Guides
Step-by-step guides for IT decisions and projects
Guides go deeper than a blog article. Each walks through a decision or project from start to finish, with checklists you can use whether you do the work yourselves or with a provider.
At a glance
- Format
- Structured, step-by-step guides with checklists
- Use
- Planning decisions and projects internally, or preparing to brief a provider
- Cost
- Free to read
Articles and guides
- Choosing an MSP in VancouverLearn more
- Managed IT Pricing in CanadaLearn more
- Microsoft 365 Security ChecklistLearn more
- Microsoft Intune for Small BusinessesLearn more
- How Endpoint Security WorksLearn more
- Business Backup Best PracticesLearn more
- Outsourced IT vs Internal ITLearn more
- IT Support for Construction CompaniesLearn more
- IT Security for Accounting FirmsLearn more
- Microsoft 365 Administration Best PracticesLearn more
- Planning IT Support in CalgaryLearn more
- Selecting an MSP in British ColumbiaLearn more
- What Is Managed IT?Learn more
- Cybersecurity Essentials for Canadian SMEsLearn more
- IT Disaster Recovery PlanningLearn more
- How to Reduce IT DowntimeLearn more
- Small Business Network SecurityLearn more
- Signs Your Business Needs Managed ITLearn more
Guide topics
Selecting a managed IT provider
How to define what you need, the questions to ask, how to compare proposals and what a good written scope contains.
Disaster recovery planning
Identifying critical systems, setting realistic recovery expectations, testing backups and writing a plan staff can follow.
Securing Microsoft 365
A prioritized checklist covering multifactor authentication, administrator accounts, sharing settings, email protection and backup.
Reducing downtime
Finding the causes of recurring disruption, from ageing hardware to single points of failure, and fixing them in order of impact.
Small business network security
Firewalls, Wi-Fi segmentation, guest access, remote connections and the basics of keeping office networks safe.
Getting the most from a guide
Read it with the right people
Share it with whoever owns the decision and whoever handles IT day to day, so both perspectives are covered.
Work through the checklist
Mark what is already in place, what is unknown and what is missing. The unknowns are often the most important findings.
Decide who acts
Some items you can handle internally. Others may justify an assessment or project with a provider.
Doing it yourselves is fine
Our guides are written so an office manager or internal IT person can act on them without hiring anyone. If you get stuck, or want a second opinion on your findings, a one-day consultation or fixed-price assessment is available.
Prefer to have someone review it with you?
Our fixed-price assessments apply these checklists to your environment and give you a prioritized list of findings.