The internet of things is estimated to grow to encompass more than 27 billion devices by 2025.
It’s more important than ever to stay ahead of the curve – for cost-efficiency, employee happiness, and for data security.
Regular desktop maintenance might sound like another boring buzzword, but it isn’t. It’s a small cog in a larger picture, and it’s where everything begins.
We’re here to break it down in simple terms.
What Is Desktop Maintenance?
It’s no secret that computers slow down as time goes on. Part of that is due to hardware aging: Eventually, old systems need to be replaced with newer, faster ones.
But a lot of what makes your desktop systems slow is on the software side. Just like hardware, the software running on your computer systems must be maintained to run optimally.
To put it simply, desktop maintenance means backing up your data to reliable services, increasing your system performance, and improving your protection against data breaches.
How Regular Desktop Maintenance Benefits You
The core benefits of regular desktop maintenance include the following:
- Improved desktop performance
- Improved employee efficiency
- Mitigation of data loss and data risks
- Early detection of vulnerabilities
- Longer desktop lifespan
Your employees can only work as fast as their computers – and a smooth user experience for employees means happier, more productive employees, too.
And the darker side of desktop maintenance is in security vulnerability and data fraud.
The cost of a data breach in 2022 exceeded $4 million on average for mid to large-sized companies. Ransomware and data losses are at all-time record highs, and identifying and mitigating risks is vastly less expensive before they turn into catastrophes.
Desktop Maintenance 101
The best way to ensure your computer systems run fast is to hire a professional to handle ongoing maintenance.
But there are several things you can do right now to get the most out of your hardware. Here’s a quick maintenance guide.
Restart Regularly
“Have you tried turning it off and on again?”
It sounds like an IT administrator’s old wives’ tale, but the truth is that it works. Regular restarts flush your system’s RAM and can help fix common problems like internet connectivity, printing issues, freezing programs, and more.
Upgrade Your OS
Whether you use Windows or iOS, upgrading your operating system means having access to the latest innovations and security services. It’s worth considering if you’re running an older operating system that’s no longer receiving updates.
Clean Out Your Hard Drives
Your hard drives don’t directly contribute to performance – unless they’re clogged. That’s because your computers need a little extra space to store the excess data generated by programs when they need too much of it.
Plus, reducing the amount of data on your hard drives improves system performance when sorting through and searching for files.
Remove Unnecessary Startup Programs
When you start your PC, there’s a good chance that many background programs start that you don’t immediately need. Each uses a small amount of performance, so removing the ones you don’t need prevents that from happening.
Upgrade Your RAM
Unlike other computer components, like the CPU, your RAM can be upgraded easily.
If your CPU is your desktop’s thinking brain, your RAM (memory) is how much it can think about at one time. More RAM means you can run more programs at once and switch between them seamlessly.
Most computer systems use simple plug-and-play RAM sticks that are easy to install (and here’s how).
Eliminate Performance Bottlenecks
Regular desktop maintenance is crucial for any business to run smoothly. Sometimes it means getting your hands dirty – and others, it means letting the pros handle the hard work for you.
Your business can benefit from live IT solutions, and we know how to help. Contact us today to learn how we can support your tech needs.
