From sales and marketing to manufacturing and shipping, virtually every aspect of modern business has been fundamentally changed by information technology. IT advances boost productivity, efficiency and collaboration to expand the range of what’s possible for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
No technology is foolproof, however. IT failures are inevitable, and they can bring business to a screeching halt.
Preventive and proactive maintenance is the key to limiting the cost and business disruption from IT issues. Most times, you don’t have to wait for a crash to know there’s a problem. There are a number of early warning signs that can alert you to a looming problem. Here are a few:
Your applications stop working. Software crashes aren’t particularly unusual, and they don’t always indicate a serious problem. Sometimes an app stops functioning because of a temporary problem such as a buffer overflow or a memory issue. However, if an application crashes or freezes regularly and frequently, it could indicate that something more serious is going on. If multiple programs are experiencing the same problem, that’s likely a sign of an imminent failure.
Your computer is slow. Again, it could be something simple like too many apps running in the background. However, if it becomes a recurring issue, it could indicate a malware infection or a hardware issue such a fragmented hard drive, a failing CPU or a lack of RAM. If the problem is a slow-moving cursor or delayed keyboard input, that could be a driver issue.
The Internet is slow. Background apps could be consuming too much bandwidth. However, if this is a regular issue that seems to be getting worse, that could point to a variety of more serious issues such as router configuration errors, wireless interference, a slow CPU or a malware infection.
The wireless connection is erratic. A number of factors could cause a dropped Wi-Fi connection. There could be physical obstructions interfering with the signal from the router, the router could be misconfigured or you may need to update a driver. Lost configuration settings could be a sign that the router’s flash memory is failing, which would require a router replacement.
You get errors during the startup process. Error messages such as “boot failure” and “invalid system disk” are signs that something serious is wrong. It could indicate that the hard drive, some applications or device drivers have become corrupted. You may be able to continue working by rebooting the computer, but chances are good that a failure is imminent.
Almost all businesses today are dependent on technology to one degree or another. However, many organizations lack the in-house expertise to ensure that IT systems are always up and running. This is why many organizations turn to a managed services provider (MSP) with the experience and manpower to identify emerging problems, rapidly troubleshoot them and often resolve them before they cause full-blown IT outages.
In a recent survey of SMB technology buyers in the U.S., TechAisle found that 54 percent reported that managed services improve bottom-line benefits through reduced IT costs. In addition, 46 percent said that managed services contribute to business growth through faster resolution of IT issues.
If recurring IT issues are interfering with your business operations, give Verteks a call. Let us show you how our managed services can help you quickly resolve such issues and boost efficiency through optimized productivity and reduced downtime.
