5 IT considerations for Start-up Companies
Posted by Phill Manson on Sun, Jan 10, 2010
If you've recently started up your own business or are thinking about taking the plunge, these are some of the things you need to consider.
1) Get Free IT advice!
When it comes to setting up your IT systems it can seem daunting and there are a multitude of different options available to you. What works for one company may not work for you. For example you could choose to follow a SaaS (Software as a Service) model for which you pay a monthly fee to use a vendors product, this reduces your capital expenditure but increases your monthly costs and over the long term can work out more expensive.
The initial set up of your systems can seem very overwhelming, you need to consider; internet connectivity, network protection, number of PCs/laptops you need, how the users can collaborate locally (server), email addresses and web presence to name just a few!
Another essential piece of the jigsaw puzzle is your phone system, how many lines do you require, do you need geographical numbers, how many handsets do you need, do you want a traditional phone system or a Voice over IP (VoIP) system?
Many IT support companies offer a Free IT consultation. Look for an IT Support Company that will listen to your business requirements and advise on the best technologies for your goals and budget!
Ask the IT company for case studies and references where these technologies have been successful for other businesses similar to yours.
2) Company Domain Name
With the costs involved with setting up a domain name for your company minimal, we recommend you register your preferred (if it is available) as quickly as possible. Your chosen domain name will need to be renewed either yearly or bi-annually depending on where you purchase the domain. Once this is complete you can set up your chosen email address eg. sales@yourcompanyname.co either on your Exchange server or with a hosted provider.
3) Purchase a Server or not?
A server is a combination of hardware and software designed to provide services to end users. Typically it will be a dedicated piece of hardware and will be used to host a line of business applications, Accounts packages or CRM application for example. IT can also be used to provide file and print sharing.
Your server can also allow users to connect remotely and gain access to their email and other services while on the move. By centralising your data on the server you can ensure that it is being backed up, reducing the risk to your business if a local PC fails.
4) Licensing and software
There are a wide variety of software products available to you to help you run your business and many of these products will have both Home and Professional versions. Although Home products may be cheaper to purchase they place unnecessary restrictions on business users (such as limited networking functionality) this can limit collaboration and information sharing in the workplace.
Some companies such as Microsoft offer different products and pricing models for SMEs compared to Enterprise environments, they allow you to purchase yearly subscriptions to use their software instead of having a large upfront capital expense.
Individuals and businesses can face large fines for using pirated or copied software as such we always recommend you purchase genuine software for your use. This also allows you to make use of any technical support provided by the vendor.
You will also need to consider Anti-Virus software for your desktops and servers. Anti-Virus is essential software that provides your network with protection against viruses that can affect your machine and stop you working, and in some cases even steal your confidential data.
5) Backup your data!
Backing up your data can be a bit like car insurance; you really don't see the point and resent the expenditure until you have your first crash! After that it makes perfect sense.
There are many options available to you; manual backup to CD/DVD/NAS (Network Attached Storage), automated backup to tape or offsite storage where your data is backed up to a secure server over the internet.
Each of these options has their own benefits and associated costs so it worth sitting down with your IT partner to discuss your requirements.
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