Every Business, from Small, Medium & Large and even Non Profits depend on various pieces of technology in order to operate. The technology used encompasses:
- Workstation Computers
- Servers
- Modems
- Routers
- Ethernet Cabling
- Wireless Access Points
- VOIP Telephone solutions
- Backup Solutions
- Software
- Security Solutions – Don’t get hacked!
- Training
- Mobile Technology
- and everything in between
As you can see there is a lot that goes into the technology we use on a daily basis in our businesses or nonprofits. It would be awesome to live in a time where we can Set it and Forget it. Sadly, we aren’t there yet. Our technology requires us to properly maintain it to ensure our systems are operating at peak efficiency.
Things to Consider when it comes to IT
The gist of the things you will need to think about are:
- Software Updates – They happen often
- Hardware Updates – Do you know the tech that you really need?
- Security – Protect your network from getting hacked
- Backups – Keep your data backed up in a safe place
- Disaster Recovery – What is your plan in the event of a fire, flood or other unforeseen event that brings your network down?
Can Your Current Team Handle This?
The answer is yes, you most likely have people in your staff that are somewhat tech savvy. If so then find out if maintaining your various systems is something they’d be interested. Obviously this is a big responsibility so you want to make sure that they are capable of tackling such a task.
What Would Happen if you lost all your data?
Should You Hire a Full-Timer?
If you have the budget for a full-time IT person, then this can be a great investment. Having someone on site monitoring your network and immediately responding to any issues that might show up out of nowhere, can be quite handy.
The typical salary of an onsite IT Person varies based on many factors, one being location. In New York, the typical salary is around $60-$100k. Some offices hire entire teams dedicated to maintaining their systems. This is often needed when infrastructure is large and requires such an expense.
What About Remote IT Support?
If your business or nonprofit is small or doesn’t have the budget to hire a full-timer, then you might want to consider at least investing in Remote IT Support that can handle the ongoing needs of managing your system and network. The peace of mind knowing that your data is safe, your network is secure and in the event of a catastrophe, you’re covered, is priceless.
You will also find that hiring a local IT Consultant can be extremely beneficial. They can manage your system remotely and if needed, swing by your office and make any needed repairs or adjustments.
Don’t Make a Costly Mistake!
Some Small Businesses or NonProfits sometimes choose to forgo proper management of their technology infrastructure because of what might seem to be the huge expense, but the question really becomes:
“What is your Data Worth”?
Your business, your nonprofit; runs off of data. your contact list, databases, regulatory documentation and other vital information is extremely valuable. If you lose your data, what happens then?
The Takeaway
Have a plan, either utilize the talent that might exist inside of your organization or hire someone to take care of it for you. Do it before it’s too late.