5 IT strategies for 2021
2021 has finally arrived. As most anticipate a better year for both health and business, companies will continue to face new technological challenges brought on by the pandemic.
Business owners learned a lot in 2020 about the kind of technology it takes today to run a successful business. When times became uncertain and normal operations were disrupted, businesses adapted to optimize critical IT services. Rapid change helped them not only survive but thrive.
Unfortunately, while many successful companies made the transition quickly and made adjustments, others did not. Slow adapters certainly had a negative impact on sales, recruiting, and growth opportunities.
Although the pandemic winds are starting to turn, this year will surely continue to bring more challenges. Here are five IT strategies to help ensure your business is poised for success over the next 12 months.
1. Review your technology for deficiencies and gaps. The pandemic put a lot of stress on companies and pushed technological solutions to the limit. The “litmus test” in 2020 has given business leaders the opportunity to see the IT gaps that are preventing them from achieving future business goals. Many have had to modernize their technology services faster than originally planned. Companies should take the time to review and address all of their vulnerabilities with their internal IT team. It may be necessary to hire an outsourced company to ensure all needs are discovered and addressed.
2. Continue to improve remote access. The world was already becoming more decentralized as the number of online business transactions continued to increase in 2020. Due to current events, the digital shift has accelerated further. Therefore, it has become even more crucial for employees to stay connected and productive as limitations prevent them from working in the office. Secure remote access enables business continuity even when people have to work from home. Companies must invest in optimizing connectivity and doing so securely.
3. Focus on products to improve the remote experience. A virtual meeting should not be compromised by poor sound and video quality. You can leave a bad impression with sales prospects, executive meetings, and interviews with job candidates. Companies need to focus on reliable, high-performance products, whether they are headsets, microphones, or cameras. The proper high-speed carrier must be used to avoid interruptions and call drops. Employees should have a robust virtual desktop solution that connects them to the main office with access to files, folders, and more.
4. Stay up to date on the latest IT threats. As IT services continue to evolve and improve in the new paradigm, hackers continue to evolve as well. These hackers continue to get more sophisticated. Staying ahead of ransomware and cybersecurity threats can seem like a full-time job. Companies need to load their internal teams with the right training and products to prevent any kind of digital intrusion.
5. Use outside resources as needed. The pace at which technology is changing makes it difficult for business leaders to keep up. They have more important things to focus on than the latest and greatest IT services. Between meaningless buzzwords and technical jargon, some IT strategies start to read like alphabet soup. If an internal team is not capable of handling all facets of a technology strategy, it will be important to form a partnership with a managed service provider or MSP. The MSP will take the time to explain the true business benefits behind the technology. Partnering with technology experts makes it easy to co-create a personalized mix of the most important IT service you need to hit your goals in the new year.