Hiring a network support company makes sense doesn't it?  Most small businesses are not experts in networking.  So, one would think this is a logical thing to outsource.

Unfortunately, when it comes to small business computer services, many owners, CEOs and presidents fall into the trap of short-term thinking.

I meet with presidents, CEOs and owners of small businesses every week to discuss what computer services they are using (whether internal or external), what it costs them and the results they are seeing.

Over the last two years, we have conducted a study of small business computer services pain points.  We interviewed 110 companies ranging from 20 to 100 employees.  Representative interviewees included owners, CEOs, presidents, partners, general managers, CFOs, controllers and similar leadership positions.  The pain points represent those most affecting business outcomes as reported by the interviewee.  Verticals were wide ranging with everything from biotechnology to services organizations to manufacturing and technology.

One of the common questions that I get from owners who need their small business IT infrastructure supported is how can an external company perform support remotely and effectively?

In today’s economically optimistic, but still cautious small business environment, efficiency in information technologies is more important than ever.  And the best way to capitalize on that efficiency is to make sure your small business IT support doesn’t just detect problems in your network, it prevents them.  Here are the five technology initiatives to best ensure maximum productivity.

A client shared with me something that happened to him while he was on vacation in the Mayan ruins of Mexico. He received a call from his remote network monitoring agency while he was in the middle of those ruins, because one of his servers was down. He looked at this from the point of view that this call was awesome, because now he could get it fixed and his network monitoring provider was able to reach him wherever he was. Or he could have taken a step back and thought to himself: “Why did I even have to get called in the first place?”

How do your employees communicate and collaborate? Is the level of functionality in your office working so that everyone's best talents are put to use, especially yours? Although most small business owners are initially successful because (by being clever and intrepid) they can 'do everything', it also means that owners tend to take on all the responsibilities, working tirelessly to increase profits by whatever means necessary. This usually results in long days, as you struggle to pull yourself ahead while your true talents for networking, leadership and sales get pushed aside. Needless to say, this isn't the most efficient way to use your time.

Encourage Individual Strengths

In order for any small business to thrive, it needs to have an IT process that is capable of being both proactive and adaptable. Asset Management, Backup and Disaster Recovery, Proactive Process and a Security Process are some areas that can greatly reduce potential risks, lost productivity and improve return on capital investment. These are just a few examples of processes that need to be executed to generate results.

Asset Management