A dedicated IT department may be necessary for a business when the organization’s reliance on technology increases and the need for technical expertise and support becomes critical to its operations and growth. IT may be necessary for companies that handle sensitive customer data or require compliance with strict regulations, such as HIPAA or PCI-DSS.
Furthermore, as the business grows, the IT infrastructure becomes more complex and sophisticated, and the need for specialized IT personnel to manage and maintain it increases. A dedicated IT department can provide the necessary expertise to ensure the smooth and secure operation of the company’s technology systems.
Finding individuals with the necessary skills and expertise to manage and maintain the company’s technology systems can be a challenge for smaller businesses. These businesses may not have the resources to attract and retain highly skilled IT professionals, or they may not have the budget to invest in an in-house IT department.
As a result, smaller businesses may rely on outsourced IT services or a single IT professional to handle their technology needs. While this may be sufficient for basic IT needs, it can limit the business’s ability to take full advantage of technology and may not provide the expertise and support required for more complex technology systems.
Additionally, smaller businesses may have difficulty properly implementing the necessary business management to focus an IT department. This may include not having defined roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes for the IT staff, lack of proper IT policies, or not having IT budget allocation.
Such lack of management structure can lead to inefficiency, miscommunication and lack of accountability which can lead to technical issues not being resolved promptly and can affect overall business operations and growth. A dedicated IT department with a proper management structure can provide the necessary support and expertise to help small businesses achieve their goals and stay competitive in their industry.
The skills your IT department needs and average salaries
When considering the structure of an IT department, it is essential to consider the business’s unique requirements. However, an effective IT department should generally have a solid infrastructure to ensure the smooth operation of technology systems. This may include a defined organizational structure with designated roles and responsibilities, established IT policies and procedures, and an allocated budget for the department. Additionally, there should be a strong focus on management and communication within the department and a commitment to ongoing education and training for staff to ensure they possess the necessary skills and expertise to support the business’s technology needs. With the proper infrastructure, an IT department can provide the essential support and expertise to help a company achieve its goals and stay competitive in its industry.
Consider the Robert Half Salary Guide statistics from 2021 for Melbourne-based resources at the 75th salary percentile:
- IT Helpdesk Support / Desktop Support: $70,000/year or $5,833/month
- Systems Administrator: $95,000/year or $7,916/month
- IT Manager / Head of IT: $150,000/year or $12,500/month
- IT Security Specialist: $165,000/year or $13,750/month
- Chief Information Officer/Chief Technology Officer: $325,000/year or $27,083/month
Having an IT department with two IT Helpdesk and one Systems Administrator, IT Manager, IT Security Specialist, and a CIO to bring it all together becomes cost-effective from a financial perspective when you reach the 400-staff mark if you have the right people in place.
Qamba IT’s Outcome solution distils these skills for consumption of smaller businesses starting from 15 users.
As an IT Support for Business service provider, we focus on a specific outcome or deliverable rather than the number of hours worked. In comparison, a salaried employee must perform a set number of hours.
Which would you prefer for your business?
