The NZCS Remote Monitoring Solution FAQ

Q. How can my business save money by using the NZCS managed service solutions?

A. Unpredictable IT costs place a real burden on your business. NZCS remote monitoring solution gives you predictable, monthly IT expenses by eliminating the costs of upgrades, monitoring, patching and operations of your infrastructure. We give you the flexibility to choose from four scalable plans Essential, Proactive, IT Dependent and Fully Managed. You pick the plan that is right for you. This allows you to redirect IT resources, reduce unanticipated support costs and plan your expenses accurately. For a complete cost analysis, contact NZCS Sales at +64 (06) 348 2450. You may be surprised at how much we can reduce your current IT spending.

 

Q. Why should my business choose the NZCS remote monitoring solution over hosting?

A. The greatest advantage NZCS has over hosting is that if our network or your Internet Service Provider’s network goes down, your systems are still operational. Because the servers reside at each company’s premises, the only thing lost during an outage is monitoring and remote access. NZCS will be immediately notified of such an outage and will help restore the network. The NZCS remote monitoring solution also includes many of the benefits of hosting, such as security and server monitoring, remote storage of data and fixed monthly fees but for significantly lower cost.

 

Q. What if my business already has an IT staff?

A. More than a quarter of all businesses using the NZCS remote monitoring solution also employ a part-time or full-time IT staff member. By eliminating the necessity to work on low-level, repetitive, non-strategic tasks, the NZCS managed services solution frees your staff to focus on long-term strategic technology objectives, such as:

• Intranet portal services for employees
• Extranet portal services for customers
• Line of business applications
• Employee technical training
• Database development and management
• Application performance reporting
• Management of digital dashboards
• Web site development and management
• Aligning IT goals with long-term vision of the management team
• Professional training and certifications

The NZCS remote monitoring solution provides a solid foundation for these initiatives and allows your company to maximize its IT investment.

 

Q. How does NZCS remote monitoring handle backups?

A. Backups are continual and managed remotely.

 

Q. What kind of hardware does NZCS require?

A. NZCS recommend HP servers. Generally we will start with working with your existing hardware as long as it meets some minimum requirements. As the hardware gets older we will recommended, sell and configure new hardware. We can assist in setting up lease programs to make your upfront costs minimal. The only requirement is your equipment be under an approved maintenance agreement or have a qualified parts program.

 

Q. What kind of software can NZCS provide?

A. NZCS provides a very robust software and support platform for small businesses to grow on. The specific software will depend upon the requirements of the customer. NZCS can offer very affordable software subscription programs from Microsoft as well as the ability to setup lease programs for your software purchases.

 

Q. Do we need a disaster and recovery plan?

A. The NZCS managed services solves most IT-related disaster and recovery problems. In the event of a disaster, such as theft or fire, NZCS can build a new server with your most recent data and have it on your premises within 24 hours. Customers will still need to plan for desktops and other business specific processes.

 

Q. If we accidentally delete a file, how will NZCS restore it?

A. Simply call the Help Desk at +64 (06) 348 2450 and a support representative will restore it over the phone. Or, send requests via email to the helpdesk

 

Q. How are patches and service packs applied?

A. Service packs and software updates are applied after NZCS fully tests each one in the lab. All updates are performed after business hours or according to the customer’s schedule.

 

Q. How secure is the server?

A. Security is of utmost importance to NZCS. We employ the latest in security technology in all servers and monitor them continually, 24x7x365. Any unusual activity is automatically reported to our highly-trained monitoring team, who follow specific escalation procedures in the event of a breach.

 

Q. Do we need an Internet connection?

A. Yes – the NZCS remote monitoring solution requires a broadband (DSL or Cable) or better connection with static IP. If you don’t have a broadband connection, NZCS can install one for an additional fee.

 

Q. What are the contract terms?

A. You can use our service with no lock in contract. Discount is available to clients that request a 12, 24, or 36 month contract. The longer the contract the more affordable they become. We have the option to cancel with a 30-day cancellation notice. Specific terms will be in the Service Level Agreement.

 

Q. What if we decide to cancel the service?

A. NZCS will simply terminate the service, remove the services from the server or transfer the services to the customer. Certain prepaid items may be required to be paid to NZCS. Our intention is to make it very simple for you to enter or leave a managed service engagement. We want you to use us to supplement your staff on your timeline, not ours.