Today’s business world offers many different tools for success, and one of the biggest players is the computer industry. With the Internet, local area network (LAN) technology, private servers, and more, businesses can easily reach out to consumer bases and each other for advertising, business deals, exchanging information, working remotely, and even more. And as with anything else, there are potential hazards and risks for using network support, so information technology (IT) staff is essential. IT consulting and IT solutions for problems can go a long way to maintain cyber security and smooth operations. Network support could very well collapse without IT outsourcing or in-house IT services, so employees and IT workers alike can coordinate to create a healthy computer network for good business.
The Uses and Hazards of Network Support
Paper mail and telephones are traditional routes for sharing information, but today, computers and the internet offer much more. Working remotely is one possibility for a company that has Internet services; employees can work while on business travel or even from home, and that can offer both flexible scheduling and boosted productivity. In fact, data shows that 67% of employees who work at home have a boost in productivity, while 26% felt neutral about it and 7% reported a drop in productivity. Businesses, for these reasons and more, often offer remote work thanks to the Internet; large companies, in particular, offer this service the most, with 69% of them allowing for remote work stations while 31% keep all their employees on-site. 55% of medium sized companies allowed remote work, while small companies offered this option as well, with 62% of them doing so.
Working online can boost companies in other ways. Blogging, for example, can quickly boost traffic for a brand name, and the statistics back up that claim. For example, web traffic for a brand may increase 55% with blog presence for that brand, and business to business (B2B) traffic can rise up to 67% if a company uses blogs. And in a survey, 46% of respondents said that a website’s design quality is the primary way to determine the credibility of that company. What is more, business can make use of Skype and similar live-chat options so one or more people can have a virtual presence at a meeting if they are unable to attend in person, and this can work for businesses around the globe. Only with solid network support can this happen, but the benefits can be considerable.
As with anything else, there are those who abuse or exploit new technology, and network support can come under attack from amateur hackers or business rivals. In fact, it has been determined that some 20% of small businesses will get hacked within one year of operation, and having backup options and good defenses is essential to warding off cyber criminals and competitors. Network security can be had when IT services are brought on board, and IT professionals can ensure that a company’s security and Internet connection are up to standard.
Firewalls, for example, are a great way to keep hackers and corporate spies out of a network, and the use of strong passwords (and not sharing them) can also help. Virus and malware detection and prevention software can be installed and kept up to date, and employees at a company, especially those less familiar with computers and the Internet, can be given basic Internet safety courses such as not opening attachments on suspicious e-mails and not sharing passwords. What is more, cloud storage services, whether on the Internet or in a company’s private server, can create backup of all critical data in case a computer crashes, or if files are corrupted, or if cyber crime takes place. Storing large amounts of data on cloud services might sometimes come with a fee, but it offers excellent insurance against computer crashes, disruptive viruses, and hacking attempts. Cloud storage doubles as a way for remotely operating employees to access company data and use it as needed.