Since the beginning of the pandemic, economists predicted a rise in inflation and loving costs. However, none of us predicted quite how high costs would rise. Between the Pandemic, Brexit and the War in Ukraine, the cost of running a business has soared and many are finding it difficult to break even.
Without sufficient IT infrastructure, your business cannot function. It is important to evaluate your IT delivery and ensure that you are getting value for money. There are things you can do to help lower your costs in the long run, even if it means spending a little more now. Here are some things you should be looking at to ensure your IT delivery is as efficient as possible:
Outsourcing
In evaluating where it is possible to cut costs, it is important to carefully consider your IT support. If you have an in-house IT team, now may be the time for you to outsource your IT. Ultimately, you want to choose the most effective way to support your systems and your people to ensure your business can continue running as usual.
Outsourcing your IT means that you have a consistent expense that you can budget for. Furthermore, you will be able to plan for flexible IT support as your business changes. Additionally, it allows you to take advantage of the greater knowledge base that comes with a larger team. An experienced IT company will have dealt with a wide range of issues just like yours. Consequently, they will be able to pinpoint issues faster and solve them quicker.
Monitoring
Environment monitoring is a crucial supplement to any business, whether your IT hardware consists of a server closet or whether it extends to a dozen data centres. It is vital for your business for the following reasons:
- Disaster Prevention – When your data centres and server rooms are monitored, any small problem that would otherwise escalate into a business-threatening issue can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
- Maximise Business Uptime – where you can prevent disaster from occurring, you will automatically increase business uptime.
- Benchmark Normal Operations – By determining the power metrics and getting trend data for every Power Distribution Unit (PDU), you can determine costs and work towards better efficiency and balance.
- Build Case for Investment – once you are aware of where your main costs are and know how you can become more efficient, you can plan where to best invest your resources for an optimal return for your stakeholders.
- Ensure Data Compliance – Effective monitoring, along with your history of monitoring reports will provide you with the data you need to demonstrate your continued compliance in many areas.
- Reduced Insurance Premiums – Monitoring your hardware lowers your risk of catastrophe which makes you, and your insurance company, much happier.
Cybersecurity
Training
Human error can account for over 90% of cybersecurity breaches. Training your employees to use strong passwords and how to recognise potential scams is the best way to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your network.
Firewalls
A strong firewall is an important factor in cyber defence. A firewall is a network security device which monitors your network traffic and protects it from viruses and malicious code. It can also stop users from accessing certain external sites.
Backups
Backing up your data is critical for ensuring business continuity. It is the only way to protect your data from hazards such as fire, flood, theft, malware infection or hardware failure and ensure you are prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Anti-Viral Software
Having anti-virus software is all good and well, but you will not have the full level of protection if you do not keep it updated. Patching your software is essential to ensure you always have access to the most up-to-date security and best technology.
Not Using Windows 7
Keeping your operating system up to date is as important as having updated anti-viral software. Whilst we would not recommend upgrading to Windows 11 just yet, you should be running Windows 10 at the minimum. Windows 7 does not receive security updates anymore, so you are at risk if you use it. If your business is still running Windows 7, click here to learn more about why not upgrading to Windows 10 is a risky move.
Migrating to the Cloud
The cloud eliminates the need for on-site data centres, thereby reducing your infrastructure overhead. The cost of the cloud includes upgrades, support and maintenance and you pay only for services procured. It is paid for on a subscription basis with a relatively low monthly cost, which can change depending on your requirements; cloud providers charge based on usage, so you can choose a package which suits your business. The reliability of the cloud means that failures and downtime are less likely to occur. Less downtime means less profit loss and more time to be productive.
Compliance
If your business happens to be deemed as non-compliant with the standards and regulations set out in PCI, HIPAA, GDPR and NIST, your organisation may face fines and penalties which can be both costly as well as damaging to your business’s overall reputation.
You would rather say that you took all measures deemed possible to protect the sensitive data entrusted to you than face the harsh consequences of not applying cybersecurity compliance at all.
Cardonet have been working with businesses for the past twenty years to help them overcome their technological challenges. Our group of highly experienced engineers are available 24/7 to assist and ensure that your IT infrastructure is running seamlessly.
If you are spending too much time dealing with technology issues and if those issues are affecting your team and customer experience, call us on +44 203 034 2244 or +1 323 984 8908. Alternately, you can contact us online. We will be happy to help you overcome your IT challenges so that you can focus on what you do best during the downturn.
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