IT consultants need to know when they are going after sweet spot small businesses that the company is going to be looking for someone that has strong hardware skills.  You need to thus know about RAID and multi-port adapters. 

What is Your Background?

IT consultants need to be able to deal with storage attached networks, network attached storage, mid-range data backup systems, DAT, DL2, UPS’s, power protection systems, routers, CSU’s, VSU’s, wi-fi hardware and anything associated with roaming. 

What Systems Do You Know?

Networking software is a very important part of life for IT consultants working with sweet spot small businesses.  You need to know the software and also have great skills with networking.  You also need to know about the server OS’s.  They are hiring IT consultants for networking design, installation and on-going support and maintenance.

What Are Clients Using?

IT consultants working with small businesses need to know about Microsoft Windows server, Microsoft Small Business Server, Novell Netware, Novell Small Business Suite and Red Hat.  Because client server messaging is so big, Microsoft Exchange Server and Novell GroupWise are also good ideas for IT consultants.

Accounting applications will also be crucial for IT consultants along with CRM applications, web servers like Microsoft IS and Apache. 

Which Other Tools Do You Know?

IT consultants working with small businesses should also know web authoring tools including Microsoft Front Page and Macromedia Dream Weaver.  For those dealing with small businesses that use Windows, terminal services will also be important.  IT consultants should also be familiar with network faxing, performance monitoring, virtual private networking, BPM’s, RAX and others.

Firewalls and advanced virus protection are also a necessary part of working with small businesses.

IT Consultants:  The Bottom Line

In order to support sweet spot small businesses, IT consultants need to know 25 – 50% of the aforementioned items. 

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit