Focus on Technology

Why Outsourcing IT Support Makes Sense for Small Business

by Michael Cooch, Founder and CEO - Everon Technology Services

Outsourcing has many key benefits for small and medium sized businesses (SMB).  More than ever, SMB’s are turning over parts of their operations to outside experts, allowing internal employees to focus on critical needs, strategies, and growth of the business. The most successful companies place their internal focus on their strengths and principal goals, while turning to outsource companies for other areas of their business.

Although coined “small” personnel wise, SMB’s work hard every day to run successful businesses, usually with limited resources. Small businesses must leverage their resources very carefully, making sure that every dollar is maximized. These businesses must take advantage of every available resource to retain their competitive edge. One strategy small and medium size businesses are increasingly embracing is information technology (IT) outsourcing.

Long Ago, many small businesses figured out that it doesn’t make sense to have a full time payroll administrator on staff. Companies such as Paychex and ADP can manage the payroll process more effectively and affordably than a full-time staff member. Outsourcing payroll, or anything else for that matter, allows internal employees to focus entirely on the most strategic business objectives. Consequently, this allows workers to dedicate their time towards completing the tasks that most benefit the company.

The continuous emergence of new technologies has increased businesses dependence on technology. Naturally, the need for heightened security, proper management, and general IT support increases as well. Growing numbers of businesses are outsourcing their information technology management to consultants or managed service providers (MSP’s), for obvious reasons, including but not limited to cost effectiveness and efficiency. Although thousands of Microsoft employees are working hard every day to make technology simpler to use, it remains a thorn in the side of many business owners, making outsourcing a natural choice and logical remedy.

Fitzemeyer and Tocci has taken advantage of (IT) outsourcing for almost three years now. “Working with Everon Technology Services, a leading managed it service provider, enables us to enjoy the benefits that come from having a big IT team, but with a more personalized, small business feel. Our relationship with Everon is ideal; their level of knowledge and expertise greatly outweigh that of a single in house technician and their ability to keep us informed of the latest technologies is a great advantage. As a result of their proactive approach, problems with our systems are identified and tackled before they arise,” Stephen J. Montibello, Principal, Fitzemeyer & Tocci.

Many of the services traditionally only available to the larger corporations through in house IT departments are now available to the SMB owner by IT outsourcing firms and managed service providers. Many of these services include:

●   Remote Desktop Support  ●   Asset Management  ●   Automated Antivirus Updates

●   Network Management  ●   Hardware & Software Purchasing Support  ●   Emergency After Hours Support

●   Technology Planning & Budgeting  ●   Backup & Disaster Recovery  ●   Server Monitoring &  Management

●   On-site Support  ●   Microsoft Patch Management Updates

IT outsourcing can undoubtedly save the SMB on payroll and overhead while providing a higher level of service. Outsourced IT firms offer a wider range of services and support, especially for SMB’s accustomed to solving technological issues on their own. Outsourcing IT support is a must for any small business looking to be successful with technology. The truly best companies know what they do best, and hire the others to do the rest.

Michael Cooch (mcooch@everonit.com) is the founder and CEO of Everon Technology Services, LLC (www.everonit.com), a provider of managed IT services for small businesses. Everon is enabling small businesses to more productively and affordably use technology as a competitive tool by providing unlimited help desk support, network management, technology planning, and purchasing services for one flat monthly fee.

As always, we welcome your questions and comments. If you would like further information, please feel free to contact  Stephen J. Montibello, PE, a Principal with F&T, who can be reached at 781-481-0210, ext. 175.

Merrimack Valley Hospice

Methuen, Massachusetts

Architect: Lavallee/Brensinger Architects

The scope of this project involved HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and electrical engineering for a new 23,000 square foot hospice with a future potential expansion to 30, 400 square feet.

The HVAC solution included……

·   Two new boilers rated for 1500 MBH input each will provide heating   capacity and standby.  The boilers will be natural gas fired, high   efficiency type. New base-mounted, end-suction pumps will distribute 180 ºF.   35 % glycol solution to heating loads through out the building.  Heating loads include ventilation pre-heat within new rooftop make-  up air units, 4-pipe fan coil units to serve space heating loads, and cabinet unit heaters, or unit heaters to serve spaces which have   heating-only loads.  

·   Primary cooling support for the new building is intended to be provided a new 110 nominal ton air-cooled chiller.  The new chiller   will utilize scroll type compressors and non-CFC refrigerant. Cooling loads include ventilation pre-cooling within new rooftop make-  up air units and 4-pipe fan   coil units to serve space heating loads. 

·   Each Patient Room will be independently controlled and capable of year-round cooling

The Electrical solution included……

·   A new underground service lateral from the local utility will be brought into the site to a pad-mounted transformer.

·   The emergency electrical distribution system shall consist of a life safety branch and an equipment branch. Emergency power shall   be provided by an outdoor, pad-mounted, housed emergency diesel generator set. The enclosure shall be critically sound-  attenuated and of weatherproof construction.

·   Low-voltage systems shall include fire alarm, data and voice and a tone/visual nurse call system.

The Plumbing solution included domestic hot and cold water, storm drainage, sanitary waste and a piped medical oxygen system to resident rooms.

The Fire Protection solution included a wet-pipe sprinkler system throughout the complex.

Peninsula Housing

Dorchester, Massachusetts

Architect: DiMella Shaffer Associates, Inc.

The scope of this project involved HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and electrical engineering for two buildings of approximately 160,000 sf each.

The HVAC solution included a new boiler plant that consisted of natural gas fired cast iron modular hot water boilers located in two penthouse level mechanical rooms. Cooling towers, located on the roof, were provided to supply water source heat pumps serving each apartment.

The Electrical solution included a new service lateral from NSTAR Electric brought to a pad mount transformer. Normal house power was distributed throughout the buildings via panel boards located on every third floor that feed the associated floor and the floors above and below with 480/277V and 208/120V power. Emergency power was provided by a 480/277V, 3 phase, 4 wire Diesel Emergency Generator located outdoors in a weatherproof enclosure. The Fire Alarm System was an addressable microprocessor-based non-coded fire alarm system. A voice evacuation system will be provided in all common areas.

The Plumbing solution included domestic hot and cold water, storm drainage, sanitary waste and separately metered natural gas for each building.

The Fire Protection solution included a wet-type combination standpipe/sprinkler system designed for Light Hazard. Dry-type sprinkler systems were provided for the garage and the trash rooms. The system design included a 1000 GPM electric fire pump