Is Your Tech Keeping Up?

6 Signs You Need a Tech Refresh

With the current proliferation of Hybrid IT Workspaces, strategically considered business IT can help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) develop a more productive, efficient, and innovative workforce.

That’s why businesses that prioritize technology are three times more likely to exceed corporate goals. ^*

In a business world that is evolving at an increasingly breakneck pace with hybrid IT workspaces, data hosting in the cloud, and advancing cyber threats, your company may not be able to perform at its full potential if it lacks the necessary up-to-date business technology.

The right technology functioning correctly can dramatically improve numerous key aspects of smooth operations and growth:

• Business communication
• Data based decision making
• Marketing
• Cyber security
• Customer support
• Resource management
• Time and cost efficiency

However, even the most cutting-edge technology can experience the occasional hiccup and slow you down if you don’t keep up with regular updates and support.

Performing an annual technology refresh can help you avoid potential problems weather you have a hybrid IT workspace or a more traditional one – or both.

A technology refresh is the process of replacing technology components regularly by evaluating their ability to integrate with other infrastructure components and avoid obsolescence, rather than waiting until the outdated element becomes the most significant impediment to achieving your company’s vision to address it.

Keeping to a regular technology refresh program is crucial because maintaining legacy infrastructure components comes at an ever-increasing cost.

It exposes your systems to exterior threats like hackers, affects cost by reducing overall productivity, and may even drive your most valuable employees out the door because they are tired of dealing with outdated technology that makes it difficult to do their jobs.

Additionally, as the costs of maintaining outdated IT components and the risks of failure continue to rise, day-to-day operations can be negatively impacted.

If your business tech should get too outdated, you are running the increasing risk of a full system failure as the tech reaches its end of life.

Depending on what system is affected this can lead to costly down time for your business as you scramble with unanticipated replacement costs and data recovery to get things operational again. It could even open the door to cyber-attack should your security infrastructure fail in whole or in part.

In a hybrid IT workspace it can mean employees locked out of the system and unable to work. It could even open the door to cyber attack should your security infrastructure fail in whole or in part.

The bottom line is that it behooves any business to keep a wary eye out for signs of issues and regularly refresh and maintain their tech to keep it running in a good viable performance range.

Warning Signs to Look Out For

Is it time to refresh your company’s technology? Keep an eye out for the following six signs:

1. Systems are running slowly

Slow systems consume a significant amount of a company’s valuable time. The slowness could be due to several factors including a failed integration, viruses, or lack of updates.

It’s critical to find and fix the problem as soon as possible to get back to optimal performance levels.

2. Experiencing suspicious pop-ups

Suspicious pop-ups typically warn users that their system is vulnerable to a security threat or has a technical problem.

Cybercriminals then prey on worried users who want to make sure their system is secure by extorting money to fix issues and eliminate threats that do not exist. One of the best ways to keep such malicious players at bay is by immediately refreshing/updating legacy systems.

3. Random shutdowns

It’s normal for systems to shut down to install critical updates. However, if the shutdowns are frequent and unpredictable, then there’s a problem that needs to be addressed.

While random shutdowns can be due to a range of factors, such as an unstable power supply, virus/malware or corrupted files, it could also be a warning sign that the system is due for an update/refresh.

4. Connection issues

Getting cut off from the internet in the middle of a crucial task or meeting occasionally can be inconvenient, but what if it happens regularly?

It could be a sign that your system has a flaw that needs to be fixed. However, if software patching fails to resolve the issue, it may be time to refresh the system.

5. Lack of integration between your systems, software and technology

Integration is critical for today’s firms because the current technology landscape is evolving rapidly and businesses may have to depend on multiple vendors for different solutions.

If any technology component in your company does not integrate with the rest of the infrastructure, it is causing extra work every time the tech is used, costing your company valuable time. It should be replaced immediately.

6. Your system acts possessed

You may have seen situations where tabs open and close on their own, the mouse moves in the opposite direction, things open on your desktop at random, and files get downloaded without your knowledge.

In such cases, you should consider a system refresh before consulting an exorcist. Systems without proper patching and update history may exhibit strange behavior, or even be vulnerable to hostile takeover.

Collaboration Is the Best Way Forward

Technological roadblocks can be frustrating and attempting to overcome them on your own can be time consuming and overwhelming without the proper expertise. Get started on your path to a technology refresh and achieve a better IT with an experienced managed IT service provider like Sequentur.

The friendly professionals at Sequentur can keep a constant watch on your system to make sure it is operating correctly and advise you on a predictable plan tailored to your needs to make sure your business tech continues to keep up with you and scale along with your growth in the years to come.

Knowing that the business IT management process is in expert hands gives you peace of mind and allows you to focus on growing your business. Contact us now for a free consultation to see how we can help you.

Contact us now or Schedule a Free Consultation to see how we can help you.

Source:

*Adobe Digital Trends Report