September 27, 2023
How an MSP can prevent buzzwords from harming your business
The information and communications technology (ICT) sector is a hive of buzzwords and new trends; from SD-WAN and SASE to ZTNA and SIEM. These acronyms and similar phrases are bandied about on a daily basis by tech companies, but how should you know which ones are actually useful for your company?
A managed service provider (MSP) is a great partner to have when it comes to ICT and tech trends, as they will be able to give you advice on what buzzwords to pay attention to and which ones you can completely ignore. SEACOM offers managed services to companies in South Africa, as well as a range of ICT services geared towards large enterprises.
Why buzzwords can harm your company
Buzzwords and acronyms can lead companies down a slippery slope, chasing the latest tech trends to remain competitive. If these new tools don’t actually deliver any value, then you could be wasting your time and money. It seems that new acronyms and tech trends are created every month, and while many of them are worth investigating and learning about, not all of them are relevant to your business.
These game-changing tools could completely transform your company, but only if they are installed and deployed correctly, with the right foundations and expert team to ensure that they run properly. Any business that hastily sets up new technologies just to remain relevant could be getting themselves into deep financial and reputational trouble.
Ensure that your company can actually extract value from the latest technologies. Do some research to find out how similar companies are using these tools or speak to your MSP about the costs and benefits of implementing these new ICT services. Your IT managers should have a good idea of what tech could be useful, but SEACOM is always on hand for advice and guidance.
Example of a tech trend’s relevance
To illustrate the argument, consider edge computing - one of the latest buzzwords in the industry. This trend moves computing power from a data centre to edge devices, which allows for faster data processing and decision-making. However, not every enterprise will benefit from edge computing.
The data analytics used in this computing model relies heavily on the efficacy of the data collected at the source. If the data is incomplete or if you do not have the right technology to properly analyse it, you could easily misinterpret the information and make poor business decisions. If you don’t understand the data, you won’t reap the benefits, even if it’s processed at the edge with minimal latency.
The right MSP will be able to recommend switching to edge computing, based on your business requirements and computing infrastructure. SEACOM can advise on whether these tech trends are actually worth pursuing before setting up a plan to implement them on behalf of your company.
What if the buzzwords are relevant?
Once your MSP or ICT partner confirms that a certain tech trend is worth pursuing, then create a 12-month plan to adopt the technology. This slow rollout ensures that a solid foundation is built and that the process is not rushed. A well-built foundation leads to reliable IT infrastructure, which maximises the benefits in the long run and helps your company adapt to new technologies in the future.
While you may think that you’ll be missing out on the benefits of a new tech trend if you wait a year to implement it fully, the truth is that a good technology service will remain relevant and useful for many years to come. Some of these tools can help your business stay ahead of the curve, even if the tech was launched over a year ago.
When implementing any new technology, there are three key areas to consider. Firstly, cyber security must take precedence. This includes security best practices, authentication and data privacy. Think about the consequences if your company is hacked and your customers’ data is leaked.
Secondly, consider the integrity and quality of this data. Appoint a quality assurance employee who can oversee the quality of data collected and how it is used. This should be an ongoing practice, so a dedicated data steward may be necessary.
Thirdly, make sure you employ the right people with the right knowledge of the new tech. If this proves to be too challenging, then work alongside an MSP. SEACOM has a skilled team with years of expertise in various ICT sectors, including connectivity, cloud, security, communications and networking.
This will ensure that your company makes the most of its tech investments and that you’re not going down the wrong path in pursuit of buzzwords. For more information about our ICT services or to get a quote, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.
SEACOM owns Africa’s most extensive network of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including subsea cables and secure internet connections. We offer a diverse range of flexible, scalable and high-quality solutions for businesses that meet world-class standards for connectivity.
SEACOM is privately owned and operated, making it agile and adaptable to the needs of the customer. This makes us the preferred ICT and internet connectivity partner for African businesses and peripheral service providers. We can guarantee high-speed, low-latency and secure internet connections to corporates and small enterprises.
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