8

8 Common IT Problems Solved by Consultancy Experts

Cambodia Trust

 

Whether you’re designing rockets or grooming poodles, chances are that you use technology to do your job. But IT problems can ruin productivity and erode employee morale.

Understanding how to solve common IT issues can help you improve your business’s performance. This article lists 8 common IT problems solved by consultancy experts.

1. Poor Network Connectivity

In today’s internet-dependent world, network connectivity problems can cause serious business disruptions. Employees can’t communicate with each other, customers experience delays, and productivity suffers.

Network connectivity problems are caused by many different things, including high bandwidth usage, IP address conflicts, and device configuration errors. Using powerful software can help you identify and troubleshoot these issues faster.

Typically, an organization will be given a certain amount of bandwidth to use each month. When they reach this limit, it can cause poor network performance. You can reduce the chances of this happening by monitoring your network traffic during peak hours and implementing Quality of Service (QoS) policies.

Often, a slow connection is caused by a problem with the workstation’s hardware. This can be due to the computer’s configuration or because it doesn’t have enough processing power to handle the network bandwidth it’s being allocated. If this is the case, it can be resolved by adding more memory or upgrading the computer’s hardware. A physical connectivity issue may also be to blame. Network cables can become disconnected or damaged from a number of different reasons, including when they’re moved or when new equipment is installed.

2. Old Technology

Old technology refers to past inventions that have been obsoleted by newer technology. Some examples of old technology include Polaroid cameras, landline phones, cassette tapes, and bulky desktop computers. While some old technology may still function properly, newer technology is typically more energy-efficient, portable, longer-lasting, and provides better processing power.

Some of the most common problems caused by old technology include data breaches, system failures, and slow productivity. In addition, older systems usually lack many modern encryption and security protections that are standard on newer technology. As a result, they are more vulnerable to cyberattacks and other forms of data breaches.

Many businesses are relying on outdated technology that is slowing their growth and costing them money. For example, if your company is still using overhead projectors in meetings, it’s time to upgrade to interactive digital whiteboards. Likewise, fax machines have no place in a modern workplace; switch to a virtual fax solution that saves you paper and storage space while improving your security.

3. Poor Security

If your security systems are poor, hacking, smash-and-grabbers, data breaches and other mishaps are a real possibility. This can result in expensive insurance or legal damages as well as harm to your company’s reputation. A good consultancy by the Purple Griffon team will help you solve these issues and ensure your security is strong.

Employees need to feel safe at work. If they do not, it can create a negative work environment and result in high turnover rates. This is why it is important to make security a priority for your business.

A consulting expert will look at your current system and tell you how they can improve it. They will not be biased and they will tell you what works and what doesn’t. They will also explain the trade-offs, so you can understand what you are getting into. They will not push you into something that will not work, and they will not be swayed by marketing. This is because they are not salesmen and they want to solve your problem as quickly as possible.

4. Hackers

While the word hacker is associated with cybercrime, it wasn’t always so. In the 1960s, the term “hacker” was used at MIT to describe enthusiasts who applied creative engineering techniques to modify electronic hardware and software. They also manipulated telecommunication systems to complete long-distance calls for free, a practice known as phreaking.

In the modern sense, hackers exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to personal or organizational information. This data can then be sold on the dark web or used to blackmail victims. Aside from financial gain, hackers may also act out of political or social activism, intellectual challenge, or a desire for revenge.

Ethical hackers, on the other hand, find and report vulnerabilities to company leaders so they can be fixed. For example, they may identify that a password security policy is weak or that an entire network has unpatched software. This allows business leaders to take action to ensure sensitive data remains safe from unauthorized access. This helps businesses improve their overall digital security posture and prevent future attacks.

5. Unplugged Devices

Most people don’t realize that their appliances still draw electricity even when they’re turned off or in sleep mode. These devices are known as “energy vampires” and can account for up to 20% of a home’s energy consumption. They also pose fire hazards. To avoid these problems, try unplugging your appliances and electronics periodically.

The best way to do this is by purchasing a gadget that displays the actual power usage of each individual outlet or appliance. These monitors are usually plugged into an electric socket and display the power consumption on an LED screen. You can also buy whole-house electricity monitoring tools, which are more complex but offer a real-time display of the overall home electricity consumption.

Another way to prevent phantom power is by purchasing ENERGY STAR-certified products. They are designed to use less energy than other electronics and appliances, which can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. You can also look for smart outlets that let you automate when a device gets turned on and off.

6. Careless Approach to Online Security

Often, the most important element in online security is the end-user. This could be anything from a lack of awareness about what to look out for in phishing attacks to using public Wi-Fi networks without properly securing their devices. This is why many cybersecurity experts believe that passwords are more important than ever before, as they are the most effective tool for preventing cyberattacks.

Other common IT problems include slow internet connections, software glitches and hardware failures that affect productivity. If employees spend more time dealing with these issues than on actual work, it can seriously impact their output and increase the cost of running a business.

Employee carelessness also poses a risk to data security, with employees sharing sensitive information on social media and sending sensitive files via email. They may even unwittingly send data to unidentified servers, which are the source of modern cyberattacks. In addition to this, they can also lose their personal devices, which can contain company data that can be stolen by others. This is why it’s so important to have an IT support team on hand to resolve these issues quickly and effectively.

7. Poor Security Patches

Whether they’re for desktops, servers, or other devices, security patches are an essential part of managing your IT infrastructure. These updates are issued by software developers on a regular basis to fix any holes that the previous major version upgrade or initial software download missed. Without them, hackers could easily gain entry to your company’s technology network.

However, it’s not uncommon for people to neglect these updates because they’re a hassle or they can cause unforeseen issues with the systems they’re updating. This is especially true for small- and medium-sized businesses who don’t have a dedicated IT team that can handle the rigorous patching process.

In addition, many organizations may have difficulty implementing patches quickly due to a cybersecurity talent gap or other factors. This is especially true for zero-day vulnerabilities, which require prioritisation, automation of patch deployment for non-critical assets, and scheduling to minimize disruptions. It’s important to remember that hackers are always searching for unpatched vulnerabilities to exploit. If you let one slip through, it could result in a data breach, financial loss, or even reputational damage.

8. Lack of Experience

Even if your team is tech-savvy, you still need to bring in expert consultants from time to time to resolve the broader IT issues that affect productivity. These IT problems could be related to hardware, software, and even business processes. The average employee loses 22 minutes a day on IT issues, and these problems also affect the company’s security and overall productivity. Luckily, IT experts are available to assist businesses with any IT problem.

Depending on the stage of your career, lack of experience can be an appropriate weakness to mention in a job interview. For example, recent graduates may not have a lot of work experience but can use this as an opportunity to highlight how they’re eager to learn and grow in the role.

Large IT projects can be complicated and difficult to manage. This is where consulting experts step in to help businesses solve the complex IT challenges that arise from data management, software deployment, and cybersecurity. By addressing these challenges in a curated, strategic way, consulting firms can provide their clients with the tools they need to improve efficiency and productivity.

CategoriesBlog
Cambodia Trust