ATECH MSP Blog

Nowadays, technology isn't just an advantage; it's an essential part of everything you do; and with endless new tools appearing, how do you decide which tech investments are genuinely good for your business and which are just distractions? Saying yes to everything can drain your budget, while saying no to the right innovation can leave you behind.

Navigating this is difficult and needs a smart approach. Here are key tips to help you know when to embrace new technology and when to politely decline:

Businesses need to innovate and there are many ways in which they can do so today. There are new solutions emerging all the time, and this month we thought we’d introduce you to three that are really moving the needle.

Implementing cool new technology solutions is fun and all… until you realize that there’s a lot of work involved in it. Your employees, for example, might even resist the change that it brings. How is your business going to address these challenges in a way that is productive for not just your employees, but for your entire organization? That’s what we want to discuss today.

The daily grind is characterized by the feeling that you’re busy all day, but not necessarily “productive.” Your technology could influence this feeling and make the daily grind feel like a slog, but with the right approach to IT, you can focus on technology that empowers rather than overwhelms. How do you make this transition? That’s what we’ll discuss today.

You might want to get as much life as possible out of your technology, but this is often counterproductive. While it might cost serious capital to invest in new computers and servers, even when your current equipment works “just fine,” there will come a day when “just fine” doesn’t cut it anymore. Your outdated hardware comes with all kinds of hidden costs that will slowly leech capital from your business and leave it worse off compared to if you just bought new tech.

How many devices around you are connected to the Internet? While connected technologies inject convenience into our lives, it comes at a cost: security. Let’s discuss how the rise of connected devices, collectively known as the Internet of Things, has taken a toll on network security and what you need to know about it to protect your business.

It can be too easy for anyone’s work desktop to become cluttered and filled with applications and windows, leading to a mess that gets in the way whenever one tries to accomplish anything. Chances are, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a quick and easy way to clean up the desktop and just focus on the window you need to focus on?

If you agree, I have some good news.

Putting new software into your business can feel just as tricky as any other action you are going to take. If it doesn't go well, it can lead to headaches, confused employees, and wasted money. Here are three simple tips to help you add new software without the stress.

A good data backup system is like having insurance for your data. Yes, you hope you never have to use it, but you’ll be glad to have it if you do. Today, we want to cover three of the biggest components of any modern data backup system and how we can use the latest technology to make your data backups as seamless a process as possible.

You should actively be asking yourself if your technology is helping your business grow, or is it just another set of bills to pay? For many businesses, technology, with all the constant attention it needs and frustrations it can bring, can feel like a constant, confusing expense. IT has a rare ability to be essential and costly at the same time; but, it really doesn't have to be.

Today (as of when this was posted) is Friday, so ideally, the feeling in the office would be one of happy anticipation for the weekend… but what if a server crashes, and work gets put on pause, but all the deadlines still stand? This would undoubtedly put a damper on the weekend, and that’s the least of your worries. Who’s going to fix the server?

This kind of situation is precisely why modern businesses can’t afford to wait for things to go wrong, and need to have a resource on their side to proactively address these kinds of issues and catastrophes.

Your business runs on its network, and when your network hardware isn’t running up to speed, it can have a significant impact on business operations. It’s also far from the most interesting topic, and other parts of your business—like the software that makes and manages the products or services you provide—likely takes up the spotlight. Here are some of the common networking solutions that are often neglected and why they should be a priority instead.

Think about those frustrating workdays when a server goes down, or the daily drag of slow computers and glitchy software. These aren't just minor annoyances; they are significant productivity drains. Research shows employees can lose an average of 10.5 workdays per year due to IT downtime alone. Multiply that across your team, and the financial impact becomes clear. This month, we go through the numbers to see how you can build a more productive business through a well-thought-out technology strategy.

The point-of-sale system is the hub of your business operations. It is a prime example of a mission-critical system that could benefit from some proactive consideration. Choosing or upgrading one isn't just about processing payments; it's about future-proofing your success. With that in mind, let's go into five things you need to consider about your business' POS system to make it beneficial to your efforts. 

From charging our phones to transferring those crucial presentation files, USBs are the unsung heroes of our digital world. Have you ever stopped to think about what’s actually going on inside that little connector?

Let’s get down to brass tacks and explore the inner workings of this marvel of miniaturization.

Think of your business information that includes customer details, sales figures, product lists and more. All of that data is stored in your business’ databases. As a result, you need to understand how they work and what you need to do to best manage them and the data they contain. 

Here at Atech MSP, we help businesses in Bakersfield make sense of their technology every day. We’ve noticed folks often have similar questions about databases, so let's clear them up with some simple answers. Did you know, by the way, that the first "databases" were essentially just well-organized paper records? We've come a long way!

One piece of technology that's become essential to modern business is the cloud. You hear the term constantly, but what does it actually mean for your business, especially as we navigate 2025? Today, we unpack this very topic.

Our team specializes in proactive business technology support, and helping organizations understand and leverage the cloud is a core part of what we do. Forget confusing jargon; let's break down what the cloud is and why it's a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes.

Do you remember Blockbuster Video? Maybe you had a pager. These were once giants, indispensable tools of their time. Unfortunately, time, and technology, marches relentlessly on. Today, clinging to outdated business technology is like insisting on using a map and compass when everyone else has GPS—you might eventually get there, but you'll be slower, less efficient, and far more prone to getting lost.

Most businesses rely on a core set of technologies: computers, essential software, email, a website. These are the fundamentals. There are many savvy small and medium-sized businesses looking beyond this standard toolkit. They're strategically adopting less conventional technologies to boost efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and gain a valuable competitive advantage.

You’ve probably heard a bit about blockchain. It’s a technology that is typically linked with cryptocurrencies, but its function is much more. It actually has the potential to transform everyday business operations significantly, if used properly. 

Forget the complex technical stuff. At its core, blockchain is like a highly secure and transparent digital record-keeping system. Imagine a shared ledger where every transaction or piece of agreed-upon information is recorded as a block. Once a block is added to the chain, it's cryptographically sealed—meaning it cannot be altered or deleted. Everyone with authorized access sees the same information, creating a foundation of trust and clarity.