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

July 8, 2020

5 minutes reading

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

We live in the information technology age in companies. Almost every activity we carry out is at some point aided by the use of computers, data transmission networks, software, in short, a multitude of technological devices that facilitate our work, optimize daily activities and bring us closer to people, especially in this time of social distancing .

Information technology (or simply IT) is a set of technologies used for data processing and storage, and communication between people and organizations. Using computers, software, networks, the internet, and with the involvement of specialized professionals, IT aims to make these activities faster, smarter, and more secure.

The field has numerous specializations and specific roles. However, in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), not all areas and positions are well-defined, and not all professionals are knowledgeable about all the tools that can assist them as technical managers. In this article, we present an IT Guide for small and medium-sized enterprises and much other relevant information for the field.

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

Although Information Technology plays an important role in a company's business strategy, many organizations still lack this vision.

Many still use Information Technology only as a support tool for a specific need. Especially in small and medium-sized enterprises, computers and digital files often lack any type of corporate protection, regular backup system, navigation control mechanisms, among many other tools.

Business owners and managers should keep in mind that with the evolution of technology, more than 90% of business processes are now conducted digitally. Nothing could be more logical than investing in IT intelligently.

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 driven by IT, ensuring data security is essential.

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

Protection against viruses, hacker attacks, and data leaks;
Speed in processes due to having a fluid and agile ;
Reducing or eliminating system outages or unavailability of digital resources;
Improved productivity and better use of time for managers and employees;
Automating processes that would otherwise be done manually;
Improved communication and definition of goals, processes, and tasks;
Reduced impact due to social distancing;

According to research by the Ponemon Institute, Brazil is the country most prone to data breaches in the world. The report states that 63% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Brazil suffered some type of data breach incident in 2019.

Below are some of the most common problems in organizations that do not use information technology as an ally in their business.

Common problems in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Having outdated hardware and software

Financial constraints or lack of knowledge are the most common reasons why companies use outdated machines and software. Besides being old, these tools carry the risk of failure, which can cause significant losses for the company.

Ignore Backup

Securely grouping and storing information is one of the most widely used resources by companies. Customer data, spreadsheets, projects, resources, and all digital information are stored and integrated with the network. This is something that used to be done physically, taking up space and making access difficult.

Not regularly and effectively backing up company data is extremely concerning. Beyond the company's operational files, clients need to feel secure entrusting their data to your business. In addition to lost files, the lack of backups will result in financial losses.

Lack of security

As we've discussed here on our blog, Brazilian companies have become targets of cyberattacks due to vulnerabilities in their computer systems. This scenario has worsened with a large part of the company's staff working from home without any control or security tools in their residences. To prevent the company from becoming a victim of criminals, it is crucial to invest in information security.

Slow internet

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 for small and medium-sized businesses.

Inefficiency in the IT area.

One area where concern only arises when problems emerge is IT. The vast majority of small and medium-sized enterprises do not have a significant concern for the proper functioning of processes, services, and technology systems, only remembering that everything should work perfectly when technology prevents them from working.

However, we must remember that many companies have unprepared professionals, or those with little or no knowledge. It may seem like a small thing, but a simple solution is not always resolved quickly and, in many cases, leaves managers very irritated.

Many of these information technology problems can be solved quickly within small and medium-sized enterprises. Below, we will discuss a resource dedicated to the IT field 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 increasingly active in the daily lives of society.

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

Considering the constant updates and developments in the field, IT professionals need to be qualified and technologically up-to-date to meet the sector's growing demands and thrive in their careers. Knowledge of the features, tools, and information needed to facilitate processes is expected of these professionals, making such knowledge fundamental.

The IT Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises , developed by Lumiun, is a contribution to the sector, which has a strong affinity with businesses. Therefore, we aim to help IT professionals perform their work more effectively in small businesses.