What is Information Technology?
Information technology is a broad term that covers the organisation, management and processing of electronic information. It includes data management, infrastructure and network services, server management, cloud services, apps, software and hardware.
What is managed IT services?
Managed IT services is a service managed and delivered by a third party like IT service companies and experts. It is similar to outsourcing. Examples of popular managed IT services are managed desktop services, infrastructure services, server and data management, cloud services and IT support.
What is data management?
Data management is the storage, organisation and processing of digital data in your business such as customer information, inventory, sales and employee data. You can outsource data management to a cloud services provider instead of managing your own database and servers.
Why is information technology important for business survival?
Information technology allows for real-time automated processing of business processes and tasks, reducing human error and increasing productivity. Good IT systems also lets you communicate effectively and solve issues quickly. Furthermore, IT advancement like virtual reality, cloud services and mobile apps make your customers’ lives easier and better.
What is the most common small business IT setup?
The most common small business IT setup consists primarily of a network of computers, mobile devices and servers. In recent years, cloud computing and cloud services have become very popular, with many businesses forgoing the use of an internal server and storing all of their data on the cloud.
Data management and storage services like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive allow for easy access to the shared data in the business. Coupled with online software like Google Docs, Gmail and Outlook, it is possible to run a business entirely through the cloud.
The downside of this practice is that if the cloud is compromised and you don’t have a recent backup, you may lose valuable data. It also requires your business to have an internet connection in order to function. On the other hand, many businesses choose this approach to allow their staff to be location independent and contribute to the business from anywhere in the world.