For most of us, this is a busy time of year from now until the end of June, when schools let out and holiday season begins. Accountants are gearing up for tax season and corporate year-end preparation, lawyers with corporate filings, financial specialists with retirement planning, real estate selling season begins, the list goes on…
All of these businesses and professionals turn to technology and related applications and devices (from laptops to Smartphones) to access, collaborate and communicate data effectively and (hopefully) securely. Of course Murphy’s Law applies that when something bad happens (i.e. computer virus, loss of data, email malfunction), it occurs at the least opportune time – when you are busy!
This month we will provide some survival tips to ensure you (actually your technology) are “battle-ready” for busy season.
The Ultimate Acid Test
The majority of mid-sized business (50-250 employees) understand the importance of IT and budget accordingly. Smaller businesses in knowledge-based industries, like legal, accounting or financial, typically rely heavily on technology and, as a result, require a proactive approach to IT support – called managed services.
What about the 100’s of thousands of businesses that don’t fit in either of the two categories above? How do you determine IF technology is critical to your business? There’s a simple answer – Look around your office and see how many people in your organization are on their computer.
A simple acid test that will give you the answer quickly. To take it one step further, disconnect your internet service for an hour or even better your network. Today, at least 90% of small and medium-sized businesses are reliant on data, which makes them reliant on technology.
7 IT Reliance Survival Tips
If you ‘re still reading, you likely fit in the category of now being beholden to technology – congratulations, you are in the 21st century! Unfortunately, even though the majority of businesses continue to invest in hardware, software and the internet, the IT service and support model they receive is the reactive, fire-fighting approach from the 70’s.
Here are 7 IT Reliance Survival Tips to ensure you are ready to “do battle” this year:
- Avoid single-point(s) of failure – Counter Murphy’s Law by ensuring you have more than 1-person that holds the ‘keys to the kingdom’. If you have an internal IT manager, then get them to have an arrangement with an external virtual IT department.
- Secure your data – Get rid of your tape back-up system ASAP! Remote back-up solutions are more secure, cost-effective and range from basic to advanced, depending on your budget.
- 24 x 7 readiness – Business professionals are mobile, work at night and on weekends, therefore receiving support outside of standard business hours is critical.
- Ensure business continuity – Safeguard the most critical corporate asset – your data! Develop an information security program and plan.
- Take your critical business application out of the closet – Ensure your critical accounting, CRM and vertical business applications are secure. Consider moving to a secure data center.
- Audit your support arrangements – As discussed in tip #1, review your service level agreement; work with external providers that actually have their own helpdesk employees and accredited network operations center (i.e. not outsourced, which is an increasing trend); what industry standards/best practices do they follow; assess fixed vs. variable pricing options, % remote service delivery, etc.
- Get a second opinion! – Companies typically (only) change or consider IT providers as a result of a bad experience or event – avoid this by getting a second opinion and take our free Network & Security Assessment at www.theutilitycompany.com/NSA and start now!
Next month’s article entitled “Co-Managed IT Services” will discuss the new and emerging partnering model between the internal IT department and external managed service provider forming a virtual IT department. |
