Business technology often represents one of the largest expenses incurred by companies, and how much you spend on it directly relates to how quickly your business can grow and adapt to meet the needs of your customers. Whether you’re looking at upgrading your hardware, or just maintaining the current state of your technology, here are some tips on keeping your business technology in tip-top shape.
The importance of keeping technology up-to-date
Upgrading computer hardware is an investment that will keep your business running smoothly, not only ensuring that you are getting optimal performance, but also providing you with the functionality you require to run your business. Often you won’t need to replace your entire system; it could be a case of a lower-cost tweak or replacement that spells the difference between stone-age and cyber-age.
What are some signs that indicate it’s time for an upgrade?
If your computer takes more than 30 seconds to boot up; if your mouse freezes; if you’re running out of hard drive space, then it’s time for an upgrade. However, don’t wait until all these signs show up before you look into upgrading your systems; maintaining your current system is key to nipping problems in the bud before they floor your business. The average hard drive has a life expectancy of five years, but this can vary depending on your daily workload. If you work with large graphics files or if you store videos, music, or photos for your business, it’s likely that you may need to upgrade your system more frequently. When in doubt, take it in to be examined by a professional.
Do I need more RAM?
The first step to figuring out if you need additional RAM (Random-Access Memory) for your business system is to know what kind of memory it uses. For example, if your computers were built within the last few years, they should be using DDR3 or DDR4 RAM. DDR5 RAM is due in 2022. If your RAM is older than DDR3, it may struggle to cope. Freezing, random rebooting, high memory usage, lag when typing, non-responsive programs and apps, and the dreaded blue screen of death are all signs that you need more RAM.