IT can be a complex area to tackle at the best of times, but there are certain mistakes which can be easily avoided through vigilance and understanding.
Maintaining, securing and purchasing technology for your organization requires a lot of knowledge due to the range of procedures and procedures involved. Thankfully, this knowledge is usually in place, but you would be surprised just how many silly mistakes still manage to slip through the net. And these mistakes, although seemingly minor, can sometimes have severe consequences.
To help you avoid these pitfalls, we’ve put together a guide on how to avoid the most common IT mistakes in business.
Printers are Important
Despite on-going calls for ‘paperless’ offices, the reality is that organizations still need to print. And where there’s a need to print, there’s a need for printers. However, far too many organizations fail to understand that researching a good printer is crucial. A cheap printer, for example, may seem the best way forward for a small business, but the amount of toner it wastes and the maintenance involved could soon end up costing more than you had bargained for. Therefore, thoroughly researching what the available printers can do and how well they can do it is vital.
Poor Training for Employees
Your employees need to know how to use the technology they’re working with, so regular training is key to avoiding technical mishaps and maximizing productivity. An employee who knows how to get the best out of the technology they’re working with is relatively rare in most organizations, so stay ahead of the competition by proving in-depth training and refresher manuals.
Not Sticking to Backup Strategies
A good organization is one that has a fantastic backup strategy, but a fantastic organization is one which sticks to its backup strategy. Sure, it may feel time consuming to back up your data to multiple sources and the costs involved can soon be felt by your bank balance. Nonetheless, the relief at being able to restore your data and keep your organization running is surely more preferable to your business grinding to a halt, right? And that’s why sticking to your backup strategy and ensuring that all the processes are regularly followed to the letter is important.
Not Disposing of Technology Correctly
Obsolete technology can soon become a burden on the available real estate within your organization. Disposing of said technology, then, is paramount to a functioning workspace. It’s not just as simple as chucking those old servers out with the trash though. Not only are there potentially dangerous components and chemicals contained within, there are also significant chunks of potentially sensitive data. Thorough cleaning and wiping of all data is highly recommended before you hand the technology over to a specialist firm to destroy securely and safely.
Lack of Tech Support
In a digital age where technology is advancing at a rapid pace, it makes sense to have tech support available at all times. Many organizations feel as though they can handle most IT problems without dedicated staff, but this is a dangerous step to take. It may feel cost effective to rely on a limited amount of knowledge and resources, but there are daily issues for even the smallest businesses which require an IT professional. With a reputable tech support team in place, you can ensure that all issues are dealt with quickly and correctly.
For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.
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