Resources

Practical guides for running better IT.

Practical guides and checklists from Vancouver Island IT Solutions. Everything here is free; ask for any item and we will send it over.

Guides

Microsoft 365 Security Hardening Guide

Step-by-step settings for MFA, conditional access, email protection and data loss prevention in Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

Guide · 25 min read Get this resource
Checklists

Cybersecurity Readiness Checklist

Forty controls across sign-in, devices, email, backup and staff awareness. Tick them off to see where you stand before an insurance renewal or a client questionnaire.

Checklist · 2 pages Get this resource
Checklists

Employee Onboarding and Offboarding IT Checklist

Every account, device and access step for a new hire's first day and a leaver's last day, ready to drop into your HR process.

Checklist · 3 pages Get this resource
Guides

Backup and Disaster Recovery Planning for Small Businesses

Decide how much data you can afford to lose, choose what to back up where, and test a recovery plan you can actually run.

Guide · 15 min read Get this resource
Checklists

Licence and Subscription Review Checklist

Unused licences, duplicate tools, idle cloud resources and renewal dates: the review we run every quarter to keep bills predictable.

Checklist · 2 pages Get this resource

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IT glossary

The terms you will hear from us and from any IT provider, in plain English.

Help desk
The single point of contact between your team and IT. It logs, prioritises and resolves requests, and escalates what it cannot fix.
MFA
Multi-factor authentication. Requiring a second proof of identity, such as an app prompt, in addition to a password.
EDR
Endpoint detection and response. Security software on each device that spots suspicious behaviour, not just known viruses, and can cut the device off the network.
Phishing
Emails, texts or calls that pretend to come from someone you trust, to get a password, a payment or a click on a bad link.
Patch management
The routine of testing and applying operating system and application updates to close security holes.
RMM
Remote monitoring and management. Software on each device that lets your IT provider monitor, update and support it wherever it is.
Disaster recovery
The plan and systems that get you working again after a major outage, defined by how much data you can lose and how fast you need it back.
SLA
Service level agreement. The measurable commitments a provider makes, such as how quickly it responds to each kind of problem.
PIPA
British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act. It sets out how private businesses in BC must collect, use and protect personal information.

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