Did you know that businesses spent nearly $4 trillion on tech in 2019?
These days, you can’t run a business without using some form of technology. For most businesses, the most important piece of technology is the computer.
Because computers are so vital to businesses, it’s very important to maintain an up-to-date computer system. How do you maintain your business computer systems? Read on to find out!
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Choose the Right Computers
Maintaining business computer systems all starts with choosing the right computers. Whether you run a small business or a large organization, there are certain factors you need to consider before buying new computers.
These include:
Intended Use
How you intend to use your computer system will determine everything from the type of operating system you need to your budget to the different software programs you need to install.
Before speaking with Northriver IT, ask yourself:
- How does your business use computers now?
- What types of software programs do we depend on?
- What are our plans regarding computers in the next couple of years?
- What type of operating system do we need for our software programs?
- Does our organization have a BYOD (bring your own device) policy?
- Do any employees need portable devices (i.e., cellphones, tablets, etc.)
Answering these questions will make your conversations with IT departments more productive, as you’ll be able to paint a better picture of your business’s needs.
Operating Systems
One of the biggest things you need to consider when buying business computers is the operating system. Most people have a preference between Mac Os, Microsoft, and other operating systems. So, if your employees will be heavily using your organization’s computers, it’s a good idea to ask them which operating system they prefer.
If you’re having trouble deciding, a general rule of thumb is to buy Macs if your business deals more with arts and creative projects and to buy Microsoft computers if your business deals with numbers and scientific studies.
Cost
Of course, cost is another crucial factor when buying business computers. When calculating cost, remember to factor in more than the initial cost of purchasing the computers. You’ll also need to factor in costs to maintain the computer system.
Hire an IT Team
If your business doesn’t already have an IT department, then now is the time to set one up. While many businesses create their own in-house IT departments, if you’re a small company without a lot of tech needs, outsourcing your IT tasks can be very beneficial.
This way, you don’t have to go through the process of hiring a bunch of new salaried employees. Instead, you can outsource the work and only call on IT professionals for help when you need it.
IT professionals will be able to recommend upgrades to your system at the right time. They also know how to catch problems with your computer system that you may have otherwise missed. Perhaps most important of all, they’ll know how to protect your system against hacking and malware.
Over 75% of businesses experience a cyberattack each year, so if you don’t think your company is vulnerable, think again. And, cybercriminals don’t just go after big businesses. They target small businesses as well.
However, a professional IT team will know how to prevent cyberattacks. If a cyberattack does occur, they’ll know how to handle it so it causes the least amount of harm to your business.
Clean Your Hardware Frequently
Cleaning your computer’s hardware is a simple thing you can do to keep your business computers running smoothly. If you don’t clean the hardware regularly, dust and dirt can quickly accumulate and cause damage to your physical devices.
If you’re not sure how to clean your hardware systems, send your computers to a repair store. You can also consult your IT department about how to appropriately clean your hardware.
Replace Hardware When Necessary
In addition to cleaning computer hardware regularly, you also need to make sure you replace it when necessary. If you continue to operate your business using old or defective hardware, you might end up losing more money than you would if you were to replace it.
Watch out for the following signs that it’s time to replace your hardware:
- Your employees’ productivity is being affected
- Your hardware doesn’t meet the requirements for you to use your software
- Your computers continue to perform poorly despite making efforts to optimize software programs
- You’re spending extra money on repairs and maintenance
Sticking to outdated computer hardware can affect your company from the ground up, so don’t wait too long to purchase replacements.
Teach Your Employees to Take Care of Your Computer Systems
Taking care of company computer systems isn’t something that should fall entirely on the leaders of the organization. It’s just as important to teach employees to take care of computer systems and other tech products.
Enforce rules that will keep hardware and software in good working conditions. For example, you can make it a rule that employees can’t eat or drink near the computers. You may also want to create a rule that bans browsing unsafe sites or downloading unauthorized programs.
Also, make sure your employees know the basic rules of cybersecurity to prevent attacks. All employees should have strong passwords that they can’t share with anyone else.
Time to Take Care of Your Computer Systems
As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do to take care of your company’s computer systems. By following these tips, you won’t have to waste precious company money on costly repairs.
For more tech-related tips, check back in with our blog!
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