Technology pains of the small business

For most small businesses, the relationship between technology and the day-to-day business operations is strained, if not painful.

Unfortunately, the countless technology support options available can add to the confusion and frustration. Whether you're using a common Managed Service Provider (MSP) or the guy in the office that once set up his Grandmother's home network, we bet you look at the IT divisions of larger corporations with salivating envy, especially when your network goes off-line again.

If so, you're not alone. We think the following common IT pain points are epidemic for small- and medium-sized businesses today. Be prepared for that déjà vu feeling all over again.

Common pain points you may relate with:

You've spent too much time supporting your technology rather than that technology supporting your business.

Each technology failure, great or small, results in unacceptable levels of lost productivity, inconvenience and expense for you and your business.

It is difficult for you to anticipate and nearly impossible to plan for a technology breakdown.

You've cobbled together an information system that is less-than-efficient in meeting the needs of your growing business.

You've struggled to keep up with the mounting service contracts and warranty information for not only your computer technology, but also phones, Web hosting and other business equipment like your copiers and fax machines.

You're tired of talking to people in phone banks-in other countries.

You're repeatedly forced to pay for costly repairs/replacements that you know could have been avoided if the technology was better managed.

You often dream of having great IT support but it's simply not in the budget.