Business Corner

Simple tips for a tip-top computer

Do you break out in a cold sweat when your computer malfunctions? Before you head out for another pack of sweatbands, you might want to try a few simple tips from Chip Reaves, the National Director of Computer Troubleshooters.

“Malware, viruses, identity theft, and spyware account for about 80 percent of all computer issues resulting in downtime,” he said. “It is estimated that the lost-productivity cost due to these alone is around $50 billion, and the associated IT costs of dealing with it have skyrocketed from $20 billion to $198 billion in the last five years.”

• Outdated hardware. Reaves said studies have shown that the likelihood of physical problems increases significantly once a computer is 24–36 months old. You should consider replacing your computer system every three years -- especially now that the price of computers has dropped.
• Power protection. Power surges and failures can cause data loss and damage to sensitive components, which can reduce their lifespan. Make sure you use surge protectors -- and keep in mind that surge protection wears off over time. Replace all surge protectors every two to three years.
• Illegal software. You own the right to use software only on a specific number of computers. If you violate this part of your agreement, you can be ratted out immediately. Many software programs report usage numbers via the Internet. If your usage numbers are contrary to your agreement, that particular software program can be shut down by the manufacturer until you make good on your contract.
• Training. Even though you probably don’t want to spend money on training your staff, it’s been found that most employees understand less than 20 percent of the software packages they use.
• Firewall and security. The Internet is teeming with hackers who want to access your computer for unsavory reasons. The list of problems they can cause is daunting -- stealing customer files, stealing customer records, and deleting important data. Make sure your computers are updated with the latest security patches and that firewalls are installed and maintained properly.
• Backup data. Sounds obvious, but most companies fail to keep 100 percent of their important data backed up 100 percent of the time. Retrieval once a problem has occurred can be exorbitantly expensive.
• Spam, viruses, and spyware. Eighty percent of all computer service calls the world over are due to problems directly linked to these three issues. Invest in good virus protection, spam filters, and antispyware programs.

Here’s to a more trouble-free workday wherever you are!

Reprinted from Central Vac Professional, July 2008