Frequently Asked Questions

Allied serves businesses throughout Idaho and Utah, with offices in Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Ontario (Oregon), and Salt Lake City. Our local technicians provide on-site support across all these markets, and our managed services team provides remote monitoring and support to clients.

Allied Business Solutions has been serving businesses for decades and has been recognized nationally, including on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies. We are a multi-award-winning office technology provider, recognized as one of the Best IT Management Companies and Best Cybersecurity Providers in our region.

Allied serves a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, legal, government, manufacturing, finance, non-profit, automotive, retail, and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Each industry has unique compliance, security, and workflow requirements, and we tailor our solutions accordingly.

You can request a free assessment or quote by visiting allied.tech/assessment-request or contacting any of our five offices directly. Our team will conduct a no-obligation review of your current technology environment and provide recommendations tailored to your business.

Yes. Most of our managed services are delivered under flat-rate monthly agreements, which means you get predictable costs with no surprise bills. Service contracts for equipment include maintenance, parts, and labor as outlined in your agreement.

The Allied Guarantee is our commitment to service excellence. It reflects our dedication to responsive support, qualified technicians, and accountability to our clients. Details are available at allied.tech/service-guarantee.

Break-fix IT support means you only call a technician when something goes wrong, and you pay per incident. It is reactive, unpredictable in cost, and results in more downtime. Managed IT services are proactive; your provider continuously monitors your systems, applies updates, identifies risks early, and resolves issues before you even notice them. For most businesses that depend on technology to operate, managed IT is significantly more cost-effective and reliable than break-fix.

Allied's Managed IT services include proactive network monitoring, helpdesk support, on-site technical assistance, cybersecurity oversight, patch and update management, hardware lifecycle management, vendor coordination, and strategic IT planning. The exact scope is tailored to each client's needs and environment.

Managed IT pricing is typically structured as a flat monthly fee per user or per device. The cost varies based on the number of users, the complexity of your environment, and the level of service required. Most small- to mid-sized businesses find that managed IT services cost 30–50% less than hiring a full-time in-house IT employee, when you factor in salary, benefits, and the breadth of expertise required. Contact Allied for a free assessment and custom quote.

No. Managed IT services are well-suited for businesses of all sizes, including small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). In fact, smaller organizations often benefit the most because they get access to enterprise-level IT expertise without the cost of building an in-house team. Allied specifically designs services for SMBs and larger enterprise accounts.

Yes. This is called co-managed IT. Allied can work alongside your existing IT staff to fill coverage gaps, provide specialized expertise, handle after-hours monitoring, or manage specific areas such as cybersecurity. Co-managed IT is a flexible model that strengthens your internal team rather than replacing it.

Allied provides helpdesk support for remote issues and dispatches on-site technicians when needed. Response times are defined in your service agreement. Our local presence across five offices in Idaho and Utah means we can send a technician to your location quickly when remote resolution is not possible.

Yes. Allied's Managed IT team assists with cloud migrations, cloud storage setup, Microsoft 365 deployment, and ongoing cloud management. We help you select the right cloud solutions for your business, manage the transition, and provide ongoing support for your cloud environment.

A copier lease finances the equipment; it helps you spread the cost of hardware over time, but you are still responsible for managing toner, repairs, and supplies yourself. Managed print services go further by taking over the entire management of your print environment, including proactive monitoring, automatic supply replenishment, maintenance, reporting, and security. MPS gives you a complete solution; a lease gives you hardware financing.

Allied's managed print service includes a print fleet assessment, device right-sizing recommendations, print management software, automatic toner replenishment, proactive maintenance, remote device monitoring, usage reporting, and security configuration for all networked print devices.

MPS reduces costs in several ways: it eliminates overspending on supplies by automating toner replenishment, reduces device count by right-sizing your fleet, lowers IT support burden, and converts unpredictable print expenses into a flat cost-per-page or monthly fee. Most businesses reduce print-related costs by 20–30% after implementing managed print services.

A print assessment is a no-obligation review of your current printer fleet, usage patterns, and costs. It identifies how many devices you have, how much you spend per page, where inefficiencies exist, and which devices may need to be replaced or repositioned. Allied offers free print assessments, it is the recommended first step before any managed print engagement.

Yes. Allied manages multi-vendor print environments and works with all major printer and copier brands. You do not need to replace your entire fleet to start managed print services.

Yes, and this is frequently overlooked. Networked printers and multifunction devices are endpoints on your network, and unsecured devices can serve as entry points for cyberattacks. Allied's managed print services include security hardening for all devices, including firmware updates, access controls, secure print release, and print activity logging.

Secure print release is a feature that holds a print job in a queue until the user physically walks to the printer and authenticates (typically by entering a PIN or scanning a badge). This prevents sensitive documents from sitting unattended in the output tray and reduces unauthorized access to printed materials. Many organizations see a 15–30% reduction in overall print volume after enabling secure release.

Allied's managed security services include firewall management, intrusion prevention, DNS filtering, remote monitoring and management (RMM), advanced threat detection, endpoint protection, security risk assessments, and incident response support. We also provide employee security awareness guidance to address the human element of cybersecurity.

Small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals precisely because they are perceived as having weaker defenses than large enterprises. Ransomware, phishing, and network intrusions can cause significant financial damage, operational disruption, and reputational harm. The cost of a security incident almost always exceeds the cost of proactive protection.

A firewall is a single layer of protection that filters network traffic based on rules. Managed network security is a comprehensive, ongoing service that includes a firewall but also adds intrusion prevention, continuous monitoring, threat intelligence, DNS filtering, and regular security reviews. A firewall alone is not sufficient protection for most modern business networks.

DNS filtering blocks access to malicious or unauthorized websites at the network level, preventing harmful content from reaching your devices. It is an effective layer of protection against phishing sites, malware downloads, and inappropriate web content. Allied includes DNS filtering as part of its managed network security services.

A security risk assessment is a structured review of your network, devices, policies, and practices to identify vulnerabilities and security gaps. It provides a prioritized roadmap for improving your security posture. Allied offers security risk assessments as a standalone service and as part of its managed security services.

If you suspect a cyberattack, disconnect affected devices from the network if possible and contact Allied immediately. Do not pay any ransomware demands without professional guidance. Allied's team can assist with incident response, containment, and recovery. If you are not yet an Allied client, contact us at 208-344-3833 for emergency assistance.

The core benefits include faster document retrieval, reduced physical storage costs, improved security and access controls, better compliance with regulations (such as HIPAA in healthcare or retention requirements in legal and finance), support for remote and hybrid work, and significant reductions in paper, printing, and mailing expenses. Most businesses that implement a DMS recover their investment quickly through time savings alone.

Any organization that handles large volumes of documents benefits from a DMS, particularly those in healthcare, legal, finance, government, education, and manufacturing, where compliance, record retention, and document security are critical. However, document management solutions are valuable for businesses of all sizes and industries.

Document storage simply means keeping files in a digital location, such as a shared drive or cloud folder. Document management is a more structured system that adds metadata, version control, access permissions, automated workflows, audit trails, and search functionality. A true DMS makes documents easy to find, control, and act on, not just store.

Allied guides businesses through the full implementation process, from assessing your current document workflows to recommending the right solution, configuring the system, migrating existing documents, training staff, and providing ongoing support. We partner with leading document management platforms, including M-Files.

A shared drive or SharePoint organizes files by location; you have to know which folder a document is in to find it. M-Files organizes by context; you search for what the document is (an invoice, a contract, a report), who it belongs to, or what project it relates to. M-Files also adds automated workflows, access controls, version history, and compliance tracking that shared drives do not provide natively.

M-Files can automate document approval processes, contract routing, invoice processing, employee onboarding documentation, compliance reviews, and any other repeatable business process that involves documents moving between people or departments. Automated workflows reduce manual handoffs, eliminate bottlenecks, and create a clear audit trail.

Yes. Allied Business Solutions is an authorized M-Files partner serving businesses in Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Ontario, and Salt Lake City. Our team is trained in M-Files implementation and provides local support for the platform.

Yes. M-Files integrates with a wide range of business applications, including Microsoft 365, Salesforce, SAP, and other ERP and CRM platforms. This allows documents to be accessed and managed within the tools your team already uses.

Implementation timelines vary depending on your organization's size and the complexity of your workflows. Small to mid-sized deployments can often be completed in a few weeks. Allied manages the full implementation process, including configuration, data migration, integration, and staff training.

Leasing is generally the better choice for most businesses because it eliminates the large upfront capital expense, includes maintenance and service in the agreement, allows you to upgrade equipment at the end of the lease term, and converts equipment costs into a predictable operating expense. Buying outright can make sense for businesses with stable, long-term needs and the capital to invest. Allied can help you evaluate both options based on your usage and budget.

Most copier and printer leases run 36 to 60 months, with 48-month terms being common. Shorter terms offer more flexibility and earlier access to newer equipment but come with higher monthly payments. Longer terms lower the monthly cost but may extend the lease beyond the device's peak performance years. Allied will help you select a term that matches your business's technology refresh needs.

Allied carries equipment from leading manufacturers in the office technology industry. Our catalog includes options across inkjet, laser, and multifunction device categories at a range of price points and performance levels. Visit allied.tech/catalog or contact us for current availability and recommendations.

A4 printers handle standard letter and legal size paper (up to 8.5" x 14"). A3 printers can also handle tabloid or ledger-size paper (up to 11" x 17"), making them necessary for organizations that produce larger-format documents such as architectural drawings, spreadsheets, or marketing materials. Most offices use A4 devices for the majority of their printing, but may have one or more A3 devices for specialty needs. A3 devices typically cost more per page. Allied can help you right-size your fleet.

Common signs it is time to replace a device include: frequent service calls or paper jams, rising cost-per-page, slow print speeds relative to your volume, lack of network connectivity or security features, or the device is nearing the end of its manufacturer support window. A general guideline is to evaluate replacement every 5–7 years, though Allied recommends proactive fleet assessments to catch issues before they impact productivity.

A wide-format printer produces prints wider than standard A3/tabloid size, typically starting at 24" wide. They are used for banners, blueprints, architectural drawings, posters, signage, and other large-format materials. If your business regularly produces large-format output, a wide-format printer eliminates the cost and delay of outsourcing that work. Allied offers wide-format solutions for both office and production environments.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a technology that delivers phone calls over your internet connection rather than traditional phone lines. VoIP systems are more flexible, feature-rich, and cost-effective than legacy phone systems. They support features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, auto-attendants, mobile apps, and video calling. Allied provides VoIP and unified communications solutions for businesses across Idaho and Utah.

The primary advantages include lower monthly costs than traditional phone lines, the ability to make and receive calls from anywhere using a mobile app or softphone, advanced features such as auto-attendants and call analytics, easy scalability as your business grows, and integration with other business tools, such as CRMs and collaboration platforms.

Yes. Allied manages the full transition from your existing phone system to a modern VoIP or unified communications platform, including porting your existing phone numbers, configuring your system, training your staff, and providing ongoing support.

This is a common concern with VoIP. Allied designs phone systems with failover capabilities, such as routing calls to mobile devices or backup internet connections, to ensure your phones remain operational during internet outages. We assess your connectivity environment and recommend appropriate redundancy measures.

Yes. Unified communications platforms are particularly well-suited for remote and hybrid work environments. Employees can make and receive business calls, join video meetings, and message colleagues from any device and location using the same business phone number and platform. Allied's UC solutions are designed to support distributed teams across Idaho and Utah.