Starting a business is an exciting journey, but many new business owners overlook critical IT steps that can make or break their success. From securing your business name and domain to ensuring long-term IT reliability, the right technology strategy will not only support your operations but also protect you from security risks, downtime, and costly mistakes.
Here’s what you need to do from an IT perspective to set up and sustain your business successfully.
1. Secure Your Business Name & Domain Before Telling Anyone
One of the biggest mistakes new business owners make is announcing their business name before securing key digital assets. Before you even tell friends and family about your idea, follow these steps:
- Register your business name to ensure legal ownership.
- Check domain name availability for .com, .com.au, .net, and other variations.
- Buy up all domain name variations to prevent competitors or bad actors from using them.
Why Domain Name Control Matters
FACT: If you don’t secure your business’s domain name variations, competitors can buy them and use them to advertise against you or push your business further down search engine rankings. By owning your domain variations, you control your online presence and protect your brand.
2. Invest in Quality IT Equipment for Longevity
When starting out, it’s tempting to buy cheap laptops and PCs to save costs, but this often leads to frequent replacements, performance issues, and security risks.
Consider the total cost of ownership when purchasing IT equipment:
| IT Equipment | Lifespan | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-cost, off-the-shelf laptop/PC | 1-2 years | Cheap upfront cost | Frequent replacements, poor security, slower performance over time |
| Business-grade PC/laptop | 3-5 years | Longer lifespan, better security, warranty options | Higher upfront cost but lower total cost over time |
Approved Systems provides Procurement and Lifecycle Services, ensuring you get IT equipment with long-term reliability and avoid hidden costs of frequent replacements.
3. Maintain Your PC – Security is More Than Just Running Apps
A common misconception is “If my PC runs fine, there’s no problem.” This is dangerous thinking—an unmaintained PC is a security risk.
Key Maintenance Essentials:
✅ Windows Updates & Security Patching – Fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
✅ Malware & Threat Detection – Beyond just free antivirus software.
✅ Regular Data Backups – Protect against ransomware and accidental data loss.
Approved Systems offers Support and Maintenance Packages that go beyond basic antivirus software. Unlike free, short-term virus scanners that come with new PCs, our solutions provide:
- Ongoing support and reporting to demonstrate that your PCs are maintained.
- Real-time threat monitoring and proactive fixes before issues arise.
4. Follow the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) Essential 8 Framework
The ACSC Essential 8 is the gold standard for business IT security. The most challenging (yet most critical) part is Application Whitelisting, and we have it covered.
Why Application Whitelisting is Critical
🔒 We blacklist everything and only allow trusted programs.
🚫 This stops malicious software from running, even if an employee accidentally downloads a fake program.
Many businesses fall victim to tainted software downloads, which silently install backdoors and allow hackers to infiltrate systems. Our managed security approach eliminates this risk.
5. Be Proactive, Not Reactive – The Value of Managed IT Services
Many businesses wait until something breaks before they take IT seriously. This reactive approach is costly and risky. A Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) like Approved Systems ensures your IT is continuously monitored and maintained, reducing unexpected problems and downtime.
FACT: Appreciate Your MSP – You Don’t Realize Their Value Until Something Breaks
Many businesses underestimate the role of their MSP because when everything works smoothly, it seems like nothing is happening. The truth is, we are working constantly behind the scenes to keep your business running without issues.
🛑 When IT works perfectly, we’re undervalued.
⚠️ When IT breaks, we’re undervalued again because fixing complex issues takes time.
🔑 A proactive MSP is worth more than the cost of hiring technicians to fix problems after they happen. The cost of IT downtime can be far greater than the cost of preventive maintenance.
Secure Your Business IT the Right Way with Approved Systems
Starting a business is challenging enough—don’t let IT be your weakest link. Whether you need help securing domains, choosing the right hardware, maintaining security, or implementing the Essential 8, Approved Systems has solutions tailored for your business.
🚀 Set up your IT right from the start. Get in touch with Approved Systems today.
📞 Contact Us | 🌐 www.approvedsystems.com.au