At Risc IT Solutions, we frequently encounter businesses struggling to optimise their limited IT budgets. Factors such as resource constraints, the need to prioritise immediate operational expenses, and heightened vulnerability to market fluctuations often lead to less-than-ideal budgeting for technology. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, it’s essential that every penny spent on IT contributes to business security, overall efficiency and success. By understanding these challenges, businesses can better navigate their IT investments. In this blog, we’ll explore the five biggest IT budget wasters and how to avoid them.

1. Underutilised Licences

Purchasing comprehensive software licences in bulk often leads to wasted resources. Many businesses find themselves with unused licences and features that don’t align with the needs of their users. Conducting an audit of what you currently have and what tools your users actually need and use will ensure you have an optimised set up making your budget work harder for you.

2. Redundant Systems

Having multiple systems that perform the same function drains both your resources and your budget. We’re advocates of not putting all your eggs in one basket, but many organisations don’t realise they’re doubling up. Understanding what your products do and what functionality you’re not utilising is the first step to preventing this. Streamlining your technology stack not only reduces costs but also simplifies processes, making it easier for your team to work efficiently. Conducting a thorough review of your systems to identify redundancies and consolidate where possible.

3. Inefficient Cloud Setup

While Cloud servers offer flexibility and scalability, without proper setup and management, they can quickly become very expensive. Getting the best setup at the best prices requires deep knowledge of Cloud servers as well as their licensing and pricing. Auditing your setup with an experienced provider is a brilliant starting point for reducing costs.

4. Outdated Systems

Maximising your investment in existing technology is important, but pushing outdated systems to their limits becomes inefficient and expensive to maintain. Knowing the right time to leave behind your dated systems and move into futureproof ones can be tricky. Get it right and it will benefit your budget and your business. The key is to regularly evaluate your technology to determine when it’s time to upgrade.

5. Under-resourced IT Team

A small IT team stretched to capacity can struggle to keep up with the demands of the business. This often leads to inefficiencies and a reactive approach to IT issues. Investing in a well-resourced IT team can help streamline operations, improve efficiency, and keep your systems running smoothly. Investing in your IT team (whether it’s in-house or outsourced) can seem counterintuitive when you’re watching your budget, but will pay dividends in the long run.

If any of these points resonate with you, Risc IT Solutions is here to help. As the IT partner of choice for hundreds of internal IT teams, we bring:

• Deep expertise
• Over 20 years of experience
• A commitment to first-class service

With a 92% customer satisfaction score, we’re proud to be 20% higher than the average business.

Interested in how we can help your business thrive? Fill in the form below to get the ball rolling.