If there’s one certainty in the world of IT it’s that technology never stands still. As new innovations and developments constantly enter the market, it’s essential that businesses and organisations are not left behind. Out-of-date systems or old technology can have a real and lasting impact on your bottom line, through inefficiencies and loss of productivity. 

Regardless of whether you are manufacturing products on a production line or running a client-based professional services business, any loss of productive time is the last thing any business wants to experience.

The key factors to consider when reviewing your IT system are speed, functionality and security.

Ask yourself: Is it fast enough? Does it do what I want it to do? And will it protect me against cyber threats and attacks?

Here are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your business is up to speed and up-to-date:

• Make sure that your equipment is fit for purpose and is compatible with the latest versions of software packages. It’s

worth remembering that the average lifetime of a PC is around three years to five years.

• Avoid issues with slow connectivity by making sure your Wi-Fi network is doing its job. Your Wi-Fi needs to accommodate a myriad of different devices while maintaining network security. Modern Wi-Fi networks not only provide faster speeds, but also support modern security protocols such as WPA3.

• Do not leave your business exposed by having a single point of failure, particularly if you have servers on your premises. Data should always be backed up at an off-site location in case of a disaster such as a fire or flood, or stored on a secure cloud-based system instead of a server.

• Save yourself time and money by getting the most out of your current software by utilising all of its capabilities, from capturing customer feedback to managing staff rotas.

• With the UK’s traditional landline system due to be switched off in less than two years to become fully digital, make the move to digital phone and broadband alternatives sooner rather than later.

• Make sure you are well protected against cyber attacks and breaches by ensuring firewalls and anti-virus software are up-to-date, using multi-factor authentication, regularly vetting who has access to your systems, and making sure your team’s IT equipment is patched.

No two businesses operate in exactly the same way which means the demands on an individual business’ IT system will also be unique. 

As part of our free IT audit, we work with businesses across Cumbria and South West Scotland to identify and resolve any issues, as well as providing ongoing technical support. 

With technological developments moving faster than ever, make sure your business is ready for them by being ahead of the IT game.

This article was first published in the April 2023 edition of In-Cumbria magazine