5 Ways Small Businesses Can Invest in Tech to Help Them Survive and Thrive
Note: This is a guest article submission by Gloria Martinez from Womenled.org. We hope you find it informative and insightful. Enjoy!
Technology drives the small business world, but it can often feel too expensive for many small business owners. In reality, though, if you’re not investing in tech for your business, you could be missing out on some pretty important benefits, like heightened security and increased efficiency. So if you want to keep your tech investments minimal and still help your business thrive, here are a few of the smartest ways to spend your company’s tech budget.
Hire Data-Recovery Specialists
If your small business falls prey to a phishing attack or any other cyberattack that results in the loss of private data, hiring the right tech support is crucial to helping your business recover. If you don’t already employ an IT specialist, the services provided by data-recovery companies can help you with this recovery effort and get your business back on track. You can even keep a data-recovery company on retainer. This kind of proactive measure can provide you with some added peace of mind but can also be a smart first step toward creating a data breach plan for your small business. The FTC recommends that businesses of all sizes have this kind of response plan so that businesses impacted by cyberattacks and data breaches do not miss any essential steps during the overall data-recovery process.
Purchase the Right Smartphone
A dependable smartphone is essential for today’s small business owners. If you’re on the go like so many business owners, you’ll need to be able to communicate effectively with clients and employees, whether that’s through regular calls, email, or video chats. A high-quality smartphone will also enable you to run the apps your business needs to thrive, and you can also use it to shoot video and take unique product photos. Before purchasing a new phone, research the features you need, and consider how much you’re willing to spend. Some service providers have trade-in specials where you can turn in your old phone for a discounted new model.
Invest in a Secure Private Server
When your business really starts to boom, it may be time for your own server. You can tell it’s really time for a dedicated server when managing multiple PCs and providing your employees with access to essential systems feels like a burden. Setting up a server for your small business can make managing these tech needs less of an effort for you and your tech team, and using a secure server can also provide staff members with remote access to critical processes and systems without having to worry about any added potential for data breaches. To boost the privacy and security benefits of your new server, it’s also a good idea to train all your employees on data privacy practices, like safeguarding any private data collected from colleagues or customers and staying updated on current cyber threats for small businesses.
Ensure Professional Communication
Are you still using a Google or Yahoo email address for your small business? If so, your email communications with clients and vendors may not appear as professional as they should. This is such as simple tech fix for small businesses, but using a business domain instead can instantly help your business appear more legitimate and also help potential customers place more trust in your small business. In addition to adding a more professional look to your business emails, you should once again be concerned about adding a layer of security as well. Email encryption is a smart way to keep your mailboxes safe from phishing attacks and other cybersecurity threats. If you or your employees will be using smartphones to store and work with private information, you may also want to take additional steps to encrypt smartphone data and protect your business.
Enhance Employee Productivity
Tech that provides protection is always a wise investment for small businesses, but tech tools that improve productivity can provide a solid ROI as well. In fact, productivity is so crucial to business success that tools like Trello, a task management program that allows business owners to collaborate with teams and share vital productivity resources, is ranked as one of the top tech tools that small businesses should invest in this year. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt to consider more traditional tech approaches to managing staff time and productivity, like firewalls. With firewalls in place for your small business, you will be able to prevent employees from accessing websites that could pose a distraction or even a threat, and you will also have an added layer of security to prevent an expensive data breach from sidetracking your success.
Updating tech isn’t just about adding profits. The right tech can ensure survival for your small business and peace of mind for you so you can focus on helping your small business succeed.
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