How to Update Your Business Technology With a Digital Cleaning
Technology moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss crucial updates. Unfortunately, many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can’t afford the luxury of diverting attention from daily operations to make IT improvements. Even-more-unfortunately, keeping the status quo is extremely dangerous in the IT world. To avoid cybersecurity vulnerabilities and productivity shortfalls, the solution lies in updating your business technology by performing a digital cleaning.
Developers constantly release patches to fix vulnerabilities, which means that cybercrimes occur more frequently to those who are not updating and cleaning their systems.
Sound scary? It is.
Digital Cleaning – Systematically checking for and resolving issues related to outdated software, software, and firmware.
By running a digital cleanup, you’re taking care of maintenance you may have been putting off and helping your IT infrastructure become more secure and protected.
The 3 Steps of Digital Cleaning: Assess, Discover, Implement
Unless you’ve performed a digital cleanup within the last 6 to 12 months, you’re most likely operating on at least one outdated solution. This not only puts your business behind competitors, but it also brings the very real risk of cyberattacks. When performing your digital clean up, follow these three steps:
Step 1: Assess — Where Are You Now vs. Where Are You Going?
Take a hard look at your current technology and identify any areas that need improvement. Be sure to ask yourself:
- Are you optimizing your technology effectively?
- What technology isn’t working for you anymore?
- What do you need from an infrastructural standpoint to achieve your goals?
Step 2: Discover — What Needs Cleaning Up?
This is where you get into the nitty-gritty of your digital cleanup.
- Software and Hardware: Update all software, operating systems, and firmware on all devices. Remove or replace any outdated or malfunctioning hardware.
- Data Management: Organize and back up important data. Delete unnecessary files and applications. Declutter your email inbox.
- Security: Strengthen passwords and enable multi-factor authentication. Review and update privacy settings on all devices and platforms.
Step 3: Implement — Take Action and Maintain
Now it’s time to put your findings into action. This may involve:
- Updating software and hardware
- Reorganizing files and data
- Implementing new security measures
- Training employees on best practices
Don’t forget that digital cleaning is not a one-time event. Schedule regular cleanups to ensure your technology remains optimized and secure.
The Dangers of Using Outdated Technology
A recent study from Accenture found that almost half of all cyberattacks target small businesses. While this is shocking in its own right, it gets worse—only 14% of small businesses have the resources to protect themselves from the attack.
The cost of cybercrime globally goes into the billions, and SMBs have had to pay their share. If you think you’re too small to worry about a cyberattack, think again — a 2021 study from Hiscox revealed the average cost of a cyberattack for a small business was $25,612.
A data breach won’t just cost you money. It will also erode your reputation and cause your clients to lose trust in you. A study by Centrify found that 65% of victims of data breaches lost trust in an organization because of a data breach.
Periodically performing a digital clean up helps you asses your technology, discover vulnerabilities, and implement solutions before disaster strikes.
Don’t Become Obsolete
Contact Aspire Technology Solutions to see how a digital cleaning can bring your business up to speed.
Tidy Up Your Tech with Aspire Technology Solutions
A digital cleaning will help set you and your business up for success, but SMBs rarely have free time to dedicate toward IT improvements. Instead of putting off the task, consider partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) in Denver who can shoulder the burden of maintaining your IT infrastructure. You won’t believe the peace of mind that comes with updating and cleaning your tech.
Aspire Technology Solutions in Denver offers several helpful services to help you tidy up your tech. From strategy & budgeting to cybersecurity, infrastructure support, and more, we are here to help you with all of your business technology needs.
Don’t fall behind—schedule a consultation today to ensure your business is up-to-date. Contact us now to learn about our latest digital cleaning and technology optimization services.
