Complete Network & Cloud Solutions
Optimizing Your Business Technology: Best Practices for Network and Cloud Solutions
As an experienced IT services provider, we’ve worked with businesses of all sizes to help them leverage technology to drive growth and increase efficiency. One area that is consistently a top priority is working with companies to create a more reliable, secure, and scalable infrastructure, whether on-premise or cloud-based.
Here are our top recommendations for getting the most out of your business technology investments:
Segment Personal/Public and Professional
Ask any security expert or regulatory entity, and they will tell you the segmentation of personal and professional assets (and networks) is vital for security and reliability of your business, data, and infrastructure. If segmentation does not exist, it only takes one security incident to jeopardize a business’s entire infrastructure and/or data. Providing staff with company owned assets brings many advantages. This approach can provide opportunities for enhanced security controls, increases accountability, and far outweighs financial concerns that may prevent such a consideration from taking place.
Adopt a Hybrid Cloud Approach
The days of businesses relying solely on on-premise servers and software may indeed be in the past. Cloud computing has revolutionized how companies store, access, and manage their data and applications. However, a 100% cloud-based model isn’t ideal for every organization. A hybrid approach, which combines on-premise infrastructure with public and private cloud services, often provides a better balance of control, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. This allows you to keep mission-critical or highly sensitive workloads on-site while leveraging the scalability and accessibility of the cloud for other areas of your business.
Prioritize Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity should be a top concern for any business, regardless of size or industry. Malicious attacks, data breaches, and system outages can be devastating, leading to financial losses, regulatory fines, and irreparable reputational damage. Have strong security measures in place, such as firewalls, antivirus software, managed detection and response (MDR), encryption, multi-factor authentication, and a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery plan. Additionally, consider providing ongoing cybersecurity training for your employees to help them identify and avoid falling victim to potential threats.
Optimize Network Performance
A high-performing, reliable network is essential for productivity, collaboration, and accessing cloud-based tools and services. Regular evaluation of your network infrastructure to identify potential bottlenecks or weak points is key. Consider upgrading to faster internet speeds (fiber where available), implementing SD-WAN technology for enhanced connectivity, and using quality of service (QoS) controls to prioritize mission-critical traffic. Monitoring network usage and troubleshooting issues quickly can also optimize performance.
Leverage Automation and Orchestration
Automating routine IT tasks and orchestrating complex workflows can dramatically improve efficiency and reduce the risk of human error. Explore solutions like infrastructure as code, configuration management tools, and workflow automation platforms to streamline processes such as software deployment, system provisioning, and incident response. This frees your IT team to focus on strategic initiatives that drive business value.
Partner with a Trusted IT Provider
Managing a modern network and cloud infrastructure can be highly complex, especially for resource-constrained small-to-medium businesses. Consider partnering with a reputable MSP provider that can offer the expertise, resources, and 24/7 support your organization needs.
A quality managed services partner can help you navigate technology decisions, implement best practices, and achieve your goals – all while allowing you to focus on your core business.