Our IT Resources Library
Inspiring Your IT Decisions

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Many different colored doors to choose from

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Microsoft 365 Suites - So many choices!

Microsoft offers many options for their subscription licensing - Microsoft Office 365. This table summarizes the options, features and pricing.

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Understanding & Optimizing Microsoft 365 Licensing

Most businesses have made the transition to Microsoft/Office…

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Tips & Tricks for Using Microsoft Teams - Video

Businesses are transitioning from office work lifestyle to remote working solutions and for good reason. Find out here with this blog from BEI how you can make the switch.

Cell Phone "Happy Mother's Day" on screen

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Mother's Day Tech Gifts

BEI's monthly newsletter includes Mother's Day gift tips, our lunchtime webinar series (Microsoft Teams Tips and Tricks is next), BEI is again a Best Place to Work, IT Security during COVID-19, and more!

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May 2020 Newsletter

Workplace Anywhere Presentation with Ryan Diaz

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Tips & Tricks for Using Datto Workplace - Video

Businesses are transitioning from office work lifestyle to remote working solutions and for good reason. Find out here with this blog from BEI how you can make the switch.

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CMMC Level 2 - Building a Bridge to Level 3

CMMC Level 2 introduces processes (maturity) to CMMC. It is bridge to Level 3 but requires a rigor and discipline that will server your organization well as you work business development efforts and long-term planning.

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Windows Virtual Desktop – a Game Changer!

Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) is a game changer. As a replacement for Citrix or Remote Desktop, WVD saves money and provides a greatly improved user experience.

Business

Clean Your Phone!

It’s one thing to stop touching your face. It’s another to stop touching the things that touch your face! Read some quick and easy tips to keep that phone clean!

Woman having online meeting with colleagues

Business

Online Meeting Tips and Tricks

We're attending LOTS of online meetings these days and have put together our favorite tips for Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

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No Pants Required! Strategies for Telework - Video

Businesses are transitioning from office work lifestyle to remote working solutions and for good reason. Find out here with this blog from BEI how you can make the switch.

Man and woman working from home. IT systems and IT support are important.

Managed IT Services

Remote Work - enabling your staff

Do you want your staff to be able to work remotely? This is top of mind right now for many, but it also makes sense to consider as a normal business planning exercise. Read this blog from BEI on why you should and how you can

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How to Pick a Password Manager?

A password manager is like a notebook with your passwords, but…

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Password Management Webinar - Video

View our latest webinar on password management and a demo of LastPass.

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Our favorite Outlook tips

Many of us spend lots of our day in Outlook, so any tips to make us more efficient are treasured. We’ve collected some of our favorites here. Find out all about them in this blog from BEI.

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The Latest Phishing Trends - Video

Did you know that phishing via text is growing rapidly? The short webinar provides tips and examples of phishing threats so that you can go back to work better prepared!

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Technology Refresh – Buy or Lease?

Here at BEI, We are happy to get you a quote from Dell or another leasing company. They are often willing to roll in the professional services also – so our fees can be included in the lease. Let’s take a look at the most common options.

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Windows 7 End-of-Life – what's next?

Microsoft will stop issuing security updates/patches for Windows 7 and Server 2008. These security patches address vulnerabilities that Microsoft has found or that hackers have discovered. If you are in a regulated industry (e.g. HIPAA or FISMA) you will be considered non-compliant. So what should you be doing now?

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Preparing for CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)

CMMC is a certification that will be required for every firm…

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Checklist to Tie Up 2019 Technology

Before you make your resolutions for 2020 we thought we would help you take a minute to tie up essential technology details from 2019. If you haven’t gotten around to these, put them at the top of your 2020 list!

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Top Tech Gift Guide for 2019

Here at BEI, we polled our staff and as you can imagine, a group of techies have a large and interesting wish list.

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Spotting Phishing in 2020 –Presented by The Reston Chamber

We want you to join us for this special presentation about phising and the dangers to look out for in 2020. Katherine Deming from BEI will be presenting this topic.

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Holiday Shopping Primer

Whatever your holiday traditions, the experts advise us all to be a little wary online this time of year. Here are some easy tips to stay safe:

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Don't Get Tricked by Hackers!

Cybercriminals are always on the hunt for easy access to your organization. Many times the easiest way in isn’t traditional hacking. Human hacking, more commonly known as social engineering, involves tricking an unsuspecting employee into giving hackers the access they need.

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The Dark Web - A Scary Story

The Dark Web sounds frightening and it is. It is a place most of us will never visit – it can’t be reached via normal search engines such as Google or Bing.

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Laptop Encryption for HIPAA Compliance

Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates (ARA) is a large healthcare practice based in Maryland. With approximately 20 physicians and more than 200 staff, ARA manages an extensive IT infrastructure.Successfully managing and encrypting these myriad devices is critical to ensuring good business practices.

Someone using phone with a orange and blue wifi graphics in the background

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Your Guide to Pain Free Telecom Transformations

Considering a switch for your telecom services? Not sure where to start? If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the options, check out this guide to pain free telecom transformations for a smooth transition.

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PCI Validated P2PE – The Simple and Safe Path to PCI Compliance

Many of our clients take payments from their customers using…

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Mr. Jennings Goes to Washington…

We’re all targets for phishing, and you can imagine how attractive the Senate staffers would be! Mike briefly covered the various types of phishing, including Credential, Spear, Whaling and Business Email Compromise. He included examples and discussed how to spot each type.

City at nighttime with geometric graphics above it

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5 Steps to Creating a “Neverdown” Network

Let’s look at the 5 critical steps to creating a network that will remain reliable for both your staff and your customer for years to come.

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5 tips for managing your business IT infrastructure

How do you backup your data and share information? if you're overlooking other areas of your business IT infrastructure, you could be losing money and limiting your productivity. To prevent this from happening, here are some top tips for managing your business IT infrastructure.

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Essential IT checklist for new office setup

IT relocation may seem stressful and overwhelming at first, but with a little planning and forethought, the process can be quick and pain-free.

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How to protect your network while allowing BYOD

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are changing the business world for the better. With fewer overheads and greater working flexibility for employees, it may at first seem as though you cannot find fault with this approach. With our advice, you can adopt a BYOD policy and strengthen your network against attacks.

Businessman stacking blocks that spell out "BYOD"

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5 steps to a solid BYOD policy

It’s increasingly common for employees to have their own devices – laptops, tablets, phones – at work; devices that they’re comfortable and familiar with. But BYOD policies can create some potentially dangerous situations for employers. Use these steps as you set up your BYOD policy.

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6 things a good network risk assessment should include

A network risk assessment is one of the best ways to keep your network secure. It can identify vulnerabilities and allow you to fix them before cybercriminals exploit them or unwitting employees expose them. Here are 6 services a good assessment should include.

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What is a risk assessment and why do you need one?

How can your organization mitigate cybersecurity risk? The answer lies in risk assessments. Learn more about what they are and how they can help you.

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6 ways to protect your business from phishing attacks

Phishing attacks are a huge threat to your business -- they are on the rise and becoming more sophisticated at extracting information by disguising their identity as a familiar source. Read our post to learn about six ways you can keep your business safe from phishing attacks.

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Your guide to phishing attacks and the different ways they work

Phishing is a cybercrime that costs US businesses and individuals a combined half a billion dollars annually, and it's hard for organizations to recover from the reputational damage. So, what is phishing and how does it affect your business?

Two colleagues with smart phone and digital tablet

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How to protect your business from insider threats

Mitigating insider threats involves ongoing effort and some expense, but it pales in comparison to the possible damage an insider incident can do to your company checkbook and reputation. Be proactive and defend your livelihood with an uncompromising posture on cybersecurity and physical security.

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Assessing your vulnerability to insider threats

Many data breaches are, unfortunately, the result of your team — whether because of negligence or malice. We’ve put together an article that covers ways to spot insider threats as well as how to minimize the chances of an insider data breach in your organization.

Ellen and Mike Jennings from BEI at Best of Reston kickoff event

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BEI recognized as 2019 Best of Reston honoree

BEI is happy to announce that we have been named a 2019 Best of Reston Honoree. This award is given each year to organizations and individuals that have demonstrated significant contributions to the greater Reston/Herndon area through their philanthropy and volunteerism.

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4 Cybersecurity Tips Every Business Owner Needs to Know

Almost half of all cyberattacks target small to medium-sized businesses. Instead of laboring under the delusion that this will not happen to your business, it’s time to take action to secure your network. These are the most important cybersecurity tips business owners need to stay prepared.

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4 ways the cloud can boost productivity

Did you know the average worker only spends 39% of their time on role-specific tasks? The cloud offers better ways to communicate & collaborate, which can improve productivity & give your employees more time to work on what matters. Here are 4 ways the cloud can boost productivity in your workplace.

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Our CEO was recently featured in a TechGen blog

Our CEO, Ellen Jennings, was recently featured in a TechGen blog, Why Your Small Business Needs an IT Network Diagram Before Trouble Hits. Read an excerpt and link to the full blog here.

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4 reasons you should be using the cloud

What's stopping you from switching over to the cloud? Hopefully, it's not a reason founded in myths. Although cloud computing is not perfect for all situations, it does offer tremendous benefits across the board. Here's a look at 4 reasons you should be using the cloud.

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5 Professional Development Books to Read Right Now

How do some of the brightest minds in today's business world stay at the cutting edge in both their personal and professional lives? The answer is so simple that it may surprise you- they read. Take control of your professional development right now by chiseling out the time to read.

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You Gotta Spend Money to Make Money: The Impact of Investing in Business Technology

Just like accounting and legal services, technology has become an essential component of all businesses today. But just like those services, the cost can leave small business owners with sticker shock. As a business owner, you need to understand the benefits associated with adopting new technology.

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4 top tech trends to watch in 2019

It's amazing to consider how far business technologies have come in the past few decades. At one time, you or your parents may have used typewriters, mimeographs, and file cabinets every day. In 30 years, every office may be replete with humanoid robots and teleportation machines.

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VR in business: Who's using it and what's the potential?

VR has practical commercial applications, and more and more companies are taking advantage of them. Indeed, businesses of all sizes and in practically any industry can utilize it.

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Time is Money: Measuring your Return on Technology

It might be a bit cliché, but, when it comes to your business, time really is money. You need to make sure you are not spinning your wheels troubleshooting useless tech. Remember- technology should be there to help you conduct business, not deplete your time and financial resources!

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What is cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency. It’s buzzworthy and always trending. Your college roommate’s cousin’s friend’s barista invested in cryptocurrency and now he’s a millionaire. It’s everywhere and it seems that everyone has an opinion on it. Is it the future of banking and finance or just another passing trend?

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Improve your security by following NIST password guidelines

Most people are guilty of using the same password for many accounts. This widespread password reuse makes your an easy target for cyberattacks. Based on NIST guidelines, we compiled the following suggestions to help you improve your password creation processes and educate your employees accordingly.

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What to look for in a business partner

Entering into a business partnership with someone is a lot like marriage. You are looking for the person who shares your vision, drive, and goals- who you can count on when the going gets tough. You may have to kiss a few frogs in the beginning but, eventually, you'll find your perfect fit.

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7 common HIPAA compliance pitfalls and how to avoid them

When it comes to healthcare, patients expect that their private information will be protected. HIPAA was created to help standardize the process of safeguarding this information. Here are seven of the most common HIPAA compliance pitfalls, along with tips for overcoming them.

computer motherboard gavel compliance regulations

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7 ways to stay current on compliance regulations

Federal government agencies issue thousands of rules every year. If your business is required to follow these regulations it can seem overwhelming keeping up with all the requirements. Here are tips on how to stay up-to-date and keep compliant.

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5 tips for better compliance training

Compliance is necessary for a lot of industries. Your employees are a key part of meeting compliance requirements so it's important they're kept up-to-date on those requirements and how to best meet them. Here are 5 tips on presenting engaging and enjoyable compliance training for your employees.

technology regulatory compliance HIPAA NIST

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3 ways technology can make regulatory compliance easier

Some industries face heavy government regulations. Staying compliant can be a job within itself. Violating these regulations can result in stiff fines, legal action, or damage to your reputation. Here are 3 ways technology can help you stay compliant and also increase efficiency.

hand keeping falling blocks from knocking over house

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5 tips to stay compliant during disaster recovery

Every business needs a backup and disaster recovery plan. But having a recovery plan isn’t enough, you also need to make sure you’re staying compliant during the recovery process. Here are 5 tips to help you stay compliant during disaster recovery.

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3 times when a solid backup saved the day

You won't know that your system has failed if you don't test it regularly. Maintaining business continuity after a cyber attack is critical to saving the future of every company. Keep your backup efforts up-to-date against today's increasingly threatening cyber attacks.

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How to create a complete BDR plan that keeps your business data safe

Business disruptions can cost your company a lot of money and ruin the trust that clients have in your services. Some experts estimate that companies lose $5,600 for every minute of downtime. Creating a BDR plan will help you avoid those problems by giving you a chance to recover quickly.

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3 of the Top Causes of Downtime and How to Stop Them

Advances in technology have transformed the modern workplace. People are working faster and more efficiently than ever before. But all of that work and efficiency comes to a crashing halt the moment your system stops working due to downtime.

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HIPAA Peace of Mind Lesson 3: Why Should an Organization Be HIPAA Compliant

Too many healthcare organizations think of HIPAA as just another government regulation which limits their revenue and drives up their expenses. Generally, we see this attitude when organizations do not really understand the intent behind the HIPAA regulations.

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A quick guide to ransomware (and how to stop it)

While the majority of those hit by ransomware attacks are healthcare and government organizations, many others have fallen victim to the data seizure scheme. Ransomware attacks are rising significantly, targeting large international organizations, major corporations and small businesses alike.

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HIPAA Peace of Mind Lesson 2: Are You Required to be HIPAA Compliant

There is often confusion about whether an organization falls under HIPAA regulations or not. HIPAA regulates two types of organizations—Covered Entities and Business Associates. If you have questions or would like a complimentary HIPAA Compliance Review for your organization, please contact us.

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Your cybersecurity strategy: Protecting desktops, laptops, email and more

Many SMBs assume that hackers won't attack them because they don't have as much client data and money as multi-national corporations. The truth is that cybercriminals continue to target SMBs—and they’re successful with an alarming degree of frequency. You need to protect your SMB.

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HIPAA Peace of Mind Lesson 1: What Is HIPAA and Why It Is Important?

HIPAA is a series of federal laws and implementation regulations enacted beginning in 1996 to protect the privacy and security of patient information. Patient information extends beyond purely clinical information like medical records. It also includes demographic and financial information.

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Phishing attacks, spear phishing and keeping your company safe

Phishing attacks and spear phishing are two methods of cyberattack that have proven to be alarmingly effective in recent years. Your business is at risk if you don't take appropriate action. In this article, we’ll look at how both phishing attacks and spear phishing and explore how you can keep your company safe.

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Cloud servers vs onsite servers: Which is right for your business?

Today's expanding global economy drives the demand to keep both hard- and software updated and current. While in-house servers offer an enterprise on-site control, cloud servers provide them with the flexibility they need to compete successfully today and in the future.

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Thought leadership: Reflections from reading Extreme Ownership

War is an intense laboratory for leadership lessons and the authors…

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5 Ways to Boost Productivity with Office 365

Microsoft's Office 365 is the go-to productivity suite for businesses of all sizes. But did you know there are plugins that can make the your favorite programs even more useful? Get more out of your Office 365 subscription by adding these free plugins today.

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How to work remotely using only your smartphone

Smartphone apps allow employees to work remotely with the same functionality on their smaller devices as they would have access to on larger ones. With so many productivity apps being introduced each year, companies are beginning to see real ROI in allowing staff to work remotely.

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How to document your IT Infrastructure

As a small business owner, you know that if if something goes wrong with your technology, you need a fix—quick. One way to help achieve that quick fix is to do what many others don't. You need to maintain accurate documentation of your IT infrastructure.

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Hiring & retaining great staff

Hiring and retaining great staff is probably one of the biggest challenges for any employer, but more so in an area with such low unemployment and in a field that has a higher-than-average turnover rate. We thought we’d share some of our thoughts and best practices.

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4 pro tips for predictable IT performance

From business process automation to big data, there are a variety of strategies at your fingertips to achieve predictable IT for your organization. Just follow these 4 tips and you'll go a long way in keeping your company's IT performance consistent and predictable.

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4 strategic shifts your company needs to make for reliable IT

In order to better serve your customers and beat your rivals, you need to make sure your business technologies are as reliable as possible. Whether you're a multinational firm or a mom-and-pop store with a website, being able to deliver a consistent, predictable, reliable IT experience is crucial.

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Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce

Mike Jennings and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce May…

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Thought leadership: Reflections from reading Creativity, Inc.

A new business partner gave me a copy of Creativity Inc., and I couldn’t resist a book with Buzz Lightyear on the cover. It was a fun read and had some powerful business lessons. Besides, who wouldn’t want to read a book about what it took to make Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Finding Nemo?

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How to connect your business IT solutions to ROI

Connecting your business IT solutions to return on investments is crucial for optimal growth and longevity. But how can you truly leverage your IT networks to unlock business value and recurring profits? Here are some ways to effectively use your business IT solutions to boost ROI.

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How to design your IT infrastructure around your goals

Your IT infrastructure has to seamlessly integrate with your company's processes if you’re serious about fostering optimal growth, productivity and performance. From automated workflows and network security to routine daily tasks, you need a strategic approach to ensure you’re tapping into ROI.

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Boost your business productivity with workflow automation

Workflow automation offers the potential to transform your organization like no other technology before it. By defining your business processes and putting them in the hands of automated software agents, you can make your company more efficient, accurate and productive.

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Predictable IT makes running your business infinitely easier

Here at BEI, we believe our services all hinge on a single idea: predictable IT makes your life easier. We take the role we play seriously. If you’re looking for an MSP that gets it—that gets you—then you’re looking for us. See for yourself why we’re the premier IT support firm in the DC Metro area.

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How BEI does IT support. (It’s not just about the tech!)

We’re into IT. That’s what we do for a living. But at BEI, we know IT and network configuration probably aren’t what ignites the fire of your passion. For most of our clients, technology tools are just that—tools they use to do the things that matter to them.

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3 Technology Resolutions for 2018

As you know, a lot can change in a year, and it’s no different…

Our IT Resources Library Inspiring Your IT Decisions

Our IT Resources Library
Inspiring Your IT Decisions