Entering a new year is an excellent opportunity to re-evaluate the habits and traditions that supported your business through the previous year. Since technology is continually evolving, this area requires at least yearly re-examination.
If you’ve been working with a managed IT services provider, they can help you determine the best path forward for your IT services in 2023. However, if you don’t have this partnership already established, the onus is on your internal team to lead this endeavor. This responsibility can easily get pushed aside, especially as issues like ongoing maintenance and IT support take top priority.
Instead of struggling to fit proactive planning into a busy post-holiday schedule, why not prioritize investing in managed IT services that can help take work off your plate? This partnership can make communication, productivity and organizational security much easier.
Why Invest in Managed IT Services?
SMBs in the United States must contend with many technology-related issues. With the rise of remote work over the last few years, employees have come to expect their workplaces to offer a seamless working experience, regardless of where they’re located.
Additionally, security risks for SMBs have never been more present. 61% of SMBs have been hit by cyberattacks, which can steal valuable data and cost them a small fortune in ransoms, remediation fees and lost productivity.
Here are some other challenges that small and medium-sized businesses are contending with as they enter the new year.
1. Lack of IT support resources
Internal IT teams have great value but they’re often overwhelmed, especially during busy periods when staff return to the office after the holidays. This can lead to critical tasks like regular maintenance being forgotten, which can have dire consequences regarding cybersecurity.
2. No strategic plan
Another challenge faced by many internal IT teams is the lack of time available for long-term strategic planning. If their time is limited, it’s much more likely to be taken up with pressing daily tasks rather than focusing on long-term strategic technology planning.
3. Cybersecurity risks
We mentioned this above, but it’s too big an issue to just reference once. Most small and medium-sized businesses have taken very few measures to protect themselves from cyber threats, and a shocking 47% of small businesses have no cybersecurity budget at all. Many believe their business is too small to be attacked.
SMBs are becoming an extremely popular target for hackers because of their lack of security measures, and many do not recover from being breached.
Feeling like these points are just a bit too relatable? Read our latest guide to learn how to get the gold standard of IT for your money.
Follow Our Managed IT Services Checklist for 2023
While many challenges are inherent to operating a business today, there are resources that can help.
We provide SMBs managed IT services in Nashville, Tennessee, and Roanoke, Virginia, and we’re proud to be their partner in cybersecurity, productivity and communication. Along the way, we’ve developed a checklist to help them properly utilize and manage the IT solutions and tools we offer.
Here’s what we advise for managed IT services in 2023:
1. Plan how you want to adopt your new approach to IT
This step involves setting a direction for how you want IT to support your business. Maybe you’ve identified which technology you need to adopt or have a list of risks you’d like to mitigate. Once you think about and write out your wish list, it’s easier for your managed IT services partner to develop a plan in support.
2. Build your infrastructure
After you’ve connected with a managed IT services partner, the next step in your work together is building up your IT infrastructure. Depending on your needs and current setup, this could involve installing new hardware and investing in and deploying new software and security patches.
After you’ve connected with a managed IT services partner, the next step in your work together is building up your IT infrastructure. Depending on your needs and current setup, this could involve installing new hardware and investing in and deploying new software and security patches.
3. Manage your IT system
One of the benefits of a great managed IT services partnership is the opportunity to have someone proactively managing your system. They can regularly review your IT setup, discuss potential long-term strategic plans and make sure your business stays safe and compliant.
4. Run your IT infrastructure
Throughout your work together, your managed IT services partner will help you run your IT infrastructure in a safe, flexible and productive manner. They can help you establish ongoing rules for data access, develop a disaster recovery plan and train employees on cybersecurity best practices.
Start 2023 with the Best IT Support in Nashville
Want to start your year with the best IT support Nashville has to offer? Get in touch with the experts at Tech Squared. Our team is always available to discuss your IT needs and how we can help.
