Small businesses usually have a different approach to technology than bigger companies. They somehow don’t see it as important, using IT only as a secondary tool in their daily work. Of course, it doesn’t help that technology is expensive. Small businesses don’t want to spend a lot of money on “unproductive” stuff, but with this mindset they may get a potentially harming technology crackdown.

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There are many types of mistakes small businesses can make regarding their IT equipment. We will describe 5 of them. If there are errors being made, business owners could start with correcting these ones.

1. Not backing-up your data. It is an easily overlooked action, as most business owners think that if they have a good computer, the data is there to stay. Business data is more important, financially and legally, than the data from your personal computer. Those cute pictures from your last family vacation may have more emotional meaning, but losing business data implies confidentiality issues, and that can severely hurt your business. It is much cheaper to spend time and money backing up your data than to find yourself in the unfortunate situation of loss of historical files.

2. Taking security lightly. The typical mistake of a small business is to think that they are insignificant, that nobody could target them to steal their competitive information. Currently, security is the major issue for any IT environment, and even if you are small (for now), you should take this seriously. Use antimalware, protect your data and make sure it is not readily available on the internet, like so many small businesses display it.

3. Outdated tools. Just like you wouldn’t simply think there will always be gas and oil in your car, you wouldn’t just set up your technology in the office and forget about it, right? Like any machine, your IT infrastructure, no matter how small, needs monitoring, regular updating, scheduled maintenance and replacement with newer one if necessary.

4. Untrained personnel. Since you are occupied with actually running your business, it can seem redundant to train someone to use the IT system. After all, it’s a bunch of computers to help you with your projects, right? Well, you need at least a trained professional, otherwise all that equipment you spent money on, will not be of much use. And there’s a big advantage for you: when employees know how to use both the hardware and the software, they bring more value to your business projects.

5. The fear to experiment. We are all innately resistant to the new and unknown. But when it comes to the good of your business, you can be sure that the more flexible and open to novelty you are, the more you can benefit. Today’s technology world is changing by the hour. Staying up to date with all the tools, whether hardware (like tablets…) or software, like targeted social networks or new programs, is not only preferred but compulsory. By experimenting with technology you could find creative solutions to your business’s problems. Ultimately, the fear of new will only block the growth of your business.

Can you think of any other important technology-related mistakes small businesses make?

Written by: Monica Nastase.
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