Keeping your business running smoothly in 2024 requires having an understanding of IT and cybersecurity. Even though these two things may appear to be the same and have some overlap, they are quite different in their ultimate goals.
IT support has a focus on keeping the technology that exists within your business working and doing so efficiently. This means maintaining internet access, emails, networking business computers together to share resources, etc.
Cybersecurity is about making sure that the business’s digital assets and network are protected against threats both from within the business and from outside it.
This guide will help you navigate these fields and make informed decisions about which path best suits your needs.
What is IT Support?
IT support is what keeps the world turning in 2024. Whether it’s a small business with a single computer managing inventory or taking card payments or a large corporation managing hundreds of employees and the computers to go wit them, without IT support, it all comes screeching to a halt.
Day-to-Day Tasks
The day to day tasks that an IT support professional takes on may seem menial, but without the work they do, many businesses would come to a screeching halt.
Here are a handful of tasks that you can expect an IT support employee to handle:
- Computer errors
- Software glitches
- Software updates
- Backing up data
- Configuring new devices
- Internet connection failures
- Email access setup and troubleshooting
Required Skills
Before you hire someone to provide IT support for your business, you should know the basic skills that someone who fills this role should have.
Problem-solving is a key skillset that is required for this position, since the day to day tasks involve diagnosing and fixing problems efficiently as they arise. A fundamental understanding of how computers, networks, software, and hardware work is also required, because they will have to be able to adapt to what the company uses to operate. For example, when a company bases its computer system on Mac, it would be wise to hire someone who is proficient with MacOS.
Good customer service skills fit right in here, as well. Those who work in IT support need to have the patience to be able to deal with other co-workers that may be frustrated with technical issues that they’re facing.
Common Tools
Tools that are commonly used by IT professionals can include some of the following:
- Remote desktop software such as LogMeIn
- Ticketing systems like ZenDesk
- Network management tools
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity, on the other hand, is all about protecting the systems that the IT support person is managing. Safeguarding sensitive information and protecting devices and the network as a whole from unauthorized access is critical for the long term security of the business.
These threats could come in the form of unauthorized access or attacks from far away or they could come from within the business itself. Regardless of origin, the goal of cybersecurity is to prevent, detect, and respond to threats such as these.
Daily Tasks
While it may seem like cybersecurity professionals may have little to do on a day to day basis, the truth is that they’re constantly monitoring systems for signs of vulnerabilities.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a very true adage in the realm of cybersecurity. Setting up the systems for unauthorized access prevention takes up a significant amount of time, but is very worth it in the long run.
When an incident does occur, they jump into action with incident response, working quickly to contain and mitigate the damage. Penetration testing is another critical task, where cybersecurity experts simulate attacks on their own systems to find and fix weaknesses before real hackers can exploit them.
Required Skills
The required skills for this role is similar to that of IT support, but not entirely. While the fundamental knowledge of software, hardware, and networking must be there, a cybersecurity professional needs deeper understanding. They should have more in depth knowledge of things like encryption, ethical hacking, and have up to date information on the latest cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Common Tools
To best do their job, cybersecurity experts will use a variety of specialized software and hardware. One of the first lines of defense is having a great firewall setup between the business’s trusted network assets and the potential threats of the outside world.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are also important and provide real-time analysis of security alerts generated by other applications and network hardware.
Encryption software is another tool in their arsenal that they use to protect sensitive data and make sure that only authorized parties can access it.
IT Support & Cybersecurity Interdependencies
IT support and cybersecurity teams often work closely together, and both are critical to a company’s overall IT strategy. They will commonly work together in tandem to solve problems or identify vulnerabilities before they become a threat.
IT support might identify a suspicious issue that requires the cybersecurity department’s expertise to investigate further. Conversely, cybersecurity measures may depend on IT support professionals for implementing updates or patches that protect against vulnerabilities.
The interdependence between these teams highlights the importance of a cohesive approach to managing and securing IT systems, where both maintenance and protection are given equal priority.
Which One Does Your Business Need?
Deciding whether your business needs more IT support or a stronger focus on cybersecurity depends on several factors. Here’s a simple guide to help you assess your needs and make an informed decision.
Assessment Guide
The first thing that you need to do is determine what your business’s primary pain points are. Does your business seem to be constantly dealing with technical issues and system maintenance that no one on your team is currently qualified to deal with? Or does your business have an ethical or regulatory need to protect sensitive data from cyber threats?
Understanding your immediate pain points will help you determine where to focus your resources.
Size of Business
If you have a small business, you may be driven to find a single person to handle both IT support and basic cybersecurity. But, if you have a large business that handles large amounts of data, then you will definitely want to have at least one person dedicated to each of these disciplines.
Industry Requirements
Your industry’s security requirements should also carry a fair amount of weight in the decision you make. Various industries such as finance and healthcare are required by law to have security measures in place to protect customer and patient data, so taking care of cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the business is a must.
In contrast, industries with lower security requirements might focus more on IT support to ensure their systems and user operations run efficiently, although basic cybersecurity measures should never be overlooked by any business regardless of industry.
Existing Infrastructure
Is there already someone in your organization that can fulfill your IT support needs, even if that isn’t their only responsibility? A small business may need to have one person wear many hats. If this need is essentially already fulfilled, it may be time to go ahead and invest in cybersecurity.
Conversely, if your security protocols are solid but your team struggles with system maintenance and troubleshooting, enhancing your IT support could be the better choice. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your existing infrastructure will guide your decision.
Future Growth
Are you planning to expand your business? If so, you should consider what areas of your business you plan on expanding. If you want to handle more data or expand into digital services, you will want to strengthen your cybersecurity to better be able to protect this growth.
Alternatively, if your goal is to only increase your workforce, then investing in a more comprehensive IT support solution has to be on the table. You’ll have to be able to handle the increased demand on your system with little to no disruption.
Aligning your IT support and cybersecurity focus with your growth strategy ensures that your business remains both efficient and secure as it evolves.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored the essential roles of IT support and cybersecurity within a business, highlighting their unique purposes, required skills, and tools.
If you’re a business leader, take the time to assess your company’s specific needs carefully. Understanding whether you require more robust IT support or enhanced cybersecurity measures will help you make the right investment in your technology infrastructure.
If you need further consultation on how to bolster your business’s IT and cybersecurity strategies, LEAP Managed IT is here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out and take the next step toward securing your business.
