IT support for Small businesses: Things you need to know

The popularity of a small business is indisputable. Every month, more than 500,000 new companies are set up. There is no single person, without any doubt, who doesn’t want to be a business owner and manage his/her own time and strength. Small businesses provide economic and employment opportunities for people. They help local ecosystems, keep funds close to home, and support communities.

Technology progression writes new rules even for small businesses. So, if you want to start a new business apply technology instantly without transitioning lately. In smart ways, technology can help small business owners exploit limited resources. In certain situations, more reliability and flexibility are given by the use of technology, making it a natural progression for processes you might already have used in your organization.

 For some, certain changes may need to be made to see to the fullest benefits of tech-friendly solutions. The best part is that the advantages, once new structures are in action, far outweigh the short-lived difficulties of the transitional period. 

Why is IT important for small businesses?

The reality is that it is used by your rivals to be more competitive and clients expect to have their experiences with companies more pleasant and safe. Your competitors digitize their logistics operations, schedule, HR features, accounting, and more to cut costs and improve service. Your clients want to be able to make safe transactions, chat remotely with you, have consultations, and more. 

Also, it is important for security purposes to have your IT fully updated. Or else, you risk compromising your personal data, the data of your organization, and clients’ information. These are some of the best IT areas that can help your company operate more effectively and safely.

Security

Cyber attacks on small firms are more frequent than we believe, with 23 percent of companies with less than 1,000 employees having suffered cyberattacks in 2020,  according to a recent report. Large companies have faced more attacks but only, since bigger organizations are their prime targets doesn’t mean small businesses shouldn’t stay alert. Many forms of other dangerous attacks do create a threat to small and medium-sized companies as well.

Investing in the best security preserves your business data, the financial records of your clients, and the integrity of your business. Installing and retaining proper cyber protection protects not only your company’s records but also the reputation and loyalty of your client. Approaches you’ll need to achieve multi-layer security:

• Antivirus, firewalls, and endpoint solutions
• Penetration testing
• Cybersecurity and Internal Audit
• Control computers, devices, and passwords
• Monitoring policies and procedures

So, if you want your business protected, you’d better work with an IT specialist to make sure that all processes are secure, reliable, and up to date.

Cloud Storage

We all hear the notion of “cloud storage” being used all the time, so what is it? Basically, this means keeping documents in virtual storage. The benefit is that anybody with the right credentials can use your data – so that you can access them from any device, work together as a team on the same project online, and avoid thinking about information loss if your own system crashes. Besides, you have support from a company you use as storing provider, which makes information more protected.

Created to transfer, host, and handle vast volumes of cloud-based data productively, you could try such tools as Microsoft OneDrive for Businesses, Dropbox, Amazon Web Services, JustCloud, GoogleDrive, etc. These services provide an appealing value proposition for companies needing a broader spectrum of features with less reliance on huge storage capabilities. More than ever, commercial cloud storage systems and technologies are being focused on by companies of all sizes.

Productivity

Productivity is fundamental to running a business beneficial for owners and employees. Not to overlook problems is difficult because you’ve got a lot of stuff to keep track of. You can always get help from your team but in some cases, it is better to rely on technologies.IT industry created a bunch of opportunities to make work easier in a lot of spheres, especially in business. 

Microsoft Office 365. You are already aware of Microsoft Word and Excel, but that’s not the most helpful aspect of the Office suite. Microsoft Office 365 is all in one collection of productivity tools. It provides Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, etc. software running on the pc or laptop, as well as smartphone apps for portable devices. 

G Suite for Business. G Suite for Business is Google’s suite of apps. It’s an enterprise-grade version of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, plus other apps to keep business employees functioning together efficiently.

iWork. Apple’s iWork is one of the best alternatives to Microsoft Office, especially if you have an Apple device. Enabled for MacOS, iOS, and as a mobile client, the iWork suite contains a word processor—Pages, spreadsheet app—Numbers, and presentation builder—Keynote.

To sum up

The role of technologies and IT are growing constantly so small businesses need to keep up with it. Information technology is required even by non-tech companies. But that can seem a little daunting without a background in computer technologies. The good news is that to keep your company relevant, you do not really need the absolute cutting edge of computing. But in case you have some issues our team of tech-gurus is always ready to help and give a consultation.