With technology reshaping the way people do business, it’s easy to get caught up in overly complex systems that your employees dread managing. Simplify IT infrastructure of your company that can boost employee productivity by streamlining their workflow.
When businesses fail to simplify their infrastructures, employees can spend valuable time wrestling with overly complicated processes. Complex infrastructures are more challenging to secure and backup, which can cause slowdowns and interruptions. That means that it may not be more effective than a more straightforward approach, even for all the trouble of maintaining it.
If you’re looking for ways to ease up on cyber overload, here are nine solutions to simplify IT infrastructure of your company or workplace.
Simplify IT Infrastructure: Signs that your IT infrastructure is too complex
If you’re reading this article, you’re likely already feeling the fatigue of an overly complicated system of applications, servers, wires, and interfaces. Nevertheless, if you’re sitting on the fence between fixing and leaving alone, here are some quick signs that your IT infrastructure is biting off more than it can chew.
Your employees are finding their own solutions
Mondays are hard for everyone who works a 9-to-5 beat, but the Monday blues can turn into outright dread if your employees have to fight their computers every day. Not only does a network-induced cage match speed up employee burnout, but it also encourages employees to find easier ways to manage their workload. If you’re dumping tens of thousands into your IT infrastructure, but your employees are using their own apps and devices, that’s a good sign that your IT systems are failing the test on user-friendliness.
Significant increases in downtime
It’s one thing if your employees don’t want to use their computers, and it’s another thing entirely if they can’t. If you’re finding that your downtime periods are becoming longer or more frequent, that’s as good as a “check engine” light from your IT solution. In this case, you should consult with your IT department to determine whether over-complication is to blame. There’s no use spending a pretty penny on a computer network that doesn’t run properly.
More frequent IT repair or maintenance requests
If your IT department runs ragged from one floor to the next, putting out fires all day, this torrid pace could indicate that your computer infrastructure isn’t pulling its weight. Though responding to tech problems is part of IT’s job description, your in-house computer experts won’t be able to maintain your servers or networks if they’re busy helping other employees access locked-out accounts all day. An overly complicated infrastructure takes more time to maintain and more time to troubleshoot, creating a vicious cycle. If your IT employees look like they’re one incorrect email password away from turning in their resignations, it may be time to downsize your network solution.
Untangling the knot
Now that you know you’ve got a tangled network mess on your hands, here are five simple solutions to help you uncomplicate your IT knot.
Choose an infrastructure that fills several needs
Your IT management solution must be a jack of all trades, or you risk a tangled mess of different platforms. With a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, employers can simplify their operating systems by a server that adapts to its environment. The server type offers several assistants for employees, so their work remains secure and reliable to help them better their turn-around times.
Add cloud access
When businesses add cloud computing, employees can access data and apps from any computer. With cloud solutions, remote servers back up data automatically. Productivity increases because employers do not have to worry about downtime with updates or other local computer issues.
If you’re looking to pare down hard on your management expenses, you could even consider a serverless or hybrid storage solution. With serverless computing, you rent space on a service provider’s servers. You only pay for the storage you use, and the service provider takes care of all of the backend IT maintenance.
If you’re clutching your pearls at the idea of handing all of your data over to a cloud vendor, you can also aim for a hybrid solution. This way, you can still eliminate some of your hardware overhead while keeping your data safe from vendor lock-out.
Cloud access allows you to minimize downtime and spend more time on the front end.
Know what you already have
Some businesses have so many computer systems that they lose track of where data is stored and what management systems exist. To fully evaluate infrastructure complexity, inventory your business’s platforms and consider how they interact.
Without an inventory of your current systems, making changes could worsen the situation. After you’ve compiled the list, decide what works and what gets in the way. Then, evaluate how you can best cut the fluff and bolster the winners.
Implement a password manager
When employees have many apps and systems to use, they usually need passwords for all of them. You can help your employees by giving them a password manager rather than requiring them to remember all of their passwords manually.
Password managers boost security by suggesting solid and complex passwords. When your employees have to remember everything themselves, they might be tempted to rely on weaker, more accessible to memorize keys. Business password managers also save on time by cutting out the need to reset forgotten passwords or ping IT to be let back into the system.
Businesses can also customize the settings for password managers so employees know the requirements and multi-step procedure policies.
Simplify your infrastructure with one software platform
Businesses often separate their platforms by department. Owners might employ one platform for managing customers and others for human resources, payroll, communication, or sales. Employees, vendors, and clients who have to navigate this tangled web might find their heads spinning before too long. If this is you, you’ll likely also notice that it’s taking a long time to train your new employees in the software.
Rather than maintaining so many systems, businesses should pare their platforms down to one or two. Assess what you have and need, then find a vendor that meets your needs with as few applications as possible.
Wrap up
As a business owner, you want to make your infrastructure an asset rather than a liability. Simplifying IT infrastructure of your company can boost your employee satisfaction and productivity. If you’re getting your metaphorical wires crossed, it may be time to simplify.
I’m a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur, digital marketer and professional blogger equipped with skills in Digital Marketing, SEO, SEM, SMM, and lead generation. My objective is to simplify technology for you through detailed guides and reviews. I discovered WordPress while setting up my first business site and instantly became enamored. When not crafting websites, making content, or helping clients enhance their online ventures, I usually take care of my health and spend time with family, and explore the world. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or read my complete biography.