Data: as a business owner, you know all too well how valuable it is. If you don’t, consider how long your office would be able to operate without access to the resources that makes it possible for it to function in the first place. And if yours is an industry which requires you to adhere to certain compliancy standards, that loss of data will signal much more damaging effects to come. Your data is the foundation of your business, and as such you need to consider the following when keeping abreast of the digital business transformation:
Backups: Too many small business owners make the mistake of thinking backing up their data will be expensive, complex, and time consuming. The truth is, almost any amount of data can easily be backed up in the cloud, which functions as an enterprise-grade datacenter- your enterprise-grade datacenter- at a fraction of the cost. By working with a managed service provider, you can be sure that your data is being backed up constantly, and is readily available should you suffer any loss.
Security: Keeping your data safe is absolutely essential, and once it’s in the cloud you need to focus on how it’s protected. This is where working with a trusted IT partner is essential: from keeping your software and hardware up-to-date, to giving your employees the ability to work from anywhere in the world without compromising your security, you and your IT partner should focus on technological solutions that give your business a competitive advantage.
Scalability: Maybe you bit off more than you can chew. Maybe your business expanded far more rapidly than you expected. Either way, you need to consider scalability when storing and managing information, and focus on solutions with integrated analytic tools to help you continue making smart business decisions.
Adaptiveness: Technology moves fast, and as a small business owner you risk being left in the dust if you don’t keep up. Of course, as a business owner, you don’t exactly have the time to handle every aspect of your business, especially given the complexity of business technology. This is where your IT partner will prove indispensable: their ability to keep up with constantly emerging disruptive trends will continue to help you respond to both threats and opportunities with the agility businesses in the 21st century need to succeed.
Technology is meant to make our lives easier, but keeping up with trends can make it overwhelming. Make your technology work for you, and get in on the digital revolution.