Spring Cleaning Keeps Your Business Safe

For a lot of us, spring cleaning is an annual event. Although it takes a lot of effort, it’s always worth it when we’re done. It’s also a reminder to do simple maintenance around the house such as changing smoke alarm batteries and replacing old fire extinguishers. Well, spring cleaning for your business can keep it safer too.

3 spring cleaning activities that make your business safer

1. Out with the old and in with the new

Outdated computers suffer from recurring connectivity issues, sluggish performance, more frequent system crashes, and susceptibility to malware. After January 14, 2020, Windows 7 computers, in particular, will be vulnerable to cyber-attacks. That is the date on which Microsoft will no longer support Windows 7 or provide security patches.

We know what you’re thinking, “January 2020? We’ve got plenty of time!” A little over eight months does seem a long way off. However, there are several reasons to include it in your spring cleaning and get it done now.

If you have more than a few machines to replace, we can help you spread the cost of purchasing and installing new systems over several months.
At the end of the year, there is going to be a rush of companies trying to upgrade to Windows 10. Encountering backorders for the best and most popular business class computers is likely.
The crush of last-minute requests for installation of new machines may cause a delay in getting your computers up and running before time runs out.
Instead of waiting until the end of the year, take advantage of Section 179 of the tax code now. There are significant savings available to small businesses for the purchase of new equipment using this law. Your accountant can advise you on the rule changes for 2019.

2. Make sure you have power when you need it

Just like the hard-wired smoke detectors in your house, mission-critical servers and computers have a backup battery or an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). It is imperative that these units be maintained and regularly tested. They should be replaced every three to five years depending on their maintenance schedule and physical enviroment. Dust, dirt, humidity, and extreme heat or cold can all affect the reliability of these units.

Take a few minutes during spring cleaning this year to have your battery backup and UPS units inspected by a qualified IT specialist from QualityIP. We can help you prevent catastrophic system failure and keep your business safe.

3. Get rid of the clutter

Spring cleaning is all about getting rid of all the things you’ve accumulated and no longer need. However, to keep your business safe, it’s important that devices containing old data are disposed of properly. Get a jump start on safely removing the computer clutter from your office with our e Waste Program.

Here is just some of what we can do for you:

Dispose of and recycle e Waste such as old computers, servers, external hard drives, monitors, and printers following EPA standards.
Shred data storage devices and certify them as securely destroyed. For example, we shred:
- hard drives
- solid state drives
- memory cards
- circuit boards
- thumb drives
Extend the life of your existing equipment by cleaning your server area.
Arrange and bundle cabling for a tidier and safer work area.
Clean keyboards, mice, and monitors.

Getting rid of old devices, sprucing up the server area, organizing cables and wiping down devices will boost morale and make your business safer too. Our e Waste Recycling Program makes it easy for you.

We’re here to help with any or all three spring cleaning activities that make your business safer. Give us a call at 833 KNOWS IT or (833) 566-9748.