Top 5 Items to Include in Your IT Budget

Aug 13, 2018

As the landscape surrounding Information Technology (IT) is becoming increasingly dynamic and consumer expectations have risen sharply, the ability to effectively budget and forecast IT needs has become critical to an organization’s success.

Assessing and preparing your organization for the next wave of digital transformation could be the difference between your company and your competition. With that in mind, here are 5 items that you should include in your IT budget.

1) Safeguarding IT Security

Making room for an upgrade to your IT security to keep out threats is a must. In a Forrester report from November 2017, nearly 50% of respondents said that constraints in their IT budgets were the primary barrier to building up their IoT security. Despite this worrying trend, another survey of over 600 global enterprises by ForeScout, 77% of organizations found that increased usage of connected devices and the internet of things (IoT) has given birth to new security challenges that need addressing.

Even more alarmingly, 82% of these companies failed to identify all the devices connected to their network, and could not give a clear answer when asked who is responsible for securing IT in their organization. You never know when the next vulnerability will bring you down. Investing in IT security via a Managed Service Provider (MSP) could be a viable option if you feel your internal team has other core competencies to focus on.

2) Moving to the Cloud

Public cloud adoption could grow to a record 92% in 2018 from 89% in 2017, according to the annual cloud survey by RightScale in January 2018. Private cloud adoption also could grow to 75% in 2018 from 72% in 2017.

Not only does moving to the cloud offer you the option of various pay-as-you-use schemes, but you also don’t have to invest in regularly upgrading expensive infrastructure, which greatly reduces your overall IT costs. If you’re still waiting to jump on the bandwagon, you need to make room for moving to the cloud in your budget this year.

3) Assessing Your Infrastructure

Slow network speeds lead to frustration, and outdated machinery that is incompatible with the latest security patches are a threat to your IT security. Your IT budget must have room to replace aging equipment, by either upgrading the machinery or moving to the convenience of the cloud wherever possible.

4) Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Did you know that service outages can cost millions each year? Despite numerous advances in technology, downtimes remain an expected risk for all businesses. You never know when the next tornado will hit, or when faulty wiring will start a fire. Mitigating these unaccountable risks by investing in a business continuity plan (BCP) will allow you to continue business as soon as possible after a disaster, and can ultimately decide the fate of your organization.

5) Bridging the Skills Gap 

In a recent CompTIA survey, approximately 40% of employees in IT complained that they are not getting adequate training that they need to continue being effective in their roles. How can your IT department run efficiently if your employees don’t know the tools they can use to make the department efficient? Taking the time out to retrain your internal IT team in the latest advances, or partnering with a trusted third-party provider that can take care of your IT needs, are ideal solutions to bridging the skills gap between the latest technologies and manpower.

For a small growing or medium-sized enterprise, it often is not easy to effectively plan an IT budget. You have to be able to cover all the bases to increase efficiency and focus on core competencies. This is why ProV International Inc., a premier global IT consulting and service delivery organization that delivers high-quality managed IT services for clients worldwide is the preferred digital transformation partner for many SMBs.

At ProV, we use our global talent pool and best-in-class delivery models to assess your business' requirements, and allow you to take advantage of all the latest technologies within the constraints of your IT budget. To learn more about how an able Managed Service Provider (MSP) like ProV can give you a competitive advantage, download our Managed Services Checklist below, or contact us today.

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