SecurityCoverage adds computer leasing option for small business

CEDAR RAPIDS -- SecurityCoverage, a provider of desktop computer security and support services, has entered the equipment business.

TotalTech Business offers small businesses four options for the payment of a monthly fee, including basic and power desktop computers, basic and power laptop computers and 24/7 technical support. Robert O'Dell, president of SecurityCoverage, said TotalTech Business is designed to be an alternative to retailers like Best Buy, Office Max and Staples.

"This is for those businesses with between five and 50 employees who cannot afford to have a dedicated full-time information technology department," O'Dell said. "We launched TotalTech about three years ago as a consumer technical support or 'Geek Squad' type of service. TotalTech Business provides that exact kind of techical support, but we've bundled it with our SecureIT, online backup and password protection products.

"We've added desktop and laptop computers to that bundle with a monthly subscription price, so companies can avoid making large upfront cash purchases and invest their operating capital back into growing their business."

O'Dell said small businesses can avoid spending time trying to figure out what computer to buy, whether the extended warranty is providing any value, what additional protection software to add, or how to get ongoing support after the sale.

"We can create a hardware and software image that is designed specifically for their business, allowing instant additions and replacements as they grow," he said. "If a computer needs to be replaced, we can have a new unit ready to install within 48 hours that has all their information and software installed."

O'Dell said TotalTech Business grew out of a relationship with Nebraska Furniture Mart.

"We work within the Nebraska Furniture Mart stores as sort of their 'in-store Geek Squad,'" O'Dell said. "We have a depot in Omaha where all the computers that come into Nebraska Furniture Mart stores are sent for repair. That kind of got us into the hardware business.

"We launched TotalTech Business as a brand in December. We've gotten a tremendous amount of interest, so we feel this is going to be a good focus for us over the next 12 months."

SecurityCoverage, 230 Second St. SE in downtown Cedar Rapids, employs about 110. O'Dell expects that figure to continue growing incrementally as business warrants.

"We are about at full capacity in our office," he said. "We have another 15,000 square feet next door where we could expand. We're beginning to have those discussions."