The status of the technologically-minded type known as geeks or nerds rose dramatically when the world at large realised that these people understood things that most people didn’t. Although these terms were initially used to make fun of these amateurs who achieve expert status while remaining far from ‘cool’, they have now stabilised as words indicating a substantial degree of respect. With almost everyone now having at least a smartphone and probably also a laptop or tablet, we can’t always get to do what we want; having access to a “techie”, to use a more respectful description, is very useful indeed. Older people joke about needing a teenager to sort out their devices, but there is a lot of truth in it.
The trouble is, having a natural inclination towards this kind of thing doesn’t make anyone a genuine expert. It brings the prospect of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, because your friendly local geek is likely to be making it up as they go along, while the software developers are turning out ever more sophisticated work, and the criminal element is racing to keep up and be able to hack systems and beat safety mechanisms.
As nice as it is to be able to send and receive money, book a restaurant and do a business deal online, all of these things involve disclosing personal information, and there is a risk involved, so it’s important to trust the IT person you choose.
The Difference Between a Hobbyist and a Certified Technician
A hobbyist can get plenty done with technology, but they are not proper, bona fide experts. They have a natural flair for this, but not the in-depth knowledge that makes them the people to go to in times of trouble. For that, you need a certified technician. Professionals have studied technology, gaining a thorough grounding that gives them a perspective on things and the wisdom to know there are dangers lurking around every technological corner.
Why Business Grade IT Requires More Than Just Hardware Knowledge
Business-grade IT requires knowledge of more than just the hardware and software. It demands inside information about workarounds, which can be for good and bad. A good workaround enables you to get something done when an obstacle is in your way. A bad workaround enables someone else to make all your good work redundant.
In business, the stakes are often higher than in someone’s personal life. There is more money at stake, along with reputations, careers and livelihoods. It is why governments, including Australia’s, work in tandem with global brands such as Microsoft to protect the interests of their country and its enterprises, because wreaking havoc with businesses has a knock-on effect that can destabilise an entire economy.
The Importance of Insurance, Warranties, and Local Accountability
In addition to having the right level of professional expertise at your disposal, it is essential to make sure the basic safeguards are in place. Insurance exists for a reason: because it doesn’t matter how careful or clever you are, things can go wrong through natural causes and malicious ones. In addition, while modern technological devices are on the whole reliable, there will always be the odd rogue one and if it is covered by a warranty, at least you have some comeback to start to get your business back on track.
Accountability is an important aspect of business, at a local level as well as on a wider scale. It means it is in other people’s interests to look after your interests.
Building a Long-Term Partnership with Your Tech Support
Just as a motor racing enterprise must have access to the finest minds in technological development and support, so any business needs an IT firm it can rely on, and the closer the relationship, the more the professional techies know about your operation – the better the support and the safer you are.
You don’t just need a friendly geek or a nephew who’s a bit of a nerd: you need a highly trained, certified firm of geeks on your side, like our team at Nerds 2 You, so get in touch to see how we can help.
