In today’s technology-driven world, the alignment between business and IT strategy is critical to an organization’s success.

To keep up with the pace of transformation, business leaders must embrace organizational agility. That’s why it’s so important to partner with a Managed Service Provider. Information Technology leaders are experts on emerging technologies and can help businesses see the impacts and opportunities for their organization, and industry, that is created by those technologies.

Small and medium-sized businesses especially need this guidance if they are going to make the right decisions on where to focus their money and resources. Modern IT strategy is so firmly integrated with business strategy now that it’s really just a continuation of it. The ideal IT strategy is one that clearly connects technology spending with achieving the goals of the organization. It should clearly present the choices being made in technology and how those choices will help the organization achieve its goals.

Define goals

By working with a managed IT partner to clarify and communicate your long-term goals you’ll develop a framework for decisions and actions your business can execute over the short- and medium-term. It’s important to have a full understanding of your business vision, mission, values, and goals because an effective information technology strategy must be anchored in the business goals since together they form a Business Technology strategy that effectively sets out a path to achieve the goals.

Discovery of current infrastructure

Taking stock of your Tech state of affairs is a critical step in your business strategic planning process. By doing an IT inventory of all of your current infrastructure, you and your IT Managed Services team understand what assets you have that can be incorporated going forward and what needs to be replaced to fulfill the strategy. Elements to be included in the inventory include:

  • All physical and virtual data centres
  • All infrastructure equipment, including servers, storage area networks (SANs), modems, routers, firewalls, wireless access points, and Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) devices.
  • All software, including server operating system software, and third-party software.
  • All licences and hardware and software maintenance contracts
  • All contracts, leases, and agreements for existing hardware, software, and services
  • All utility equipment and electrical supplies
  • All telecommunications lines and hardware

Perform a technology SWOT analysis

Take the time to outline your company’s technology-related strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Doing this will help you see areas where technology can help mitigate weaknesses and threats or provide you with the ability to capitalize on strengths and opportunities. Keep in mind that all organizations should have cybersecurity in their threats column. Cybercrime continues to be the most common threat faced by Canadian organizations, including small businesses. In Canada, the estimated average cost of a data breach is $6.35M CAD.

Digital Transformation

WW Works can make the integration useful to your business in the following ways:

Cloud Migration

Migrating to the Cloud services will provide secure data, streamlined scalability, and cost savings. Cloud as a Service (CaaS) is a highly adaptable option that can work around your compliance needs. Whether for privacy, data security, or secret clearances, every aspect of cloud services can be personalized to suit your specific operating needs.

Server Virtualization

Server virtualization allows you to host multiple servers off of one server and has become the dominant computing platform in the world.  With server virtualization, you can stop server crawl, secure your data, improve ROI, increase productivity, and lower costs. Server virtualization offers your business more efficient network storage at a lower cost, reducing your need for hardware and, in turn, reducing energy bills.  Virtualization also contributes to effective disaster maintenance, protecting your data no matter what.

Hosted Phone Services

Voice over IP (VoIP) systems are perfect for small-to-midsize businesses. Not just because they’re less expensive than on-premises systems, but because they’re mostly software, which makes them far more flexible. VoIP systems can manage all your voice communications from a central web console no matter how many extensions your company has, where your employees are, or even what devices they’re using.

Security and governance requirements

Every SMB needs, at the very least, standard firewall security and antivirus/anti-malware security. Most companies need more. Do you want to sleep well at night knowing that your company’s critical assets are protected? We use Covalence by Ottawa-based company FieldEffect and have incorporated it into our ProtectionWorks Plus offering. Covalence provides a complete solution for monitoring, detecting, and responding to cyber threats across every aspect of a modern IT environment. This includes networks, cloud services, endpoints, and devices used for remote work. The sophisticated threat detection uses analytics, machine learning, algorithms, technologies, and human-led expertise to measure, monitor, and detect constantly evolving threats and vulnerabilities.

Projected costs and Implementation

What are your projected budgets and costs for digital transformations over the next few years? This will help your team understand what the actual costs are for implementing your strategy. Consider that a full-service managed services partner, like WW Works, charges a flat, affordable rate to be your outsourced IT department. Our contracts typically begin with a 36-month commitment, guaranteeing a flat monthly rate for the entire three-year duration.

We maintain your company’s IT infrastructure and respond to all IT needs quickly and efficiently. We offer 24/7 support and are an affordable alternative to an in-house IT department with a matched level of effectiveness.

Our ServiceWorks option includes:

  • Automatic monthly software updates and server backups  
  • Security audits for infections and antivirus levels  
  • Scalable and customizable cloud services  
  • Mobile device management 
  • Comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that protects data, email, and IT Backup and disaster recovery solutions 
  • 24/7/365 help desk support 
  • Regulatory support 
  • IT consulting services 
  • Proactive resolutions – you don’t even need to know! 

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Contact WW Works to experience valuable IT solutions and Managed IT Services on a small-business budget. We proudly serve small- and medium-sized businesses in Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and the Niagara Region.

Let us worry about IT.