FAQ
A1 IT CONSULTING, we get a lot of questions from customers wanting to understand our services as well as how we’re different from other IT consultants. Browse our frequently asked questions below to see if we can answer any IT service questions you might have.
What type of clients does A1 IT CONSULTING support?
A1 IT CONSULTING’s focus is on supporting the IT needs of businesses, small or large. Our client base includes most major industries such as Financial, construction, medical, legal, or real estate to name a few. A1 IT CONSULTING has the resources to manage all aspects of your IT framework if you have no internal IT staff or supplement your internal IT staff in tackling projects, handling overflow work, or providing coverage during extended absences.
How large are A1 IT CONSULTING’s clients?
Most of A1 IT CONSULTING’s clients are in the 10-300 user space.
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What is your response time?
A1 IT CONSULTING’s helpdesk is monitored by experienced techs capable of resolving most workstation problems quickly and efficiently. Clients can expect a call back within an hour of submitting a request. Our helpdesk is staffed and available from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST. Our After-hours support is available 24/7/365. A member of our technical staff will respond to your request within 1 hour and be onsite, if necessary, within 4 hours.
Do you have a physical office we can visit in Atlanta?
Yes, A1 IT Consulting has physical offices in the Atlanta Buckhead area. Coming soon a new office in Dallas, Texas.
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Do you provide hardware and software procurement services and implementation for clients?
Yes, A1 IT CONSULTING has partner relationships with most major technology suppliers and uses its collective buying power to negotiate and pass on direct savings to its clients. We handle all the logistics hardware and software purchasing, removing the headaches of managing this for our clients. Clients in good standing with A1 IT CONSULTING have a line of credit of $5,000.
Do you provide Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP)?
Yes, we can help design and implement a custom disaster recovery and business continuity plan that matches the needs of your business. A1 IT CONSULTING will start by working with you to document and analyze your critical business applications, current system capabilities, and recovery time objectives (RTO). In addition, A1 IT CONSULTING will analyze the following areas to determine if any need to be addressed: – Current backup software – Backup job coverage, schedule, and retention – Onsite backup repository (including redundancy) – Off-site replication and retention – Security controls in place for these systems Using this information, A1 IT CONSULTING will design a solution that addresses all key areas of your environment to ensure your essential systems can continue operating and users have the necessary access to IT resources during a catastrophic event. A1 IT CONSULTING utilizes several backup and recovery solutions that provide the flexibility and recovery capabilities to meet different objectives, recovery situations, and budgets of our clients.
Does A1 IT CONSULTING require long-term contracts?
No, we bill on a project or hourly basis.
Does A1 IT CONSULTING provide project-only support?
Yes! A1 IT CONSULTING can assist your company or IT department with getting certain projects accomplished and either turn them over to you to manage going forward or provide ongoing consulting and support.
What happens if we are dissatisfied and want to cancel?
You can cancel at any time. We don’t require long-term agreements.
What kind of security solutions does A1 IT CONSULTING offer?
A1 IT CONSULTING can provide all types of cybersecurity solutions. Some common solutions include Firewalls, Antivirus, Spam protection, MFA, Security audits, Security Policy Development, Asset Monitoring, and MDM to name a few. Looking for something else? Call us!
What hardware and software solutions does A1 IT CONSULTING support?
A1 IT CONSULTING has expert experience working with most major software and hardware vendors used in businesses today – far more than we could list here. Give us a call to ask us about anything specific.
Does A1 IT CONSULTING support Azure, AWS, and Google?
Yes! We can help a variety of businesses with the cloud. Whether it’s a small business moving a single server to the cloud, or a major enterprise moving multiple, critical workloads, A1 IT CONSULTING can help.
Is antivirus enough to keep my PC secure?
No, with the increase in sophistication of cybersecurity threats over the last few years, we recommend a more substantial level of protection for your environment all the way down to your desktop.
By combining multiple layers of security like multi-factor authentication, malicious email filtering, and intrusion prevention technologies you can ensure your systems and company data remain secure and protected from these evolving threats.
What is ransomware and how can we prevent it from happening to us?
Ransomware, or ransomware, is a type of malware that prevents users from accessing their system or personal files and demands a ransom payment in order to regain access. The earliest variants of ransomware were developed in the late 1980s, and payment was to be sent via snail mail. Today, ransomware authors demand that payment be sent via cryptocurrency or credit card.
Patch and update your software. Ransomware often relies on exploit kits to gain illicit access to a system or network (e.g. GandCrab). As long as the software across your network is up-to-date, exploit-based ransomware attacks can’t hurt you. On that note, if your business runs on outdated or obsolete software then you’re at risk for ransomware, because the software makers aren’t putting out security updates anymore. Get rid of abandonware and replace it with software still being supported by the manufacturer.
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Educate your end users on malware, spam, and creating strong passwords. The enterprising cybercriminals behind Emotet are using the former banking Trojan as a delivery vehicle for ransomware. Emotet relies on malware and spam to infect an end user and get a foothold on your network. Once on your network, Emotet shows worm-like behavior, spreading from system to system using a list of common passwords. By learning how to spot malware and spam and implementing multi-factor authentication, you’re end users will stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Invest in good cybersecurity technology. Malwarebytes Endpoint Detection and Response, for example, gives you detection, response, and remediation capabilities via one convenient agent across your entire network.
Is moving to the cloud the right solution for me?
Most businesses leverage the cloud in some way, for some it’s just one application, others may have 100% of their data and applications in the cloud. We can sit down with you and find the right mix for your business.
Cloud Computing provides access to business data and applications from anywhere, at any time, on any mobile device—all at a reasonable price when compared with the cost of hosting servers in-house. The cloud provides small businesses with mobile access to data and helps them be more competitive within their market.
Does A1 IT CONSULTING support Apple products?
A1 IT CONSULTING provides support for Apple products. We have certified professionals who can Apple/Mac support services to the business community. Our highly trained Apple Certified engineers provide support for all Mac environments as well as hybrid Apple/Windows networks that most businesses employ. We also provide support for all the iOS products your business is using.
Is A1 IT CONSULTING a managed service provider (MSP)?
A1 IT CONSULTING is an IT consulting firm that provides the same support services you would typically find with a traditional MSP but charges a simple hourly rate as opposed to a flat fee approach. This gives clients more flexibility over their IT budget and ensures they only pay for what they need. This typically allows IT budgets to go further and ensure it’s used for the most important and impactful needs of the business.
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Have More Questions? Reach Out To Us
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for in the FAQs above, feel free to contact us via a form, or reach out to our offices (877-214-8266) for help.