Oregon has become a haven for startups. During the first half of last year, the Beaver State broke into the top ten states for new startups seeking financing, pulling ahead of Colorado, Georgia, Virginia and Michigan, according to the Gust Startup Funding Trends 2016 Mid-year Report. The state’s vibrant tech sector is driving this activity, encouraging entrepreneurial activity. But getting your tech infrastructure installed can be a hurdle for some start-ups. In addition to the struggle to get set up, there’s the challenge of planning for future scaling activity as your company expands. Here are four tips for getting your tech infrastructure installed on the right foot to lay a solid foundation for future growth.
Get a 5G-Ready Mobile Device
If you want to future-proof your tech infrastructure for scaling up, one essential piece of equipment is a 5G-ready mobile device. Super fast 5G wireless services up to 1,000 times faster than current connection speeds are coming faster than originally anticipated. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon mobile processors are specifically designed to handle fifth-generation speeds, as well as support other cutting-edge technology such as Quick Charge recharging and secure biometric authentication. Getting a mobile device with a modem and processor equipped for 5G will ensure that your business is ready to enjoy the advantages of fifth-generation networks as they become available over the next few years.
Set up a Cloud-based Infrastructure
If you plan to scale up your IT operations as you grow, your most cost-efficient option is a cloud-based infrastructure. Using remote cloud servers allows you to scale up your file storage space and hosting capability in proportion to your growth, saving you the cost of on-site IT set-up, licensing, maintenance, rental space and utilities. The cost savings can be significant, with Gartner estimating that an optimized cloud infrastructure can translate into 14 percent savings on average. Today’s top cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) providers include Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, Rackspace and IBM Bluemix.
Install Your Core Apps
Just as a cloud-based infrastructure makes it easy to scale up your IT, cloud apps provide you with a scalable software base. Cloud apps can be accessed from anywhere with a mobile device, allowing you to manage your business remotely or hire remote workers as your staff needs expand. You can use the cloud to handle your communication and collaboration needs by adopting a cloud-based office suite such as Microsoft Office 365, Google G Suite or LibreOffice ownCloud. A cloud-based accounting service such as QuickBooks Online, Xero or Wave can provide a platform for integrating all your finance-related functions, including transaction processing, expense reporting, inventory management and tax preparation.
Create an Automatic File Backup Procedure
A file backup system is a crucial part of any company’s tech infrastructure. Backing up your files regularly protects you from data loss due to hackers, power outages, equipment failures or other emergencies. A best practice is to follow the 3-2-1 backup rule, creating three copies of your files using at least two different media, with at least one copy stored away from your physical premises in the event of a local disaster. For instance, you might create one backup copy on an external drive and one on a remote cloud server. You can store up to 4 or 5 terabytes of data on an external drive from a provider such as Western Digital or Seagate. To automatically schedule remote backups, you can use a cloud backup service such as Backblaze, CrashPlan or Carbonite.
While it may seem daunting, correctly setting up the technological infrastructure for your company will pay off once you see growth. Just be scrupulous in your product research and make sure to cover all the bases.
