It seems that these days anyone can read an article or watch a video online and consider themselves an expert in one way or another, but when it comes to upgrading or making changes to your business infrastructure, is it wise to take and follow the advice of someone that has no hands-on or working knowledge of the IT industry or your business?
Ask yourself this: if your car needed repairs, would you take it to a lawyer or a mechanic?
Instantly, you answer “the mechanic” because the mechanic works on cars.
So in comparison, should you follow the advice of a visiting client, sales rep, or friend of an employee?
No, because none of these people know the intricacies of your business IT needs and functionality.
Will they know to check with your software vendors to verify compatibility with a new operating system?
If the plan calls for upgrading workstations and/or servers that are running outdated, unsupported operating systems, you need to check and make sure your existing software is supported on the new operating system.
Usually, accounting and office productivity software are the types most affected by changes in operating system platforms.
In some cases, a business may have spent large amounts of money to have specialized software written years ago, but unfortunately, it may not install or run on a modern operating system.
Will they know how to check and see if your internal network wiring needs to be upgraded?
If the plan calls to move your business phone system to a VOIP system, you need to make sure your existing network cabling will support it.
Cabling has categories and certain categories are more applicable to your needs than others.
Whoever is handling your IT needs to recognize what would be best and what wouldn’t work in your situation.
Keep in mind that when upgrading, you’re also future-proofing. It’s best to spend a little more on higher-quality equipment to extend the life of your upgrade.
Will they know how to calculate the amount of disk and cloud storage your business will require?
Electronic storage for your business is key. Knowing what needs to stay local and what needs to be stored in the cloud is paramount to your business’ success (and recovery, should there be a disaster).
The cost of secure cloud storage needs to be weighed against the cost of maintaining on-site local data storage. Localized storage will allow for faster access while in the building.
However, if your business has remote employees, cloud storage would be the optimal way to allow access to documents, applications, and software without having to support RDP or VPN connections into your network. This reduces the risk of outside intrusion.
Are they able to suggest the correct security devices and software for your business?
The security needs for every business are different. What works for Bob’s Golf Land may not be the best solution for your business.
A proper evaluation of your business network needs to be performed. Certain questions need to be asked and answered, such as “is a software-based firewall best for your business?” or “will you need dual WAN routers to allow for multiple ISP connections?”
If you have any doubt after considering these questions, you’ve got the wrong person for the job.
Seek out an experience and established IT professional and before making any changes, consult with them. Trust their advice. They will evaluate your business infrastructure and build a plan of action for successfully upgrading your business network and equipment.
Interested in a network evaluation or an infrastructure upgrade consultation? We can do those too… and we do it right! Contact us at Tech Experts — (734) 457-5000, or info@mytechexperts.com.