Microsoft 365 Is Not a Backup: What Microsoft Keeps and for How Long
Microsoft 365 does not back up your data in the way most business owners mean. It keeps deleted files in SharePoint and OneDrive for up to 93 days,…
Managed IT vs Break/Fix: Which Is Right for a Maine Small Business?
What a managed service provider does, how break/fix IT works, and a five-question test for which one a Maine small business needs.
How Much Does IT Support Cost for a Small Business in Maine?
Short answer: at Information Systems of Maine, fully managed IT for a small business runs $100 to $150 per user per month, and that includes remote support, monitored…
Still on Windows 10? What a Maine Small Business Should Do Before 2027
Short answer: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer security updates were extended in June 2026 and now run to October 12, 2027, but…
Are Cloud Services Right for Your Business? A Decision Guide for Maine Small Businesses
Short answer: for most Maine small businesses, email, calendars, documents and the common line-of-business apps belong in the cloud (Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace plus a cloud server…
What Network Monitoring Actually Watches (and Why Small Businesses Need It)
Short answer: network monitoring means a small software agent on every computer, server and network device reports its health around the clock to a system that alerts a…
Business Wi-Fi Done Right: How to Design a Wireless Network for a Maine Office, Shop or Clinic
Short answer: a good business Wi-Fi network has business-grade access points placed by a site survey (roughly one per 1,500 to 2,500 square feet of open office, more…
The One Setting That Stops Most Email Hacks: Multi-Factor Authentication
Short answer: turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for every email account in the business, using an authenticator app or a passkey rather than text-message codes. A phished or…
Moving Your Business? The IT Checklist for an Office Move in Greater Portland
Short answer: start the IT side of an office move eight weeks out, because business internet in Greater Portland can take four to six weeks to install and…
How Much Should a Small Business Budget for IT? Three Things Every Plan Needs
Short answer: published benchmarks put total technology spending at roughly 3 to 7 percent of revenue for small businesses, with the share depending on how dependent the business…