Fostering employee IT and digital literacy within a company is an essential step for any business. That way, people don’t just adapt to the new trends and technologies, but they gain new and useful skills to be better at work. Still, many rely on the already overwhelmed in-house IT teams or can’t recognize phishing emails and cybersecurity risks on time.
Employers should and must invest in employee IT and digital literacy for many reasons. First, it’s beneficial for those who work on tasks that require advanced knowledge of technology. Second, IT and digital illiteracy may pose a huge risk to a company’s security, workflow, and efficiency.
Let’s see first how digital and IT literacy affect the employees:
IT and Digital Literacy Employee Benefits
Employee IT and digital literacy are incredibly important in today’s modern workplace. Here’s a breakdown of why understanding what is digital literacy benefits your company:
Increased Productivity and Efficiency
Digitally literate employees can navigate software, tools, and systems efficiently, reducing downtime and improving workflow. Their proficiency in IT minimizes errors caused by misunderstanding or misuse of technology, resulting in:
- Streamlined Workflows: Digitally literate employees easily use tools like project management software, cloud storage, and automation to reduce manual effort.
- Remote Work and Collaboration: Skills like video conferencing, instant messaging, and cloud-based document sharing are essential for remote work in all departments.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Employees who can analyze data and use spreadsheets effectively make more informed decisions, leading to better outcomes.
Surely, providing proper training in using the company’s accounts, tools, and workspaces is mandatory during the onboarding process. The digital literacy applies in many industries, from healthcare to insurance services and beyond.
Stronger Cybersecurity
IT and digitally literate employees easily recognize phishing and scam activities, so they won’t ever click on risky emails. Still, employers should provide appropriate training in these areas so everyone can understand the risks of data breaches, failure to back up the files, or not having a quick recovery strategy. Also, they will know:
- Why it’s important to set strong passwords for all accounts
- Why they must consider two-factor authentication when logging in to work-related tools
- Why they shouldn’t ever write down their passwords on sticky notes and keep them visible to everyone
Without cybersecurity efforts, IT systems become vulnerable, and the risk of attacks gets bigger.
Improved Communication and Collaboration
No matter if your company maintains an office, hybrid, or work-from-home model, communication and collaboration are essential. Surely, you can’t rely on tools like social media accounts, commercial instant messengers, or classic email platforms. Leverage dedicated tools to ensure:
- Enhanced Communication: Digital literacy lets employees effectively use various company communication tools like email, instant messaging, and social media platforms for clear and efficient communication.
- Collaboration Tools: Employees easily use collaborative platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams to work together on projects, share ideas, and provide feedback in real time.
- Increased Security: Work-dedicated communication platforms ensure IT security, as they use work emails to sign in and communicate only with coworkers, clients, and trusted contacts.
Communication and collaboration literacy is not just about staying connected but also protecting the company’s safety and security while maintaining standardized procedures and operations.
Why is Digital Literacy Essential For Your Company?
The lack of digital literacy, IT skills, and basic tech knowledge results in IT and digital illiteracy. Digital illiteracy can be a risk for your company. Here are some key areas of concern:
Prevention Form Security Risks
Digital and IT illiteracy may result in serious security risks. It’s important to teach the employees how to store their passwords and sensitive information and how to back up the files they’re working on in order to restore and recover in case of a cyber attack. You can easily avoid these concerns with regular training as well as outsourcing backup data and recovery tasks to keep all information secure all the time.
Avoiding the Unnecessary Costly Hires
IT and digitally illiterate employees may increase the need to hire IT experts to handle the ongoing challenges. While it’s essential to have a dedicated IT team, you can easily outsource some aspects like helpdesk support, cloud management, and IT support. Find the perfect balance between the in-house activities and outsourced ones, and create a consistent digital literacy culture at work.
No More Inconsistent Performance
Dealing with IT and digital literacy issues may result in inconsistent performance, as you won’t have much time left for your business. That’s why outsourcing a part of the burden can be beneficial. Still, don’t forget about the regular training and shared knowledge with the employees. The result is a consistent workflow, no cyber risks, and efficient management.
The Role of Managed IT Services in Addressing Digital Literacy
Fostering IT and digital literacy among employees is challenging and may not always be feasible for businesses to handle them entirely in-house. This is where partnering with a managed IT service provider becomes a game-changer, as these companies provide:
- Specialized Expertise: Managed IT providers bring specialized expertise on digital tools, cybersecurity protocols, and advanced technologies, ensuring your workforce stays updated with the latest skills.
- Proactive Cybersecurity: By outsourcing cybersecurity, businesses implement robust security measures, monitor threats, and educate employees about risks like phishing and malware.
- Streamlined Operations: Managed IT companies ensure your systems, tools, and networks are optimized, resulting in more effective work, while providing ongoing helpdesk support to resolve technical issues on time.
- Data Backup and Recovery: Your managed IT partner handles backup and recovery processes, ensuring all sensitive data is always secure and recoverable in case of an attack or system failure.
By combining employee training with the strategic support of managed IT services, companies can boost IT and digital literacy. The result is consistent operations and growth. Investing in a managed IT partner empowers your business, saves money, and lets you maintain a high level of digital and IT literacy skills within the company.
Final Words on IT and Digital Literacy
Many companies rely on IT systems and digital channels these days. Keeping things streamlined and secure is a challenge, but maintaining digital and IT literacy among the employees is essential. Focus on their computer literacy skills, too, and encourage them to learn more about digital safety and practice them at work.
Frontline, as a managed IT service provider in the LA area, can handle the more challenging aspects of your IT infrastructure, leaving you enough time for employee training and maintaining IT literacy across the whole company.