Blog & News

With the right planning and IT Service provider,  cloud computing can be frustration-free.

It’s an unfortunate reality, but servers go down. The key to reducing frustrations around it is to eliminate or minimize the disruption it causes your...

Just as you need an interpreter to successfully navigate the language and customs of a different culture, it can be valuable to have an IT interpreter....

Is your IT consultant more comfortable talking with a computer than a person? At Skyriver IT, our consultants are trained and measured on customer...

Stone Brewing Co., San Diego’s leading craft brewery, recently engaged Skyriver IT to provide CIO (chief information officer) Services. Skyriver IT is...

Skyriver IT consultants are on YOUR side. We don't take commissions for reselling products or services, like other IT consulting companies do.

If you are thinking about hiring a Managed Services Provider, the first thing to do is identify your organization's requirements. Once you have figured...

Is your company PCI compliant? Visa, MC and AmEx require businesses that accept credit cards to be PCI compliant.

Have you ever been frustrated by your IT team's lack of support or responsiveness? It can be the inability to solve a simple problem quickly, dragging...

The ugly truth about the IT services business is that most IT consulting companies do not want to make your life easier. Sure they want your business and...

Have you ever made a technology purchase that did not go as planned? Many companies have. Far too often, small and medium-size businesses are sold on an...

Is all of your sensitive business data secure? Far too many companies have their financial, HR, and customer data on networks that are not secured. When...

Every once in awhile, a new technology comes along that has the chance to be disruptive for some business processes. Tablets are just such a technology....

When a company is too small to justify having a Chief Information Officer (CIO), they can hire a company that offers CIO Outsourcing services. This...

When San Diego business leaders are looking for an IT Consulting Company, they often find it challenging to identify the most important criteria for...

Business leaders frequently overlook the cost of slow computers. However, the loss of productivity can cost as much as refreshing or upgrading a computer....

As we approach Thanksgiving, it is a great time to reflect on all that we are thankful for. As I look back on the past few years, I have a lot of reasons...

Information technology is complex and getting more complicated every day as more things connect to each other. And you don't want to be an expert, right?...

Most companies have a backup system in place. If not, that is one of the most important things you can do for any business that relies on data to operate....

We have recently seen a particularly nasty type of malware called ransomware making the rounds. It encrypts important files on your computer, then demands...

When companies are looking for an IT Service Provider, it can be challenging to identify the most important questions to ask. And if you don’t know the...

Do you include your IT team in major company decisions? Typically, most small and midsize companies exclude IT from major decisions. This often creates a...

One common IT mistake I see smaller life sciences companies make is to build custom software when off-the-shelf software could meet their needs. In most...

If you know of any experienced IT people, we would appreciate an introduction (even if they are not currently looking for a new position). Skyriver IT is...

After on-boarding a new client recently, he commented on how smooth the process was. As we talked further about it, it made me aware that a lot of...

In my former role as a CFO, I was shocked to find out that our IT Services provider regularly took kickbacks when they referred us to technology...

As I mentioned in a previous post, cloud computing can save you money and reduce hassles in the right situation. The question that too many companies fail...

Last week, a Tier 1 cloud service provider went down for nearly eight hours. This is a company with approximately 400 employees, the right infrastructure,...

Cloud Computing is a concept that I continue to hear a lot of talk about, but it also creates a lot of confusion. And the two big questions many life...

Have you experienced IT finger pointing? I know that I have (before launching Skyriver IT). In one instance, the IT people told me the network was slow...

When I wanted to explore the jungle in Costa Rica, I hired a guide to make sure we did not take unnecessary risks and were able to reach our destination....

Skyriver IT is very proud to announce that Lavine, Lofgren, Morris & Engelberg, LLP (LLME), one of San Diego’s largest independent certified public...

It's our natural tendency to trust people we know and particularly those who have given us good service. However, this can lead you to make bad choices in...

Have you ever made a technology purchase that did not go as planned? You are not alone. I have frequently seen life sciences companies that make a...

At life sciences companies, most employees need technology to do their jobs. And as more things move onto the network or into the cloud, being offline...

While doing some networking this month, I was surprised to talk to several companies that did not really have anyone in charge of their networks. While...

Having recently met with a number of biotech startups using Dropbox, I thought it is important to make life science companies aware of the pros and cons...

Having researched the industry and talked to many companies about their pain around IT, I found the biggest problem in IT Services is that far too many IT...

There are a lot of things you need to spend time on when running a life sciences company: developing the right product, raising money, protecting IP,...

You have probably seen it before: your company makes an investment in new technology (such as a CRM or time tracking system) only to find that it is...

“During the past three years, our team has worked directly with Brett Cattell, Director of Operations, as well as many others at Skyriver IT on numerous...

Has your company considered becoming an all Mac workplace? I have seen more companies considering it these days.  Before making a final choice, there are...

Do you feel like a broken record (assuming you are old enough to remember records), when you tell your IT team about some problems? You tell them multiple...

Every once in awhile, a new technology comes along that is truly revolutionary and tablets are definitely one of those. The combination of touchscreen,...

When you hire a professional, whether it is a Quickbooks expert, an IT professional or a marketing consultant, it means that your team can stay focused...

Believe it or not, a good IT team helps you save money and grow Did you realize that a good IT team saves you money and can help your life sciences...

Is your IT Team helping your business grow? Did you realize that a good IT team saves you money and can help your organization grow? It may seem...

Do you trust your IT Support Team? If you or someone you love has a serious medical condition, you want to work with a doctor you trust. Why? Because...

If you know of any IT people who really care about end users, we would appreciate an introduction (even if they are not currently looking for a new...

Whether you are looking at new space because you are growing, you are downsizing (hopefully not), or just because it is time to renew your lease, be sure...

Last year, US Congressman Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence made the following assertion:

Working with a third-party IT service provider can help you make a smart tech investment... the first time.

There are two types of companies in this country, those who know they've been hacked, and those who don't know they've been hacked

No one likes to be blamed for something they did not do.

For Life Science companies, ensuring data is backed up correctly is critical.

Skyriver IT delivers frustration-free IT. We provide small and midsize life sciences companies with the information needed to make better IT and business...

SEIU 221, the largest union in San Diego, has chosen Skyriver IT for Managed IT Services

Is your IT Team trained in Project Management? Most business leaders have faced challenges getting an internal IT project done. Projects that seem like...

Efficiency is the backbone of modern business. Businesses today use countless tools in order to solve customer problems and improve their own internal...

One of the most common complaints about IT helpdesks is the need to follow up on issues that users have reported. Users have to ask two, three or more...

At a previous company, where the IT team reported to me, most big IT projects ran behind schedule and went over budget. And this seems to be a common...

While most people have all heard of the Nigerian prince email scams, many people do not realize that there is a significant and growing number of business...

Do you feel that your IT team and infrastructure supports your business goals or is an impediment to reaching them? With a little effort, you can ensure...

Not many people get excited about defining roles and responsibilities, but is a very important topic when it comes to educating users. To facilitate end...

Does your work leave you feeling drained or fulfilled? Many business leaders would definitely say “drained” and I certainly know the feeling. That is why...

There are many small, effective charities in San Diego that help children who are abused, neglected or disadvantaged. Their challenge is that they do not...

Do you know where your organization stands in terms of IT security? Many companies do not. You may ask your IT team about security and they say: “Don’t...

When business leaders are planning to move locations, they often overlook the importance of getting the IT team’s input on the new location. This can...

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, now is a great time to reflect on all all the reasons to give thanks. Looking back on this year, I have a lot to be...

Are you thinking of moving to a new IT Service Provider? Rather than just listen to their pitch, you want to ask questions that will help you determine if...

Since nearly all employees need technology to do their jobs, downtime can be expensive. And as more things move onto the network or into the cloud, any...

Have you had IT projects run behind schedule and over budget? While working as a CFO, I found that to be a common problem. So, I looked into why that...

While it is relatively easy to get an accurate estimate of the initial cost of building custom software (although that can balloon as well), two large...

There are some very important keywords that are part of your network. If you do not have them documented, then your IT person can hold your network...

When we use technology, we want it to just work reliably 100% of the time. The problem is that technology does not always work. So, we should be ready for...

Do you find IT professionals to be condescending, uncaring, and mostly speak in jargon? That is certainly the stereotype. Since the goal of Skyriver IT is...

Our president, Siyamak Khorrami, will be speaking this Thursday at the Business Executive Council: Siyamak Khorrami from Skyriver IT presents: "Using...

Most companies think their files are being backed up, but that is often not the case. Just having a backup system is not enough. We see a number of common...

Far too often, companies sign a lease first, then look at their internet options. This can be a big mistake. Even some very nice buildings have limited...

Do you ever feel that speaking with someone from IT is like speaking to someone from a foreign culture? Many other business leaders do, too. So, you...

It seems an obvious question, at least to someone in the IT field. However, I regularly talk with companies that do not really have anyone in charge of...

Do you want to be an expert in IT? I expect not. You want someone to ensure your IT infrastructure works day in and day out. Any failures can lead to a...

Are you putting your company and your customers at risk because of poor data security? Lots of companies have their financial, HR, and customer data on...

When you are looking to move any part of your business to the cloud, it is very important to choose your vendors wisely. That is why I am concerned about...

Midsize business owners and managers often ask us about the the benefits of an outsourced IT services team versus an in-house, full-time IT person. While...

The Automotive Training Group, Inc. Siyamak, We've NEVER had good backups, and have never been given anything but really expensive options that I had no...

Halo Business Intelligence Hi Siyamak & Brett - I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how wonderful it has been having Skyriver IT as our partner...

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego "The email migration you just finished went very smoothly. This project was better managed than any other IT...

TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Skyriver IT provides our business IT support as well as our mission critical data management hosting and server...

Costanzo Financial Group “What impressed us most with Skyriver IT was their in-depth technical knowledge, ability to communicate our IT needs in a...

A new Skyriver IT client was surprised by how smooth our onboarding process was. He was expecting it to be a big hassle. As we talked further about it, I...

PCI compliance refers to PCI Security Standards set by the major credit card brands (e.g. Mastercard, Visa, AmEx) to protect cardholder data. These are...

Do you have the latest iPhone or or other new gadget? We are often drawn to the latest and greatest. While this can be fun for personal gadgets, buying...

Like many San Diego business leaders, you are probably focused on growing your business. One important building block for growing cost effectively is...

When we think of cloud services, we think that we do not have to worry about it. And that is the way it is usually sold. However, things can go wrong. One...

Is your IT engineer really a trusted advisor, or a salesperson in disguise? Rather than training their IT engineers on providing better service and being...

Even though it was first reported six months ago, a ransomware called Cryptolocker is still affecting some San Diego businesses. Ransomware is a type of...

It can be difficult to stay on top of everything that is going on in your business. Finding the answers to basic questions about the business can take a...

Have you ever made a technology purchase that did not go as planned? In many cases, small and medium-size businesses buy based on a feature set, but end...

On IT projects, multiple IT vendors and service providers are involved. And because most IT professionals have not been trained on project management,...