Many businesses of all shapes and sizes have their own IT departments in-house. While some outsource their IT needs, others prefer to have dedicated staff on call. When users have problems with their computers, the IT department is their first port of call.
IT departments also perform other functions, such as upgrading systems and performing routine maintenance. Does your business have its own IT department? If so, this handy guide will show you how to streamline its operations.
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Ensure your staff stay up-to-date with their qualifications
As new versions of software and hardware come out, it’s important your staff are familiar with them. You will doubtless have people working for you that have qualifications. Examples include Microsoft’s MCSE and Cisco’s CCNA.
The thing about these qualifications is that the people that hold them need to take “refresher” exams at least every year. By investing in your employees, you are also investing in your company’s future! That’s because when you get new hardware and software, your IT staff will know how to use them and support them.
It’s also worth noting that these training expenses can be offset against any tax liabilities!
Invest in the right tools for the job
As new hardware becomes available, they will get more complex to open up and repair. If you want to keep all computer system repairs in-house, you must invest in the right tools for the job.
For instance, some Apple products use tamper-proof screws that need special tools to use with them. Tools aren’t just physical items either. IT departments use a plethora of software-based tools for various tasks. Examples include malware removal tools and data restoration.
You should do a review of your IT department’s functions to determine what tools they need to get the job done well.
Set up a streamlined asset management system
Your business will have a lot of IT equipment. PCs, laptops, mobile devices and printers are just some of the items you can find in a typical business environment. But are you keeping track of where all these items are and who’s got them? If the answer’s no, you need to do something about this!
An IT asset management system can help you out with this quandary. Of course, such a system needs constant updating and monitoring, especially in large organizations. The great news is that you can outsource ITAM to vendors.
Set up an issue logging system
Your IT department will get lots of calls and emails each day. Keeping track of all issues raised by computer users can become a job in itself! But what you can do is set up an issue logging system.
In essence, when someone calls or emails with a problem, you can log it into the system. You can then assign the job to a specific person. And they can then update the log and mark it as resolved when the problem gets fixed. Visit sites like https://www.netbraintech.com/blog/what-is-network-visualization/ to know more about this.
That just about wraps up today’s handy guide! By following those above tips, you will soon see an improvement in your IT department’s processes.
