The past decade has seen a massive shift in how we work. The rise of the internet and smartphones have made it easier for people to connect and for companies to reach customers. This has led to a steady increase in the adoption of digital tools — especially in businesses that aren’t traditionally tied to the internet such as offices, retail stores, and service providers. At the same time, more and more of the workforce is now employed remotely as companies look to save costs and time by working with customers and suppliers from anywhere. This makes the challenge of effectively managing a company’s technology that much greater. How can you maintain the level of productivity and efficiency you need to succeed in your business? Read on for answers to some of the most common questions about managing technology in the workplace.
What is IT?
IT is short for information technology — and it’s a catchall term for all the pieces that make up a company’s digital infrastructure, from networking and servers, to backup and cybersecurity. It encompasses everything from the technology that lets a company operate to the technology that keeps it operational. It’s important to understand the different components of IT and how they work as a whole so that you can better manage your company’s IT.
How do you manage technology in the workplace?
IT management is a challenging task, especially in an era when employees have access to their work tools from home and telecommuting is more common. When it comes to the actual tools and hardware your business uses, you can rely on the same strategies and practices that have always worked: Make sure they’re running smoothly, get regular maintenance and inspections, keep them up-to-date, and make sure they’re backed up and protected. If you need to make any changes to your IT, you can also make them in the same way you would any other type of change: with a detailed change management process and careful consideration of the impact of those changes on your company’s IT.
How to Set Company Standards for Software Use
One of the first steps in managing technology in the workplace is setting professional standards for the use of software in your business. Just as with paperwork, you want to ensure that all relevant paperwork is filed, you want to know what procedures are followed for customer service issues, and you want your employees to follow consistent processes for writing reports, you should set standards for the use of software. You should also establish policies for when software should or shouldn’t be used, as well as develop a process for auditing and auditable use to maintain high standards.
How to Manage the Network and Internet Use
The network is the central nervous system of your business. It connects all the tools that make up your technology environment — servers, printers, mobile devices, software, and more — together. The network is what connects all of those tools, which means that it’s also a very important part of managing technology in the workplace. If your network is down or experiencing high traffic, all of the tools on that network are unavailable to customers or employees, which can have a negative impact on the business. You should have a network administrator who is responsible for making sure your network is in good shape — and an IT manager who is responsible for making sure your network administrator is doing the job correctly.
How to Manage Software Use and Updates
Software is an essential part of an organization’s digital infrastructure — and it’s often the first thing that needs updating or replaced after a new piece of hardware or software is brought on-board. You can’t manage technology in the workplace without good standards for software use and updates — which means you need to set up regular processes for reviewing and updating your software inventory, as well as a process for reviewing and approving the updates that come in. You should also have a process in place to track software use, including tracking when each piece of software is launched, used, and closed. That way, you can understand the impact of software use and make adjustments as needed.
How to Manage Software Licensing and Updates
Another important part of managing technology in the workplace is ensuring that your software is licensed properly and meets standards for updates and availability. In some cases, you may need to purchase a license for each person who uses a piece of software in order to keep it active. If that’s the case, you may need to purchase licenses for each user, and track when those licenses are used. In other cases, you may need to track availability — that is, make sure that each piece of software has a certain level of uptime, or that it’s running as much as it should be. Either way, you need to have good standards and processes in place for tracking software licensing and updates.
Conclusion
Technology has become a vital part of a business’s operations — and it’s crucial that IT managers are able to manage their company’s technology effectively. The internet is constantly changing, so it’s important to keep up with the latest security threats and make sure that your network is running smoothly and that your technology is functioning as it should be. You can do so by following these steps: Knowing the different components and how they work as a whole will help you better manage your IT. Setting standards for the use of software will help ensure that all important paperwork is filed and that your company is operating within appropriate policies. Managing the network and making sure that your system is in good shape is also essential for effective technology management. Finally, you need to make sure that your software is licensed properly and has good availability standards.
