More than one-quarter of all small businesses lack IT support. This could be costing them hundreds or thousands of dollars each year. Meanwhile, small businesses and corporates growing rapidly are taking advantage of technology, via IT support and efficiency-boosting software.

If you aren’t a technology-savvy business owner you could end up feeling behind-the-times. Read on to learn how you can make technology and business work together for business growth.

The Basics of Technology and Business

Once you realize the importance of technology as a business owner, it’s time to do some homework. Consider the following when determining how technology can help your business:

• How much do you have to invest in technology?
• What software do you currently utilize?
• Do you plan to outsource IT or bring it in-house?

Having a solid plan for technology use in your business will put you a step ahead of competitors.

Understanding Cybersecurity

On average, small businesses are investing less than $500 in cybersecurity. This could be a sign of the number of ill-prepared businesses operating daily without knowledge of hacks or threats to client and company data.

A cyberattack or security breach can hurt your company’s reputation and financial security. By working with an IT company specializing in cybersecurity you can improve safeguards against potential attacks.

It’s also wise to train employees on cybersecurity best practices. For the best results, you should conduct training at least once every year.

Don’t Be Cheap When It Comes to Technology

Technology is an investment. If you invest a little, you shouldn’t expect to get a lot in return. For businesses that rely heavily on technology, a larger technology budget should be allocated.

Do your background research and consult with your IT team on decisions, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the technology you’re considering purchasing. A good rule of thumb is that cheaper is not always better when it comes to technology.

Ensure Employees Are Trained in All Technology

Something as simple as knowing how to add a signature in Word may be difficult for some employees. By conducting regular training and offering basic instructional resources you can help ease the flow of daily operation.

Instruct all employees on any changes to technology in your business. If you have employees who telecommute you should conduct conferences using online conference software. This will keep everyone on your team educated and on the path to business success.

Maintain Equipment and Software

An initial investment is not enough. You can’t simply install and forget about software. Due to rapidly changing technology, software works best when regularly updated.

Maintaining your software will allow you to:

• Reach optimum performance levels
• Increase reliability
• Improve security

With well-kept technology, you can ensure employees are able to remain productive without dealing with crashes or other hurdles from old software.

Handling Technology in the Business and Technology Relationship

Technology can be frustrating and intimidating, especially if you aren’t comfortable with it. Using this introduction to technology and business you can improve your business growth and flow, even if you aren’t a technology-savvy business owner.

Check out our latest blogs for more tips on technology.