The Most Common IT Challenges for UK Small Businesses

Small businesses in the UK face various IT challenges, some of which are a lot more common than others. To deal with any kind of IT related issues, you first need to know what to look for.

• Limited Budgets for IT Infrastructure

Ideally all companies, even the small ones, should have enough money to budget for a decent IT system. But this is not an ideal world, and often having the right kind of IT infrastructure from the get go is just not feasible for small businesses juggling limited IT budgets.

• Cybersecurity Concerns

Small businesses are the most at risk of a cyber-attack, mostly because of the challenge listed above. Many hackers and scammers know that small businesses don’t have the best defence and so they go out of their way to target them.

• Lack of IT Expertise

Very few small businesses have a dedicated IT staff. This can end up resulting in the company not having the correct type of IT management, which can in turn result in various challenges such as opening the company up to certain unwanted risks.

• Data Backup and Recovery

Data loss happens when businesses aren’t secure or when their IT is improperly managed. It also happens when the company neglects its backup systems, which often get forgotten when there are other tasks demanding attention. Not having a business continuity plan in place can have dire consequences.

• Scalability and Future-Proofing

Finally, there is the lack of scalability and future proofing. Small businesses are often so busy trying to get through the daily work load and to stay afloat, that any thoughts of IT scalability and future-proofing goes out of the window. Adapting to future changes can be hard if there is no plan in place, especially when budget constraints and a lack of knowledge are standing in the way.

Actionable Solutions

The various IT challenges might sound a bit like a mountain to overcome, but with these easy solutions they don’t have to be. Here is what you as a small business owner can do to overcome these challenges.

• Prioritise IT Investments

You don’t need the biggest budget, you just need to be dedicated to putting aside some money to put towards your IT investments. You can also look at affordable solutions such as using Cloud based services.

• Implement Robust Cybersecurity Measures

Again, you don’t have to bankrupt yourself with expensive security programmes, just become obsessive about using strong passwords and encryption, and use tough firewalls. You can also train employees on the best cybersecurity practices.

• Outsource IT Support

Reputable IT companies know what they are doing and they often have an affordable service created just for small companies. Shop around for an external IT service provider and find out about what they can offer you.

• Establish Regular Data Backups

As for your business continuity needs, setting up an automated data backup system that stores data frequently is an effective way to protect your work and your customer information. Having both an off-site and a Cloud-based solution is a must.

• Choose Scalable IT Solutions

And lastly, when you are setting up your IT infrastructure, you should opt for the kind that will be able to grow with your business. The system should be flexible and adaptable, and it should be able to effectively meet your needs.

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As a small business owner, you don’t have to navigate your IT setup on your own. Instead, you can give us a call. At 24/7 IT Services, we have a list of IT solutions, including IT infrastructure, VoIP and IT security, which will work perfectly for your company.

The post How Small Businesses in the UK can Overcome IT Challenges appeared first on 247 IT Services.

Understanding the importance of cybersecurity is paramount for small businesses in order to safeguard sensitive data, protect customer trust, and ensure business continuity.

Although in the past small businesses had a limited number of options available to them, these days there is a wide variety of anti-virus software programmes to choose from, many of which are either free or at the very least really affordable.

Aside from investing in a reliable anti-virus programme, you can also get assistance from an IT company.

When working with such a company, not only will they set you up with the latest IT security technology, but given their expertise, they should be able to analyse your unique cybersecurity needs and then come up with a complete plan to keep you protected.

But your most important frontline defence is going to be an anti-virus programme and in 2023, these are some of the best for small businesses.

Avast Small Business Solutions

Avast is a name that is quite popular in the industry, because it is so reliable and because it is a good choice for small businesses. Currently, Avast is the second biggest market shareholder when it comes to malware programmes, and it is adaptable enough to be more than suitable for smaller companies looking for an affordable solution to their cybersecurity problems.

Suitable for all kinds of PCs, Laptops and Servers, and really easy to install and to use, Avast just about always gets a high score in user reviews.

AVG Business

AVG (which is a subsidiary of Avast) is another excellent anti-virus programme. This software neatly stops malware attacks and it does an excellent job at protecting privacy. What’s also great about this anti-virus programme is that it doesn’t slow down other systems as it does its work. AVG secures networks using AI and real-time analytics, and stops new threats in their tracks.

AVG scores highly on both user and industry ratings and it also has remote management options, making it perfect for small on the go businesses.

Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security

Bitdefender is used globally and is to currently protecting over 500 million systems. With its GravityZone Business Security option, Bitdefender has gone to the next level for small businesses by offering cybersecurity admins a Cloud-based interface from which they can manage their servers, track potential cyber issues and it gives them their own workstation.

This anti-virus programme is updated using machine learning as well as advanced AI. Along with its modern features and ease of use, Bitdefender also enjoys a high score among users.

Norton Small Business

Norton is another global anti-virus programme worth considering if you are a small business owner. The brand offers a variety of security product packages, most of which are focused on device and identity security, privacy, and various sought-after consumer solutions. One Norton license is designed to protect up to 20 devices at a time and with Cloud-based setup and device management, users can quickly and easily install and use the software. The software also has a remote access option, ideal for small business owners.

The software is easily expandable, which allows businesses to add more devices as needed. Norton also scores favourable review among users.

ESET Endpoint Security

Known for being effective and lightweight, this sophisticated cybersecurity programme is perfect for companies of all sizes and with its Cloud-based solutions it provides users with a multi-layered approach to online defence. ESET Endpoint Security can be used on various devices including mobile phones, and it consistently monitors and evaluates the systems it protects as it searches for malicious attacks.

ESET Endpoint Security is known for its outstanding detection rate and with the options of browser security, endpoint management, and automatic updates, this programme effortlessly earns its exceptional reviews.

* Need a cybersecurity plan? Or maybe you just need help with its execution? At 24/7 IT Services, our team of cybersecurity professionals can provide you with a customised security plan and they can suggest the best anti-virus software for your small business. Contact us today for more information.

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In the past, most security threats were completely focused on office spaces, but now with so many people working from home, and often working on unsecured IP addresses, security issues are being increasingly reported among staff who work away from the office.

Cybersecurity is a serious risk that many businesses, especially smaller businesses, don’t give enough thought to.

In fact, according to research done by BullGuard, a popular antivirus programme company, up to 60% of small businesses don’t even think that they could be a target. But when you look at the global cyber-attack stats, small businesses are 3 times more likely to be a victim to cyber-attacks, with phishing attacks being the most common threats to small companies.

Year on year, cyber-attack crimes are increasing and as such, if you are running a small business, and especially if you have a hybrid workforce, you need to invest some time, effort and money into your cyber security set up.

Current Cybersecurity Threats

The threats to online business security are developing at a rapid rate, so fast that many anti-virus companies often have a tough time keeping up.

Threats like AI being used to create hacking software that will allow even the most novice of hacker to attack company data, Cloud vulnerability affecting the safety of data being stored on online servers, and increasingly sophisticated ransomware, are all things that you should keep in mind when planning or updating your cybersecurity setup.

Internal risks are also a big issue to take into consideration, with human error alone being responsible for some 34% of cyber-attacks, according to Verizon.

3 Easy Ways to Improve your Small Business Cybersecurity 

Breaches in online security can be absolutely devastating. Since most businesses store data of some kind or another online, a breach can end up costing a small fortune.

All of the trouble and stress that you will end up going through when your business has been breached can really be for nothing, if you just invested more in your cybersecurity.

To help you improve your current setup, here’s what you can do.

• Reach out to IT companies

When small companies are uninformed and unconcerned, they tend to not look into their cybersecurity options. And yet if they just reached out to a reputable IT company, they could get all of the information they could possibly need as well as a list of suitable cybersecurity products that will keep them protected from even the worst of threats. If you have nothing to protect you, contacting an IT company should be your first step.

• Know what you are up against

There is a wide variety of cybersecurity issues that you should make yourself aware of, but the most concerning issue for small businesses is phishing. This tactic is used to trick companies into giving away vital information, such as login details. As a small business owner you not only need to know the signs of the various popular cyber-attacks, but you should also invest in a programme that can stop them in their tracks.  

• Train your Employees and do Threat Audits

Having your employees know the signs of cyber-attacks and by running threat audits every month or so, is a great way to bring everyone, even your work from home staff, on board with your mission to protect your company’s data. You should also review passwords regularly, so that your employees are consistently reminded that they should be updating their passwords to make them as strong as possible.

All of your shared business accounts should also feature a multifactor authentication, especially if you have some out of office employees.

* Need to improve your cybersecurity? Or are you looking to have someone go over your current security setup? At 24/7 IT Services, we can help you make your business more secure. Contact us today for more information, and be sure to have a look at our other services which include Business Continuity, Managed IT Services and VoIP Solutions.

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