Frequently Asked Questions

Small Business FAQs

Q. Why do I need regular, managed technology care?

A. Large enterprise businesses roll out equipment and virus upgrades and updates like clockwork. But it’s different for the small business.

Many small businesses think that once the equipment is purchased, with the standard operating systems, virus protection is all they need. Thinking like this can put a business out of business because of:

• Unplanned downtime
• Equipment purchases made under pressure
• Bad customer relations
• The costly and potentially devastating effects of security breaches, data loss, and equipment failure, not to mention operational issues

Consider this: if you have an office with only three workstations and one goes down, you’ve just lost 33% of your productivity.

In addition, small businesses are now the prime target for hackers and crackers. Respondents in an FBI computer crime survey lost an estimated $15.7 million in related virus outbreaks, and more than $50 billion loss due to identity theft.

Q. But what about the cost?

A. Planning ahead saves money in terms of inventory purchasing. It’s easier to plan for capital purchases when you are not under pressure. A study by InfoTech Research Group suggests a 15 to 25 percent savings through reduced inventory as a result of planned maintenance. Now consider the cost of lost productivity, loss of sales, or customers. Worst of all, the SBA has recently released numbers to suggest that over 93 percent of all small business who suffer data loss go out of businesses.

Think of it as ‘oil change for small business technology.’

Q: We have our own on-call IT person who comes in when we need something. Why would I need your service?

A: Having a regular IT person is critical for your technology strategy, building and maintaining your network, customizing your software needs and system replacements. You might think of them as the landscaper, who helps you with choosing the right design and materials you need to achieve your ultimate goal. Techchex is the gardener who maintains the design and keeps out predators.

Techchex works very closely with System Integrators and IT professionals in a collaborative effort to create the most safe and efficient technology for your business, and we will be happy to work with your preferred professional. Often, IT professionals welcome an alliance with Techchex, as it frees them up to handle strategic system and network planning, instead of handling break-and-fix problems.

Q: What experience do you have with the medical field?

A: The medical community must be in compliance with strict local and federal guidelines, such as HIPAA, which is why Techchex chose Mozy as our data partner. Mozy complies with all HIPAA requirements so you can be sure that your data is encrypted and safely stored. In addition, Techchex realized the uniqueness of the medical practices, therefore, recruits and selects technicians with a high level of experience in various medical and dental fields.

Simply focusing on HIPAA compliance, however, is much like locking the front door but leaving the back door wide open. The medical office must also comply with FACTA, disposing of computers, and the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act (ITPEA), in the same way as other small businesses, if they are to overt other penalties.

Q: Mozy provides the back up for our systems. Why should we go through you instead of signing up with Mozy directly?

A: If you are looking for only backup, we recommend that you locate a backup service provider, such as Mozy, directly. However, if you are looking for managed care that brings added benefits, then you may want to consider Techchex,.

Techchex can help you by preventing expensive security breaches and save you thousands of dollars in government fines, keeping your data safe and secure., improving the lifespan of your existing systems and eliminating the need for premature upgrades while letting you focus your time and energy on your business’ success. Our services provide:

• Data Backup and Recovery
• Worm/Virus/Spyware Protection
• System Defragmentation
• Clean Systems
• Security
• Checkdisk Utility
• Scheduled Reporting

Q: Is remote support secure?

A: YES! And regardless of whether we are ready or not, virtualization and remote access is here to stay.

Q: Why is remote computer support better than most traditional support options?

A: Remote care offers many benefits. Remote services:

• Are more cost effective for the small business
• Allows for a more robust combination of preventative and proactive maintenance. Automated monitoring and tools are used to proactively maintain systems and with regularly scheduled system ‘check-up’ to prevent issues from developing.
• Allows small business to address their system maintenance need, which greatly simplifies IT management and oversight burdens. You never have to remember to backup or update your malware….

Resellers FAQs

Q. Why would I want an affiliate program?

A. Affiliate programs help build customer loyalty and preference. They provide a value-add for your customers without investment needed by you to create and implement new programs. But affiliate programs need to be relevant to your customer’s need and help them achieve their ultimate goals and business objectives.

They are a great way to stretch your marketing dollars, or to reach out to an additional market without a large investment. You don’t have to buy products or carry inventory.

Q. How does it help my bottom line?

A. A Techchex affiliate program offers you a window into the unique demographics and psychographics of the often fragmented small business market. With our proprietary processes and procedures you’ll get a unique view of the purchasing habits of your customers, enabling you to create and offer products that have more relevancies, thus leading to a better ROI.

Our advanced process can help deliver your current campaign methods through our advanced tools, and we can easily measure results.

Additionally, we can ‘matchmaker’ your business with other opportunities such as local and national associations, original equipment manufacturers , etc., which help to drive new leads to your product and business.

Q. My customers are unique, how do I know they will benefit from this program?

It’s true each vertical market has its own idiosyncrasies; there’s no one-size-fits-all. However, each market has the innate desire to be successful regardless of focus: accountant or doctor, shopkeeper or electrician.

Techchex takes the time to consider the uniqueness of each market and its specific challenges. For example, those in the medical field are not only challenged by HIPAA regulations, but also need to be in compliance with FACTA (disposing of computers), and ITPEA, the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, in the same way as other small businesses if they are to avoid other penalties.

Q. How is this good for my customers?

A. Small businesses are at risk of falling victim to hackers, crackers or phishers. Small business is the prime target for vicious intruders who are honing their skills for a more challenging conquest. But unlike enterprise companies who release updates and protection on almost daily bases, small businesses do not have the resources to compete with these aggressive intrusions. In fact, the SBA recently released numbers suggesting that over 93 percent of all small business who suffer data lose go out of business. And respondents in an FBI computer crime survey lost an estimated $15.7 million in related virus outbreaks,with more than $50 billion of loss due to identity theft

Techchex programs offer your customers a way to mitigate their risk by monitoring their systems regularly, backing up their data and removing threats that can put their business in danger.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. Techchex’s goals are to help you drive brand loyalty and leadership within your current customer base, and to help you meet your lead generation objectives. Our programs and tools can help you reach these goals.

Whether your goals include lead generation, customer retention, driving brand awareness, adding extra power to existing progress to drive a better ROI, or simply identify additional sales opportunities, Techchex program and tools can help you drive your message and reach your objectives.

Q. Techchex is a start up, why would we engage with you?

A. Yes, we are a start up, but we are not new to small business, by any means. Our team has over a collective half century in working and supporting the small business market. Our organization has collected top performers from companies such as IBM, Neilson, GE, C-Net, and Intel. In addition, we have proven expertise gained from working in a small business itself. This team has managed world-wide programs with budgets of over $4millon dollars -- with documented results that have been named best in class.

Q. Can you scale to reach my national customers?

A. Most definitely! Our proprietary process makes remote scaling a cinch. Our desk-side support has a strong base, from relationships we’ve developed and nurtured over the many years we’ve been in technology. This relationship translates into over 44,000 IT professionals, with a pedigree of excellence. It represents a strong skill set in a number of vertical markets including, medical, manufacturing, finance, legal, government, education and more.

Whoever your customers are, chances are we can service them.

Associations FAQs

Q. What advantages can your affiliate program offer me?

A. We offer more advantages than will fit in this space, but some of the high level ones are:

1. The ability to take advantage of our customizable tools, including

   1. Educational content for your web site and newsletters, and

   2. 3 – 4 min educational webcasts posted on your web site, covering key topics such as

      1. security, mitigating risk, getting the most from their current technology, and how to make their technology greener

   3. FREE use of Techchex Service Station at local events, where members can bring in their laptops for a quick service FREE of charge

2. Preferred pricing – because Techchex only offers services through an affiliate program, small businesses can only take advantage of this pricing if they have a relationship with an affiliate.

Q. Our members are specialized, how will your program work for them?

A. It’s true, not all small businesses are built the same. Some have very specific requirements, such as the medical and dental field and other businesses which are highly regulated or are considered high risk. For this reason Techchex has taken the extra step to insure that our backup services and desk-side help have specific expertise in each of these areas.

Q. How is your program different than that of our members?

A. It’s hard to say without knowing more about your members. But perhaps looking at what we do can help you determine the difference:

Techchex works on a preventive model, not a break and fix model which is what most IT consultants and professions use. We also work in tandem with other IT consultants and professions, and are most likely not competitors. You might think of it this way: the IT consultant is the landscaper, who helps you with choosing the right design and materials you need to achieve your ultimate goal. Techchex is the gardener who maintains the design and keeps out predators.

If you do find that some of your members are in fact delivering the same services as Techchex, you may want to consider asking them if they can help you put together a turnkey no-cost program for your association that will help all your members mitigate their risk.

Q. Will your program be able to generate revenue for our members?

A. Probably not. But what it can do is help your members save money, not to mention stay in business - and in this case, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of profit” ™.

Our product is built on the prevention model, and planning ahead saves money in terms of inventory purchasing. It’s easier to plan for capital purchases when you are not under pressure. A study by InfoTech Research Group shows there is a 15 to 25 percent savings through reduced inventory as a result of planned maintenance. Now consider the cost of lost productivity, loss of sales, or customers. Worst of all, the SBA has recently released numbers to suggest that over 93 percent of all small business who suffer data loss go out of business.
Think of it as ‘oil change for small business technology.’

Q. Will you become a member?

A. Techchex is a national organization that is committed to the growth and sustainability of small businesses nationwide. Although there are some associations for which we would not qualify as a member, we are often asked to join a host of local and national organizations. Although we would like to join them all, we feel our resources are better spent in supporting small business as a whole. The cost savings we make are passed onto the small business customers. It’s also our way of supporting the notion of sustainability.

Q. Is there any cost to the association?

A. FREE of charge for associations who are supporting the growth of small businesses.