Member Article

Top five IT issues for businesses in 2017

IT firm Taylor Made Computer Solutions has unveiled its list of the top five issues businesses should be prepared for in 2017 when it comes to IT.

The company, based in Fareham, says that as technology continues to evolve it’s no longer just the responsibility of IT managers to keep on top of what’s changing.

Matt Faulkner, technical director, says: “An increasing number of IT disasters, particularly those around cyber security, can be avoided if appropriate measures are put in place across the entire business. IT now plays a part in every aspect of business, from the shop floor right to the board room and those at the helm of businesses can ensure they’re protected by incorporating the right safeguards into their business plans and working practices.”

Here are Taylor Made Computer Solution’s top issues to look out for in 2017:

Into the breach

Cyber security was a huge issue in 2016, with huge household names such as Tesco and Yahoo falling victim to breaches. As hackers find new ways to access data, I wouldn’t be surprised to see cyber breaches increase again in 2017. Using strong passwords, adopting verification methods and regularly reviewing security measures are just some of the ways businesses can protect themselves.

Disaster strikes

There’s good news for smaller businesses in 2017. The technology to deal with disaster recovery is becoming more cost effective, making it easier for SMEs to access. Our biggest advice is not to underestimate the importance of having a disaster recovery plan in place. Investment in a solid plan and the right software can be the difference between ‘business as usual’ and ‘business disaster’.

Head in the cloud

Businesses large and small are in a rush to take advantage of the cloud and many are diving headlong into solutions that are being sold and promoted as the solution to all our IT issues. Unfortunately this simply isn’t true or possible and many migrations into the cloud are failing as a consequence. Businesses need to understand the cloud is a journey, not a solution, and plan carefully for their migration to the cloud.

The principles of attraction

The IT industry is now becoming so mobile that geographic location is less of a barrier to people looking for jobs. It means businesses are no longer just competing against neighbours in their home towns and cities to attract good staff for their IT teams – they’re potentially competing against companies hundreds of miles away. The battle for talent has never been more fierce so businesses need to look at what additional value they can offer as an employer to stand out from the crowd.

Going mainstream

As more and more businesses move towards the cloud, having on-site servers is becoming a thing of the past. This has implications for both IT managers and those in charge of budgets. For IT managers, it means part of their role will change from maintaining on-site hardware to managing relationships with cloud providers. At board level, it also means a switch from the traditional model of largescale capital investments in IT infrastructure every few years to smaller, monthly payments for cloud services.

Find more tips and advice on Taylor Made’s website at www.tmcs.co.uk

Follow Taylor Made on Twitter @TaylorMadeCS

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Taylor Made Computer Solutions .