What Every SMB Should Know about Creating a Device Maintenance Plan

The three most important things for an SMB owner to consider when creating a device maintenance plan.

Creating a device maintenance plan is not just something that is nice to do if you have time. It is an absolute must if you want your business to remain up and running properly both now and in the future. Following is a breakdown of what I believe are the most important things you should take into account when creating a device maintenance plan.

Security

Cyber security is not something you can afford to ignore. Recent statistics show that 60% of all small businesses that are targeted by a cyber-attack close down within six months. Keeping your devices secure is literally a life and death matter for your business.

One of the most important aspects of security is ensuring that all employees have up to date training in handling potential cyber-attacks. Cyber criminals are an innovative bunch and regularly come up with new ways to attack business devices. Providing regular training in how to maintain device security is imperative, so employees will know how to handle pop-up messages, emails from suspicious accounts or even emails coming from legitimate company accounts that contain out of the ordinary instructions. Employees also need ongoing training to know what to do should a cyber attack or ransomware attack occur. Knowing what to do when attacked can help you limit the damage done by the attacker.

Another important aspect of device security maintenance is keeping all antivirus programs up to date. Make sure the antivirus program you use is updating itself regularly and scan your computer and new devices periodically to ensure nothing is getting through.

Those who use a cloud service provider should pay close attention to the security features offered by the provider. All files should not only be safe on the cloud storage site but also encrypted when transferred to and from your computer. This ensures that hackers are not able to access unsecured files in transit and steal information.

Ease of Use

A device maintenance plan should continually make it easier and faster for you to use your devices. Including the ability to use mobile computing in your plan is the key to success, especially if you work from various locations or manage more than one business outlet. Mobile computing will allow you to check data, make sales and keep tabs on company progress even if you aren’t in the office.

Moving files to a cloud server is another wise move that can increase company efficiency and productivity. Using the cloud enables employees to access important files simultaneously and collaborate on important company projects. Another advantage of cloud storage is that you won’t need to upgrade devices or buy external hardware to obtain more storage space; instead, you can simply change your cloud storage plan to pay only for the space you need.

You may also want to check current applications to see if they continue to be the best choice for your business. Applications periodically become outdated as new, better options take their place. In some instances, you may find that a software program takes up a lot of storage space on your device, slowing down your work time and making it hard for you to multitask. Switching over to a new program or even a cloud-based program can make your devices run a lot faster and thus boost your productivity. At the same time, the changing needs of your business may cause you to realize that your current software is no longer the best option for you personally.

Budget

Naturally, it is important to keep costs in mind when developing a device maintenance plan. You don’t want to underfund such a plan as every business depends on secure, easy to use devices to become or remain successful. At the same time, you can’t afford to spend more money than you have on device maintenance and upgrades.

Continually looking for new and better ways to maintain your devices can save you a lot of money both now and in the long-run. For instance, you may find that there are free, open source software programs that can be used in place of expensive software programs that cost money to use an upgrade. You may also find that local sales will enable you to switch over to new, faster and better devices without having to spend a lot of money. What is more, new computers with an Energy Star label can reduce power costs by as much as 75%.

A seemingly unrelated yet important aspect of keeping your device maintenance plan within your budget is teaching your employees how to save power when working in the office. The United States Department of Energy recommends turning off monitors if they are not going to be used within the next 20 minutes. Avoid screensavers as they actually cause a computer to use more power than normal and instead put computers on sleep mode to cut utility bill costs.

In Summary

The most important things to consider when drawing up a device maintenance plan are saving money, keeping devices secure and ensuring that all devices are efficient and easy to use. It will likely take time, research and even an initial investment of money to create a plan that meets these important criteria, but the results are sure to be well worth your effort.

You may also want to get professional help to know your options and obtain the best possible hardware and software for your particular company. At ✅ Boston HelpDesk - Managed IT Services Provider in Boston in Boston, we stay up to date on the latest technology trends and developments to ensure your new plan is as cost-efficient as possible. We also offer various packages so you can obtain the exact services you need from us without having to spend too much money. If you want to ensure your new device management plan meets your exact needs both now and in the future, get in touch with us at info@bostonhelpdesk.com or (617) 848-9393 to find out how we can help you.