Did you know the term “IT” comes from an article written in 1958? It was the first time the term was used and defined for others to understand. Over the years, IT or “information technology” has evolved, and in this blog, we will explore the meaning and history of IT, as well as how it can positively impact your business.
Information technology is when we use computers to create, process, retrieve, store, and exchange all types of electronic information and data. The IT sector used to be primarily about installing hardware and software; IT is much more comprehensive today.
For example, IT professionals are not just maintaining your networks and devices to support service levels, connectivity, and security. They are implementing and managing modern technologies that can better accommodate how your business operates. We will examine this, but first, let us take a quick look at the history of IT.
How It All Began
Before the modern computer arrived, some tools like the abacus helped people deal with complex tasks. Programming came to be in the 1800s. One of the first computers invented was the Analytical Engine, designed to be the world’s first general-purpose computer. However, it was never truly used. It was not until 1890 that an American inventor and statistician, Herman Hollerith, started a company to build computers, later renamed International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), in 1924.
Computers continued to evolve (think Apple, NEC, Microsoft and more), and so did the development of the IT field. Many parts were born and involved in the IT revolution, including:
- The computer monitor
- The computer mouse
- Hard drives
- Fibre optics
- Text editors
- Integrated circuits
- Programming languages like FORTRAN and COBOL
What used to be a field dominated by mathematicians became employed by various technology professionals with different skill sets and backgrounds, such as cybersecurity experts (which is a relatively new discipline), programmers, project managers and more.
Furthermore, different groups, from governments to universities, benefitted from the advent of more office-oriented applications. Word processing software and spreadsheets changed the game. In addition, several computer languages were created and used to run databases and write and update networking software. But what changed everything was the arrival of email.
Modern Communication
Email revolutionized communication. It was a fast, inexpensive and reliable way to send and receive messages to anyone from anywhere and anytime. Shortly after, the Internet arrived and became accessible to everyone by 1991. Then next, the world’s first search engine and laptop became available.
The onset of the World Wide Web came swiftly, and as technology continued to expand, IT became an expansive infrastructure of knowledge and data. The industry has seen computer capabilities increase our ability to perform technological functions and establish processes to create, store, secure and exchange all forms of information.
Today the information technology profession is in high demand and requires diverse skills. Most businesses benefit from a team of administrators and other technology professionals to deploy and manage their IT infrastructure and assets. Some skills that are needed today in IT include:
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud computing
- IT automation
- Software development
- Data management and analytics
- Networking and network security
- Project management
Cybersecurity
There are many reasons why cybersecurity is a big topic under the computer security category and was chosen as our mandate for 2022— businesses must protect their technology assets to thrive in this day and age. Clearbridge’s goal is to help prevent cyber-attacks, which can put your business at risk—we are here to help!
How IT affects your business
Today most businesses require digital tools to improve the way they run their operations. It does not matter if you are a small business or a large corporation; technology will always have many benefits. Overall, IT can influence your efficiency, productivity, communication, and even your work culture. Below are a few examples of areas Clearbridge can help you focus on so you can put the right foot forward and do your best work.
1 – Automating systems
Information technology can streamline certain aspects of your business, such as billing, tracking metrics, and collecting customer data. Overall, automation can improve efficiency and increase productivity, helping your business stay on track and reduce operating costs. Sometimes it’s about making the right data available to the right people at the right time—Clearbridge can help with that.
2 – Mobile Technologies
Mobile technology is taking businesses by storm with the inception of devices like smartphones, tablets and watches that provide more convenience, efficiency and speed, enabling better communication with your team and customers. You see mobile technologies changing regularly; staying up-to-date is literally a full-time job! Clearbridge makes sure your business technology is updated and secure so you can focus on what you do best.
3 – Cloud computing
By 2020, over $1 trillion was spent transitioning businesses to cloud computing, and for a good reason. Cloud computing can improve agility and time and resource management for businesses. There are many long-term benefits to cloud computing. For one, it can help organizations reduce their hardware and software costs. It also enables companies to take an environmental stance because you can access the internet from any location, which reduces emissions related to travelling and commuter movement; how great is that? Clearbridge can provide many cloud computing options depending on your business needs to expand your IT infrastructure.
4 – Working from home
Now that many of you are working from home, IT gives you access to your company’s network remotely, allowing employees to get work done without being present at the workplace. As a popular option, “WFH” enables you to collaborate with other departments and get things done with the team. Security, productivity and connectivity remain essential in a remote workforce, and many organizations are turning to IT companies, like Clearbridge, for solutions.
5 – Improving the customer experience
Customer service and satisfaction are significant components of every business model. IT provides incredible tools to communicate with your customers in real-time. Whether via email, social media or another messaging platform, you can keep your customers happy and connected with the information they need. Through it all, Clearbridge can help you determine the best course of action to get you where you want to go!
Information technology is essential for running a business—it gives you a competitive advantage, helps your business increase profitability, and can ensure long-term success in today’s ever-evolving technology landscape.
Clearbridge plans, deploys, configures, optimizes, and supports your IT infrastructure. This includes managing servers, networks, computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and cloud services—we deliver on all of your IT strategy, security, and support needs—so you can focus on the job you do best.
How has information technology impacted your business in a positive way? Reach out to us and let us know!
Visit our blog for more tips & tricks, training, and interesting articles about how technology can help you and your business.
