These days, technology is at the center of every business – whether in sales, marketing, communications, or security. This is why keeping a significant emphasis on the development of the IT department is essential for every organization. Without IT, productivity suffers, costs increase, and security is compromised. In 2019, over half of survey respondents said their IT systems infrastructure was outdated – and the technology has not stopped evolving since then. Two-thirds of employees believe this has a moderate to major impact on their ability to effectively get their jobs done.
IT Systems From 2020 and Beyond
The need for integrated technology has not diminished in the last 4 years, and outdated technology can still place a business at risk in many ways, beginning with overtaxed IT departments. Here are some key indicators that your company’s IT system needs upgrading:
- Outdated computers and personal devices
- Network experiencing frequent downtime
- Difficulty scaling to meet new needs
- Decline employee productivity
- Loss of new customer attraction and dwindling retention
Another significant sign of outdated network technology is high maintenance costs. When a company tried to maintain antiquated systems, the costs begin to rise along with security concerns. Cybersecurity threats and attacks are ever-evolving and getting more sophisticated. However, the decision to make necessary changes is not simple either.
“Deciding on whether to scrap or keep existing infrastructure of any stripe isn’t easy. A complete rebuild can be disruptive, time-consuming, and risky. And if the initiative misses its goal, or runs over budget, the CIO’s job may be at stake. However, when technical infrastructure fails to meet enterprise needs, hampering productivity and innovation, it’s often time to rebuild from scratch. The same can be said for how IT operations, workflows, and teams are structured. Knowing when it’s time for a wholesale reorg requires even more from an IT leader than knowing when the bits and bytes have worn out their shelf life.” ” – CIO.com tech journalist John Edwards
Edwards maintains that IT leaders need a permanent seat at the C-suite table – an old idea that is often not implemented. A 2023 LinkedIn analysis of 500,000 C-suite hirings revealed that despite the growing prominence of CIOs in the C-suite, CIOs weren’t represented in the most frequent executive hires. This means that needed IT upgrades are not getting the executive-level support they need, that is there are few people in a position to explain to CFOs and CEOs how tech upgrades represent more revenue and increased profit margins.
When your business is ready to take infrastructure to the next level, there are some easy best practices for upgrading IT systems and networks:
- Perform a comprehensive IT audit to evaluate which elements require updating and which do not
- Define company requirements for hardware, software, and security protocols. These measures may differ significantly for those companies employing remote or hybrid personnel as opposed to those whose employees are primarily on-site.
- Develop a migration plan to transfer current and archived data to the new system.
- Choose the right IT solutions, such as managed services firms that address specific corporate needs, goals, and budgets.
- Ensure organizational employees are adequately trained on new software/hardware, workflows, and best practices.
Many tech executives believe that the best way to upgrade network infrastructure is to build a new system based on current requirements from scratch. Trying to adapt legacy systems is akin to remodeling a centuries-old building – it becomes more costly to renovate and restore than simply purchasing what you need.
Managed services providers such as Alliance IT can provide the technical expertise and guidance companies need to move from legacy systems to today’s interconnected network infrastructures. It costs less than you may think – and will result in maximum productivity in the future.
To learn more, call us today.
