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(This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/mother99/jacksonholdingcompany.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114Imagine a Michelin-level chef setting up her kitchen. She chooses the best ovens, appliances, knives, and pans, putting thought into each decision. Yet she doesn\u2019t lose sight of their collective p\u2026 Read more on Cisco Blogs<\/a><\/p>\n \u200b[[{“value”:”<\/p>\n Imagine a Michelin-level chef setting up her kitchen. She chooses the best ovens, appliances, knives, and pans, putting thought into each decision. Yet she doesn\u2019t lose sight of their collective purpose: helping her create world-class entr\u00e9es.<\/p>\n\n That same focus on outcomes should be true with IT decision-making, for a restaurant or for any small or medium business (SMB). IT is a means to an end. Yet the technology can seem so complex that it\u2019s easy to get lost in technical details\u2014to make myopic decisions based on speeds and feeds.<\/p>\n Today it\u2019s more important than ever for business leaders to adopt a thoughtful decision-making process for their IT investments, and to maintain a clear focus on business outcomes.<\/p>\n SMBs are spending unprecedented sums on IT. Their global spend will reach $1.35 trillion in 2024 and keep growing by 5.7 percent annually through 2028, according to Techaisle. It\u2019s not because SMBs are flush with cash\u2014their budgets are as lean as ever. Their world is changing due to three main drivers:<\/p>\n Cybersecurity:<\/strong> Nearly 43 percent of cyber attacks now target SMBs, according to a recent Accenture cybercrime study<\/a>. Eighty-three percent of SMBs say that cybersecurity is their number-one challenge, according to a recent TechValidate survey<\/a>. It is clear to see, the stakes are high. So how can you make better business decisions around IT? Follow these five guidelines.<\/p>\n Smart decision-making about technology doesn\u2019t start with technology itself. Begin with the end in mind. A zoomed-out view leads to big-picture success. I recommend SMBs ask these questions to drive IT decisions:<\/p>\n How can we enable our employees and unleash their full potential? Mike\u2019s Bikes<\/a>, a regional chain of 16 bicycle shops and two distribution centers, took this outcomes-focused approach. Staff wanted to eliminate the frustrating process of manually printing price tags for thousands of products, which had to be changed with each sale or promotion. A simpler, more powerful network with Meraki MX security and SD-WAN appliances allowed them to transform this process with digital price tags, which also aligned with the company\u2019s sustainability goals.<\/p>\n \u201cGood enough\u201d security doesn\u2019t cut it anymore. Too much is at stake. But here\u2019s the challenge: SMBs with lean IT teams don\u2019t have the bandwidth to manage complex, advanced cybersecurity solutions or products from multiple vendors.<\/p>\n Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy<\/a> solved this challenge with Meraki MX for integrated networking and cloud-managed security that could meet their rapid growth. Without expanding their IT team, they were easily able to set up and deploy systems that manage sensitive data, with no compromises. Meraki gave them superior security across all of their existing locations (and eight new), with an integrated firewall that blocks 98 percent of malware, and is backed by Cisco Talos, one of the world\u2019s largest threat intelligence teams. Even better, Meraki secure networking proved easy to manage with a user friendly dashboard, giving complete network visibility.<\/p>\n These integrated solutions aren\u2019t limited to big businesses. Today they\u2019re available\u2014and necessary\u2014for SMBs to level up. It all starts with Meraki, the ideal foundation for secure and high-performance networking that delivers impressive business outcomes.<\/p>\n After you identify your current needs and challenges, look ahead to ones you may face in the future, known and unknown. With this perspective, choose IT solutions that won\u2019t become obsolete in six months and are scalable, expandable, and upgradeable. You\u2019ll be much better prepared for growth with cloud-delivered, cloud-managed agility\u2014what I call the \u201cinfinitely upgradeable cloud.\u201d<\/p>\n Once you have a foundational, secure network with Meraki, for example, you can effortlessly expand it to new locations. Through Meraki\u2019s platform approach, you can easily add smart security cameras that monitor foot traffic in a retail store, or IoT sensors that monitor temperature or detect water leaks in a warehouse.<\/p>\n Seeing firsthand what a product can do helps you visualize its uses for your business now and in the future. Demos and free trials are a smart way to see tech in action and ensure you\u2019re putting your budget to its best use. You can test drive Meraki with a free trial<\/a> to experience its cloud management and scalability. You can also explore a marketplace of integrated, third-party apps<\/a> to leverage your network in hundreds of new ways.<\/p>\n You can easily purchase a \u201cbox\u201d to meet an immediate need. Problem solved, but is it really? A one-off approach, repeated with a dozen vendors, leads to a cobbled together network that is unreliable and difficult to manage for small, resource-constrained IT teams. Underlying complexities persist, demanding a more comprehensive and sustainable solution.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen lots of businesses struggle with this. The answer is to prioritize scalable solutions (as mentioned above) but also converged solutions for simplicity and control. Combined networking and security is especially impactful. Today, SD-WAN and firewall security can be converged in a single device and managed through a single cloud dashboard. For businesses like Mike\u2019s Bikes, the Meraki dashboard transformed and simplified their day-to-day operations.<\/p>\n You need an IT consultant who listens. That\u2019s the advantage of working with a Cisco partner<\/a>. They will have strategic conversations with you about the challenges to solve and the business outcomes you want to achieve. Cisco partners bring a wealth of knowledge and access to the broadest portfolio of networking and security solutions in the world. A dedicated Cisco partner<\/a> can help you level up your business and expand your ideas of what\u2019s possible with top-notch solutions.<\/p>\n When I reflect on these five guidelines for SMB IT decision-making, all roads lead to Meraki. From the ground up, Meraki was designed for simplicity and scalability, combining superior security with the best network performance.<\/p>\n Think of Meraki technologies as the premier tools of your kitchen. Orchestrate them to cook up delightful new experiences for your customers and employees, and to develop new recipes for business growth and success.<\/p>\n We\u2019d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with #CiscoPartners on social!<\/p>\n Cisco Partners Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0@CiscoPartners X\/Twitter<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0Cisco Partners LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n “}]]\u00a0\u00a0Business leaders need a thoughtful decision-making process for their IT investments in order to maintain a clear focus on business outcomes. Stakes are high, so here are 5 guidelines to making better business decisions around IT.\u00a0\u00a0Read More<\/a>\u00a0Cisco Blogs\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" <\/p>\n Imagine a Michelin-level chef setting up her kitchen. She chooses the best ovens, appliances, knives, and pans, putting thought into each decision. Yet she doesn\u2019t lose sight of their collective p\u2026 Read more on Cisco Blogs<\/a><\/p>\n \u200b[[{“value”:”<\/p>\n Imagine a Michelin-level chef setting up her kitchen. She chooses the best ovens, appliances, knives, and pans, putting thought into each decision. Yet she doesn\u2019t lose sight of their collective purpose: helping her create world-class entr\u00e9es.<\/p>\n That same focus on outcomes should be true with IT decision-making, for a restaurant or for any small or medium business (SMB). IT is a means to an end. Yet the technology can seem so complex that it\u2019s easy to get lost in technical details\u2014to make myopic decisions based on speeds and feeds.<\/p>\n Today it\u2019s more important than ever for business leaders to adopt a thoughtful decision-making process for their IT investments, and to maintain a clear focus on business outcomes.<\/p>\n SMBs are spending unprecedented sums on IT. Their global spend will reach $1.35 trillion in 2024 and keep growing by 5.7 percent annually through 2028, according to Techaisle. It\u2019s not because SMBs are flush with cash\u2014their budgets are as lean as ever. Their world is changing due to three main drivers:<\/p>\n Cybersecurity:<\/strong> Nearly 43 percent of cyber attacks now target SMBs, according to a recent Accenture cybercrime study<\/a>. Eighty-three percent of SMBs say that cybersecurity is their number-one challenge, according to a recent TechValidate survey<\/a>. It is clear to see, the stakes are high. So how can you make better business decisions around IT? Follow these five guidelines.<\/p>\n Smart decision-making about technology doesn\u2019t start with technology itself. Begin with the end in mind. A zoomed-out view leads to big-picture success. I recommend SMBs ask these questions to drive IT decisions:<\/p>\n How can we enable our employees and unleash their full potential? Mike\u2019s Bikes<\/a>, a regional chain of 16 bicycle shops and two distribution centers, took this outcomes-focused approach. Staff wanted to eliminate the frustrating process of manually printing price tags for thousands of products, which had to be changed with each sale or promotion. A simpler, more powerful network with Meraki MX security and SD-WAN appliances allowed them to transform this process with digital price tags, which also aligned with the company\u2019s sustainability goals.<\/p>\n \u201cGood enough\u201d security doesn\u2019t cut it anymore. Too much is at stake. But here\u2019s the challenge: SMBs with lean IT teams don\u2019t have the bandwidth to manage complex, advanced cybersecurity solutions or products from multiple vendors.<\/p>\n Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy<\/a> solved this challenge with Meraki MX for integrated networking and cloud-managed security that could meet their rapid growth. Without expanding their IT team, they were easily able to set up and deploy systems that manage sensitive data, with no compromises. Meraki gave them superior security across all of their existing locations (and eight new), with an integrated firewall that blocks 98 percent of malware, and is backed by Cisco Talos, one of the world\u2019s largest threat intelligence teams. Even better, Meraki secure networking proved easy to manage with a user friendly dashboard, giving complete network visibility.<\/p>\n These integrated solutions aren\u2019t limited to big businesses. Today they\u2019re available\u2014and necessary\u2014for SMBs to level up. It all starts with Meraki, the ideal foundation for secure and high-performance networking that delivers impressive business outcomes.<\/p>\n After you identify your current needs and challenges, look ahead to ones you may face in the future, known and unknown. With this perspective, choose IT solutions that won\u2019t become obsolete in six months and are scalable, expandable, and upgradeable. You\u2019ll be much better prepared for growth with cloud-delivered, cloud-managed agility\u2014what I call the \u201cinfinitely upgradeable cloud.\u201d<\/p>\n Once you have a foundational, secure network with Meraki, for example, you can effortlessly expand it to new locations. Through Meraki\u2019s platform approach, you can easily add smart security cameras that monitor foot traffic in a retail store, or IoT sensors that monitor temperature or detect water leaks in a warehouse.<\/p>\n Seeing firsthand what a product can do helps you visualize its uses for your business now and in the future. Demos and free trials are a smart way to see tech in action and ensure you\u2019re putting your budget to its best use. You can test drive Meraki with a free trial<\/a> to experience its cloud management and scalability. You can also explore a marketplace of integrated, third-party apps<\/a> to leverage your network in hundreds of new ways.<\/p>\n You can easily purchase a \u201cbox\u201d to meet an immediate need. Problem solved, but is it really? A one-off approach, repeated with a dozen vendors, leads to a cobbled together network that is unreliable and difficult to manage for small, resource-constrained IT teams. Underlying complexities persist, demanding a more comprehensive and sustainable solution.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen lots of businesses struggle with this. The answer is to prioritize scalable solutions (as mentioned above) but also converged solutions for simplicity and control. Combined networking and security is especially impactful. Today, SD-WAN and firewall security can be converged in a single device and managed through a single cloud dashboard. For businesses like Mike\u2019s Bikes, the Meraki dashboard transformed and simplified their day-to-day operations.<\/p>\n You need an IT consultant who listens. That\u2019s the advantage of working with a Cisco partner<\/a>. They will have strategic conversations with you about the challenges to solve and the business outcomes you want to achieve. Cisco partners bring a wealth of knowledge and access to the broadest portfolio of networking and security solutions in the world. A dedicated Cisco partner<\/a> can help you level up your business and expand your ideas of what\u2019s possible with top-notch solutions.<\/p>\n When I reflect on these five guidelines for SMB IT decision-making, all roads lead to Meraki. From the ground up, Meraki was designed for simplicity and scalability, combining superior security with the best network performance.<\/p>\n Think of Meraki technologies as the premier tools of your kitchen. Orchestrate them to cook up delightful new experiences for your customers and employees, and to develop new recipes for business growth and success.<\/p>\n We\u2019d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with #CiscoPartners on social!<\/p>\n Cisco Partners Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0@CiscoPartners X\/Twitter<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0Cisco Partners LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\nWhy IT spending is accelerating for SMBs<\/h2>\n
\nRemote and hybrid work: <\/strong>Remote work is now fundamental to business operations. But diversified work locations require a much better network built for secure connectivity anywhere, for any user to any app or device.
\nTechnology as differentiator:<\/strong> SMBs recognize that technology is the key to their competitive advantage and growth. The network is their backbone, and they need to leverage it creatively and effectively to deliver amazing customer experiences.<\/p>\n5 tips for better IT decision-making for your business<\/h2>\n
1. Identify your desired business outcomes <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nHow can we enhance our workspaces for health, safety, and productivity?
\nHow can we deliver amazing customer experiences that set us apart?
\nHow can we empower our lean IT team to be more efficient and innovative?<\/p>\n2. Prioritize cybersecurity<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Choose scalable solutions to meet tomorrow\u2019s needs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Avoid solving point problems with point solutions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Find a long-term strategic partner to advise you<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cisco Meraki is built to deliver business results<\/h2>\n
Explore what\u2019s possible with Meraki<\/a><\/h2>\n
Why IT spending is accelerating for SMBs<\/h2>\n
\nRemote and hybrid work: <\/strong>Remote work is now fundamental to business operations. But diversified work locations require a much better network built for secure connectivity anywhere, for any user to any app or device.
\nTechnology as differentiator:<\/strong> SMBs recognize that technology is the key to their competitive advantage and growth. The network is their backbone, and they need to leverage it creatively and effectively to deliver amazing customer experiences.<\/p>\n5 tips for better IT decision-making for your business<\/h2>\n
1. Identify your desired business outcomes <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nHow can we enhance our workspaces for health, safety, and productivity?
\nHow can we deliver amazing customer experiences that set us apart?
\nHow can we empower our lean IT team to be more efficient and innovative?<\/p>\n2. Prioritize cybersecurity<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Choose scalable solutions to meet tomorrow\u2019s needs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Avoid solving point problems with point solutions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Find a long-term strategic partner to advise you<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cisco Meraki is built to deliver business results<\/h2>\n
Explore what\u2019s possible with Meraki<\/a><\/h2>\n