What Is a Tech Stack?

A tech stack, short for technology stack, is a set of technologies used to build and run a product or service. The term “tech stack” is typically used in the context of application and web development and includes programming languages, frameworks, databases, APIs, etc.

For example, the tech stack of a simple website includes:

• Frontend- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

• Backend- Apache for web server, MySQL for database

• Hosting and Deployment: Domain Name System (DNS), AWS for cloud hosting

The collection of technologies is referred to as a "stack" because these technologies are envisioned to be arranged one on top of the other in a vertical stack. However, this concept can also be described as a "technology infrastructure" or an "ecosystem." While the term “tech stack” is commonly associated with application development, it is versatile and can be applied to any business operation or service.

The choice of a tech stack has a significant downstream impact on the development of an application. It influences the scalability of the application and the kinds of integrations it can handle. Similarly, in the context of a business, the choice of technology infrastructure impacts its productivity, security, and scalability.

Tech Stack For Efficient IT Operations

Although the exact combination of technologies varies widely depending on the product or service being offered, based on our over two decades of experience, service requests history, and extensive ticketing data, we have found that organizations that use the following tech stack are the most efficient, suffer fewer disruptions, and require less helpdesk support. 

1. Meraki

Meraki or Cisco Meraki is a cloud-controlled Wi-Fi, routing, and security solution. Their products include Access Points, Switches, Security Appliances, and Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM). In simple terms, Meraki is a secure, simple cloud-managed networking solution aimed at solving business pain points.

We all know that the network is the backbone that supports the technologies, platforms, and services without which we would be unable to build applications, provide services, or run business operations. Ensuring network performance, maintaining network security, and effectively managing the network are critical for unhindered business operations, and like all important tasks are demanding and time-consuming.

But, regardless of the network’s importance, it is not something that you want to be bogged down with. And that’s the reason why we recommend Meraki in business environments. Meraki is secure and simple by design.

Additionally, since it's cloud-managed it enables things like remote troubleshooting. So if you've got multiple geographically dispersed offices, you can manage them easily from one place. Meraki’s centralized management service allows administrators to manage all of their Meraki network devices via a single, simple, and secure platform. They can deploy, monitor, and configure their Meraki devices via the Meraki dashboard web interface or even via APIs.

Why is it important for businesses? It’s important because, with Meraki, businesses will need fewer network administrators and fewer hours for monitoring and managing the network. So you can maintain a lean IT team or even outsource network management to a managed service provider like Jones IT.

Here’s a quick overview of why we recommend Meraki:

• It simplifies the management and monitoring of complex networks

• It offers the flexibility and scalability to easily add things like SD-WANs, smart cameras, etc.

• It offers a comprehensive suite of network security tools including firewall, unified threat management, sandboxing, and intrusion prevention.

• It enables you to troubleshoot remotely and do things like cable testing with the actual devices on the network, check if both redundant power supplies are still working, and have a warm spare configuration for high availability without having to go and physically plug into the network.

Meraki products are high-quality, high-performance, and long-lasting. When set up and configured properly, you are unlikely to face any performance issues throughout its lifecycle. So despite its higher initial cost, the Meraki network stack ultimately results in a lower total cost of ownership.

If you are to make a decision based on your business needs and want a solution that will serve as a robust backbone of your operations, Meraki is the way to go.

2. Google Workspace

When it comes to productivity applications, for most businesses, the choice is between Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. If we were to make our choice based on the popular vote, the winner is pretty clear. 90% of startups and more than 60% of mid-sized companies in the U.S. use Gmail.

The appeal of Microsoft 365 comes from its desktop applications that have been office mainstays for a long time. Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook are head and shoulders above the competition in terms of features and functionality.

However, if we consider web-based applications, there is very little separating the two. In fact, the simplicity of Google applications perhaps gives them a slight edge. That’s likely the reason why most startups and mid-sized businesses prefer Google Workspace.

From an IT support perspective, Google Workspace requires much fewer hours of support than Microsoft 365. Most of the support requests are for Outlook issues and Microsoft Updates. Based on our ticketing data and service request history, the Google Workspace environment typically requires roughly half the number of support hours compared to the Microsoft environment.

For startups and small businesses, the lower support hours mean less IT expense. But more importantly, it means fewer disruptions and higher productivity. 

3. Bonboard

Bonboard is a comprehensive Device Lifecycle Management (DLM) solution. It helps companies save time and money by removing the hassles of device management, especially in remote and hybrid work environments.

Why is Bonboard important for startups and mid-sized companies?

Bonboard offers many benefits, especially for businesses that have no in-house IT team or a lean IT team. Imagine requiring just one IT admin to manage your entire fleet of devices even as your business scales rapidly. That’s what Bonboard enables you to do.

On the financial side, Bonboard gives you real-time visibility of your assets, allowing you to make informed decisions about planning and procurement. This ensures efficient use of resources, minimized waste, and reduced cost of operations.

In addition, Bonboard is a location-agnostic solution that includes physical services such as warehousing as well as shipping and logistics. This makes the entire process of deploying devices to remote employees easier, giving them a seamless onboarding experience.

But there’s more. Bonboard is not only for your IT team. Its simple platform covers all the major activities involved in device deployment and recovery, taking the burden off your HR, IT, purchasing, and administration teams.

So if you want to run a tight ship, optimize asset usage, and leverage employee mobility, Bonboard is a must-have.

4. Kandji

Kandji is a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution that focuses solely on Apple devices including MacBooks, iMacs, iPhones, iPads, and tvOS. It has a clean and intuitive UI, an unmatched set of features, and various integrations that make managing devices easy.

Kandji offers zero-touch enrollment as well as enrollment through G Suite or Microsoft 365. This means that devices can be enrolled without any physical interaction with IT technicians. It also has a feature that allows administrators to assign apps and automation based on specific criteria like roles, locations, etc. In addition, Kandji also allows you to create a library of approved apps that can be installed by end users without IT involvement. These features make managing company devices a breeze.

Kandji also has strong compliance features that ensure integrity even if the device goes offline. It also maintains an extensive log as well as audit information, including device status, installed apps, and current activity, for each device it manages.

Overall, Kandji provides outstanding management capabilities for organizations that rely heavily on Apple hardware.

5. Okta

Okta is an Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution. It plays a key role in keeping systems and data secure by identifying, authenticating, and authorizing access to enterprise resources. Okta runs in the cloud and integrates deeply with on-premises applications, directories, and identity management systems, allowing IT administrators to manage their employees’ access to applications or devices.

What does that mean for a business?

Okta is a cloud-based platform that helps businesses manage user identities and access rights across multiple applications and websites. From the end-user perspective, Okta provides a secure, single sign-on (SSO) solution that facilitates easy logging into multiple applications and websites with one set of credentials.

In addition, Okta also has a user provisioning feature, which ensures that only those users who actually need an application are granted access. It also allows administrators to automate actions on devices and build conditional logic for device configuration.

Overall, the benefits of Okta are three-fold. First, it improves productivity by making application access faster and easier. Second, it creates a more secure login, prevents misconfigurations, and ensures that there are no missing applications or incorrect access privileges during device deployment. And third, it simplifies user administration and access control, requiring fewer IT administration hours, leading to savings in time and money.

6. SentinelOne

SentinelOne is a cloud-based endpoint security solution that provides enterprise-wide security against cyber threats. It is a lot more than a simple endpoint security solution and covers many security aspects including data security, access control, IoT security, and cloud workload protection.

SentinelOne’s security arsenal includes AI-powered prevention, detection, response, and hunting that encompasses endpoints, containers, as well as cloud workloads. In addition, it offers advanced controls over features like dynamic allow list and deny list, AI-supported threat detection, and secured privacy.

SentinelOne is regularly recognized for its products and technology. It achieved 100% Prevention and Detection in the 2023 MITRE Engenuity ATT&CK Evaluations. It was also recognized as a 2023 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Endpoint Protection Platforms. It also boasts VB100 certification, which is an efficacy certification covering Windows endpoint security products and their ability to protect against common threats.

Why choose SentinelOne for your business?

SentinelOne offers many benefits to businesses, the key among them are as follows: 

• SentinelOne’s advanced threat protection can detect and mitigate a wide range of threats in real time. It can identify and respond to known as well as unknown threats, including zero-day vulnerabilities.

• SentinelOne operates autonomously, reducing the need for constant human intervention. This allows your IT team to focus on strategic tasks instead of continually monitoring and responding to security incidents.

• It uses behavioral analysis to detect suspicious activities, enabling it to identify abnormal behavior in applications, processes, and files. This ability is especially handy in identifying new and evolving threats.

• It provides real-time protection against ransomware attacks by identifying and stopping malicious encryption processes.

• In case of a security incident, SentinelOne can automatically isolate the affected endpoint, preventing the spread of the threat to other devices on the network. This not only minimizes the potential damage but also allows for a focused response.

• SentinelOne’s centralized console makes efficient policy management, threat investigation, reporting, and managing security across all endpoints super easy.

• SentinelOne’s cloud-based security protects endpoints equally well on and off the corporate network. This is invaluable for businesses that use remote or hybrid work environments.

• SentinelOne offers real-time visibility of the security posture of all endpoints, helping organizations make informed security and vulnerability decisions.

• SentinelOne assists businesses in meeting various compliance requirements by providing the necessary security controls and audit trails.

The one primary concern when considering the adoption of SentinelOne is the learning curve associated with its cloud-based nature. This is precisely where Jones IT steps in. We have helped many clients with SentinelOne, complete with comprehensive training empowering them to manage this cutting-edge security solution with confidence.

Conclusion

Choosing the right IT tech stack isn't just a technical decision; it's a strategic one. It impacts not just your IT operations but also other aspects of your business, from performance and security to cost and competitiveness. Therefore, it's important to carefully assess your business's needs- current as well as future, business goals, and security and compliance needs and select a tech stack that aligns with them.

Our recommendations come from over two decades of experience supporting the IT needs of startups at various stages of growth. This tech requires a lean IT team, allowing you to dedicate your resources to other strategic areas without compromising productivity, security, and scalability.

Is your tech stack able to effectively support your organization’s growth? Is your tech ecosystem meeting your productivity goals and security requirements? Reach out to us by clicking the button below to learn how we can help you build and operate a tech stack that ensures efficiency, security, and scalability.

If you liked the blog, please share it with your friends