When was the last time you updated your technology? As an employee of an experienced IT Support provider in Atlanta, I can ensure you that between your hardware and software, if you’re still doing business on old technology, you could be putting your business at risk, and it could end up costing you big. As we begin a new year, it’s time to take a closer look at the technology you rely on every day.
While many small businesses tend to put off significant technology purchases due to the upfront costs, by doing so, you may be opening yourself up to big costs down the road. These are hidden expenses that businesses don’t usually consider when they decide to “hold off” on investing in new equipment, the latest software or the professional services to have them implemented properly.
Here are five examples your IT Support provider should be warning you against if your using out-of-date technology:
1. It leads to a loss of productivity.
Older technology has a habit of getting slower. This means your staff has to waste time waiting for their PCs to power up, become responsive and their applications to load. Even well-maintained equipment is going to wear out over time. This problem is only compounded when your team has to use software that no longer works as it once did. Eventually, programs that once worked well together start to experience hiccups, and you risk losing data.
2. It leads to a loss of clients.
Your customers want to know your data (which may also consist of their data) is safe and secure. If you’re utilizing outdated technology, there’s a good chance that data IS NOT safe. To reiterate, we discovered a Microsoft poll confirming that over 90% of businesses would stop doing business with you if they perceived your small business is using old and\or outdated technology.
3. It leads to a loss of workers.
If employees have to deal with sluggish hardware and poorly-integrated software every day, they’re going to get discouraged. They’re going to get even more frustrated if nothing is done about it. The end result is at a minimum unnecessary inefficiencies and could lead to higher employee turnover. This alone can be a huge challenge for a small business to absorb. A recent PCMag study demonstrated how outdated technology can cost you a lot more than you may realize.
4. It leads to a loss of support.
Over time, developers end supporting their older products so they can focus on the new products. This also means they’re dedicating more attention to the customers who are using the newer versions. This can leave you in the dark if you run into a problem that you need help with. You may have to call in a third-party specialist to answer your question and fix your problem, and they will charge you much higher rates than supported versions of software would require.
5. It leads to a lack of security.
You're not likely to see security patches for aging software or hardware and your IT Support provider will have a hard time securing the technology that host your small businesses data without current security patching in place. This will make you highly susceptible to all more cyberthreats, including data breaches, adware and spyware infections, and all sorts of other cyber-attacks. Online hackers want to enter your network, and when you’re using outdated technology, you're making their job much simpler. When you factor in the costs associated with these losses, it can be significant! It’s enough to put some companies out of business (and it has). After a year that has left many businesses more vulnerable than before, you should be taking steps to avoid these kinds of risks.
Contact us for IT Support in Atlanta
Superior Solutions specializes in Small Business IT Support in Atlanta. For more information on how to ensure your small businesses technology is current, please be sure to contact us here or call us at 678-380-4878 for a quick phone review!