Only twenty-seven percent of small businesses can run without an in house IT support. But where does that leave everyone else? If the digital patterns are anything to go by, these small businesses are, with time, bound to cross over and embrace IT too.
Understandably, due to financial constraints, a small business may prefer to either outsource another company to handle its IT demands. Or they could have some of the staff double up into managing some of the businesses IT duties.
The only problem with these two options is that they contain many loopholes. Ones that could prove costly to undo should issues arise. Don't let your small business fall below the standard!
Read on to learn the most common small business IT mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Limited Resources
To keep your business afloat, you need an active IT department running throughout. If you need to source for funds by cutting down on money used in other areas, then do it. Instead of working without a tech department, how about joining various forums online.
Here, you can find quick solutions to technical issues. Also, you can find hints directing you to the most affordable yet reliable tech specialists to help you out.
2. Inexperienced Tech Support
Findings from recent research show that the majority of small businesses have IT support.
The biggest blooper is that most of those who work in the departments are inexperienced. The few who are actually trained and experienced do not have the required resources to do their job to completion.
You may lack the capital to maintain an entire IT department but it is always a good idea to have a reliable IT specialist on retainer. Their job is to keep track of your business and address issues before they grow on to become ambiguous.
3. Inadequate Protection
Most small businesses worry about protecting themselves from cyber-attacks and hackers. But what have you done to protect your devices and IT equipment from fire, water, electrical faults and overheating among other damaging factors?
Protection, both virtual and physical, is integral to the well-being of your business.
4. Poor Back-Up Plans as One of the Most Common IT Mistakes
When you have your IT department set up, it’s easy to forget that anything can happen and you might lose all your credit, client and company information. But data loss is an ever-present threat that comes without warning.
You should, thus, make sure that you have a proper, safe backup plan where all your information is stored.
5. No Tech Training for Employees
The digitization of your business means that all employees must have some level of IT knowledge. This is what will enable them to operate different applications and devices used in your business.
Often, the IT department needs updating. This means that there will be changes in how employees perform their duties.
To save time and maximize profits, it is advisable to train your employees regularly. Training allows them to familiarize themselves with new applications and learn better ways of handling different tasks.
6. Failing to Grow with the Business
It’s no surprise to find an established business using the same IT equipment and software that they did as a startup.
The only issue here is that due to old and overworked systems, you’ll end up wasting time on slow loading durations, suffer reduced productivity and overall make losses.
As your business grows, remember to increase the capacity of your IT department. Get more IT specialists, buy better equipment. and use more advanced systems. You can also seek out IT managed services.
Avoid These Common IT Mistakes
Technology is the backbone of many modern businesses. Avoiding the six IT mistakes listed above will go a long way in helping you make the most of your IT infrastructure.
Need reliable IT support services for your business? Contact us today to find out how we can help.
