IT inoculations: Avoiding the common pain points

It may not always be top of mind, but IT is invariably the backbone of your company.

Think about the last time the internet went down at work. Were you able to do your job successfully? Was your company able to continue work as usual? Now think about the last time your hard drive filled up. Did you lose any critical files?

IT can sometimes be forgotten—until something goes wrong. Then, it’s an all-hands-on-deck exercise to get your systems back online.

Many businesses are plagued by common and recurring IT issues. How well prepared is your business against these prevalent pitfalls?

Devise a game plan

At Ricoh IT services, we can’t stress this one enough. Having an IT plan or strategy is crucial to your company’s success.

Without this essential road map, your employees will be less productive, you’ll end up spending more money trying to fix things, and your ability to attract new clients could be hindered.

Your IT strategy isn’t necessarily a business plan, but it supports your business plan. If you’re struggling to create yours, consider working with a third party that’s well versed in taking the long view, and creating and executing on this essential strategy work.

‘Got your six’: The need for backup

When was the last time you backed up all your files? No, not on your second computer—actually backed them up to the cloud or a remote hard drive/server?

Data and file backup is incredibly important and should be an integral part of your plans, not just handled as an afterthought.

Thoughtful data backup plans act as a bulwark against security threats like ransomware. Third-party companies, like Ricoh IT Services, often offer backup and disaster recovery services. So if you’re wondering why you have that piece of yarn tied around your finger, consider using a third party to manage this vital aspect of IT.

Lock it down with the right security

In today’s fast-paced and digitally driven society, IT security should be top of mind. Gambling against the inevitable is not enough to protect you from a cyberattack.

As hackers get smarter, and more sophisticated, our IT security plans must get stronger—and stay several steps ahead.

Ransomware, malware, phishing, and other invasive techniques can attack businesses large and small, from every industry, all over the globe. IT security should be woven into your IT plan, and the measures you have in place should be tested regularly.

If your business fails a security test, be sure to take the steps to close that barn door—before your prized thoroughbred leaves the stable.

Remember that common IT issues, most of the time, can be avoided. With the proper dedicated support team in place, and keeping your IT systems and plans top of mind, your business will continue to run smoothly.

If your internal IT team doesn’t have the capacity to take on everything you need them to do, consider looking to a third party—because those extra “to-dos” may just save you time, resources, money and reputation.