Summer tends to move at a different pace for many businesses. Employees take vacations, schedules shift and some projects get pushed until everyone is back in the office. That makes late summer a good time to take a closer look at your business technology.
Before fall gets busy, a simple technology checkup can uncover outdated equipment, security gaps and other problems that could become much bigger headaches later.
Start With the Computers Your Team Uses Every Day
You don’t necessarily need to replace a computer just because it’s a few years old. But slow computers can quietly eat into productivity. If employees regularly wait for programs to open, struggle with freezing applications or have trouble running the software they need, the equipment may be costing the business more than you realize.
Take inventory of your desktops and laptops. Look at their age, operating systems and overall performance. This can help you identify which machines are likely to need attention or replacement in the coming months.
Planning those upgrades is usually much easier than dealing with a computer that suddenly stops working.
Make Sure Everything Is Up to Date
Software updates are easy to postpone, especially when everyone is busy. But updates often contain important security fixes. Computers running outdated operating systems, applications or firmware can create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals may be able to exploit.
Check that operating systems, browsers, antivirus software and other important applications are current. Businesses should also have a process for keeping systems updated throughout the year rather than relying on employees to remember to do it themselves.
Take Another Look at Your Backups
When was the last time you confirmed that your business backups actually work? Having a backup system isn’t enough. You need to know that important files are being backed up properly and can be recovered when they’re needed.
Hardware failure, ransomware, accidental deletion and other problems can happen without warning. A reliable backup strategy can make the difference between a relatively manageable disruption and losing critical business data.
This is also a good time to review what information is being backed up and whether anything important has been added since your backup system was originally configured.
Review Who Has Access to What
Businesses change throughout the year. Employees leave, new people join and responsibilities shift. Unfortunately, technology permissions don’t always change along with them.
Review user accounts and access privileges across your systems. Former employees should no longer have access, and current employees generally should only have access to the information and applications they need to do their jobs. It’s a relatively simple housekeeping task that can significantly reduce unnecessary security exposure.
Don’t Forget About Your Network
Your computers aren’t the only technology keeping the business running. Routers, firewalls, Wi-Fi networks, printers, servers and other connected devices should also be reviewed periodically. Older equipment may no longer receive security updates or may struggle to keep up with the demands of a growing business.
If your company has added employees, moved more applications to the cloud or changed the way people work, the network that worked well a few years ago may no longer be the right setup today.
Look Ahead Instead of Waiting for Something to Break
Technology problems have a habit of appearing at the worst possible time.
Taking a proactive approach gives businesses more control. Instead of making an emergency purchase after a computer fails or scrambling after data is lost, you can identify potential problems and budget for improvements before they become urgent.
A technology review doesn’t have to mean replacing everything. In many cases, it simply means understanding what you have, what is working and what may need attention next.
At TNTMAX, we help businesses manage their technology with an eye toward reliability, security and long-term planning. If it’s been a while since you reviewed your IT environment, now is a good time to make sure your technology is ready for the months ahead.
