Always make sure you review your infrastructure from time to time, especially when there’s a change to your business
Getting your startup off the ground is a process that’s both exciting and terrifying. As we now live in a tech-driven society, there’s much to consider when it comes to your tech infrastructure. Although all businesses have their unique needs, following these essential steps can give you a headstart.
Choose your hardware carefully
Always start with your hardware and make sure you think further ahead than simply choosing between Apple and Windows. Your business is likely to need a good server, and if you’re not sure what size you need, it’s time to start talking to the professionals.
If you’re planning on using computer workstations and smartphones for each of your staff members, make sure you choose a number that matches that of the team you’re planning to hire.
Alternatively, you could focus on buying a small number and then implement a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. In addition to keeping your costs low, BYOD helps you scale your business with a flexibility that avoids wasting money.
Should using a BYOD policy appeal to you, decide who’s going to take control of your employees’ data usage and consider SIM Only Plans with unlimited data to avoid additional costs.
Consider various mobile platforms
One of the most significant advantages of creating a startup in the modern world is that remote working is now the norm. Your employees can tweak projects while they’re on the move, stay in touch while they’re away at conferences, and they can work from home if you need them to.
If you’re going to take a flexible approach to the way your employees work, you need to consider the mobile platforms available. Are you going to make sure they all have the same type of smartphone?
Or perhaps there’s a tablet you prefer? Whatever the answer is, start considering whether you want to use 4G or if you’d like to turn to 5G. As many smartphone manufacturers are focusing on support for 5G, choosing the latter means you’re ready for whatever the future throws at you.
Focus on cloud storage options
Using cloud storage is an absolute must for most businesses. Hardware failures do happen, and when they’re so severe that you can no longer recover the content, you risk losing a lot of business.
One way to safeguard yourself against hardware failures is to use cloud storage. Adding essential business data to the cloud means you can access it during adverse weather events too. With easy access, you don’t need to worry about your startup losing out on money or clients, as all the information you need is ready for you to access.
Using cloud storage also makes it easier for your team to work together when they’re not in the same location. But as you may have guessed, the cloud comes with security risks.
As a result, you need to decide which type of staff will enjoy various types of access and create a cybersecurity defence plan. Make sure you set a date for reviewing your defence plan too, as it will need to evolve alongside your business.
Outline how you’ll communicate
Excellent communication is the cornerstone of any business. In addition to knowing who they should report to, your employees need to know how to do so. If you’re dealing with confidential information, they may also need to know where they can talk about some issues. Doing this is essential for remaining legally compliant too.
Take a look at all your options. This could include encrypted emails for anything sensitive, Whatsapp groups for certain projects, and apps such as Slack for collaborative work.
If you’re going to rely on conference calls, decide what type of software you’ll use.
When choosing between different software packages, look at where they’re usable. Always make sure you think outside of PCs and laptops, as your employees and clients may be expecting to use their phones too.
Also Read: Underdeveloped payment infrastructure holding e-commerce in Indonesia&
If you’re using a service provider, ask them when their customer service centres are open. Additionally, ask what their response times are. It’s essential that you pick an organisation that’s readily available when you need its assistance. Otherwise, you may find that you’re left without your usual mode of communication, which then results in business downtime.
Decide who can access what
During the earlier phases of establishing your startup, you may not need to create an information access plan. As time goes on and roles in your business become more defined, it’s necessary to decide who can access what.
A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself whether a particular type of employee needs to be able to access confidential information in order to do their job well. Additionally, you could ask whether they can use that information to their advantage in the workplace. If the answer to either of those questions is ‘no’, you need to find a company that can help you restrict access.
Restricting access to information isn’t about creating a hierarchy. It is about reducing the likelihood of data breaches and helping you comply with your state’s legislation. Over time, it’s also an assurance for your clients who may look at confidentiality as a way of choosing between you and a competitor.
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Image Credit: Samuel Zeller
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