When your network goes down, it is almost the same as losing money for your business. Not only will it cost you in lost potential income, but it will also cost you valuable time. On top of that, for many companies, network issues can hurt their brand as well.
Having a reliable tech infrastructure is important, as well as having experts like Computer Network Support manning your systems. Here are some other SMART tips that can help you prevent any network downtime!
Upgrade Technology
Outdated technology is a common cause of downtime. Old computers are prone to breaking down on a regular basis. Lack of updates for outdated software also increases the chance of issues. Business owners often try to save money by neglecting upgrades.
However, this does not save you money because it increases the likelihood of downtime. It is more beneficial to upgrade technology when necessary. This will reduce downtime and you will benefit from increased productivity and cost-saving features.
Improve Technology Purchasing
Purchasing the right technology can help to reduce downtime. If you have a better understanding of tech issues you make better technology decisions. When you are able to buy better quality hardware and reliable software then downtime is reduced.
But if you buy unreliable technology then you will experience more downtime. Hiring a managed IT service can help if you are unsure about technology purchasing. They will assess your business needs and find the right tech solutions for you.
Vendor Management
You need a clear process in place when repairs are necessary. The right process can speed up repairs and reduce downtime. This is why vendor management services are so effective. They will handle all repair requests in one central location.
This means that you only have one point of contact for all repairs. Follow the link to visit a vendor management service site and find out more. Contacting multiple vendors to request repairs is time-consuming and vendor management solves that problem.
Improve Training
Some maintenance issues are unavoidable. However, issues are often caused by improper use by employees. Improved training can help to rectify this problem. Show them how to spot malicious emails to avoid cyber-attacks.
Make sure that they can spot common maintenance issues in hardware. When problems are identified early then technicians can be notified. Catching issues early will reduce downtime and cut the cost of repairs.
Conduct Preventive Maintenance
Maintenance should not be reserved for periods of downtime. If you wait until systems malfunction before conducting maintenance, you are already losing money.
But if you carry out preventive maintenance on a regular basis then you can completely avoid downtime. This is a far more cost-effective way to manage technology.
Audit Your Current Infrastructure
It is important to frequently audit your IT infrastructure. This will be able to tell you the status of the systems, infrastructure, and software that you have in place. Having that information will mean that you’ll know what you need to improve on and potential problems that can occur.
It is better to hire a third-party company to do this for you, rather than someone in-house. They will generally be non-partial and can be more objective in doing the audit.
Create a Plan
Once you have the details of the audit, you will be able to see what changes need to be made. Depending on the size of the projects, you might need to schedule it to take place over the space of a few weeks, months, or even years.
No matter the size of your business, it is important that any changes be well planned out. Any network outages that are planned need to be taken into account with back-up systems in place should anything happen. Your plan should also consist of:
- The risks to your business
- Which parts of your physical set-up need the most security
- The measures you’ll take to protect them
- Schedule a meeting or a call with your preferred IT management company
It is better that you work alongside the company you choose, rather than handing everything over. This will mean that you are up-to-date and aware of things that need to be implemented.
Backup Your Data
One of the key things that you can do to protect your business is to back everything up correctly. Your business data is valuable. Many businesses can’t function without their business network, printers, and computers. Look at data back-ups with locations in the cloud or a separate area. If anything should happen to your physical business location, it won’t impact the data.