5 Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your Outdated IT Infrastructure
You’ve likely heard the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. While that can be true about some things, following this advice when it comes to IT infrastructure can be a dangerous, and costly, mistake.
One of the most important parts of your company is its IT infrastructure. A modern, high-quality IT infrastructure is a crucial asset that enables you to accomplish your objectives and conduct business efficiently. A hassle notwithstanding, an outdated, subpar system can ruin productivity, efficiency, and job quality and possibly put you at danger of a cyber intrusion.
Here are five common signs that indicate it’s time for an IT infrastructure update.
1) You’re Using Old Computers
As a managed services provider, we see all kinds of interesting technology workarounds and outdated practices. But a dead giveaway of outdated IT infrastructure, for us, is the very thing employees use on a daily basis – their computers.
Your company's computers aren't an exception to the rule that things don't last as long as they formerly did. Your previous investment in brand-new PCs was undoubtedly a great one. They used to assist you in getting things done, but now they lag, freeze, crash, and give you additional frustration.
Your computers themselves are equally as crucial as servers and other networking equipment when considering IT infrastructure. It's a terrific chance to upgrade to more capable gadgets from the upcoming generation by replacing outdated machines.
2) Your Systems Are Slow
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to get something done on a slow computer.
Systems that are too slow could be a sign of a bigger problem with your company's IT infrastructure. This primary cause may be a lack of computing power, insufficient storage, or constrained bandwidth. To assist you deliver solutions that are blazingly quick, an IT infrastructure upgrade will take care of these problems. Applications that load quickly are more productive for business.
The fact is, slow systems slow down your business and wreak havoc on your employees’ productivity. At the end of the day, this translates to revenue losses, increased expenses, and ultimately less profit.
3) You are Using OSoftware.
In addition to being slow and out-of-date, software that is nearing its end of life also poses a security risk to your entire network. Although it can be intimidating to learn new software, obsolete software is more vulnerable to malware, viruses, and cyberattacks than new software. Additionally, outdated software runs the risk of not meeting regulated industry standards.
A crucial enhancement to your IT infrastructure is software updating. The following are some potential ways that new software could help your company:
Higher Security
Higher Capabilities
Greater Productivity
Greater Effectiveness
Lower Costs Over Time
Having the most up to date software is critical for security and efficiency.
4) You Don’t Have Reliable Backups
Does your organization have a solid backup plan in place? Unfortunately, the answer for many organizations is no. Without a reliable backup plan, your company runs the risk of data loss in the event of a disaster, breach, or power outage.
A comprehensive data recovery strategy for your company should include testing and regular backups. Full data backups can be kept in the cloud and spread across several different locations. This provides your company with the defense it needs to endure a catastrophe or loss of key systems.
Don't put off thinking about data backups and disaster recovery plans until it is too late.
5) Your IT Expenses Are Climbing
The more expensive it is to upgrade and maintain older technology. The costs of upkeep and repairs start to mount over time. Energy is also needed by your IT systems.
When dealing with IT problems, many firms often resort to band-aid solutions rather of addressing the fundamental reasons. Long-term savings from a thorough IT infrastructure overhaul will be greater.
Additionally, older parts of the IT infrastructure often use more energy to maintain cool because they operate hotter. Newer technology is created with environmental issues in mind and runs cooler, more efficiently, and with less energy. It's time to think about an upgrade if your IT systems are costing you too much in energy.
If any of the signs sound familiar to your business, it’s time to consult an IT expert. Upgrading your IT infrastructure can improve your security, efficiency, and profitability. Working an expert will help you determine what areas of your IT infrastructure are in good condition, which ones need a little help, and where it’s time for a full upgrade.
Kotman Technology has been delivering comprehensive technology solutions to clients in California and Michigan for nearly two decades. With a customer retention of over 98%, we pride ourselves on being the last technology partner you'll ever need. Contact us today to experience the Kotman Difference.