IT Advice CEOs Should Never Ignore

|

We get it—you’re busy. You’ve got a company to run here, and the last thing you need is those guys from IT banging on your office door, wanting to spend even more money on new IT tools and gadgets. Don’t they realize you’re trying to make money, not spend it?

You know IT is important, but sometimes it’s hard to know what IT advice you absolutely NEED to pay attention to versus the IT advice you can probably ignore without worry. While some of your IT people may be eager to upgrade their computers with the newest graphics card or smart(whatever), most of the folks on your IT team have pertinent advice and recommendations on how to manage and fix potential problems, stay current with security measures and data backup, and complete important updates to your company’s IT infrastructure. There is definitely a line that separates imperative IT needs and IT “wants” that can wait.

Trust and communication is a big part of this relationship. You may not like spending a lot of money on IT, and you definitely don’t want to spend frivolously, but if your IT professionals feel strongly about something—and they will—then it’s your job to listen and hear them out. After all, it might be important.

How do you know what can wait and what you absolutely can’t ignore? Well, that’s where we’ve got you covered so you can invest in an IT infrastructure that is solid, stable, dependable and easy to maintain.

ADVICE TO HEED

DATA SECURITY

Your company’s data is always at risk; it’s vulnerable to attack, theft or loss. Data security is always a top priority for your IT department. To keep your sensitive data secure and protected, your IT team must ensure all best-practice security measures are in place, and that upgrades to your data backup and defense are never overlooked.

“What’s the big deal? We have antivirus protection and a server dedicated to storing our data.” Think about it this way: what happens when a new virus hits the ‘net—one your security system has never encountered before? What happens when your data storage server fails? I don’t think we have to tell you how catastrophic data loss can be, especially if it’s preventable. If data corruption or data loss is due to your company’s negligence, then the problems only compound. People can lose their jobs, and those people in the hot-seat are usually those at the top.

The victims are numerous: your clients, your employees, your business partners and the reputation of your company itself is at stake. It’s your responsibility to handle personal data with care and respect. Not doing so will surely result in disaster.

 

IT INFRASTRUCTURE

Slow technology performance, security issues, out of date software/hardware, and less productive employees are all the result of a poorly designed system/network infrastructure. Years of old programs built on top of programs, partially uninstalled programs and data, along with a host of other software issues creates a network that is inefficient and slow. This will frustrate your IT department to no end, especially if they’re denied the proper tools to make improvements.

Your IT professionals want to help your business grow (and they don’t want to deal with constant complaints from the rest of your staff)! You want your systems to be streamlined and efficient. If they’re asking for your permission to update your IT Infrastructure, trust their reasoning and work with them to make it happen. Not doing so will affect everything from productivity to your company’s ability to grow and adapt long-term.

 

IT EVOLUTION

Blu-ray ended up winning out over HD DVD—but for the first few years, it was anyone’s game. This same competition happens when a new technology concept arrives and developers scramble to offer the go-to solution.

It can be difficult to predict technology investment strategies. Trying to stay ahead of the curve is proactive, but it can be expensive. If your company ends up investing in a new technology format that ends up sputtering out, you’ll end up back at square one and feeling the ache in your wallet.

But this doesn’t mean that you should ignore your IT professionals’ advice when they think new technology should be integrated into your current systems. You definitely don’t want to be left in the dust playing catch-up while your competitors get a leg up on you, but you also can’t waste money on technology that won’t last.

Working with your IT professionals here is very important; you’ll both need to do your research and be open to alternative solutions to determine how your day-to-day business processes will be affected by technology changes. You’ll need to formulate a plan to determine whether new technology is a must or if it can wait. Again, communication is key here.

 

LISTEN

If your IT professionals present a problem to you, then suggest advice on how to fix any one of the above mentioned points, please listen! These issues should never be ignored. Working together is always an ideal alternative to creating a battleground in the workplace. This will improve workplace morale, productivity and ultimately improve your brand and ability to increase profits and grow your business.

Stop potential hackers in their tracks.

Related Blogs

Payroll Diversion Fraud Is Targeting Employees

Payroll Diversion Fraud Is Targeting Employees

Costly direct deposit theft scams are on the rise How does it work? Cyber criminals are after employee paychecks that ... Read More >
SWICKtech’s New Cybersecurity Agreement Makes Implementing New Cyber Insurance Requirements Easy

SWICKtech’s New Cybersecurity Agreement Makes Implementing New Cyber Insurance Requirements Easy

You may not know your business is at risk until it's too late The landscape of Information Technology (I.T.) has ... Read More >
What Is the Log4J Vulnerability?

What Is the Log4J Vulnerability?

Log4J is a free and open-source logging library widely used by companies large and small. Officially designated CVE-2021-44228, the 0-day ... Read More >