When was the last time your company overhauled its computers, servers, applications, and other pieces of crucial IT infrastructure? Sure, you may think you can get by with five-year-old PCs running on Windows XP and outdated software, but putting off upgrades might actually be hurting your business more than you realize.
According to a survey from Microsoft, approximately 90% of consumers said they would stop doing business with a company that has outdated technology. Clearly, customers do care about the technology your business uses, and if you don’t want to be a statistic, a major IT upgrade is in order.
We’ve put together five warning signs that show your business is in dire need of a tech upgrade.
Your IT guys spend most of their time on maintenance
Of course, your IT personnel should be doing the job they were hired to do: keeping your business technology running smoothly. But when they’re forced to spend the whole day pacing around the office troubleshooting network and server issues, or answering support requests from other departments, something is clearly wrong with your current technology.
Moving to a modern, cloud-based infrastructure will dramatically simplify time-consuming tasks like network maintenance for your IT department. Hiring a cloud service provider that offers 24/7 monitoring and support would free up your IT staff to focus not on generic technical problems, but on tasks that improve your bottom line.
You’re paying too much for repairs
Perhaps one of the most obvious signs of outdated technology is how much money you’re spending to keep it running smoothly. Most business owners tend to look for a quick fix rather than invest in brand new equipment. But what they don’t realize is that the costs of repairs will eventually outweigh the costs of replacements in the long run.
Your computers are super slow
When your employees start complaining about their computers taking forever to boot up or crashing in the middle of the work day, that’s a red flag. These system disruptions and downtime add up quickly and greatly impact your bottom line.
It’s crucial for employees to have the best tools so they can get their jobs done faster. Most computers tend to slow down after a year, so you should upgrade your desktops every 1-2 years.
Your systems were breached
When your systems are under frequent attack by cyber criminals, you need to review your infrastructure’s security immediately. Even the smallest cyber attack can reveal big problems with your company’s security measures.
Network vulnerabilities can add up over time, making your outdated technology more vulnerable the longer you hold onto older versions. For example, Windows XP is totally unsupported by Microsoft, and any company still using it is vulnerable to cyber attacks.
It’s important to proactively update your software whenever possible because newer versions include security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities and reduce the chances of a breach.
You’re falling behind competitors
Without the latest technology, you’ll find it hard to win customers from competitors and new market entrants. Your competitors are likely adopting modern tools that enable them to run their businesses at a lower cost or deliver greater value to customers.
If you don’t want to get left behind, upgrade your technology to stay up to par with your competitors. Tools like Office 365, for instance, increase productivity by allowing your staff to collaborate on files simultaneously and take their work beyond the office walls.
Ultimately, business technology upgrades are far more cost-effective and efficient when you partner with an IT service provider like USWired. Contact us today to discuss your technology needs and learn how we can help.