Singular Glitch or an Ongoing Issue: Making Sense of Your Small Business’s Tech

[This article was written by Anita Ginsburg.]

In the age of smart phones, the cloud, big data and more, the business world is more driven by technology than ever before. This is true for the largest corporations in the world. However, it’s just as true for small businesses. You need technology to reach consumers and to compete in the modern marketplace against tech savvy competitors. Unfortunately, new tech can also be confusing, especially when it comes to troubleshooting. Here are some tips that can help.

Make the Cloud Work for You

One term small business owners may be confused by is “the cloud.” the cloud is actually easier to understand than its name. In most contexts, the cloud refers to computer software that is accessed over the internet instead of on a local hard-drive. The cloud can be a powerful tool for small business owners to wield. It can allow you to access files and cloud powered software with an internet connection. It can also automate the backing up of your precious business data.

Take Advantage of Small Business IT Support

Being a small business owner means being a jack of all trades. Still, you can’t expect to be an expert at every technical subject that may overlap with running a business. This is certainly the case for information technology. To be proficient in trouble shooting serious IT issues, you likely need a degree or at least a professional certification. Don’t be afraid to seek out small business IT support services and use them when you feel in over your head.

Invest in Cyber Security

One of your top concerns regarding technology as a small business owner should be cyber security. While you may think of hacks as only affecting huge corporations, the truth is that 43 percent of cyber-attacks target small businesses. If you’re not prepared, you and your customers will certainly be victimized. Your business could be ruined. Put a lot of effort into installing cyber security measures and ensuring they are up to date and patched for vulnerabilities.

Protect the Power Supply

One thing that is the bane of small businesses that use technology is power failures. Surges, brownouts and more can cause your entire system to go down. This means not being able to checkout customers and make money. Even worse, your expensive hardware could become seriously damaged. If you want to stop this from happening, you must invest in both surge suppression equipment and battery backup devices.

Tech can be difficult for a layperson to master. However, it’s absolutely necessary for running a business in the modern age. Try to learn all you can about how to use tech to support and protect your business. Also never be afraid to seek out the assistance of professionals when you need it.

Author Bio:

Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.