Most small businesses in Beirut do not have an IT person. Computers, Wi-Fi, printers, email and backups are handled by "whoever knows a bit", until the day something breaks during working hours. This guide explains what a small business actually needs, what you can do yourself, and when it is cheaper to hand IT to a team.
The five things that stop a small office in Lebanon
1. Power cuts and voltage swings
Switching between the grid and the generator damages routers, switches and computers over time and corrupts files on shutdown. A UPS for the router, the network switch and every computer that holds data is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
2. Internet outages
One line is a single point of failure. A second connection from a different provider, with a router that fails over automatically, keeps the office working when the main line drops.
3. No real backups
"It's on the desktop" is not a backup, and neither is a USB stick in the same drawer. You need automatic daily backups, one copy off-site or in the cloud, and a restore test every few months.
4. Weak passwords and shared accounts
Shared email passwords and one Wi-Fi password for staff and guests are how most small-business breaches start. Separate accounts, two-step verification and a guest Wi-Fi network solve most of it.
5. Unpatched, unlicensed software
Old Windows versions and cracked software are the easiest way in for ransomware. Keep systems updated and licensed.
What you can do yourself this week
- Put a UPS on the router and on the computers that matter.
- Turn on two-step verification for email and banking.
- Create a separate guest Wi-Fi.
- Set up automatic cloud backup for shared folders.
- Write down who has which password and remove ex-employees.
What managed IT support includes
Managed IT means a team looks after your systems for a fixed monthly fee instead of charging per visit. At CeevTech it includes:
- Unlimited helpdesk, with remote sessions to fix most issues without a visit.
- On-site visits when something has to be fixed in person.
- Monitoring of computers, servers and the network, so problems are caught early.
- Security updates and antivirus managed for you.
- Daily backups with restore tests.
- Network, Wi-Fi, firewall and VPN setup and maintenance.
Our managed IT plans start at $299 per month with a 99.9% uptime SLA. Details are on the IT support page.
When does it make sense to outsource?
If you have more than five computers, if your business stops when email or the internet stops, or if you store client data (clinics, law firms, accountants, agencies), a fixed monthly plan usually costs less than one bad week of downtime or one lost file.
Not only Beirut
We are based in Jbeil and support businesses across Lebanon: Beirut, Metn, Baabda, Jounieh, Kesrouan, Batroun and further. Many problems are solved remotely; on-site visits are scheduled for the rest. For new offices we also do network installation and cybersecurity audits.
Want a free check of your current setup? Contact us and we will tell you what to fix first.