Whether you run a small business or manage IT for an enterprise, you’re likely aware that keeping technology costs under control can be a constant battle.
Operating a business is expensive. From buying office furniture to paying employees, every penny counts. Similarly, keeping IT costs in check for a large enterprise can be difficult, too. In fact, Gartner predicts that global IT spend will rise to $4.5 trillion this year – and increase of 5.5% from 2021. There are so many different systems and so many people with different needs, it’s no wonder IT expenses are so high.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to bring your IT costs under control and reduce your IT expenses.
Are you overspending on IT?
One of the most common issues when it comes to managing IT costs is over-estimating the necessity of certain tools and applications. After all, if you had the money and resources, you’d probably spend money on whatever application or tool you wanted to.
However, this isn’t the case for every business. Some may have the money to burn, but not the sense to do so.
In these cases, the best thing to do is to identify where you’re overspending and try to find other, more cost-effective ways to meet your needs.
Turn to server virtualisation
Virtualisation can reduce the costs of maintaining multiple physical environments by allowing you to test out different virtual versions of your apps and hardware before you deploy it in the real world.
An example of virtualisation tech is Microsoft Hyper V, a hypervisor-based virtualisation that enables you to consolidate your business’ servers onto fewer machines, which in turn provides a more cost-effective way to deliver IT services.
Virtualisation software has many benefits that can help your business with everyday operations. It will save space on physical premises by running multiple operating systems on one physical server, as well as simplifying data management by storing it all in one place, which can then be backed up more easily and protected against cyber-attacks.
Other cost-effective benefits include:
Mobility: virtual machines can be easily moved onto new hardware. Microsoft Hyper V, for example, allows you to move your virtual machines from on-premise servers to the cloud.
Flexibility: new virtual machines can be stood up very quickly, providing you with better agility if you need to deploy a new app or service quickly.
Cost-saving: using virtual machines reduces the number of physical systems your business requires. This has a domino effect of reducing your energy consumption, which in turn reduces your energy bill and carbon footprint.
Resources: multiple virtual services can run on one host. If your business has a smaller workload, you can potentially reduce your physical servers that cost thousands of dollars for the same output and much better use of resources.
Uptime: Microsoft Hyper V allows maintenance to be performed on systems with little to no downtime, as well as providing greater resiliency in the event of a hardware failure.
Invest in the right software and hardware
Investing in the right software and hardware for your business can help you save money in the long run. There are many different options available to suit your needs.
When you are deciding what kind of computer system or phone your business needs, you will be able to avoid overspending on items that would not work for your company’s specific requirements. You should also keep an eye out for new technologies – especially if they are a little more expensive than what you already have, but offer better quality or increased efficiency that may make up for the price difference.
The right software and hardware investments will last a long time and allow your employees to work efficiently and productively, saving you from constantly upgrading.
Utilising the cloud
Cloud computing has become increasingly common in recent years. However, the concept of outsourcing IT infrastructure has been around for a long time.
Cloud computing simply takes this concept to the next level by providing you with flexible, virtualised infrastructure that can be scaled up or down as your needs change. As a result, you can scale your IT infrastructure on a pay-as-you-go basis.
This can reduce your IT costs by allowing you to scale your computing needs on demand, helping you avoid having excess hardware and IP addresses that are only needed for a short period of time.
Outsource to an MSP
Businesses of all sizes can have a difficult time finding the right IT solutions. In many cases, it’s not until a business grows that it realises how much it costs to maintain IT — and how difficult it is to find IT infrastructure and solutions that both benefits the business and is cost-effective.
That’s where managed services providers (MSPs) can help. These companies provide a range of services, from helping you choose the right software and hardware, to migrating your data to the cloud, to monitoring your network endpoints.
MSPs largely don’t offer a one-size-suits-all solution; the right managed service will provide you with IT support that suits your business needs, whether that’s fully managed support, or co-managed solutions.
Find a cost-effective solution for your business
In short, you can reduce your IT costs by operating more efficiently and reducing the amount of infrastructure you need to run your apps. This can be accomplished through virtualisation, open-source software and outsourcing to an MSP. Start by identifying where you’re overspending and trying to find more cost-effective ways to meet your needs.
The IT experts at Muscatech have all the knowledge, tools, and expertise to collaborate with you in finding the perfect cost-effective IT solutions for your business. Talk to them today and find out how you can save while boosting your business’ workflows and efficiency.