Most of all the small business enterprises struggle while adopting IT at the company. Its because they have mere knowledge of computing resources and are not working as an IT Infrastructure integrated enterprise.
Small businesses know the advantages of transitioning their network to IT, but since there are no experts to guide them, they often fall into lengthy and time-consuming practices. When you step in the world of IT, the new role can be highly intimidating.
If the technology isn’t running smoothly, the challenge to efficient IT infrastructure becomes even more daunting. However, there are ways to move into your new IT role. Here are some of the steps to make your transition successful:
Assess Your Present IT Environment
Gaining info is essential — information about the company’s existing technology environment as it provides vital insight into what needs to be done ahead. To begin, check the physical inventory of the current technology: laptops, servers, desktops, printers and every hardware equipment. Make sure you have the complete data on applications that your company has licensed.
It is said that in “IT,” “I” is more important than “T.” Moreover, the best place to get “I” is from the people working in that environment. Learn how well the users are working in existing technology. How well does that technology support employees to efficiently achieve business goals and support their needs?
Hiring an outsourced service provider help complete an in-depth assessment of technology. A complete evaluation provides you a clear understanding of the existing IT network, future needs, and an action plan to get the IT environment back on track.
Plan Your Action
When the assessment is completed, and all the cards are on the table. It’s time to prioritize the tasks. Ongoing tasks include regular activities such as maintenance, upgrades, and patching.
Prioritize the tasks into categories from “Critical” to “Not affecting directly.” Sort them according to the projects that will have the impact most quickly. Are the tasks easy to accomplish by an in-house team or you need expert help? Is your budget appropriate? Which infrastructure suits the best – on-site or cloud?
These questions can be difficult to solve when it comes to someone who is new to the IT field. Even if not new, complex computing infrastructure makes the action plan even more challenging to apply.
If you are new, it is recommended to consult a Managed Service providers in houston to plan and execute within a reasonable time frame.
Is Your Enterprise Prepared?
Many industries live under the false impression that they have a secure and stable IT infrastructure. However, studies have shown complete opposite facts. About 73% of companies today are unprepared for a disaster.
Natural calamities account for just 15% of disaster. The significant causes of system crash down include software/network failure and human errors — human error such as false command input or nefarious actions.
If you already have a Disaster Recovery (DR) plan for your company, make sure you review and test it regularly as the systems, technology, and users change constantly. Call an MSP for guidance in designing a specific DR plan.
Not Prepared? Start Planning Now!
If your enterprise doesn’t have an automated data backup or recovery plan, your IT infrastructure can be highly vulnerable to crash down. Get to work! Prepare a plan for disaster recovery by consulting an expert MSP.
If your business is new, we recommend you to opt for a hybrid cloud solution as it provides one of the best recovery plans with data storage on off-site. So your critical business remains protected even if disaster strikes your workplace.
Lock Down the IT Security
Security compliance is a mandatory thing for leading highly regulated sectors like banking. Even if you’re not in a top-notch business sector, make IT security a priority and bring the best security practices to your computing resources.
Check for the security lapses that can be vulnerable to malicious activities and security breaches. Inaction based upon thinking that hackers can’t get anything from a small company puts you in danger of a data breach. Implementing security require high expertise and thorough assessment of possible loopholes. Call an MSP and schedule an assessment of your system.
Take Expert Guidance
If you’re new to the technology or the new transition, you might not have the required expertise and skills to find a solution for every issue. It is tough to execute all the responsibilities listed above successfully. It would affect more adversely if you’re not ready with your IT budget to cover up all the costs.
Always “have your back” by an IT expert or outsourced support team who can help you out in any critical issues. An outsourced IT support & managed services would free you from unwanted stress and let you focus on your core business goals. Take expert advice, and you’ll see the business flourish.