TECH TIP: Stretching Your Network

Afinety recommends a network refresh every 3 – 4 years to keep maintenance costs and downtime at a minimum. Many firms are stretching their networks past this point due to the economy and other factors. If your network is over 3 years old, we recommend the following to keep business interruptions down:

1. Make sure your desktop AntiVirus licenses are current and versions are up to date. We recommend Symantec version 11 or newer. The older versions of any AntiVirus programs do not sufficiently protect your desktops computers from outsides sources, leaving your machines exposed to certain viruses and other threats.
2. Make sure your servers have extended warranties. This could potentially save you thousands of dollars in downtime, labor and lost data. HP extended warranties offer this valuable insurance at a very low cost.
3. If you are using ARCServe backup software, we suggest you update it to at least version 11.5. This software protects your backups if you are using a tape drive unit. The older versions do not work with required Microsoft patches and updates.
4. We also recommend a general review and clean up. Many firms are running out of server memory and disk space due to today’s demands placed on their networks with voluminous email and pdf files. We suggest taking a look at your current server disk space to see if files can be moved, deleted or archived. It is also a good idea to check desktops for Spyware, Malware and other programs that take up space and effect speed.
5. If you are stretching the life of your network, expect performance to degrade and let your users know this is relatively normal. The new server and desktop operating systems have been out for quite some time now and they can utilize far more memory than older versions. Therefore as you patch, update and upgrade various utilities on your network, factors such as server memory are simply not up to the task. When you are able to upgrade your network, expect outstanding performance, speed and usability improvements.

Afinety will assist you with all of the above, as well as answer any questions regarding your current IT environment and future considerations. Please contact us if you’d like more information or if you’d like to schedule a Network Health Assessment.