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Managing Technology in Troubling Times

Submitted by: Raphael Rosati on Oct 01, 2008 at 9:05 pm Tagged with: Atlanta, Columbia, Disaster Recovery, economy, Greenville, Information Technology, IT Services, IT Solutions, Networking, storage Source: Diversified Computer Solutions

Given recent news about the faltering economy, whether it’s the roller coaster ride on Wall Street or the proposed Government bailout, businesses of all sizes are feeling the jitters that come with an unstable economy. But managers understand the importance of keeping the business running and operating smoothly, no matter what external forces are pressuring decision making.

Managing technology infrastructure can be daunting enough when business is going well, but when times get tougher, companies often look to cut costs and technology is sometimes the victim. Managers and executives should be cautious about simply cutting technology management and operational costs without closely examining the implications of doing so.

Businesses of all sizes rely on technology for a majority of their communication needs, business functions and operations. When systems go down, it costs the company money in lost productivity, lost customer orders, and lost time. This is why it’s critical for companies to have ongoing monitoring of their information technology systems and disaster recovery plans so that they aren’t crippled by downtime or loss of data which can sometimes lead to a business failure.

Smart companies are viewing these times as an opportunity to re-examine their processes, find ways to streamline functions and economize resources. Some businesses now are implementing new services to supplement their existing IT department to help prevent system downtime or hardware failure. If they are a small company without dedicated technology staff, they partner with a vendor to supply expertise and service on an ongoing basis, not simply as-needed, because response time is crucial.

Technology is not an area to skimp on, especially in a soft economy when one simple loss of data can spell disaster for a company. Don’t let your company be caught unprepared, because chances are your competition is already putting a plan in place to help protect them.

Raphael Rosati is a Business Technology Consultant with Diversified Computer Solutions, with offices in Greenville, Columbia and Atlanta. He can be reached at: 803-744-3074 or at: rrosati@goDCS.com