Decades ago, starting a business usually meant finding the ideal brick-and-mortar location for your new venture. Then it was time to hire employees and gather the tools you needed to be successful. Pretty simple, right?
But in the modern world of the 21st century, technology is at the center of many businesses – new and existing. In many instances, the brick-and-mortar part is passé, and while good employees will always be important, having the right IT system and keeping it in good working condition is equally essential to running a successful venture these days.
First steps
If you’re a new business or an older business that’s upgrading, you may have hired a computer services company to help you put your network together. That person or persons likely assisted you with choosing the right hardware and software to fit your needs.
An IT expert recognizes that connectivity and communication are the name of the game when it comes to technology, and whether your business is large or small, new or decades old, you probably needed to craft a network that addresses the tasks critical to your business. (Inventory, billing, payroll, marketing, team management, data storage, etc.)
Because all of these tasks are paramount to a well-run business and are likely used daily, the next important step to take is to put a plan in place to ensure that your system will run smoothly. That means scheduling regular maintenance of the system and selecting a means of backing-up the system and its data should something fail. A good computer network maintenance company can handle all of this.
What does a computer network maintenance plan include?
Just as maintaining your car is important – changing the oil, rotating the tires, etc. – so is maintaining your computer network. Ignoring it and hoping it just keeps working is never a good way to address the technological centerpiece of your business.
Your computer network is a conglomeration of complex – and often temperamental – machines and software, all communicating at the same time in ways you may never understand. It uses thousands of tiny parts and wires, is continuously performing calculations, and is subject to the quirks of those who use it on a daily basis as well as things like viruses, hackers, and malware.
So, keeping a close eye on possible problems and scheduling updates and other additions is essential.
But perhaps you don’t have anyone on staff who can do that.
That’s where the computer services company comes in. By employing a company that takes on the responsibility for all maintenance issues, businesses don’t need to hire a full-time network technician. That’s a money-saver, of course, but brings with it lots of other perks as well.
Here’s what a network maintenance plan will likely include, though each plan can certainly be crafted for the needs of individual businesses:
- Access to experts 24/7, 365 days a year
- As-needed and emergency computer repair
- Continuous server and back-up monitoring
- Regularly scheduled maintenance
- Tuning and optimizing the network; installing new or upgraded hardware and software
- Securing the network from threats, both internal and external
- Maintaining network documentation
- Ensuring compliance with corporate policies
Advantages of choosing an outside company for maintenance
While saving money is enough reason for some business owners to opt for a network maintenance plan with an outside provider, there are plenty of other reasons to consider this option as well.
- Increased reliability – When someone is charged with the task of making sure a company’s network is always functioning properly, that company develops a reputation of reliability, especially with customers and clients. This is essential in a competitive business world.
- Increased productivity – When systems are always (or nearly always) operating properly, productivity soars. When critical aspects of a network are constantly being monitored, the opportunity for breakdowns is minimal and work can proceed as usual.
- Enhanced security – Network security is a huge issue and one that can impact a business’s well-being in an instant in cases where security is breached. A compromised business network is bad news, but with computer network maintenance services in place, businesses are less likely to suffer security problems connected with malware, hackers, or viruses because regular monitoring means the security of the network is constantly under watch.
- Best recovery solutions – Worried about losing data in a system failure? When things DO go wrong, it’s likely that a regular maintenance plan will include a good data recovery option. This means minimal downtime and minimal financial loss for those affected by the breakdown.
Most computer services companies offer maintenance plans. Ask for a free consultation to determine the cost and details of such a plan and choose an option that’s right for you.