The type of computers, hardware, and software a company uses, and how it’s set up and integrated, directly impact the health and wellbeing of that business.
Technology has become so infused with operations, that when it’s optimized, businesses can thrive, and when it’s not, businesses can suffer and have a hard time improving profitability.
38% of small business owners say that they’ve seen increased sales as a direct result of using optimized digital tools. Additionally, businesses that use technology well, earn 2x more revenue per employee than those that don’t.
From the reliability of your business network to the cloud software you choose for your team, each technology decision is important to business growth. A technology infrastructure is multi-layered, meaning you have several different considerations when planning how you set it up and deploy it.
Key IT Infrastructure Components to Consider
Employee Workstations
A difference of just 8GB in memory on a device can mean the difference between an employee having the capability to do 1-2 hours more work per day, or whether they waste time staring at a stuck screen.
It’s important to choose the right hardware for your employees so they can be productive and you’re not having to seek out computer repair in Ascension Parish just a year or so after you’ve invested in a new PC.
You also don’t want to hold onto computers for longer than their usable life, or the drag on productivity and ongoing repair costs could be more than the price of a new device.
Wireless Network
Your internet connection and wireless network is the heart of your technology. Without a fast and reliable network, cloud applications can take forever to load, and you team is working with their virtual hands tied behind their backs.
When planning or upgrading your Wi-Fi network, you want to consider some of the following:
- Wireless mesh that can increase reliability and Wi-Fi range
- Upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router, which has better security and speed
- Looking at potential 5G network possibilities for the future
- Using a backup ISP for business continuity
Cybersecurity
Sixty percent of small businesses have to close their doors for good within six months of a cyberattack. Often, companies don’t realize how much a data breach or ransomware infection is going to cost them in downtime, lost business, and remediation costs.
Investing in a strong cybersecurity strategy is like business insurance. It helps you avoid costly security incidents that could do irreparable harm to your company and livelihood.
Some of the safeguards that you need to have in place at minimum include:
- Advanced antivirus/anti-malware
- Network firewall
- DNS filter to block malicious websites
- Email spam/phishing filter
- Strong password/identity management (including MFA)
- Regular updating of devices to apply security patches
Managed IT Services
The technology environment has become more complicated over the last few decades as companies have been relying more on digital tools for their operations. IT is now used for everything from running employee payroll to driving marketing and sales.
It’s difficult for a company to try to handle their own technology management and security on their own and do it effectively. This is why it’s important to work with a good IT partner through an ongoing managed services plan.
This ensures that all aspects of your technology infrastructure are well-managed, secured, and running efficiently, and you can focus on running your business and gaining forward motion.
Data Backup & Recovery
A data loss incident can be devastating to a company and can mean days or weeks of downtime, plus expensive data recovery or data recreation costs. When a ransomware attack or hard drive failure hit, it’s too late to be thinking about your data backup.
It’s important to have a reliable data backup and recovery platform in place that can ensure all your business data is being captured and stored safely offsite and that it’s in a tool that can quickly restore that data back to a device when needed.
Cloud Applications
Cloud waste has been doubling year-over-year because companies aren’t making strategic choices about their cloud tools. A business owner might think something “looks cool,” and switch their team to a new app, only to have to drop it after a month or two because it didn’t integrate well with other business apps.
Another problem that causes cloud waste is when companies don’t fully utilize the tools they have or understand all their features. This causes them to purchase another app subscription for a capability they already had.
You want to approach the cloud applications your businesses use from a holistic perspective. This means using as few different platforms as possible and ensuring all tools integrate and that there are no redundancies.
Get Help Planning a Strong & Efficient IT Infrastructure
Carl’s Computer Care can help your Louisiana business put together a strong, cost efficient, and effective IT infrastructure that meets your needs and fosters growth.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation! Call 225-315-3498 or reach us online.