Blog & News

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

Many companies find it challenging to figure out the optimal spend on IT infrastructure. If you do not spend enough, then you are losing productivity due...

For the past several years, I have been involved with the University of San Diego Center for Peace and Commerce, which has been a great experience....

Jim Kalb, President of Optifuse, recently asked me to write a post for his blog. As someone who has lived in a number of countries, I have a little...

Not many people get excited about documenting policies and procedures, including me. However, it is easy to get excited about the benefits. When done...

One of the top priorities for an IT team is to prevent IT disasters. However, despite the best efforts of security and proactive maintenance, IT disasters...

There is a security vulnerability that we thought was important to share with San Diego business leaders. You may have heard about a new web vulnerability...

Just because computer network backups aren’t easy, doesn’t mean they should not be done the right way. We recently worked with a new client, The...

Some organizations, particularly fast growing ones, can end up with a wide range of computers, servers, operating systems, and software. While this may...

As Skyriver IT has grown its network around San Diego, I have been surprised by the strength and vibrancy of the entrepreneurial community here. While...

Skyriver IT is proud to announce that eMolecules, supplier of a vast array of compounds to researchers, has chosen Skyriver IT as its IT service provider....

Far too often, we hear of business decisions where IT was not consulted and the organization suffers because of it. Whether it is moving to a location...

Having experienced the value of a good mentor, I am a strong believer in the power of mentoring. That is why I am a supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters....

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County does amazing work in our city. They match adults with kids, ages 7 to 18, who are facing adversity. The goal...

Skyriver IT is proud to announce that Fujikura Composites, maker of innovative golf club shafts, has chosen Skyriver IT as its IT service provider....

As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and nothing could be more true for your IT infrastructure. To reduce and...

When you report an issue to your IT team, do you ever need to follow up to make sure it gets resolved? I have found this problem is common to most users....

To bring Frustration-Free IT Support to more of Southern California, Skyriver IT has expanded to Orange County. Our new Orange County office provides...

One of the big challenges with IT that I see time and again is the definition of roles and responsibilities. This is particularly obvious with user...

In my previous role as a CFO, I had the IT team reporting to me. And when they were working on any big projects, I let them manage the projects on their...

At Skyriver IT, we deeply believe that culture matters if you want to build a successful business. However, building the right culture and focusing on...

For Skyriver IT, 2013 has been a year of growth, excitement and new challenges. It was a great year. I hope it has been for you too.

Have you experienced poor customer service and frustration with an IT Services company? Unfortunately, you are not alone. The sad truth is that most IT...

Examples of proactive IT Support: Having a clear backup strategy, ensuring all machines are getting backed up regularly, and testing that the backups...

When Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, started his business, his dream was to run a 50-person company that served clients that he enjoyed...

Nearly 42% of the American workforce continues to work remotely in some capacity. Since the commencement of the pandemic, remote work has skyrocketed...

The majority of small businesses today are looking to scale their business with the use of technology. Many businesses hire IT partners to outsource...

One of the most notable ransomware attacks of 2021 happened this week. A hacker group named REvil deployed a successful ransomware attack on Kaseya ...

Since the inception of the internet, cyber attacks like ransomware, viruses and worms have caused significant damage to both businesses and...

Over the past few weeks, Microsoft has experienced several outages. Since many businesses rely on a variety of Microsoft services, this has led to many...

The Department of Homeland Security released an alert this week about a dangerous malware called LokiBot. The LokiBot malware was first discovered in...

Nearly 45% of current paid work processes can be automated according to a McKinsey report. This totals for over $2 trillion in the American economy and...

One of the things I like about Thanksgiving is that so many people take time to think about what they are thankful for. One thing I am thankful for is the...

Most business executives know that they should invest time and effort on IT security to protect their companies. Stories like the breaches at Target, the...

How does your company view technology investments? Do you see technology as a strategic investment or an expense? Technology can provide your company with...

When most business executives think about company culture, they typically think of things like vision, values, policies and practices. One area that is...

Have you ever installed a new CRM or ERP system that ended up not being used or only minimally used? This is a common problem. When most companies look at...

Technology can be as critical to business success as finance and sales. However, the IT team is frequently not consulted on major business decisions. And...

Does your company use dedicated servers? They are a cost effective way to control a server without having to manage it. However, in talking to some...

Whether you realize it or not, passwords play an important part of your network. If these passwords are not documented and stored somewhere you can access...

Some growing companies look to custom-built software because they think that their needs are different than most other companies. And custom-built...

Are you using technology to its fullest potential? Far too often, we see businesses that just slap technology onto existing business processes without...

Are you extremely reliant on technology these days? As things move into the cloud, most of us need to be connected to get work done. That is why we expect...

Internal IT projects can take a very long time to get done. If the team tells you it will take four weeks to complete a project, it can often take four...

The wrong time to find out your files are not being backed up properly is when you need them. Even with a backup plan in place, your company could fall...

Do you speak IT? Most business managers do not. There can be a real communication and knowledge gap between business leaders and IT professionals. You...

As your company grows, you will need to move to new facilities at some point. (We just did less than a year ago.) When you are looking at new space, there...

In talking with companies around San Diego, we find that many companies (and not just small ones) do not have someone managing their networks. They had...

Do you trust your IT team? It may sound like an unusual question, but it’s actually really important. Unlike other areas of a business, like marketing and...

Not all data breaches are on the scale of Target and Home Depot. As a matter of fact, most of them are with much smaller companies. The reason is simple:...

Have you ever watched a landscaper install irrigation? They know the best places to install the hoses, which sprayers work best at each location, how much...

Are you happy with your current IT solution? We talk with many companies that are not happy with their IT situation, but are not willing to make a...

In San Diego, many of the fastest growing businesses are very data driven. These companies produce a lot of data and it is central to their business...

Are you using software as a service (SaaS), also called cloud services? Many companies move to SaaS solutions because the total costs are lower and they...

There is a threat from hackers to executives and senior managers that is growing. It’s called “whaling” and it is not spam. It is actually very targeted...

Do you trust the advice of a car salesperson? Then, should you trust the advice of a IT professional who has sales quotas? We think IT professionals...

During the Great Recession, a lot of companies stopped investing in their IT infrastructure. And that made sense, since there is no need for upgraded...

Most organizations have a challenge finding the optimal amount to spend on their IT infrastructure. Some spend too little which causes system...

A lot of business people talk about IT security. However, I find that a lot of executives do not really know where their business stands on it. The...

Do you find IT Policies and Procedures to be an exciting topic? No? That is why most small and midsize business don’t ever develop and document them....

Good IT security and proactive maintenance greatly reduce IT problems. However, even the best security and maintenance will not eliminate all problems....

Companies that reach a certain size typically want to hire a full-time IT professional. The IT infrastructure is often a point of frustration and a...

IT has become a critical component to nearly every business, and yet, the IT team is often misaligned with the business. This can happen if you do not...

Are you looking for cost savings around IT? A lot of companies are. The challenge is identified in a recent article in CIO Magazine that highlights how...

Do you value flexibility in your IT infrastructure? A lot of fast-growing companies do. They feel that the added flexibility can attract talent. The...

While there was a lot of hype around cloud computing even five years ago, the technology is maturing. And, it makes a lot of sense for some businesses to...

Many business people see outsourced IT services only as a cost saving measure - a way to cut IT costs. While in some instances outsourced IT services can...

On the surface, that may seem like a strange question. Company culture is all about values and the atmosphere of the company, right? So is your company...

One of the challenges that many growing companies face is that their data gets stuck in different silos. This is not a big deal when the business is small...

Do you find that most bigger IT projects run behind schedule and go over budget? That was my experience when I was the head of operations and finance. And...

As we continue to grow, one of our challenges is finding experienced IT engineers who are interested in helping us change the IT services industry. So, we...

Do you have any interest in the Venture Capital happenings in San Diego? Then you can attend this SDVG event on the evening of Feb 23 as our guest (as a...

Is your IT helpdesk responsive? Or, do users have to follow up more than once to get some of their IT issues resolved? Unfortunately, in a lot of...

One of the common problems we see at companies is user education. To empower users and enable productivity, users need to be educated on the specific...

Email filters and security software (formerly known as anti-virus) do their best to protect computer users from scams, viruses and malware. However, they...

Your IT infrastructure can either be an impediment to reaching your goals for 2016 or it can be a strategic advantage. When you do not invest in the right...

Is your business growing enough that you need to find more space? This is the time of year where many companies are considering their needs for the year....

For Skyriver IT, 2015 has been a year of growth and change: many new hires, a new website, and a new office. It was a great year. I hope it has been for...

If you are considering using a new IT Service Provider, it can be easy to get caught up listening to their pitches and only hearing about what they do...

It’s always interesting to me when people know what they should do but don’t do it. That is often the case with IT security. Companies know they should...

Does your physical location match your values? For fast growing companies, space is often a challenge. However, it is worth the effort to match your space...

While it is good to approach life with a thankful mindset, Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on specific reasons to give thanks. As I reflect on...

Dedicated servers are a cost effective way to control a server without having to manage it. However, some companies are taking unnecessary risks with this...

Custom-built software can often look like a great solution to the specific needs of a growing company. The challenge is that most companies dramatically...

Passwords play an important part of your network. If you do not have them documented, your business could be at risk. No matter whether you use in-house...

Do you expect your technology to work reliably 100% of the time? The problem is that technology relies on the interaction between multiple complicated...

“Who is in charge of your IT network?” seems like it would have an obvious answer. However, companies that do not have a full-time IT team often do not...

Once companies get large enough to justify the cost of a full-time IT professional, business managers assume that the logical thing to do is to hire...

When you find a company has provided good service to you, it’s natural to want to work with them again. However, that does not mean they are a good choice...

For companies with an internal IT professional or team, it often seems that IT projects take a very long time to get done. This is caused by two different...

Is your company backing up its files? Most companies have a backup plan. Unfortunately, these backup plans can fail due to human error, hardware failure...

As life sciences companies grow, they need to move to new facilities. For new spaces, business managers look at cost per square foot, amenities, location,...

Have you experienced the communication and knowledge gap between business leaders and IT professionals? Business leaders talk about margins, return on...

Is someone actively managing your network? Far too often, I talk with companies where no one is managing their networks. Networks are set up and then just...

Are you an expert in IT? I would guess not, since that is not your business, and you probably do not want to be one. However, as IT is now an integral...

Many organizations put their business and customers at risk due to poor data security. Financial, HR, and customer data on an open network is not secure....

Please join us, August 12th, at the San Diego Venture Group (SDVG) Annual Party. It’s a lot of fun and a way to meet entrepreneurs, investors and business...

If your business is large enough to hire a full-time IT professional, it can be difficult to find someone with all of the IT skills needed for your...

Many companies are unhappy with their current IT solution, but they stick with their current situation nonetheless. Why? They expect that switching is...

When many business people look at whether to outsource IT or hire someone in-house, they typically compare the monthly cost of the IT service provider...