Guides

Make the next technology decision with less guesswork.

Start with the problem you are trying to solve. These practical small-business technology guides explain the choices, tradeoffs and questions that matter before you buy, change or manage technology.

Start here

Not sure where to begin?

Start with the overall technology foundation, then move into the area where your business has a decision to make.

STARTING POINT

The Complete Small Business Technology Checklist

Review the core technology areas a small business should plan for before making individual product decisions.

Computers & Devices

Choose, configure and replace business computers.

Work through the decisions that affect employee PCs, from choosing the right form factor and specifications to Windows editions, device management and replacement timing.

BUYING GUIDE

Best Business Laptops for Small Businesses

Compare practical laptop choices for mainstream business users and more demanding roles.

PLANNING

Business Laptop Buying Guide

Match laptop specifications and configurations to the work employees actually perform.

FORM FACTOR

Laptop vs. Desktop for Small Business

Choose between mobility and a fixed workstation by looking at roles, serviceability and lifecycle needs.

PERFORMANCE

How Much RAM Does a Small Business PC Need?

Decide how much memory employees need without paying for capacity they are unlikely to use.

WINDOWS

Windows 11 Pro vs. Home for Small Business

Compare the Windows editions with business management, security and administration in mind.

LIFECYCLE

When Should a Small Business Replace Its Computers?

Build a replacement cycle around reliability, performance and support instead of arbitrary age.

DEVICE MANAGEMENT

Does a Small Business Need Microsoft Intune?

Understand when centralized device and policy management becomes useful for a small business.

Networking & Wi-Fi

Build a network that fits the office.

Start with the overall network, then work through routing, switching, wireless coverage, segmentation and guest access.

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Small Business Network Setup

See how internet service, routing, switching, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, segmentation and resilience fit together.

WI-FI SETUP

Best Wi-Fi Setup for a Small Business

Build a practical wireless network around the size and needs of the office.

ROUTING

Business Router vs. Consumer Router

Decide when business management and segmentation features justify moving beyond a consumer router.

SWITCHING

Does a Small Business Need a Managed Switch?

Understand when VLANs, PoE and network visibility make a managed switch worthwhile.

WI-FI DESIGN

Mesh Wi-Fi vs. Access Points for Small Business

Compare flexible mesh systems with wired access points for business wireless coverage.

CAPACITY

How Many Wi-Fi Access Points Does My Office Need?

Plan access-point quantity around layout, construction, users and device density rather than floor area alone.

WI-FI STANDARD

Wi-Fi 6 vs. 6E vs. 7 for Business

Choose a Wi-Fi generation based on client support, lifecycle and actual network requirements.

GUEST ACCESS

How Small Businesses Should Set Up Guest Wi-Fi

Give visitors internet access while keeping business systems and devices separated.

Cybersecurity

Reduce risk before choosing security products.

Start with the security fundamentals, then decide how to protect identities, devices, networks and email and how the business should respond when something goes wrong.

START HERE

Small Business Cybersecurity Checklist

Review the essential protections for accounts, devices, networks, backups and incident readiness.

FRAMEWORK

NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 for Small Business

Translate the NIST framework into practical security planning for a smaller organization.

ANTIVIRUS

Best Antivirus for Small Business in 2026

Compare business antivirus options and understand where traditional antivirus fits in a broader security plan.

ENDPOINT SECURITY

Best Endpoint Protection for Small Business in 2026

Compare endpoint protection, EDR and managed-response options for business devices.

NETWORK SECURITY

Best Firewall for Small Business in 2026

Understand firewall capabilities and compare approaches for protecting a small-business network.

EMAIL SECURITY

Best Email Security for Small Business in 2026

Compare approaches for reducing phishing, malware and other email-borne threats.

BUSINESS EMAIL

Best Secure Email Providers for Small Business in 2026

Compare business email platforms by security, privacy, administration and encryption needs.

PASSWORDS

Does a Small Business Need a Password Manager?

Decide whether centralized password management would meaningfully improve account security and administration.

BUYING GUIDE

Best Password Manager for Small Business (2026)

Compare password managers by team size, administrative controls, security features and cost.

IDENTITY & ACCESS

MFA for Small Business: What Should You Protect First?

Prioritize stronger authentication for the accounts and systems where compromise would hurt most.

INCIDENT RESPONSE

Small Business Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan

Prepare what the business should do before, during and after a cybersecurity incident.

Backup & Recovery

Build recovery around what the business cannot afford to lose.

Start with the backup strategy, then decide what to protect, how often to protect it, where copies should live and which backup approach fits each workload.

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Small Business Backup Strategy

Identify critical data, recovery needs, backup layers, retention and restore-testing requirements.

BACKUP FREQUENCY

How Often Should a Small Business Back Up Its Data?

Set backup frequency around how much recent work the business can afford to lose.

BUYING GUIDE

Best Backup Solutions for Small Business in 2026

Compare backup approaches for workstations, servers, cloud services and recovery needs.

BACKUP DESIGN

Local Backup vs. Cloud Backup for Small Business

Understand where local and cloud copies differ and why many businesses use both.

CLOUD BACKUP

Best Cloud Backup for Small Business in 2026

Compare cloud-based backup options for off-site business recovery.

SERVER BACKUP

Best Server Backup Solutions for Small Business (2026)

Compare approaches for protecting business servers and recovering them after failure or data loss.

WINDOWS BACKUP

Best Windows Backup Software for Small Business in 2026

Compare Windows backup software for files, systems and recovery workflows.

HOW TO

How to Back Up a Small Business PC

Protect business files and systems with a recovery plan that can actually be restored.

PRODUCT REVIEW

IDrive Business Review 2026

Review IDrive Business by workload coverage, pricing model, limitations and business fit.

PRODUCT REVIEW

Backblaze Business Backup Review 2026

Understand where Backblaze fits for workstation backup, retention and recovery.

COMPARISON

IDrive vs. Backblaze for Small Business

Compare workload coverage and pricing approaches when deciding between the two services.

PRODUCT REVIEW

EaseUS Todo Backup Review 2026

Assess EaseUS Todo Backup for small-business Windows backup and recovery requirements.

COMPARISON

EaseUS Todo Backup vs. AOMEI Backupper

Compare two Windows backup approaches by capabilities and practical small-business fit.

Microsoft 365 & Cloud

Choose the right Microsoft 365 setup and understand what is protected.

Compare Microsoft 365 plans, understand the difference between cloud storage and backup, and plan recovery for Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams.

PLAN COMPARISON

Microsoft 365 Business Basic vs. Standard vs. Premium

Compare the business plans by applications, management, security and the needs of your users.

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Does Microsoft 365 Back Up Your Data?

Understand built-in recovery and retention before deciding whether the business needs additional backup.

BACKUP VS. STORAGE

Microsoft 365 Backup vs. OneDrive

Understand why synchronization and cloud storage solve a different problem from independent backup.

BACKUP APPROACH

Microsoft 365 Backup vs. Third-Party Backup

Compare native and third-party approaches by integration, independence, workload coverage and recovery.

BUYING GUIDE

Best Microsoft 365 Backup for Small Business in 2026

Compare options for protecting Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams.

PRICING

Microsoft 365 Backup Pricing for Small Business

Understand the pricing models and cost drivers that affect Microsoft 365 backup.

HOW TO

How to Back Up Microsoft 365 Email, OneDrive, SharePoint & Teams

Plan protection around the Microsoft 365 workloads your business actually depends on.

CLOUD COLLABORATION

OneDrive vs. SharePoint for Small Business

Choose where business files should live based on individual work, team collaboration and governance.

Power & Business Continuity

Keep critical technology operating through power problems.

Decide what needs backup power, which technology fits the outage scenario and how much capacity and runtime the business actually needs.

START HERE

Backup Power for Small Business

Compare UPS systems, battery power stations and generators by the kind of outage they are meant to handle.

CORE DECISION

Does a Small Business Need a UPS?

Decide whether battery-backed continuity is worthwhile for your business technology.

SELECTION GUIDE

How to Choose a UPS for a Small Business

Work through topology, capacity, runtime, waveform, management and battery requirements.

UPS SIZING

What Size UPS Does a Small Business Need?

Size a UPS around connected load, headroom and required battery runtime.

UPS RUNTIME

How Long Will a UPS Run During a Power Outage?

Estimate runtime using connected load, battery condition and manufacturer information.

PROTECTION PRIORITY

What Equipment Should a Small Business Put on a UPS?

Prioritize network equipment, servers, storage and workstations for battery-backed protection.

POWER ARCHITECTURE

BBU vs. UPS: What's the Difference for Business IT?

Understand how battery backup units differ from conventional UPS systems in business IT environments.

COMPARISON

UPS vs. Battery Power Station for Small Business

Compare immediate power protection with portable stored energy for longer or different outage scenarios.

BATTERY SIZING

How Big of a Battery Backup Does a Small Business Need?

Calculate capacity from critical load, required runtime and output requirements.

BATTERY RUNTIME

How Long Will a Battery Backup Run a Small Business?

Estimate battery-power-station runtime from capacity, connected load and operating conditions.

IT Support & Business Systems

Decide how the business will support and manage technology.

Compare support models, understand likely costs and work through business systems that often require outside expertise.

IT COST

How Much Does Small Business IT Support Cost?

Understand common IT-support pricing models and the factors that influence what a small business pays.

SUPPORT MODEL

In-House IT vs. Managed IT Services

Compare internal IT staffing with outsourced managed services by capability, control and cost structure.

MSP SELECTION

How to Choose a Managed IT Service Provider

Evaluate an MSP by service scope, security, support, accountability and fit with the business.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

Small Business Phone System Buying Guide

Work through the decisions involved in choosing a VoIP phone system for a small business.