5 IT Challenges Facing Small Business Owners in This Year

Did you know there are approximately 28 million small businesses in the United States?

These companies span every industry imaginable. While each one is unique, they all have one thing in common: IT challenges.

With 2017 underway, many small businesses have already come face to face with an IT problem. Others, however, have avoided trouble thus far. Even so, they know that something bad could pop up at any time.

Things to Watch for

With all this in mind, you may be wondering which IT challenges to keep an eye on in 2017. While there’s no way of knowing if your company will run into a rough patch, you should be familiar with these common challenges:

1. Privacy

Year in and year out, privacy is a major concern for companies of all sizes in all industries. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that data hacks have hit some of the largest (and most well protected) companies in the world.

Note: according to a study by Information Management, privacy and security was one of the top IT management issues of 2016. You shouldn’t expect this to change this year.

2. Employee Mishaps

It doesn’t matter if you have one employee or 50+, you know that a simple mistake can turn into a major IT nightmare.

For example, an employee could introduce malware to his or her computer (and the rest of the network) by clicking on a link in a spam email message. A problem like this can lead to lost time and productivity, not to mention a large expense.

3. The Use of Personal Devices for Business

The impact of technology on society as a whole continues to grow. This is a good thing in some ways, but it can introduce a big challenge in the workplace: people who use their personal devices for work related purposes.

This is a security and privacy issue that has moved to the forefront, with many companies combatting this by making it clear that employees are not to use their personal smartphones and tablets for business.

4. Energy Efficiency and Monitoring

When most business owners think about IT challenges, the first thing that comes to mind is privacy and security. But there is much more to it than that.

Energy efficiency and monitoring is a big deal, as the right approach can save your company thousands of dollars (or more).

With each passing year, a growing number of providers leap into the energy monitoring industry. Through the implementation of a variety of tools, companies can monitor and reduce consumption as a means of cutting back on energy use and saving money.

5. Employee Training

While some employees are “IT savvy,” others don’t know the first thing about what they should and should not be doing. For example, there are workers who don’t understand the process of creating a strong password.

When onboarding a new employee, don’t overlook the importance of discussing IT related details. For example, if you have any guidelines in place, such as not using personal devices for work, you need to touch on this upfront.

Conclusion

Every year brings a variety of IT challenges to small businesses throughout the country. Some of these challenges are new, but others have been plaguing companies for many years.

As a small business owner, don’t assume that you’ll never face an IT challenge. Instead, familiarize yourself with common concerns so that you’re ready for anything that comes your way.