Strategies to Avoid Computer Hardware Failure
Hardware failure can be one of the most devastating problems that your organization can face. From losing sensitive data to your employees being unable to work, hardware failure can cause major financial and productivity issues for any company.
It can be difficult to prevent hardware failure, as they sometimes occur without prior warning. However, by following best practices and knowing predictive signs to look for, you can minimize the chance that you are impacted by a major outage.
Exposing hardware to extreme heat
One of the most important aspects of keeping your computer hardware healthy is to ensure that they are kept away from environments with extreme temperatures. Overheating can damage computer components permanently, leading to a reduction in overall speed. As a general rule, keep the environment below 27 degrees Celsius, and ensure that your office space has ample airflow to ensure that your computers have enough room to dissipate heat. Additionally, it is best practice to keep your computers away from direct sunlight, as this can also cause overheating.
Ensure that dust is cleaned frequently
Dust accumulation is one of the major factors contributing to computer failure. Heat generated by the CPU needs to be dissipated through the computer’s heatsink and fans, but their effectiveness is reduced as dust is collected in its fan grills. This ultimately leads to overheating, and can cause crashes , instability, and data loss.
It is therefore essential to keep your computers free from dust collection. One option can be to hire a professional IT technician to periodically ensure that your components are properly and safely cleaned.
Employee Training
Another effective method of reducing the risk of hardware failure is by ensuring that employees are well equipped with the knowledge of how to properly operate their machines. Habits such as prematurely or “cold” shutting down hardware can become damaging to components. Therefore, it is important to construct training programs to ensure that your organization knows the best practices when operating computer equipment. Furthermore, training can also include signs to look out for that indicate failing hardware, or a cyberattack.
Regular Maintenance Checks
Frequent checkups on your IT hardware can catch potential disasters before they occur. By identifying troublesome signs such as slowdowns, erratic software behavior, or CPU throttling, IT professionals can help you diagnose root cause issues that may cause hardware failure down the line, preventing a disaster altogether.
Outdated Hardware
Finally, it is important that hardware is kept up-to-date with current technology standards, as aging hardware is significantly more likely to crash or fail. Furthermore, unsupported hardware can also lead to significant security vulnerabilities in your organization’s network, or lead to compliance issues when handling sensitive data.
GIGE Corporation has over 30 years of experience diagnosing and troubleshooting computer hardware failure. Don’t wait until it’s too late. We can help you identify areas for improvement in your IT infrastructure. Call us at +1 888 366 4443 or email info@gige.ca to get started today.