As economic bad times approach as surely as a lava flow coming down Kilauea, many folks are concerned about their IT budgets.  Whether it’s a small business in Kaneohe, or a Bishop Street behemoth, nobody likes spending money unnecessarily.  A little preventative maintenance can save a lot of money when computers are involved.  So what can you do to keep your machines happy?

The vast majority of computer problems today are caused by viruses, spyware and their equally evil cousins.  So make sure you have antivirus software loaded on your machine(s).  There are several reliable antivirus packages out there (hint: google is your friend).  Most are relatively low cost, and some are free for non-commercial use.

Along these lines, make sure you keep your software updated.  Updated software is less vulnerable to viruses, malware, Trojan horses and the like.  By now, Windows users have become tired of being bombarded with updates, but they serve a purpose.  Sure, there is anecdotal evidence that such updates cause problems, but the fact of the matter is that troubles are rare.  For users of popular, Microsoft-based software, such updates are automatically delivered to you.  For users of other software applications, check your vendor’s website periodically for any updates, patches, or fixes that might be available.  

Make sure to back up your data.  This piece of advice has been around as long as computers.  But we continue to run into folks whose hard drive just crashed and their last backup was last year.  The consequences of lost data can be expensive at best and devastating at worst.  With the advent of cheap jump drives and online backups provided by ISP’s, you really don’t have an excuse for not backing up.  Also, make sure to test your backup strategy.  The old joke in the industry is that “backups always work, but the devil is in restoring the data.”  

Protect your power.  Power spikes, surges, and outages can damage or destroy the most important component in a computer, namely the motherboard.  We are shocked at how often we visit organizations and see their computers plugged directly into the outlet.   At the very least, employ a power strip that conforms to UL 1449.  Better yet, for your more important gear, employ an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that includes surge protection.  Remember though, that these things can wear out over time, so consider replacing your UPS and surge protectors every few years.

Finally, employ some sort of firewall.  Even a software-based firewall is better than nothing.  If your computer is compromised, any one of several bad things can happen to it.  It can be used as part of a “zombie” ring, assisting bad guys in their nefarious schemes, and it can even be damaged beyond repair.  Of even greater concern to some folks is the theft of sensitive data.

These are all relatively easy tips to follow.  They will help you avoid problems and keep your costs down.

This article is republished with permission from a column that previously appeared in The Honolulu Star Bulletin (www.starbulletin.com) on April 7, 2008.

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