• You need to know about IT!
    Because if not, it will bite you.But what does that mean, exactly? Well, not that you actually need to “know” about it, as in be some kind of IT expert or something. (We wouldn’t wish that on anyone!)

    You need to know about IT like you might know about tax rules: be sufficiently up to speed so you can hand it off to an accountant and trust that it will be properly handled. Know that it matters, and can’t be ignored, and that it doesn’t work to just say “I don’t know anything about that stuff, so I don’t have to worry about it”. If ignored, IT will  – just like taxes — bite you. And when that happens it is always expensive.

  • You need to pay attention to security
    This dovetails with the prior point — you need to know about this stuff — but what you really need to know about IT security is that it really matters. Passwords matter; file security matters; virus, spam, and phishing protection matters; and backups matter.

    Do you lock your business when you go home at night? Are the payroll records kept in a secure place? Of course the answer is “yes”. You do that because the risks are such you’d be crazy not to.

    IT security is exactly the same. Get competent advice and pay close attention.

  • You need to keep up with the Joneses
    By that we don’t mean an arms race with the neighbors or anything, but just this: It is extremely dangerous to not keep up with IT, and new trends, and what technology can do for your company.

    Technology really can be a solution center for your organization; there are many success stories that prove this point. So get on board and quit hatin’ on IT. There’s gold in those little buzzing boxes.

  • You need to have an IT budget
    The worst way to deal with IT in your organization is to hope it won’t cost you anything. It’ll just cost more when you try that.

    Keep in mind this basic premise: Technology is like employees. Six quick points will explain:
    1. Your staff keeps the place going
    2. They do their job either in front of a computer or as a result of what another staff member did in front of a computer
    3. Your staff needs the computers to work if they’re going to get any work done
    4. Your payroll is a real whopper; you don’t want to waste a nickel of it
    5. You can get more done, with a smaller staff, with efficient technology in place
    6. However much you think IT should or shouldn’t cost, it’s less expensive than staff

  • You need a good IT services provider
    This can be the hard part, of course, but not if handled correctly.

    We have established that you need to pay attention to this stuff, that it is important, and that you’re going to have to throw some money at it.

    Now we need to get a team who can help you pull it together.

    Think of the IT services provider like other professionals you currently use and are comfortable with. Chances are there is an accounting firm of some type that handles the tax returns; if you have any company vehicles you likely have one service garage that handles the maintenance and repair.

    You use that accountant and mechanic — your outsource team — so you and your staff can concentrate on the core mission of your organization. You know these things have to be done, and done right, as too much is at stake to mess around with half measures.

    The IT services team will fill the same role: bringing important and needed expertise in to your outfit so your team can concentrate on the core mission.

    So how to get the right IT services team? Auditions and just a little research.

    Call the major players in your neck of the woods, and have a meet and greet. Ask for references — get several — and make a few calls.

    With the introduction and meeting, you’re looking to see if you can work with the potential provider. Do they seem like a friendly, business oriented, experienced bunch? Bring up some of your current IT pain points and see how they listen, and how they respond.

    Then call some of the references. This is very important, as this is how you will separate the smoothies from the producers. Ask the reference how the IT team is to work with. Are they friendly and easy to work with? Do they show up on time? Do they work with a plan, and get good results? Are costs in line, without surprises? Sort if all the irritations you deal with now, with whoever handles your IT support. You need to see if the new bunch measures up.

    If you get like what you hear, and they seem like a team you can work with, and their cost model is in line, then you’re in good shape to move IT from a pain point to a productive part of your success formula.