When you run a small business, you need to know what is going on in every department, and IT is no exception to that rule. After all, profits can be slim, and the smallest things can make a big difference to whether you end up in the black or fall into the red. With that in mind check out our small business owner’s guide to IT below that specifically deals with disasters, and how it's possible to avoid to avoid them.
Security issues
Issues of security are becoming more and more problematic for businesses of all sizes. This is largely due to the fact that so much of the commercial world now operates online. Something that makes it an attractive a target for hackers trying to get access to customer's' payment and personal information, as well as those making money from ransomware and other online scams.
While it is probably impossible to prevent 100% of the threats online to your business, having good security protocol and software can make a huge difference. That means you need to protect your websites, servers and individual machines, as well a ensure that all employees have read and understood a reasonable use policy.
This policy should outline what websites are acceptable for use at work, as well as the procedures for reporting phishing scams. It also needs to relate to their own devices as well as one provided by the company, as many folks choose to access their work emails on their phone or computer at home. Something that is great for productivity but can be discretions for security, if they are using an unsecured connection or storing data privately when this against the guidance issued the Data Protection Act.
Communication issues
For small businesses is king. That means everyone needs to be able to connect everyone else at all times so you can work together as a team to achieve your business goals. IT is great for this as there is a huge range of communication options now that include text message, instant message, calls, email, video calls, video conferencing and even online forums.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that just because you have the technology there, it doesn't mean it is the most effective way to communicate, especially if you are all in an office together anyway.
In fact, a real disaster that many small businesses face is that people sitting a desk away from each other would rather email or instant message a request than talk about it in person. This is an awful use of time and can severely hinder productivity because messages are often less clear and you have to go back and forth to clarify the meaning. To avoid this, it is better to have a face to face policy in the office and use the types of IT mentioned above for those on the road or working remotely.
Reliability problems
Another issue that can quickly become a disaster for a small business is when they have selected an IT provider that is less than reliable. This can cause major problems because if the internet drops in and out all of the time or the programs that you are working with crashes a lot, it can stop work and interfere with productivity.
Of course, if you have a custom-designed software you can expect a few bugs here and there, but it always pays to check the references and reliably rating of any IT or internet provider that you are working with before you sign on the dotted line. Something that you can use review sites for, although word of mouth recommendations from known contacts are always the most reliable.
Remember too that it may just be worth it, in the long run, to pay a little extra for a more reliable service.
Data disappearance
Data disappearance is a disaster short and simple. At best it can grind work to a halt, and at worst it can mean you lose valuable information such as client details, vital work policies, and even current projects that your employees are working on.
Unfortunately, it's a crisis that can happen to any business. The best way to prevent it is to work with a backup system with on your own servers or via cloud-based storage. This then allows important data to be regularly updated and kept, so even if individual devices to go down or break it is still accessible.
However, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it's easy to see the value of backup systems after you have had a devastating data loss. Happily, there is still something that you can do in a situation like this, and its call in professionals like Data Recovery Cincinnati LLC to help. This is such a good idea because they are experts art recovering data from all devices including external hard drives that aren't playing ball and even laptops that seem to have given up the ghost. Something that means even if you are in the midst of this sort of crisis there is still hope.
Staying ahead of the game
Last, of all, do not allow the disaster that is outdated hardware and software affect how successful your business is. Yes, it can be particularly expensive to keep up with the ever-changing world of tablets, laptops, desktops, and phones, as well as the program and apps, to run on them. However, can you afford not to when you realize that doing so could be costing you valuable time and productivity?
Of course, a balance does need to be reached between having the latest of everything and the cost of this to your company. That is why it's so important to do your research beforehand and consult sites like the Verge and Digital Trends.
Then you can investigate what hardware can be upgraded easily and so will remain useful the longest. Something that can help you avoid the problem of being landed with outdated equipment after a short length of time, and ensure that your small business keeps ahead of the curve where IT is concerned.
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