5 IT skills to help your business grow
Over the past decade, the importance of IT skills to business has become ever more apparent.
For the humble technophobe however, getting to grips with IT is easier said than done. Whilst some business leaders are savvy when it comes to making emerging tech work for their business, others simply don’t have a clue when it comes to IT skills.
To give all business professionals a proverbial leg-up when it comes to computing, here are five IT skills all businesses that want to grow, should know.
1. Implement a top-to-bottom virtualisation platform
Given the energy consumption and resources needed to operate a server room, IT developers have long sought ways to streamline and condense the hardware requirements for businesses and organisations. Until recently, an alternative seemed unlikely, but then developers had quite the breakthrough.
Virtualisation is the process of implementing a combination of hardware and software to create Virtual Machines, or VMs as they’re more commonly known. This combination allows for a single machine to undertake the duties of many machines, thus eliminating the need for additional hardware.
Though complex, virtualisation could save businesses a fortune in operating costs, as well as dramatically reduce the impact their business has on the environment.
2. Get to grips with cloud computing
These days, most – if not all – of us have heard of cloud computing. Developed in the early 2000s, the technology enables businesses to operate application software from internet-enabled devices for the purpose of storage, accessibility, collaboration, security, networking and database management.
For companies that implement a cloud-based infrastructure, the tech offers seamless start-up, easy management and less maintenance than outdated hardware. Most businesses we speak to cite ease of use as the primary factor for switching to cloud computing, but it’s cost-effective too. Take a look at our guide to making cloud computing work.
3. Do business anywhere with Windows Server 2012
As cloud computing and virtualisation come to the fore, businesses are being given great flexibility in the way they operate day-to-day. With more employees working remotely from home or during business trips, businesses need to adopt tech that allows users to work on an assortment of devices wherever they may be.
Enter Windows Server 2012, a powerful, scalable server that lets staff access the files they require remotely, without compromising data security. This technology allows users to access a veritable goldmine of information and data that can be used to gain wins and stay ahead of the competition.
4. Store more with NetApp
No other data management organisation has taken the power of the cloud further than NetApp. With a complete range of products tailored to providing a dependable, bulk-storage solution for businesses, hundreds of businesses rely on NetApp to provide an on-tap solution for storing sensitive company data.
Using NetApp’s Unified Storage architecture, companies big and small can consolidate large volumes of data whilst cutting down on power consumption and operating costs. For businesses that implement NetApp, there are a number of training courses available from providers such as Fast Lane, to help IT generalists get to grips with the technology.
5. Troubleshoot with a network analyser
With such a large volume of data flowing in and out of a network at a given time, security, reliability and consistency are imperative to the success of online businesses. That’s why it’s vital business owners learn and understand how to use a network analyser to monitor the traffic that passes over their digital network.
Not only can this increase data centre security, but it also allows users to exploit specific traffic trends – and could effectively help drive conversions. One of the world’s most popular network analysers is Wireshark, a free open-source tool that lets users inspect their network at a microscopic level.
