Every business has an infrastructure—the things in the background that make your company tick. Since they don’t require your constant attention, it’s easy to forget them until something goes wrong.
Think about your home or apartment infrastructure. You have electrical wires, plumbing, Wi-Fi networks, and so on. Since you don’t see any of the pipes connected to your sink, you probably never think about them until water starts to back up.
Businesses have the same challenge when it comes to their IT infrastructure. Without proper management, things can quickly spiral out of control and put a serious damper on operations. So what are the challenges that businesses face when managing their IT infrastructure? Let’s take a look.
What Makes IT Infrastructure Hard to Manage on Your Own?
There are only so many DIY skills you can learn to take care of your home. Can you imagine if you were expected to know how to rewire electrical systems, replace a furnace, repair water damage, and repipe your whole house? If we all had to know how to do those things, almost nobody would own a home!
IT infrastructure is hard to manage on your own because you didn’t sign up to be a tech expert when you started a business—just like you didn’t sign up to be a general contractor when you moved out of your parent’s house.
The Risks of Weak IT Infrastructure Management
The risks of weak IT infrastructure management are serious. The most prominent risk is security. Without proper network segmentation and endpoint protection, your business could be exposed to data breaches and ransomware attacks that can cost you millions of dollars in lost revenue and repairs.
The day-to-day impact of bad infrastructure goes right to your customers. Slow loading times and system downtime can send potential buyers right to your competitors. And if there’s a security breach, their identities and banking information are at risk.
You lose your competitive advantage and create more strain on employee productivity when your IT infrastructure isn’t running at top speed. Here’s what’s causing those problems:
Top 5 Challenges You Need to Know About Your IT Infrastructure Management
Your network and security might be suffering due to these common infrastructure problems.
1. Lack of Resources and Expertise
IT infrastructure management requires a certain level of expertise, especially when it comes to security. Without the right resources and personnel in place, businesses often struggle to keep up with the latest developments in technology and best practices for keeping their networks secure.
2. Outdated Technology
Many businesses rely on outdated technology that can’t handle modern workloads or protect against cyber threats. This makes them vulnerable to data breaches and other forms of attack that could cripple operations if left unchecked.
3. Poor Network Design
A poorly designed network can cause serious performance issues as well as open doors for hackers looking to exploit weaknesses in your system’s architecture. It’s important to have a network design that takes into account all aspects of your business needs, including scalability, reliability, security, and cost-efficiency when managing your IT infrastructure.
4. Unreliable Data Storage Solutions
Businesses need reliable data storage solutions so they don’t lose valuable information if something goes wrong with their systems or hardware fails unexpectedly due to age or wear and tear over time.
Without proper backups in place, companies are at risk of losing customer records, financial documents, confidential employee data, intellectual property, and more.
5. Inadequate Security Policies
Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in your system, which means you need a robust security policy in place that is regularly updated as threats evolve. Without a plan in place, your business is at risk of suffering serious damage from malicious actors.
So, how do you combat these challenges? Let’s take a look at some solutions:
What You Can Do to Solve Weak IT Infrastructure Management
The key to successfully managing your IT infrastructure is having the right people and resources in place. Here are a few ways you can make sure you’re up to speed on the latest developments in technology and best practices for keeping your network secure.
1. Invest in Security Solutions
Investing in security solutions such as firewalls, antivirus software, malware protection, and encryption will go a long way toward protecting your business from malicious attacks. Having these tools at your disposal can give you peace of mind that data breaches won’t occur.
2. Educate Yourself About Data Storage Solutions
Data storage is an essential part of IT infrastructure management, so it’s important to be aware of the different types of solutions available and how they can be used to best protect your business.
Learning about cloud storage, backup systems, and data replication techniques will ensure you’re prepared for any situation.
3. Audit Your Network Design Regularly
Regularly auditing your network design is key to keeping up with the latest changes in technology and ensuring that everything is running properly. This includes testing firewalls, monitoring traffic patterns, and checking for vulnerabilities to identify any problems before they become a bigger issue.
4. Know Your Employees’ Digital Habits
Your employees are an essential part of your IT infrastructure management plan because their digital habits directly affect the security of your system. Educating them on good security practices, such as using strong passwords and avoiding suspicious links, will help keep your business secure.
5. Develop a Robust Security Policy
Having a comprehensive security policy in place is the best way to protect your business from malicious actors and data breaches. It should include everything from access controls to incident response plans to ensure that all areas of your network are properly protected (a vital aspect of your IT infrastructure management).
The best way to create security policies and plans that will work for your business is by partnering with an IT provider—they’ll walk you through everything you need to know in case of an IT disaster. They can also manage your infrastructure for you so you don’t have to worry about missing anything.
With these tips in mind, you can be sure that your IT infrastructure is running smoothly and securely so you can focus on growing your business without worrying about any potential issues down the line. Investing in the right people and tools now will save you time and money later!
Partner with the IT Infrastructure Experts at JPtheGeek
We’re like the general contractors for your technology! We’ll take care of all your IT infrastructure needs from start to finish so you can focus on running your business. Our team of experts is available for consultation and implementation services. We’ll provide the best solutions for your specific goals and budget.
Schedule a risk assessment today and find out how better IT infrastructure management will change the way you do business.
