If you’ve ever had the “check engine” light come on in your vehicle, you know that sinking feeling in your gut. “What’s this all about?” you wonder. “I wonder how much this is going to cost.”
It’s a very similar experience when IT systems in the company act up. As servers and desktops age, they become huge risks. Critical company data and staff productivity can dissipate quickly when problems arise — not to mention the price tag to replace servers, firewalls and computers.
A couple of surprises in the server room can easily set you back $10,000 to $50,000. Here are some things that can help you protect your investments and stay out of those undesirable situations.
Have a sound IT strategy
It used to be that you could put an IT strategy together every five to eight years and refresh here and there.
Today, that is just too risky. PricewaterhouseCoopers recently identified the nine new rules of IT strategy, topping the chart was the importance of making strategy routine. At the pace IT is changing, you absolutely must revisit your IT strategy every year.
Controlling IT costs is easier than you may think
If you are a financial decision-maker in your company — especially related to IT — experience may have led you to feel like IT is a big black hole and cash drain. It doesn’t have to be that way.
The more IT infrastructure you have in-house, the higher the drain — and the harder for IT to be a true business enabler. Companies that move their server and desktop infrastructure off-site to the safety and redundancy of the data center see significantly improved cost of ownership.
But just moving your IT infrastructure to the first data center or managed service provider who knocks on your door isn’t prudent either.
Outsourced IT companies make their money just like your mechanic does
Outsourced IT services typically start with a base monthly fee. Be sure to watch out for the “extras” when something goes wrong. Need a software patch? That’s extra. Servers need to be upgraded or replaced? That’s extra too.
Need some data recovered from a backup or some extra help solving an IT issue? Ante up. Build a relationship like you would with anyone you do business with and you’ll build a level of trust that will keep you out of those uncomfortable situations.
The future is bright — and fixed!
Only a handful of IT service companies are willing to step outside the nickel-and-dime business. Look for companies that will give you a fixed monthly fee per user in your company. One easy-to-budget number covers all things IT — from servers and hardware to support and IT consulting.
You know the peace of mind of having a bumper-to-bumper zero-deductible warranty on your car? Apply that to your entire IT infrastructure and you’ll get an idea of what the future of IT is. Don’t be left out in the cold, suddenly faced with big problems and big bills to fix those problems. ●
