If you’ve never experienced downtime and business loss due to server failure, you’re one of the lucky few. Even more often it’s common to deal with slow applications or annoying freezes on every machine. These troubles might seem like routine, but you can avoid or reduce them, and keep the business running more smoothly, by observing these IT maintenance tips.
Scan for malware
There are such sophisticated applications being run that diagnosing them can be very complex. One of the first and easiest steps to troubleshooting is running your anti-virus or anti-spyware on a scan of your systems. Mainstream applications usually run smoothly as a background process, but malware that’s infecting or hijacking your computers can cause slowness or erratic performance. Every two weeks or so scans should be run to determine that there aren’t malicious programs running or harmful code corrupting your application data.
Uninstall programs you don’t use
Over the course of a few years or even months, you’re liable to have accumulated dozens of programs, many of which you rarely if ever use. You may have forgotten certain programs are there at all. These useless applications represent drains on computer resources and take up room on your hard drive. Even when unused they may be actively trying to make Internet connections or update system files. Uninstalling them will not only improve performance but remove potential vulnerabilities in older programs that hackers know and exploit.
Check for updates
If you’ve thinned out your applications to those you actually use, be certain they are up to date. Check the vendor site to see if there are available patches, device drivers, or updates that need to be installed. Some older applications may not even be supported anymore. Newer versions are likely to have improved security, faster performance, better compatibility with new hardware, and new features that can help productivity.
Upgrade the operating system
Just be sure to backup all application and personal files first. New OSs often cure many of the glitches with older ones. If an upgrade to new versions is not possible, consider reinstalling the old version. This can overwrite and repair system files that might have gotten inflated or corrupted. You can then restore your backups and reinstall your applications. You should also consider defragging your hard drive, which reorganizes files for more efficient access. Upgrading or installing OS or even standard applications on a single machine or particularly across a network can be tricky. If you aren’t familiar with backups and restores or complex installations, it’s best to seek out the help from professionals that specialize in Ottawa IT services, who make it a smooth and reliable process.
Taking the time to organize and protect your digital workspace can ensure that computers are running optimally while improving security and output. Regular IT maintenance reduces the risk of more serious problems occurring. Ensuring that all your enterprise workstations and servers are as efficient and up to date as possible improves the performance of the network and of the business as a whole.