Technology can provide an advantage for companies in every industry when strategically utilized.  However, one of the biggest issues small business owners must contend with is overcoming some of the common tech-related obstacles that hinder productivity.  These problems can range from minor inconveniences to serious threats that can permanently shut down a business.

In today’s blog, we’ve outlined 6 of the most common technology problems small business owners deal with on a regular basis and how you can either avoid or resolve them.

1. Failing To Meet Industry-Specific Compliance Requirements

Numerous sectors have specific regulatory compliance requirements that define how companies must organize and protect data.  Those that you might be familiar with include HIPAA, which regulates electronic medical data in the health care industry; FFIEC, GLB and SEC in the financial services industry; and CMMC for companies that work directly or indirectly with the Department of Defense.

For small business owners assuming multiple roles, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest compliance requirements, especially if you don’t have an IT or cybersecurity employee on staff.  Failing to meet a requirement can not only lead to hefty fines and legal issues but it can also leave you vulnerable to a cyberattack.

It is highly recommended that you work with a managed services provider (MSP) that has experience in compliance for your specific industry.  While compliance is not identical to cybersecurity, the two overlap, and an experienced provider will be able to help you bridge the gap, so you’re protected and meeting any mandatory requirements.

Click here to book a FREE Discovery Call so you’ll know if you’re currently missing any mandatory compliance requirements for your organization.

2. Lack Of Strategic IT Planning

A major problem we see is a disjointed relationship between the business leaders in an organization and their IT team.  In the digital age, technology is an integral part of how a business operates.  When business executives, who tend to see the larger picture, loop in IT professionals, they can make informed decisions about what technology to deploy to make long-term growth and scalability easier and more efficient.

Several areas in which your IT team should function as a strategic advisor are:

  • Enhancing business operations to streamline processes and improve productivity.
  • Choosing the best line of business software.
  • Upgrading aged or outdated hardware and software.
  • Enforcing cybersecurity best practices.
  • Deploying cost-effective and scalable cloud solutions.
  • Developing a predictable IT budget that doesn’t rely on break-fix solutions.

3. Inadequate Cybersecurity Protection

Cybersecurity threats become more advanced every year.  Decisions about cybersecurity should not be solely left to the IT department.  These are business decisions that need to be made with the acceptance and willingness of the leadership team because failing to have a robust cybersecurity system and becoming the victim of a cyberattack can be detrimental to a business.  There are trade secrets, confidential communications, customer data and employee records that are stored on your company’s devices that you can’t afford to have fall into unauthorized hands.

Work with your IT team to deploy a three-pronged approach that includes:

Prevention Strategies: Do you have the appropriate software and solutions in place, such as antivirus, firewalls, MFA, etc., to protect your organization from an attack?  Are you providing continuous training for employees on the latest threats and how to identify them?

Detection Mechanisms: This is a key piece that most small businesses neglect, making them vulnerable.  Do you have a process established for detecting a breach, or would it go unnoticed until it’s a bigger problem?  You should be conducting routine scans and monitoring, as well as employing endpoint detection and response tools.

Response And Recovery Action Steps: Do you have a contingency plan in place if something goes wrong?  Would your employees know what to do?  It is imperative to have a proficient IT team supporting you that can identify and mitigate any issues quickly, before the damage can’t be undone.  Leaders in the organization should take this seriously.

4. Poor User Support

Productivity will decrease if your employees are struggling with their technology all day.  Using sluggish, outdated devices and software can be frustrating for employees, leaving them feeling less motivated and hindering their output.  It’s even worse when you have unreliable technical support following the “we’ll get to it when we get to it” approach.

By having the right IT team in place, whether that’s in-house staff, outsourced support, or a combination of both, you can trust that an experienced technician with the tools and knowledge to quickly assist employees and solve problems will always be available to help.

5. Poor User Asset Management

Managing access to various levels of data for each employee can be tedious and overwhelming in larger organizations.  IT professionals can take on the responsibility of overseeing and monitoring user access so that no one has access to data they don’t need, security policies are enforced, and accounts are constantly monitored for anomalies.

Additionally, they can also assign new users, make changes to existing accounts, delete accounts, add remote users, set permissions on how employees can access the network and more.  This is especially important when it comes to offboarding employees.  Regardless of whether or not the employee is leaving on good terms, removing data access from someone who has access to sensitive information can be risky and needs to be managed with care.

6. Lack Of Training

As mentioned, making sure your employees know how to use technology efficiently is paramount to productivity.  It’s also important for security reasons.  All staff members should regularly go through cybersecurity training to ensure they understand and are following best practices.

Typically, the business leaders in the company do not assume this role.  Most often, they need refresher courses, too.  A dependable IT team will be able to regularly inform team members of new threats and what to look out for, run phishing simulations to test employees on whether they know what to do and more.  A single training session is NOT enough!  To build a cybersecurity–focused culture, you need to be talking about it often.

Is it time to solve your IT problems once and for all?

We have your back.  To get started, book a FREE, no-obligation Network Assessment.  We’ll let you know how and where your organization can better utilize technology to grow.

To get started, click here or call our office at 281-646-1200.