The managed services model is a proven concept that’s been around for decades. It allows organizations to offload routine IT tasks, reduce operational overhead, and enhance security, performance and availability.

However, many organizations today want more from a managed services provider (MSP). In a recent KPMG study, 80 percent of organizations said that managed services should be outcome-based rather than tactical.

It’s easy to buy cloud-based applications. Too easy, in fact. According to recent reports, the average small business has 40 to 60 SaaS apps, while the average midsize company has close to 100 or more. Small to midsize enterprises (SMEs) spend as much as 12 percent of their revenue on SaaS.

As much as 20 percent of this spending is wasted.

The contact center is the main point of interaction between customers and businesses. However, customers often complain about long waits, confusing automated systems and having to repeat information. Agents may lack the knowledge or authority to resolve problems.

It’s troubling to think about physical security risks in the workplace. However, a recent study found that workplace crime is rising due to increased aggression, growing numbers of weapons, and economic and social factors. A separate study found that the high cost of living is driving more workplace theft.

Many organizations still lack the right culture and technology to support the hybrid workplace effectively.

The pandemic may have triggered a sudden, unexpected shift to remote work, but the reopening of offices did not mark a transition back to full-time onsite work.

AI-driven phishing campaigns, fake e-commerce sites and other holiday scams victimize businesses as well as consumers.

For all the joy and goodwill surrounding the holidays, it has unfortunately also become the high season for cybercrime. Because consumers do a big chunk of their holiday shopping online, cybercriminals boost their online attacks and scams during the holidays.

AI has caused numerous unexpected issues, ranging from bias and discrimination in critical decision-making systems to misinformation and security threats. These problems often stem from the technology’s complexity and reliance on human-biased data.

However, one challenge is all too predictable: shadow AI. Employees are using an array of AI tools that aren’t sanctioned, monitored or managed by the IT department.

Is your organization taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s security features?

A recent benchmark study of more than 1.6 million M365 users found shocking security gaps. Even fundamental security measures are not fully implemented in many organizations.

Data in transit is data at risk — which means a lot of data is at risk these days. Important company data regularly moves between home offices, cloud platforms and corporate networks thanks to the rise of remote and hybrid work models.

There’s always a chance that data in transit could be intercepted, accidentally delivered to the wrong person or accessed by unauthorized individuals.

Virtual private servers (VPSs) are an increasingly popular option for organizations seeking affordable, scalable and secure platforms for their applications. VPSs eliminate the upfront costs and maintenance associated with on-premises hardware while offering greater performance than a multitenant cloud environment.