What are the most important aspects of IT infrastructure that every SME should have in place?

What are the most important aspects of IT infrastructure that every SME should have in place?

Reading Time: 2 minutes27th June 2013 | Modified: 13th January 2023

Categories: CNC News

Running a small business is never a walk in the park; there are clients to keep happy, investors to please and a lot of financial pressures pushing down.
Any small business owner will primarily be concerned with growing their business, and will work flat-out to build their reputation and boost their client base.
But without a proper IT infrastructure in place they run the risk of stunting their growth, or worse – damaging their reputation. So what aspects of IT infrastructure do SMEs need to have in place in order to survive?

Data back-up

Most SMEs will rely heavily on technology and IT systems for their business, whether it’s account management, stock records or a client database.
If one of these systems was to encounter a problem and go down for a few days, or lose data, the effects could be catastrophic for a business.
It’s therefore vital for any business to have a back-up storage system or disaster recovery service that will keep any important information safe and secure. Without one, a fast-growing SME could find itself back at square one after losing some valuable records or information.

Internet and connectivity

So much of the nuts and bolts of business take place online now, from simple email exchanges to the use of cloud storage.
A strong internet connection, capable of supporting potentially very high day-to-day usage from multiple devices, is therefore incredibly vital.
Internet connections can sometimes drop out, and if that happens at an unfortunate moment then the consequences can be costly, so technical support and a plan for getting back online as quickly as possible is also vital.
Database creation and management
Clients and customers are vital for businesses of any size; without them even the most established of firms would quickly go under.
But for SMEs a strong client base is absolutely essential, as these will be the ones who build a reputation and help a business take the next step in its development.
So establishing a record of clients, customers and connections is excellent practise for any SME. This can be something as simple as an Excel spreadsheet, or a more complicated database filled with information and records to help keep track of your clients.

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By Gary

Gary has always focused on making sure the most appropriate solution is provided to help customers, not just what's new and shiny. With over 30 years in the IT industry Gary has the experience to tell the difference between something that's game-changing or is just a passing fad!