Survival Strategies for Small IT Shops - Business Strategy - Network Computing

Survival Strategies for Small IT Shops - Business Strategy - Network ComputingExecutive Summary Helpdesk technician, security manager, Web site administrator, new technology research department, hardware support staff...in a small company, all these roles and more may fall to a single IT professional. But when the requests for new monitors and network logons pile up, the server goes down, a major worm strikes and someone asks for help loading paper into the copy machine, it's enough to make even a hardboiled veteran feel like the last person standing in the Alamo. The answer doesn't have to be a case of Red Bull and a sleeping bag tucked discreetly underneath your workbench. In this installment of Affordable IT, Network Computing business editor Andrew Conry-Murray takes a close look at how IT shops with one to three people manage day-to-day operations, keep users trained, address security issues and keep end users and bosses happy--and themselves from going crazy. While a small company may not be able to adopt every best practice followed by larger enterprises, a few smart tips can make a big difference.