Regardless of your industry, small businesses around the world are dealing with very similar IT problems. There are many obstacles and challenges business owners must overcome in order to remain operational, secure and successful. In smaller organizations, we know that you may not have an in-house IT specialist, and that can present unique challenges. We’re here to help by sharing with you the most common IT problems small businesses face, and how to prevent or deal with them.
Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity is a hot topic in IT right now and is one of the biggest challenges for small business owners. Simply put, cybersecurity is the protection of your computers, network and data from compromisation or damage. The truth is that most businesses are not investing in the advanced security systems needed to protect their data and assets. While nothing is 100% fool-proof, there are some security measures you simply must take to optimize data protection. Protect against viruses by equipping your computer with antivirus software and make sure to update your systems and programs regularly. Additionally, make sure your networks are secure by safeguarding your Internet connection and email systems. Another thing to take into consideration is passwords. Train your employees to make strong passwords and to change them often. The U.S. Small Business Administration suggests that you should “consider implementing multi-factor authentication that requires additional information beyond a password to gain entry.” This additional step could be vital in preventing hackers from getting into your personal files. Cybersecurity is one of the most important aspects of your business and should be taken into consideration before a problem occurs.
Using Outdated Hardware And Software
Using outdated hardware and software can lead to many problems such as slow speeds, overspending, security problems, downtime, and much more. Not only can utilizing outdated software discourage your consumers and cause communication hiccups, but it can also often mean that your software is unsupported which usually means it is unsecured. Many major attackers will take advantage of your unsupported and outdated technology. The longer your software has been exposed, the more time it gives hackers to exploit your data. You must update your software to avoid being hacked and potentially losing your data. While we understand that the financial investment can seem daunting, the truth is that using unsupported software could actually be costing you more than the upgrade fee! Taking advantage of the latest versions of the software will dramatically reduce the number of bugs and save time on tasks. It can help improve the efficiency of your team, as well as communication with your customers. Using outdated hardware and software then leads into the next important IT problem in small businesses.
Backup And Disaster Recovery
It’s extremely important to have a reliable backup solution for any type of business. We know you may have accidentally deleted an important file, or had a server crash, or even experienced a power outage that causes business downtime. In order to avoid these risks, our best advice is to have a custom backup solution BEFORE these events happen. Your data can be corrupted, lost, or stolen through many outlets such as human error, hardware failure, malware, and hacking. Find a backup provider that will catch (and fix) these problems before you’re even aware that there’s an issue. If a problem does arise, have a plan to recover your data and restore your systems as quickly as possible. Some, if not most, businesses cannot tolerate downtime and business interruption. It’s well worth the cost to take the hassle out of IT management, so you can focus on your business.
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With our complete suite of managed IT services, GAGE provides network monitoring and care, 24/7 Helpdesk, and business continuity. We are always prepared to find you and your business with customized data solutions. To learn more about our services, read about our products & services or contact us today!