Almost every small business needs IT. However, many small businesses make the same mistakes over and over again when it comes to this important function. This guide will teach you about those mistakes, so you can avoid them.
Choosing equipment purely based on cost
Prices for IT equipment can vary a huge amount. In some cases, it might be tempting to choose the cheapest option for your business requirements. However, going cheap is not always good – and may end up costing you more in the long run. For example, buying equipment that does not meet your future needs will mean having to replace or upgrade in the future, incurring extra costs and possible downtime. Also, buying equipment that is too complex for your staff to use may mean that unimportant tasks are done in a clumsy way or not at all.
Assuming data loss won't happen to them
Almost every small business has some data they hold that is important to their customers, or the running of their business. However, many fail to do anything about the possibility of losing it. While this does not have to be expensive – there are plenty of backup for teams backup options available – it may mean putting a bit more effort into protecting your data than you might expect.
Outsourcing to friends and family
If you are looking for IT help, it can be tempting to ask friends and family. However, this is not a good idea. Do they have the relevant industry experience? Are they an employee of yours or do they work as a contractor? Will their contract terms meet your business needs, in the event of disputes? It's much better to outsource to a company like Make IT Simple if you want the job done right.
Not understanding the costs of outsourcing
It is not always cheaper to outsource IT than to hire a member of staff or even run your own in-house team. It's important that you understand the expenses before agreeing to outsource any part of your business. Make sure you know how much you will be paying for what.
Not hiring technology-savvy employees
You can outsource all of your IT to a technology partner if you want, but sooner or later you'll need employees that are able to work with new technologies and learn quickly. While this is not always easy, especially in small businesses – it may be necessary in the long run for your business to thrive.
Allowing unrestricted BYOD (bring your own device)
Allowing employees to use their own equipment for work can be highly beneficial, as it saves the company money by not having to provide every employee with a device. However, this needs to be managed correctly – if there are no limitations on what employees can connect and how they do it, you may find that you experience security issues.
Falling for sales pitches
Most small business owners can be targeted by reasonably priced offers for a great deal of equipment or services. Sometimes these are genuine, but other times they're used to upsell. Make sure you know when someone is trying to sell you something and what the real costs will be, not just the initial offer price.