Similar to larger organizations, small businesses perform business-related functions such as sales, operations, accounting, and finance. They must compete with the...
Despite their size, small businesses are encountering many of the same modern roadblocks as larger corporations do in terms of technology. These issues include cybersecurity and IT challenges that small companies may be less prepared or equipped to handle.
Fortunately, a strong Information Technology (IT) support strategy acts as a safety net against some of the most common IT-related hurdles. Simply because a business is local, brick-and-mortar, or employs a small staff doesn’t mean that it can’t benefit from good IT support.
Keep reading to discover the proactive steps you can take today to develop the IT support strategy for your small business.
Boise Managed IT Support
Local small businesses can benefit from having a locally-based IT support team nearby. When your IT support team is close, you’ll receive in-person support when and if you need it. When it comes to quick mitigation measures and emergency IT response, local support beats other options.
With IT support like MicroTech, a Boise-based business, you’ll benefit from essential IT services such as:
- Managed IT services
- IT support services
- 24/7 remote monitoring
- Antivirus protection
- Data backups
- Windows server support
- Cloud solutions
What is a Managed IT Strategy?
An IT strategy is a written outline of how your business plans to handle technology and infrastructure. This plan typically includes costs, budget, resource allocation, and organizational goals. A complete IT strategy also outlines the exact tools, actions, and tactics needed to accomplish those goals.
An IT strategy should be personalized to an individual business. This is because the data, resources, and computing needs are unique to each organization.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building an IT Support Strategy for SMB
To build an IT support strategy for SMB, you can either include the basics in your initial business plan, or you can revisit your IT goals once you’ve been in business for a certain amount of time. The key is to have a reliable plan in place before you encounter any security-related issues that could affect your business operations.
If you’re starting from square one, we’ve outlined some simple steps you can follow to build an IT plan that works.
Step 1: Identify Your Needs and Goals
Every small business should have a strong awareness of its expectations, needs, and goals. Whether these relate to customer service, employee responsibilities, revenue, or growth, it’s best to have an outline of these metrics.
When it comes to managed IT support, your goals might include any of the following.
- Protect against cybersecurity risks that could compromise customer data
- Monitor systems remotely to prevent harmful attacks
- Migrate to a cloud-based server or network
- Provide secure and confidential access to employees
Once you have outlined your goals, you can research IT support service providers that are in alignment.
Step 2: Pinpoint IT Vulnerabilities
Perhaps your small business got up and running very quickly, and you didn’t have time to install secure access systems. This would be one example of a major security vulnerability that you, as a small business owner, should address as soon as possible.
If you’re not sure where to look for IT-related vulnerabilities, remember that a qualified IT service provider can also help you perform a thorough audit. During this process, the IT support staff may perform tests on your software or hardware to discover areas that require immediate attention.
Step 3: Choose Reputable Service Providers
Outsourcing IT services can save small businesses a significant amount of time, energy, and money. When you choose a reputable IT service provider, you’ll benefit from expert knowledge and insight without having to find those resources within your own team.
When evaluating IT service providers, consider the following questions.
- Is the provider local (in-person) or remote (virtual)?
- Are there customer testimonials or case studies to review?
- Does the provider offer any guarantees involving incident response?
- What access will I need to grant or share with the provider?
- Does the provider have any specialty areas, or are the services comprehensive?
Step 4: Provide IT Training, Guidance, and Checkpoints
Once you have the foundation of your IT strategy in place, remember that the process isn’t over. IT and cybersecurity systems are always evolving, and potential threats to small businesses are constantly changing.
As a result, you’ll need to provide basic training to employees and instruct all team members on technology-related expectations.
Additionally, it’s wise to have checkpoints at set intervals throughout the year so that you can re-evaluate your goals and ensure that your IT service provider is delivering the results you agreed to at the initial contract signing.
Conclusion
If one thing is certain, it’s that your small business can’t afford to leave IT strategy to chance. The more proactive and intentional you are at developing an organizational strategy from the start, the more equipped you’ll be to handle potential challenges that come your way.
If you’re ready to take action, MicroTech Systems of Boise can help your Idaho-based small business weather any potential IT question or concern.
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