The IT Needs of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
[Notes: Journalists are invited to quote and use information from the backgrounder below, but please ensure all comment is attributed to Marino Zini, Head of Managed Services at Claranet]
From the largest, blue chip multinational to the smallest home-run enterprise, businesses rely on the speed, security and reliability of their IT networks. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are finding themselves increasingly reliant on the most up-to-date information technology as they strive to compete in the world of e-commerce.
Many smaller businesses face barriers to using the Internet effectively and often lack the IT skills and expert advice to make the best and the safest use of the latest technology. Unlike larger firms, SMEs can seldom afford to employ a dedicated IT department or professional IT manager.
More and more small businesses are outsourcing their IT needs to professional network providers like Claranet who can offer communications and information technology that is fast, reliable, secure and, above all, value for money. With constant innovations in networks, security, connectivity, hardware, software and storage, the problem facing many SMEs is keeping pace with the rapid advance of technology. At the same time they need to acquire systems that are both modern and tailored to the company’s specific needs.
Tailored technology
The one-size-fits-all approach to managed services can no longer answer the complex IT needs of individual SMEs. Many IT services companies are focused on the higher end corporate market and often overlook or cannot cater for smaller businesses. With the multitude of technology options available, companies like Claranet provide small businesses with tailored, extremely scaleable products, both in terms of access and hosting, which fit their specific requirements.
As a business expands, it is vital that its technology and IT packages are scalable for growth. Small businesses need to work with their service providers to analyse their current and potential software, hosting, connectivity, and security needs. Specialist IT skill is not the core function of most businesses, and many enterprises find that the new systems and software they require to grow are complex and expensive to run.
Providers like Claranet can supply expanding businesses with Software as a Service (SaaS) – shared software delivered to customers over the Internet either through a pay-as-you-go agreement or on a recurring contract basis. This removes a small enterprise’s need for capital expenditure to acquire new applications, making it possible for SMEs to adopt newer technologies that they would otherwise have been unable to afford. Software as a Service is extremely scalable, allowing companies to choose the applications that they need as their business develops.
Secure networks
Small businesses are now even more susceptible to attack from hackers and fraudsters than large companies. Criminals are increasingly targeting SMEs because they present easier targets. Whereas large enterprises employ IT professionals to prevent and combat security breaches, small enterprises with limited resources and knowledge often fail to address network security issues appropriately.
The temptation for small enterprises is to believe that firewalls and anti-virus software alone will safeguard their network. These basic precautions are often insufficient. Experienced network providers like Claranet work with their clients to perform security audits, seek out possible vulnerabilities in the system and detect unauthorised intrusion into the network.
Businesses need a range of constantly updated security systems – from the latest firewall and anti-virus software to virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow staff to access data from different locations. Claranet’s next generation VPN:ng uses the most robust encryption technology available, resulting in an exceptionally secure system for transferring data.
Storage
It is important for all businesses - large or small - to keep their data safe and secure. Having a computer connected to the Internet leaves it vulnerable to outside threats. Unplanned downtime can have serious effects on computer systems, and can result in significant business costs. When IT systems crash, businesses often come to a standstill. Research has found that more than half of businesses that suffer just one instance of major data loss end up closing.
Greater dependence on technology means that there is an increasingly large volume of data needing to be processed and protected. Less than 50 percent of data protection and recovery tasks are automated and so it is one of IT's most labour-intensive tasks. Through SaaS, small businesses can integrate their business data and processes with business management systems like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
Small and medium businesses often have tight budgets for IT. They do not stretch to numerous staff to undertake time consuming and complex processes. Increasingly, small businesses are outsourcing their IT services to experts like Claranet for less money than they could do it themselves.
Expert support
Above all, small and medium enterprises need professional, helpful and accessible support from their network provider. When a business has problems with networks or software they lose revenue. It is vital that a business can get in touch with their service providers as quickly as possible, and that customer support is clear and helpful. The average waiting time for Claranet’s standard support line is just 15 seconds, while 100 percent of all emailed support requests are answered within 24 hours.
Claranet's highly experienced technical support staff are available to advise, design, build and support customised solutions for its SME clients. They also provide online tutorials for unsupported and supported products and speak in plain English to address their clients’ IT issues.
More and more SMEs are entrusting their network management functions to expert third parties like Claranet. Outsourcing IT services provides small companies with the technology, scaled to their business, that allows them not only to compete in the cut-throat world of e-commerce, but to flourish within it.
- ends -
Notes to editors:
Journalists are invited to quote and use information from the backgrounder below but please ensure all comment is attributed to Marino Zini, Head of Managed Services, Claranet Limited.
For further editorial information or to arrange an interview please email the Claranet press office or telephone 020 7609 1900.
About Marino Zini, Head of Managed Services, Claranet:
Marino Zini is an information security, managed hosting and Internet specialist. He is an Internet veteran having been involved in evangelising, consulting and delivering projects from the very beginning. He has numerous qualifications and memberships of Internet organisations, combining knowledge, experience, passion and constructive scepticism for all Internet related matters.
Marino sits in various committees including the Technical Advisory Board set up under the UK’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and the Anti Phishing Working Group. He is a member of ISSA, ISC2 and regularly contributes to the Bugtraq vulnerability list.
He has written several papers on information security topics including, High Availabilty Internet architectures, DDoS, software patching, criminal involvement in cybercrime and compliance in IT. He has moderated very successful seminars on various information security issues for the past 8 years. The latest series is called "Zero Downtime? - The Debate" looking at the challenges faced by high revenue web-facing businesses.
About Claranet:
Claranet was established in 1996 as a dial-up Internet access provider in the UK. The company's sustained profitability has resulted in continuous reinvestment, transforming Claranet into a multi-national managed service provider.
Today Claranet provides flexible and tailored network infrastructure that performs to the requirements of its 300,000 customers across six European countries and the US.
Claranet customers have confidence in their connectivity. Customers are served by experienced, innovative and dependable technicians.
Claranet commits to the highest standard of service level agreement.
URL: www.clara.net