The holidays are right around the corner, and while that might be good news for everyone who wants to enjoy some time off with family and friends, it can be lots of challenges for your IT department. That’s because your hardware and software doesn’t know you’re due for some relaxation, and it’s not uncommon for outages and other issues to pop up this time of year.
With that in mind, ask yourself: how sure are you, really, that your IT department is ready for the holidays? If you aren’t confident in your answer, here are a few things to consider…
Bad Weather Can Mean Tech Problems
We tend to forget, in our modern digital world, that factors like weather can affect business performance. However, heavy rains, wind, and other inclement conditions can cause disruptions to your technology. That’s because they can lead to power outages and surges, and unreliable networks.
None of these is a major concern if you’re prepared for them ahead of time. However, without the right backup systems in place, you could lose files, financial transactions, and even entire systems in the blink of an eye.
Having Employees and Customers at Home Makes Things Harder
It used to be that the holidays were a time when businesses were truly closed. Now, most of us at least check emails in between parties and family dinners, and a lot of us might put in significant hours from our homes, relatives’ houses, or vacation destinations.
From an IT perspective, that can mean dealing with new devices, handling requests for missing passwords, and other relatively minor inconveniences that can affect productivity in a big way. If you anticipate having lots of your team on the go in the coming weeks, it’s a good idea to ensure your technology team is prepared.
The Holidays are a Bad Time to be Understaffed
It’s important to remember that actual humans work in your IT department, as well. There’s a good chance some of them will want to see their own families during this time, or maybe even leave on extended vacations.
In addition to the issues we’ve already mentioned, some businesses actually see an increase in website traffic or buyer activity towards the end of the year. Put it all together, and you have a bad time for your key tech employees to be missing. If you don’t have an outside team you can call for help when it matters most, you’re setting yourself up for trouble.
It Might be Time to Plan Future Upgrades and Investments
There are a lot of businesses that use December 31 as the end of their financial year, and numerous specials, discounts, and promotions that pop up during the holiday season.
That means you might be persuaded to make some purchases or upgrades for your company in the coming weeks.
As we’ve noted in the past, it’s a good idea to have a team of IT experts on your side – even if it’s just a few hours of consulting – before you make these decisions. Otherwise, your investments could turn out to be wasted, or cause future headaches for your IT department.
Have You Made the Right Preparations?
The holidays might be coming faster than you think, but affordable expert technology help is faster and friendlier than you realize, too. The Fantastic IT team can pitch in with remote monitoring, around-the-clock coverage, and planning or consulting services as needed.
Contact our team today to get a customized quote and see how easy it is to get the IT expertise you need now!