Every business that uses technology in the company requires some form of support with information technology, or IT support, especially if they use it every day for the business. However, it is important not just to have IT support but to make sure it is good support. This means having a few key essentials as far as IT is concerned.
Know Security
Security goes beyond just keeping a solid deadbolt on the door. In fact, many thieves out there are not interested in the monetary value of what is on the premises; there are plenty of thieves that want to get into your sensitive data, which means it is essential for good IT to secure data at all times. Good IT support takes the extra measures to secure client data as well.
To maintain top notch security, you will want to use adequate computer protection that prevents and alerts you to viral threats, malware or other attempts to access data by unauthorized users. This also requires some user know-how; keep wary of any suspicious emails and always maintain your firewall.
Data Backups
This goes hand in hand with keeping a good form of security as well as ensuring you do not lose your sensitive client data. Even if hackers and thieves are not to blame, natural disasters and general hardware failure can strike at any time, which makes it essential to have regular data backups.
How you maintain your regular data backups depends on what is easiest for your business. For instance, you can back up important files to a DVD, upload them on a cloud-based service or maintain an off-site location where you store your own sensitive information.
Maintain Good Policies
Good IT support means keeping good policies in the company. This is critical for employees to know what they should be doing and to help protect the companies when it comes to governing personal usage, security, data retention and inventory in addition to potential lost productivity due to personal Internet usage.
Six areas should suffice with IT support policies:
Acceptable Use: Maintain guidelines that govern the use of computers and machines such as the telephone or fax machine.
Security: Maintain guidelines for passwords, confidentiality and how employees handle data.
Disasters: Set guidelines for recovering data in case a disaster occurs.
Standards: Avoid lost productivity by maintaining guidelines on what software and systems employees may have. For instance, company hardware and software is permitted, but employees may not install instant messengers or MP3 download programs.
Network Documentation: Maintain guidelines about connecting to the network, permissions and software licensing.
IT Services: Set guidelines about how to address problems, who is responsible for tech support, installation and maintenance.
Maintain the Correct Software
In the modern world of tech, running a small business means having a computer. The larger your company becomes, the more you’ll need and the more complex it will get. One problem that companies end up getting into is finding the cheapest computers and programs at the start. Naturally, they outgrow these systems and look for ways to upgrade to keep up.
The problem here is that upgrading systems tends to mean upgrading hardware, which becomes considerably more expensive. For instance, the Home version of Windows saves you $100 than the business version, but they end up needing the business essentials in the more expensive version.
Regardless of cost, it is essential to have the right computers and software set up in your company in order to maintain good business IT support.