Bring Your Technology Together With Managed IT

Does your business depend on technology from different eras? Are you spending more time trouble-shooting compatibility issues than chasing leads? Managed IT can bring your tech together and keep your team focused on their jobs and not the IT.

Does Your Business Rely on Technology from Different Eras?

If you’re like most small businesses, chances are you’re operating in an environment composed of multi-generational technology. Multi-generational technology consists of software, hardware, and networking infrastructure that you’ve collected, retained, and used since your business’ beginning. While some of it may be shuttered in a closet due to obsolescence, chances are a good portion of it is still in use. 

Many business owners maintain the “if it works, why replace it?” mentality. There are tangible consequences to embracing this belief system. Despite the understandable desire to make your investments last as long as possible, technology is constantly evolving, and obsolescence is a part of its cycle. Businesses that ignore this reality are jeopardizing their long-term growth in favor of the false belief that they are saving resources. 

Multi-generational technology reduces productivity by requiring your IT department to constantly compromise to keep everything running the way it used to. Unfortunately, these compromises can cascade into a flood of issues, slowly drowning your team in a wave of frustration as nothing seems to work. 

Moreover, using older and out-of-date technology goes beyond reducing your productivity. It can expose your business to the risk of a cyberattack.

Thankfully not all technology falls under this umbrella, typically. For example, if you have older monitors, you can usually repurpose them or donate them if they still work but are simply showing their age. That said, there are fewer and fewer devices these days that don’t somehow play a part in your overall security.

Don’t Risk Your Cybersecurity

With cybersecurity top of mind, many businesses have turned their attention towards preventing a cyberattack. Unfortunately, many companies misunderstand the nature of cyberattacks and only cover a few of their bases and think they are fully protected. In reality, there are often several factors contributing to a successful cyberattack. Effective cybersecurity relies on several processes, including:

• Implementation of 2FA with strong password policies and password management
• Offering cybersecurity training for your employees. For example, phishing is the most prevalent form of cyberattack. So it makes sense to evaluate your team with phishing simulations to help them recognize a suspicious email.
• Having a solid and tested business continuity plan in place. Ransomware relies on the lack of backup to coerce your business into paying the ransom.
• Ensuring your hardware and software is up-to-date.

Most businesses address each of these issues on a piecemeal basis; they often focus on the wrong area or just one. Effective cybersecurity solutions incorporate all areas of exposure, not just the one you're focused on. Cybercriminals are resourceful and look for areas of exposure; the only way to protect your data is by creating a series of connected barriers.

For example, spam protection reduces the number of suspicious emails your team comes in contact with. Despite this benefit, unless you train your team, a phishing email may still slip through. Finally, despite all your planning, your cybersecurity protections can still be breached; this is why it is essential to have a backup and recovery plan. Some business owners assume they are fully protected because they have antivirus software installed everywhere and a firewall in place, but that ignores just about everything else.

How Directive Can be the Solution

Our managed IT benefits your business’ technology by providing a holistic plan whose goal is to address all issues of the technology your business relies upon, not just the ones which are top of mind. When your business technology is optimized, your team is better able to do their jobs and provide a high level of customer satisfaction… the type of satisfaction that not only retains customers, but prompts them to recommend your business.

We ensure your technology is treated as the critical component of your business and not something to be tolerated or compromised. Not sure if managed IT is right for your business? Call us today at 607.433.2200 to schedule a consultation and learn more about the benefits managed IT brings to companies like yours.