But I'm a Small Business...
As a small to medium business (SMB) owner, you’ve likely found yourself saying, “But I’m a small business…” when discussing IT needs. It’s a common sentiment, but one that can lead to missed opportunities and vulnerabilities. Let’s explore why IT is crucial for businesses of all sizes and how the size of your business shouldn’t deter you from investing in robust IT solutions.
The standard method for determining the size of an organisation utilises two common metrics, the number of staff and revenue. The number of staff is often the most visible indicator, with small businesses typically having fewer than 50 employees, medium businesses ranging from 50 to 250 employees, and large businesses exceeding 250 employees. The revenue also plays a crucial role; a small business might generate less than $10 million annually, while medium businesses fall between $10 million and $50 million, and large businesses surpass $50 million in annual revenue. However, beyond these metrics, the complexity of an organisation’s IT systems and processes can significantly influence its classification.
A business with intricate workflows, complex systems’ integration, advanced data management needs, and sophisticated software requirements may face challenges similar to those of larger enterprises, regardless of its staff size or revenue. This complexity necessitates more robust IT solutions, comprehensive support, and enhanced security measures. Therefore, while the number of staff and revenue provide a baseline, the operational complexity can elevate a small business’s IT needs to those of a much larger organisation, guiding how it approaches technology and infrastructure investments.
In addition, with solutions like Microsoft 365 and Azure offer scalable, cost-effective options were once only accessible to larger enterprises. Now days it is easier than ever for small and medium-sized businesses to have access to these solutions thanks to the affordability of cloud services. In this example, it’s important to note, that a Microsoft 365 tenant requires a similar amount of effort for configuration and management to mitigate cyber threats no matter the size of the business. Proper setup and ongoing management are crucial to ensure security and compliance, making IT support indispensable for businesses of all sizes.
How do I know what support we need?
The principle here is that you can’t manage what you don’t know. When a business doesn’t have a complete picture of its IT landscape, the suggestion is to perform an IT Discovery Audit (ITDA). An ITDA will provide the business owner with a report of the whole IT landscape. Depending on the existing documentation and the level of detail required by the customer, the audit can include systems and/or applications integrations diagram, network diagram, applications classification, licences review, hosting & domains, hidden costs, potential savings, asset management, cyber security score & recommendations, etc.
Once there is a complete understanding of the business IT landscape, you can confidently discuss about options that accommodate to your business needs and budget.
What if we require specialised services
IT professional services offer a variety of specialised solutions to meet business needs, including ad-hoc support for technical issues and ongoing managed IT services. These services can also involve IT consulting, cloud solutions, and collaboration with a customer’s existing IT team to enhance efficiency, reduce downtime, and support growth.
What if we don’t have an IT Department to manage our technology
If this is your case, IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) could help your business. MSPs are a great solution to provide support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that don’t have their own IT department, by taking over the complex and time-consuming tasks of managing IT infrastructure. The majority of MSPs offer different packages depending on your business size and needs. For a monthly fee you have the support you need while allows for accurate budgeting preventing unexpected IT costs.
Conclusion
No matter the size of your business, investing in IT is essential for security, efficiency, scalability, and customer satisfaction. By overcoming the mindset of “But I’m a small business” and getting to understand your business IT complexity, you can leverage IT to drive growth and success. Remember, you cannot improve what you don’t know, and the right IT solutions and support can make a significant difference helping you compete with larger enterprises and navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape.
At Berkana Group, we pride ourselves on treating our customers as partners, working collaboratively to provide enterprise-wide IT Services that are essential to your business’ strategic and operational functions.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance with and IT Discovery Audit (ITDA), IT Managed Services or your IT strategy. Your business, no matter its size, deserves the best attention and support to thrive!
