It doesn’t take much to make the case that modern technology has improved the way we do business. Consider just a few decades ago we were without cell phones, e-mail, and the Internet. Tasks today that take minutes used to take hours. That said, there can be many headaches that come with modern software solutions, but a good partnership with a strong technology support company can ensure that your business IT solutions are running smoothly.

If you’re a business that is due for an upgrade, don’t let lack of technical knowledge or the fear of the unknown deter you from capitalizing on all the ways these new innovations can improve your business. Check out just a few ways technology can advance your business position in the marketplace, and help give you a leg up on your competition.

Marketing

Marketing has changed more in the past 15 years than the previous 100 years combined. New innovations have created many new media options that have expanded our reach and ability to interact with our consumers. Whether you’re installing an upgraded customer relationship management (CRM) system, blasting out an e-mail campaign, managing all of your social media through a program aggregate, or hosting a webinar, new technology is the driving force behind the campaign. Remember, a technology support company will offer services to help you understand how your system can handle this load, and will work with you if you need assistance installing the software to launch some of these exciting campaigns in your business.

Communication

It is hard to imagine there is an entire generation of workers in place who have never had to do business without emails and cell phones. Modern advances give us access to unparalleled communication not only with our consumers, but internally within our own organizations as well. Modern businesses are expected to have comprehensive communications platforms, and a technology support company on call to manage all of the servers should anything go wrong. While a 24-hour turn around used to be acceptable in terms of customer service, those rules have changed; modern advances give us the tools we need to meet the expectations of our consumers.

Productivity

The right hardware running updated software solutions is the key to productivity in your business. In this era, our employees wear many hats and it’s incredibly important to give them the right tools to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Tools like voice to text, online chat, and teleconferencing, are just a few ways to improve productivity in the workplace. Whether it’s in your customer service department, giving customers an online chat option to get instant access to a service representative, to your internal communications and company meetings, working with a technology support company to have the right software solutions for your business is your key to having a productive, efficient workplace.

Modern IT solutions offer an abundance of opportunities for better ways to do business. These are just a few of the improvements you can look forward to when you utilize new solutions. Coupled with a good relationship with a technology support company, you can be sure that your business with survive and thrive for years to come.

With so many unfortunate–and costly–data breaches making headlines today, it’s vital for businesses to safeguard their vital information with reliable security measures. By incorporating the following tips into your platform, you can better protect your company data for a more secure operation.

Create Secure Passwords

Be sure that you instruct your employees to create strong passwords. Security experts suggest that you “use an 8-12 character combination of capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Also, be sure every employee changes his or her password at least once every three months.” (1) Employees should also refrain from using personal names or birthdays in their passwords.

Use Security Controls

Businesses can adopt any number of security controls. For instance, a firewall is a good line of defense for your data. Moreover, investing in check-writing software will “cut operating costs, reduce operational risk, and improve customer service.” Remember that all devices that connect with your network must have security controls in place to reduce the risk for breach.

Invest in a Security Audit

If you’re not a security expert, you should hire one to perform an audit of your business’s security. An expert can locate the gaps in your security and provide you with effective solutions for shoring them up. If you don’t have an IT expert on staff that can advise you about maintaining strong levels of security, you need to hire a consultant who can provide you with this essential information.

Employee Training

Many security breaches occur because employees are lax about practicing security procedures each and every time. It’s important for companies to train their employees about respecting security measures and upholding them at all times. Make sure that you create excellent policies and procedures to govern your employees about how to deal with data. It’s a good idea to have a training workshop to review security procedures with both new and existing staff members. Make sure your employees understand that they are a vital aspect of your data protection plan.

Encrypt Data

If your data is stolen–and this is common given the wide array of devices used to access your network–you still have protection if your data is encrypted. Make a habit of encrypting all company data stored on everything from laptops to mobile phones.

Back up Your Company Data

If you routinely back up your data, you ensure that it will be there should a virus come along and wipe out your information. Many businesses are now using the cloud platform to store their data securely. In the event that your business suffers a natural disaster or a computer is stolen, you’ll still have that backup data to rely on.

If you consistently follow these tips, you can more effectively protect your valuable company data. Never take your security for granted. Even large companies have been caught off guard by data breaches. By following these tips, you can ensure the integrity of your data and protect the reputation of your business.
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