Is Your IT Plan Due For A Check-up?
Maybe your business is like some of the ones we’ve come across. Maybe you are frustrated with your company’s computers. Maybe you are thinking, there must be a better way to do this!
Understanding of IT Infrastructure is Key
Often our experts come into companies and find systems that either were never configured correctly, weren’t using the right approach, or didn’t serve the customer well. It’s amazing to me some of the things we have found when we walk into places that are frustrated with their technology equipment, and most of the time they just didn’t know any better because they weren’t given the right advice or information, to begin with. This is why it is critical for any small business to review their IT infrastructure every year to determine how it is serving their business needs and how it can be adjusted to make their business run more efficiently and essentially take them from where they currently are to where they want to be.
What is involved in an IT Consult/Review? Asking Good Questions
A good technologist will be able to quickly identify how a business’s IT process works, which aspects could be tweaked or improved, and what if anything is keeping a system from reaching its full potential. But what’s involved, and how invasive is the process? Nowadays, a good service should have it down to a science and should allow everything to take place with little or no interruption to your business. They will review your current system, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and make recommendations on improving how the system affects day to day business operations. The initial consultation should only take a maximum of 1-3 hours, depending on your business size. Here are just a few of the things an annual check-up will review:
Is Your Network Delivering?
Do you have a network that works best for your company’s size and industry? Your network should allow you to easily share data between computers as well as use peripheral devices. It should include various forms of business network redundancy to keep your business running in case of a network failure. It is also critical that you have a secure network.
Where Is Your Data Being Stored?
How your company stores data is a major decision but should require very little maintenance if configured properly. Small businesses have a lot of options available to them, and which is best typically depends on how much data storage you need, how much space you have, and what will be most cost-effective for your company. There are plenty of things to consider if you are deciding between the cloud or a data center, as each has its own advantages and disadvantages that may or may not work for you. In any case, it is critical to review this once a year to make sure your data is accessible and secure.
Is every file secure? Is every device secure?
No matter how big or small your business is, securing your technology (data and property) is absolutely critical. You need to protect your investments in both a proactive and reactive capacity. Your security system should be simple but effective. Several different tools such as antivirus software, firewalls, and access control systems are useful for all businesses. These should be reviewed to make sure they set up and configured properly.
What can my system do better?
Are there any specific tasks that are not being accomplished? There are so many useful tools and systems that are available these days, all scalable and adjustable to fit a business’ needs. Cloud computing, virtualization, and VOIP services are just a few examples of how a business can use technology to its advantage. The strongest benefit a good technologist will deliver for your business is simply identifying how technology can make your life easier so that you can worry about more important things, like making your business exactly what you want it to be.