In modern businesses, IT plays a crucial role in many aspects of day-to-day operations. Now more than ever, it’s important to have an appropriate IT infrastructure in place to help your company grow both steadily and securely. Implementing a solid infrastructure can streamline operations, enhance security, improve productivity, and assist in seamless scalability.

With a plethora of options available, ensuring you have the right IT infrastructure can feel like a daunting task with a lot of moving parts to it, but fear not. In this article, we will explore the most prominent factors to consider when picking an IT infrastructure that works best for your business.

Assess Your Business Needs

The first step in deciding what type of IT infrastructure would best suit a business is to address what the infrastructure needs to accomplish. As such, evaluating the existing structures and assets of the business, the business needs, and the plans for growth or expansion over the coming years is vital in creating an appropriate IT infrastructure implementation plan.

Looking at existing structures, especially concerning IT software or hardware your business has access to, will allow you to make appropriate decisions about the kind of changes and updates that are needed to the infrastructure. Additionally, it will ensure that the implementation plan does not risk being incompatible with the systems the business already uses.

Scalability and Flexibility

A robust IT infrastructure can withstand the test of time by being able to scale with your business and remaining flexible to rapid technological developments. In the simplest terms, the scalability of an IT infrastructure is determined by its ability to take on increasing workloads without crashing or experiencing downtime or performance issues.

Generally, cloud-based systems are the best option for most businesses when it comes to scalability and flexibility, but each business will have different requirements and capacities. Which type of cloud system is used, how complex it is, and how many supporting features or systems are attached to it are all circumstance-specific questions, but ones that should be answered as part of the planning stage of the infrastructure implementation process.

Reliability and Availability

An IT infrastructure that can remain effective at all times is vital for a growing business. Unnecessary downtime can affect productivity, and revenue, and damage your company’s reputation. When evaluating your options, consider the reliability and availability of the offered features. Minimize the risks of single-point failures by utilizing fault-tolerant hardware and failover mechanisms that ensure continuity of operations, even in the event of hardware or software failures.

Security

Data protection is a primary concern for most businesses, and even more so if your business deals with particularly sensitive information. Cloud-based systems may be most appropriate overall due to other benefits mentioned above, but it is important to ensure that any implemented infrastructure contains the right kind of protection for your company. This can include, firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection programs, and regular data backup routines.

Consistently maintaining a steadfast grip on proper GDPR or HIPAA protocols is crucial, as even the slightest slip-up can cost the company a substantial sum in damages. It's important to evaluate what kind of sensitive client data your company will be handling and ensure you have the right IT safeguards in place.

It is critical to note that this is not a case of scale relating to importance. Whether you are a small company with only a handful of clients and customers or a larger one with hundreds, it must be taken just as seriously in either situation.

Cost-Effectiveness

Assessing the total cost of ownership of the various infrastructure options is something to consider right at the start. This includes upfront costs, ongoing maintenance expenses, and scalability costs. Compare the cost benefits of cloud-based solutions versus on-premises infrastructure. Cloud computing offers pay-as-you-go pricing models which can be easier to manage, and eliminate the need for upfront capital investments. However, there are long-term costs to consider as data transfer fees may be substantial and vendor lock-in may occur.

IT Support and Expertise

The availability of IT support and expertise is worth considering when choosing an IT infrastructure. Would you benefit from a dedicated in-house team, or will you use external support instead? If you want to go for cloud-based solutions, make sure your service provider can support you properly with its usage. Having knowledgeable professionals on hand can help mitigate, or entirely avoid, any potential emergencies through regular troubleshooting and maintenance.

Make sure to pick something sustainable with your company's size and function. Try not to overextend by choosing an infrastructure that is more comprehensive than your company may need. This all falls under a cost-benefit analysis.

Future Technology Trends

Technology is rapidly evolving daily, and it’s important to consider those evolutionary trends when selecting your IT infrastructure. Look for solutions that adapt and change with new emerging technologies. The ability to leverage these technologies can give your business a valuable competitive edge that future-proofs your infrastructure investments.

Evaluate Vendors and Solutions

Once you have assessed your business needs and considered the factors mentioned above, your next step is to evaluate vendors and solutions. Research your options thoroughly, read customer reviews, request demos, ask for references, and consider their reputation in the industry. Check how well their solutions align with your business requirements, and do not be afraid to ask the provider's sales and support teams as many questions as you have. Choosing the best IT infrastructure is vital to your business, and taking the time to get it just right benefits everyone involved.

Ultimately

Choosing the correct IT infrastructure for your growing business is a critical decision that affects many aspects of your company. By assessing your needs and considering all the factors, you can make an informed choice that gets you everything your company needs. Remember to aim to select solutions that not only meet your current requirements but that can provide support to your business as it grows and evolves. Contact us for a free consultation →