Scaling Your IT: What Growing Businesses Need Beyond the Essentials
Introduction
In the first/previous article of our IT Ops for Growing Businesses series, we talked about Building Scalable IT Foundations for Pre-Start-ups: What You Need Before You Launch. Your business has moved past the start-up phase. You have a team of 5 to 30 employees, and the essentials, banking systems, domains, websites, emails, productivity suites are in place.
Now, the challenge is consistency, security, and scalability. At this stage, IT isn’t just about enabling work; it’s about protecting your assets, maintaining brand integrity, and ensuring smooth collaboration.
1. Backup & Restore Solutions
Data loss can cripple a growing business. Implement automated backups for files, emails, and critical systems. Cloud-based solutions with version history and disaster recovery options are essential.
It is bad enough losing a photo that you liked or a document that you’ve accidentally deleted or moved who knows where. Now imagine years worth of work.
But you ask, how often is it likely to happen? Is it really going to affect me?
It happens common enough. Sometimes it is accidently deleted, or purposefully deleted but not communicated. Sometimes it is due to scams or hackers. And sometimes (this is a rare one), the lithium-ion batteries in your data centre, could explode, destroying your entire server rack. This did actually happen. On September 26, technicians within South Korea’s government data centre were relocating lithium-ion batteries in the NIRS data centre. Forty minutes later, the batteries exploded, causing a blazing inferno and destroying the servers which were core to 163 public-facing services, holding everything from import and export certifications to product safety checks, according to reports. They did not have a backup. Insane, we know.
Now, you’re unlikely to have a data centre, but you are likely using cloud storage, which is in a data centre somewhere. So picking a reputable solution is recommended.
2. Telephony & Communication Tools
Your team needs reliable communication and by this point you probably are already using Microsoft Teams, or Google Meets which are included in your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace productivity and collaboration suite. Zoom became highly popular during the lockdowns, but honestly we don’t see the point in adding another software to your stack, let alone another cost.
However at your scale, you’ll be wanting phone numbers for your team to make and receive calls either directly or through call flows (round-robin calling or specified order) and in their basic versions Teams or Google Meets don’t offer this.
You may see the term VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) basically using the internet rather than how traditional telephony worked, connecting all of your phone extensions and routing them to a public phone network via PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). On this point it seems right to mention that communication providers are upgrading the technology they use to provide landline and telephone services with a fully digital network. As part of this upgrade, the existing network called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) will be withdrawn by January 2027. This is a Gov UK backed project.
There are many VoIP solutions out there, to name a few, 3CX known for its affordability, RingCentral for its reputable customer size, and Dialpad for their AI transcripts. You can upgrade your Microsoft Teams licence to get a phone number, or similar to WhatsApp, you can add an existing number to Google Meets to receive calls.
The worst thing about being on the phone with someone? When the line keeps dropping in and out, which is why you’re going to want to choose a reliable VoIP provider, and if you’re in an office, you may want to consider network cabling your desks rather than solely relying on Wi-Fi.
3. Email Signatures & Brand Consistency
Every email is a brand touchpoint. Standardised email signatures with logos, disclaimers, and contact details reinforce professionalism and compliance. You can even add marketing too.
4. Device Management
With more employees, managing laptops, tablets, and phones becomes complex. Mobile Device Management (MDM) as it is traditionally known, or also known as today as Modern Device Management tools help enforce security policies, push updates, and remotely wipe lost devices. This solution can also be a major help when it comes to asset management for financial purposes as it makes sense to store warranty notes here for a support perspective.
5. Asset Management
Track hardware, software licenses, and warranties. A centralised asset management system prevents overspending and ensures compliance.
Why This Matters
At this stage, IT is about reducing risk, improving efficiency, and creating a unified experience for your team and clients. If you’re growing investing in these areas now saves headaches later and positions your business for sustainable growth. If you’re comfortable, but interested in creating savings, you may also find the answers in reviewing the systems we’ve mentioned.
Walker & Munns exists to help businesses take control of their IT. Through strategic guidance, genuine advice, and professional services, we empower organisations to move from reactive support to proactive, long-term solutions.
Whether you’re scaling, modernising, or simply trying to get more value from your IT investment, Walker & Munns is here to help you build the right foundations for success.
Get in touch today to ensure your business is getting the IT support it deserves!