For small and mid-sized businesses, perhaps one of the most important keys to success is keeping costs down. The money that many businesses spend on computing comprises a relatively large share of many company’s expenses.
Here are a few tips on ways to reduce your current computing costs.
1. Ensure that employees are adhering to good security efforts
One of the most common causes of security breaches such as viruses, wormholes, or other versions of malware, is lack of proper security measures by users on a server. Viruses and other attacks can lead to costly data recovery and related efforts to undo any damage caused by malware, so make sure that employees change their passwords on a regular basis and refrain from visiting sites that are more likely to have harmful code injected into them. You may even want to send out a company wide reminder for employees to change their password on a regular basis.
2. Reduce the amount of hardware or software used
Hardware and software present a high possibility of incurring expenses, as they both require expenditure initially, and can continue to be costly as they require updates or become obsolete. When possible, use virtualized storage systems.
3. Share costs of services
Use a cloud system, which can help defray total costs by allowing you to split the costs of service, updates, and installation with other people who are using the cloud. This can greatly minimize the amount of time your tech staff spends dealing with “housekeeping issues” as well.
4. Use a system that allows you to adjust according to your needs
It can be difficult to surmise exactly when your storage needs may change, so begin with a system that allows for quick and easy upgrades in size. If you use a system that takes a long time to modify or carries large costs for adding additional space, you may risk incurring extra costs or losing business as you wait for your system to adjust.
Use a flexible system like the cloud, to help ensure that you’re equipped to handle changes as quickly as they may come to your business.
5. Maximize efficiency across all aspects of your system
The more efficiently your systems run, the more profits you can expect to turn over. Make sure that you are not carrying duplicates of large files, and keep user’s computers as free from unnecessary programs and applications as possible.
Have more than ample storage available in order to avoid bogging down the server. Keep all programs updated to avoid any delays caused by outdated versions.
Moving Into The Digital Age – and The Cloud
As we move further into the digital age, companies can look forward to exciting advances in the way that virtual systems can lower the direct cost of computing as well as dramatically increase productivity by keeping systems running quickly and with as much flexibility as possible.
The answer to increasing profits and decreasing spending with cloud and other advanced technology is closer and more accessible than some business owners may realize.
Cover photo credit: LinkedIn Sales Navigator / Pexels
