For small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Birmingham, IT problems can be one big headache. Flaky remote connections, laptop set-ups for new hires, or troubleshooting servers with a big deadline looming over your shoulder can have your blood pressure rising fast.
These are the kinds of problems we see every single week. And whilst some of these issues are minor, put together they still take up time you don’t have and knock your team off track when you can least afford it. Here’s a look at the most common IT headaches Birmingham SMEs face and what you can do to fix them before they ruin your week!
Hybrid setups that don’t quite work
Most businesses are still figuring out the right balance between office and remote working. Some staff are in five days, some are in twice a week, some are dialling in from a coffee shop and others from their kitchen table.
The result is a mishmash of devices, internet speeds, access levels, and connection issues. One person can get into the shared drive, another can’t. Files go missing, stuff doesn’t sync, IT support tickets start piling up and everyone is feeling the pressure.
What helps:
- Keep things consistent. And by this we mean keep the same remote access method for everyone (usually VPN or cloud-based).
- Standardise devices and software where you can as fewer variables means fewer problems.
- Do a quick audit to see who’s using what, and from where. You’ll probably find gaps you didn’t know about.
Local IT support teams in Birmingham (like us!) can help you set up hybrid environments that work well for your business and team.
Getting hardware to remote staff
Remote and hybrid work are the norm but getting hardware to new starters is still a headache. A new hire joins, their laptop’s sitting in the office… but they’re working from home.
Suddenly someone’s driving across town to deliver it, or worse, it’s being posted out, completely unconfigured and with no guidance. This isn’t just inefficient for everyone involved, it’s also a rubbish first impression of your company.
A better way to do it:
- Pre-configure the laptop with everything they need. That means apps installed, logins ready, and security sorted.
- Ship it straight to them or hand-deliver locally with setup support.
- Include a basic setup guide (or schedule a 15-minute call to walk them through it).
Internet drops or server issues right when you don’t need them
The Internet really does seem to sense urgency, as it’s always drops out ten minutes before a Zoom pitch, or your server goes down while the team’s working late on a deadline. And if there’s no IT team in-house, you’re stuck on the phone to a provider while your team sits idle.
Here’s what actually helps:
- Have a backup connection (yes, even just a 4G dongle can help in an emergency).
- Move your critical systems to the cloud so you’re not dependent on one server or connection.
- Work with a local IT partner who can actually come on-site when something breaks.
We’ve stepped into offices not just to fix issues (although we’re pretty great at that), but to get things moving again. Sometimes it’s less about solving the problem right there and more about helping people get back to work and bringing a bit of calm to the chaos.
Security that relies on “common sense”
If you’ve got people working from home, in co-working spaces, or on the go, chances are someone’s logged into a public Wi-Fi network today without even thinking about it.
Mix in weak passwords (people are really still using “Password123”), unpatched software, and personal devices, and you’re leaving the door wide open for potential cybersecurity issues.
What helps:
- Use a company-wide VPN so connections are encrypted, even on dodgy Wi-Fi.
- Set up two-factor authentication on everything important.
- Run short training sessions a couple of times a year as people forget this stuff otherwise.
- Use remote device management so you can wipe lost or stolen laptops.
What you can do right now
If any of these are sounding uncomfortably familiar, here’s a few things you can do immediately:
Run a basic IT audit
Who’s using what device? Where are files stored? What’s backed up (and what isn’t)?
Sort your remote onboarding
Get a plan in place for new starters that covers devices.
Tighten up security
Roll out MFA, use a VPN, and schedule a quick training refresher.
Work with someone local
You’ll fix issues faster if your IT support is based in Birmingham, not an outsourced team in another county (or continent)!
If your IT setup is giving you grief and you need someone local to help, it might be time to talk to an IT support team in Birmingham who can actually take some of the weight off. Book a free, no obligation chat with Mark to talk about how we could work together.