Category: Technology

Looking to step into an IT leadership role? An IT manager is a good place to advance to in your career.

Here we will go over the IT Manager career path and how to build a successful career in information technology.

IT Manager: Job Description

So, what does an IT Manager do?

An IT Manager is mainly responsible for managing IT systems and solving any hardware or software issues. This position is a stepping stone to rising in the field and requires technical knowledge and an understanding of business processes.

As part of the IT team, you must communicate well and use problem-solving and data analysis to ensure systems are running efficiently. You may even be expected to operate an IT team under your direct supervision.

What is the Salary of an IT Manager?

According to Glassdoor’s June 2022 report, the estimated total salary for an IT manager is $117,590 per year (US), with an average salary of $98,538 per year.

Source

To document these figures, you can create a paystub to provide a clear breakdown of earnings, and also maintain an updated W-2 income statement for a comprehensive overview of annual earnings and withholdings.

IT Manager Career Path: Requirements, Skills, Responsibilities

Let’s review the requirements, skills, and responsibilities associated with an IT manager. Having these skills and understanding the expectations of this position will help you succeed in this role.

Requirements

How do you become an IT Manager? And, what does it take to become an IT Manager? Most employers require the following:

• Proven working experience as an IT Manager or relevant experience
• Excellent knowledge of technical management, information analysis, computer hardware, and software systems
• Expertise in data management and governance
• Hands-on experience with computer networks and network administration and installation
• Appropriate technical background
• Business acumen and staff management skills
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• BS in Computer Science, MIS, or similar field

Skillset

These are the skills needed to be an IT manager:

• Technical skills
• Leadership and negotiation skills
• Strong financial and organizational skills
• Ability to listen, learn, and communicate well
• Ability to update and continue to be relevant
• Conflict management
• Project management skills
• Presentation and writing skills

Responsibilities

Depending on the company’s size and goals, as an IT manager, you will be expected to achieve the following responsibilities:

Team management

• Lead and manage an IT team
• Define and set clear goals for the team
• Recognize the need for growth
• Supervise productivity
• Provide guidance and feedback

Project management

• Create projects and delegate tasks
• Design, develop, implement, and coordinate systems, IT policies and procedures
• Identify problematic areas and implement strategic solutions in time
• Audit systems and assess their outcomes

Information systems

• Manage information technology and computer systems
• Control and evaluate IT and electronic data operations
• Ensure security of data, network access, and backup systems
• Monitor service and system efficiency and security measures
• Troubleshoot, fix, and implement new systems
• Stay updated on new technology

Related: What Does a Systems Administrator Do?

Data analytics

• Predict business trends and client behavior
• Report on company data and security
• Preserve assets, information security, and control structures

Budgeting

• Aligning department goals with business goals
• Handle annual budget and ensure cost-effectiveness
• Manage budget and timelines when working with multiple groups of people (internal and external)

Note: These responsibilities vary depending on the business’ particular goals, hierarchies, and structure.

Building a Career in IT

Information technology, as a field, continues to remain relevant and important. More and more businesses are growing internal IT teams to support production and development and run their business more efficiently. As such, the IT Manager career path is quite promising. So, if a job in IT is in your sights, now is the time to work towards it. Good luck!

IT security policies are the backbone of all procedures within an organization. Without the right policies laid out ahead of time, your business may be left open to security attacks with no disaster plan in sight. Let’s look at some critical IT security policies companies should consider having in place.

Why are IT Security Policies Important?

These policies align with the company mission and ensure the security of the company, employees, and customer information. An IT security policy defines what information needs to be protected and how it will be protected. These policies also determine how an organization prepares and handles security incidents. As such, an IT policy is crucial to the efficient and safe running of any business.

• IT infrastructure, or information technology infrastructure, supports many levels of your business operations.
• It consists of different components that allow your company to manage internal processes and deliver external services to customers.
• The essential components of an IT infrastructure include: Hardware, Software, Network, Communication, and Facility (that houses your equipment)

What is in an IT Security Policy?

In general, IT security policies outline the purpose, scope, policy, and procedures to be followed. The IT company policy will also highlight who must follow these rules and regulations. For example, certain rules apply only to an IT team while others may apply to other users (employees).

IT policies should include risks and consequences of not following the guidelines listed within the policy. They should also provide information about who to report to when a breach or issue occurs. When implemented and followed diligently, these policies protect your business’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data.

15 IT Security Policies for Business

So, what IT security policies does your business need? There are a multitude of policies out there meant to protect company information and data. In fact, TechRepublic has a list of over 100 IT policies. However, not all apply to every business type and size. Here we list the most important IT security policies you should consider for your business:

1. Acceptable Use Policy

The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) defines the acceptable use of computer and laptop equipment within the office. The AUP outlines what constitutes inappropriate use of computers and laptops and educates users on the potential risks. This IT policy also determines how employees should handle proprietary or sensitive information about the company, employees, and customers.

2. Security Awareness and Training Policy

This policy highlights how all workplace members and users must protect company information. Employees may sign a confidentiality agreement. They may also complete training as required by the business to educate employees on the business’s security policy and how the policy protects the business, employees, and customers. Key aspects of the training include safeguarding business and customer information, reducing downtime, etc. Employees may be asked to provide proof of completion of the training.

3. Access Authorization, Modification, and Identity Access Management

This IT policy operates on the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) which states that users, systems, and devices are given access only to the information they need to do their jobs. To effectively implement this policy, businesses must create a process for documenting, reviewing, and modifying access. The policy also outlines who will have what kind of access and when access will be terminated. Access can be granted based on valid access authorization, intended use, and other necessary factors.

4. Password Creation and Management Policy

This IT company policy, as the name suggests, focuses on best practices when it comes to creating, changing, sharing, and safeguarding strong passwords. Passwords and two-factor authentication ensure that your information and accounts are kept secure and don’t fall into the wrong hands. This policy should include training and awareness that educates users on how to create strong passwords, what parameters to follow when creating passwords, and why it is important to avoid reusing the same passwords. This policy may also include password log-outs and maximum retry attempts to safeguard from unsuccessful login attempts.

5. Network Security Policy

This policy focuses on best practices when conducting network and information system activity reviews. The core purpose of a network security policy is to ensure your systems and data remain secure. This involves making sure systems have the right hardware and software and that these are up to date. It also includes procedural auditing mechanisms to keep track of usage and changes.

6. VoIP Security Policy

A VoIP security policy looks after your business’s VoIP phone system. This policy identifies common VoIP vulnerabilities and potential risks. It is important to ensure that your VoIP system is secure by educating users on how to identify VoIP attacks as well as keep their devices and phone systems secure.

7. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

BYOD policies let employees bring and use their own devices to conduct business. While this policy has helped businesses cut down on equipment-related costs, it may lead to security breaches if not monitored. A BYOD policy outlines what steps employees must take to keep their devices safe, especially when connecting these devices to your business’s networks. Businesses with remote and distributed teams can use a BYOD policy to ensure information is kept secure.

8. Remote Access Policy

With the popularity of remote working and telecommuting, this policy is more important than ever to keep remote teams connected securely. A remote access policy outlines how users will achieve remote access. This is when working from outside the office and connecting to the company’s network. A remote access policy ensures users know how to keep information and devices safe. This IT company policy should include VPN access and disk encryption instructions. Additionally, employees should be educated on the appropriate usage of authorized devices such as not engaging in illegal activity or mandating the use of strong passwords.

It is also crucial to educate employees about privacy-centered browsers. When considering secure browsing options for remote work, comparing Brave vs DuckDuckGo can help you decide which browser better aligns with your company’s remote access policy and data protection measures.

Related: 5 Benefits of Unified Communications for Remote Teams

9. Incident Response Policy

An incident response policy outlines the business’s response to an information security incident. Although similarly categorized, this policy should be documented separately from a disaster recovery plan or policy. This policy must include information about the incident response team so users know who to report to in the case of a security or data breach. It should also outline actions and resources implemented to identify compromised data and a plan to recover this data.

10. Encryption and Decryption Policy

This IT security policy outlines encryption requirements for all office- and business-related devices such as computers, laptops, networks, servers, storage areas, and so on. All employees, users, and IT members should follow recommendations made in this policy. The purpose of this is to protect information and communication channels while deterring unauthorized access.

11. Vulnerability Management Policy

A vulnerability management policy defines rules for reviewing, evaluating, applying, and verifying system updates. The purpose of this is to reduce or mitigate vulnerabilities and risks within your business’s IT infrastructure. As such, the policy will also include ways to identify, classify, and remediate these vulnerabilities.

12. Change Management Policy

A change management policy discusses how changes are made to information systems. This policy ensures that changes made to computers and laptops are managed, approved, and tracked in a thoughtful manner that reduces negative impact on the business. Timely and accurate documentation is at the core of this policy.

13. Vendor Management Policy

This IT security policy validates a vendor’s compliance and information security capabilities. And by doing so, it evaluates which vendors may put your business at risk and how to avoid those risks. In other words, it evaluates whether a third-party vendor should have access to sensitive data. In order to conduct this evaluation, your business must assess the vendor’s ability to create, receive, and transmit confidential information. Your business should also maintain a list of vendors to keep track of risks and be prepared for a data breach. Additionally, prepare an internal response plan, in case a vendor fails and a data breach occurs.

14. Data Retention Policy

A data retention policy defines what type of data must be retained, for how long, and how it will be stored and destroyed. Your business may want to store company documents, transactions and contracts, customer records, emails, call center data, and so on. This policy will help your business store and retain data effectively while determining processes to take care of outdated and duplicated data.

15. Scheduled Downtime Policy

This IT policy defines how to conduct regular maintenance, updates, and upgrades of company systems, servers, and networks. It should also outline how the business will communicate the scheduled downtime to its users, vendors, contacts, and customers to ensure smooth operations.

Does Your Business Have the Right Policies in Place?

Depending on how you run your business and what systems you have in place, you may need some or all of these policies. Conduct a review of different departments, brainstorm with your IT team, and identify areas that need new policies. It’s better to get started now than have to remedy issues later when they may be too late to fix. Bring your business up to date and protect it with the right IT policies.

This decade has seen a gradual rise in tech companies across the board. From new phone models to social media to smart homes. The largest tech companies have changed our lives at home, at work, and at play. In every aspect, tech is making processes more convenient, effective, and fun.

Top 2021 Largest Tech Companies

Most of the companies on the list below have been in action for quite some time and have been gradually expanding. They are common names and their services are known and used by many, even if people don’t realize it. So, who are some of the largest tech companies of 2021?

Alphabet / Google

Country: United States
Business Type: The leading search engine. Side projects: innovative tech developer Google X, smart home projects Home and Nest, phones, and life-extension company Calico.

An obvious contender, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has been strategically growing over the past several years and is one of the largest tech companies expanding its coverage. Google started as a search engine and now has grown into much more, dipping its toes in home security, smart home tech, phones and network coverage, and biotech with Calico. And Google has even greater plans for growth and expansion.

Apple

Country: United States
Business Type: Phone/ technology company

Apple, founded in 1976, now has over 115,000 employees and more than 468 stores in 17 countries. Also one of the largest tech companies in the world, Apple has an annual revenue of $29.2 billion approximately. Apple offers phones, iPads, iPods, its music streaming service, Apple TV, Macbooks, and more. And its products and services are preferred by many across different age groups.

Samsung

Country: South Korea
Business Type: Electronics, electric appliances, and phone company

Samsung was founded in South Korea in 1969. And it has grown to be one of the largest tech companies offering reliable electronics, phones, and electric appliances used the world over. The company has over 319,000 employees in about 80 countries and an estimated annual revenue of $211.9 billion.

Microsoft

Country: United States
Business Type: Software/tech

Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, Microsoft began by inventing computers and then expanding to more tech-related services. Microsoft, an American multinational tech company, now develops, manufactures, and produces computer software, PCs, and electronics. The company offers operating systems, its office software suite and tools, and cloud computing solutions. And, Microsoft products are used by businesses and individuals worldwide for basic to advanced purposes. All of this makes Microsoft one of the largest and most valuable tech companies.

Facebook

Country: United States
Business Type: Social media platform

Facebook, founded in 2004, still is one of the highest-ranking social media platforms. Originally developed as a social networking site, the company has grown to do more. It is now also one of the biggest advertising platforms and is used for marketing efforts. Facebook has purchased over 70 companies including WhatsApp, which was one of its biggest purchases. And it has done all of this in only 15 years of existence, making it one of the top tech companies in the last two decades.

Amazon

Country: United States
Business Type: E-commerce giant

Everybody knows and uses Amazon’s services across the world. Amazon started as an online bookstore and has grown to become much more. Since it was founded in 1994, Amazon has continuously been making it easier for users to gain access to products and services from anywhere in the world at reasonable prices and with quick deliveries. Now, Amazon plans to utilize automation to make its service quicker and more efficient. The e-commerce giant hopes to achieve this by using robots in its manufacturing and packaging plants and by using drones for delivery.

Tencent Holdings Limited

Country: China
Business Type: Tech products and internet-related services

Founded in 1998, Tencent specializes in internet-related products and services, AI, and entertainment tech. It is also the world’s largest gaming company as well as social media company. And the company’s services include mobile and online games, e-commerce, social networking, music, smartphones, and more. Tencent has more than 700 million active users and 120 million subscribers, making it one of Asia’s most valuable tech companies.

Intel

Country: United States
Business Type: Microprocessor, semiconductor manufacturing company

Intel was founded in 1968 however, it did not become a part of primary business till the development of personal computers in 1981. Then when Intel’s stock price rose dramatically in the 1990s, the company grew tremendously. And now Intel’s products have become an essential component of PCs and laptops used by millions. More recently, Intel has been entering the artificial intelligence (AI) market.

Hon Hai Precision / Foxconn Tech Group

Country: Taiwan
Business Type: Multinational electronics manufacturer

Hon Hai Precision Industry was founded by Terry Gou in 1974. The company’s original trade name was Foxconn. It currently employees more than 1.3 million individuals. Hon Hai Precision manufactures and produces electronic products and components for other companies. Popular clients served by Foxconn are Blackberry, Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Playstation 3 and 4.

Largest Tech Companies: 2021 Forecast

The question remains, will these remain the largest tech companies in the new decade? Many of these companies have enjoyed their time in the sun for the past few years consistently. However, tech companies like IBM, Oracle, and so on are slowly making their way to the top. Let’s see what the new year and decade has in store for our favorite tech giants.

This holiday season, gift a loved one (or better yet, yourself!) a new phone with quality specs and a reasonable price! Samsung’s new A series phone is under $250 and makes for a very usable budget phone. No wonder, it’s been getting some serious attention. Let’s look at what makes the new Samsung Galaxy A20 so appealing.

Samsung’s New Model: Samsung Galaxy A20

The fifth model in Samsung’s A series’ 5th generation, the Samsung A20 is not very different from most smartphones available. Before you purchase a new phone, it is important to consider its specifications to determine which is most suitable for you. Do you need a large screen? Or the latest android version? Or a fingerprint scanner? Or a high res camera? Here’s a list of the Samsung A20 specs:

• Display: 6.4 inch AMOLED Infinity-V Display (1560 x 720)
• Width: 2.9
• Weight: 169 g
• Version: Android 9.0 (Pie)
• Rear Cameras: 13 MP, 5 MP
• Front Camera: 8 MP
• Memory: 32 GB ROM / 3 GB RAM
• Battery: 4,000 mAh battery, Fast Charging
• Fingerprint Scanner: Yes
• Processor: Samsung Exynos 7884 Octa (International) or 7904 Octa (US)
• Wireless Network: 3G, 4G, LTE
• Ports: USB Type C, 3.5 mm audio jack

As you can see, the specs are quite impressive for a phone under $250. But certain features make the phone stand out more. So, why should you consider buying a Samsung Galaxy A20?

Outstanding Battery Life

A 4,000 mAh battery gives the Samsung A20 power enough to run for a full day. This phone also comes equipped with Samsung’s lightning-fast charging, which is usually reserved for the pricier phones. The phone lasts for about 13 hours, which is more than the average 10-hour battery-time for most smartphones. The Samsung A20 also utilizes a USB Type C charger. It is a good switch with the USB Type C, as it revolutionizes charging cables with adapters connecting it to HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, and other major connectors. It is slowly replacing the need for regular USB ports/cables.

Sharp Camera for a Budget Phone: Live Focus Camera Mode and Impressive Selfie Camera

The camera is Samsung A20’s most attractive feature. The phone features a slightly protruding dual-camera module with a 13 megapixel lens and a 5 megapixel wide-angle shooter. Having the second camera gives the A20 the ability to capture depth-of-field photographs. For lovers of portrait modes, the phone features a Live Focus option ― a feature from Samsung’s more expensive models. The Live Focus gives users control over what to focus on and how to manage the blurry background. Additionally, the 8 megapixel selfie camera’s depth option provides extra depth for selfies.

Performance Lag: No Good For Gaming

Considering this is a budget phone, it is not as powerful as Samsung’s other flagship models. The Exynos 7885 processor brings in an acceptable and workable amount of power. The same goes for the Exynos 7904 processor. These less powerful chips keep the phone’s cost low while providing decent power. But the downside is that demanding apps don’t perform well and lag as a result. This is why this phone is not recommended for mobile gaming.

And Yet, It’s Good For Your Pocket

Even among budget phones, Samsung has been working its best to include features from its pricier phones. And this is why these low-cost phones get so much attention. You have access to useful features and a decent camera for a comfortable price. In fact, you can pay as little as $10 a month plus tax for 24 months through T-Mobile or other providers.

Buy The Samsung A20 To Be Your New Business Phone

So, what do you think? With the Samsung Galaxy A20, you can get a phone that has relevant features and that doesn’t dig a giant hole in your pocket. And if you decide to buy the phone to work as a business phone, you can get a toll free number from United World Telecom! We can hook you up with a phone number for your company to keep your personal and work life separate. Freelancers and remote employees find this most useful to balance between their personal and business calls. Sign up for a business number today or contact us at 1-877-898-8646 to learn more.

Set up dinner plans for a large group over group messages. Send a funny GIF to a friend who is having a bad day. Share your new favorite song. Send out mass texts to update customers or community groups about new changes. Or simply let someone know you are thinking of them. Almost everybody uses instant messaging, or texting, to communicate. However, not many know what processes are in play when sending a simple text or a more complex multimedia file. Read on to understand more about SMS and MMS services. SMS vs MMS: which of these services will improve your communication and increase response and engagement?

SMS vs MMS: How Do They Differ?

What does SMS mean? Short Message Service (SMS) is a communication protocol that sends and receives text messages over cellular networks. In simple terms, SMS is instant messaging or texting between cellular phone numbers. Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), on the other hand, acts as an extension of SMS that allows sharing of multimedia content. Therefore, MMS lets users send pictures, audio, videos, GIFs, website links, and phone contacts. With such messaging services, you can send short and quick messages easily without any disruption.

Companies and start-ups are increasingly using business phone systems with SMS/MMS to increase customer engagement. SMS/MMS are quick and easy methods to reach customers as opposed to interrupting their day with calls. Additionally, mass texting apps allow businesses, managers, and other leaders to send out texts to a large group of people at a time. This is helpful when they need to send product updates, event reminders, promotions, etc.

Both messaging types are highly versatile and very useful. Often, used interchangeably, these terms are not the same. So, what is the difference between SMS and MMS?

Characters and Space

The main difference between SMS and MMS is the space available for the type of message being sent. SMS usually has a max of 160 characters and can only send words. Some phones and networks may support emojis, but not all of them do. This means that each text needs to be straight-forward and to-the-point. Users must pay attention to the economy of words, doing their best to capture attention with the fewest words.

MMS, on the contrary, can have up to 1600 characters and has the additional benefit of sending multimedia files. You can send multiple files at a time, depending on their sizes. Users can use MMS’ capacity and space to share images, videos, and attract more attention.

Interactive Texting Experience

Texting, by default, makes communication quicker and more efficient as most texts are sent with the intent to get straight to the point. They enable people to be in touch with one another with little to no extra effort. MMS, however, adds more to this texting experience by allowing users to send a variety of media. You can send audio files, pictures, videos, and hilarious GIFs, stickers, or emojis. All of these little details make the texting experience more interactive.

SMS vs MMS in Business

When you consider SMS vs MMS, you will realize that both are great ways to market yourself and your products. Both methods are useful in keeping your customers engaged and staying on their radar. However, MMS does have an advantage here because humans are visually-inclined and having images draws more attention than just text. Because of MMS’ ability to share multimedia files, they are, naturally, more preferred. They can be used as a great marketing tool where businesses send promotional flyers and coupons to customers.

Cost of Use

Both work through a cellular network, however, MMS requires data or an internet connection to send larger and more complex files. This makes MMS slightly more expensive. Businesses with a tight budget may need to limit their MMS use. Individual users may opt for free web-based texting apps to reduce costs.

So you have an idea to start a business. Unfortunately, every successful entrepreneur will tell you that it is not an easy task to build a business. After you have developed your idea for a company is when the real work begins. Building a successful business can make your dreams come true, and all you need to do is start with a plan. Sit down and think out how to turn your dream into a reality, by being meticulous in your approach, and leaving no stone unturned. If you start with a strong foundation for your business, then you can weather any storms and come out on top of any ups and downs that your future business may one day see. Things are lurking around every corner that can threaten to take down your business, but if your IT infrastructure is strong, then you can go on with your days without worry.

So what are the different parts of a company that are utilized to create a secure infrastructure? Read on to learn how you can build a solid foundation for your business.

Manage Your Time Wisely

Time management tops this list because you not only need to be realistic about the time that you plan to put into your business, you also need to learn to prioritize tasks. Set goals and create lists.

Then, follow those lists. Be sure to put the most critical items on the top of the list and don’t move on to the next task until you’ve perfected the job. Everyone has the same 24-hours in a day, but those who prioritize their most meaningful tasks will always be the people that achieve more. Managing your time takes great personal discipline, and if you are serious about building your business, you might find yourself unable to participate in things that you enjoyed doing before you started. If you are building a business from the ground-up, let your friends and family know that you won’t be available for a short time while you build up your company.

Utilize Your Talents

Grab a pen right now and write down everything that you are good at. Once you’re finished, you can begin to formulate a plan on how you are going to utilize these skills to build-up your business.

These skills are what make you unique and give you an edge over your competition. Once you’ve compiled your strongest assets to a list, you can begin to use them to your advantage. For instance, if you are great with money, then you can do all the accounting for your business. Maybe you’re bad with money but great at talking to people; if you can talk to people, you can convince investors to invest in your company or talk customers into purchasing your products.

Invest In Your Employees

Having good employees is one of the essential pieces of having a strong foundational business. Hiring people that you trust can do the work and believe in your product or service are crucial for the success of your company. A company whose employees are unhappy won’t be doing as good of a job as another company whose employees love to come in early and work late because they truly are passionate about the business they work for or for the product that they sell. Use their skills in the same way that you utilize your own and make sure that they are working on the right tasks where their talents will shine. Reward your employees when they have done an excellent job and educate them through seminars, classes, and mentoring. When an employee is treated well, they will return the favor to the business in the form of profit.

Monitor Your Cash Flow

Businesses send and receive money through many portals; it is up to you or someone that you have hired to locate the best spots to spend your money, resources, and time. This could mean switching to another supplier, choosing a different material to make your products, or put a stop to a marketing campaign with no ROI.

These four tips can take your business from having many loose ends to being a tight-knit company that makes it work in any situation. As a leader of a new business, it is up to you to remain diligent and to care for those that you have hired on to your team. If you start your business with these suggestions in mind, your company will be able to stand the test of time.