As a business owner, you should always be on the lookout for ways to improve efficiency and increase profits for your company. 80.5% of people in professional work use a computer in some capacity. This means that your IT capability is probably a vital part of your business.
If you want to improve your IT capacity, it makes sense to hire an IT consulting firm. But what does an IT consultant do, and how can they help your business? This article explains everything you need to know.
They Get to Know Your Business
A good IT consultant will not only get to know your IT system, but they’ll also get to know your business as a whole. This helps them to make better decisions regarding your IT systems.
Of course, IT support need to understand your IT technology, but to create an IT infrastructure that really works for you, they need to understand the business as a whole.
They Uncover Inefficiency in Your IT Systems
While IT systems save an incredible amount of time in day-to-day business, most systems have glaring inefficiency. Good IT consultants have the necessary knowledge to uncover these inefficiencies in complex systems.
Of course, you might be able to find some of these shortcomings yourself, but many of these issues require specialist knowledge to discover.
They Update Outdated Systems
Keeping IT systems updated is vital if you want your organization to be efficient and secure. With that said, many companies rely on outdated technology.
Often, people don’t realize the risks they’re taking with outdated software. Many hacks are based on finding and exploiting security exploits in software. In most cases, the developers will release a patch to address the vulnerability.
If you don’t keep your software properly updated, you may be exposing yourself to these kinds of vulnerabilities. An IT consulting company can locate these vulnerabilities and work with you to find a solution.
They’ll Help You Backup Your Files
One of the biggest recent cyber threats you face is ransomware. Ransomware will encrypt your files, and the attackers will demand a cash payment to decrypt them.
An IT consulting company can set up an automated backup system that will automatically back up your files. When this is properly implemented, it renders ransomware attacks useless.
A good backup system should involve 2 local backups as well as an offsite backup. This may sound complicated, but an IT consulting business can implement a system that does all of this automatically.
You simply save your files as you normally would on your company workstation, and the files will automatically be backed up in multiple locations.
In 2021, there’s simply no excuse for losing data.
They’ll Uncover Cyber Risks
The cyber threatscape is constantly evolving. As new threats emerge, companies that are not prepared are more at risk. IT consultants will stay on top of the latest cybersecurity developments.
If they identify new threats against your organization, they can work proactively to defend your company from attack. Not only do they have information about the latest malware and vulnerabilities, but they can also identify poor security culture in your organization.
They’ll Help With Specific IT Needs for Projects
In the world of modern business, IT is simply essential. Pretty much every task involves a computer or computer network. This means that using the right tools for the job can have a huge impact on your business.
A good IT consultant can help you to find the software and hardware and software that will work best for your latest project. For example, if you need a workstation for 3D rendering, they can help you find a system with the best price/performance ratio.
They Can Deal With the Vendors
Dealing with software or hardware vendors can be a frustrating experience if you don’t have technical knowledge. This means it’s well worth having an IT consultant handle these kinds of calls on your behalf.
Their deep knowledge of the subject matter means that they can instantly create rapport with the vendors. Not only can this help to ensure you get the right software, but it could also mean that you get a better deal.
They Keep Up With the Latest Developments
The world of IT is constantly changing. Keeping up with the latest developments is almost a full-time job in itself. Since so much of your company relies on IT systems, being able to predict IT industry changes can give your company the edge.
For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has hugely raised the prices of graphics processing units. If your company relies on that kind of hardware, it was well worth investing in units in 2020. The price of graphics processors has now gone through the roof, leaving companies who didn’t see this coming struggling to afford them.
They Can Repair Computers
When a computer stops functioning, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace the whole unit. Quite often, only a single component has failed. In this case, an IT consultant should have the skills necessary to identify and replace the failed component.
A lot of the time, a computer that appears to be “broken” can easily be repaired with a small and affordable part. IT consultants can even do preventative maintenance to make sure your computers don’t fail in the first place.
What Does an IT Consultant Do? They Create Value
So, now you know the answer to the question “what does an IT consultant do?”. With the amount of value that IT consultants can create for your company, it makes sense to hire an IT consulting firm. You rely on IT systems in almost every aspect of your business.
You simply can’t afford to lose out by having inferior equipment, security vulnerabilities, or outdated software. An IT consultant can address all of these problems and more.
If you want to read about more IT-related topics, check out the rest of our blog posts.