Small business owners wear many hats, often including that of an IT director.
With limited time and resources to devote to technology, busy entrepreneurs can often make technology errors that have devastating effects on their business finances, reputation, and productivity — though free resources like SCORE, which offers mentoring and workshops for small business owners, can help.
Fortunately, there are also steps — including the right tech investments — that a small business can take to avoid common pitfalls and grow their business. Here's a closer look at the four most common small business tech mistakes entrepreneurs make and how to avoid them.
1. Neglecting cybersecurity measures
Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated by the day, and cybercriminals aren't just targeting big corporations.
Last year, 26% of small businesses experienced a security breach, 16% experienced a data breach, and 39% experienced both, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). Even more staggering, the number of businesses that lost $500,000 or more due to these attacks more than doubled in 2024 compared to 2023.
To protect your business, follow these cybersecurity best practices:
2. Using outdated hardware or software
Outdated technology can slow your business down and compromise security. Stay competitive by keeping your devices and other business technology updated — ideally with modern, business-grade solutions from trusted partners like Lenovo.
Use these tips to stay on top of having the right technology for your business:
3. Choosing the wrong technology
Whereas some business owners cling to outdated tools, others invest in new technology without considering how it fits into their workflow.
Avoid falling into this common pitfall by ensuring all your tech spending aligns with business goals. Use the following strategies to help prioritize technology investments that drive productivity and revenue:
4. Not backing up data or having a disaster recovery plan
Cyberattacks, hardware failures, and disasters can cripple businesses that don't regularly back up their data or have infrastructure in place to recover lost data.
Don't take the risk. Follow these steps to implement a strong data backup and disaster recovery plan:
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This post was created by Lenovo and SCORE with Insider Studios.
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