The IT departments at SMBs often face a unique set of challenges. They may have limited resources, a smaller team, and a broad scope of responsibilities. In the midst of managing day-to-day operations, it’s easy for smaller IT teams to overlook critical aspects that can lead to long-term inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, or missed opportunities for improvement.
At Alliance IT, we work with local SMBs to tackle initiatives they might otherwise miss. Here are some of the areas you may want to consider in the New Year.
- Comprehensive Security Protocols: Small IT teams often focus on immediate threats and visible security concerns, like antivirus software and firewalls, but may miss the broader aspects of security. Proper encryption of sensitive data, secure remote access policies, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users are essential but can easily be overlooked. Without these, SMBs are at greater risk of breaches, especially when employees are accessing systems from multiple locations.
- Regular Software Updates: Keeping software, operating systems, and applications up to date is vital for maintaining security and performance. However, small IT departments may lack the time or resources to ensure that all software, both on servers and client machines, is regularly updated. Missing critical patches or updates for commonly used software like operating systems, browsers, and third-party applications can expose the organization to vulnerabilities.
- Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Plans: A common oversight in small IT departments is the failure to implement comprehensive data backup and disaster recovery plans. Regular, automated backups should be conducted, and a tested recovery procedure should be in place. Without a reliable recovery strategy, businesses could be crippled by data loss from cyberattacks, hardware failure, or natural disasters.
- Employee Training and Awareness: Security and IT best practices are only as strong as the people using the systems. Small IT departments at SMBs may focus primarily on technical issues, neglecting the need for regular training and awareness campaigns for employees. Phishing attacks, weak passwords, and unsafe internet habits can be major threats. Regular training on identifying phishing emails, using strong passwords, and following secure practices can dramatically reduce the risk of security breaches.
- Asset Management: Small IT teams may not have the resources to properly track hardware and software assets, leading to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities. Asset management helps organizations track where devices and software licenses are, as well as their lifecycle. Without a proper inventory system, it becomes difficult to manage updates, identify unauthorized devices on the network, or ensure compliance with software licensing agreements.
- Scalability Planning: Small IT departments are often focused on maintaining current systems, leaving little time to plan for the future. As the business grows, the IT infrastructure needs to scale accordingly. Small IT departments may fail to plan for this by not considering cloud services, virtualization, or automated solutions that could ease future expansion. Failure to plan for scalability can result in system slowdowns, unavailability, and increased costs when the organization grows.
- Network Segmentation and Monitoring: In larger organizations, IT departments often segment networks to limit the spread of potential security breaches. SMBs may overlook network segmentation or insufficient monitoring, allowing an attacker to move laterally across the network if one area is compromised. Implementing network segmentation and more robust monitoring solutions can isolate sensitive data and prevent the spread of cyber threats.
- Mobile Device Management (MDM): With the increase in remote work and mobile device use, small IT departments may neglect to implement a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. MDM can help enforce security policies on employee devices, protect company data, and remotely wipe devices in case they are lost or stolen. Without MDM, sensitive company information could be at risk due to unsecured personal devices.
- Automation and Efficiency Tools: Small IT departments may not fully leverage automation tools that can help with repetitive tasks, monitoring, and alerts. Tasks like patch management, system health checks, and user access audits can be automated to reduce the burden on IT staff. Automating these processes allows IT teams to focus on higher-priority tasks, ultimately improving overall productivity and reducing the chances of human error.
- Vendor Management and Compliance: IT departments often interact with third-party vendors for software, hardware, and services. However, small teams might not have formal processes for vendor management, leading to missed opportunities for cost savings, better service agreements, or renegotiated terms. Additionally, small departments may not be aware of specific compliance requirements for their industry, leaving the business vulnerable to legal risks and fines.
- Incident Response Plans: When a security incident or breach occurs, small IT teams may struggle without a predefined incident response plan. A well-documented process that includes immediate response steps, internal communication protocols, and post-incident analysis can reduce the impact of a security breach. Without such a plan, an incident can cause confusion, delay response times, and exacerbate damage.
- Over-Reliance on Single IT Personnel: In small departments, there’s often a heavy reliance on a single IT staff member who holds the knowledge of the entire system. This poses a risk to the organization in case of illness, departure, or burnout. Cross-training other team members and creating knowledge-sharing documentation can ensure continuity of operations and minimize the disruption caused by turnover.
Small IT departments are under constant pressure to maintain operational efficiency and secure systems with limited resources. But managed services companies may provide the ideal solution – call Alliance IT today to learn about how our deep bench of professionals can fill in the gaps and help your SMB to compete as a much larger company.
