6 Reasons It’s Important to Update Your Office Systems Regularly

When was the last time your systems were updated? For many business owners, this question draws a blank. There are so many areas of business to focus on that office systems are not often at the top of the list. And some business owners are so overwhelmed with the cost of updating systems that they put it on hold until a later date.

Unfortunately, these practices leave many companies at risk for various issues, including data breaches and costly downtime. Take a look at six of the top reasons updating your systems can save your business, your money, and your time.

1. Protecting Your Clients

Data breaches have become more and more common as the world becomes more digitized. This puts every piece of client data at risk. You have the ability to reduce this risk by keeping your office systems updated. Though cybercriminals are creative and are always looking for a way in, IT firms work just as diligently to make sure that they can’t find one. Upgrades and updates are designed to protect from these criminals, among other things.

2. Protecting Your Company

Your clients aren’t the only ones in danger—so is all the rest of the sensitive data you store. If there is a data breach, your company could take a huge hit, both with your reputation and financially.

If your client’s data is compromised, it will impact the trust they have in you. And as word gets out—as it tends to do—even potential clients might find another business to work with.

Lost revenue is just one part of the equation, though. Data breaches often lead to lawsuits, which can cost a company millions or more. Though you might be able to push through such lawsuits, rebuilding your reputation and client base can be an uphill battle that no one wants to face.

3. Increasing Productivity

Outdated systems can significantly impact how fast your company can do its job. Everything from setting up an appointment to printing a contract can take more time than it needs to, meaning that your employees can’t do their job efficiently.

And let’s face it: clients don’t want to wait around for a simple task to take place. They have other things to attend to and prefer companies that can manage their needs quickly. Keeping your systems updated means that your employees can be more productive throughout the day and keep your clients happy more easily.

4. Minimizing Downtime

In addition to being a target for cybercriminals, outdated systems are also well known for shutting down or freezing. Though the cost of downtime can vary according to the business you run, it’s still a cost you don’t want to pay. And fortunately, you don’t have to. Updating your office systems greatly reduces the chances of downtime due to dysfunctional systems.

5. Saving Money

As you can see, updating systems can save you millions—potentially billions—every single year. However, data breaches and downtime are just two ways that outdated systems can cost a company money.

Older systems use more energy to operate, meaning that every day you turn them on and begin working, you are already in a financial deficit. New and updated office systems are much more energy efficient, which not only has a positive impact on the environment but also on your company’s bank account.

6. Taking Advantage of New Features

There is always something being designed that can help your company’s processes run smoother and cost less overall. Unfortunately, many of these features aren’t available for outdated systems. In fact, don’t be surprised to find that support has disappeared for them.

The best way to both take advantage of the newest and most efficient features, as well as have ongoing support, is to update your systems. You can also enjoy the fact that, once you’ve updated your systems, vendors often offer upgrades at little to no cost.

Getting Started

Now that you understand the importance of updating your systems, you might be asking a very common question: How do I get started? It can be an overwhelming process, especially when you have other business aspects to worry about.

Our team at Tie National can lift the burden off your shoulders. We can assess, plan, and implement your system updates from the beginning, and provide ongoing monitoring. Put your system security in our hands so that you can focus on other areas that need your attention.