Ceifa Insights https://ceifa.ca/insights/ Practical writing on managed IT, security, service delivery and buying IT services from the partners at Ceifa IT Services. en-ca How to build next year's IT budget https://ceifa.ca/insights/how-to-build-an-it-budget/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/how-to-build-an-it-budget/ Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Clod Feijao Most IT budgets are last year plus a bit. Here is how to structure one that separates what you know from what you are guessing, and present it in terms leadership can decide on. Planning a network and firewall refresh without downtime https://ceifa.ca/insights/network-firewall-refresh-without-downtime/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/network-firewall-refresh-without-downtime/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Helio Pereira Replacing a firewall or network does not have to mean a lost day. Here is how to tell when it is due, what to assess first and how to stage the cutover. Proactive IT: what maintenance looks like week to week https://ceifa.ca/insights/proactive-it-maintenance-week-to-week/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/proactive-it-maintenance-week-to-week/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Elian Figueiredo Every provider says it is proactive. Here is what that work actually looks like on a weekly, monthly and quarterly rhythm, and how to tell if it is happening. In-house IT, outsourced IT, or both? https://ceifa.ca/insights/in-house-it-vs-outsourced-it/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/in-house-it-vs-outsourced-it/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Clod Feijao Should you hire someone for IT, outsource it, or do both? Each option has honest trade-offs, and the right answer depends on a few questions only you can answer. IT documentation is an asset your business owns https://ceifa.ca/insights/it-documentation-is-an-asset/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/it-documentation-is-an-asset/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Helio Pereira Good IT documentation means you are never dependent on one person or one provider. Here is what it should contain and how to keep it useful. Employee onboarding and offboarding: an IT checklist https://ceifa.ca/insights/employee-onboarding-offboarding-it-checklist/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/employee-onboarding-offboarding-it-checklist/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Elian Figueiredo Most access problems start on day one or linger after the last day. Here is the IT checklist we use to get both right. Questions to ask an MSP before you sign https://ceifa.ca/insights/questions-to-ask-a-managed-services-provider/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/questions-to-ask-a-managed-services-provider/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Clod Feijao Your MSP will hold the keys to your systems, so ask hard questions first. These are the ones I would ask if I were on your side of the table. Why a standard laptop fleet costs less to support https://ceifa.ca/insights/standardized-laptop-fleet/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/standardized-laptop-fleet/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Helio Pereira A fleet of mixed laptops costs more than the invoices show. Here is how standard models, planned refresh cycles and zero-touch provisioning bring support costs down. How to read your monthly IT report https://ceifa.ca/insights/how-to-read-your-monthly-it-report/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/how-to-read-your-monthly-it-report/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Elian Figueiredo A monthly IT report is only useful if you know what to look for. Here are the numbers that matter and the questions worth asking about them. How to switch IT providers without the drama https://ceifa.ca/insights/how-to-switch-it-providers/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/how-to-switch-it-providers/ Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Clod Feijao Changing IT providers feels risky, but with a plan it is mostly paperwork and patience. Here is what to check, what to demand, and how to run the first 90 days. Backups you have never restored are a guess https://ceifa.ca/insights/untested-backups-are-a-guess/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/untested-backups-are-a-guess/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Helio Pereira A backup job that reports success is not proof you can recover. Here is how to set recovery targets in plain language and test them before you need them. Co-managed IT: how to split the work with an MSP https://ceifa.ca/insights/co-managed-it-who-owns-what/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/co-managed-it-who-owns-what/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Elian Figueiredo Co-managed IT works when everyone knows who owns what. Here is how to divide the work, share the tools and escalate without stepping on toes. Flat fee, block hours or break/fix: IT pricing compared https://ceifa.ca/insights/flat-fee-vs-block-hours-vs-break-fix/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/flat-fee-vs-block-hours-vs-break-fix/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Clod Feijao The way you pay for IT shapes how your provider behaves. Here is how the three common pricing models work, what each one rewards, and where the hidden costs sit. The security baseline every client should have on day one https://ceifa.ca/insights/security-baseline-for-every-managed-client/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/security-baseline-for-every-managed-client/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Helio Pereira The controls every managed client should have from the first day, and why one standard applied to everyone protects you better than a custom setup full of exceptions. What a 30-minute critical response really means https://ceifa.ca/insights/critical-response-ticket-priorities/ https://ceifa.ca/insights/critical-response-ticket-priorities/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Elian Figueiredo A 30-minute critical response is a promise about attention, not a stopwatch on the fix. Here is how priorities work and how to get your ticket resolved faster.