These days, it would be pretty difficult to run the average business without many technological devices, but sometimes, some of the choices business owners make about their tech can be more of a hindrance than a help.
Below, you will find some of the most common tech mistakes that can hold your business snack and cause you many problems that could probably be avoided. If you can avoid making these mistakes, your business will be much safer, stronger, and more efficient.
Not backing up data
This is one of the most common technology mistakes to be avoided. It really does not take effort very much at all to back up your files onto an external hard drive, or even better, in the cloud, so that should your IT equipment be compromised in any way, you will not lose any of the important data that allows you business to run effectively. If you don’t back up your business data, you really are asking for trouble.
Using outdated technology
Technology moves so fast, so barely a year goes by without some improvement to the devices you use to run your business. Obviously, it would be impractical to invest in new iT infrastructure every year. Still, if your devices are not able to keep up to date with modern software or security, and it is slowing your business down. As a result, it is a good idea to invest in an upgrade every two years. By doing so, you can ensure that you can keep up with the competition.
Not optimizing your devices
If your computers, laptops, and equipment are not optimized, they will run more slowly than they should, and this will mean that it takes your employees far longer to carry out tasks in their workday.
You can optimize your computer by simply using a tool like Clean My Mac to get rid of any junk files or malware that could be slowing it down, and by updating the system regularly storing files in the cloud, rather than on your devices, will also help to speed things up and let your employees be more productive.
Not taking cybersecurity seriously
Cybercrimes are one of the biggest causes of company losses around the world right now, and they can often be prevented, which is what makes them so tragic.
If you are a small business owner, you need to ensure that you have a good IT team, or access to one, who will be able to install firewalls and antivirus protection and help you to encrypt your data and implement Cybesrcurity best practices in the office.
If you fail to do this, there is a good chance you will end up being hacked and having your systems go down, thus losing money or your clients’ data stolen, which could really ruin your reputation and potentially cause you lots of legal issues. This is one area where it really is not worth skimping.
Bonus: Not Taking Legal Advice from the Experts
Oh yes, you read that right; even when it comes to the tech work, there is still legal advice that you’re going to have to listen to, not just from an IT expert but also from a business attorney. On top of that, there are regulations that businesses need to follow, and even within their industry, there are regulations to follow, too.
When it comes to cybersecurity, there’s basically a domino effect that leaves so many people vulnerable. So, if you don’t take this seriously, you’ll be paying the price. So it’s going to be a good idea to not only listen to the advice of IT experts but you should also look into help like Heckman Law; PC is the business attorney Palm Desert businesses rely on for their important business and corporate law needs.
Just be sure to do thorough research and even look into experts (consultants included) who would be able to help you out with all of this. Your business can suffer serious consequences, so you really need experts on your side.
Not taking mobile devices into account
You would think that in 2022 when cell phones and tablets are so ubiquitous that most businesses would be fully set up for mobile devices, but this is sadly not the case.
Many small businesses have IT infrastructure perfect for using desktop computers but which is not optimized for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
These tech mistakes can prevent your team from working remotely, and it can be more expensive because it will make a bring your own device culture all but impossible.
Not offering training
If your company does not offer training to teach new employees how to handle the tech system, new employees will make more tech mistakes, be less efficient and potentially even cause data breaches to happen.
Yes, tech training is an additional expense when things are tight for many small business owners, but it really is something that you skip at your peril. And the right tech training can actually boost your bottom line by improving productivity and maintaining a secure network where you don’t have to worry about costly cybersecurity breaches.
These technology mistakes may be pretty common, but now you know about them, you can avoid letting them creep into your company and cause you problems. So, take your tech seriously and don’t let things slide.
