For IT management, we’ve been measuring the wrong things for far too long. If your tech team proudly reports 99.9% uptime and rapid ticket resolution times, yet your executives still view IT as a cost center rather than a strategic asset, you’re experiencing what some refer to as the “illusion of success.”

This disconnect happens because traditional IT metrics rarely translate to what business leaders truly care about: growth, revenue, and competitive advantage. When IT performance indicators don’t align with business objectives, technology investments appear as necessary evils rather than strategic enablers.

It’s time to transform how we measure IT performance. Let’s explore why conventional metrics fall short and how to develop KPIs that demonstrate IT’s direct impact on business success.

Why Traditional IT KPIs Fall Short

Most IT departments focus on metrics that look impressive on technical reports but fail to demonstrate business value. Here’s why these common KPIs are limiting your organization’s potential:

Ticket Resolution Time

This metric measures how quickly issues are resolved after being reported. While a fast resolution time might seem impressive, it only measures the “cure,” not the “prevention.”

The Problem: When your team prioritizes clearing tickets quickly, they might overlook deeper, systemic issues causing downtime in the first place. Consider this scenario: You’re at the final stages of closing a major deal when your CRM crashes. Your IT team fixes it within an hour – an excellent resolution time by traditional standards — but those 60 minutes cost you the deal.

Business Impact: Lost revenue, damaged client relationships, and frustrated employees despite “good” IT metrics.

Uptime Percentage

This measures how often your systems are available for users.

The Problem: A high uptime percentage can create a false sense of security. A system can be perfectly stable yet completely fail to support advanced analytics, e-commerce features, or other competitive-edge technologies your business needs to grow.

Business Impact: You’re keeping the lights on but not lighting a path forward. And you’re leaving room for your competitors with more strategic IT approaches to innovate and capture market share while you maintain the status quo.

Cost Metrics  

Tracking metrics like overall IT spend or cost per ticket aims to prove IT’s financial efficiency.

The Problem: Focusing exclusively on cost metrics creates pressure to do more with less year after year. This approach often leads to outdated systems, security vulnerabilities, and missed opportunities for modernization.

Business Impact: As a wise business mentor once told me, “Focus on making money rather than not spending it.” Cost-centered metrics ignore the investment aspect of technology, leading to stagnation and increased risk.

Update Compliance

This tracks how quickly your systems are updated with the latest security patches.

The Problem: While keeping systems updated is essential for security, this metric alone doesn’t measure your organization’s true resilience to attacks. Even with 100% patch compliance, you remain vulnerable without comprehensive security training, robust disaster recovery planning, and proactive threat monitoring.

Business Impact: A false sense of security that doesn’t account for the business impact of potential breaches or recovery capabilities.

The Mindset Shift: From Support to Strategic Partner

In modern organizations, IT doesn’t just support business goals — it shapes them. There’s a reason tech startups command such high valuations: they use technology to drive the growth and overall value of their business.

To bridge the gap between technical metrics and business outcomes, we need a fundamental mindset shift. IT leaders must think less like technical support and more like business strategists, while executives must recognize technology as an investment rather than an expense.

How to Start the Shift: This transformation begins by identifying your organization’s top priorities. If your company follows methodologies like EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), examine your rocks — the most important quarterly goals. If not, gather input from finance, sales, operations, and other stakeholders who feel the pain of technology shortfalls or stand to gain from tech-driven improvements.

Practical KPI Transformation Framework

Let’s use our proven framework to transform some of these traditional IT metrics into strategic, business-aligned KPIs that demonstrate real value.

Ticket Resolution Time → Ticket Reduction Trend

• Action: Instead of measuring how quickly issues are fixed, track how effectively you prevent issues over time.
• Business Impact: In a law firm, time literally is money. If proactive support and training reduce the number of issues, attorneys spend more hours on billable client work instead of waiting on tech fixes.

System Uptime → Time to Integrate New Services

• Action: Replace basic availability metrics with measurements of IT’s agility and impact on product launches or strategic pivots.
• Business Impact: This directly ties to how quickly your organization can roll out new business offerings and support them — whether it’s an internal change or a client-facing service.

IT Spend % of Revenue → ROI on Specific IT Initiatives

• Action: Link investments to revenue gains or cost savings in clear dollar terms.
• Business Impact: For example, automation can free professionals from repetitive tasks, allowing more focus on high-value services — ultimately boosting billable hours and client satisfaction.

Patch/Update Compliance → Business Continuity Readiness

• Action: Focus on how quickly you can bounce back or avoid critical downtime during a security event.
• Business Impact: Running incident response drills and maintaining comprehensive recovery plans dramatically reduce downtime in real-life scenarios, protecting revenue and reputation.

The SMART Framework for IT KPI Creation

For maximum effectiveness, each new KPI should follow the SMART methodology: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Here are real-world examples:

Reduce Reactive Tickets by 30% in 12 Months

• Specific: Track the number of tickets prevented through automation, end-user education, and predictive maintenance.
• Measurable: Use baseline data (e.g., 100 tickets per month) to measure progress as tickets drop (e.g., 70 tickets per month).
• Achievable: Implement self-service portals, knowledge base improvements, and systematic patch strategies.
• Relevant: Reducing avoidable support tickets frees up IT resources for strategic initiatives that drive revenue and innovation.
• Time-bound: Evaluate monthly over a 12-month span to ensure consistent improvement.

Automate 30% of Repetitive Finance/Operational Tasks in 9 Months

• Specific: Identify recurring tasks (e.g., invoicing, data entry, report generation) that can be automated.
• Measurable: Track the percentage of tasks automated vs. manual.
• Achievable: Use workflow automation software, RPA (Robotic Process Automation), or custom scripting.
• Relevant: Automation frees staff to focus on high-value projects, directly improving profitability and service quality.
• Time-bound: Complete at least 30% of identified automation opportunities within 9 months.

Achieve a 15% Increase in E-Commerce or Client Portal Conversion Rates Within 6 Months

• Specific: Tie IT improvements (e.g., faster page loads, better user interface, integrated payment systems) to higher client conversions.
• Measurable: Track baseline conversion metrics, then measure improvement post-enhancements.
• Achievable: Optimize platforms with caching, modern UX design, and streamlined checkout processes.
• Relevant: Conversion boosts directly impact revenue, showcasing IT’s strategic role in the sales funnel.
• Time-bound: Reassess conversion rates monthly for 6 months with a 15% uplift target.

Real-World Success Stories

These aren’t just theoretical concepts. Organizations across industries have transformed their approach to IT metrics with remarkable results:

An accounting firm noticed over 50 password reset requests per month during tax season. After implementing a self-service password reset tool and user education, they reduced these requests by nearly 40%, saving 15 hours of technician time monthly and allowing focus on strategic priorities.

A law firm automated its previously manual client intake process and invoicing procedures. Within six months, 40% of these tasks were automated, significantly reducing administrative hours and increasing billable time.

A mid-sized professional services company introduced Microsoft Teams and SharePoint with proper training and adoption support. After six months, internal email volume dropped by 25%, meeting hours decreased by 20%, and professionals reported spending more time on client-focused billable activities rather than administrative tasks.

Implementation Guide

Getting Started Without Baseline Data

Many organizations don’t have baseline data to measure these new KPIs yet. If that’s your situation:

1. Start gathering data immediately — the sooner you begin tracking, the better positioned you’ll be to set meaningful KPIs.
2. Identify 5-6 key business activity areas your organization cares about most.
3. Begin tracking relevant metrics weekly or monthly.
4. After collecting one quarter of data, establish formal KPIs and launch targeted initiatives.

Working Effectively with Your IT Team or MSP

A truly effective IT team or managed service provider doesn’t just maintain your technology — they transform it into a strategic asset. If your current IT provider isn’t proactively driving business growth, you’re missing critical opportunities.

You should expect your IT partner to:

1. Craft KPIs that align with your business goals — measuring outcomes like billable hours, client conversion rates, and productivity that translate directly into business growth.
   
2. Provide proactive compliance and business resilience — not just meeting minimum security standards, but actively protecting your brand and operations from risks, data breaches, and regulatory fines.
   
3. Conduct quarterly business reviews focused on strategic optimization — identifying opportunities for revenue growth, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage, not just reviewing past issues.
   

Getting Leadership Buy-In

One of the biggest hurdles is getting leadership interested in new IT KPIs. Here’s how to overcome this challenge:

1. Begin by discussing the business outcomes leadership cares about most—revenue growth, cost savings, client satisfaction—and work backward from there.
   
2. Avoid technical jargon; speak their language by aligning with business goals and illustrating how better metrics can help achieve them faster.
   
3. Present specific examples relevant to your industry. For law firms, focus on “billable hours recovered through proactive IT.” For e-commerce, highlight “conversion rate improvements through platform optimization.”
   

Take the Next Step: Transform Your IT Metrics with Expert Guidance

Ready to transform your IT department from a cost center to a strategic business driver? At We Solve Problems, we’ve developed a proven framework to align your technology investments with measurable business outcomes.

Our business-focused approach to IT management goes beyond the standard break/fix model that most providers offer. We’ll work with you to:

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of your current IT metrics and business objectives
• Develop customized KPIs that directly connect technology performance to revenue, growth, and competitive advantage
• Implement proactive solutions that prevent issues before they impact your business
• Provide regular strategic reviews to ensure your technology continues to drive business success

Don’t let outdated IT metrics hold your business back. Schedule a complimentary IT Strategy Session where we’ll discuss your specific business challenges and show you how our approach can deliver measurable returns on your technology investments.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most discussed modern technologies and is here to stay. Whether you view it as a threat or opportunity, the technology can potentially transform various industries, including the legal sector. Despite their traditional resistance to technology, lawyers are turning to AI to improve their services’ efficiency and effectiveness, and those who fail to embrace it risk falling behind their competitors.

The Rise of AI in the Legal Industry 

In today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape, law firms leverage data to stay competitive, make informed decisions, and adapt to changing client preferences—meaning they must collect and store large quantities of data. Not only does this data take a lot of time to analyze, but there is the additional monotony and frustration felt by the humans trying to plow through a Sisyphean task. Furthermore, clients request increasingly quicker services, while demands must be met in compliance with court and regulatory agencies. All these challenges add up to a seemingly overwhelming obstacle in running a functional and thriving law firm practice.

Fortunately, technology is evolving just as fast as the data boom. AI technology uses machines to simulate human intelligence and perform tasks that humans would otherwise do. Systems using AI technology leverage intelligent algorithms that classify, analyze, and make predictions from vast amounts of data. The algorithms are trained using large datasets to identify patterns in data, make predictions, and recommend actions. 

Current State of AI in Law 

Currently, AI is incorporated into a range of IT solutions for law firms, which may not be explicitly visible. It helps computers learn how to identify relevant information, recognize mistakes, and spot inconsistencies faster and better than humans. These benefits of AI for law firms are applied in several processes that include the following:

AI in Legal Research 

Legal research is a time-consuming task that AI can automate. Using AI-powered legal research tools lets you quickly scan and search large databases to gain helpful data relevant to your case details, including:

• information on case laws,
•  applicable statutes and regulations, 
• jurisdiction, 
• practice areas, and more.

AI in Contract and Legal Document Analysis 

Manually reviewing paperwork can be an inundating process marred with inefficiencies. Artificial intelligence helps automate this process, saves time, and reduces the risk of errors. AI-powered paperwork review solutions can analyze large documents and identify critical information such as clauses, terms and conditions, and language.

Predictive Analytics 

Law firm IT solutions leveraging AI can analyze data and predict the outcome of legal cases, which helps lawyers make better-informed decisions. By analyzing data from past cases and identifying precedents, AI algorithms can provide insight into the likelihood of a case succeeding or failing, ensuring that lawyers advise their clients accordingly.

Natural Language Processing

Natural language processing and machine learning enable AI algorithms to learn from and understand various legal writing styles, allowing attorneys to produce high-quality articles that adhere to legal standards and norms. Additionally, AI can assist lawyers in verifying the accuracy of cited sources to ensure accuracy and detect potential plagiarism.

Why Law Firms Need Managed IT for AI 

Managed IT services for law firms are critical in helping legal professionals adopt AI technologies. They help law firms establish their specific needs and goals and how they can leverage AI to improve their operations and beat the competition. Some of the primary reasons law firms should consider managed IT for AI include:

Complexity of AI Systems 

Managed service providers, or MSPs, have the technical expertise and specialized skill sets to support law firms in leveraging the latest AI technologies to improve process workflows and enhance productivity. They provide the necessary knowledge and resources to evaluate, implement, and maintain AI solutions for law firms. AI technology may be a game changer for law firms but can also be daunting. Leaving the tech side of the business to the experts allows lawyers to focus on the core functions of building a healthy and thriving practice.

Security Concerns 

Law firms handle susceptible information on their clients, which raises concerns about AI and data security. Lawyers are legally responsible for protecting client information, meaning that law firms must be diligent about the security potential of any tools and technology they use. MSPs can help deploy several defense measures to lock up your system tight and boost your security while using AI. Some of the security issues they can help with include the following:

Data Privacy 

MSPs help law firms prioritize data security by implementing robust security measures such as encryption, secure data storage, system audits and monitoring, security systems compliance, and access controls to protect client data from unauthorized access or breaches.

Ethical Considerations 

Using AI for law firms raises ethical concerns, such as the potential for bias. Since AI relies on data generated by humans to create outputs and predictions, it comes with an inherent potential bias. MSPs work to provide accountability for decisions made by AI systems and adhere to the ethical guidelines for developing and deploying AI solutions—ensuring the transparency of algorithms to help avoid legal challenges. 

How We Solve Problems IT Can Help 

Adopting AI technologies may seem daunting, but the rewards are invaluable. We Solve Problems partner with your organization to guide you on reliable AI applications and the best strategy for adopting them. AI may not be foolproof, but our expertise can help your firm leverage its benefits to transform your practice. Some of the ways we can help your law firm embrace the endless possibilities of AI include:

Expertise in Legal Solutions 

In addition to having the much-needed technical expertise to help implement and maintain AI solutions, our team also understands the requirements and workings of the legal industry. Our experts ensure adherence to compliance and regulatory requirements while helping you catch up on the latest trends. 

Security Measures 

We Solve Problems provides a range of security measures to ensure that your systems and data are secured. We are up-to-date on the latest security threats and use proactive steps to protect your law firm from breaches or other threats.

24/7 Support 

Enjoy dedicated support round the clock and have your IT issues resolved as soon as they occur. While we strive to ensure maximum uptime for all your IT solutions, sometimes problems are inevitable. But when they do occur, our technicians work on resolving them quickly so that they don’t hamper productivity.

Compliance and Regulation Assistance 

We Solve Problems helps your law firm ensure compliance by implementing security controls and conducting audits of your law firm’s IT infrastructure and comprehensive security assessments. We help keep your firm secure from Interana and external threats, which is essential in achieving regulatory compliance.

Employee Onboarding and Offboarding

We offer employee training and onboarding to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI in law firms. Your staff does not need to be experts on artificial intelligence, but it helps to understand how AI tools work so that they can use them appropriately. 

Is your law firm ready to harness the benefits of AI technology? Connect with an IT partner who understands your firm’s unique needs and is prepared to support you every step of the journey. Contact We Solve Problems today to learn more about our managed IT solutions for law firms.

The average first-year cost of running a small business is somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000. As your company grows, you should expect to budget much more for your operating expenses.

This is especially true when it comes to IT costs. Working with managed IT service providers (MSPs) can help you better handle your company’s expansion, and it’s important to understand how.

Let’s explore the key information you should keep in mind.

Fewer Hardware Requirements

One of the most notable benefits of working with a managed service provider is a reduction in computer hardware requirements for your company.

Many MSPs offer cloud-based services, which means you can get away with minimizing the number of storage devices, servers, etc. on your site. Your provider will also handle maintenance and updates for the hardware you use so that you don’t have to allocate time and money towards doing so.

This is something that small businesses can greatly benefit from, as they often don’t have the capital to purchase and manage hardware.

Minimizing Data Breaches

The average data breach costs over $4 million. This number can climb even higher depending on the situation. Larger companies often experience greater financial damages due to the amount of data involved.

Many MSPs have service-level agreements that can help you recuperate the costs associated with a data breach. This can often mean the difference between whether or not you can handle a scenario like this in the future.

It’s worth noting that the security measures MSPs implement can also prevent data breaches. They have robust data protection measures in place that many businesses don’t have the resources to implement.

Lower Overhead Costs

Working with an MSP can help you reduce more than just hardware costs. You can also lower expenses related to technology you would otherwise purchase.

For example, your MSP has access to high-quality software that your business can take advantage of through your subscription to their service. This comes with an additional benefit, as well. As new technology develops, your MSP will take advantage of applications that can help improve their level of service.

These are often expensive, and your MSP will be the one to purchase them. In many cases, this can save your business thousands of dollars.

Accurate Budget Forecasts

A reputable MSP will take an inventory of your current IT infrastructure.

They will help you determine your future requirements and establish a plan to help you satisfy them. From there, you will have a much more accurate understanding of your expected costs.

This will allow you to create a comprehensive budget and avoid financial surprises in the future. Keep this in mind when moving forward so you can take full advantage of it.

Improved Employee Productivity

One of the biggest killers of employee productivity is having your workers perform mundane tasks. A managed service provider will handle many of your company’s low-skill responsibilities so your employees don’t have to. They can then devote their time and attention to issues that need their expertise.

Large companies tend to benefit the most from this. To clarify, let’s assume that a business has 1,000 employees. Many of them spend a large portion of their weekly work hours handling responsibilities that an MSP could take care of.

With the right managed service provider, hundreds of workers would become more productive in the future. This could have a substantial impact on the company’s overall performance.

Minimal Downtime

Even a short period of downtime can cost businesses a significant amount of money. It’s always in your best interest to avoid this scenario at all costs.

As previously mentioned, managed service providers have a strong security architecture and provide service-level agreements. This allows them to maximize uptime for your company. They can also stop issues from developing before they affect your business.

Without the right MSP, you’ll have to manage these issues on your own. This is something that can be difficult or impossible for many companies.

Finding Managed IT Service Providers

It’s easier than you might think to find the right managed service provider. Search for one that has a strong presence in the industry and plenty of positive feedback.

Checking customer testimonials is a great way to gain insight into the results you can expect from the MSP. You should also consider what type of businesses they often work with. If you run a small company, for example, it’s in your best interest to work with an MSP that focuses on small businesses.

Take a look at their billing structure so that you don’t run into unexpected costs. Unfortunately, shady MSPs often include hidden fees in their services.

A reliable service provider should be fully transparent about your billing and have no issues discussing their terms with you. Do they seem interested in helping you meet your goals? You should always choose an MSP that goes above and beyond when it comes to providing excellent service.

If they don’t seem dedicated to helping your business, it’s best to look elsewhere.

Get Started Today

The benefits of working with managed IT service providers are not something you can overlook. Finding the right professional can take your business to the next level and allow you to avoid issues you may have otherwise encountered.

Reach out to us today at We Solve Problems IT to see what we can do for you. Our team of IT professionals is ready to help you reach your performance goals.

We’ve all seen that classic edge-of-your-seat movie scene where the hero has 30 seconds to diffuse a bomb. Well, for many network teams, an outage can feel like a similar setup.

Every second counts, but there are plenty of tools and strategies to help you find a swift solution to network outages.

So before your monitors start beeping and a hundred support calls hit your help desk, read on to learn how to support your business continuity in LA. We have some simple suggestions for responding quickly and effectively to a network outage.

Spotting a Network Outage in LA: Monitoring and Alerts

Time is of the essence when it comes to network outages. So the smartest way to get a quick resolution is to spot the issue early.

That starts with proper monitoring. Plus, with effective monitoring and alerts, you can often stop a problem in its tracks before it becomes a more significant issue. That could save you reputational damage or lost productivity.

Use network monitoring tools to provide real-time insights.

These tools will spot abnormal traffic patterns or server overloads. And they will also alert you to a complete network failure. Configure these alerts so they go straight to the relevant team. That means a combination of email, SMS, and app notifications.

Tools and Techniques to Confirm an Outage

Once you get an alert, your first step is to confirm if it’s an actual outage. You’ll need ping tests, traceroutes, and network mapping software. It will help you pinpoint whether the problem is happening at the network level.

For example, a ping test is a straightforward way of seeing if you can reach the server. Make sure you have a team well-trained in these tools so you can get an immediate answer. With experts on hand, you’ll find it easier to address the problem for business continuity in LA.

Communicate the Network Outage

Effective communication is critical during an outage. Without it, your technical team will find themselves overwhelmed with calls to the helpdesk. Be prompt and concise in your communication. And make sure the information comes from the IT department head.

The message should explain what’s happened. You must list the affected systems and the estimated resolution time. You should also let users know when to send the next communication.

Identify the Source

After you’ve confirmed the outage, it’s time to identify the source. You can begin a fix only once you know the cause, so you need to do this quickly. The source might be:

• Hardware failure
• Software glitch
• A cyber attack
• Network overload

As with monitoring, you need tools and business technology to help you with these diagnostics. That will help you rapidly analyze vital data, including network traffic, server logs, and hardware performance.

You can also turn to previous network data to help spot anomalies. Your work here will make it easier to start fixing the issue because you’ve narrowed the problem.

Immediate Mitigation Steps

Next, it’s time to put your mitigation plan into action. A mitigation plan is your fallback when a network problem happens. It’s something you’ll already have written down before a network outage occurs.

It’s part of getting the system back for your users and minimizing the disruption of an outage. Your mitigation steps might include the following:

• Rebooting servers
• Rerouting network traffic
• Disabling problematic parts of the network

In other words, the mitigation temporarily fixes the outage for end users but gives you leeway to work on the root cause. It buys you time. And it makes it easier for you to work on a long-term fix as you won’t have the pressure of the ticking clock of a network outage.

Restoring the Network for Business Continuity in LA

Fully restoring the network means finding a permanent fix to the problem. The timing of this restoration will depend on the issue, but you can reduce the timescale by having certain things in place. A 24/7 network team and spare hardware, for example.

For complex repairs, assign a lead technician to oversee the work and stay accountable to deadlines. Don’t forget to allow your team plenty of time to test the fix. You don’t want to risk a further outage after you’ve restored the network.

Communicating the Fix

You must stick to your communication schedule so users get timely updates. That includes full communication once the network is restored, even if users are already using the system.

The update must include information on the nature of the fix and any potential after-effects. If there are any protocol changes (such as added security rules for users), make this clear.

Timely communication will restore confidence in the network and allow teams to get on with their day, minimizing the impact of the outage.

Post-Fix Troubleshooting

Even after you’ve fixed your network problems in LA, you want to ensure you don’t get the same issue again. That might mean sizing up your network. You could update and improve your network security.

You may even hire an outside expert to come in and provide consultation and recommendations. Don’t forget about monitoring and alerts, too. That’s particularly important if it was an outage you didn’t spot immediately.

Updating Network Protocols

Learning from network outages is a valuable exercise. And it might lead to a long-term upgrade project for your team. You could invest in more advanced detection systems, perhaps one with advanced AI capabilities.

You might feel it’s time to update and replace hardware or restructure or outsource your technical team. Always look to network outages as a way to discover long-term improvements.

Resolving Network Outages: Help Is at Hand

If a network outage leaves you with sweaty palms, it might be time to update your action plan for business continuity in LA. Preparing for the worst will help you steer the ship during the chopping waters of network outages.

And if you need business services in Los Angeles, we are here to give you a technical helping hand to make your network smooth sailing.

With our extensive expertise, we can ensure your network is fully monitored with high uptime. Contact us now for an informal chat about your IT needs. 

In an increasingly competitive legal market, law firms continuously seek ways to optimize their operations, reduce costs, and achieve a higher return on investment (ROI). Thus, it is especially crucial for solo and small to midsize law firms that want to reap benefits, allowing them to outpace larger institutions. However, this presents a critical challenge: the balance between adopting cutting-edge and transformative technologies and managing associated costs and risks. Strategic IT budgeting for law firms is the key to transformation to maximize return on investment (ROI) and minimize risk. 

The IT Landscape for Law Firms in Los Angeles 

Law firms in California are driven mainly by tech companies, real estate, and entertainment industries. Firms in the state have relatively small classes of associates, and the market is highly competitive—in Los Angeles, CA, only three firms have more than 200 attorneys. 

Furthermore, because of their small size, most firms put off investing in technology until it’s too late. Commonly, an investment into third-party IT services happens after an incident has occurred. 

However, it’s important to remember that while your overall budget aligns with your firm’s mission statements, so should your IT budget. 

The Risks of In-House IT Management 

In-house legal IT teams have long been resistant to and opposed to automation. However, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many industries, including law firms, to consider modernizing, digitalizing, and automating. Traditionally, all aspects of information technology (IT) were handled by an in-house team. Nevertheless, over time, challenges have emerged with this approach.

The Costs of Downtime 

Maintaining a skilled in-house IT team is resource-intensive, requiring full-time salaries, benefits, and ongoing training. This can be financially prohibitive, especially for small to medium-sized firms, making it difficult to maintain an up-to-date and versatile in-house IT department. 

Also, in-house teams are known to work during fixed schedules and already have a lot on their plate. Therefore, while they can prioritize issues as they arise, there is the risk of exhaustion and burnout—making them prone to errors or oversights that can be catastrophic for your firm. 

In addition, if an issue occurs when your IT staff is unavailable, you risk facing prolonged downtime that negatively impacts your revenue and productivity. 

Data Security Risks 

Law firm IT teams are hired with a different level of diligence than attorneys, despite the power they hold that grants them access to your critical assets data. The actions of your IT staff could easily take down your entire system through data breaches and other threats. Still, most firms place the burden of selection on someone who is both non-technical and unaccustomed to the qualifications they need to look for. Additionally, there is no standardized qualifier for IT teams like the bar exam, and recruiters can only bank on the resume, which can sometimes be misleading. 

Law firm IT systems have several moving parts that require specific skill sets at every stage. If your team lacks the needed skillsets, you’ll likely encounter setbacks that could lead to security risks or wasted time for your firm. In-house teams also often cannot scale quickly and efficiently, especially if you are working with constrained resources—leading to inefficiencies in your workflows and processes that jeopardize your security. 

Outsourcing to a Managed IT Service Provider: A Smart Investment 

Outsourcing IT needs allows law firms to enjoy reduced costs, improve efficiency, and access the expertise of high-skilled professionals. It creates a degree of separation between the IT professionals and the work that occurs on-site at legal offices so that everyone can focus fully on their core functions. Some of the unique benefits of working with managed IT service providers that stand out include the following:

Benefits in Number 

Unlike an in-house IT team that is limited to the knowledge and skills of the individuals within, MSPs offer more expanded capabilities to meet your existing and future needs. They allow you to sidestep the challenges of hiring, training, and retaining a full-time IT staff and access superior technology and tools that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive for an individual firm. With an MSP, your firm also enjoys smooth operations since there is no support gap due to holidays, sick days, or personal leave. 

Outsourced IT services offer unparalleled flexibility; they adapt to your firm’s shifting requirements, ensuring you have the level of support you need. It is even more beneficial if you acquire specialized IT services with expertise tailored to the legal sector to address the unique challenges.

Security Advantages 

The rising concerns about data breaches and the security of client information are putting law firms under pressure to maintain high levels of data security. Dedicated IT services provide robust cyber security measures tailored to law firms to secure against internal and external threats. They are also up to date with the latest compliance requirements and legal trends, which helps your firm stay ahead in the ever-shifting landscape of regulations.

The threat landscape constantly evolves as cybercriminals become more sophisticated in their attack methods. Therefore, to manage your IT security effectively, you need the help of dedicated professionals with extensive experience. Outsourced IT service providers have deep knowledge and understanding of the tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals, which they use to help prevent breaches and other threats to your law firm.

Why Choose We Solve Problems IT 

Seamless IT operations form the backbone of today’s successful law practice. Operating a thriving, efficient, and secure law firm requires balancing human expertise with technological resources, and outsourced IT services provide this much-needed equilibrium.

At We Solve Problems, we help Los Angeles-based organizations thrive in their respective field with efficient and reliable IT operations. We enhance efficiency and accuracy in various aspects of your legal processes, allowing you to focus on more meaningful tasks like serving your clients. Some of the benefits you get to enjoy when working with us include:

Tailored IT Solutions for Law Firms 

We understand that no two businesses are alike, even when working in the same industry. Therefore, we take time to understand your practice and gain insight into your current IT architecture, its failures, and its success to help us determine the best approach. Furthermore, we ensure that you get the IT solutions needed to help you focus on building your law firm while reducing costs and minimizing network downtime.

Proven Expertise in Security 

We fuel your IT networks with the latest hardware and software to ensure no attacks can penetrate. Get to enjoy proactive security measures such as regular maintenance and continuous monitoring to eliminate threats and keep off unwanted visitors.

High Availability and Reliable Support 

We Solve Problems has experts on-demand to protect your IT systems from attacks, malicious activities, and other threats. We have a responsive team that ensures you get prompt service and solutions for all your IT needs.

Transparent Pricing and Custom Packages 

We Solve Problems provides accurate quotes and transparent billing so that you know exactly what you are paying for. We don’t have hidden charges or additional fees; therefore, you can confidently budget for your IT needs.

Tailored Success with We Solve Problems

Managed IT Service Providers can provide your law firm with significant cost savings and the potential for a high return on investment. To maximize its ROI, We Solve Problems works with you to define your objectives so that you only pay for what you need. Our pricing is also made transparent for complete accountability.

Are you ready to unlock the cost savings and ROI potential of outsourcing IT solutions? Contact us today to learn more about our managed IT solutions and how they can benefit your law firm in Los Angeles.

A managed IT service ensures that all IT needs are provided for. Your small business gets to enjoy lower risks of cyber-attacks, or any other IT-related risk. You no longer have to worry about which IT services to buy or which IT problems are the most pressing.

The key is to know how to find the best Los Angeles managed IT services for a business. 

If you choose the right company in Los Angeles, you’ll get the peace of mind of knowing you have service experts helping you prevent IT issues.

This article compares the benefits and costs of managed IT services in Los Angeles. Consider these pointers to find the right managed IT partner for your business.

Understanding Your Business Needs

This step serves as the foundation for making informed decisions and finding the most suitable service provider. Start by identifying the specific IT challenges your business faces. Is it improving network security? Streamlining operations? Or enhancing data storage capabilities? Determine the goals you want to achieve through managed IT services.

The scale of your business also plays an important role. Are you a small Los Angeles startup with limited IT resources? Or are you a large enterprise with multiple locations and complex systems? 

Take into account the industry you operate in. Certain sectors have unique IT compliance regulations and security standards that need to be adhered to. 

Assessing Expertise

Expertise plays a crucial role in ensuring that your business receives top-quality IT support and solutions. Begin by evaluating the qualifications and certifications of the Los Angeles managed IT company’s team members. Look for industry-standard certifications. These certifications indicate a high level of technical expertise.

Think about the experience of the service provider in managing IT systems and addressing similar challenges to yours. A well-established provider with a track record of success is more likely to have the knowledge and skills needed to handle your specific IT requirements effectively.

Company portfolios and client testimonials are essential to check out. This will give you insights into their past projects and the outcomes they have delivered. It is also beneficial to reach out to their current clients and inquire about their satisfaction with the provider’s services.

Take some time to think about any special requirements that your company has. If you require support in cloud computing or cybersecurity, look for service providers in Los Angeles with a strong focus on those areas.

Evaluating Service Offerings

When you’re trying to find the managed IT service in Los Angeles that’s right for your business, you need to take your time to assess the various services on offer from different companies. 

Have a look at the range of services they offer, this could include things such as:

• Network monitoring
• Data backup and recovery
• Cybersecurity
• Cloud solutions
• Help desk support

Consider the service levels included in their packages. Evaluate the scalability and flexibility of their offerings to ensure they can accommodate your business growth.

Examine any additional features or value-added services they provide. These can enhance the value of the managed IT services in Los Angeles and contribute to the overall success of your IT infrastructure.

Carefully review the pricing structure and terms of the packages offered. Compare the costs against the provided services and assess whether they offer good value for your investment.

Scalability and Flexibility

Your business needs may evolve over time, so it is important to ensure that the outsourced IT company can accommodate those changes. Look for providers that offer scalable solutions. These allow you to easily add or remove services as your business grows or requirements change.

Flexibility is also important. The company should be able to adapt its services to meet your needs. Their services should be customizable to your particular business needs. 

Ask questions about the company. Can they handle peak periods? Can they deal with sudden surges in demand? They should have the proper infrastructure in place to be able to deal with things like this. 

Security and Data Protection Measures

The Los Angeles managed IT company you opt for should have robust security measures in place. This is to protect your sensitive information from being compromised in a cyber attack. 

The company should conduct regular security audits to identify any vulnerabilities and head off any risks before they turn into problems. They should also have robust intrusion detection systems. These systems are important for detecting potential breaches. 

Evaluate their data backup and recovery procedures to ensure that your critical business data is regularly backed up.

They should also have disaster recovery plans in place to minimize downtime and ensure business continuity in the event of a major incident.

Availability and Responsiveness

The company should be readily available to address your information technology needs and provide support when issues arise. Look for providers that offer 24/7 support in Los Angeles or have defined response times to ensure timely assistance.

Assess their communication channels and response mechanisms. They should have a dedicated help desk or support team. This support team should be reached easily through multiple channels like phone, email, or live chat. Quick response times and efficient ticket resolution are indicators of their responsiveness.

Consider their track record in terms of availability and uptime. Look for guarantees or service level agreements (SLAs). These ensure high availability and uptime for your IT infrastructure.

Service Level Agreements

An SLA is a formal agreement between you and the service provider. It outlines the services to be delivered and the expected performance standards.

When talking to a prospective company, evaluate the SLA terms and ensure they line up with your needs. Certain things should stand out more than others. Look for their response times, resolution times, and service availability guarantees. 

Another thing to think about is performance metrics. Put simply, they are important indicators of how reliable and efficient the company’s service is. Pay attention to metrics like uptime metrics and resolution times. 

Use these metrics to gain insights into the company’s track record and their commitment to meeting your needs. 

Reviewing SLAs and performance metrics means that you have a clear picture of what the company can do for you. It lays down a lot of the foundations for the work that will come after. 

Industry Experience and References

Look for providers with a proven track record in your specific industry. They should have experience working with businesses similar to yours, understanding the unique IT challenges and requirements of your industry.

Ask for references and reach out to their existing clients to gather feedback on their services. A company with lots of positive references will give you a good idea of how well they deliver their services. 

When asking for references, pinpoint the service areas that are most important to your business. Things like reliability and responsiveness are always good to enquire about. 

Seeking first-hand accounts of how well the company works will be invaluable to you when you’re making a decision. After all, you want to find the managed IT company in Los Angeles that is best suited to your business and its specific needs. 

Integration With Existing Systems

The company you opt for should be able to slot seamlessly into your current systems and processes. The aim is to provide a well-managed IT system without disrupting your current operations. 

Assess how compatible they are with your hardware, software, and applications. They should be experts in integrating their solutions into the systems that you already have.

Take some time to talk to them and gather a sense of how well they understand your workflows and business processes. You want to transition to managed IT with minimal disruption. 

If you already have an internal IT team, take some time to assess how well the company can work with them and support them. They should be more than willing to integrate and work alongside your internal team to give you the best IT systems possible. 

You should also take some time to assess the means of communication that the company uses. They should have a clear and effective system for sharing updates and progress reports, as well as resolving any issues that arise during the integration process. 

Find Los Angeles Managed IT Services Today

Enlisting the help of managed IT services in Los Angeles is a great way for your business to focus on its core operations. It’s an opportunity to leverage expertise in the field of information technology without the need for lengthy onboarding or training procedures. 

At WeSolve, we take pride in helping organizations overcome their IT challenges. We offer a range of tailored IT solutions for businesses. Our priority is always on reliability and efficiency. 

If your company is in need of managed IT services in Los Angeles, get in touch with us today to see how we can help you.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, our society’s trend toward digitalization has only accelerated. That has made us more vulnerable to IT security concerns at the same time that cybercrime has been growing like never before. There are a lot of good reasons that companies spend more than $17 billion on IT security consulting services every year! As demand for managed IT security services grows, so do the number of options you will have to consider for your company.

Many companies have never hired managed IT security services before. If this describes your situation, how can you know which managed services are right for your business?

Fortunately, there are some key questions you can ask each service you are considering. By making sure to ask the right questions, you can hone in on the best choice for your managed IT security needs.

Read on to learn all about the most vital questions to ask when choosing managed IT security services.

Ask Each IT Security Company About Its Experience

You may not have the technical knowledge to assess each company based on its own technical expertise. However, one thing that you can understand in a straightforward manner is how much experience each IT security company you consider has.

All else equal, it is often a good idea to choose whichever company has the most experience. However, it is also important to emphasize the right type of experience. A company may have decades of experience working with clients very unlike your company.

If possible, it is better if you can find a company that has a lot of experience working with companies in your own industry. If they also have experience working with companies of a similar size, that is even better!

Ask About Flexible Security Services

Many businesses hire managed IT security in Los Angeles only to find out that they will need to change all of their in-house software. Make sure to ask about this early on so that you know how flexible your options are for IT support services in Los Angeles. Many companies are prepared to work with a wide variety of pre-existing software tools.

Whenever possible, you will want to find a company that will not require you to change what you already have set up for your business. However, you might find a strong candidate that will need to replace some or all of your pre-existing software.

If so, get as clear as possible about how long it will take until this security service is ready to protect your company. If they can get set up fast enough, it might be worth it to hire a company even if they need to change your pre-existing software.

Ask About Cybercrime When Outsourcing IT Security

Ask each company you consider about their perspective on the rise of cybercrime. Hopefully, you will find multiple companies with a deep understanding of how the world of cybersecurity is evolving.

Of course, you also want to hear how they plan to respond. If a company is not ready for new criminal tactics, you may want to look elsewhere.

Ask For Scalable Managed IT Services

Suppose you have found the perfect managed IT services in Los Angeles for your needs. Then, your company experiences significant growth. This is when you find out that your IT security company is not prepared to scale up your IT security defenses.

Make sure to ask about scalability before you hire any IT security company. It is best if you can find a company that can manage both shrinking and growing companies.

Ask Managed Service Providers About AI

AI is also transforming the world of cybercrime and defense. Ask each company you consider about how they think the rise of AI will affect cybersecurity. You can also ask them about how they are using AI tools to improve the defenses they offer their customers.

It is often best to find a company that is already adapting to this major change in the technological landscape.

Ask About Each Service’s Success Stories

Make a point of asking about each IT security provider’s biggest success stories. You can learn a lot about a company based on how impressive these stories are. On the other hand, if they struggle to come up with anything interesting, that may be a sign that they do not provide outstanding protection.

It can also help to ask about the biggest failures of each company you consider. Great companies often make failure stories look good in retrospect. If you find a company that responded to a big failure by improving its services in multiple ways, that can be a sign that it might be the right company for you.

Ask IT Security Companies for References

You do not need to make a choice about your IT security provider in the middle of a meeting. Instead, make sure to ask for references and get in contact with them.

Great companies often have a long list of references who are willing to speak about them in glowing terms. You may also want to look for reviews and ratings online.

Be Ready to Choose the Right Managed IT Security Services for You

It can be difficult to know which managed IT security services are right for your company. However, we hope that the principles in this article will help you hone in on the right choice for your situation. It is more than worth investing the time and effort necessary to make sure that you choose a managed IT security service you will feel satisfied with.

To learn more about how you can find the right managed IT services for your needs, reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!

Did you know that a company’s success depends on how well its IT systems work in the digital age? IT monitoring was used to focus on making sure IT services worked well.

Today, businesses are turning to digital transformation. The job of monitoring has changed to encompass and protect the whole business environment.

An IT monitoring strategy is crucial for businesses as they increasingly rely on technology. Continuous monitoring helps detect critical issues before impacting business processes or user experience.

However, monitoring IT infrastructure takes work, primarily because, today, most businesses have many devices spread across many locations. Let’s learn more below.

What Is IT Monitoring?

IT monitoring is a way for IT teams to manage the performance of their computing infrastructure, including the following:

• The business’ hardware
• All software
• Applications used by the business
• Storage and backups
• Other network-related components

This data is used to improve network performance and reduce downtime risks. A full monitoring strategy involves several levels of monitoring techniques and tools.

These layers work together to provide an end-to-end picture of the entire IT infrastructure—from networks and servers to cloud services and applications.

Why Is IT Monitoring Important?

IT monitoring is a method for IT teams to track the performance of their computing infrastructure. These include the following:

• Help identify issues early
• Improve security posture
• Locate issues and bottlenecks
• Provide an overview of the infrastructure and its components
• Improve the quality of service to end-users

Key measures for infrastructure monitoring include the following:

• Hardware specifications
• Application logs
• Uptime & throughput
• Crash reports
• Network capacities

These measures help troubleshoot the following:

• Performance issues
• Track user behavior
• Detect security breaches
• Provide an overview of the infrastructure and its components

Monitoring Strategy: Getting Started 

Best monitoring practices need businesses to determine which services are crucial to daily operations. Then rank those services in order of importance.

These services will have the most significant impact on the company if they fail. Finding a business’s primary services can be challenging because they can differ based on its industry and how it works.

Setting Priorities

Businesses should break their infrastructure into several major categories to prioritize core services. After that, they must prioritize them by business importance.

The monitoring order should be contingent on the impact of each service on the business. By implementing these best practices, companies can ensure their IT functions efficiently.

What About Tools For Monitoring?

Appliance performance monitoring tools are essential for monitoring critical applications and systems because they provide a way to analyze and collect monitoring data and telemetry.

APM tools can be integrated with other services to help identify risks, such as the following:

• Slow response times
• Downtime affecting business
• Outlier statistics
• Security risks

Monitor User Activity

User activity monitoring is crucial for understanding network and system issues. Real-time alerting can help identify potential problems.

You can do this by triggering workflows that automatically notify the correct person and initiate corrective action—eliminating the need for manual processes that slow down business operations and drive costs.

Keep an Eye on Your Network

Monitoring your network on a continuous basis is essential for identifying network and security issues. Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) tools can pull traffic from a central hub, such as a router. This, combined with historical data, investigates the root causes of security incidents and network outages.

Draw Up Service Level Agreements

Service Level Agreements (SLAs) guarantee monitoring and alerting align with business goals. SLAs detail what to do in case of an issue affecting customer service and what they will do in return.

Ensure that SLAs are flexible enough to accommodate the broad spectrum of problems encountered. They must also determine the proper thresholds for monitoring and alerting.

Don’t Forget Software Licenses and Contracts

Tracking software licenses and maintenance contracts is essential for identifying issues with the software. As well as for negotiating new or extended warranties for dependable software.

Managed IT monitoring is more than just a technical task. Setting priorities is most effective when applied to accomplishing company goals, which is where they should be most closely aligned.

Key Measures for Monitoring

There are various critical metrics that companies should include in any monitoring strategy. These metrics can help companies manage performance and find areas for improvement.

Some of the most vital measures to include are the following:

Response Time

This measures the length of time it takes for a system to respond to a request. It’s essential to track response time to identify slowdowns and optimize performance.

Measuring Throughput

Here you measure the number of requests a system can handle over time. Throughput is critical to monitor if a system can handle the required load.

Error Rate

To measure the error rate, you must count how often mistakes happen in a system. By keeping a close eye on this metric, companies can do the following:

• Quickly find errors
• Handle them timeously
• Fix the problems

Resulting in smooth functioning and excellent operating efficiency.

Resource Utilization

This metric measures the number of resources (e.g., CPU, memory) a system uses. Managing resource utilization is essential to track that a system is not overloaded. Also, to identify areas of improvement.

Cyber Security

In the current climate of cyber threats, it is essential to incorporate digital security services into your monitoring plan. These services provide the following:

• Advanced threat detection
• Vulnerability assessments
• Timely patch management
• Vital support during and after security crises

Strategic Monitoring: A Business Essential

A robust monitoring and security strategy is not just a best practice but a necessity for businesses. It ensures smooth operations and protects against ever-evolving threats.

By being proactive and implementing a solid monitoring strategy, businesses can navigate the digital world with confidence and success.Ready to enhance your monitoring strategy and optimize your IT infrastructure? Contact us now to explore expert solutions that can propel your business toward operational excellence and seamless performance. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to elevate your technology-driven capabilities!

Only 35% of all small businesses in the US survive past the ten-year mark, although small businesses make up 99.9% of the companies in the US. If you are a business owner in Los Angeles, you may need network service management, or what’s better known as managed IT services. Business technology can feel overwhelming, especially when you have other administrative tasks.

The good news is that there are companies out there that handle all of this for you. This guide will help you understand how to hire the best Los Angeles managed IT services company.

Keep reading to find out how to choose a managed IT service in the Los Angeles area.

Look Online

There are many Los Angeles managed IT service options to choose from. The first place you should start looking is online to find local options.

There are certain factors that you need to consider when doing your research. First and foremost, you need to look at the kind of website the company has.

A high-quality website should have a professional website with plenty of information. It should have its services listed as well as contact information.

 b If the website is glitchy or not secure, that is a red flag. It would also help if you took some time to read online reviews from other clients.

Reviews give you the opportunity to see how the company works. You can also get some insight into the kinds of businesses the company has worked with.

Take these reviews with a grain of salt since they are personal opinions. A few negative reviews are not a red flag since every company will have them.

If there is any information you can’t find online, make a note of this. You can always contact the company directly to ask additional questions.

Consider Experience

When hiring managed IT services in Los Angeles, you need to choose the right company. Your business technology is the backbone of how your business works.

Your business will suffer if the company doesn’t know what it’s doing. You want to choose a company that has experience in your industry.

IT services are comprehensive, and some companies have specific specialties. If you are in real estate, look for IT management with experience in that area.

You may be able to find this information online, or you may have to contact the company. Some reviews may also indicate what industry that client is in.

You may also have specific things you want the company to understand. For example, if you are a small business, this could impact what you need.

Or, if you are a start-up business, you may want a company with experience in this area.

Look at the Support Team

When it comes to business technology, certain things are a priority. A managed IT service company has to have a good support team to do its job.

For instance, We Solve Problems has an 11-minute response time on average. This shows that this company has exceptional support for its clients.

They also have a 99% user satisfaction rate, showing their clients are happy. These are essential aspects to consider before hiring a company.

If you run into technology emergencies, you want access to help quickly. You also want to consider how friendly and helpful the support team is.

They should be eager to assist and understand technology problems well.

It is also a good idea to look for companies that have been in business for quite some time. The longer the company has been around, the more client experience it has.

Evaluate IT Services

Different managed IT service companies provide additional things for their clients. You most likely have specific needs, which is why you want to hire someone.

You need to research the services these companies provide regarding your goals. Do you need cybersecurity so you don’t have to worry about cyberattacks?

Or are you more concerned with device management and managed IT? Identify your goals and guarantee the company offers services that align with them.

When you hire an IT company, you want to work with them in the future. If the company doesn’t provide what you need, you will eventually have to look elsewhere.

Have a Consultation

What are the most important aspects of hiring a managed IT service company is the last step. Before making your decision, have consultations with your remaining options.

Consultations are where you get to speak with someone from the company, whether that be an in-person meeting or online consultation.

This is the perfect time to ask any remaining questions you have. You can also bring up concerns and ask about the company’s solutions.

It is crucial that the person you’re speaking to communicate clearly. They should listen and be able to break down complex topics for you to understand.

You can also ask about the rates that the company charges. Sometimes these are fixed rates, while other times, you may need to get a specific quote.

How to Find the Best Service Management in Los Angeles

As a business owner, you have a lot of jobs you have to juggle. One of these jobs is business technology, which can feel overwhelming.

That is why you should hire managed IT service in Los Angeles that provides business services. You need to look at reviews as well as the experience of the company.

The management company should also have exceptional support and IT services.

Do you need help with your business technology in the Los Angeles area? Contact us today at We Solve Problems to schedule a consultation.