Do Small Businesses Need an IT Department? 

By: Aries Payne

IT departments are usually responsible for managing an organization’s computer, application, and communication infrastructure. Because information technology is the backbone of most companies, it’s common to see successful businesses with at least one employee or contractor dedicated to maintaining this infrastructure. Of course, as an organization grows, more people may be added to the team to support the staff and ensure the technology is functioning smoothly for regular business operations.

If you’re a startup, you may wonder if hiring an IT person is even necessary—especially in cases where you may not have employees or officially launched yet. However, while having an IT specialist or department is not a requirement to get your business off the ground, there are some considerations to keep in mind. 

IT Requirements for Small Businesses

Whether you require an IT department depends on the technology you’ll use for the business. The technology needs of a company will depend on its industry, products, and services, but some basic items may include: 

• Devices such as desktops, laptops, or tablets
• Productivity software such as Microsoft 365, project management apps, or other cloud-based solutions
• Business-specific tools such as point-of-sale (POS) systems 
• Secure Wi-Fi
• Firewall and Antivirus 
• Data backup and recovery tools
• Communication applications to support email, chat, video conferencing, or cloud-based phone systems

An IT professional can help you implement these technological needs. However, if you can set up and troubleshoot these things yourself, especially as a new organization without employees, you don’t necessarily need to hire someone just for this purpose. 

But, if you don’t feel confident about installing a new system or technology, you could also contract an IT consultant or temp and scale up as your business grows. 

When is it Time to Hire an IT Department?

This will differ for each startup, but here are a few signs that it’s time to bring in an IT professional to manage your business’ technology infrastructure: 

• Increased Workload: As your business grows, you might not have time to focus on troubleshooting IT tasks. Your staff may be spending more time configuring IT than their core duties. 
• Security Concerns: If your business uses and stores a significant amount of data, such as collected customer information, securing your business becomes even more important. An IT specialist would be able to assess any vulnerabilities and implement safeguards to keep this data safe.
• New or Complex Technology: If you’re introducing technology into your business that you don’t have much troubleshooting knowledge on, it’s useful to have someone on the team who can address any problems as they come up. 

Setting Up an IT Department for Your Business

Whether you should establish an IT department or hire an IT specialist for your business depends on its needs. Consider the technology you’re currently using and what you will likely use in the future. 

If you’re still unsure whether it would be cost-effective to hire an IT person for your startup or need help looking for alternative solutions, book an appointment with IT and Cybersecurity specialist, Brad Bricker. He can provide no-cost business consulting and help you develop a robust technology plan for your business.