Small businesses rely on technology more than ever before. Computers, servers, e-commerce, QR codes, and even more dominate the business landscape today, but with limited budgets and staff, problems often pile up. From slow systems to security risks, these challenges can and will begin to drain productivity and revenue.

The good news? Most IT issues that small businesses in Stroudsburg, PA, and the surrounding areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are preventable when you have the right IT strategy and support!

To give you some practical solutions, we’re going to walk through four of the most common challenges we see in small businesses that we work with.

Outdated Hardware and Software

Old computers, outdated services, and rarely updated applications slow down small businesses and create vulnerabilities.

To overcome this challenge, there are a few steps small business owners and decision makers can take:

• Regularly schedule upgrades and/or replacements for old computers and devices.
• Move to cloud-based applications, where possible.
• Develop a technology roadmap and plan, which is best done with a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

By doing these three things, your systems will be faster, employees will be happier, and there will be far fewer emergency fixes that stop your business in its tracks.

Cybersecurity Threats

We commonly run into small businesses that believe that they’re too small to be the target of a cyberattack. However, small businesses are prime targets for cybercriminals because they lack the security systems and measures that larger businesses have in place. The easier the target, the quicker attackers can steal critical data and move on to their next victim.

Getting proper cybersecurity in place is a must-have for small businesses in Stroudsburg, PA. To begin to create a safer, more secure environment for your business, do the following:

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all accounts, especially those that handle sensitive data and are critical to business operations.
• Keep all systems and applications updated with the latest patches. Replace any devices that cannot upgrade.
• Train employees to recognize and report any and all phishing attempts and suspicious activity.
• Consider partnering with a dedicated IT provider for proactive monitoring.

While these may seem to be simple fixes or things to do, we have talked with multiple small business owners who have never considered putting these into place!

Data Backup and Recovery Files

A common theme we’ve identified in small businesses is the lack of reliable backups to preserve data. In the cases of hardware failures, accidental deletions, or ransomware attacks, these businesses would lose days, weeks, months, or their entire lifetime of data.

To protect your business’ data:

• Implement the use of cloud data storage, whether you fully migrate or utilize a hybrid system.
• Determine which employee is responsible for testing backups to ensure that recovery efforts would work.
• Plan for disaster recovery scenarios in advance.

You will find peace of mind knowing that your data is safe and recoverable by preparing your business with proper data backups and recovery plans.

Limited in IT Resources

In small business (and even mid-sized ones), every employee is doing multiple jobs to keep the company going. When everyone is wearing different hats, things get shoved to the back burner constantly. The unfortunate effect of this is that IT and technology are often pushed off until later… but later never comes until it’s too late.

Tech problems pile up in the background, slowly making way into every aspect of your business’ technology. Some problems begin to be noticed, but no one wants to spend the time (let alone the money) to fix the problem. Then one day, with or without warning, the problems boil over. Your business grinds to a halt, and then the emergency bills start piling up.

We don’t expect small business owners to be experts in IT. That’s why smart small business owners turn to professional Managed IT solutions from a high-quality MSP. An MSP helps your business:

• Receive exceptional, consistent support throughout the partnership.
• Track and resolve issues efficiently through the use of robust helpdesk tools.
• Automate routine tasks and workflows when possible.

With an MSP on your side, your business will have faster resolutions and access to expert guidance without having to hire a full-time IT staff member. Think of it this way: your business gets access to multiple experts whenever you need them—all under what it would cost you for someone to be on staff full-time!

Don’t Let IT Challenges Hold You Back

The right technology strategy doesn’t just fix problems—it unlocks opportunity for your small business. By planning, investing, and partnering with experienced IT professionals at an MSP, your small business can turn what were once IT challenges into competitive advantages.

At Marvel IT Services, we help local businesses in the Stroudsburg, PA, and surrounding areas identify their biggest IT challenges and build proactive solutions tailored to their needs.

Struggling with IT issues? Let’s create a plan to simplify your technology and protect your business.