Your business is only as good as your IT team. As companies rely more and more on networks and the internet to operate, IT’s importance will only grow. While systems can streamline operations, it can also create security risks and put your data at risk.
To protect your online data and networks, it’s your job as a business owner to make sure your IT team has the resources it needs. Having an IT team isn’t sufficient enough to stop cyberattacks or data breaches. By supporting your team and providing them the software and tools they need, you will protect your business from cyberattacks.
Oversight and Leadership
If you’re not organized, then your IT team won’t be, either. To keep everyone on track, create agile workflows and goals to ensure essential tasks, such as updating software, get done. Agile workforces create charts of ongoing, upcoming, stalled, and completed tasks.
Successful task management is only possible if your leadership and communication styles are effective. Ensure you communicate concisely and diplomatically with your team to ensure they understand their tasks and feel appreciated. Undervalued employees won’t give you their best work.
The Right Players
Besides leadership, you need a team comprised of members who fit in with your culture and fulfill a niche role. Hiring employees who don’t satisfy a need your IT team has can be detrimental to your workflow and work environment. Employees who contribute more to the team will feel underappreciated and may resent employees who may hinder the team’s overall workflow.
To avoid creating an uncomfortable and ineffective team, make sure you have team members who fulfill the essential roles of any IT team:
- Hardware Technician – This individual should be an expert in repairing and manager your company’s servers and computers.
- Help Desk Support and Analyst – Tech support can help your employees and customers troubleshoot common problems that are easy to fix.
- Network Administrator – A network administrator will know the ins and outs of your network, help maintain its health, and offer suggestions to improve and grow it.
- Business Analyst – This team member can bridge the divide between your business and IT operations by using data to improve and monitor IT tasks.
- Project Manager – The project manager creates and oversees IT projects pivotal to your company’s operations.
- Systems Engineering Manager – This individual watches over your IT networks and infrastructure to ensure there aren’t any issues with their performances.
- Director – An IT director can work with your IT team and other senior employees to ensure the IT team has the resources it needs to save your company money and protect its data.
Advanced IT Service Management Software
Understanding your IT Service Management (ITSM) is crucial in managing a successful IT team. ITSM platforms contain every action your company performs while planning, using, or controlling your IT services. It also ensures that you have the correct people, technology, and processes to meet your IT team and services’ fullest advantage.
To help you do so, consider using an ITSM platform. The software can cut down the amount of time, effort, and manpower it takes to monitor your ITSM. Most ITSM software doesn’t require coding, which means both IT employees and non-IT employees can use it.
Non-IT employees can submit IT tickets when they run into a network or computer issue. This software allows you to communicate with all your staff through mass emails or share articles you believe will help employees solve or avoid IT issues.
Comprehensive Cybersecurity Software
Cybersecurity is another essential tool you should offer your IT team. Out of date software opens your networks up to attack and creates more work for your team that could have been easily avoided. To ensure you have the most advanced security possible, chose a package that offers security endpoint detection and response (EDR).
EDR is the leading cybersecurity software because it uses real-time monitoring of endpoint data while also analyzing automated responses to protect your network endpoints. Your network has endpoints that hackers can use to exploit your system.
EDR responds to threats faster than other software, making it better at protecting you from more advanced malware. Because of this, your IT team must have access to EDR software and related machine learning or artificial intelligence to analyze and stop a cyber threat properly.
Supporting Your IT Team
IT is crucial to protecting your business’s data. Make sure every expert role on your team is filled and that they have the tools to succeed. Without proper security software and management tools, your team could be left floundering in the case of a cyberattack. Supporting your IT team can help you avoid this scenario and protect the overall well-being of your company.
