Does your small business rely heavily on IT and you’re not the tech type?
Cloud computing, cybercrime, CRMs, accounting software, digital marketing – the list of IT things to consider goes on and on and it’s easy to not comprehend the risks and opportunities if you don’t know where to start.
Independent IT’s mission is to change that.
“Our goal is to give good advice to our small business clients and make sure they’re getting the best they can out of IT,” says Louise Mercer, CIO of the Hamilton-based IT solutions company.
Facilitating the technology race
The technology race is speeding up across the New Zealand small business landscape.
SMEs are now spending 25% more on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compared to pre-pandemic levels – nearly twice as much as Australian small businesses (13%), according to a recent Xero report.
The research found the top 25% of small business ICT spenders experienced a bump in sales by more than NZ$20k – and the bottom quarter saw sales fall by $24k over the same period.
The yawning gap between the two groups ($44k) shows that small businesses that embrace technology and get their IT solutions in check are significantly better off.
Having worked in the information sector for 15 years as a leader running large corporate systems and managing projects in the public sector, Louise and her dedicated team know the ins and outs of solutions for small businesses and they are ready to support SMEs that are not ready to have a CIO or IT specialist on board.
From start-ups to sole traders, Louise says nearly every small business can benefit from having an IT review every now and then.
“And the best part is We haven’t got affiliations with any software providers so that means our recommendations come from the viewpoint of the customer. We are independent and that’s our point of difference.”
Louise Mercer, CIO of Independent IT.
Safeguarding against cyber risk
For New Zealanders the risk of cybercrime increased during the pandemic, with more than 2300 reported incidents of the first quarter in 2022 – significantly up from the numbers seen in the years before.
When the pandemic struck, many businesses had to move online to continue operating amid lockdowns.
Louise says some small business owners understandably wanted to get that quick solution and fix up the mess after when the pandemic was under control.
“A lot of IT functions got shoehorned in just to get things up and running. And now a year or two on, we’ve just learned to live with it,” says Louise. “Suddenly crucial business information is spread over 30 to 40 different apps and information security is wearing thin.”
Louise says there several things that can be done to reduce the risk of cybercrime that small businesses might consider.
“Some data is irreplaceable so you should consider protecting it at all costs. Prioritising your IT solutions not only can protect your business’ data but makes you more efficient in the long run,” says Louise.
Cyber Liability insurance* is another important safeguard that is designed to protect your business from cybercrime.
It’s designed to cover you for losses from claims arising from data breaches and remediation costs following a cyber-attack.
“While it won’t prevent an attack, cyber insurance can safeguard your business if something were to happen,” says Louise. “It can be really important as it can compensate you if you’re unable to trade for a number of hours or days due to an attack effecting your business.”
Sorting out business insurance
Being a small business owner often requires you to manage many different aspects of your business, making it critical to get the right people to get the job done.
Louise says while Independent IT is there for all your IT needs, the team at BizCover are the right people to sort out your business insurance.
“BizCover is a revelation for us, we had engaged a national insurance provider who struggled to find good value insurance in our sector (IT consulting), the cost kept escalating,” Louise said. “On the back of a Google search we came across BizCover… Our cover was increased and the cost slashed.”
To sort out your business insurance including your cyber policy visit us at www.bizcover.co.nz/.
And to find more information about Independent IT visit any of the links below.
https://www.independentit.co.nz/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-it-consulting-services-ltd/
* This information is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be relied upon as advice. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording.
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