As a small business owner, you likely have your hands full every day. You have to prioritize your tasks strategically, and consequently, some work may be delayed or dropped entirely. Unfortunately, this means that your technology department might get the short end of the deal as you manage your time. But ignoring your IT needs is one of the worst things you could do for your small business.
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Don’t Ignore Your IT Department
Failing to dedicate enough time, money, or support to your technology department will cause the rest of your business to suffer. Take the time to examine how your small business treats your IT needs and identify any potential problems. A few crucial red flags to watch for include:
- Untrained employees
- Inadequate cybersecurity
- Bad recovery strategies
- Amateur tech support
1) Untrained Employees
Most influencers in the technology industry will tell employers to provide company training on security and protecting company data. While this is important, it’s also crucial to remember that even without looming security threats, employees still handle technology on a daily basis. Their exact duties may vary, but most people will use a large amount of software and hardware every day. Unfortunately, training for work-related technology isn’t always adequate. Before you delve into the details of security and potential phishing emails, make sure your employees know how to use the computer and software to begin with.
2) Inadequate Technical Protection
Most businesses tend to regard online security breaches as something that happens to “other people”, not giving it much thought until they’re under attack. There’s no question that information security is crucial. But on a simpler level, are your computers themselves protected? Would a power surge tomorrow wipe all your crucial data? Make sure you’re protected both online and in the physical office.
3) Bad Recovery Strategies
Disaster recovery and business continuity plans can save your business during a crisis or following a natural disaster. Not only will you be able to quickly restore your data, but you’ll also be able to resume business quickly and reduce expensive downtime. Many business owners fail to plan these crucial steps in their overall strategy. Do you have a plan for business continuity and recovery? If not, it’s time to develop one.
4) Amateur Tech Support
Even if your technophile employee has a degree in computer science, they can’t provide the all-encompassing, 24/7 support your business needs to keep all your technology functioning properly and safely. Don’t rely on yourself or your employees to maintain all the equipment when you can opt for a professional. Too many businesses rely on amateur tech support or ignore that department entirely. Don’t make the same mistake!
Pro Tip: One common obstacle to hiring professional tech support is a lack of funds. Remember that as you look to cut costs in your business, the tech department is not the place to do it.
Meet Your Small Business’s IT Needs
It’s an unfortunate but true principle that without a solid IT department behind your small business, your venture isn’t likely to survive long-term. Spend time, money, and energy focused on developing and maintaining an excellent technology department for your business. With care to avoid these common IT mistakes and to focus on long-term goals, your newly revamped IT strategy is sure to be excellent.
Connect with us to learn more about professional IT support for your small business.
