Starting a business is an exciting, terrifying, and gratifying adventure. You’ve taken all the proper steps, and you’re now a small business owner in the Chicagoland area. Part of starting your company is the need for small business technology. As an SMB, your small business information technology needs are not so different from those of a larger company, but it can be more challenging to keep up with the times and ensure everything is always running smoothly.
What are Common Small Business Information Technology Needs?
- Up-to-Date Technology: Small businesses in Hinsdale and all throughout Chicagoland often have a harder time employing the latest and greatest technology because frequent hardware or software isn’t always in the budget. Unfortunately, this means that eventually your devices will slow down, you’ll experience issues with your network, and things might start to glitch. The solution is to have proactive IT monitoring and maintenance, so you can catch any issues before they become larger, more expensive problems.
- Backup and Recovery Protocols: In business you’re forward thinking and looking to the future, but when it comes to technology, you also need to look at what’s happening in the present. Data backup and recovery protocols can get overlooked, but they are just as crucial as staying up to date. As part of your overall IT infrastructure, you’ll want to ensure that you have a comprehensive backup and data recovery plan in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. This will help your company survive and recover from any crisis more efficiently, and get you back up and running sooner rather than later.
- Cybersecurity: Your small business technology needs proper cybersecurity in place to avoid serious complications like data breaches. With so much sensitive information on your devices, as well as online, data protection is more important than ever. Setting up measures to prevent viruses, malware, ransomware, and spyware from infecting your devices ensures protection against a breach or attack, which will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on running your business.
- Company Devices: If you allow employees to work remotely, you have two options: You can allow team members to “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) or you can provide the devices they need. While you don’t have to pay for technology with BYOD, it does present security issues. A better solution is to work with an IT professional who can work with your budget to help you choose from company-issued desktops, laptops, cell phones, and tablets. This allows you to install cybersecurity measures on each device and avoid the issues mentioned above.
Improving Your Small Business Technology
If you think you’re in need of small business information technology services but don’t have the capacity for an in-house IT team, consider outsourcing. Outsourcing managed IT services allows you to take care of these small business technology needs for a more cost-efficient price. When you work with a technology company in Oak Brook or the surrounding areas like EQ Technology Group, monitor, maintain, and update your hardware and software so you can get back to business.