Building the ideal IT infrastructure 16 August 2005
What is office infrastructure?
Small businesses that have invested in the planning and development of a comprehensive office infrastructure are now considered most capable of meeting the demands of the 21st century tech economy.
By its basic definition, an infrastructure is the "underlying foundation or basic framework" of any organisation or system. To get started, small businesses need to ensure that they select the most suitable basic equipment, from which an infrastructure tailored to requirements can develop.
Once these components are in place, any small business can achieve the efficiency, productivity and profitability benefits of a streamlined office IT infrastructure.
What kind of hardware is required?
The most important factor when choosing the IT equipment essential for small businesses, is ensuring that it is reliable, from a reputable retailer and that some form of IT support has been organised.
In order for the small business to save costs and maximise profits, it is a good idea to ensure that maintenance and repair work can be accessed quickly and at a low cost. For more information on how investment in IT support can reduce long-term maintenance costs click here.
What kind of software is required?
The specific software applications required by small businesses depend largely on the sector within which the company is competing, but it is important to choose a basic office package that is compatible with those utilised by clients, competitors and customers.
Microsoft Windows remains a popular choice, but it is vital that a small business researches which software will serve business requirements most effectively. For more information on the most suitable software for different businesses click here.
Wired or wireless networks?
Whether to choose a wired or wireless network is dependent upon the size of the business, and how many staff members would need to be connected to the network. A local area network (LAN) allows for the low cost, high bandwidth transfer of data within an office.
A wireless lan is linked to the wired network, but it allows for the connection of more devices which may roam in the network area. Read more about how wireless networks can help improve your business here.
What about making phone calls?
It is a good idea for any small business to install more than one phone line. A high-speed broadband internet connection has eliminated the need to tie up the phone line when online, but it is useful to have extra lines available for fax machines, and for efficient customer service.
It is also worth investigating voice over internet protocol technology (VOIP) to allow further cost savings by making voice calls over a broadband connection. For more information on telephony solutions for small businesses click here.
