! Thanks for visiting, we look forward to hearing from you. Frequently Asked Questions Here are some common questions that we hear from companies your size. What is involved with a lock-down procedure? What types of things should be documented? What is a comprehensive data backup system? What should be included in an Acceptable Use Policy? What are employee onboarding and separation procedures? My IT person is the only one that knows my systems, won’t it be painful to switch? I have a dispute with my current IT provider, can you help me lock them out? OK, I want to know more, what’s the next step?

When we bring on a new client, we create a document that outlines all of the steps and tasks required to get a new employee set up in their organization.  Creating a step by step procedure and checklist helps ensure that the process is handled the same way every time and that nothing is missed.  Sometimes we end up with a base procedure, that we will apply to all employees, as well as a departmental procedure, that will be applied only to staff working in that department.  We work closely with your management team to ensure that new employees have a smooth first day, as well as to protect the business when there is an unexpected employee separation.   In Addition to a detailed on-boarding procedure, here are a few of the IT related things that should be documented for all employees: General description of workflow, function, and role List of devices used and software used List of hosted systems that each user has access to Description of server, and data access requirements (folders, files & shares) Company-owned devices that each employee has possession of (laptop, tablet, smartphone) Any remote access accounts, VPN accounts, or other forms of remote access to company data Physical access controls like key fobs or mechanical keys At White Mountain, we make changing IT vendors EASY! Thanks for visiting, we look forward to hearing from you. Frequently Asked Questions Here are some common questions that we hear from companies your size. What is involved with a lock-down procedure? What types of things should be documented? What is a comprehensive data backup system? What should be included in an Acceptable Use Policy? What are employee onboarding and separation procedures? My IT person is the only one that knows my systems, won’t it be painful to switch? I have a dispute with my current IT provider, can you help me lock them out? OK, I want to know more, what’s the next step?

Simply fill out the form on our “Contact” page, or give us a call to set up a private consult. We will provide more detailed information about our company and services, and we will discuss your current situation, as well as your short and long term goals.  If it looks like we may be a good fit for each other, we will provide a ballpark estimate to give you an idea of what our services may cost. If that all sounds good, we move forward with a basic audit of your environment and gather more detail about your priorities and needs.  We will follow up with a custom proposal, as well as a few client references for your review.  There is no cost or obligation involved, and the process can take as little as a few days. If you decide that we are not a fit, or if the timing is just not right, we promise not to bug you with endless sales calls.  We will respect your time and privacy, and will be there when you are ready!   And remember, we make changing IT vendors EASY! Thanks for visiting, we look forward to hearing from you. Frequently Asked Questions Here are some common questions that we hear from companies your size. What is involved with a lock-down procedure? What types of things should be documented? What is a comprehensive data backup system? What should be included in an Acceptable Use Policy? What are employee onboarding and separation procedures? My IT person is the only one that knows my systems, won’t it be painful to switch? I have a dispute with my current IT provider, can you help me lock them out? OK, I want to know more, what’s the next step?