Businesses have an uneasy relationship with technology – even if they don’t realize it yet. As the marketplace reaches new heights of complexity and speed, and consumers migrate to cyberspace to make their buying decisions, businesses are responding in turn. Today’s business owners utilize ever-evolving technologies to capture their customers’ interests.
But there’s an uncomfortable truth that goes hand in hand with this increased dependence on technology. At its best, IT allows us to do incredible things we never would have imagined were possible even 10 years ago. At its worst, IT is an unreliable, finicky and potentially risky platform. Even the best IT requires wrangling to shape it to our needs, keep it on track, and secure against intruders.
Despite this reliance on technology, most business owners consider it an extra expense rather than a foundational element of their company. As a result, they skimp on technology spending. But being cheap comes with a cost – one much bigger and more dangerous than you probably realize. Here are three mistakes you’re making by underspending on this key part of your business.
- You’re spending on technology based on an unrealistic, poorly planned budget rather than building your technology budget around your actual needs.
When you’re a business with limited resources, it’s easy to see any money saved on hardware, software and support as a success. This leads businesses to opt for cheap and outdated solutions. But in a world where your day-to-day operations are dependent on the technology you and your team use, with cheap and outdated equipment, your business is vulnerable to a security disaster. So, it is vital that you build your technology budget around your actual needs, because it will improve productivity, minimize security risks, and in the long run be less costly.
- You’re opening yourself up to a disaster.
It’s one thing to have an employee’s computer unexpectedly fail, or for an Internet connection to have a momentary hiccup. But if you’re skimping on technology, you’re leaving your business vulnerable to catastrophes that could cost you thousands. One of the most prominent and overlooked of these threats is cybercrime. Most of these attacks are ransomware, in which all your vital data is locked, and you are forced to shell out enormous sums to recover it. Even if you assume, you’re secure, there are other risks to deal with. Server failures, data backup loss and system downtime can shutter businesses just as easily as a vicious hacker.
- You’re letting the competition get ahead.
Outsmarting your competitors takes more than just mimicking whatever latest strategy the thought leaders of your industry are championing now. It requires anticipating future trends and acting on them. And in business, there’s one universal truth you can count on: the future of your industry lies in technology. Cloud services, data backup recovery, Office 365, VoIP services, and many other IT security services are few of the advances your competitors are considering (if they haven’t snatched them up already) to protect their business and get ahead in their market. If you neglect the future, your company is destined to become a thing of the past.
Contact us NOW, to get the IT services your business needs in order to prevent a security threat from happening. By improving the reliability and security of your technology, your business can get ahead of its competitors.