Start-Up in a box 1.0: Why scalable tech matters to ambitious start-ups

With 5.9 million small businesses in the UK, it’s safe to say we’re a nation of entrepreneurs. But still 50% of new start-up companies fail within their first five years. One of the key ways you can create efficiencies, maximise profits and so de-risk that possibility of failure is to have the best IT set-up in place – right at the start. 

At Dr Logic we work with ambitious businesses to give them the tech head- start they need to succeed. And as such we’ve designed an IT solutions package built with ambitious start-ups in mind – an “IT Start-Up In A Box”.

In the first installment of our Start-Up In A Box articles, we’re looking at the importance of ensuring your technology solutions can grow with your business.

Most small businesses will reach a point in their journey where they outgrow themselves and start considering ways to raise more capital, expand to new markets and grow the team.

Making sure your start-up has considered scalable technology from the beginning is pivotal for when you reach this point.

Can your IT setup grow as quickly, and efficiently, as your company?

The pandemic taught us that keeping up with technology is crucial. Businesses can, and do, change overnight and having the right technology behind you is the only way to ensure you stay ahead of the curve.

When your business is starting out, it’s tempting to assume you’ll only need a couple of licences for the software you’ll be using. However, a few months down the line, you’ll almost certainly be hiring a handful of new employees and suddenly you’re paying above and beyond to give them the IT tools they’ll need to be operational.

It’s surprising how quickly your IT needs to be updated when you’re a growing company, so don’t set yourself up to fail with false economies at the outset. 

We’ve seen it time and time again, where brilliant, ambitious companies start out modestly and grow exponentially. Our client, Convex, is a great example – when we first started working with them they had a tight software portfolio of under 10, and we’re now managing a network in excess of 100 products and multiple licences. 

Cybersecurity geared to growing businesses

IT security is critical for businesses of all sizes. 

You’ve worked hard designing your product, recruiting new staff, creating a great brand and developing promotional campaigns – but what happens when it’s seriously compromised through one phishing attack, stolen device, failed back-up or an out-of-date firewall?

Ultimately, start-up businesses can be hit a lot harder by these security issues; losing money and data, destroying your reputation and setting your growth plans back by weeks or even months.

Cybersecurity shouldn’t be overlooked in the early stages of your business and protecting your business online can be achieved with any budget. We recommend installing software such as Sophos Intercept X Endpoint from the get-go, which is an advanced anti-malware suite offering both best-in-class endpoint protection and state-of-the-art endpoint detection and response (EDR).

Cloud-based solutions for ambitious start-up brands

Cloud-based solutions are a great choice for start-ups due to the scalable opportunities. With mobile access, the option to expand as your company grows, plus no storage overheads to worry about, the Cloud is the perfect solution for growing businesses.

Google Workspace is an ideal choice because it can provide you with everything you need and it will work seamlessly from any computer, phone or tablet. 

It includes all of Google’s most popular tools, like Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive, Meet and Calendar for business. By using a single suite of apps, you can reach your colleagues wherever they are, bring your projects to life, instantly save and share files, and securely manage your users, devices and data.

Using your tech budget wisely

When your business is just starting out, it can be difficult to know how much budget you should allocate to your technology. 

While you deal with clients, customers, employees, and supply chains – the last thing you want to worry about is whether your IT is going to work well enough to meet demand. However, if you allocate the right budget and put the time and effort in at the beginning, you can really help to save time, money and stress further down the line.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with IT. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out of it. A lack of IT investment will ultimately hold your company back and you may not even realise it’s happening.

Of course, there are plenty of free or low-cost software platforms that can help with the technology costs for small businesses, such as JumpCloud, Gsuite, Cloudfare and Guru. 

Seeking help from the experts is a good way to make sure you’re investing properly, while not overspending either.

The benefits of getting set up with Apple Business Manager

If you have several employees with multiple devices to manage, you might be considering mobile device management (MDM) or enterprise mobility management (EMM) tools for your start-up.

And if you primarily work with Apple products (which we’d always recommend), such as iPhones, iMacs, Macbooks or iPads, getting set up with Apple Business Manager is a great way to help run your IT systems effectively.

There are several benefits to using the Apple Business Manager. It means your IT support company, on your behalf, can:

• Configure and update all device settings
• Deploy apps in bulk 
• Monitor compliance to company policies 
• Query devices for settings and content
• Remotely wipe or lock devices if they are lost or stolen. 

At Dr Logic, we’re passionate about all things Apple and our engineers can help you get set up with Apple Business Manager from the start. 

Achieving tech success – advice from the experts

Achieving success won’t be easy if your business and teams are limited by the technology you’re using. As a young company, time wasted whilst trying to use the wrong tools for the job can significantly slow down progress and eventual profitability.

In particular, if your company’s staff are working remotely and flexibly it’s crucial that your IT infrastructure is properly installed and maintained – you’ll want to know that, regardless of where your staff are physically sitting, their work will be backed-up, secure from nefarious cyber-activity and they will have access to any information they need.  

Some companies have seen output boosted by 13% since launching a remote working policy, and with 62% of remote workers wanting employers to provide better technology to help them stay connected with their colleagues, there’s never been a better time to invest in your tech.  

With the proper Apple Mac IT business support, and a professionally outsourced IT solution, you’ll successfully be able to overcome any “growing pains” and continue to develop your business and realise your ambitions.
Need IT support for your Start-Up? Find out more about our IT Start-Up In A Box package. Or even better get in touch.