Sound IT infrastructure is the foundation for business growth – which is why your SME should have a scalable IT strategy in place. But what do we actually mean by that?
When we say scalable IT strategy we mean an approach to IT that can meet your demands now and in the future. It’s not fixed to your current level of business or staffing requirements.
It can meet your day-to-day needs but is flexible – so should you decide to grow your business or scale back, your IT can support that without huge costs or disruptions. It should also continually improve.
But why is that important? Well, IT best practice has changed. It’s less about fixing problems and more about supporting the business – and that’s because every part of the business is heavily reliant on technology.
With that in mind, your IT should be benchmarked against industry standards, and have a strategy and roadmap in place to reach them; this supports incremental improvement and flexibility to grow. It also has carryover for the business as a whole. Here’s how:
Efficiency
We’ve all had days when nothing in the office works. Your email is down, the server has given up, and, no matter how many times you restart it, your laptop just won’t work. Days like that aren’t just annoying, they’re costly. You and your team can’t work effectively and your clients aren’t getting the service they pay for.
An IT strategy mitigates that. By planning for continuous improvement you ensure that systems, software, and hardware are optimised, meaning they are primed for growth. And by having a managed service provider do that for you, you are free to focus on the core aspects of your business.
Cost
SMEs don’t need additional costs, especially those that are unexpected. Managing your IT according to a strategy and roadmap means that unexpected costs are unlikely. That’s because all improvements are budgeted for at the start of the year, and risks are mitigated by continuous improvement.
Hardware such as laptops can be kept in sound working condition and upgraded when required. Phone systems can be replaced with more cost-effective alternatives such as VOIP. Meanwhile, software and its associated licenses can be managed and flexed according to demand.
It means that any surplus budget can be reinvested into the business and when you do inevitably grow, you’re able to support that efficiently and effectively.
Resilience
Having a resilient business is necessary for growth. Part of that comes down to having a sound IT infrastructure. Aside from supporting daily operations, that infrastructure protects against disruptions from cyber attacks and subsequent loss of data, service, and money. How does that relate to scalability?
As you grow, your risks increase. More staff and more clients mean more vulnerable points for attackers to exploit. In this instance, off-the-shelf antivirus software alone isn’t enough to protect your business.
What’s required are systems, processes, and procedures that ensure your security, regardless of the size of your business. These cover elements like the software you use, and also what to do when you onboard new staff and clients. And if you’re working to a benchmarked roadmap, you’ll be meeting industry best practices as standard.
Moreover, it gives you peace of mind to grow and scale while staying secure and protected. For more information on building a scalable IT strategy, contact Nutbourne on +44 (0) 203 137 7273