Why Ignoring IT Can Cost Your Business Big

Think about running a small or medium-sized business. It's like trying to juggle a million things at once. You're super focused on keeping your customers happy, making sure your team is doing well, and, of course, making money. Among all of that, there is something that often gets overlooked: the technology that makes all of your efforts possible.

It's easy to forget about it, but your IT setup is way more than just the computers you see on desks. It's this whole complicated network of stuff. This includes all of the networking equipment, the software you pay for (even subscriptions), other cloud services, and even those smartphones and tablets that employees use for work. For many smaller businesses, keeping all of this running smoothly and, more importantly, securely, is a huge headache.

Why Ignoring IT is a Bad Idea

It might seem like you're saving time or money by not constantly worrying about IT maintenance, but that is definitely short-sighted. If you let your systems get old and don't manage your devices properly, you're basically handing an open invitation to hackers and scammers; groups that are consistently targeting smaller businesses. This puts all your important business data and your customers' information at serious risk. What’s more, if your hardware fails or your software crashes, you could be looking at a total standstill. That means losing a ton of money and productivity for every hour you're down.

On top of that, if your technology is slow, unreliable, or outdated, it's going to be way harder to operate efficiently, keep your customers happy, and compete with other businesses that are using the latest and greatest tools.

The Solution is to Be Proactive!

The good news is that there's a much smarter way to handle IT: be proactive.

Instead of just waiting for things to break and then scrambling to fix them, a proactive approach is all about preventing problems in the first place. This means beefing up your cybersecurity to protect your valuable data, minimizing downtime so your business runs smoothly, and having a controllable and predictable IT budget so you don't get hit with unexpected repair bills.

The best part is that it frees you and your team to concentrate on growing your business, instead of constantly putting out IT fires.

We've Got Your Back

Want to have peace of mind and turn your IT into a real advantage? Preferred is your local IT expert right here in Chicagoland. We specialize in managing all the IT stuff for small and medium-sized businesses. That includes everything from keeping an eye on your network and maintaining it, to providing strong cybersecurity, managing your cloud services, and offering fast and helpful support when you need it. We totally get the challenges that local businesses face, and we provide the professional and reliable support you need.

Stop stressing about IT, give us a call today at 708-781-7110 for a consultation.