Budgeting for Technology and Innovation

One of the many challenges traditionally facing SMBs is that of IT department budgeting. As companies start out, they may have a desktop or two, but growth necessitates the addition of more hardware and software, applications and network infrastructure.  The situation often becomes a catch-22, with companies requiring more technology and innovation to grow, but not being able to afford everything they need until that growth happens.

The dilemma of bridging the gap between the designated budget and the technology needs is on that is ongoing for many Sarasota area SMBs. What is the solution?

Issues Which Challenge IT Budgeting

Many small businesses initially balk at the idea of outsourcing, thinking it either “overkill” or too expensive. However, the needs which arise in a small to medium sized business have to be addressed to stay competitive, and budgeting with available funds often runs short. These needs may possibly include:

• Additional Hardware: Many small businesses have grown piecemeal, and so have multiple small servers – one for accounting, one for marketing, and one for production. Often, each of these servers is underutilized, and so a lot of potential processing power is untapped and wasted. For others, their new innovative software package requires up-to-date hardware they can’t afford. Still others may be struggling with a lack of capacity for their web traffic, or not enough bandwidth for their multimedia presentations. Without the needed money in the budget, companies are forced to muddle through.
• Older Software: Software upgrades are often required to avail yourself of the latest tools and capabilities, but some find their IT budgeting for these necessary upgrades to be lacking. For other companies, it is not a budgeting issue at all, but a personnel one. Put simply, trusting that their employees are up-to-date on all available updates and patches is their only line of defense, which could put them at risk.
• Security Issues: Many small to medium sized businesses don’t realize that they are a target for cyber attacks, but online criminals actually find them to be an attractive target. Because smaller businesses often do not have the resources to fight ever-evolving cyber threats, hackers can often find a vulnerable spot to breach their network. IT professionals in small businesses are often too overworked to keep up with day-to-day user issues as well as be on the forefront of cyber protection.

How Managed Services Can Help

Many small to medium sized businesses find themselves having to choose which of the above are a priority. Staying at the forefront of server technology, software releases, and cyber crime can cost more than their IT budgeting will allow. Therefore they find themselves with outdated hardware, overworked staff and at risk of a ransomware or malware attack.

Outsourced or managed services leverages the power of economies of scale. By allowing multiple clients to share the financial burden for technology and expertise, MSPs allow clients to avail themselves of the computing power and knowledge they need, without having to crash their IT budgeting process. With a deep bench of expertise, a managed service firm is always at the leading edge of innovation and can pass that along to their customers, without the SMB carrying the cost of all the overhead.

If your Sarasota business has reached that critical point of needing to move forward but you feel the budget crunch – call Alliance IT for a consultation. You may be surprised at just how cost-effective it is to outsource this critical piece of your business, which allows you to stay competitive and on top of your game.