So, What's Your Plan?

Which plan is that? The one for how all your IT applications work together to help your business succeed. The plan that goes right along with your business plan as one of the important living documents that you read and update every year. The one that details what your business needs to accomplish your mission, whether it's building hotels or building brands through innovative marketing programs. That plan that identifies what IT resources you have, what they do, and how you know they are effective, current, and secure.

If you're mumbling something like, "I know, I'm going to do that one of these days, but I've been busy, and you know how it is." Yes, we do know. After the first rush of getting a business launched, you focus on making it grow. As you need new IT solutions, you buy the software that seems best for the particular task. Only later do you find out that there is no way to export data from one system to another. You upgrade the operating system and then learn that some of your important applications won't run anymore. It happens all the time, and small businesses pay the price in slowed growth and unnecessary cost.

Last week we talked about how small businesses can learn from how large corporations handle their systems. You don't have to have millions of clients and billions of dollars to get the best combination of IT resources; all you need is some solid planning before you start spending. That's what large organizations do; they invest in planning before they spend the first dollar.

A solid IT plan starts with defining all your needs and then identifying the best solutions to meet them. It includes planning for hardware, operating system, and software version upgrades including system security. An important part of planning that is sometimes overlooked is setting the policies that define how the system will be used, and when components will or will not be replaced.

Take for example if you have 10 staff and 5 PCs. Your plan should include a statement regarding how the internet will be controlled, and a policy preventing employees from downloading too much of the wrong thing. Not only could you have a security risk with all those downloads, but you might be blowing your budget on broadband costs, running up $1,000's of unnecessary cost. One method is to remove control of firewall software from the end user and buy a robust router. This centralises control and lets you manage the network. Or consider this: The average total cost of ownership for a PC out of warranty and more than 3 years old is around $600 per year, and even more with lesser known brands. But a new PC with a 3-year warranty is around $1,100. Do the math and you'll find a saving of more than 33% over a 3-year period. It pays to turnover your network hardware when the warranties run out.

Your plan documents all of this so you have a blueprint for growth, doesn't it?. Yes, you can probably do this yourself - if you have the expertise to compare the technical options and understand the complexities of putting together software from different vendors to create the unique package that will serve you best. Or, you can do what larger companies have learned is the easier and more cost-effective way; choose an experienced professional IT implementer to guide you through the maze of possibilities.

So, what's your plan?

At Chill we take the heat out of IT. No matter what pressure you are under, we will always keep our heads and make sure you get back up and running as soon as possible. So don't sweat - Chill IT. Click here for more information on our consulting services.

Bring Them Down To Size – Manage Small Business IT with Big Network Techniques

Have you ever felt that your IT systems were running you instead of the other way around? If you've lost data with failed backups, had your email system hold your emails hostage, been unable to get your system to generate invoices…then you know the risks of not managing your small business IT system.

Frustrating? Absolutely. Just the way it is? Absolutely not!

Savvy small business owners know that they can learn a lot from how large scale networks are managed. Large organisations implement systems that reduce downtime, protect data, and generate cost benefits. These companies don't have any secret solutions – they just plan for and actually make changes that keep their IT systems up to date and running smoothly.

Your small business can also benefit from a plan that:

• Identifies and implements the best applications for your needs;
• Controls changes to your network and tracks the related costs;
• Completely documents the IT processes and procedures;
• Tracks your IT assets and manages the financing for your benefit; and
• Includes a well designed disaster recovery and business continuity plan.

Any one of these large scale network management techniques can help you get control of your IT system. Implement a full range, and you will find cost savings and a large dose of peace of mind for your small business.
Now…wouldn't it be good if you found a company that could help you do all this, at a small business fee you can afford? You just have.

At Chill we take the heat out of IT. No matter what pressure you are under, we will always keep our heads and make sure you get back up and running as soon as possible. So don't sweat - Chill IT. Click here for more information on our consulting services.

Backup or Break Up – Data Loss Could be Bad News For Your Business

I just saw a very disturbing statistic: 93% of companies that suffer a significant data loss are out of business within five years. That's from the U.S., but data loss doesn't care about national boundaries. Small to medium sized businesses are especially vulnerable if there is no in-house IT staff, which is often the case. Whether from a hardware failure, natural disaster, virus, or just plain human error, the risk of losing data is a business crisis waiting to happen for companies that do not manage the backup process well.

Though most businesses have some backup plan, there is often a gap between plan and reality. When backing up is not someone's primary responsibility, it's too easy to let that slide in favor of some other pressing task. But even when people have good solid backups they do not always take that extra step and test the backups. Have you ever tried to restore files from a damaged tape? Or perhaps from a tape that is taken offsite for safety (good idea) but not available when it's needed (bad idea.) And even backups to other media are only as reliable as the people and the media they depend on.

The thing is, there just is no excuse anymore for not backing up all your data regularly. With on line backup services you can delegate this important function to a company that thinks of nothing but securing, storing, and restoring your data. You can schedule online backups to run automatically to the provider's server, with no interruption to your business.

The data is secured by encryption both during the backup and while stored. And if you need to restore a file, it's generally available in minutes. What if you have staff scattered around the globe, each with a PC full of important data? There are systems for that, too, so that your data can be safeguarded wherever it happens to be. A PC with an Internet connection can also recover those files when needed. And, of course, your data is automatically stored offsite for added protection.

There is a variety of service levels for online backup, so even a small company with a limited budget can find a cost effective solution. Whatever the cost, it is sure to be a bargain compared to recreating lost data. It's some of the least expensive business insurance you can buy. Get started today!

At Chill we take the heat out of IT. No matter what pressure you are under, we will always keep our heads and make sure you get back up and running as soon as possible. So don't sweat - Chill IT. Click here for more information on our consulting services.