5 Ways IT Can Give Back
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Often, IT is the last department to get involved with a company's efforts to participate in community giving. Usually, it's your marketing, PR and sales teams that have the opportunity to get involved. However, there are some key ways the IT team can offer up their knowledge and services to help integrate the team into the community.
Provide free emergency networking and software
During relief efforts for any large-scale disaster, technology is crucial. Volunteers rely on communication and technology to support those affected. Leo Cyr, a business and IT consultant for Digital Mountain Consulting, believes the best philanthropic efforts stem from a company’s ability to do what it does best during emergency situations.
He cites Cisco Systems, as a prime example of using its specialty during a community’s time of need. After Hurricane Katrina, Cisco provided routers, switches and wireless devices in order to expedite the American Red Cross relief efforts. Their technological donations were crucial to helping volunteers communicate with and assist victims. Since it already specialized in providing these services, Cisco stayed true to its core mission while giving back.
"You take what you’re already good at and find somebody in the community that can benefit from it," Cyr said.
Volunteer your expertise
An understanding of complex, sophisticated technology is a gift every IT employee shares.
By volunteering time to help others understand the intricacies of certain software, programming or web design, IT employees can give back to the community. Jason Levine, vice president of Information Technology at BSC Management, also donates his time as site administrator for Experts Exchange, an online support site for anyone seeking tech advice and help.
"The reason I volunteer my time is that I get far more out it," Levine said. "A lot more professional development comes from it, but I’m also learning as I go."
Levine points out that even though Experts Exchange charges its customers, the fees are only for the equipment and maintenance of the site, not for his individual expertise. Annual support from Experts Exchange is far less expensive than hiring Levine as a consultant would be, which allows smaller companies to keep IT staffing minimal by relying on the services Levine and other volunteers provide.
Donate computing power
Idle computers can actually crunch scientific data while not in use and help facilitate research projects.
The University of California manages this kind of cluster computing application called, BOINC for free. BOINC can link up thousands of computers to compute scientific calculations at exponentially higher speeds than humans.
Cory Smith, an IT consultant at 180 IT, believes that BOINC and other computing systems can fight diseases such as HIV, malaria, cancer and Alzheimer’s.
"This technology has the potential to improve our quality of life in many aspects," Smith says. 180 IT runs BOINC on its cloud servers and when its website traffic is low, they also use AQUA@home's quantum computing projects. Since power costs are already built into 180 IT's monthly server fee, using applications like BOINC and AQUA@home costs the company nothing.
Promote community service through social media
IT can help promote a company's philanthropic efforts using social media.
"Social media is so hot, it's a perfect opportunity to show the company cares," said Jason Terry, principal at Blue Gurus, a website geared toward helping small businesses get bigger by using social media effectively.
Terry has seen support increase for charity events based on the buzz created by social media sites like Facebook. He believes Facebookis the best source for publicizing a charity event because people are more passionate about it. Terry emphasizes the importance of a company's charitable giving because the community drives the success of a business.
"I think people should start understanding that wherever they’re working, that city is supporting them and they should be giving back," Terry said.
Recycle old computers and hardware
New gadgets and more sophisticated technology create e-waste when old machines and hardware become obsolete. Instead of throwing these out-dated machines in the trash, companies can recycle the partsand prevent them from polluting the environment.
At the IT services company, EMC, employees collected their personal home computers, monitors and printers in conjunction with Earth Day this year.
"As a result of this drive, EMC recycled 17, 875 pounds of e-waste," said Patrick Cooley, a spokesperson for EMC. Cooley said the collection program helped EMC and its employees reinforce their commitment to sustainability.
