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# Smooth-IT

Our people know business (and IT).

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://smooth-it.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [A Small Business Guide to Patch Management](https://smooth-it.com/a-small-business-guide-to-patch-management-2/) - Patch management. It's a phrase you've most likely heard while watching the news or reading a business article about a data security breach, but why should you, as a business owner, care about it? Why should you understand its value? Because your business depends on it and you do not want to be the next
- [A Small Business Guide to Patch Management](https://smooth-it.com/a-small-business-guide-to-patch-management/) - Patch management. It's a phrase you've most likely heard while watching the news or reading a business article about a data security breach, but why should you, as a business owner, care about it? Why should you understand its value? Because your business depends on it and you do not want to be the next
- [What is Cyber Resilience & 4 Ways to Bolster your Cyber Resilience this year](https://smooth-it.com/what-is-cyber-resilience-4-ways-to-bolster-your-cyber-resilience-this-year-2/) - Did you know that "The global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was USD 4.45 million, a 15% increase over three years," according to this IBM report? I don't share this as a scare tactic because it simply is the reality of the situation. Cybersecurity concerns continue to rise as threats and bad
- [Your Business's Success Matters to Me](https://smooth-it.com/your-businesss-success-matters-to-me/) - I built my company with a simple premise: to help people. From the beginning, I wanted to transform people's perspective around managed service providers (MSPs) and IT consultants. “Geeks” who understand people and business operations. Many see information technology (IT) as a headache for business owners and employees. Technology may be necessary, but most business
- [Northwest Business Development Association Finds Success Partnering with Smooth-IT](https://smooth-it.com/nwbda-finds-success-partnering-with-smooth-it/) - The Northwest Business Development Association (NWBDA) has supported the growth of local economies in Spokane, Washington, for over 40 years. The NWBDA fuels SMB success and job creation by providing small business loans. To fulfill its mission, the technology NWBDA relies on each day has to be up to date and functioning optimally. Finding Support
- [What is Cyber Resilience & 4 Ways to Bolster your Cyber Resilience this year](https://smooth-it.com/what-is-cyber-resilience-4-ways-to-bolster-your-cyber-resilience-this-year/) - Did you know that "The global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was USD 4.45 million, a 15% increase over three years," according to this IBM report? I don't share this as a scare tactic because it simply is the reality of the situation. Cybersecurity concerns continue to rise as threats and bad
- [Business Owners Share the Benefits of Working with an MSP](https://smooth-it.com/business-owners-share-the-benefits-of-working-with-an-msp/) - Are you leveraging IT to grow your business strategically, or does managing your company's tech feel more like a burden than an investment? As a business owner, I understand that feeling. I know that critical components of our business can sometimes feel overwhelming and frustrating. As a small business owner of a managed service provider,
- [Cybersecurity Series: 5 Ways to Create Stronger Passwords in 2024](https://smooth-it.com/cybersecurity-series-5-ways-to-create-stronger-passwords-in-2024/) - Why Password Management Matters What is your relationship to your passwords? Are you a frequent user of the "Forget Password" function, or are you someone who uses the same password for every login and only changes one or two characters when it's time to update your information? For many, the plethora of passwords we must
- [What DNS Stands For & Why Business Owners Should Care?](https://smooth-it.com/what-dns-stands-for-why-business-should-owners-care/) - If you're a business owner, you've most likely heard the term DNS in meetings with your IT team or your managed service provider. How familiar are you with DNS? I'm here to help. DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a fundamental component of the internet infrastructure that translates domain names into numerical IP
- [5 Ways Working with Smooth-IT Can Benefit Your Business](https://smooth-it.com/5-ways-working-with-smooth-it-can-benefit-your-business/) - If you're a business owner, your day to day may include a variety of responsibilities beyond "President" or "CEO." Depending on the size of your company, you might handle Operations, Marketing, Human Relations, PR, IT, Customer Service, Sales, and, well, you get the idea. It's challenging to focus on the tasks you have the passion
- [20 Terms MSPs Use That Every Business Owner Should Know](https://smooth-it.com/20-it-terms-for-small-business-owners/) - Have you ever had a meeting with your IT consultant or managed service provider that left you with more questions than answers? Like in every industry, in the tech space, there are terms and acronyms used frequently by IT professionals that might confuse those outside the industry. If you've ever felt a bit overwhelmed
- [World Backup Day: 3 Ways You Can Participate](https://smooth-it.com/world-backup-day-3-ways-you-can-participate/) - Your first question reading this blog might be, "What is World Backup Day anyway?". You wouldn't be alone. If you're not working within the IT, managed services, or cybersecurity space, you might not be as familiar with this annual holiday. I want to change that. Ideally, every business owner would use this day as an
- [Why Understanding IT Compliance Is Vital for Businesses](https://smooth-it.com/why-understanding-it-compliance-is-vital-for-businesses/) - As a small or medium-sized business owner, are you aware of the compliance regulations related to your business? Governments or industry institutions often put in place compliance regulations to ensure companies follow the laws and protect their clients. While these regulations can impact several aspects of your business, IT is often a key component. What
- [Spokane ProCare Partners with Smooth-IT for Reliable IT Infrastructure](https://smooth-it.com/spokane-procare-partners-with-smooth-it-for-reliable-it-infrastructure/) - In 1987 Spokane ProCare, a premium landscaping company, opened to serve customers in the Spokane, Washington area. The business has grown substantially since its opening and now serves over 2500 clients. Like many companies, Spokane ProCare depends heavily on their computer systems to run their business. The team relies on technology for everything from inventory
- [How Partnering With Smooth-IT Helped Architextures Save Their Data](https://smooth-it.com/how-partnering-with-smooth-it-helped-architextures-save-their-data/) - For over 60 years, three generations of owners have built Architextures into the thriving company it is today. Working in the A&D industry, the company provides quality stretch fabric panels and acoustic controls for building projects of all shapes and sizes. In Need of an IT Expert In 2019, the team at Architextures encountered a
- [Transitioning to the Cloud: The Benefits for Small Business](https://smooth-it.com/transitioning-to-the-cloud-the-benefits-for-small-business/) - You’ve most likely heard someone within your business circle talk about “the cloud” (which actually just refers to one or more datacenters). Those two words are ubiquitous today, and cloud adoption continues to increase. According to this year’s Flexera’s State of the Cloud Report, small businesses spending over $1.2 million on the Cloud annually increased by
- [What Every Small Business Owner Should Know About the Internet of Things](https://smooth-it.com/what-every-small-business-owner-should-know-about-the-internet-of-things/) - You're at a conference lunch, and someone at the table asks everyone to share how the "Internet of Things" or "IoT" impacts their business. What do you say? If you're not sure, keep reading, and I'll give you some details and insights that can help you start to navigate that question. What is the Internet
- [What is an IT Strategy, and Why Does Your Business Need One?](https://smooth-it.com/what-is-an-it-strategy-and-why-does-your-business-need-one/) - As we begin a new year, business owners start the frantic work of planning and goal-setting for the year ahead. You be working on the overall business, marketing, and sales strategies to help set you up for success in 2023. But what about IT Strategy? The technology you use every day impacts your business daily,
- [Demystifying The Management of Office 365 Licensing](https://smooth-it.com/dymystifying-managing-office-365-licensing/) - According to Web Tribunal, over 731,000 companies in the United States use Office 365, and Microsoft Teams boasts 250 million daily active users. For business owners, this means managing several Microsoft licenses for their employees. What's so exciting about software licensing, you might ask? You'd be surprised at the number of issues businesses have when they
- [Software Implementation: Steps You Can't Afford to Skip](https://smooth-it.com/software-implementation-steps-you-cant-afford-to-skip/) - You're reviewing a new CRM that would be a game changer for your business. Everything from the sales demos to the customer reviews and the 14-day free trial has made it clear you need to purchase this software. But once purchased, completing an entire implementation process might seem like too much of a time investment.
- [Three Ways Small Businesses Can Partner with MSPs to Streamline Their Business](https://smooth-it.com/three-ways-small-businesses-can-partner-with-msps-to-streamline-their-business/) - Technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity. For your business to thrive and remain competitive, you must proactively invest in technology. Even more importantly, just like a car, technology must be maintained, or it will suffer in performance or even crash. In an age when productivity all but depends on technology, waiting for
- [Why Small Businesses Should Work with Virtual CIOs](https://smooth-it.com/why-small-businesses-should-work-with-virtual-cios/) - A CIO, or Chief Information Officer, manages a company's IT department. The CIO leads everything from people management and IT strategy to developing workflows and overseeing the IT budget. Most large organizations deem this position essential. Yet, many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) don't have someone fulfilling this role. That's where Virtual CIOs come in.
- [Why Small Businesses Should Implement Multi-factor Authentication](https://smooth-it.com/why-small-businesses-should-implement-multi-factor-authentication/) - Security is paramount for any small business today. According to a recent report from Barracuda, cyberattacks compromised 1 in 5 organizations surveyed in 2021. So how do you begin protecting your business when there are so many facets to consider to ensure your data, customers, and employees are secure. Passwords and multi-factor authentication are great places
- [Understanding the Cost of Downtime](https://smooth-it.com/understanding-the-cost-of-downtime/) - Small business owners must understand the cost of downtime. Knowing how an outage or cyberattack might impact your business helps you prepare more thoroughly. This information is also often a catalyst for business owners to dive into the ROI of backup and recovery systems. So what is the average cost of downtime? When we refer
- [5 Questions You Should Ask When Hiring a Managed Service Provider](https://smooth-it.com/5-questions-you-should-ask-before-hiring-a-managed-service-provider/) - IT is essential for your business. So what questions should you ask a managed service provider (MSP) to ensure they are the right fit to set your technology systems up for success? Why The Questions You Ask Matter As a business owner myself, I know the importance of finding and working with partners and vendors
- [Three Myths and Truths About IT Consulting](https://smooth-it.com/three-myths-and-truths-about-it-consulting/) - Some businesses don't start looking for IT consultants or managed services providers until they are in dire need of one. Companies often see IT as a necessary evil rather than a necessity, even though IT is at the heart of modern business. You may even be reading this blog and thinking to yourself, "But
- [Digital Workplace Got A Steroid Shot](https://smooth-it.com/digital-workplace-got-a-steroid-shot/) - The Digital Workplace Adoption The digital work place adoption just got a steroid shot. Nobody was “ready” to simply push entire office floors into home offices. Leadership was not ready and neither were the IT teams. Then we entered a global pandemic and necessity fostered creativity. When we are faced with dire scenarios, focus and
- [Let’s talk about it, really briefly.......Passwords....](https://smooth-it.com/lets-talk-about-it-really-briefly-passwords/)

## Pages

- [Managed IT | Service and Support | Pacific Northwest](https://smooth-it.com/) - Providing IT support and managed IT services to the Pacific Northwest At Smooth-IT, we’re transforming IT consulting into a service that enables our clients and their businesses to thrive. We support businesses throughout the Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, and Seattle areas with a unique proactive and customer-centric approach and have been doing so since 2007. Discover
- [Our Commitment to Your Success](https://smooth-it.com/our-commitment-to-your-success/) - How Partnering With Smooth-IT Enables Your Success Your business depends on excellent IT infrastructure. Your IT can depend on us. IT is an essential component of the success of any business. At Smooth-IT, we're committed to providing managed services that enable your success. Our highly skilled team of technicians partner with you to understand your
- [Consulting | Business Solutions](https://smooth-it.com/consulting/)
- [Compliance](https://smooth-it.com/compliance/) - Compliance: A Growing Requirement For All Businesses Data security entails more than protecting your company's files. Businesses are increasingly subject to data compliance requirements to protect individuals' privacy and personal information. Some of these mandates are sector-specific and therefore reasonably well-known, such as HIPPA requirements in healthcare, SEC regulations for publicly traded companies, and confidentiality compliance rules for law
- [Our Version of "Tech Support"](https://smooth-it.com/tech-support/) - Tech Support = Supporting Techs Let's be honest. "IT" is synonymous with stress and overtime. Most IT personnel spend their days working with frustrated people in panic or crisis mode, putting out fires and awaking to 2 AM emergencies. They are expected to have immediate answers to every question, regardless of their specialty. They often
- [Newsletter](https://smooth-it.com/newsletter/) - Join Our Newsletter Our marketing person said we ought to send out a newsletter to help you stay in touch. We do have some things to say now and then, so you're welcome to sign up. Just know that we hate e-trash and spam just as much as you do. We're not going to send
- [Smooth-IT Blog Corner](https://smooth-it.com/smooth-it-blog-corner/)
- [Part of Something](https://smooth-it.com/part-of-something/) - Finding Meaning in Your IT Work If you've checked out our Smooth-IT Vision, you'll know we place a high value on relationships. We also know that interacting with people is sometimes the worst part of the job, because it often means getting yelled at or badgered. While we can't control when a customer is having
- [How to Join Us](https://smooth-it.com/how-to-join-us/) - How to Join The Smooth-IT Team We don't usually advertise when we're hiring, as most of our team comes through trusted references or previous experience. But depending on who you are, where you are, and what you do, we might have a place for you now or in the future. Be sure to read about
- [Security](https://smooth-it.com/security/) - IT Security Services There's nothing more highly charged in the field of technology than the subject of security. It seems like every other week a new virus shows up or a major company is hacked. These horror stories are often scare tactics designed to breed paranoia, yet unfortunately there is some legitimacy to these concerns.
- [Productivity & Monitoring](https://smooth-it.com/productivity-monitoring/) - How are your people spending their time and your money? Smooth-IT offers tools to manage and report on the activities for every device you place in our Managed Services. That means you can keep track of who is doing what and how much time they are spending on their tasks (or on something else). While
- [Mobile Device Management](https://smooth-it.com/mobile-device-management/) - Mobile Device Management: A Question of Security You might be tempted to skip this page if your company doesn't hand out iPhones, but this is a matter than concerns every business owner. Mobile device management falls under the realm of IT, yet most departments don't have a strategy for this technology. This oversight can be
- [Integration](https://smooth-it.com/integration/) - Integration & Software Standardization In order to operate at peak productivity, your people need to have seamless use of all the tools they use on the job. Because your systems and software all talk to each other, incompatibilities can add unnecessary work and frustration to your valued employees, and can cost you money in this
- [Data Backup | Data Recovery](https://smooth-it.com/backup-data-recovery/)
- [Managed IT Services](https://smooth-it.com/managed-it/)
- [How We Can Help](https://smooth-it.com/how-we-can-help/) - How We Can Streamline Your Business's IT Technology is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. In order for your business to thrive and remain competitive, you must proactively invest in technology. Even more importantly, just like a car, technology must be properly maintained or it will suffer in performance or even crash. In an
- [Location](https://smooth-it.com/location/) - Our Team is Dedicated to Serving Businesses in the Northwest Smooth-IT is strategically designed to service the entire Northwest corridor, from coast to western Montana. With branches in Seattle and Spokane, as well as development in Portland and Boise, Smooth-IT is well-equipped to handle all of your local and regional needs. But Smooth-IT wasn't built
- [Our Team](https://smooth-it.com/team/) - Meet the Smooth-IT Team Real People. Real Conversations. The crew at Smooth-IT is a select group of skilled people with a single common element: they're all committed to caring for you. While our technicians offer exceptional technical expertise, they're more than the wallpaper of their certifications. Each member of the team is committed to the
- [Certifications & Credentials](https://smooth-it.com/certifications/)
- [Smooth-IT Vision](https://smooth-it.com/vision/) - Small IT Company. Big Technology Vision Smooth-IT is a superior IT company with a fresh approach. We want to form real, lasting relationships with our customers, and offer technological solutions to optimize your business. This goal is the result of founder Ben Henkels' simple, lifelong mission: to help people. The integrity of this mission is
- [Virtual CIO](https://smooth-it.com/virtual-cio/) - Virtual CIO & Strategic Planning Services IT is a pivotal component to business operation, yet most companies have a breach between technology and management. Large corporations bridge this gap with a CIO (Chief Information Officer), who is hired to evaluate technology as it relates to the success and operation of the business. This person takes
- [Super Power Your IT Department](https://smooth-it.com/super-power-your-it/)
- [The New IT](https://smooth-it.com/the-new-it/)
- [The Nuts & Bolts](https://smooth-it.com/the-nuts-bolts/)
- [Cloud Services | Managed Cloud](https://smooth-it.com/cloud-services/) - Getting Ahead in the Cloud Cloud services are the catchall name for any hosted applications that reside outside the office. “The cloud” simply means external data center. You may be using cloud services already even if you're not aware of it, like e-mail or online log-ins. The main benefit to this type of application is
- [Contact](https://smooth-it.com/contact/)
- [Terms and Conditions](https://smooth-it.com/terms/) - Terms and Conditions Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using our website and services. 1. Acceptance of Terms By accessing and using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. 2. Use License Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials
- [Privacy Policy](https://smooth-it.com/privacy/) - Privacy Policy This privacy policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our website and services. 1. Information We Collect We collect information that you provide directly to us, such as when you create an account, make a purchase, or contact us for support. This may include your name,
- [Terms and Conditions](https://smooth-it.com/terms-2/) - Terms and Conditions Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using our website and services. 1. Acceptance of Terms By accessing and using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. 2. Use License Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials
- [Terms and Conditions](https://smooth-it.com/terms-3/) - Terms and Conditions Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using our website and services. 1. Acceptance of Terms By accessing and using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. 2. Use License Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://smooth-it.com/category/uncategorized/)

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