FAQs

| About Us | Managed Services | Services |

About Us

Q. Benefits of dealing with VBS?

A. Here are the top reasons VBS is your best IT solution:

• Professional and Reliable – we only hire top notch experienced staff to deliver our services to you
• Expertise – our staff is very experienced and they train on their time, not yours
• Consistency – we have been in business since 1993 helping hundreds of clients just like you
• Credibility – VBS is an accredited Better Business Bureau member with an A+ rating
• Care – we care about our customers as we consider them part of our family

Managed Services

Q. What are Managed Services?

A. Managed Services consist of remote monitoring of all critical network components such as workstations, servers, applications, workstations, network services, and network devices (i.e. firewalls and routers).  These are all available through industry based standards and protocols (WMI, SNMP, Syslog, NetBios, ICMP, XML, etc) used widely within a typical network environment.

Q. Why use Managed Services?

A. Traditionally companies and IT departments work in a reactive way to hardware, and software issues. However with VBS Managed Services both yourself and VBS and become proactive to issues, such as low disk space, memory leaks, failed windows services, CPU failures, CPU being overworked or running out of capacity and out of date software.

Q. What are the benefits of Managed Services?

A. The benefits of Managed Services Include:

• Faster implementation of IT resources
• Higher levels of security and reliability within the IT environment
• Lowered operating costs and improved ROI
• More efficient management of in-house resources and personnel
• Better systems performance
• Less downtime
• Less worry – know when performance or system availability is affected before it impacts operations
• Completely custom and flexible services that are shaped to fit your exact needs

Q. What exactly do you monitor with Managed Services?

A. With Managed Services, we monitor the following

• Software and database systems such as Exchange
• Intel based servers
• Network Infrastructure devices such as routers, switches, and UPS
• Network and computer performance metrics such as CPU utilization, memory utilization, etc.
• Network security and firewall device
• Onsite and offsite backups

Q. Who can benefit from Managed Services?

A. Managed Services are ideal for companies that:

• Do not have a full time employee or the time to support the network infrastructure
• Do not have the tools to monitor network devices in-house
• Want to reduce network support costs
• Have multiple locations or remote locations with limited staff to support network devices
• Want to proactively detect and resolve problems instead of reacting to an issue

Q. How long will it take to implement Managed Services?

A. Implementation time for Managed Services usually depends on how many devices, servers, workstations, and printers require monitoring. We have different levels of service, but a typical setup takes about one day for a full implementation, once we have completed a full analysis of your current network and devices.

Services

Q. Do you guarantee your service?

A. Our labor is guaranteed for 30 days after completion of work.

Q. What computers do you fix?

A. We are a PC and Windows shop, so we fix all makes of PC computers. At this time we do not fix Macs.

Q. What are your most popular service offerings?

A. Our most popular services are:

• Network and IT infrastructure design / implementation / troubleshooting (wired / wireless)
• IT infrastructure auditing and best practice recommendations
• Network cable installation (data / phone)
• Proactive IT maintenance and monitoring
• Microsoft and Exchange server implementation and support
• Onsite and offsite data backup and redundancy
• Disaster recovery and business continuity
• Clean room data recovery
• Full corporate IT services
• Data backup/transfer/destruction
• Network security audit and assessment
• Hardware / software install
• Remote support
• Internet and email setup
• Remote access setup and support

Q. What IT network areas does VBS specialize in?

A. We specialize in the following areas:

• Network Installation & Support
• Web 2.0 protection (Web, Email, and Data Security)
• Disaster recovery and business continuity
• Firewall services
• Microsoft Exchange
• Virtual Private Networks
• Intrusion protection
• Computer hardware sales & service
• Data backup
• Blackberry enterprise server
• Integrated solutions

Q. Can VBS help me to raise my staff productivity?

A. VBS has just the solution for you. We can set you up with Websense which is a gateway software that monitors and controls where your staff spend their internet time. By controlling staff from visiting hate, pornographic, and social media sites you will also limit your business liability.

Q. We are moving our office to a new location in Calgary; can you move our entire corporate network for us?

A. Yes, we have done and managed many computer network moves – from arranging for the internet service transfer to ensuring that the new space is adequately cabled for voice and data, to dismantling and moving the computer equipment to post move assembly and setup. We do what it takes to ensure that the client experiences minimal downtime and is up and running on Monday even if we have to work through the weekend.

Q. Do you help companies implement an IT disaster recovery and business continuity plan?

A. Of course we do! A typical plan can include local backup of data or full redundant backup servers off-site. We can help you protect anything.

Q. Can you help with our Microsoft Exchange Server upgrade?

A. Yes, we provide the following Microsoft Exchange services:

• Exchange server support
• Exchange installation and configuration
• Exchange support and troubleshooting
• Exchange server baseline audits
• Exchange backup
• Exchange backup and recovery

Q. Are you able to monitor our network remotely?

A. Yes, we are currently able to remotely monitor and service small and medium-sized business customers

Q. Do you have an online IT help desk?

A. Not currently, but it is part of our future growth plans

Q. Can we set up a monthly contract with you for our network support?

A. Yes, we offer customized monthly contracts to suit your company’s size and network needs. Typically, our contracts includes support for computer hardware issues, server maintenance, software support and upgrades, liaising with third party software vendors, asset management, and licensing management for software

Do you have a question for us you don’t see listed here?

Give us a call at

403 . 215 . 8070

and let us help!