How important is IT in small and medium-sized companies?

July 8, 2020

5 minutes reading

To help IT professionals in small and medium-sized companies, the IT Guide is available at the end of this article.

We live in the era of information technology in companies. Almost all the activities we carry out at some point are aided by the use of computers, data transmission networks, software, in short, a multitude of technological devices that make our work easier, optimizing daily activities and bringing us closer to people, especially in this time of distance. Social .

Information technology (or simply IT) is a set of technologies used for processing and storing data and communicating between people and organizations. With the use of computers, software, networks, internet and the involvement of specialized professionals, IT's premise is to ensure that these activities are carried out in an increasingly faster, smarter and safer way.

The area has numerous specializations and specific activities. However, in small and medium-sized companies, not all areas and positions are well defined, and not all professionals have knowledge of all the tools that can help them as technical managers. In this article, we bring an IT Guide for small and medium-sized companies and much other information relevant to the area.

What is IT like in small and medium-sized companies?

Although Information Technology plays an important role in a company's business strategy, most organizations still do not have this vision.

Many still use Information Technology only as a support tool for a specific need. Especially in small and medium-sized companies, computers and digital files usually do not have any type of corporate protection, regular backup system, means of navigation control, among many other tools.

Entrepreneurs and managers must keep in mind that with the evolution of technology, more than 90% of business processes are carried out digitally. Nothing would be more logical than investing in IT in an intelligent way.

Why should companies invest in Information Technology?

information technology companies

Since IT is part of the company's strategy and a large part of the organization's internal processes are induced by IT, it is essential to ensure data security.

Even in small companies, having an IT infrastructure will guarantee several benefits:

Protection against viruses, hacker attacks and information leaks;
Speed in processes by having a fluid and agile ;
Reduction or elimination of system crash problems or unavailability of digital resources;
Improvement in productivity and use of time for directors and employees;
Automation of processes that without IT would be done manually;
Improved communication and definition of goals, processes and tasks;
Reduced impact due to social distancing;

According to research carried out by the Ponemon Institute, Brazil is the country most likely to suffer data leaks worldwide. According to the news, 63% of small and medium-sized companies in Brazil suffered a data leak incident in 2019.

See below the most common problems in organizations that do not rely on information technology as an ally in their business.

Common problems in small and medium-sized businesses

Relying on outdated hardware and software

Financial or lack of knowledge are the most common reasons for companies to use machines and programs that are already outdated. In addition to being old, these have the risk of failing and this can cause great losses for the company.

Skip Backup

The grouping and secure storage of information is one of the resources most used by companies. Customer data, spreadsheets, projects, resources and all digital information are stored and integrated with the network. Something that was done physically, taking up space and making access difficult.

Not regularly backing up effectively and safely in the company is extremely worrying. In addition to company operation files, customers need to feel safe trusting your business with their data. In addition to lost files, the lack of backup will cause a financial loss.

Lack of security

As we talk about here on our blog, Brazilian companies have become targets of virtual attacks due to vulnerabilities in their computer systems. This scenario worsened with a large part of the team in companies working from home without any control and security tools in their homes. So that the company does not become a victim of criminals, it is extremely important to invest in information security.

Internet slowness

In a world where everything and everyone is connected most of the time, it is essential that any company that wants to have a strong image in the market has a good internet connection 24 hours a day. Problems related to connectivity and slow systems are among those that cause the most headaches and loss of revenue in small and medium-sized companies.

Inefficiency in the IT area

One of the areas that concerns only when problems appear is IT. The vast majority of small and medium-sized companies do not have a relevant concern regarding the proper functioning of processes, services and technology systems, just remembering that everything must work perfectly when technology does not let them work.

However, we must remember that many companies have professionals who are unprepared, or have little knowledge. It seems like a small thing, but a simple solution is not always resolved quickly and in most cases, it leaves directors very angry.

Many of these information technology problems can be resolved quickly within small and medium-sized companies. Below, we will talk about material dedicated to the IT area that can help many professionals solve the most common problems within companies.

IT Guide for Small and Medium Businesses

The information technology market in companies is characterized by great dynamism, constant evolution and is becoming more active every day in society's daily life.

With human resources as its main capital and engine of development, the use of technology sees frequent innovations and offers multiple possibilities for inserting professionals in the field into the job market, such as: software, hardware or in the provision of services.

Taking into account the updates and constant evolution in the area, the IT professional needs to be qualified and technologically updated to meet the growing demands of the sector and prosper in their career. Knowing the characteristics, tools, and information necessary to facilitate processes is what is expected of this professional, making such knowledge fundamental.

The IT Guide for Small and Medium-sized Companies developed by Lumiun is a contribution to the sector, which has a great affinity with the company. Therefore, we intend to help IT professionals to carry out their work more effectively in small companies.