Top 10 IT Support issues faced by small businesses (and how to solve them)

1. No backups

Imagine a scenario: after a long weekend, you start your work day and realise all your data is gone. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it?

Regardless of your industry, there’s always a risk of losing your data, which is not only inconvenient but can also cost you thousands and thousands of pounds.

So how can you avoid this problem? By having a well-thought-out backup strategy or plan in place. Even as a small business, it’s critical to do frequent backups or set up a system that does this automatically.

2. Difficulties with infrastructure management

For your small business to operate successfully and effectively, having the right hardware and software is not enough. What’s as important is ensuring all your IT elements work together seamlessly.

If they do, you’ll have reduced downtimes, and your team will be able to work more productively.

So, how can you ensure your IT infrastructure is well-managed and doesn’t give you a headache? The easiest solution is to take advantage of Managed IT Services.

This means your employees won’t have to worry about day-to-day IT management, and you can focus on your main responsibilities.

3. Staying up to date with the latest tech

To stay competitive in your market, it’s important to keep abreast of new advancements. But when you have limited time and resources, this can become quite the challenge.

One way to keep up with the latest trends and technologies is to join tech forums and online communities. Consider subscribing to their newsletters, which will give you access to insights and advice straight from your mailbox.

4. Poor network security

Did you know that network security is one of the key factors for keeping your company and data safe? That’s why you should prioritise it no matter whether you have 3 employees or 10.

In fact, many cybercriminals target small businesses because they know they might not have the best security policy in place.

To avoid potential problems, make sure all of your team members know basic IT Security principles. Likewise, check whether your business’s firewall works well and your passwords are safe.

5. Hardware or software challenges

There’s nothing more annoying than getting error messages right in the midst of an important project. Unfortunately, software and IT technologies can break, and when they do, simply rebooting your devices won’t do the trick. Unless you have the tools to fix the issue, you might be facing significant loss.

One way to avoid problems like these is to pay attention to the life cycle of all your IT devices. If you don’t have the time to do this, you can always outsource this task to other IT professionals.

6. Poor network speed

When you’re trying to get things done, there’s nothing worse than a slow internet connection. But, unlike what many think, network speed is actually something you can affect. If you notice your internet is slowing down, it could be that:

• Someone in your team is downloading something that’s using up most of the bandwidth
• The website is suffering from speed issues
• There are too many people on the network at once

7. Outdated equipment

Relying on outdated IT equipment is the root of many problems. As a small business owner, you might be operating under tight budget constraints, which makes it challenging to update your software and hardware frequently.

However, failing to replace outdated components in your IT infrastructure can make your company more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

So, what’s the solution? Remember to update your systems regularly and develop a strategic plan for incorporating new equipment within your budget constraints.

8. Loss of passwords

According to a report by NordPass, the average person has around 87 passwords. Considering this, it doesn’t come as a surprise that forgetting passwords is a common occurrence in many workplaces.

While this may seem like a minor problem, it can actually cause several issues and disrupt your team’s productivity. So what can you do? Nowadays, there are many software solutions available, like Dashlane, Zoho Vault, and LastPass, that can keep your passwords in a cloud-based vault.

9. Software incompatibility

As we previously mentioned, it’s critical to update your software regularly. But sometimes, small business owners may fail to integrate it smoothly within their existing systems, which can cause disruptions and even security vulnerabilities.

To prevent this, it’s critical to thoroughly test new software to identify potential conflicts and minimise compatibility issues.

10. Stress

As a small business owner, you most likely already have a hundred different things on your mind. In all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to put IT maintenance at the end of your priorities. But that, consequently, can lead to overwhelming problems in the future.

To ease some of that stress and pressure, consider getting professional IT support. This will ensure all your data is safe, organised, and accessible whenever needed.