Starting a business can be difficult, there are so many things to think about, plan, and budget for. IT can be one thing that is swept under the rug, and we understand it may not be at the forefront of your mind, but we are here to tell you why it should be.Â
We will be breaking down what areas of your IT network you should focus on most as a start-up business, our recommendations, and more…
Why should I choose managed IT support services?
Having managed IT support services means extra security and reassurance, particularly with a start-up business it is nice to know you have support for your systems and equipment when you need it.
Managed support means all your hardware and software are supported and maintained by your provider, and any issues that may arise are usually fixed before they even become a problem for you. It means when things do go wrong, you have the knowledge and expertise of your provider’s IT technicians at hand to help you.Â
There is a current shortage of tech talent in the industry which means hiring in-house IT support is going to be expensive. By outsourcing, you can achieve the same levels of support for a fraction of the cost.
IT can be challenging and for people who are unfamiliar with it, simple problems can really slow down your business and its progression, that’s why having a support system in place means you can focus on what really matters, running your business.
What areas should I focus on?
There are a few areas we recommend focusing on when initially building your IT network, let’s discuss…
Internet connection & WiFi – The WiFi and internet connection in your office or venue is probably one of the most important aspects of your IT. All the systems, equipment, devices, and more will be running on it, therefore it needs to be reliable and suitable for the size and workload of your business.
We always recommend choosing a WiFi and internet system that is built for businesses as opposed to domestic use. Your average WiFi router simply won’t be able to run all the devices and equipment your business needs as it has been designed for a handful rather than office and commercial spaces. WiFi and internet truly are the foundation for the rest of your network so this is an area worth investing in.
Cabling & installation – the initial setup and installation of your equipment is extremely important, poor cabling and installation can lead to lots of problems down the line and can be expensive to fix. Going back and trying to fix messy work when problems do arise is going to not only cost money but also be time-consuming. Â
Managed IT support services – Having an IT support provider is really important and beneficial for a startup business. Getting used to your network may take some time, and technical issues are going to arise which will be made much easier with the right support in place. Having an IT support provider who works when you do can provide remote support (meaning issues can be fixed from their office rather than always on site) will save a lot of time and money.
If you’d like to know more about Astaris’ managed IT support services, click here.
Product recommendations
Here are some of Astaris’ go-to equipment recommendations that are fast, reliable, and most importantly designed for businesses so that they can support the workload they will be used for.
WiFi – Astaris’ WiFi choice would always be either Cisco-Meraki or Ubiquiti . Both options offer super high speeds, reliable connection, added security, and more.
Phones – For phones we would always recommend VoIP for a business, they have all the features a business would need including call transfer, IVR, call recording, call waiting, out-of-hours service, and more. A particular brand of VoIP we recommend is Yealink, it has excellent functionality and scalability.
ÂEmail & Collaboration – Not so much equipment, but when looking at which software to invest in we recommend either Microsoft Office 365 or Google Workspace. Each includes a wide range of packages depending on your business size and requirements, and both include apps such as email, word, PowerPoint, and excel (for Google – Docs, sheets, etc…). They also have useful apps such as video meetings, collaboration whiteboards, and a lot more.
Having these systems through Astaris gives you all of this but with the added benefit of support from us if any difficulties arise, or adding or removing email addresses, etc…
Hardware – There are a couple of brands we recommend to our customers when it comes to computers and laptops. These would be Lenovo and Google, both are brilliantly designed and have lots of options available depending on how advanced you want your equipment to be. You also have the option of purchasing through us and having your devices set up in our office, meaning when they arrive to you, you can get started straight away with no time wasted setting up.
If there’s anything else you’d like to know about building the perfect IT network for your start-up, please visit our website.
