The 5 Biggest Gaps in SMB IT

Let's face it: when it comes to IT, your business is going to be good at some things and bad at others. So what are some of the most glaring gaps in IT for businesses like yours? Take a look at this list and see how you stack up.

1) Backup and Disaster Recovery
Joshua Liberman, president of a systems integrator in Albuquerque tells a story of a $10 million company who had a server crash and they lost everything. Their goal was to save on the $150/month backup contract that they were running and, since the crash, they've gone out of business. This is a little close to home for all of us living in the Joplin, MO area. What is backup / disaster recovery worth to you?

2) Security
The typical employee today has a relatively large amount of access to their own computer, making an easy path for viruses. Unfortunately, many businesses today don't get security for their computers or the security they do have isn't very high quality. The difference between a $40 Linksys router and a $4,000 Cisco firewall could mean the difference between uptime and downtime. How secure is your business?

3) Old Equipment
We at PCnet are somewhat frequently recommending new PCs to our customers. Many businesses these days are running on 7-10 year old computers with old software that has long since been replaced by new and better technology. A $2,000 CAD workstation nowadays has the possibility of finishing a job in 10 minutes that could take as long as 48 hours on an older machine. Work performance isn't just based on your personnel - it also has to do with your IT. How can you improve your performance?

4) Mobile Devices
It used to be that a typical SMB would have 1, maybe 2 smartphones in the office. Today, smartphones are prevalent and they can store a lot of business-related data. As harsh as it sounds, many businesses today are having their employees sign an "acceptable use" policy and considering a remote wipe option when necessary. When you have a worker leave, do you really want him taking your customer data to the next job?

5) Strategic IT Thinking
Many of our customers don't see their network holistically. When an old PC dies, they buy another one; when new software comes out, they replace the old one. We ultimately want to help you save money - please let us consult you on your next IT decision and help you see the bigger picture in your computer network. We can be your trusted advisor.

So how'd you do? Give us a call today if you have any concerns - we're here to help!