6 Business Tech Mistakes To Avoid

These days, running an average business without many technological devices would be pretty tricky, 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 back 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 much effort 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 your business to run effectively. If you don’t back up your business data, you’re essentially 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Using outdated technology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, 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.

Outdated tech also includes the infrastructure that supports your whole IT setup. If you have slow internet that doesn’t provide the bandwidth to keep your entire team productive, it can cause significant frustration and downtime. It’s worth taking a look at your business internet providers to see which of them can offer the speed you need at the price that best fits your budget. 

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. 

As a small business owner, it’s crucial to have a reliable IT team or access to one that can install firewalls, antivirus protection, and help you encrypt your data and implement cybersecurity 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 having 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, businesses must follow regulations not only at the national level but also within their industry. 

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. It’s a good idea to listen to the advice of IT experts and also consider seeking help from professionals like Heckman Law. PC is the business attorney that Palm Desert businesses rely on for their essential 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, most businesses would be fully set up for mobile devices, but this is sadly not the case.

Many small businesses have an IT infrastructure that is well-suited for desktop computers, but it 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 proper 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 standard, but now that 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.