Top 3 Mistakes for Small Business IT Support
Posted on Wed, Mar 28, 2012
Small business owners and managers have countless responsibilities. So, it’s not surprising at all that these people would make mistakes in areas where they don’t have much knowledge or resources – technology. Below are the top three technology mistakes that small businesses commonly make:
Mistake # 1: It’s all about the money. It’s either paying too little for technology or paying too much for it – it doesn’t matter. Not knowing how much to spend on technology can pose a big problem for businesses. If one pays too little, they’ll end up not getting what the business really needs and later correcting this mistake can often mean spending more money than originally intended. If they pay too much, they might end up purchasing unnecessary products and services toward an overkill infrastructure. The answer? Careful planning and researching. Sounds very simple and easy (actually, it’s a no-brainer) but still, lots of business owners and managers fall for this technology trap. It would also help if business owners would consider “ownership” when planning for technology expenses. Meaning sometimes, it would be more practical to
“lease” the technology than to “own” it. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” regarding technology solutions for businesses, which is why careful planning and consultation is highly recommended.
Mistake #2: Back-ups and ownership. When a business fails to implement a solid
backup & disaster recovery plan, it’s not surprising at all to see that business close its doors in less than a year. And traditionally, to recover from data loss, it would have to spend so much money and time not only on data recovery but also on lost production and income (aside from the fact that business’s reputations often suffer for missed deadlines, etc.). Backup & Disaster recovery plans MUST be implemented. There are several methods to choose from. Businesses can either back-up on a physical server, a networked location or even on a cloud service. If a business should go for the cloud technology however, it should consider ownership of data as well. Thus, if a technology is some kind of an “unknown zone” for business owners, it would help to research and read about it before charging ahead.
Mistake # 3: Getting cheap (and reckless) on security. A lot of businesses have moved online through cloud technology to take advantage of its numerous benefits. But with this technology comes a threat on security as the web has become the center of security breaches in the world of business and technology. Compromised sensitive data can easily destroy a business. Unfortunately, small and mid-sized business owners find themselves failing to implement tighter security and thus, place their businesses data and client’s data at risk. Either they feel complacent that nothing bad would happen or they just don’t recognize the risks of their technology endeavors. Bad for business? Definitely.
Take the time to meet with a reputable and local
IT consultant to determine where your business’s technology and best practices fall short. Also remember, you’re a business, not a single user, so searching for
small business IT support is the best way to ensure you’re getting enterprise level solutions tailored for business.