Technology is everywhere, and your business can’t succeed without it. However, many businesses fail because they don’t have the support they need to keep their technology running smoothly.
If your business is struggling with recurring IT issues, you may need to start looking into revamping your existing IT infrastructure. Let’s look at some signs that signal you may need IT support sooner rather than later.
Excessive tech breakdowns
Computer breakdowns are generally a sign that something is wrong with the hardware. If you find that you’re experiencing excessive computer breakdowns, it could be a sign that you don’t have enough IT support staff or that your team isn’t properly trained in solving computer issues.
These tech breakdowns can be extremely costly. In fact, some businesses suffer so many computer breakdowns that they lose more money in downtimes than they would by hiring a full-time staff member to maintain their computers.
If your business has a lot of computer breakdowns, you may need to hire more IT staff or look at getting IT support services to keep your computers running smoothly..
Downtime has increased
Downtime is when your computer are not functioning at proper capacity, or at all. It may seem like a minor issue, but downtime is usually a sign that something is seriously wrong with your tech. This can be very costly; a recent study estimated the average cost of IT downtime is $5600 per minute.
This can be a sign that your IT needs to be replaced. You might have a computer that is so old that it’s no longer compatible with software or websites that are used in your business. If you find that you’re experiencing excessive downtime, it could be that you don’t have the staff to monitor your computers, or your team doesn’t know how to fix computer issues.
Data is missing
If you regularly lose data, you may have a virus or malware problem on one of your computers. However, if you have regular data breaches in which data is stolen, you have a bigger issue on your hands. You could be missing data that you thought you had backed up, or sensitive information from your clients and customers.
Data breaches are a serious problem for businesses of all sizes, with the consequences ranging from a loss of customers and reputation, to financial and legal issues. If your business experiences regular data breaches, you may want to consider investing in better security software or hiring managed IT services to protect your system and data.
Slow network speeds
Slow network speeds can be a result of issues with your network or with your computer. When computers age, their processors slow down. This can slow down your network speed, causing it to feel much slower than it did when you first purchased it.
If your network speed has slowed down, it could be a sign that you need to upgrade your hardware. You may feel like you can handle your network speed issues alone, but resolving slow network speeds can be a time-consuming task. It may be best to call in an IT expert to get your network back to normal as quickly as possible.
Regular data breaches
If you find that you’re experiencing regular data breaches, this is a sign that your systems and network are not properly protected. Data breaches can be incredibly costly, especially if your business deals with sensitive data; the average cost of a data breach in the USA is $4.2 million – a crippling figure that would devastate most companies.
If your company deals with sensitive data like social security numbers or financial information, you should use more advanced cybersecurity solutions, like encryption software. Hiring an IT expert will also come with more robust security solutions and practises. If you suspect that your data is being breached, you should increase your efforts to secure your system as quickly as possible.
Productivity has dropped
If you find that productivity has dropped in your office, you may be experiencing a sign that your system is overloaded, causing slowness and, occasionally, data loss. If you have a slow network and a system that is overloaded, your employees are being forced to wait for information to load, causing productivity to drop.
If your system is slowing productivity, there are steps you can take to improve it. You can remove unnecessary programs and software, upgrade your hardware, and add more RAM. If your system is too old to be upgraded, it may be time to look into replacing it with a new device.
Competitors are taking over
If you are seeing a rapid increase in customers switching to your competition, it’s possible that your technology has become a liability. Technology is one of the top reasons that consumers switch to a competitor. If you’ve tried everything to resolve the issues, it may be time to consider hiring a managed IT services company.
Many customers will not make the connection between outdated technology and apparent lower quality of service from the business. If you are seeing a major shift in your customer base, it’s worth taking a look at your technology and making changes to catch up with the digital age and streamline your daily operations.
Find the right IT solutions
Recurring IT issues with your business’ systems, network, and technology means it’s time to make a change to your IT infrastructure. This could mean anything from updating your software, implementing stronger cybersecurity solutions, or a complete overhaul of all your tech.
The IT experts at Technology Solutions can help you pinpoint the issues in your business’ IT, offer you advice on how best to remedy them, and implement the solutions. Talk to them today and discover the difference when you digitally transform your business.
Excessive tech breakdowns was the name of the game at the company I work for. This happened for the better part of a year until management finally decided to invest in new hardware and software. Things are 500% times better now with everything being new and up to par with what we need to be doing. I think we must have wasted at least 1000 hours between us, having to deal with all the problems stemming from old hardware.
We’ve been experiencing slow network speeds for a few weeks which led us to having a look around for new providers. Recently we made the switch to another company, at the same price, and now things are much better. Fingers crossed but last week was so good in terms of network speed!
Our business has been recently receiving some clients from a competitor and it’s because of their older hardware and software. Because they didn’t invest in newer ones at the right times, their former clients have switched to us. It’s been happening for a few months now. We change our hardware every 3 years max and it shows in the speed, efficiency and productivity of our staff.
We’re displaying four “symptoms” already but the problem is we’re a startup aka limited budget as it is. Investing a huge chunk from this budget into security and training for our staff will leave us drained.