Did you know that downtime can cost a business more than $10,000 an hour? It depends on the problem and how widespread it is, but that figure shows just how costly downtime can be.
As technology takes over small businesses, avoiding downtime is more important than ever. Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce the number of delays and outages you experience.
One step is knowing which IT problems you’re most likely to face. When you have a good idea of what you’re contending with, it’s easier to find solutions. Let’s take a look at the issues you can expect to see cropping up in your small business.
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Your Employees Can’t Log In
It’s Monday at 9 am, and you’re ready to start the workday. You sit down at your desk and enter your login credentials.
Your computer rejects them. You try several more times. You even change your password.
You still can’t get into the network. It’s time to call IT support and find out what’s going on. In most cases, the solution is a simple fix, such as turning the caps lock key off.
There may be some more challenging issues, such as an expired password or a locked account. Your IT services team can reinstate your account or reset your password with ease.
Someone’s Finger Slipped on the Delete Key
“I accidentally deleted a bunch of important files” is not a phrase you want to hear at any time in your business. Surprisingly, it’s one of the most common IT problems you’ll face in your business.
In some cases, these files have ended up in the recycling bin or been backed up as temporary files. You may be able to retrieve them.
If you have managed IT services, you can call your provider. They should have back-ups of all your data, including those “deleted” files.
The Wireless Router Loves to Cause IT Problems
The wireless router makes life easier in your office. You don’t need to hardwire every computer and mobile device to a wall.
That said, the router loves to act up. It may start kicking your employees off, or it may stop transmitting a signal.
Rebooting the router may help, but there may be a deeper problem. Check-in with your managed IT team to see what’s going on. A router that keeps booting people off is usually overloaded, so it may be time to upgrade.
The Internet is Dragging Its Heels
“This page is taking forever to load!” The Internet has been very slow today. Is it because the Internet didn’t want to come to work today either?
Chances are it’s something to do with your connection. You may be experiencing a slow connection for any number of reasons. Your provider, for example, could be having some outages.
In other cases, the issue could be on your end. If you’re using the wireless signal, you may be too far from the router and you’re not getting a good connection. Other common causes include spyware and viruses, so it’s time to run some security checks.
Your Employees Say Their Computers Are Slow
Sometimes, it’s not the Internet that’s crawling at a snail’s pace. It’s the computers themselves. Your employees are twiddling their thumbs while looking at the hourglass icon.
Sometimes, the issue is a scheduled system scan or an update that’s running in the background. In other cases, it may just be that your employees are trying to run many programs.
If the computers are always a bit on the slower side, it might be time to consider upgrading. Older technology tends to slow down.
It could also be time to do some maintenance. Talk to your managed IT services team about clean-up tasks to make computers run just a little faster.
The Printer Seems to be on Strike
It’s almost inevitable that someone, at some time, has said, “I can’t print.”
The good news is that this particular IT problem is usually a quick and easy fix. Check to make sure the printer is on. There may have been a power outage overnight or the person who usually turns the printer on isn’t in today.
If the printer is still sending errors, it’s time to call the IT managed service team. They can help you check the installation of drivers and more.
Computers Are Randomly Shutting Down
When a computer shuts down without warning, it’s alarming. Your first thought maybe that your systems are under attack.
While a virus could be the cause, you should rule out some other possibilities first. A power outage can cause a computer to turn off. Computers can also overheat, especially if they haven’t been cleaned for dust in a while.
If those aren’t the problem, then there may be a virus or other malware issue. Call your IT team and disconnect the computer from any networks to contain the problem.
A Suspicious Email Enticed Someone to Click
If your computers shut down thanks to a virus, you’re wondering how these malicious programs ended up on your system in the first place.
You’ll want to take a look at your employees’ behavior. While most people think they’re savvy, someone may not have been practicing good cybersecurity.
The solution here is often more training for your team. Teach them about the risks they may face in their inboxes or online. Then give them the tools they need to avoid causing IT problems.
Great Small Business IT Starts with You
The good news for you as a business owner is that most IT problems aren’t too serious. With a good IT managed services team behind you, you can handle just about anything your network decides to throw at you.
Keeping your small business safe in an era of cyber insecurity is a tall task. With more great tips and advice from us, you’ll be able to keep the lights on and the computers all connected.
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