At Friendly PC, we’ve worked with dozens of SMBs in the Omaha area. We have a respect and understanding of just how hectic and busy the professional lives of these business owners and leaders can be. In a small business, you have to wear a lot of hats, and sometimes IT strategy and security can get lost in the shuffle. Don’t leave your organization open to these common IT issues.
Network and Data Security
Some business owners have the preconceived notion that data security is an issue exclusively for larger companies. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Every company has the risk of getting hacked. Small companies are generally in more danger due to their lack of security policies, making them a common target. The threat is real…
- 43 percent of cyber attacks target small business.
- Only 14 percent of small businesses rate their ability to mitigate cyber risks, vulnerabilities and attacks as highly effective.
- 60 percent of small companies go out of business within six months of a cyber attack.
- 48 percent of data security breaches are caused by acts of malicious intent. Human error or system failure account for the rest.
- Ponemon Institute research reveals that 50% of SMBs have been breached in the past 12 months.
Data Loss
Again, small businesses tend to have a lack of procedure or plan for their data backup. It simply gets overlooked, or not viewed as a priority. Failing to backup your data can be a huge mistake. When your data is backed up on a frequent schedule and protected, then you’re far less likely to suffer a major loss in the event of a ransomware attack. The attack can be ignored because you’ve ensured your data is safe. Small losses can still happen, but it’s far better than losing everything. According to a Verizon study, data breaches of fewer than 100 lost files can cost between $18,120 and $35,730. Even the lower end can be devastating to a small business.
Disjointed Processes
Bits of data, information, spreadsheets, paper forms, databases, sticky notes, and the list goes on and on. Disjointed processes when it comes to data storage can really slow your organization down, especially if you’re still relying on paper-based processes. Paper documents are much harder to find, share, store, and use. It’s the difference between employees spending their time looking for information or acting on information.
- 7.5% of documents are lost and another 3.5% are misfiled.
- Over the course of a year, 1 out of 10 paper documents will go missing and need to be recreated
- Two-thirds of those adopting paper-free processes report a payback within 18 months. 50% see payback in under 12 months.
(Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Hardware and Software Issues
Most of the technology you use has an expiration date and it probably requires updates. If no one is in charge of the upkeep and monitoring of your software and hardware, then it simply doesn’t get done. Systems begin to breakdown and become unreliable, slowing your workforce down. Outdated and obsolete hardware can cause client and employee frustrations, create inefficiencies, and increase your downtime. Be sure to update or replace equipment at the proper life cycle. In addition, your hardware components as well as your software applications should be standardized.
No IT Support
Without an IT strategy, all of the above threats are all too real. IT support is your line of defense against inefficiencies, data loss, attacks, and so much more. Most small businesses need to outsource their IT support. By outsourcing your IT support, you don’t have the overhead that comes with an employee or team. We recommend…well, ourselves, but seriously, if you’re shopping around for the right IT support match for your SMB, we recommend checking reviews. Google and/or Facebook reviews will give you a lot of insight about how reliable and capable the company is.
