In our work with small- and medium-sized business owners, we hear a variety of myths and misconceptions about IT management and security. Here, we’ll debunk five of the most common myths and help you save time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.
Let’s start with one of the most common myths.
Myth #1: Nobody is out to get us.
False. This myth may be one of the most harmful. In fact, smaller businesses are prime targets, because they are often the easiest targets. Smaller companies that can’t afford the best network security are easy pickings for cyber-criminals and other bad actors. The easier your system is to crack, the more risk to your business and customers.
Having your system compromised is not only detrimental in terms of business downtime and a serious loss of trust from your customers, as criminals target sensitive information like financial and healthcare data – it has also become more onerous under recent government regulations for reporting security breaches. And even if you think your data isn’t that sensitive, threat-actors can use you to go after bigger fish – your clients and customers, their clients and customers, and on down the line. In other words, yes, they are out to get you.
Myth #2: We can’t afford a fancy network.
False. A business network doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be robust. There are a lot of expensive but poorly designed systems out there, and they’re putting businesses and data at risk. Whenever the word “enterprise” comes up (and we don’t mean the Starship), it means big dollar signs to most people. But it doesn’t have to.
Our goal at Enetics has always been to bring enterprise-level systems to the small- and medium-sized business sector. How do we do that? We have years of experience supporting clients in business sectors that require great attention to network and information security. We frequently leverage open-source systems to provide quality IT management and security at a price that smaller businesses can afford.
Myth #3: All routers work basically the same.
False. There is a noticeable difference between business-grade routers and those built for personal use. Home routers are great for connecting a handful of people using a limited set of devices. When it comes to running your business, however, you need a router that is designed for a more robust network.
Business-grade routers can process far more data traffic than a home router, and they can be scaled to accommodate more people and devices at any given time. They also allow you to prioritize specific application traffic to ensure faster response for business applications while limiting non-essential services, such as social media and movie streaming.
Enterprise-level routers also provide more robust security, with firewalls that can handle a whole office full of workers and their connected devices. And they can support virtual private network access for clients and staff who work remotely.
And finally, routers intended for business networks are built to last. While the upfront cost may be higher for business-grade routers, they are usually more budget-friendly in the long run.
Myth #4: Artificial Intelligence (AI) can do my job for me.
False. AI can’t do your job for you (yet), but it can save you time if used in the right way.
One of the best things integrated AI systems can do to help reduce your workload is to automate recurring tasks, such as sending reminders or follow-ups to customers, or by using a chatbot to respond to frequently asked questions. An AI-powered customer relationship management tool can even help you learn more about your customers and anticipate their needs.
AI tools can also be used to build customizable programming statements that you can use in various applications. For example, you might want to draft code that helps you in your budget forecasting, or to automate expense tracking. The applications are endless – the key is to find ways that AI can augment rather than replace human work.
Enetics often advises its customers on how to implement AI solutions that can both simplify and solve anticipated challenges.
Myth #5: Cloud-based network systems will save us money.
It depends. Businesses of all types have been sold on the idea of moving their data to “the cloud.” While there are many advantages to cloud-based networks, the primary benefit isn’t necessarily cost-saving.
Cloud-based servers provide tremendous resilience for global business operations, allowing you to access your data reliably from anywhere. They are also faster than on-premises networks to set up.
On the other hand, by hosting your network in the cloud, you have entrusted your data to someone else’s servers, and you are beholden to them for access to it. Depending on the data you store, it can also be many times more expensive to access than if you invested in your own servers and backup infrastructure.
For many organizations the answer isn’t a simple either/or. A hybrid approach can make a lot of sense, where most data is stored locally, while a subset of critical data is saved to cloud-based servers.
We work with our clients to evaluate their needs and help them make informed decisions about the solutions that will best serve their goals. When we run the numbers, we can demonstrate how the costs play out over the longer term – the results might surprise you.
At Enetics Networks, we are on a mission to provide our customers with the best service for the best value. We’d love to hear what you think about these topics – and others that you’re curious about.
Feel free to drop us a line at in**@*****cs.net or call us at 206-683-6279.
