hatever the business and industry, there’s no doubt IT support is the key element ensuring proper operations. It partially makes for the success of a company. With a countless number of IT support providers, it may be quite a hassle to decide on the format of such services. Should you choose managed or technical support?
The fundamental difference lies in the way things are handled. That is why businesses ought to evaluate their needs and requirements so that they can decide on the form of IT support. Today, we’ll discuss what managed and technical services are. The Core of Managed IT SupportManaged IT support is a relatively new concept. Its proactive nature provides numerous benefits for a company. Even though it’s usually aimed at bigger enterprises, the trend of opting for managed services is increasingly growing in small businesses as well. The core of this format is constant, 24/7 access to an IT team. In case an issue occurs, companies don’t even need to inform their managed services provider as thanks to the advanced technological infrastructure an error is already being handled. This way businesses can put their efforts into day-to-day tasks while a team of IT specialists is dealing with an issue. The result? Smooth operations as if nothing had happened. Technical Support in a NutshellTechnical support is a more traditional way of handling a company’s issues. If you don’t happen to have an IT department or an in-house IT team, you might find this option fit. Clients usually purchase pre-paid hours on a monthly/quarterly or even yearly basis and in case an issue occurs, they can use their provider’s manpower to fix the problem. Having access to a team of IT experts can be highly beneficial in terms of running a business in a trouble-free manner especially when a company runs into a bigger project and faces difficulties juggling their efforts. Technical support comes in handy, allowing such a company to put its focus on the important matters while professionals are handling the issue. Managed Services or Blocked Hours – Which is Better?Whether a company should opt for managed services or blocked hours is very individual. Firewall Technical suggests evaluating the needs, profile, and requirements in order to make a smart decision. While managed support is a perfect and highly-efficient option for medium-sized and large enterprises, small businesses can find it fit too. The biggest difference here lies both in the cost and effort. Managed services is a more pricey form of IT support but it generally pays off in the long-run. Technical support, while being a cheaper option, does not give companies full 24/7 access to a team of IT experts. The contract is based on a specific amount of blocked hours that can be used within a certain period of time. That is why a thorough analysis should be done beforehand. However, if you own a digital company no matter the size, you would probably find managed services to be the more efficient option. Advantages and DisadvantagesListing pros and cons is always a good idea in order to estimate the best solution for your company. There’s a lot to consider in terms of budget, time, and effort. So what are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of managed services and technical support? Managed IT SupportA growing number of companies are going for this type of IT support. No wonder, all the issues are handled right after they occur, or long before they even get the chance to. This is one of the biggest advantages of managed services, and that is why it makes a perfect fit for those whose operations rely heavily on IT systems. Your company’s efficiency will most likely boost thanks to outsourcing it. Increased focus on development and innovation gives businesses additional asset – competitiveness. Experts at Miropoint emphasize that it’s not only about fixing issues and updating software but most importantly about preventing errors from happening in the first place. Another very prominent pro of managed services is the level of security, which is crucial if you’re running a business that stores clients’ sensitive data. Cybercriminals like to hunt such companies down and this could cost you money, trust, and reputation. When talking about the biggest cons of managed support, businesses usually mention the cost. It scares most small companies off since they simply can’t afford it. Well, that’s what they think. They seem to be forgetting about the long-term effects when managed support is a highly cost-efficient solution and does pay off. Technical SupportIT support prevents your technological infrastructure from any malfunction but not 24/7. In fact, you can use the help of experienced IT professionals any time you need as long as you purchased enough blocked hours to fix your issue. Again, you can also have them improve your old systems so that they’re more compatible with new software. This solution, therefore, could be beneficial for companies that don’t rely on IT infrastructure entirely. Another advantage is that you’re not bound by any contract. You pay for what you need. No overhead expenses, no flat monthly fee. Such providers are usually quite flexible when it comes to purchased hours so you don’t have to block the same number as the previous month for instance. There are some drawbacks too. Even though technical support experts have access to state-of-the-art technology, they don’t monitor your systems 24/7, which can cause slight delays before the issue has been recognized. It is also said that sharing information with a third-party could be risky, however, the policy doesn’t allow them to use any information. ConclusionThe true winner is hard to determine. For some managed services is the top option that provides continuous monitoring, updates, improvement, and security. It is quite costly, which may scare smaller companies off. In this case, they will probably opt for technical support and use an as-needed form of cooperation. No matter what you decide, remember to evaluate your company’s needs and choose the support accordingly. SOURCE:
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Real estate investing is one of the best and safest investments that any of us can make. Whether you are planning to provide housing for ourselves, or want it to be a source of income, buying a property is undoubtedly a big step. Many people observe hiring a mortgage broker as something casual. The expense of working with a mortgage broker is irrelevant in terms of how fast and efficiently the work will be done.
The best way to get a roof over your head is to pay in cash, the whole amount at a time. Of course, for most of us, this is mission impossible (unless you are a lottery winner or rich heir). An average employee would probably need years of savings to decide on such a step. That is why another, equally good and affordable option was created – taking a mortgage. If you decide on this step, you will certainly need help. The mortgage-lending process is not straightforward. However, it can be quite confusing for people who do not understand legal and financial affairs. That is why it is best to hire a proven mediator who has the necessary knowledge, experience, and information. Mortgage Broker TasksWhen you apply for a loan, you ask for money from mortgage lenders. These can be banks, credit unions, and even individuals involved in this financial business. A broker is there for you, to guide you to the lender that offers the best deal, according to your requirements and capabilities. Individuals and agencies can perform mortgage broker tasks. They work closely with lenders and are familiar with their current offerings. At any moment, they know where the interest rates are lower, who gives the more extended grace period, and so on. The point is to find a product set that offers a monthly rate that won’t put too much strain on the borrower’s budget. One more strenuous task that brokers will do for you is dealing with paperwork. Applying for and obtaining a loan can sometimes be complicated. Someone who knows what documents you need and how to gather and prepare them can be very helpful. Benefits of Hiring Local Mortgage BrokerAs every intermediary, mortgage brokers work on commission they previously agreed with lenders. But they certainly want their clients to be satisfied. Hiring a broker may not save you money, but it will bring you savings in other segments. For example, you will not waste time gathering documentation, compiling reports, and filling applications. They already did all these many times, so everything can be done sooner than you think. With the authorization you give your broker, they will try to finish the job within deadlines. Of course, you will be there to monitor the entire procedure, to read everything they did, and to underwrite whatever it takes. But you don’t have to deal with forms and legal terms. That can save you a lot of nerves and energy. Brokers have an insight into government-funded special home loan programs. It is an excellent way of getting a loan to solve housing issues, especially for groups of clients who may have difficulty applying for a mortgage – young people with short employment history, the disabled, people with low credit ratings, etc. Hiring a Broker vs. Going Directly to LenderMany people observe hiring a mortgage broker as something unnecessary. They find it a significant expense for something they can do on their own. And that is perfectly fine if they are aware of the fact that, in addition to the lender, they have to deal with realtors, lawyers, underwriters, and various institutions where the necessary documentation is obtained. In the whole process of applying for a loan, you are likely to focus on a few offers that seem acceptable. You will go directly to the bank, which will present their products, with some variations, perhaps. Maybe you’ll have luck, and find a suitable offer for the first time. Experts from a Vancouver mortgage company suggest that can be a trap for those who are in a hurry to buy a property. As they don’t have time to shop around, they will usually opt for the first offer. In most cases, it won’t be the most favorable one. Brokers have an insight into a much wider selection of mortgage offers by a large number of companies and individual lenders. The benefit of this collaboration is precisely the access to more options, from which you can choose the best one or the one that gives you the best conditions The process of applying for a loan can be quite stressful. Having someone from that branch to help you with knowledge and experience is always a good idea. The cost of working with a mortgage broker is insignificant in terms of how quickly and efficiently the work will be done. SOURCE: WORK WITH A LOCAL MORTGAGE BROKER COMPANY FOR YOUR VANCOUVER MORTGAGE Days are long gone when outsourcing services were valued only to curtail production cost. Today, the term has a glorified meaning, a global phenomenon for industries to gain an upper edge vis. a vis. the end-to-end business strategy. Outsourcing application development has become a prerequisite for IT industry and has only proved beneficial as more domain experts have been roped in and efficiency and productivity has increased tremendously. This makes the equation for both, the companies availing the services and the vendors open doors for technological innovations in collaboration. The outsourcing industry worldwide is currently being ruled by developing countries like India, China, Malaysia, Brazil, and Indonesia.
According to a 2018 Statistic study, the size of the global outsourcing industry has reached $85.6 billion from $45.6 billion in just two years. For many people outsourcing is a synonym of BPO and data entry but this doesn’t stand true in the current age as there is more to outsource than just voice support and backend services. Mobile application development, mobile application maintenance, data center operations, system support, disaster recovery, network operations, database administration, web hosting, and web operations are surging outsourcing services. As a result, over 37% of businesses are planning to outsource more application development work in the near future. The fast-evolving market has led to fierce market competition and outsourcing services has become a hope to leapfrog the competition. Some of the future outsourcing trends are predictable, while some may surprise us in the times to come. Source:Global Outsourcing Industry: A win-win approach to Rule the Business World Have you ever thought why it is nearly impossible to steal information or data from the blockchain? Well, the right coding and blockchain programming is the reason behind the high-level security. There are several different types of languages to code or program the blockchain projects such as C++, Python, JavaScript, etc.
Since blockchain stores critical information, it is imperative to secure the data with leak or tamper-proof coding to support the very idea of blockchain creation. To achieve this, some programmers prefer to code in simple and immutable programming language. Java allows this as once it verifies a block or as they say- the ‘block is hashed’, it is impossible to make amendments with the information. C++ allows effective resource management and efficient access over storage, hence, one of the favorite languages for most of the blockchain programmers. Projects like Ethereum, and Bitcoin are coded in C++. Simplicity is yet another factor required to conceive a successfully operational blockchain based project. Often programmers use Python framework for this as this allows the output to be simple and minimalist. It also allows to perform many tasks with just a single command. Like Java, Solidity is a contract and high-level based coding language. Portable blockchain platforms like Ethereum have been written in this language only. It is one of the best emerging blockchain programming languages for creating Hyperledger fabric. All you need is namely classes, generics, annotations, inheritance, and annotations to create the first blockchain. The tech-oriented epoch has flourished with multiple programming languages. Tightly done coding has been instrumental in this development and specially with blockchain, the given amount of security has only been possible using the best-in-class coding languages, some of them are mentioned above. The rest to look out for are Ruby, C#, JavaScript, Simplicity, Rust, Rholang, CX, PHP, Vyper and Scilla. Reference: A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Programming Does Blockchain require coding? Fundamentally AI is a technology which imitates human intelligence to make machine process and respond any form of data while dedicated human efforts are reduced and the task is carried out synthetically by the machine but in a very humanly way. There are several applications of Artificial Intelligence and it can be distinguished under two heads- Type 1 & Type 2 based on its primary functions, applications and its learning stages.
Type 1- Functionality Purely Reactive AI– The most fundamental form of AI where the machines perform based on the presently available data in the current situation using narrowed-down predefined tasks and cannot either form memories and use past experiences, nor assess the future implications. Computer games like Deep Blue, IBM’s chess-playing supercomputer and Google’s AlphaGo are classic and most sophisticated examples of reactive AI. Limited Memory AI– As the name suggests, machines are capable of doing tasks but with limited memory to assess steps in the current situation as it uses data from its pre-fed history. Often cited example is the self-driving cars and chatbots trained through Machine Learning (ML). Theory of Mind AI– This is perhaps most challenging and yet in its early development phases. This type of AI should be able to train machines to comprehend human emotions, thoughts, beliefs and expectations to imitate the same in order to become socially interactive. Self-aware AI– This form of AI will have the machines understand and have consciousness. This is in corollary to theory of mind AI. These machines will be highly self-aware and can take decisions based on that judgement. Today humans may be far from creating such elevated form of AI but AI researchers and developers like us at Sphinx Worldbiz are dedicated to this cause aiming to make this dream a near future reality. Type 2- Learning Stages Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)/Narrow AI – Also known as Weak AI, at this stage machine can only perform very narrowed-down specific tasks without any ability to think or comprehend on its own. Most common examples of ANI are Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, humanoid Sophia, RankBrain, Alpha Go, etc. This will not be wrong to say that all the AI based inventions made till date are functionally at Narrow learning stage and even then are hugely benefiting businesses and industries. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)/General AI– Also known as Strong AI or Deep AI, this allows machines to think as wide, as much as humans can. Although this is futuristic scenario but according to many experts this is absolutely possible considering years of research has been dedicated to it. Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)/ Super Intelligence– This is a stage where machines and computers surpass human intelligence and take them over. It is not a reality as of today but a highly speculative one as a lot of experts are divided between positive and negative aspects of the same. Reference: What are the major types of artificial intelligence? What are the major types of artificial intelligence? Sphinx WorldBiz Limited What are the types of AI(Artificial Intelligence) ? 2017 was the golden phase for cryptocurrency generated from blockchain technology. It is mind-blowing to see how a hasty increase in the demand of blockchain technology has been. Well, the reason being that the developers found unnecessary requirement of third parties such as banks to reduce transaction fees. With higher development and research in the technology, blockchain has a far wider application today, moving beyond just transactions and cryptocurrency.
Money Transfers and Payment Processing Typically, blockchain has been in use for transfer of digital funds or currencies from one party to another without any cyber risks. Usually, most of the transactions processed via blockchain can be completed within seconds thus making it very fast. Retail Loyalty Rewards Campaigns Blockchain can be used as go-to for the loyalty rewards for the customers. Create a token-based system to store the tokens within the blockchain technology to give them incentives. This will help any retailer to gain loyal customers while eliminating fraud and cumbersome paper-work. Digital Identities Microsoft is looking for a solution to deal with the face identity challenges. Experts at Microsoft are therefore, planning to create a decentralized digital ID to allow users a way to access their digital identities. Data sharing In November, Cryptocurrency IOTA launched a beta version for its data marketplace for easy trade of unused data. Therefore, blockchain can help in storing and accessing the unused data to utilize it in a better way. Monitor Supply Chains When it comes to monitor supply chains, blockchain has shown a remarkable scope. It will eliminate paper-based trails to make the supply chain process efficient while tracking goods in real time. Blockchain has given developers a possibility of real time transactions, eliminating pilfering transaction fees, and transaction settlement in few seconds. Developers at Sphinx Worldbiz are working tirelessly to unfurl more scope to deal with the current and future market challenges with blockchain. SOURCE: Where can Blockchain be used? Ever searched for a product or service and later seen an advertisement popping up on your Facebook news feed? If yes, then congratulations, you have been re-targeted. It shouldn’t be a surprise as companies collect data to target their audiences for better customer relations with the help of Big Data.
Big Data has gained lot of traction but, are you really clear about the meaning of these two words? How it is impacting our daily lives and why big firms are using it? To put it simply, Big Data is a large set of unorganized data that are computationally analyzed to unfurl the trends and patterns on a certain subject. From small firms to established enterprises, the process has become one of the most promising technologies of the epoch. It is surprising to note that in every two days we create as much information as we did until 2003 and over 90% of all the data globally is created in just past two years. It is mind-blowing to see how big data is increasingly becoming the backbone of every industrial sector. Meanwhile, people are looking for the answer if big data will grow or fall behind in the coming times? Let’s dig deeper and look at the possible trends for Big Data in the coming years. Data Silos will Continue to Boom When Hadoop boomed five years ago, there was a possibility to consolidate all the data onto a single platform regardless its nature- analytical and transactional workloads. However, the prediction panned out in the presence of many challenges. One of the biggest challenges was the different data types that require different storage units. From relational database, HDFS, object stores to time-series databases, all have their own obstacles. Therefore, it will become complex for developers in maximizing strengths while packing all the data into one size. However, cloud data stores like Hadoop and S3 are helping companies to store their data in a cost-effective manner. But that doesn’t mean data silos will decrease especially in the absence of strong centralizing force. So, we might have to get used to it! Enhanced Data Retention Policies According to Carlos M. Meléndez, chief operating officer at AI consulting firm Wovenware, it is not essential to store every data forever. Only some needs storage for some time. Coming years will focus on machine learning in a way that will clean and protect the integrity of stored data. Also, it will have automated flush feature to dispose such data which is no longer needed. Don’t worry, the data will not be lost forever. You can recover the disposed data anytime as algorithms will be scripted in a manner that the backup feature will be provided. A CIO Showdown As per James Markarian, CTO of SnapLogic, “The days of forgetting that the ‘I’ in CIO stands for ‘information’ are over.” He added that CIO will not only be limited to infrastructure but will also become a process to manage and create strategies for company’s data. By the end of this year, the process will pick up steam due to digitization and data transformation. Skills will be Proliferated as the Tech Evolves As it requires skills and knowledge to manage and run the data in the right stream, thus in coming years, the demand for any individual who can infuse neural network into final production is expected to increase exponentially. There is plenty of scope for folks who have a good knowledge of Matlab, Scala, C, and Java but Python will continue to dominate among all the languages. Meanwhile, data engineers who know Spark, Airflow, and databases will tend to grow. Machine learning engineers will not remain behind in the Big Data world as well. In a Nutshell Indeed, converting huge unorganized data collections into an actionable insight is a complex task. But Big Data experts and industry big-wigs surely see keeping up with the technology to leverage information for better customer relations. Experts are analyzing legit, substantial, ethical and technical hurdles in Big Data and AI processing, but its promising benefits are difficult to ignore. SOURCE: Emerging Big Data Trends to Watch in 2019: Keeping Up or Falling Behind? Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a technology is still in its nascent stages of Narrow AI, however, the application-base has expanded from computers to various other fields of human interaction with technology. One of the notable successes AI has achieved is personalization of customer experiences trough its dynamism. Machine Learning (ML) has proven to be a great way to stay interactive and relevant to its users. Virtual Personal Assistants like Siri, Alexa, Cortana and Echo are living examples of the same. Moving on from computer applications, machines have been made AI sensitive for greater user experience. Smart cars are an example of it. Transportation has been one of the areas where AI can be seen transforming the way people travel in future. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing driving, making transportation more efficient and safer and as exciting as any other car is. Marketing is yet another area where AI and ML can be found leaving their imprint by predictive analyses which helps companies identify the typical and general customer behavior. It allows the marketers to up-scale their content marketing strategies for better optimization and eventual ROI. Healthcare is hugely benefiting from AI. The technology uses software and complex algorithms to analyze human medical data, thus helping in diagnosis, the treatment, see the patient outcomes and provide a well-defined output to the patients. ML algorithms are responsible for this. There are many other industrial and technological benefits achieved using AI including service industries, manufacturing industries, cognitive computing, robotics, and a lot more and this is just the tip of the ice-berg. SOURCE: Successful Applications of AI Blockchain is a revolutionary digital payment technology still in its nascent stage. To simply put it, blockchain contains digital payment information in block forms that does not allow hackers to steal your data in any way possible.
Top Programming Languages Best for Blockchain: C++ It is the most preferred blockchain programming language as it offers advanced multi-threading potentials, access over memory, and semantics. It also bids object-oriented features such as function overloading and runtime polymorphism to perfectly link the data together. Python This language is fairly new but hyping the world of programming hastily. The language is viably preferred in the blockchain industry as it can perform many tasks with just single command. Solidity Influenced by PowerShell, JavaScript, and C++, Solidity is a high-level language used to implement smart contracts on multiple blockchain platforms. The language is very popular amongst Ethereum developers. Java Due to its highly-potential portability, Java is valued in the blockchain industry. Java and C++ have many similar features as they both are object and procedural-oriented programming languages. It has almost 9 million developers across the world. NEM’s basic blockchain network has been written in Java only. Ruby Although the oldest programming language, Ruby made its comeback with the blockchain technology. It allows users to use a perfect blend on different languages to develop the ideal blockchain. The language gives the access to make amendments if required. While developing a blockchain, the right programming language is the key to safeguard cyber security. The expert programmers at Sphinx Worldbiz offer ideal solutions to befit your complex requirements SOURCE: Which programming language is best for Blockchain? Information Technology (IT) is an integral part of every business be it a product based business, a service based or one that is market oriented. To conduct any business in the 21’st century, all companies depend heavily upon IT and this is the reason the maintenance costs on this area is so high. So, it is always a wise step on the part of small and medium companies to outsource IT services from any reliable firms that provide such managed & full IT services.
Also Read: IT Staff Augmentation Services- What its benefits for the Business? By IT outsourcing, it is meant to contract a full service consulting firm who would be performing various kinds of IT functions for the business. This vendor would exactly work like an extended family for the business. So business growth is as important to the vendor as it is for the company because they are tied together to aim for one and the same target. Advantages of IT Outsourcing For product based company, it is vital to focus upon the product quality and not worry too much as to what they want to buy or what would sell more in an economy. The main focus is on creating a perfect product. Also, for product oriented businesses, it is quiet easier to adapt for outsourcing its product as, once design is created, it can be sent to another factory for production and this helps the business save on costs. Let’s analyze the advantages of outsourcing IT services from a managed Service provider and how it can impact the overall growth of the business.
SOURCE: https://sphinxworldbiz.net/blog/how-it-outsourcing-can-immensely-benefit-product-based-companies/ |
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September 2019
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