Putting an IT Bow on 2023
This year has felt closer to “business as usual” for us than the last few, but I’m not sure I could point to a single year since we opened for business in 2004 that has gone exactly as planned. Still, we’ve had a good year, and I sincerely hope that you have as well.
Our office typically slows down in December, which gives us a chance to wrap up some loose ends before we say goodbye to December. Whether your office is super busy or slows down this time of year, it’s important to take time to make sure you are keeping your IT safe and secure.
Here are some of the items we review during the holidays:
Given how much we rely on our emails, it’s important to make sure the tool is working correctly. Here’s what we check:
- Space and archives: You can run into issues over time with your inbox exceeding the allowed capacity, so it’s best to go through and delete old, unnecessary emails and archive the rest.
- Spam filter settings: Spam filters are not perfect, which means you will inevitably end up with spam in your inbox and important emails in your spam folder. The good news is you can adjust these spam settings to help the software do a better job of correctly routing your emails.
- Access by phone: Setting your phone up to look at emails is an easy thing to do these days. If your workday does not end at five o’clock, having the ability to check for new emails on your phone quickly can be a productivity game-changer.
- Antivirus settings: Email is one of the primary methods by which dangerous computer viruses get into our system, so it’s vital to scan your incoming emails for programs that can do real damage to your office IT environment.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is easily overlooked until something bad happens. A good cybersecurity suite can keep your office safe from Malware programs, Phishing links, and even Ransomware. A professional-grade anti-virus software is the best way to minimize your risk. We like the solutions offered by Trend Micro and Bitdefender as they offer solid baseline coverage at an affordable price.
Data Backups and Data Syncs
Data backups and data syncs are two different things. Sync services like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive allow you to access the same data from multiple devices, while backups create a full copy of your data in a location that is 100% separate from your daily operations. Keeping all of your precious data backed up is easier than it has ever been, but getting it right does require you to take a quick look from time to time. Our go-to for basic backup is iDrive, and they are worth a look if you don’t already have something in place.
Remote Connectivity
Remote work is probably not going away when the pandemic is behind us. Now is an excellent time of year for your team to think through all of the ways that remote staff is connecting to the office and taking the time to ensure that hackers cannot also use those connections to access the company’s data.
Power and Internet Backup
Power outages happen most often during the coldest and hottest months of the year when the power grid operates at maximum capacity to keep up with energy demands. Momentary outages happen, and an outage of a few seconds can throw the office into chaos. Since most power outages are very short, inexpensive Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) can keep your systems running until the grid power is restored, minimizing the downtime for the office.
Don’t have time for all this?
Getting the backlog of IT tasks off your plate is what we do. Feel free to schedule a free consultation with me and I’ll be happy to help you decide if, when, and how to get IT off your plate.