Today’s Technology Trends for SMBs

Most companies lean pretty heavily on their technology. They typically invest in tried-and-true technology solutions to cover their operational problems, while trying to find innovative tools that return higher yields on their investments. For 2020, there are a few trends most SMBs are going to want to take head on. They include:

Automation

The increased reliance on automation systems is a direct result of business’ careful cost considerations. Spending a little more than normal on technology can come in handy when looking to reduce spending. Technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence offer solutions for companies looking to automate small, repetitive, yet important tasks. This push to innovate known as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) allows businesses to reduce the number of human interactions in several key business tasks. 

There has been some trepidation by business professionals to invest in artificially intelligent solutions. Especially as the algorithms hadn’t been hashed out and the fact that AI will cost people jobs. Today, however AI is being integrated into software solutions deliberately to cut those HR costs. As a direct result, RPA-fueled technology is growing rapidly. 

Of course, beyond the more complex idea of AI, businesses can often use existing software to reduce gaps in communication, streamline processes, and trim loose ends.

Internet of Things

Today, smart devices and appliances are everywhere. Businesses looking to take advantage of the IoT invest in smart devices designed for security, measuring utilities, supply chain management, and other business-specific functions.

Many businesses are integrating devices like this to better control costs by tracking more elements of their business. By finding solutions to manage and track costs, businesses are able to ensure that every process, every relationship, and every interaction performs in the manner that works for the sustainability of their business.

Cloud Services

Amazingly enough, cloud services are still emerging. While a majority of SMBs have begun to use the cloud for email and file sharing, there are an endless amount of resources found in the cloud. Services such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Security as a Service (SEaaS), and AI as a Service (AIaaS) are being used more and more; and, are more reliable than ever. 

Additionally, there are many new and emerging services being offered for businesses. Some of the largest cloud vendors have specific services they offer that can present a business with any type of computing resource that they could ever need. This enhanced availability gives SMBs the litany of options that can solve any number of operational problems. 

Cybersecurity

Since businesses have been taken down by data breaches pretty regularly for some time, every business, regardless of their computing resources or budget, should have some type of cybersecurity strategy in place. While some organizations simply don’t have the financial resources needed to implement enterprise-grade security solutions, reality makes the whole “we can’t afford it” position problematic. In 2019, 66 percent of SMBs were victims of a cyberattack, meaning that if you were lucky enough to get through 2019 without being attacked, 2020 won’t be so kind, statistically. 

There are several ways they can do this. They include:

• Staff training - The better equipped your staff is to deal with situations such as phishing, the more apt your organization is to avoid being the victim of a cyberattack. Since today’s modern IT systems feature nearly unbreakable encryption, the only way in is through deception. Training your staff to thwart deceptive efforts by hackers can go a long way toward protecting your network.
• Threat intelligence - Knowing how hackers are coming at your organization is a huge advantage. Threat intelligence is the act of understanding the most exploited vulnerabilities that organizations like yours face, and thus help you be ready for whatever comes your way. 
• Multi-Layering - The only way for a smaller organization to keep threats, vulnerabilities, and exploits from becoming serious problems is to have a comprehensive strategy in place to reduce risk. This means having a security strategy in place that features redundant file backup, an active DNS protection strategy, and the use of AI and machine learning to fill in the gaps left by human efforts.

Mobility

Mobility has been a major issue for businesses for the past decade or so. Today, with more businesses relying on remote workers; and, with more of their staff taking their own mobility seriously, it is important for the modern business to prioritize solutions that are designed to take the risk out of mobility. A comprehensive Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy can provide your business the ability to extend the borders of your business and deliver access to work-related resources.

SCW is happy to talk to any Washington business about the strengths and weaknesses of their organizational technology deployments and how they can improve on them to build a more efficient and profitable business. Call us today at (509) 534-1530 to learn more.