The Technology world can be a minefield, so here’s a few quick tips to steer you in the right direction.
1. Latest isn’t always the Greatest
When developers release brand new versions of hardware or software, it’s tempting to ride the bleeding edge of technology and jump straight into these. But in the majority of cases, this can spell disaster. Have you checked if your current applications and packages will run on the new platform – has anyone tested it, will your developers and suppliers still support you? Can your users/employees even take advantage of the new features, or is it just a nice-to-have? In most situations, letting the new product settle and waiting until inevitable bugs have been removed is the best angle to approach the “Latest and Greatest”. A perfect example would be that of the Windows Vista operating system, which caused havoc in many businesses after leaving the tried and true Windows XP without considering the outcome.
2. Name brand vs. No name
When purchasing cereal or milk, No Name may be quite fine, but when purchasing business hardware that you so heavily rely on, Name Brand can hold much more than just fancy packaging. No Name servers and other hardware generally only come with a warranty backed by the person who installs it. That means if anything happens to them, like they shut up shop, your warranty isn’t worth the paper it is written on. Or in the case of a laptop, what happens if it breaks down when you are interstate for a week on conference? Do you have to wait for days or until you get home for a fix? Name Brand hardware suppliers such as IBM and HP offer part and service turn around within hours, not days or weeks, meaning issues can be resolved even while you sleep. They have warranty technicians around the country so you are covered just about anywhere.
3. It won’t happen to Me a.k.a. Ostrich Syndrome
The idea that Viruses, Natural Disaster, Fire or Theft and general hardware failure won’t happen to your business is a loaded thought. If your business couldn’t recover from a complete loss of all records, files, images or emails, then a comprehensive and reliable backup system is imperative and an extremely serious part of your business. 93% of companies that lost their data for 10 days due to a disaster filed for bankruptcy within one year of the disaster. 50% of businesses that found themselves without data management for this same time period filed for bankruptcy immediately (Source: National Archives & Records Administration in Washington). Do yourself a favour and ensure you have a decent disaster recovery plan, including regular offsite backups and server imaging. A good disaster recover plan can ensure that you don’t lose more than a few minutes of data in the event of a server meltdown.
4. Maintenance
Just like a company car or truck, your computer system needs maintenance to keep it working at its best and most reliable. Often there’s no early signs such as dripping oil or a funny noise that all so often triggers us to call our car mechanic, so its even more important that regular checks are done on your computer hardware. Simple regular maintenance can help avert a major catastrophe.
