Many businesses operate reactively when it comes to their technology. This is not only stressful, but it also costs a lot of money!
 
In my work, I see both large and small businesses forced to spend the majority of their available resources reacting to ongoing problems. This is a shame as the expense (and stress) could have been avoided with some proactive work.
 
There are some things that your business can do now to take a proactive, and less costly, approach to your technology needs.
 
Foremost, reduce the amount of time you and your staff are spending to support your technology and move to cloud services – wherever you can.
 
This applies to companies of all sizes. Smaller companies should certainly move away from local email servers. The amount of time it takes to properly manage an Exchange Server is significant. With hosted exchange, that time is freed up for more pressing business matters. Other cloud services (such as SPAM filtering and hosted anti-virus programs) are critical to keep viruses out of your network. Dealing with a virus can, of course, be costly and time consuming. So keep them out to begin with!
 
I also recommend a hardware replacement schedule for businesses. This varies greatly and depends on the company’s size. 
 
Smaller companies may only be able to replace one or two computers each year while larger organizations may replace one or two each quarter. Planning ahead and budgeting for replacement purchases is key. Don’t let failed hardware send you into a panic or cause you to lose critical information.
 
Keeping your hardware current can help reduce the amount of repair costs but, ultimately, trying to get four or five years out of a desktop or laptop is not the best bet in the long run.
 
Finally, companies with internal IT resources can consider outsourcing their IT help desk and network administration functions. Liberating your staff people from mundane day-to-day end user support will free them to focus on new projects, growth and overall technology improvements. 
 
Happily, I see this trend across the Cape Fear region right now. At ACS, we are currently working with several larger organizations that have internal IT resources and we have helped them craft a proactive approach to their technology.
 
As an outsourced IT provider, our primary approach is to focus on preventative support. This focus keeps us efficient in maintaining our client networks and keeps our clients happier as their budgets stay within their ceilings. 
 
If you find yourself spending too much time fixing problems instead of using technology to make businesses improvements, it may be time to consider a different approach.
 
There’s a reason why so many organizations look to Atlantic Computer Services for the IT support they need to grow their business, and that’s because ACS provides honest, reliable, knowledgeable and friendly service. The company's goal is to serve as a technology partner, offering solutions that are affordable, uncomplicated and in the best interest of each individual client. Learn more about ACS, its services and its people at www.acs-ilm.com, or call (910) 799-6538.