After a relaxing weekend, you come into the office Monday morning, ready to tackle your to-dos, only to discover that your team is locked out of its tools yet again. You miss a critical deadline and have to spend the day handling frustrated clients. You leave the office further behind than when you arrived and wonder why this keeps happening.
Many small and midsize businesses take a reactive approach to IT, waiting for problems like these to occur before taking action. A proactive IT strategy can help your business avoid scenarios like the one described above. By implementing a comprehensive IT solution, you can avoid expensive downtime and protect your reputation.
A managed service provider (MSP) can take care of your IT issues while you focus on growing your core business operations with confidence. Here’s what it looks like in action.
Almost all modern applications are built with at least some open-source software (OSS). When a vulnerability is discovered in one of these elements, developers issue a security patch, and it’s cataloged in the open-source vulnerability database. If you don’t update your software and apply the patch, you’re leaving yourself open to hackers. Unpatched software is one of the most common ways attackers enter your system to steal data or launch ransomware attacks.
However, not all updates are security patches. Many are the result of software glitches and are designed to help your software function more effectively. Both security patches and software updates should be implemented promptly.
You can avoid security risks and performance issues by implementing an automated patch management system and sticking with a regular update schedule. You’ll have fewer glitches and better performance on all of your devices.
For one company, for example, an outdated browser plug-in wasn’t updated, so hackers were able to gain access to its system and steal confidential data. A managed patching plan would have prevented the breach and the associated expenses.
Sometimes it seems like your system fails abruptly and unexpectedly. However, if you had been regularly monitoring your system and traffic, you probably would have noticed signs that something was amiss before the big crash.
Hidden system errors and overworked servers often show up as bandwidth slowdowns before a full outage. By using 24/7 monitoring tools to track your system’s performance, you can detect anomalies and alert your IT managed service provider before your users notice a problem.
Fixing small issues is much cheaper and easier than fixing large ones. You’ll be able to avoid extensive downtime and face fewer employee complaints when you proactively address performance issues. You can also respond faster to potential threats and head off many attacks before they get started.
One of our clients noticed a failing hard drive after they implemented system monitoring. They were able to replace the hard drive before it failed, saving them days of lost revenue and productivity. They were also able to plan the replacement for when the hard drive wasn’t being used to avoid interrupting their business operations.
Dramatic advances in technology offer many opportunities if you proactively use them to enable growth rather than trying to catch up. If you’re among the last in your industry to start using cutting-edge tools, on the other hand, the best you can hope for is to survive. For businesses that take a strategic approach, being an early adopter can give you a competitive advantage and enable you to thrive.
To accomplish this, evaluate your upcoming business needs. Do you need more employees with tech skills? Are you planning to expand your services or implement a hybrid work schedule? Consider your objectives and plan out what types of hardware and software you'll need to meet them.
When you combine your upgrade needs with your strategic planning, you'll have a more predictable budget and a smoother transition to new tools and technologies. You’ll also build systems that support your teams instead of slowing them down.
For one company, putting this plan into action involved replacing laptops on a rolling schedule instead of waiting for them to die. This led to fewer disruptions and happier, more productive employees.
In the past few years, there’s been remarkable growth in technology, driven in large part by new developments in artificial intelligence (AI). Although you need to be ready to take advantage of these changes, constantly starting over with your tech stack is neither productive nor profitable. Employees who are forced to repeatedly drop their old tools for new ones usually don't have the chance to become proficient.
The good news is that growth doesn’t have to mean beginning with a clean slate. Solutions such as cloud-based platforms and modular tools allow you to add on when you need more processing power. Additionally, many software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools have flexible licensing models, so you pay only for what you use. You can scale up as your business grows without a huge upfront commitment.
Taking a scalable approach lets you implement the tools you need now and be assured that you can expand in the future, whether you’re opening a new location or onboarding a remote team.
For example, scalable user licenses would be ideal for a retailer with seasonal staffing. This model gives them the adaptability to hire as much help as they need during their peak times and allows them to scale back during the slow season to avoid overspending.
Modern businesses have to be ready to handle the unexpected and quickly adjust to changes in the marketplace. A proactive IT strategy gives you stability so you have fewer surprises and can plan smarter. Effectively managing your IT resources also makes for better alignment between your technology and your business's goals, regardless of your industry. When your IT plan looks ahead, your whole business moves forward with less friction and more confidence.
Is your business still reacting to IT issues it wasn't ready for? Let’s talk about building a proactive plan that grows with you. The expert support team at Standley Systems offers tailored managed IT services that give you the freedom to focus on growing your business while we handle your IT needs.
Reach out today to learn more