The Top 5 IT Hurdles Every Business Must Overcome
In the earliest days of digital technology, businesses gained advantages based on which technology they embraced and when they embraced it. In those days, investing substantial sums in desktop computers, software, and networking was a choice, not a foregone conclusion. However, today, most businesses must adopt the latest in information technology (IT) just to remain on equal footing with their peers.
Consequently, there is a common set of IT challenges that every business should address and overcome on the road to success. These challenges increasingly determine the difference between success and failure in a wide range of business markets. To help business leaders prepare to meet these common challenges, here are the top five IT hurdles every business must overcome and how they can do so.
1. Maintaining Data Security
Undoubtedly, the collection, storage, and analysis of data constitutes a key aspect of almost every business’s IT strategy these days. Unfortunately, this data also presents an appealing target for hackers and other criminal elements. Consequently, businesses are faced with the gargantuan task of maintaining data security throughout their operations to avoid breaches. When they fail, the consequences are dire. Last year, the average data breach cost Canadian businesses 5.13 million USD. For the average business, this is akin to a death sentence.
Fortunately, there are a handful of steps businesses can take to ensure data security in all phases of their operations. Together, these steps constitute a comprehensive data loss prevention strategy. The first step is to deploy and utilize strong encryption measures to secure data in transit and at rest throughout their networks. This must encompass all cloud operations and individual devices used by employees at every level.
Second, businesses must practice good data hygiene by implementing data discovery and classification tools and deleting any unnecessary data to minimize their attack surface. Then, they should apply the principle of least privilege (POLP) to grant data access only to employees who need it. This approach makes it possible to limit the damage resulting from stolen credentials.
Finally, businesses must train employees to be good stewards of the business’s data. This empowers employees to act as guardians of the data and to be vigilant against any illicit attempts to gain access to it. Given that employees are the primary targets for hackers seeking access to business data, it is crucial to educate and empower them to become knowledgeable security allies.
2. The IT Skills Gap
Rapid digitalization across the Canadian economy, coupled with an aging population, has led to a significant IT skills gap nationwide. Consequently, businesses frequently encounter challenges in attracting and retaining employees with the necessary IT skills. This represents a significant obstacle that can impede growth if not effectively addressed. Regrettably, it is a complex issue for which there are no simple solutions.
In general, businesses can employ two approaches to overcome their IT skill shortage. The first is to invest in training existing employees to meet their skill needs. This approach not only equips the business with the necessary IT skills and capabilities but also enhances employee retention. According to a study by LinkedIn, 94% of employees express willingness to stay longer at a company that invests in their careers. Providing training to address the IT skills gap is an ideal way to achieve this.
Another option businesses can explore is partnering with an IT services provider like Outsource IT. We offer a range of IT services, including network and systems management, cloud services, cybersecurity, and more. Our experienced IT professionals can deliver the required IT skills on demand, alleviating the need for businesses to recruit employees to fill those roles.
3. Choosing Appropriate Cloud Solutions
At last count, 92% of all Canadian businesses currently use some form of cloud computing. There are two major reasons for such a high cloud adoption rate. Firstly, cloud computing offers economies of scale that the average business simply could not achieve on its own. Secondly, cloud solutions often provide SMEs access to enterprise-level technology at prices that fit within their budgets. However, just because a business uses a cloud solution does not guarantee that the chosen solution is the right one. Often, multiple competing cloud offerings may provide features and benefits that align with the business’s needs. Choosing the right option could help the business realize substantial savings and operational efficiencies.
Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules to help businesses choose the right cloud providers or cloud service offerings. However, there is a framework that can aid them in their decision-making process. When evaluating cloud options, businesses should consider the following factors about the providers they are considering before making any commitments:
- Data security and governance standards
- Reliability and performance
- Service level agreements
- Cost and billing structure
- Underlying technologies
- Type and quality of support offered
- Certifications and standards
It is wise for businesses to choose cloud providers that meet their current needs and offer a path toward meeting future needs. This approach helps avoid needless future cloud-hopping and dead-end investments.
4. Appropriately Leveraging Automation
In recent years, automation technology has advanced to the point where it can generate significant savings and efficiency for almost any business that adopts it. However, the key lies in choosing the right ways to leverage available automation technology to yield the best possible results. As it is still a field in its relative infancy, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for businesses to take.
To leverage automation appropriately, businesses must take a measured approach that minimizes risk while targeting automation opportunities with the greatest odds of success. To get started, they should target tasks and workflows that:
- Include repetitive tasks
- Happen frequently
- Are especially time-consuming for human staff
- Follow clear logic and well-defined rules
- Rely on structured data or machine-readable outputs
Essentially, it is best to focus on automating tasks and workflows that do not require any decision-making or adaptability. Automating tasks like that carries little risk and can provide valuable experience that the business can use to automate more complex workflows later. This may include using AI-enabled automation to replace human decision-making in non-critical workflows and other advanced automation applications.
5. Creating and Maintaining a Future-Focused IT Strategy
Perhaps the biggest IT hurdle today’s businesses face is in their efforts to remain on the leading edge of available technology. It is not at all easy to keep abreast of the myriad changes and developments taking place in the world of technology. It is more difficult still to evaluate those changes and decide on an ongoing IT strategy that takes advantage of the right opportunities. In an endeavor where a single technological misstep can cost significant sums of money and cause a business to fall behind its peers, that is no small thing.
One of the best ways that businesses can create and maintain a future-focused IT strategy is to recruit and hire a qualified Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and empower them to do the job. With so many moving parts to consider and potential pitfalls to avoid, managing a business’s IT strategy is a full-time job and must be treated as such.
For smaller businesses or those for whom a full-time CTO role is not practical, it is advisable to work with an experienced technology partner like Outsource IT. We routinely assist businesses in crafting sensible IT strategies and can offer as much or as little execution support as necessary. Additionally, we keep customers informed about the latest technologies and opportunities so they can decide for themselves how and when to proceed based on detailed and complete explanations from our on-staff experts.
Overcoming IT Hurdles
While overcoming the five IT hurdles identified here is undoubtedly critical to every business’s success, they are far from the only IT hurdles a business may face. That is why it pays to have a trustworthy IT partner in your corner like Outsource IT.
We offer managed IT services, business IT security, cloud services, and more to help clients meet their technology needs with ease. To learn more about how Outsource IT can help your business overcome its IT hurdles, contact one of our knowledgeable account managers today.