For small and medium-sized businesses (also known as SMBs), technology is both a necessity and the cause of many headaches. From security risks to simple outages, the constant barrage of IT issues that appear on a daily basis drain time, energy, and resources. And while quick fixes may offer temporary relief, they often fail to address the underlying problems.
So what is an SMB to do? The best small business IT solutions address the root cause of recurring issues, solving not just the symptom but the disease itself. This prevents the same problems from popping up over and over, ultimately saving money and improving productivity. Over time, this will make it easier to attain much greater – and more stable – success.
The 7 Biggest IT Challenges Faced by SMBs
While every business is unique, there is a set of familiar problems that most SMBs have experienced. Here are some of the most common:
1. Constant Downtime
If you’re currently rolling your eyes at the third outage this week, then you are a victim of excessive downtime. This is a problem that often plagues smaller businesses, for several reasons. Outdated hardware, software in need of an update, network issues, and cyber threats can all cause downtime – and most SMBs simply don’t have the resources to keep up. Over time, the constant interruptions drastically lower productivity and thus, profits.
2. Inconsistent Data Backups
Without a solid backup system, a single ransomware attack or server failure can lead to disaster. But many smaller businesses underestimate the risks involved, letting backup procedures fall to the bottom of the priority list. If this sounds like you, beware – you could learn the hard way why it’s essential to have multiple copies of important files.
3. Cyber Security Threats
The average cost of a cyber-attack for SMBs is $49,600, and they’re only becoming more common. But when there are other issues to solve, it can be difficult to justify prioritising security. Neglecting defensive measures leaves you vulnerable to data breaches, operational disruptions, financial losses, and even legal penalties.
4. Poor Network Performance
Slow internet and unstable connections are a common complaint of Australian SMBs. Unreliable network performance significantly hinders daily operations, making simple tasks such as file transfers much more painful than they should be.
5. Limited Support
Smaller businesses frequently lack dedicated IT staff, forcing existing employees to troubleshoot issues themselves. As a result, they are not able to focus on their own work, often can’t actually fix the problem, and ultimately become frustrated and burned out.
6. Lack of Scalability
As your business grows, your IT needs will change. But lack of resources and a reliance on legacy systems may make it difficult to integrate new technologies or upgrade existing ones. Over time this problem only compounds, leaving you behind the competition.
7. Compliance Difficulties
As data privacy laws tighten across the globe, navigating the constant changes can be overwhelming. You may not have the necessary in-house resources to understand and adjust to the new laws, leaving you vulnerable to lost trust and expensive penalties.
Read more: The Ultimate Cyber Security Guide for Australian Businesses
The Root Causes
Most of these challenges are caused by two main factors:
- Available Resources: The smaller your business is, the fewer resources you have to work with. This makes it difficult to access the advanced solutions you need.
- Available Knowledge: Many SMBs simply don’t have the information they need to address these issues. Important considerations slip through the cracks, and large gaps are left open.
Any solution you implement will need to take these underlying causes into account to ensure effectiveness.
Small Business IT Solutions to Solve These Issues
While these IT issues are frustrating, they are also fixable. There are a variety of solutions that can help you address common challenges, regardless of your business’ size:
- Strategic Upgrades: Replace aging hardware and software on a schedule, prioritising the most important updates first. Leverage cloud solutions where possible, as this will allow you to solve many problems without requiring an expensive upgrade.
- Automated Backup and Disaster Recovery: Many commonly-used services (such as Microsoft OneDrive) offer automated backup and recovery options. Enable these to ensure that your data is there when you need it. Remember to check your backups regularly, as they can fail.
- Cyber Security on a Budget: There are many ways to improve your security without excessive costs. Multi-factor authentication, a Zero Trust policy, and strong access controls are just some examples.
- Network Optimization: Upgrade routers, segment traffic, and implement download speed limits to solve internet connectivity issues. Using Ethernet cables instead of Wi-Fi, where possible, can help maintain a stable connection.
- Leverage Expert Advice: Managed service providers (MSPs) can provide a wealth of knowledge on all things IT. Partnering with one is a cost-effective way of preventing and solving many common issues.
The Importance of IT Support for Small Businesses
While there’s plenty you can do on your own, sooner or later you will reach your limit – either of resources or of knowledge. This is where reliable IT support becomes extremely important. Rather than attempting to maintain your own team, which will only drain more resources, it’s advisable to consider outsourcing.
IT support for small businesses is about far more than fixing broken computers. A good specialist will prevent issues from arising in the first place by proactively monitoring for potential problems. They will detect small inefficiencies or vulnerabilities that may spiral into a major incident, and take action to address them. This allows your staff to focus on their tasks, while the support team works quietly in the background to keep your IT online.
Solve IT Challenges and Embrace True Efficiency
Constant IT issues can feel like an unavoidable part of running an SMB – but they don’t have to be. By understanding the root causes behind your biggest challenges, and implementing solutions designed to account for them, you’ll be able to significantly increase uptime. When your staff are no longer being dragged down by excessive problems, you might be amazed at how much they manage to get done.
If you’re tired of downtime, it might be time to ask for help. Austin Technology’s IT experts deliver the solutions you need, so you can finally stop looking over your shoulder and start trusting your technology. Discover how our managed services increase uptime and productivity today.
