Written By: Kristopher Wyatt
Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be a good time for businesses to save money on technology.
They can also be a great time to buy something you never needed.
Every year, businesses see discounts on computers, monitors, software, storage, networking equipment, security products, and just about every other piece of technology imaginable.
The problem is that a good price does not automatically make something a good business purchase.
Before buying technology because it is 30%, 40%, or even 50% off, take a minute and ask:
Does this actually fit our business, security requirements, and technology plan?
Business-Class Computers Are Usually Worth It
If you already know computers need to be replaced, Black Friday can be a good opportunity.
But there is an important difference between a cheap computer and a good business computer.
Businesses should look for systems that include:
Windows 11 Pro
TPM 2.0
Current-generation processors
Enough memory for business applications
Solid-state storage
Business warranty options
Manufacturer support
Compatibility with company security tools
A $399 consumer laptop may look attractive until you find out it does not support the same management, security, warranty, or docking options as the computers already being used in the business.
Cheap equipment can become expensive very quickly.
Monitors and Accessories Can Be Good Purchases
Black Friday is often a great time to buy equipment such as:
Monitors
Docking stations
Webcams
Headsets
Keyboards and mice
UPS battery backups
Laptop bags
Replacement chargers
These are usually lower-risk purchases.
Even then, make sure accessories are compatible with the equipment your employees already use.
A discounted docking station is not much of a deal if it does not work correctly with the laptop.
Be Careful With Cheap Storage
External hard drives, USB drives, and other storage devices are heavily discounted during holiday sales.
That does not mean every storage device belongs in a business.
Avoid unknown brands and unusually cheap devices.
If the storage will contain company information, reliability and security matter more than saving a few dollars.
More importantly:
Do not confuse an external hard drive with a backup strategy.
A drive sitting next to a computer is not adequate protection against ransomware, theft, fire, hardware failure, or someone accidentally deleting data.
Networking Equipment Is Not an Impulse Purchase
Routers, switches, Wi-Fi systems, and firewalls also go on sale.
This is one area where I would be very careful.
Consumer networking equipment may be fine at home.
That does not mean it belongs inside a business.
Your network is the foundation of your technology environment.
Business networking equipment should be selected based on:
Security
Capacity
Reliability
Support
Management
Firmware updates
Compatibility with the rest of the network
Do not replace business infrastructure because something looked like a good Black Friday deal.
Be Careful With Software Discounts
Black Friday is full of discounted software subscriptions.
Security products.
Cloud storage.
AI tools.
Backup products.
Password managers.
Productivity applications.
Marketing platforms.
Before adding another subscription, ask one very important question:
Do we already own this capability?
Businesses regularly purchase additional software without realizing similar functionality may already exist inside Microsoft 365 or another platform they already pay for.
Also look at the price after the promotional period.
A $99 first-year subscription does not help much if it becomes $600 per year afterward.
Check:
Renewal pricing
Number of required users
Contract length
Cancellation requirements
Data ownership
Security features
Administrative controls
Integration with existing systems
Be Careful With AI Subscriptions
There will be no shortage of discounted AI products.
That does not mean employees should start purchasing them individually.
Businesses should have approved AI tools.
Before purchasing an AI platform, understand:
What data employees can enter
Whether company data is retained
Whether information is used for model training
What administrative controls are available
Whether business accounts are supported
Whether the tool duplicates something you already own
An inexpensive AI subscription can create an expensive data problem.
Refurbished Equipment Can Be Fine—If You Know What You Are Buying
There is nothing automatically wrong with refurbished equipment.
But businesses should know:
How old it is
Whether it supports Windows 11
Whether the warranty is adequate
Who refurbished it
Whether replacement parts are available
How long you realistically expect to use it
A five-year-old computer at a great price may still be a five-year-old computer.
What Should Businesses Consider Buying?
Black Friday can make sense for technology that is already part of your plan.
Good examples include:
Planned computer replacements
Monitors
Docking stations
UPS battery backups
Business-approved accessories
Security keys for stronger MFA
Approved backup equipment
Software you already planned to purchase
The important word is planned.
The Bottom Line
Do not build your technology strategy around Black Friday.
Use Black Friday to save money on the technology you already know you need.
A discount is only valuable if the product fits your environment.
Before buying, ask:
Do we need it?
Does it meet our security requirements?
Will it work with what we already have?
Who is going to support it?
What will it cost next year?
And finally:
Are we buying this because it is a good business decision—or because it has a big red SALE sign next to it?
Sometimes the best Black Friday technology purchase is the one you decide not to make.
Schedule a discovery call
Take 10 minutes to get clarity. Is your buisiness protected against cyber threats? Do you have the right IT Strategy for your business?
No obligations. No sales pitch. Just an honest assessment of your environment.
Move your business forward with help from Ozark Technology. Schedule your discovery call now.
Ozark Technology is a Business Technology Provider that helps organizations across the country rethink the value technology brings to their business. Want to partner with us? Let’s chat.
