Having an IT setup that operates efficiently is necessary for businesses of any size, from large corporations right through to a new business setting up their office. Regardless of the industry, your business will likely need to integrate computer technology into the workplace, and getting that setup right the first time is important. However, setting up IT systems can be overwhelming, particularly for small business owners who may not have a technical background.
That’s why we’ve created this new business IT checklist, helping you to establish a tech setup that supports your business needs. Whether its you, the business owner, completing the setup, your employees or a managed services provider, you’ll be able to work through these steps to ensure your IT system is working efficiently with the software you need to thrive.
Step #1: Determine your business requirements
The first step on our new business IT checklist is to determine the requirements of your business. What do you need your IT systems to achieve? Do you need them to manage your finances, customer information, or to communicate with your employees? Identifying your business requirements will help you determine the specific IT systems you need and avoid purchasing unnecessary items.
A good way to start this process is by making a business floor plan, establishing where you want employee desks, POS systems, printers and network equipment. Once you’ve created this floor plan, you’ll able to plan the network and power points you need to run your technology and have a greater understanding of your day-to-day business operations.
Step #2: Selecting IT hardware for your business
The days of office blocks filled with cubicles and large desktop PCs are mostly in the rear-view mirror, with workers in 2023 often desiring a hybrid workspace that allows them to work from the office, at home or on-the-go. As a business owner, you may also want that added flexibility, so picking the right IT hardware to support that goal becomes all the more important.
Working through the below items will help you select the key hardware components that make up a complete IT setup. If you are unsure about any of these terms listed below, be sure to contact a professional IT provider for assistance:
- Network infrastructure
- Routers and access points
- Desktop/laptop workstations
- Printers
- UPS – Uninterrupted power supplies
- Phone systems
- Video conference rooms
Step #3: Installing IT infrastructure
Buying new technology for your business can be an exciting part of this new business IT checklist process, but here comes the hard part: installing it! Installing network access points and setting up computer workstations can be a tricky process, something that the average business owner does not likely have the knowledge or time to be able to do.
If you’re not confident in your ability to get this setup right, then ensure you contact a managed service provider (MSP) to install this infrastructure for you. An MSP, like Concord IT, can meticulously prepare, install and test this IT infrastructure for your business, giving you piece of mind knowing that you’ll have a system that performs without interruptions.
Step #4: Choosing the right software to support your business
Choosing software for your business is more than just picking between Windows and Mac, or working out which Microsoft 365 plan is best for your business. Some industries have very specific software requirements, needing to run industry-specific programs that can be integrated with different businesses and organisations.
When selecting any software for your business, be sure to consider important factors like business compatibility, scalability, contract length and of course, your budget. Paying for the right software that supports your business is one thing, being stuck in an expensive contract for incompatible software is another.
With this in mind you should establish a process to integrate software into your business. Purchasing, installing, licence management and software updates should all be handled by one person within your business, or by an IT support provider that can perform this work for you. This will allow you to keep track of the software your business uses and maintain it properly to ensure efficient operation.
Step #5: Cybersecurity and backing up your data
You may think, as a small business, that you’re less likely to be targeted by cybersecurity threats. But the reality is often the opposite, with smaller operations with limited resources much more vulnerable to cyber attacks than large corporations. Cybercriminals can exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to sensitive business information, so ensuring you have appropriate antivirus software, firewalls and password protections enabled becomes even more important for small business cyber security.
With those threats in mind, it’s equally important to ensure you have data backup processes enabled to prevent any business disruptions. Having data backups can stop your data from being affected by not only external threats, but by damages to physical hardware and employee errors. Hosting your business’ data on the cloud will also allow you to access these files on-the-go, an increasingly desirable service for those looking to manage a hybrid workplace.
Step #6: Training and enabling best practices with your staff
Completing this new business IT checklist and investing in your tech is an important step in setting up your new business, ensuring that your staff know how to use it should be of equal importance. Businesses that do not invest in technology training for employees may fall behind their competitors, and put their organization at risk of cyber threats.
Having an IT support provider available to provide this training or set the direction for your business’ best practices is a great way to prevent your company from falling behind. You’ll have piece of mind knowing that your staff have been trained on how to prevent cybersecurity incidents and increase workplace efficiency with training for Microsoft 365 programs, website management platforms and other sophisticated software solutions.
Going through these steps will set your business’ technology up for success, ensuring that you have the hardware, software and knowledge base to allow your business to thrive. Some business owners may have significant knowledge in this area already, and will be fully capable of following these steps to setup their technology right the first time.
But if you’re unsure about any of these steps on this new business IT checklist then it’s likely best to secure the services of a professional IT provider who can help guide you through this process. At Concord IT, our mission is to assist businesses in gaining productivity and efficiency through integrated and harmonised IT systems. Ensuring that your new IT setup not only works, but helps you do your job better, is one of the key ingredients in a thriving business, something our expert team of IT professionals can assist your business with.
If you’re ready to start building a new IT setup for your business, then get in touch the Concord IT team today for a free IT setup consultation. For more information about our business IT solutions call us on (03) 7036 2470 or email hello@concordit.com.au
