What Computer Network Support and Maintenance Should You Do?

Computer network support and maintenance is as vital as maintenance on your car - it should be treated as an ongoing exercise.

This will allow you trouble free computing and fast, efficient responses if you do have problems. A well maintained computer, laptop, network or server is easier to fix in the event of a problem if maintenance over its lifespan has been kept to a high level. Equipment lasts longer and does more for you if well maintained.

Maintenance of Your Individual Computer

A properly configured machine that is dedicated to the tasks you require will have far fewer problems than a machine that:

• is used for many different purposes and
• often downloads and installs programs from the Internet.

We suggest for each machine:

• Decide exactly what you require from your PC and keep this as streamlined as possible
• Ensure you have fully licensed copies of its operating system (usually MS Windows for a PC ) and any other software you need
• Ensure correct installation procedures and good configuration to allow you to build a stable system
• If access to the internet is required, your PC is vulnerable to attack in many different forms:  
  1. Malicious software and viruses
  2. From hackers who wish to access your PC directly.
     Their main objective may be the data stored on it but usually it is to use your PC as a relay for numerous e-mail spam that if traced appears to come from your computer rather than the illegal originators.
     

Ensure:

1. Anti Virus software is fitted to prevent malicious programs entering the PC (mainly via e-mails) and also to help scan the PC from time to time for viruses
2. Your Anti Virus software is kept up to date - If not updated with the latest Virus information then your PC is increasingly vulnerable to attack
3. You fit a firewall against hackers - This can be a software version for a PC or a hardware version for a server that is a hub for a network.

Set up a routine for on-going maintenance of your computer:

1. Disk defragmenting will help keep data together on your disk and so prevent unnecessary slower processing speed
2. Deleting files & emptying your recycle bin often will help keep your PC tidy
3. Regularly download updates from the internet to keep your Anti-Virus and operating system software up to date. (You can even set this up automatically in many cases)
4. Make sure you do not run out of space on your main C:/ drive as this will slow the system

Network and Server Support and Maintenance

Whilst some of the issues with network and server support and maintenance are similar to PCs, a central problem can cripple your entire network. A more rigorous and proactive approach is advisable to prevent problems before they happen.

We recommend in particular:

• Antivirus and software patch updates
• Internet usage checks
• Configuration of, particularly new, users to maximise efficiency and staff time

How Our IT Department Can Help

We provide a comprehensive computer maintenance service for our clients in Ireland. We can help remove much of your work and worry on keeping your IT in good shape.

Our computer maintenance engineers are highly trained and have seen most issues that can arise within a small business network. We ensure they constantly keep up with advances in new technologies, whether hardware of software.

We can tailor a total computer maintenance package for your individual business. This can include anything you want it to: PC and Server maintenance, Network maintenance, e-mail maintenance & all IT infrastructure maintenance can all be covered.

If you are in Ireland region and want to keep your IT running, contact us today to find out more about our computer network support and maintenance service.