How often do you experience any of the following IT issues?
With IT systems being an essential part of all business processes, from sole traders to large corporations, it is important to ensure that all systems are running well and are kept up to date. However, if you run a small business you are still likely to face certain IT challenges from time to time.
The Top 5 IT Issues:
Cybersecurity - Small businesses are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in their systems. No company is too small to be of interest to hackers, and threats can include malware, ransomware and phishing attacks.
The consequences of a successful cyber-attack can be devastating to a small business and can include monetary loss, data theft, and more importantly reputational damage which can be harder to bounce back from.
To ensure your systems are protected, always invest in robust cybersecurity measures, including firewalls, antivirus software, and employee training on best practices for online security. Cybersecurity is not a place to make cost savings.
Data management – All businesses generate and store data ranging from customer details, financial records and depending on the business, more personal data. Ineffectual management of this data can lead to breaches and compliancy issues.
Small businesses should always have a data management strategy which outlines what is stored, how it is stored and for how long as well as regular backups, off-site storage and strategies for data retention, deletion and recovery.
Software compatibility – As businesses grow, their software and hardware needs evolve, meaning some new applications which are required to support their operations may not be compatible with their existing systems. This can lead to problems of productivity, performance and data integration.
This all comes down to planning and having a robust growth strategy in place which highlights software requirements before they are needed, as well as the necessary compatibility before adopting new software.
Hardware failure – Small businesses often don’t have the same back up support as large businesses meaning they are reliant on hardware being robust. Such hardware can include servers, computers and printers as well as portable devices. Without backups, should this hardware fail, for whatever reason, the business can’t function which not only means unproductive staff, but a loss of income and if the downtime is prolonged longer-term damage to the business.
Whilst no system is 100% failsafe, investing in the best hardware within your budget and ensuring they are maintained and upgraded regularly can reduce the likelihood of a failure.
Lack of IT expertise – Many small businesses are not able to justify the cost of having a dedicated IT team to maintain and manage their IT infrastructure, instead relying on an ad-hoc system where experts are called in when needed.
This can work out less cost-effective than outsourcing your IT or having a team on-site, in system downtime and lost productivity whilst waiting for a problem to be fixed. Outsourced IT support can offer constant monitoring of the systems and can often prevent a problem before it happens reducing hardware failure and business downtime.
What's Next?
Planning, strategies and a dedicated IT team (whether inhouse or outsourced) can prevent a lot of IT challenges from effecting your small business.
If you would like to speak to a member of the SupportWise team to find out how we can streamline your systems and make your IT infrastructure more robust, book a meeting HERE or give us a call: 0330 113 7749