IT discussions in business media always seem to cover the same topics: mid-tier businesses and tech; IT investment (too much? too little?); data storage (and the environment); information security; and whether good tech people can be good managers.

What isn’t being mentioned much is how businesses make the shift from thinking about IT to actually taking a risk and doing something about it, whether investing, streamlining or even just rethinking how IT is used.

Why is this important? Because if it’s not thought through, it can lead to all sorts of complications – including all of the topics mentioned above.

Of course, it’s not surprising this doesn’t get a lot of coverage, if only because we all know the story. A smallish business buys a few computers and some generic software. The company grows and needs a server to keep up, along with more specialised software and better computers.

Before long, as staff numbers have grown, data policies are introduced for things like email storage and IT security issues. An ad hoc IT bod is often brought in at this point and the first “red flags” get raised – phrases like “IT infrastructure” start to crop up and next thing you know, the thing you thought was working fine is on the brink of collapse. Suddenly, IT shifts from basic necessity to essential strategic investment – and the person writing the cheques has no clue where to go next.

Does it have to be so difficult? We’d like to think we can help make it easier, even for those smaller and mid-tier companies (Big Blue isn’t just for Blue Chips, after all).

If you’re trying to figure out where to go next, you can always call us – we’re on 01189 022 525. And remember: you’re not alone. As this edition of Real Business Insights demonstrates, businesses of all sizes are still figuring out how IT can help. Hopefully, we can make the process a bit less painful.

Pete Jakob
Marketing manager
IBM Software Group UKISA