In today’s business, the more robust an IT network is the more risk there is of system failure. This comes down to what is known as Murphy’s Law, which states anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. That’s why when coming up with a defense strategy, you need to mix smart IT management decisions with overwhelming redundancy to have a chance. In this week’s blog, we will outline some of the most common reasons for system failure and why you need a data backup solution.
When you think of downtime, you probably think about the power or your Internet connection going out and leaving you unable to do work. Unfortunately, these are anecdotes that seem benign, but are actually extraordinarily costly. When interruptions to your business’ computing infrastructure are constantly hindering productivity, you need to come up with a solution.
For the average business, upgrading technology comes with some risks. Will you get the return on your investment back fast enough to make your investment worthwhile? Will the technology solve the operational problems you are trying to confront? Do you have the available capital to make significant upgrades? These questions and more can keep a business from taking advantage of the amazing benefits many new technologies can bring. Today, we thought we’d outline four signs that will tell you when it’s time to upgrade your business’ technology.
If there’s any experience that’s universally shared by the modern worker, it’s the sensation that there aren’t enough hours in the day. Fortunately, there are some habits that can be developed that can help to mitigate these feelings by enhancing productivity. For this week’s tip, we’ll discuss some of these practices to help boost your office’s time management capabilities.
Business owners try to avoid downtime like the plague, but it’s often a challenge to do so. The impact of downtime can be devastating for even the most well-to-do business, and this is even more so the case when you bring profits and bottom lines into view. We’ll take a look at how you can calculate the cost of a downtime event.
It’s imperative that you keep your IT infrastructure under control, but many organizations push it to the side. The problem is that ignoring IT often makes it so that you aren’t properly evaluating your technology infrastructure and support, meaning that you could be wasting time and resources that would be better spent elsewhere. Ask yourself the following questions to determine whether or not your IT systems are being maintained properly.
If you feel like you can’t get anything done due to IT troubles, then you’re throwing money down the drain. Downtime is a major waste, but some of the most recognizable ones include computers that are slow or constantly breaking down, as well as employees who can’t get anything done due to computers that simply don’t work the way they’re supposed to. One of the most devastating downtime incidents--hardware failure--can lead to extended periods of wasteful downtime and large quantities of data loss. It goes without saying that having someone periodically check on IT is a necessity in the modern workplace.
...or is your current IT provider waiting for you to call them?
Imagine the frustration of getting to your office and having your computer not boot up as intended. Now imagine how much time that costs you if each of your employees encounters this problem. IT can’t always solve issues immediately, but it needs to be able to provide triage and issue support accordingly. If your IT can’t address problems with downtime and connectivity, then perhaps it’s time for a change.
If downtime isn’t treated like the problem that it is, then you’re wasting time and money waiting for issues to be addressed. 10 employees who can’t get their work done due to technology issues means that you’re paying 10 salaries for not completing tasks. This is a waste that your organization can certainly do without. If your IT people aren’t prompt with emergencies, it’s time to find some new IT people.
Employees might be worried about asking for support because they are afraid it will cost your business. A ticketing system can be used by employees who run into issues so that they can get the support needed as per your service level agreement. Once the issue has been reported, they can get back to work.
Each device on your network, including desktops, laptops, servers, printers, routers, access points, switches, VoIP phones, and everything else, needs to be documented. Documentation should include when the device was purchased and installed, including who installed it, the model and serial numbers, warranty information, and access information.
Without your data, you can’t expect to be successful. If you can’t recover your data in the event of a disaster, your future could be placed in jeopardy. Therefore, your IT people need to take your data as seriously as you do.
IT is about making technology work for you, so if they aren’t doing this, then you should ask them to sit down with you and help determine their worth. It’s even better if they decide to initiate the conversation so they can learn how to best serve you. You need to have an account manager that is willing and able to help you put together a full IT roadmap and plan for the future. If they’re not there to help you get the most from your technology and get ahead of the competition, then what are you paying them for?
The Connection, Inc can be the ideal IT solution for your business. To learn more, reach out to us at (732) 291-5938.
In managing business technology, we are always talking about downtime--how expensive downtime is, how downtime hurts productivity, how there are a multitude of separate situations that can cause downtime. That kind of doom and gloom may not get you to act, but it may just put you off. Today, instead of downtime, we thought we would talk about uptime.
Obviously, if downtime is something to be avoided, uptime--the reciprocal state of operations--is to be embraced. Uptime means that all of your IT is working as intended and your staff is able to produce their greatest output. At The Connection, Inc, we do what we can to avoid risk, and as a result, we typically focus on avoiding downtime and providing as much uptime as possible. The question becomes how often is your IT completely functional and working for you?
The typical business has a lot of different elements working to make up their information systems. They have servers, workstations, networking equipment, printers and copiers, and much more. In fact, if each piece of your IT infrastructure has 99% uptime (they likely don’t), what are the chances that each piece is down at the same time? Uptime as a metric actually corresponds with productivity more than any other. In fact, if someone isn’t being productive when all the IT they need and use is running effectively, they are missing an opportunity.
We work hard to ensure that uptime is maximized. We constantly monitor and manage hardware, monitor networks, and put state-of-the-art tools to work that only have one job, eliminating any downtime. That’s why it is important to define the level of success that is provided by each service and system as they are available in real-time. Think about it, if you provide an employee a workstation that routinely needs support, and another a brand-new workstation that doesn’t have any technical deficiencies, can you really expect both of them to be equally productive?
In the IT world, uptime is the goal, insofar as it gives the end user the best chance at achieving success.
As stated above, our whole business model is based on the uptime/downtime paradigm shifting dramatically in our clients' favor. We try to accomplish this in several ways. These include:
If you would like to talk to one of our expert consultants about how we can help you get control over your IT and work to reduce or eliminate the downtime your organization experiences call us with your story at (732) 291-5938.
Downtime is a critical problem with many businesses that have limited IT budgets. Organizations need to ensure that their bottom line is as high as possible, but if you’re constantly plagued by persistent downtime, your business is losing money when it doesn’t need to. We’re here to inform you about downtime, and what it can cost your business if it’s not addressed promptly.
It’s the goal of every IT administrator for every part of their network to run smoothly. Achieving this level of IT perfection is a beautiful thing that makes the job of everyone in the company easier. Unfortunately, all it takes is one component to fail for this dream of IT utopia to come crashing down.
You’re walking your dog when all of a sudden, you get this game-changing idea for how to manage your technology. You get excited to integrate it into your IT strategy, but by the time you get home, the thought is gone and you can’t remember it. This “Eureka” moment is just like data loss; it could occur at any time, and without warning, whether you’re ready for it or not.
Mobile? Grab this Article
