Technology can help small and medium-sized businesses in creating a workforce that is more innovative, productive, and efficient when used wisely. Because of this, organizations that prioritize technology are three times more likely to exceed their goals. Your company might not be able to operate at its full capacity if it lacks the required technology in a business world that is evolving at a fast pace.
You can see the tell-tale signals that your cannabis business needs an upgrade with the help of regular IT audits.
What is an IT Audit?
An IT audit is a comprehensive examination and review of a company’s IT infrastructure, policies, and practices.
What is an IT Refresh?
A technology refresh is a process of regularly updating technology components by assessing their compatibility with other infrastructure elements and obsolescence, rather than waiting until the out-of-date component becomes the biggest barrier to realizing your company’s goal.
It is essential to refresh technology since it is expensive to maintain legacy infrastructure components. It puts your systems at risk from hackers, lowers output in general, and might even drive your most valued staff away because they’re fed up with using outdated equipment that makes it hard for them to accomplish their jobs. Additionally, day-to-day operations may suffer as the expenses of maintaining old IT components and the risks of failure keep increasing.
What are the Signs that Your Cannabis Business Tech Needs a Refresh?
If you’ve experienced a data breach, the first thing you should do is assess the damage and try to figure out what went wrong. It’s possible that the problem is due to the use of out-of-date and unsupported systems. The manufacturer will no longer provide essential security upgrades for outdated technology. Do yourself a favor and replace any hardware or software that is nearing the end of its support lifecycle as soon as you can. Here is a look at the other signs that you need an IT refresh:
Aging Hardware
It can be challenging for businesses to determine whether it might be time to invest in new IT hardware. After all, there is no reason to spend money on something that is still functional. However, there comes a time when managing IT systems becomes challenging and could have a negative impact on your company’s efficiency.
For a number of reasons, outdated hardware and software often perform significantly worse than contemporary versions. The accumulation of years’ worth of software installs and uninstalls can cause aging hardware to bloat. This may cause machines to perform at very low levels.
While some slowness can be tolerated in older computers, over time the lag will increase and you and your staff will become frustrated. We all know how frustrating it is when you are trying to apply formulas to your sales data and the window freezes. Or perhaps you have to restart your system multiple times leading to a lot of downtimes. If this is a common occurrence it is a clear sign that your tech needs a refresh.
Switched to Different Software
Software companies are constantly coming up with great new features. The latest and most recent features frequently fail to work on your older equipment.
You may have to upgrade outdated software multiple times to get to the latest supported version. New hardware without updated software may just stop working. Because of their complexity, such changes frequently result in eventual failures that are challenging to anticipate.
Frequent Outages
Often system shutdowns to install important updates. But if the shutdowns happen frequently and without warning, something is wrong and it needs to be fixed. Random shutdowns can be caused by a number of things, including a faulty power supply, spyware, or corrupted files, but they can also be an indication that the system needs to be updated or refreshed.
Slow Performance
A lot of a company’s precious time is lost due to slow systems. A number of factors, such as a virus, a botched integration, or a lack of updates, could be the reason for the tardiness. If notice these symptoms, it is time to refresh your IT as soon as possible to get back to optimal performance levels.
How Can Cure8 Help
Roadblocks in technology can be frustrating, and trying to get over them on your own can be overwhelming. With an expert adviser like us, you can begin your journey towards a technology refresh with ease. You can breathe easy knowing that everything is being handled by specialists and you can focus on growing your business. Contact us now for a free consultation.