IT Horizons Blog

When helping our Grande Prairie clients plan their hardware lifecycle I’m often asked about the price difference between consumer and business class devices. If you can go down the street to Costco or Best Buy and pick up the latest back-to-school-special laptop for $500, why on earth would you spend two or even three times that amount for a business-line laptop from Lenovo or Dell? Here are some important points to consider when purchasing computers to make sure you’re getting the best return on your investment. In the Windows PC market, inexpensive home lines come with whatever low-cost surplus components are available to the manufacturer on the factory floor at the time. Because of this, the specifications change month-to-month or even faster and there can be wide differences in the nuts and bolts even within a single model of PC or laptop. This means that not only are you often...

You’ve probably heard of Cryptolocker. It’s the nefarious ransomware trojan targeting Microsoft Windows that made the rounds via email starting in 2013-2014 that locked businesses out of their own files by encrypting them and holding them hostage. It impacted many – including Grande Prairie organizations that you know and may do business with! Cryptolocker and its many ransomware cousins act like typical viruses in the way they’re spread and distributed. But what makes ransomware so dangerous to you and your business is the fact that it specifically targets corporate data for monetary gain and the results can be catastrophic for those whose network is unprepared and inadequately protected from such an attack. Ransomware works by encrypting and locking you out of the files on your computers, server, and network storage. These files could include your policies and procedures, sensitive contracts and agreements, or your accounting database and financials. The attackers...

Not every business has the luxury of having an in-house IT department, but that's not to say that they don't need IT support, from time to time, or someone to run an online backup, perform software updates, provide network solutions or a whole host of other services. When your budget or IT needs don't make it practical to keep qualified and experienced technicians on staff, IT Horizons can step in as the full-service IT department you require, when you need it. Getting the Most from Your Technology When you've invested in technologies that are vital to your business' operations, it makes sense that you would want to maximize your return. But, all too often, companies lack the knowledge or the time to learn how to leverage these technologies or to design a strategy for how they can best work together to deliver results. Through a wide range of IT solutions,...

While businesses with in-house IT departments have access to technical support when they need it, many of these departments are stretched too thin, lack resources and don't have the time it takes to continuously improve their knowledge and skills, keeping up with new trends and technologies. Sound familiar? When your business needs IT solutions that go beyond your technicians' areas of expertise, or your changing needs are putting a much bigger demand on your technical support team than usual, IT Horizons is equipped to work with them in any capacity they require to ensure your IT environment continues to be the driving force your business needs. Flexible IT Solutions, Right When You Need Them There are many ways your company will benefit from this flexible IT service, but above all else, we're here to provide you with peace of mind that your business operations will continue seamlessly, regardless of whether...

Many small and mid-sized businesses have unique IT needs that change constantly and require ongoing maintenance and monitoring. But, unlike large corporations, few small businesses can justify the cost of having a full-time IT consultant on staff. If your business is struggling to keep up with the demands of your IT environment but you haven't the budget or maybe even the need for an in-house IT department, our managed IT services will provide the peace of mind you're looking for at a price you can afford. Creating Your IT Road Map One of the greatest benefits of choosing managed IT services from IT Horizons is that we start at the beginning, with strategy planning. Working with an IT consultant from our team, we'll help you design an IT road map that ensures your technological needs are being met in the most efficient and effective way possible. Our well-structured strategy will...