LEVEL UP: NEWS & VIEWS FROM RED LEVEL

Migrating to Azure with Confidence

You’ve already envisioned the benefits: you know migrating to a cloud-based hosting platform can boost the performance of your organization’s computing infrastructure. You can see how it’ll improve efficiency, save time, and reduce costs. And you’re prepared to join the hundreds of thousands of other businesses, large and small, that have already chosen Microsoft Azure for its service quality, security, reliability and global reach. But there’s no getting around it: migrating to the cloud entails significant organizational change. To make the best possible use of the Azure platform, you need to understand its unique attributes and keep them front-of-mind throughout the migration process, and beyond. Fortunately, Microsoft offers an extensive set of tools and services that can help ease and [...]

2019-01-03T19:07:16+00:00By Quade Finnigan|Azure, Azure Everywhere, Cloud, cloud adoption, cloud collaboration, cloud computing, cloud environment, cloud infrastructure, cloud services, cloud strategy, Cloud technology, Cloud Technology Services, cloud usage, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Partner, Microsoft Solution Provider, migrate to the cloud|

What is spear phishing and how can my company avoid it?

The average person receives 16 malicious emails per month. A 2018 study of 500,000,000 emails found one out of every 101 emails received were malicious. Are your employees properly educated about this? Or will they click a link that could cost the company millions? Most of the time, the greatest risk to your company’s internet security are the people who work for it (including you). One click on a malicious email—even one that looks like it comes from a friend—could seriously damage your company. New employees are the most at risk for being duped. [1] What is Spear Phishing? Spear phishing is an attack in which hackers trick targeted users into sharing confidential information. It can also involve tricking the [...]

Red Letter IT Newsletter – November 2018

MEET THE TEAM: Helpdesk Manager, Hayley Sargent Hayley Sargent leads Red Level's Helpdesk team as they wrangle technical issues and support the IT needs Detroit area business. TECH NEWS: What is Cloud Computing? If you aren't taking advantage of cloud computing, or don't know how best to implement it, we've written this guide to help you. THANKSGIVING: Happy Thanksgiving from Red Level A few members of our team of IT pros at Red Level sit down to share their favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner plus some of the reasons they are feeling thankful this year. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: What Digital Transformation Means for Your Business Mike Balatzis, Red Level's Microsoft Manager, talks Digital Transformation and what it really means for business owners [...]

2019-01-04T15:08:58+00:00By Kristy Mossoian|Cloud, cloud adoption, cloud collaboration, cloud computing, cloud environment, cloud infrastructure, cloud services, cloud strategy, Cloud technology, Cloud Technology Services, cloud usage, Digital transformation|

Digital Transformation and What it Really Means for Business

It's impossible to pick up a business magazine or read an IT blog without seeing "Digital Transformation" in the headlines. And while it's garnering a lot of ink and pixels, many professionals aren't quite sure what this means for their business. When we need technology answers, we go right to Mike Balatzis. He's Red Level's Microsoft Solutions Manager and besides being a nice guy with a big brain, he talks in plain English so even the non-geeks can understand. We peppered him with a few questions about Digital Transformation and what it really means for business owners and executives. Here's the scoop. What is the Digital Transformation? In simple terms, every business is a Digital Business and the importance of [...]

2018-11-20T18:52:58+00:00By Red Level|Digital transformation, Microsoft, microsoft 365 business, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Partner, Microsoft Solution Provider, Office 365|

Meet the Team: Q&A with Red Level Helpdesk Manager Hayley Sargent

By day, Hayley Sargent leads Red Level's Helpdesk team as they wrangle technical issues and support the IT needs Detroit area business. On nights and weekends, you'll find her wrangling a different animal. The Office 365 and Azure expert trades her Microsoft Surface Pro and headset for a saddle and hat as she trains horses. We sat down with Hayley for a quick Q&A on What’s your favorite restaurant? Believe it or not, Texas Roadhouse! What's your favorite pastime outside of work? If I had to pick just one, I’d have to say training and riding horses. If I’m allowed two, don’t forget a love of video games! Why did you choose to work in IT? I enjoy the consistent [...]

2018-11-20T18:13:51+00:00By Red Level|IT Help Desk, Talent|

VMWARE VSPHERE 5.5 REACHES END OF LIFE – AND IT’S TIME TO MOVE

VMware’s vSphere 5.5 has served countless businesses, and many Red Level clients, exceedingly well. As a cloud computing virtualization platform, vSphere 5.5 placed features and functions that were undreamed of previously, and made managing complex hybrid cloud environments incredibly easy and effective. Our clients reported outstanding stability and security, and they came to count on vSphere 5.5 to a remarkable degree – and many have been more than a little reluctant to let it go. […]

2018-09-28T15:41:34+00:00By Cooper Green|cloud computing, Cloud Technology Services, IT Detroit, IT Infrastructure, IT Managed Services, IT Solutions, VMWare, vsphere|

Cool Once, Cool Always? We Hope So.

It was right about this time last year that I mentioned in this space that Crain’s Detroit Business had named Red Level to their “Cool Places To Work In Michigan” list, and we are honored to be chosen again. For the second year in a row, Red Level has been honored with the “Cool Places” designation. It’s an award that means a lot to us – which would not be possible without our amazing and dedicated staff. As you’ve probably noticed, Metropolitan Detroit and Southeast Michigan have become much cooler places to do business in recent times. In contending for “Cool Places” honors, it’s become a lot harder to stand out in the crowd, but that's something we at Red Level love to do. [...]

2018-09-28T17:17:32+00:00By David King|Awards, Cool companies to work for|

Labor Day Closure

In recognition of the upcoming Labor Day holiday, Red level will be closed on Monday, September 3rd. But you are never alone. For emergency technical support call 248-412-8210. We wish you a happy, relaxing day filled with family and friends, doing whatever you enjoy most. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 4th.

2018-09-28T17:21:24+00:00By Red Level|Uncategorized|

Red Letter IT Newsletter – August 2018

Let's take a look at these 5 quick but important IT stories you should know about: MICROSOFT EVENT: Office 365 Summit Recap We assembled a team of experts to share best practices on security for Office 365 with tech leaders from around Metro Detroit. TECH NEWS: What's The "Power" In Microsoft's Power BI (Business Intelligence)? An impactful cloud-based tool that transforms a company’s data into rich visuals for its employees so they can focus on what matters. BLOG: Phishing Scam Target Travelers And Hotels Cyber-criminals will take advantage of any situation that separates people from their money. RED LEVELER SPOTLIGHT: James Graff Loves A Good Quest"What was great about it was that I was able to save them money and time, and that freed up resources for [...]

2018-11-06T12:04:45+00:00By Kristy Mossoian|Uncategorized|

Office 365 Summit Recap

We had a packed house at the new Microsoft Technology Center downtown for our Office 365 Summit. We assembled a team of experts to share best practices on Security for Office 365, PowerApps and Microsoft Stream with tech leaders from around Metro Detroit. Keeping data and identities secure is a top priority of all businesses large and small. In the past the primary way of securing data was to introduce a firewall on the front end of the network and install Anti-Virus protection on the end points. This may have worked in the past but malicious attacks are getting more and more sophisticated and data thieves are getting more creative in their approach to steal data and compromise identities. There have been [...]

2018-11-06T12:10:38+00:00By Mike Balatzis|Uncategorized|