Running a company is no small task, and any business owner can tell you that, big or small, there is never enough time in the day to get everything done. Some things will always naturally fall by the wayside as other priorities take precedence, and updating your technology is often one of them. Putting off one or two updates usually doesn’t seem like a big deal at the time, until one day you look up and realize that it’s been months (or years) since the last time your system had a refresh.
This can have major repercussions on how your business operates, not to mention how safe you are from potential cyberattacks! If these five signs apply to your company, chances are that you’re in dire need of a technology refresh.
Slow Response Times
If you feel like you and your team members spend more time waiting for pages to load than you do actually working, it’s probably a sign that your network and tech system have seen better days. Slow response times can take many forms– you might find that certain applications always lag or quit unexpectedly. Your server responses may be slow, taking forever to allow you to access important stored data. Regardless, if you’re experiencing these problems, it means it’s high time for an update.
Outdated Managed IT Services
Lots of companies and organizations outsource their IT needs to a third party for managed IT services. This is a boon to many business owners. It allows them to get the tech support they need without spending the money to maintain an in-house IT department that they might not need, or undergoing the time, effort, and stress of managing it themselves. The set-it-and-forget-it nature of managed IT services, however, means that it’s possible that the services you’re receiving have become outdated without you even realizing it! If your plan no longer seems to fit your needs as a company, it’s time for your services, and possibly your provider, to change.
Unsecured VoIP
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is the technical term for any system that allows you to make phone calls over the internet. In the post-Covid age, this has become commonplace in nearly every industry. However, proper security measures for this technology are not as widespread. In order to be truly safe from cyberattacks, your VoIP system needs to have its own dedicated security measures in place. If yours doesn’t, it’s time to get that fixed right away!
Frequent System Crashes
A crash in the middle of the workday is every business owner’s nightmare. Not only does it disrupt workflow and keep you and your team members from completing important tasks, but it introduces the possibility of lost work. In a system that’s up to date and functioning properly, crashes are something that you’ll experience infrequently, if at all. If your system crashes frequently as opposed to crashes being isolated incidents, you’re most likely working with outdated software that could use a serious refresh.
Ineffective Data Backups
Your stored data is probably not something that constantly occupies your thoughts, and that’s a good thing. You should be able to put the safety of your information at the back of your mind and not worry about it all the time. However, this can come back to bite you when ineffective data backups result in you losing valuable data that you still need to access. When you use up-to-date systems with adequate backups and cloud storage, data loss is all but impossible, so if you’ve experienced any kind of data loss that couldn’t be reversed from your backups, take it as a sign that your system is in need of an update as soon as possible.
Worried about the possible negative consequences of working with outdated technology? Let Progressive Computer Systems set you at ease! We can help you get your network back on track, so get in touch with our team today to learn more.
