FAQs

An MSP is a third-party company that manages and maintains a customer's IT infrastructure and services. MSPs typically offer a range of services, including network and server management, cybersecurity, data backup and recovery, cloud computing, and helpdesk support.

An MSP provides ongoing managed IT services for fee, whereas an IT consulting firm typically provides ad-hoc project-based services. An in-house IT department is a company's own team of IT professionals who manage the company's IT infrastructure and services. MSPs can be more cost-effective than maintaining an in-house IT department and can provide specialized expertise that may not be available in-house, such as Continu8's manufacturing expertise.

Continu8 can help businesses reduce IT costs, improve system uptime and performance, enhance cybersecurity, and increase employee productivity. By outsourcing IT management to an us, businesses can focus on their core competencies and leave IT management to the experts.

Yes. Continu8 offers OpenAdvantage services on an ad-hoc or as-needed basis. We can work with block time agreements, standard hourly services and per-project. Whatever works best for you, we can make it happen.

Our MSP Total program includes the standard suite of IT services plus anti-virus and cybersecurity tools, Office 365 licensing and offsite backup services for a single flat rate.

Continu8 has robust security protocols and technologies in place to protect customer data and IT systems. This includes firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and encryption. Continu8 provides regular security assessments and vulnerability scans to identify and mitigate potential security threats, and also provides compliant security policy development services. Continu8 has even worked with the US Secret Service to track down and prosecute cybercriminals.

There are many quality MSPs in the marketplace today. Most of them use a very similar technology stack, often fully cloud based with little concern for security and privacy. They usually don't even know where there servers are hosted. Continu8 uses a combination of open-source and proprietary systems, all of which are hosted on servers which belong to us and are located where our engineers can easily access them. We maintain control over our entire stack. This allows us to adapt to threats, keep up with changing markets and provide the best support to our clients with the least amount of risk.

Continu8 has supported a diverse group of ERP systems, over 100 different products in total. Our experience goes all the way back to Lilly & White - the developers at IBM that created the 1st ERP (eventually becoming MAPICS). Some of the most common systems we encounter are: Oracle, SAP, Encompix, Visual Manufacturing, Infor, Made2Manage, JobBoss, Exact Max, QAD and Plex. We even support custom-built systems!

MES's integrate with other manufacturing systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), and automation systems like Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The MES system receives real-time data from these systems, processes it, and provides actionable insights to improve overall manufacturing performance.

An MES system can collect data related to production scheduling, inventory management, machine and equipment utilization, material tracking, quality control, and operator performance.

Yes, a Continu8's MES system can be customized to meet the specific business needs of a manufacturing plant. It can be tailored to the plant's specific workflows, processes, and requirements.

The implementation timeline for an ERP or MES system depends on the complexity of the system, the number of users, and the level of customization required. Initial improvements can start in the first few weeks, but it can take several months to a year to sully integrate your system.

ERP, MES and other manufacturing technologies can often be implemented in the cloud. Whether it be a true SAAS (software-as-a-service) product or a hybrid cloud (where we host the servers in our data center) there are always options. We generally recommend either on-premise or hybrid cloud solutions for ERP and other tightly integrated solutions as that allows us to guarantee security and provides full access to the backend databases.