Many small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) used to turn to technicians only when their technology malfunctioned or completely broke down. However, this break-fix model may not work for SMBs nowadays given that they rely heavily on IT to operate effectively.

Technology is rapidly changing how modern companies operate and compete, so it’s essential for today’s businesses to have an effective IT strategy that can keep up with these changes. With the right IT strategy, businesses can take advantage of new technologies to make their operations more efficient, better meet customer demands, and remain competitive in their respective industries.

Businesses often find it challenging to determine how much to spend on technology. After all, organizations vary in size and complexity, so their IT requirements also differ from one another.

It's also unwise to simply stick with the same IT budget allocation year after year since business needs and the economic environment change.

Most companies today need IT in order to be efficient, flexible, secure, and agile. This is especially the case with startups and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which rely on IT to remain competitive. However, such firms lack the IT personnel and other resources needed to leverage IT solutions, and they may find it difficult to obtain IT support in the post-COVID-19 normal.

IT has become even more vital to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stay-at-home orders preventing employees from reporting to the office, IT solutions like cloud computing enabled many companies to stay operational through remote work arrangements.

In the past, employee burnout was an issue that would usually occur from rigid company structures and high-pressure office environments. Some experts even suggested that allowing employees to work from home can remedy burnout. The coronavirus pandemic, however, proved that these notions were not necessarily true.

The failure of an IT project can be very frustrating for everyone involved. What’s more, it often wastes a lot of money, time, and other valuable company resources. To minimize the risk of negative outcomes whenever you embark on an IT-related endeavor, make sure to avoid the following mistakes:

Cutting too many costs
It’s normal to want to save money, but too much cost-cutting is a common reason why IT projects fail.

Recent months have seen an increase in the number of businesses that are outsourcing their cybersecurity services and processes. Many business leaders believe outsourcing to be a viable solution to the spike in cyberattacks that began with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

However, there are still those who are on the fence about leaving their company’s cybersecurity infrastructure in the hands of a managed IT services provider (MSP). Some worry that the costs would leave their business, already reeling from the economic effects of the pandemic, in an even worse financial position.

For your business to stay competitive in the new year, one of the many things you can do is to make sure your IT systems are up to date. In 2021, new cyberthreats as well as natural and man-made disasters may also occur at any time, making it more difficult for you to do your work.

When choosing a managed IT services provider (MSP), business leaders tend to focus on qualifications such as industry knowledge and experience, as well as awards and certifications. While these are inarguably important, there are other key criteria for evaluating an MSP — and one of these is customer service.