That said, it’s crucial your company has a firm hold on some of the most common IT issues that can happen, as businesses can’t afford to put their head in the sand when it comes to these problems arising and dealing with swiftly.
#1 – New Network / Data Security
Even if you’re not a large organisation, you can still have issues with security. Anyone can be at risk of being hacked, files being accessed, client data not being secure. SMEs are just as vulnerable as many of them don’t realise they need a security policy.
It’s a serious threat and you can’t be complacent. Within the last week, even Manchester United F.C. suffered a cyber attack on their network, having to shut down all their systems.
And according to the UK Cyber Security statistics, up to 88% of UK businesses have experienced breaches in the last 12 months.
So, it can happen to anyone. That’s why network monitoring is so important. Whether you have managed anti-virus software protection, robust firewalls, or multi-factor authentication, you need to protect you and your data from cybercriminals.
#2 – Data Backup Issues
Backing up your data and your systems is probably the most important IT function of any company. If you don’t have a robust backup (and recovery!) regime, it’s a massive mistake.
Sometimes people make mistakes, natural disasters can happen, and we all know too well that systems can fail, or data gets corrupted. If you don’t have a backup plan, it means you’re not able to work. If you’re not able to work, you’re potentially letting down customers and losing money.
Not only that, but when thinking back to our first issue, a backup plan will ensure that whatever happens with any potential ransomware attacks, you can at least be assured that your data is protected, so you can ignore the ransom and restart your systems.
Learn more about why backing up your information is important by taking a look one of our related articles – World Backup Day: backup your data or become an April Fool.
#3 No Mobility
Devices such as smartphones or tablets if used in the office on an office network could potentially create a significant security issue, especially if confidential information is being accessed.
Even before the effects of the pandemic this year, more and more businesses were engaging in remote work, so a mobile phone plan has become a vital asset to a company when assessing common IT problems.
Making sure all users of a mobile device are password protected, data -encrypted, and the right security applications are installed will help prevent someone stealing information whilst the devices are on public networks.
#4 The Cloud
Despite it sounding like a mythical entity, “the cloud” is everywhere you go. Ever uploaded a photo to your Mac, chances are, it’s in the cloud. Used a document sharing platform like Dropbox or Office 365? They’re in the cloud.
Putting it simply, cloud applications are ones that exist on a server at some remote location, operated by a third party, not your computer or a server in your office, and you access them more than likely via the internet.
A good IT support company can advise you and help your business access anything it needs to online. Whether it be software, databases, telephones or storage. Cloud solutions are a cost-effective way to work, without a business having to invest in the underlying infrastructure.
#5 What’s the plan?
Possibly the single most important aspect of a business is sustaining a good relationship with a trusted managed IT support solutions provider. Everything that we’ve mentioned above, all these issues can easily be prevented by choosing the right technical and telecoms support team for your business.
The best IT support companies will help you to identify the infrastructure that you require, so they can tailor their support to the exact needs of your business, which will not only help you in the present, but allow you to plan for the future too.
By not having the right plan, you’ll be nowhere near as efficient and it will cost you time and most importantly, money.
Companies don’t take the time to plan out an IT strategy. I’ve seen people spend more time researching a personal vehicle purchase than they took to research software critical to running their business.