Thanks to cloud computing services and IT management software, small businesses can now perform basic and advanced IT functions without hiring an IT professional. But despite having access to user-friendly business IT software, over 40 percent of small businesses are still dissatisfied with the technology they use. This is because juggling various IT processes can be difficult, especially for small businesses that haven’t established a dedicated IT department yet.
If you find yourself allocating too much of your time to handling and fixing your company’s tech needs, it might be time to hire a team of IT professionals. In this post, let’s take a closer look at the various reasons why having an IT department might make sense for your small business.
1. If your industry is at high risk for cyberattacks
Small businesses should always be on the lookout for hackers and cyber threats. While cybersecurity tools such as antivirus software and firewalls can thwart most cyber threats, these may not stand a chance against sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals. If your business belongs to an industry that is at high risk for cyberattacks, you should bolster the security of your company and strengthen your network by carving out an IT department. Doing so can help your business meet privacy and compliance standards, as well as keep your data safe and sound.
2. If you plan on conquering new markets
Your expansion plans have a higher chance of success if you’re able to utilize the proper technologies. Such technologies include business productivity software, customer relationship management programs, and cloud-based applications. However, maintaining these technologies can be very challenging for businesses that don’t have a dedicated IT department.
For this reason, you should hire IT professionals that understand how to leverage business technologies. These professionals include database administrators, networking specialists, technical service managers, and systems administrators — all of which are possible career tracks for management information systems graduates. Thankfully, there is no shortage of these professionals today with more universities offering online courses. This has opened up the field to a much wider pool of talent from different locations and backgrounds, as the courses are 100% online. Graduates of these online management information systems degrees are highly sought after for their business skills in programming, problem-solving, project management, analytics, and network security. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a strong job growth in the information systems industry, as these professionals understand how to effectively deploy solutions and technologies critical to modern business. By having a dedicated IT team, you can make sure that the technologies you’re using run smoothly, which then allows you to focus on properly implementing your expansion plans.
3. If your business needs a tailor-fit IT infrastructure
Your small business might be able to skate by at the start by only using basic hardware like laptops, desktop computers, a reliable phone system, and a decent internet connection. But as your business grows, you’ll soon face the fact that a basic IT system won’t cut it. In order to keep up with the rising demand and provide better service to your customers, you’re going to need a sophisticated and tailor-fit IT infrastructure. This is where a dedicated IT department comes in.
You can rely on a team of IT professionals to implement and manage your business’ IT infrastructure. Professionals such as systems engineering managers provide the most value when you start establishing your business’ IT infrastructure as they are trained to monitor performance, seamlessly work with programmers and project managers, and develop systems designs and architecture. Strategizing your business’ IT infrastructure is no easy feat, and without a dedicated IT department, you might end up setting your business up for failure.
A dedicated IT department for a fraction of the cost: XO Managed Services
Salaries for IT professionals start at around $50,000 per year and can exceed $100,000 per year, especially for those with security and networking specialties. This is a lot of money for a small business, especially for positions that don’t directly lead to increased revenue.
That’s where XO managed services come in handy. For less than the cost of hiring a single IT professional, a small business can get a dedicated IT department of technicians, security and network specialists, cloud specialists, service managers, and vCIOs that will manage, monitor, protect, and support your IT 24/7/365, and provide you with all the guidance and planning services you need.
Contact them today for a free assessment.
Piece specially written for XO
by Beatris Jordon
