7 Reasons Why Businesses Should Use Managed IT Services

At a time when budgets are being stretched thin, the needs for 24/7 IT services is growing. Managed IT services may help bridge the gap between what is needed and what is affordable for many small- or mid-sized businesses.
Date Published June 3, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021

Why You Must Kill Your VPN to Support Remote Work

Organizations must overcome the limitations of VPNs to become true digital businesses and rethink how they can better support and secure their remote workforce. Here is the argument as to why from a chief security officer, and tips for how to do it.
Date Published June 2, 2021 - Last Updated December 16, 2021

Introducing Cloud Contact Center, Enterprise Style

Experts predicted that it would take some time for the industry to adopt cloud technology because of initial limitations, but all that has changed as the capabilities have become scalable to meet differing needs. Best-of-breed capabilities, customizable user interface, availability, and...
Date Published June 1, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021

10 Metrics That Matter for IT Service and Support

We group 10 great columns from Jeff Rumburg of MetricNet that examine some of the key performance indicators of the IT service and support industry. Each column can serve as a great introduction or refresher of the way we measure how the job gets done.
Date Published May 26, 2021 - Last Updated January 20, 2023

One IT Service Vet’s Advice? “Listen. A lot.”

We ask five questions of Lisa Kemp Jones, who leads the Customer Engagement unit of IT Services at UCLA and is part of HDI’s Strategic Advisory Board. She recommends keeping your eyes, ears, and mind open at every stage in your career.
Date Published May 25, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021

How Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering to Access Sensitive Information

While some hacks are sophisticated, many more rely on gaining the trust of employees to gain essential credentials to compromise security. Implementing cybersecurity best practices will enable your organization to work productively and safely without having your information hijacked by...
Date Published May 19, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021

Why Premium Service Improves Customer Experience For All

There is an impulse to deliver exceptional service to all, and the prospect of offering premium service seems to run counter to that. However, if you can establish great service as the baseline, then offering premium-level service for those who can pay makes the business model more affordable...
Date Published May 18, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021

Be Prepared to Abandon or Modify Your Plan to Deliver Value

In our continuing series on shifting to a value-driven service management model, Alma Miller discusses the lessons she learned from a disastrous 24-hour road trip with her family. During the trip, she learned the value of abandoning a plan that isn’t working for all stakeholders.
Date Published May 17, 2021 - Last Updated December 16, 2021

Hire IT People With More Than IT Skills

Whereas once customer experience was something IT service and support put on the backest of backburners, the concept has now become front and center in the competitive IT landscape. Doug Rabold has a somewhat heretical suggestion for how to meet that demand.
Date Published May 5, 2021 - Last Updated July 26, 2021

“Remember Why You Are There: To Help People.”

We ask five questions of Roy Atkinson, CEO and Principal Advisor at Clifton Butterfield, LLC. Roy is part of HDI’s Strategic Advisory Board, composed of industry thought leaders, practitioners and solution providers who help us keep close tabs on the customer insights and support center and...
Date Published May 4, 2021 - Last Updated December 16, 2021