Why is it Better to Hire a Third-Party IT Consultant than a Full-Time Employee?

Every business relies on a sound IT infrastructure to maintain efficiency and performance. They seek to create a careful balance of hardware and software to benefit the organization. However, not all entrepreneurs are comfortable in looking after the IT needs and hence hire dedicated teams to take care of these aspects. But often this is not the best solution because such full-time dedicated employees often do not have enough contribution to the day-to-day functioning of the organization and simply maintain the business’ status quo in operational effectiveness – a task that doesn’t really require full-time workers.The solution? IT outsourcing to capable IT consulting firms at places such as Tampa where the technology sector is booming.  Do you why you should do that?Find out below:

More Disciplined, More Efficient

If there’s one thing IT consultants excel at, that’s discipline. Most SMBs require their employees to wear two hats and call upon them to perform tasks outside their job description. While this isn’t a problem per se, it does cut into the time allotted to the employees for gaining IT-related experience. Hiring an IT consultant solves this problem since most of them are experts specializing in a particular set of technical skills.

Flexible Services

The nature of service offered by IT consultants is flexible, which means business stakeholders can ask them to drop by when needed. This is beneficial for the company as the consultant’s know-how and talent can be put to good use on important projects without paying a fixed salary.

Cost-Efficient

From a financial standpoint, hiring an IT consultant makes more sense. Full-time employees tasked with handling IT needs within the organization need to be paid a sizable salary with benefits. These benefits cost the business a lot of money – something that can be avoided if the company hires an IT consultant. Third-party IT specialists charge by the hour for the work they perform.

When it comes to overall effectiveness, IT consultants have the edge over regular staff. They are more proficient, more experienced, and they encounter different types of IT infrastructure on the job, which makes them perfect for handling any IT crisis. No wonder, so many companies are opting for IT consulting in Tampa and other places known for their technological expertise and advancement. If clean and prompt troubleshooting of your business’ IT problems is something that interests you, you should contact a good IT consultant now. You won’t regret it!

Necessary Security Measures to Implement During Web App Development

While web application development continues to progress at a rapid pace in prominent tech hubs like Silicon Valley and Florida, the recent spate of malicious cyber-attacks has cast a shadow over the industry. No longer can tech companies postpone the implementation of security measures until the app goes live. Unless suitable precautions are taken during the developmental stages, not only does the program remain susceptible to outside threats but fixing any problems after deployment becomes extremely difficult. Some of the necessary security measures web developers need to adopt are discussed below:

Implement a Content Security Policy

Integrate an alert system into your application. Turning on alerts allows you to keep track of the possible security loopholes of your web application. When it comes to building an app retroactively into your website, you can proceed in two ways –  you either can build an expansive inventory, poring through every aspect of your application to ensure nothing’s missing, or add so many whitelists that it hampers the functionality.

Switch X-Frame-Options to Block Mode

Prevent framing attacks and clickjacking attacks by putting your X-Frame-Options HTTP response header into block mode. Complete this step during development. Otherwise, sites start framing your app over time and using it for launching clickjacking attacks (the malicious practice of hiding hyperlinks beneath the clickable content in your app, thereby inducing your users into performing some undesired actions).

Add Nonces to Your App

Your app should have anti-CSRF cryptographic nonces for all secure functions. What are nonces? Well, they are one-time tokens connected to user sessions. You need to place these nonces in every form and validate them to prevent your app from performing undesired actions. Retrofitting these tokens means touching a shared memory or database on each hit, aside from having to insert the code into every page with a form and subsequent function to validate the nonce.

Improve Security for Sensitive Information

The moment an app is compromised, all sensitive information – passwords, credentials, secret questions in the answers storage –  is up for grabs. So, unless you want hackers and other malicious parties to get their hands on these details, do away with plaintext and obsolete hashing algorithms like MD5. Introduce contingencies during the development stage so that even if the whole database gets copied, the attackers cannot access the info without cracking the codes in individual rows.

Modern web applications facilitate the growth and success of an organization and help achieve its objectives quickly. As a result, web application development has surged in popularity, in Florida and other emerging techhubs. These thriving IT destinations are home to numerous app development companies that employ highly skilled development professionals.  Their understanding of the local markets help them tailor the apps to the unique needs of their clients.

5 Factors That Are Required For Successful Web Application Development

Web application development is progressing at a tremendous pace, especially in areas like Florida and Silicon Valley that comprise major tech hubs. This might have something to do with the fact that consumers spend 85 percent of their time using native apps on their smartphone (Source: business.com). If you are considering developing web applications for your business, look for the following features:

Greater Control

You enjoy complete control over the process of web app development. This means that you are in charge of ensuring that everything goes in the right direction. However, you need to possess in-depth knowledge about web development to deal with the service provider easily.

More Flexibility

The online landscape is changing every day as more innovations come to the forefront. You need to be smart enough concerning the changes associated with web app development. Otherwise, there is a chance that your company might fall behind. So, you should think ahead about your long-term business plans, and adopt suitable measures to induce flexibility in the web app design.

Improved Security

Irrespective if the nature of your business, it is vital to secure data. If you value your firm’s reputation, you should focus on protecting your client’s information. Be agile and smart, and you’ll be able to handle the various risks connected to the Internet.

Faster Delivery

Businesses prefer the web platform due to its speed and efficiency. It’s important to trump your competition and stay ahead in the game at all times. To achieve this, you must employ smart strategies and facilitate improved communication.

Teamwork

Successful web app development does not occur alone; it is a combined effort. Web app developers need to work in harmony if they want the client to reap the full benefits of an application.

The function of web apps is not limited to collecting and providing data. They are used to create experiences and deliver seamless interactions with end users. This is why web developers are growing in number. Florida, one of the upcoming tech hubs in the US, has various high-quality web application development service providers. These companies are experts in creating customized web applications that understand the needs of users and provide them with quality solutions within deadline.

4 Types of E-Commerce Solutions You Can Use to Boost Sales

Selling your products online enable you to transcend the geographical barrier, reach out to more customers, and bring in more sales. No wonder, regardless of their sizes or types, more and more businesses are setting up e-commerce stores to bring their products (or services) to a larger audience. However, you will have to invest in the development of the right e-commerce solution to reap online advantages. Here are four different types of solutions you can opt for:

Shopping Cart System

Already have a site? You can quickly turn it into an e-commerce site by integrating a shopping cart feature into it. This feature provides shoppers a location to store their chosen items, and when they are done, proceed to the checkout and make payments. Paypal, Shopify, and Google Checkout are some of the major providers of shopping cart services. Businesses avail this service to boost the sale by making shopping more convenient for their customers.

Custom E-Commerce Solutions

If you have the budget, opt for a customized solution that you can make from scratch to meet your unique business needs. These tailor-made systems are built on e-commerce platforms like Magento and leverage content management systems like Drupal. Besides a substantial capital, they call for continuous maintenance. If you are anticipating a healthy flow of revenues in the near future, you may invest in one.

Hosted E-Commerce Solution

In this system, your web host provides you the e-commerce functionalities (shopping cart, transaction processing, order management, and more) along with traditional hosting services. This makes an ideal solution for start- ups.

Outsourced E-Commerce Solution

Many firms offer a comprehensive e-commerce package that includes everything from building an online store to providing online marketing and even customer support services to businesses. If you are into high-value software or branded consumer products business, and enjoy millions of dollars turnover, then this solution is for you. Expect to share 20 to 30 percent of your revenue with the service provider. 

Outsourced E-Commerce Solution

Regardless of the type or size of your business, you can invest in a suitable solution to set up your online store. Although a variety of solutions are available in the market, investing in the development of customized e-commercesolution always makes sense. However, be sure to choose a reputed name in the market to do the job for you.

3 Cloud Computing Trends to Watch Out for in 2017

Is your business planning to migrate to the cloud? Based on the predictions of Cisco Systems, a US-based multinational technology conglomerate, 92 percent of enterprise workloads will soon be borne by the cloud and driven by Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT). It means 2017 will be a remarkable year when it comes to cloud adoption. From California to Florida, more businesses will switch to a cloud environment to meet their specific data management needs. So, if you own an IT consulting firm in Tampa, watch out for three of the cloud computing trends to dominate in 2017.

1. Increased Cloud Security

Though more enterprises are migrating to the cloud, some businesses are still skeptical about this emerging technology. So, cloud security will be the biggest concern this year. Since more and more firms across all sectors are adopting cloud, data protection will be at the top of their list.

2. Use of Cloud Containers

In 2017, more businesses will use cloud containers to manage their programming code created for cloud-based apps. Early this year, all private and public clouds shall start using Linux containers. It may pose a challenge for those businesses that build microservices. That’s why, all enterprises must assess issues related to security, networking, and monitoring.

3. Hybrid Clouds Will Need an Audit Function

The hybrid cloud model will continue to dominate cloud computing scenario especially because it combines the benefits of both public and private clouds. However, it also has to deal with the associated challenges, which is why one can witness the rise of audit function for hybrid clouds. This will ensure that everything follows protocol and meets user goals. These clouds can check, monitor, and control third-party and in-house contracts, thus enabling small businesses to delineate the services they would need the cloud to serve and manage.

The scalability, flexibility, and affordability of cloud technology attract customers from diverse industries. That’s why many IT consulting companies in Tampa and the other US cities have started offering cloud-based solutions and services. If you are envisioning a cloud-based future for your business, keep the trends that we discussed here in mind.

Does Responsive Web Design Improve Conversions?

Internet access has become possible from numerous devices with varying browsers, resolutions, and screen widths. Companies do not have the time to create multiple versions of the same website for different devices. But if they don’t, they might lose out on valuable web presence. Nowadays, when users come across a site that is not mobile-friendly, they leave quickly. This is why savvy marketers and designers have encouraged responsive web design in Florida and other places due to its capacity for a seamless browsing experience. Let’s find out how responsive web design is responsible for more conversions.

Converting Digital Buyers

According to a comScore report titled 2016 US Cross-Platform Future in Focus, mobile now represents a whopping 65 percent of digital media time, while the desktop is fast being reduced to a secondary touch point for many digital users. In fact, 71 percent of all consumers now use mobile devices for searching various products on the Internet while 27 percent have used their devices at some point to buy products, and will continue to do so in future. Thus, it is no longer an option whether a company has a design that caters to this new and fast-growing audience; it is a must.

Role of Responsive Design in User Conversion

Mobile shopping used to be a pain for users as it took a long time for pages to load. Responsive design changed all of this really fast. It is no longer problematic for businesses to transform a shopping experience into a quick and efficient one. Various companies have found success after they shifted to a responsive web design. This is mainly due to the simple logic – if a company lacks a design that easily adapts to the requirements of different devices, the conversion rate from mobile users is going to remain mostly stagnant. Following are a few other things a responsive web design brings onboard:

Speed

What really sets responsive web design apart from other available alternatives is the capacity to seamlessly and easily adapt to any device. This allows for the optimization of user experience and ensures that buyers get a great browsing experience, irrespective of the kind of device they are using. Responsive web design does not require redirection, which leads to reduced load times. Thus, users who search for items online can locate it easily.

Google-Friendly
Any business that wants to be found in the online world needs Google’s love, and a responsive design makes getting that easier. Since a responsive design uses a single URL and HTML and allows a website to fit according to the requirement of a particular device, Google can index it easily. As a result, the website enjoys a higher rank, which naturally translates into greater visibility and potentially more clients.

If you do not want to lose out on your web presence against a more progressive competitor, then you should start providing your buyers with an excellent mobile experience. What’s more, from a small business in Florida to a bigger Fortune 500 company, a responsive web design is for everyone.  Outdated websites are never good to catch user attention, especially when there are millions of others offering similar kinds of products and services.

How has Personalization become a vital aspect in the Development of Web Applications?

Customization is in. We monogram our bags with our initials, customize our pizza toppings to match our taste, and even swap out regular phone covers for newer, eye-catching ones. Even the IT industry is not immune to customization. Florida, one of the rising tech hubs in the country, has already latched onto the trend of personalized web application development services. But in the web app development field, personalization is more functional. Customized designs aim to offer optimal functionality to meet the requirements of a particular set of tasks in business. The changes in web application design aim to grab the attention of users with meaningful content and eventually lead to their conversion. Here we take a look at the reasons why personalized web application development has caught on.

Uncluttered User Interface

Earlier, web pages were static in nature. Their only goal was to relay the necessary information to users. In the past decade, however, the situation has undergone a sea-change. The motto of a website has now switched to interaction with the end users. Websites now seek to gather details on existing and prospective customers, fulfill their requirements, and resolve their issues. Still, if the user interface lacks any logical coherence and is riddled with unnecessary elements, the users would not be able to understand how the website could help them. They would look for solutions elsewhere. The situation is same with web apps. Developers have realized that a clean UI is instrumental in the popularity of web applications.

Specific Tasks and Goals

Any business that wants to hire web app development services for personalized software should focus on the word custom. This means a “one-size-fits-all” solution is never going to work as different demographics have different requirements. So, businesses have started defining their tasks and goals as clearly as possible and relaying the same to the custom web app providers who are then devising an effective app to help the business achieve the desired rate of conversion.

More Value

Personalized web apps believe in the power of reciprocity. That means they continue to give without any expectations. As these apps provide something of value, customers are eager to return. They are careful not to aggressively demand self-disclosure from the customers at an early stage since they do not want to scare the consumers away.

Web apps are no longer limited to simply collecting and offering data. They build experiences and facilitate seamless interactions with end users, and that is why web developers are in huge demand where the business environment is fertile. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of web developers is predicted to grow 27 percent in a decade starting from 2014, which is way beyond the growth rate of any other profession. Florida, being the next big tech hub in the United States, predictably has many reliable and quality web application development service providers.  They are trained to create personalized web applications that know what users want even before the users know it themselves.