Ferrum Technology Services Blog

Certain businesses have taken a much closer interest in cybersecurity… those businesses being business insurance providers. Many will now only provide coverage if your business maintains certain cybersecurity standards. One key tool they want to see is multi-factor authentication, or MFA.

Undoubtedly, AI is becoming a big part of daily life. One can hardly turn on the news without hearing about the latest applications it has, from home convenience to business optimization… including today’s small businesses.

Let’s take a few moments to consider how artificial intelligence can serve your own business well.

There are many ways to increase your team's productivity, but one of the less obvious ones is to consider an alternative work week. Specifically, the idea in question is the four-day workweek, which advocates argue could potentially increase productivity by virtue of working less.

Technology is crucial to the success of modern-day business operations, so you must ensure efforts are made to keep your IT in proper working order. A managed service provider, or MSP, can make this a much easier task. Today, we want to discuss some of the common IT challenges businesses encounter and how we can address them.

Human resources is a critical part of your business, but since it doesn’t generate any actual revenue, there has been a push to cut back on HR spending. In response, many businesses have started using HR automation technology to handle the myriad tasks HR is typically responsible for. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits HR automation can bring to your business. 

Automation has been a hot-button issue in business for a while. Lots of businesses are looking to automate several different areas of their operations. In this month’s newsletter, we will go through some of the more common and valuable automation tools that small businesses can take advantage of. 

Budgeting for anything can present challenges, especially when businesses heavily rely on information systems. Securing funds for IT initiatives can be particularly daunting in such organizational landscapes. Despite these hurdles, however, the IT sector continues to build steam, with year-over-year business IT spending reaching its highest levels ever. Let’s go into how your IT budget is pivotal in advancing your organizational technology endeavors.

How often do you struggle to talk about potential issues your business faces when you reach out to IT for help? Conversing with technicians can be especially challenging when you don’t necessarily understand the problem yourself, either. Thankfully, we have some tips to help you lead more productive conversations with your IT staff or managed service provider.

If there’s one part of any organization’s operational expenses that concerns many business owners, it’s IT expenses. In fact, some companies have so little control over their IT expenses that they practically hemorrhage money, leading to limited capacity for growth and investment in other parts of the organization that desperately need the help. How can you fix your IT spending and improve your organization as a whole?

It all starts with a network audit and some intelligent future planning. Let’s review some of the most important work you can do to help your business better budget for IT expenses.

In today’s business, teamwork is absolutely necessary to make good things happen. One of the best ways to do this is through collaboration. However, putting together a strategy that can get projects out the door quicker or fulfill services more effectively is not always easy. Today, we’ll take a look at modern collaboration and how technology plays a major role. 

Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to use by industry leaders. Small businesses increasingly recognize AI's transformative potential to boost efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovative strategies. Let’s explore three of the most popular ways small businesses use AI to improve their operations.

Protecting personal data has become a critical concern as more and more people use Internet-connected accounts. While this tech has undoubtedly enriched our lives, it has also paved the way for unprecedented invasions of privacy, particularly by enormous technology companies that claim to be doing it for their own good. Today, we will explore how these giants compromise data privacy, raising questions about the balance between innovation and safeguarding our most sensitive information.

Technology is one of the most important elements to consider when growing your business, and while it might seem like it can magically solve all of your operational problems, it takes a lot more than a simple implementation to address your company’s pain points. In fact, failing to integrate technology properly can lead to even more problems.

Managing a business poses considerable challenges, with a myriad of tasks demanding attention daily just to sustain the status quo. If you want to have a workforce that is not just present but genuinely invested in the enterprise, you will need to actively do more than just go through the motions. The question then becomes: How can one cultivate such dedication? This month, we will take a look at that very question.

In response to today’s threat landscape, safeguarding technology and data has become a pivotal concern for everyone; and every business. Ensuring the protection of essential assets and customer data within your infrastructure demands a strategic approach. Collaborating with a proficient managed service provider (MSP) is the key to prioritizing security effectively. Here are some critical services they can provide.

There’s no getting around the fact that technology is critical for business operations, but with technology come various challenges that need to be addressed. If you’re not careful, issues with your IT can distract you from other technology problems that could develop even further if left unchecked. Let’s look at five of the most common technology issues that modern businesses face.

With many compliance and regulation laws existing in today’s business world, it’s no small wonder that ethical dilemmas surrounding business technology are more common than you might expect. Let’s go over five of the more controversial uses of technology so you can avoid facing them during the course of your operations.

Businesses are increasingly reliant on technology, and effectively managing IT support costs has become crucial. With approximately three to six percent of a company's revenue allocated to technology expenses, exceeding the monthly budget can have adverse repercussions on the ability to allocate funds elsewhere.

Downtime in a business context can be considered a "business predator" because it can have detrimental effects on a company's operations, profitability, and overall success. Downtime refers to the period during which a business' critical systems, processes, or equipment are not functioning as intended. Here are some reasons why downtime is often seen as a threat to businesses.

Financial Impact

Downtime can result in significant financial losses. When key revenue-generating systems or production processes are unavailable, businesses may lose sales, incur extra expenses, or face penalties for failing to meet contractual obligations. Downtime can also prevent a business from pursuing new opportunities or responding to market changes. In a rapidly evolving market, missing out on opportunities can have long-term consequences, and can be the difference between business growth and stagnation.

Operational Impact

Downtime leads to decreased productivity as employees cannot perform their tasks efficiently. This results in wasted time, missed deadlines, and a drop in overall output. In cases where downtime is due to data loss or system failures, it can result in the loss of critical information, which can be difficult or impossible to recover. This can have severe consequences for businesses, especially when it comes to sensitive or irreplaceable data. Frequent downtime can demoralize employees who must deal with the frustration and stress of interrupted work. Low morale can lead to higher turnover rates and decreased employee engagement.

Customer Impact

Prolonged or frequent downtime can do significant damage to a company's reputation. Customers and partners may perceive the business as unreliable, which can be challenging to overcome. Also, these unfortunate companies may find it challenging to compete effectively in markets with companies that show better reliability.

If you struggle with downtime, you can do better. If you don’t, you need to ensure that continues. The IT professionals at Ferrum Technology Services can help. We can introduce you to technologies and strategies that are designed specifically to reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency. Get a professional perspective by calling (847) 697-3282 today.

Organizing your business for better efficiency is crucial for maximizing productivity, reducing costs, and achieving your goals. Here are some best practices to help you organize your business effectively.