When you have a business to run, the tendency is to use things until they no longer work in an effort to save time and money. While this is resourceful, there is a limit to what’s economical, and what’s holding your business back. If hardware becomes outdated, or doesn’t have the right tools, then cost can very quickly spiral upwards as you attempt to cover the cost of downtime, new security updates, and replacing old technology.
That is why it can be much more cost-effective for your business to gauge when to buy new technology, rather than “make do” with some older equipment or technology for as long as you can. Even enlisting the help and of a managed service provider (MSP) or managed IT services for their consultation and advice comes with more consistent payments, rather than unpredictable costs.
Up-to-Date Technology Helps Business Security
Using out-of-date technology and software really does put your business at greater risk of a cyberattack. Not only do hackers know the vulnerabilities of older systems well, but they have even newer codes and technology for penetrating the security. If you are still using older systems to avoid having to pay for an upgrade, updates eventually become incompatible, and your software will run too slow for your demands.
The greater your risk of a cyberattack, the greater your chances for losing business reports, customer data, and losing the trust of your clients. Aging technology and equipment leaves your business open to a substantial security breach which could cost more money to fix, as well as cause irreparable damage to your business reputation in the long run.
Save Money on Maintenance with New Equipment
As a general rule, if the equipment or technology for your business is more than five years old, the chances of it breaking down are higher (of course, it becomes a matter of “when” rather than “if,” the older it gets). Breakage downtime is not only unpredictable, but costly to your business, so you might assess the age of your current equipment and save for the year you plan to sell and replace it to upgrade.
Emergency sourcing and having a new hard drive delivered can really push things back, which is why upgrading to newer models will help your business contingency, and reduce repair costs and the need for maintenance visits. New equipment also comes with longer battery power and improved operation systems to help you keep up with demands.
New Technology Means More Efficiency
Having new equipment and new software will ensure you have the latest, updated security. But it can also help your team to be much more efficient as they work. When software glitches even once a day, you can guarantee your not getting the most of your time from those machines. Updated equipment and software eliminates the excuse for not being able to get work completed on time.
There is also a range of features that comes with modern software, including upgrades. This means that with the click of a button something can be upgraded, replacing any manual processes that you might have had before, with installing and uninstalling software. As all of this requires very little effort, it gives your team the chance to be efficient without having to do a whole lot.
When it comes to evaluating the equipment and software that your business uses, an MSP brings not only an expert opinion on how much longer you can work with the systems you have, or how much you could benefit from updated systems, but the technical support to troubleshoot and fix any problems that crop up. There are a number of benefits to enlisting the help of an MSP who works across multiple industries, benefits which include:
1. Time to focus on other areas of your business
2. Access to experts in technology
3. Consultations on the latest technology
4. Experts in cybersecurity who can reduce the risk of a cyberattack on your business
5. A predictable, monthly payment
6. Round-the-clock support and monitoring
When your technology and equipment are working hand in hand to streamline your processes at a speed to facilitate your demands, it’s a flawless process that enhances your business procedures and eases the burden of technology concerns.