New Year’s resolutions: they can be easy to make, but hard to achieve. Your personal list may include eating healthier and exercising more, but what about your professional life? What would improve your life at work in 2018? Let us add one to your professional list: get IT that works!
Why is this an important resolution? If you have employees constantly coming to you and complaining about slow Wi-Fi, if you are struggling to keep track of your inventory or devices, or if you’ve realized that you need corporate IT policies, then it is time to put a little effort into IT and reap the rewards for doing so. Putting the right IT infrastructure in place will not only free up your time, it will also make everyone more productive, reduce your headaches, and set you on the right track for a successful year.
Why is this an important resolution? If you have employees constantly coming to you and complaining about slow Wi-Fi, if you are struggling to keep track of your inventory or devices, or if you’ve realized that you need corporate IT policies, then it is time to put a little effort into IT and reap the rewards for doing so. Putting the right IT infrastructure in place will not only free up your time, it will also make everyone more productive, reduce your headaches, and set you on the right track for a successful year.
There are three important initiatives that can help improve IT in your company in 2018.
1. Upgrade your network:
Your network is the foundation of your infrastructure and your company depends on a strong and reliable network. When the internet is slow or there is an outage, no one can get any work done. An easy solution to this problem is to establish a backup internet connection. Let’s say you use AT&T for your internet and they have an outage on your block that lasts three hours. That means everyone in your company will lose three hours of productivity. However, if you have a backup internet connection with a different provider, you can switch over to that and there is no loss of productivity.
Upgrading doesn’t just mean redundant connections, it also means investing in the right network equipment. If you are still using a basic modem from Comcast that you could also use in your home, it is time to upgrade. Most basic modems and routers were never designed to handle the amount of traffic most companies generate. Additionally, they do not have the necessary security protocols in place to keep corporate data secure. To have the appropriate security and capabilities for your company, you need to invest in an enterprise level network. An enterprise level network will also let you distribute connectivity across various access points so users get the bandwidth they need, where they need it.
Pro tip: WiFi connectivity depends greatly on the configuration of your network. Make sure you get an experienced IT professional to help you evaluate your office space, the number of devices that will be connected, and the placement of your access points – this will make a significant impact on the effectiveness of your network.
1. Upgrade your network:
Your network is the foundation of your infrastructure and your company depends on a strong and reliable network. When the internet is slow or there is an outage, no one can get any work done. An easy solution to this problem is to establish a backup internet connection. Let’s say you use AT&T for your internet and they have an outage on your block that lasts three hours. That means everyone in your company will lose three hours of productivity. However, if you have a backup internet connection with a different provider, you can switch over to that and there is no loss of productivity.
Upgrading doesn’t just mean redundant connections, it also means investing in the right network equipment. If you are still using a basic modem from Comcast that you could also use in your home, it is time to upgrade. Most basic modems and routers were never designed to handle the amount of traffic most companies generate. Additionally, they do not have the necessary security protocols in place to keep corporate data secure. To have the appropriate security and capabilities for your company, you need to invest in an enterprise level network. An enterprise level network will also let you distribute connectivity across various access points so users get the bandwidth they need, where they need it.
Pro tip: WiFi connectivity depends greatly on the configuration of your network. Make sure you get an experienced IT professional to help you evaluate your office space, the number of devices that will be connected, and the placement of your access points – this will make a significant impact on the effectiveness of your network.
2. Implement asset tracking:
Have you ever gone to grab a spare laptop from your supply closet for a new employee and realized there weren’t any spares left? Or have you just been unsure which devices are assigned to which employees? Implementing asset tracking can be tedious and time consuming at first and may require assistance from an experienced IT professional, but once it is implemented, it will ultimately save you time and worry.
How do I start?
One of the first steps to asset tracking is labeling all hardware. You don’t have to invest in fancy labels with barcodes either. Simply buy a label maker and create a numbering system that works for you. For example, all Mac computers can be Mac-001, Mac-002, etc. Make sure you also add your company name and/or logo to every label as well.
The most important part of labeling hardware is documenting it. You can either do this manually on an excel spreadsheet, have an IT professional do it for you, or utilize asset tracking software. If you choose the manual option, make sure to record the label, the device type, who it is assigned to, and the serial number.
Pro tip: It is best to research which asset tracking software is best for your company depending on capabilities, number of users and items, and price. There are also solutions that provide unified management of all devices. These solutions have many features such as the ability to deploy software and applications to every device as well as remote wipe if a device is lost or stolen. The remote wipe capability will help protect your company’s data and files.
3. Create or update IT policies:
If you already have IT policies and guides in place, make sure you annually review and update them. If you do not have IT policies for your company yet, you should create them or have an IT professional create them for you and here’s why:
The policies you should have in place are dependent on what industry and type of company you are. For example, healthcare, government, and public companies are required to follow more rules and regulations than privately owned companies. No matter your industry, you should have an Employee Handbook that outlines the company culture and appropriate HR policies and guidelines.
Companies also need to have IT policies in place as a guideline for privacy and security. If possible, utilize an IT professional or consultant to help you create these policies. The main IT policies you should create are:
These three IT resolutions will help improve and protect your company in 2018. They can significantly reduce complaints about slow internet, organize and protect company devices, and update your company’s IT infrastructure and processes. If your company is quickly growing and you are trying to tackle these IT improvements on top of your other daily tasks, it might be time to enlist in professional IT support. Hybridge has experienced IT professionals and consultants that can help you complete these tasks and improve IT for your company.
Good luck this new year creating a better you and a better company!
If you already have IT policies and guides in place, make sure you annually review and update them. If you do not have IT policies for your company yet, you should create them or have an IT professional create them for you and here’s why:
- Avoid inconsistencies – Your team will have clear direction from management on how to handle specific situations.
- Protect your company against possible legal actions – IT policies prove your company has specific procedures and security in place.
- Use it as a training tool – If you articulate the appropriate steps and expectations within your policies, it can be given to new hires as part of their training.
The policies you should have in place are dependent on what industry and type of company you are. For example, healthcare, government, and public companies are required to follow more rules and regulations than privately owned companies. No matter your industry, you should have an Employee Handbook that outlines the company culture and appropriate HR policies and guidelines.
Companies also need to have IT policies in place as a guideline for privacy and security. If possible, utilize an IT professional or consultant to help you create these policies. The main IT policies you should create are:
- Business Continuity Plan: Outlines the course of action you should follow in case of an emergency or natural disaster
- Information Privacy and Security Policy: Establishes a general approach to information security and a plan on how to protect your company’s physical and IT assets
These three IT resolutions will help improve and protect your company in 2018. They can significantly reduce complaints about slow internet, organize and protect company devices, and update your company’s IT infrastructure and processes. If your company is quickly growing and you are trying to tackle these IT improvements on top of your other daily tasks, it might be time to enlist in professional IT support. Hybridge has experienced IT professionals and consultants that can help you complete these tasks and improve IT for your company.
Good luck this new year creating a better you and a better company!
Taylor Morrow is the Operations and Marketing Manager at Hybridge. She handles the day-to-day operations of the company, IT consulting work, and all marketing efforts.
Hybridge was founded in 2009 to bring the best of the cloud down to earth. Our team is the trusted and caring IT expert that simplifies technology for growing businesses in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco. From creating an optimized and secure network to fully supporting devices and a 24/7 helpdesk, Hybridge offers a variety of support and services designed to help your business succeed. Hybridge is your go-to IT expert so you can focus on your business’s core needs
Hybridge was founded in 2009 to bring the best of the cloud down to earth. Our team is the trusted and caring IT expert that simplifies technology for growing businesses in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco. From creating an optimized and secure network to fully supporting devices and a 24/7 helpdesk, Hybridge offers a variety of support and services designed to help your business succeed. Hybridge is your go-to IT expert so you can focus on your business’s core needs
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