As helpful as technology may be to businesses it can also present certain challenges. If poorly managed, business technology can often prove to be just as harmful as it is beneficial. This is why we have IT professionals or IT departments. Regardless of how much equipment a company may have the role of an IT department is a full time job especially when you consider the possible strain most companies place on their technology and their need to prevent any malfunctions.
Whether it is a single computer and printer or ten networked computers running off of a server it is mostly the IT department that handles the purchasing, installation, updating, management, and repair of company technology. In order for an IT department to be successful and maintain the integrity of the technology it should possess the following characteristics.
- Qualified and motivated staff
- Appropriate IT resources
- Effective department management
- Proper IT procedures
- Regular meeting, documentation, and review
It is the goal of an IT department to not only fix and manage the company equipment but to also ensure the security of information. To do so an IT department should be performing routine tasks, that includes establishing policies and procedures, updating equipment, and running diagnostics. The majority of work done by these departments should be preventive measures so that when problems do arise they already have procedures in place that detail immediate solutions. Now of course most IT departments cannot predict every incident that has the can occur however they should come pretty close to being able to recognize the most frequent or detrimental threats. Various simple but overlooked tips for a company and IT departments include,
- Password Policies, many users choose to utilize a password that is easy to remember rather than one that is sufficient to protect critical information. A company or IT department should implement a password policy that details and enforces the use of Strong passwords.
- Remote Access Policies, because many company employees need to be able to access company information from home or when traveling, a proper remote access policy should be drafted according to the specifications set by the IT department.
- Appropriate Use Policies, detail what resources should be used and how to use them appropriately. Having an acceptable use policy, whether it is for the use of the equipment, email, or the Internet can potentially prevent equipment errors and system vulnerabilities.
- Scheduled Backups, performing regular backup’s archives important information. In the event something does happen and wipes out your information you will still have the latest archived data to restore.
- Scheduled Updates, establishing automatic updates or routinely checking for software updates manually keeps software like anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall protection working properly and aware of the latest security threats.
- Routine System Checks, by running diagnostic tests you can see how your system is performing, document, and perform any necessary adjustments.
- Equipment Checks, similar to routine system checks this entails testing the equipment and making sure it is performing properly.
- Proper Training, to prevent the misuse of equipment all employees should be trained and well informed of the appropriate and inappropriate uses.
- Think Proactive, one the biggest errors when is comes to IT is waiting till something happens. It is most important that you don’t wait till it is too late to create the policies, implement the procedures and protect your technology.
It is extremely important that these bare minimum IT requirements be utilized in order to protect your business’s information and equipment. Even if your company does not have an IT department, you yourself should be implementing some of these suggestions or hiring an IT professional to assist you in protecting your technology. Don’t wait until an IT disaster strikes before you take the appropriate actions.
Is your IT department doing their job? What do you think is the most important element for managing your IT?
Thanks for Reading and Have a Great Day!
Dustin
