Do you have your finger on the pulse of your business’ subscriptions? Not many business owners do, and it can negatively impact operations and budget lines. This tech sprawl can get out of control, which is why your business needs a plan to combat it. Thankfully, we’re here to help you get your subscriptions under control… both the known and the unknown.
SaaS Sprawl is a Serious Problem
SaaS sprawl leads to a significant amount of wasted money, but beyond this issue, there are plenty of other challenges it presents:
Security
Unauthorized software can lead to security risks. For example, what if someone on your staff unbeknownst to you stored your business’ data on an unsecured server using a free service? That has all the makings of a potential data breach.
Productivity
If two different departments use different communications solutions, naturally there will be some disconnection between the two. This is how information becomes siloed, which creates more challenges for collaboration and gets in the way of productivity.
Compliance
In industries where regulation is expected and required (like healthcare and financial services), you can expect fines if you’re not using appropriate software.
Naturally, you want to avoid these issues if you can help it—and you can, provided you control your software.
Control Your Software with an Audit
First, Examine Your Finances
Step 1 is to look at your finances, business credit cards, expense reports, and so on to build a comprehensive list of all the tools your business uses. You’ll want to look at all the tools that have been installed, both past and present, and whether they were installed with permission or against company regulations.
Second, Analyze Your Software
Now that you have your list, it’s time to look at who is using it, how often, and whether it’s actually beneficial for their work. This is crucial to determine if the solution is helpful and functional in the context of your business. You might be overpaying for a solution that’s performing the same task as something else your business already uses.
Finally, Identify Potential Problems
If you find that there are redundant subscriptions or services that aren’t being utilized to their full potential, you now get to decide if it’s worth keeping them around or not. Once you find these subscriptions, you can reduce your spending and potentially use those funds in more effective ways.
Let Us Assist You!
An audit might help you determine unnecessary subscriptions, but you need a system in place to help you identify and prevent shadow IT and other unplanned and unbudgeted expenses from running rampant in your business. Fusion IT can work with your company to ensure all software licenses and applications are accounted for. Learn more by contacting us at (616) 828-5360 today.