As a business owner, you’re always working to balance operational needs and the budget you planned. When it comes to costs, an area that often contributes to a tight budget is security-focused line items. You certainly don’t want to cut costs, but here are a few ways to get the most out of your security budget.
Internships
Internships have gotten a bad rap recently, but they are an efficient way to build your IT staff and work within your security budget. It also gives you an opportunity to fill full-time positions in the future with a well-trained staff. To get quality interns, you will need to work with nearby universities, specifically in their computer science department. The faculty will be able to recommend students to you and vice versa. Your Human Resources department will work out the logistics of how the internship will work out.
Internal Training
Since your employees are the ones who are maintaining your security, you will want to make sure they are up-to-date on the latest threats and practices. To stay current, they’ll need to be regularly trained. Training is something that can fit into any security budget.
There are numerous resources online that your staff can read, or watch, for little to no cost. They can read articles or watch videos when work is a low, or schedule time for training sessions. While your staff will have hands-on experience with issues, keeping up with the latest news and information will better prepare them to keep your business safe.
Free Tools (But with Caveats)
Free can fit into any security budget. The Internet is filled with free resources to help you and your staff with security. Being up-to-date on potential threats to your business is key to keeping your company secure. By staying one step ahead, you’ll be able to adjust your security plans better.
You also can implement a variety of free security tools available. It is important to have an IT professional make sure the software is credible. Not only do you get what you pay for, but you also can run the risk of introducing malware or a different virus into your network.
Automation
When looking over your security budget, you want to find areas or items that can be done more efficiently. Talk with your staff and see what tasks could be handled through automation. This will not be a replacement for your team, but a tool to take the more mundane, repetitive processes off their hands. Your employees will have more time to focus on more significant matters and preventative measures.
Outsourcing
This is another excellent way to bring some extra value in for fewer costs, as outsourcing provides you with additional experts at your disposal for a predictable cost. By having your outsourced resources handle the lion’s share of your security needs, your in-house employees can focus on other critical matters, much as they could with automated solutions. It’s no surprise, then, to find out that many outsourced IT providers expertly utilize automation.
IT Support Guys can help you with any of these strategies.
Call us at 855-4IT-GUYS (855-448-4897) or click here for more information.
