How to Build and Maintain a Robust IT Infrastructure

future growth, hardware, IT infrastructure, maintenance, needs assessment, network infrastructure, Ophtek, performance, scalability, Software, , , , , , , , ,
16
Jul 2024

In the digital age, it’s crucial for your business to have a robust IT infrastructure if you want to achieve long-term success and sustainability.

An IT infrastructure, however, is a complex combination of services and components. Accordingly, building and maintaining one is far from straightforward. But if you want to support your day-to-day operations and build for future growth, it’s essential you prioritize your IT infrastructure. To help you get started, or evaluate your existing system, we’re going to take a closer look and how you can build and maintain it.

What are the Key Components?

A well-designed IT infrastructure will ensure your daily operations run smoothly, but what are the components supporting this success? The core elements comprising an IT infrastructure include:

  • Hardware: central to any IT system is the hardware, without which you wouldn’t have any IT capabilities. This hardware typically includes major resources such as servers for managing network activity, storage solutions for data management and backup, as well as networking equipment to support connectivity and security e.g. routers and firewalls.
  • Software: the backbone of your hardware will be software, which your team can use to process, store, and analyze data. This software can include operating systems such as Windows and Linux, or business applications which support core functions e.g. using Microsoft Excel to store data.
  • Network Infrastructure: depending on the size of your business, you may rely on Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN). Generally, a smaller business will only need to work with a LAN, but larger businesses may work with several LANs connected to a main WAN. Both of these networks ensure there is a seamless data flow across your network.

Building and Maintaining an IT Infrastructure

Before you start operating across an IT infrastructure, you need to first build one and then establish a maintenance schedule. It’s an important process and one which requires great planning. So, to do this successfully, make sure you cover the following:

  • Carry Out a Needs Assessment: before investing in an IT infrastructure, perform a thorough assessment of your business needs. This involves understanding current and future requirements, identifying gaps, and setting clear objectives. It’s important to involve multiple stakeholders from your business in this activity, as well as working with IT experts to determine what’s viable.
  • Scalability: It’s difficult to predict future growth, but designing your IT infrastructure to be scalable is vital. This means selecting hardware and software that can grow with your business, allowing for easy upgrades and expansions when your business activity demands it.
  • Regular Maintenance: you should regularly update software and hardware to ensure optimal performance and security. Implement a maintenance schedule and keep up with the latest patches and upgrades. Remember, failing to implement security patches promptly can have catastrophic results for your IT security.
  • Monitor Performance: once your IT infrastructure is up and running, it’s important to monitor its performance. It’s very easy for small issues to escalate into major IT issues, so being proactive can help identify issues before they become critical.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Things That Are Slowing Your PC Down

Best Practices, Data Security, Data Storage, disk cleanup, Hacking, IT Efficiency, Ophtek, PC Tips, PC Tools, Speed, , , ,
29
Sep 2020

We live in a high speed age which allows us to be more productive than ever, but if anything can throw a wrench in the works it’s a slow PC.

The experience of a slow and sluggish PC is one that everyone is familiar with. And dealing with this frustration never gets easier. In fact, a PC which regularly slows down can have a serious impact on your job productivity. The complexities of the inner workings of a PC mean that identifying the exact cause is difficult. But this doesn’t mean you need to continue struggling.
It’s possible, with relative ease, to employ a number of methods and practices that will help restore your PCs speed.

5 Steps Towards a Faster PC

If you want to start ramping your productivity back up then make sure you look at the following:

  1. Defragment Your Hard Drive: A PC is, essentially, a data storage device. But the data stored on a PC needs to be retrieved every time it’s required. And the more data you store on your PC the more uneven this data distribution is. The end result is fragmented data that becomes increasingly harder to piece together. Naturally, this means that processes take longer to complete. Performing a disk defragmentation will help to reorganize your data and can easily be achieved with the Microsoft Drive Optimizer app.
  2. Browser Add-Ons: Installing add-ons to your web browser can help to maximize your online productivity, but too many can start to slow down your browsing experience. It’s common, however, to install add-ons that soon fall into disuse and no longer serve any purpose. Therefore, if your speed issues are only apparent when you’re using your browser, it may be worth evaluating your active add-ons and disabling any you don’t need.
  3. Start-up Programs: When a PC loads up it will automatically load up a long list of programs that are listed in your System Configuration. The more programs that are listed in System Configuration then the longer your PC will take to load up. Many of these programs, though, are not necessary during the start-up process e.g. a messaging app that you don’t use regularly. To avoid a bloated start-up experience just head into MSConfig and check what’s included in your start-up.
  4. Hard Drive Space: Your hard drive may, for example, have a capacity of 500GB but it’s not recommended to fill it to breaking point. The operating system on your PC needs a certain amount of hard drive space to carry out essential tasks such as creating temporary files. And if this space isn’t available then your PC will struggle to operate correctly. Regularly evaluating what is on your PC and what can be removed is crucial to avoid this.
  5. Malware: Hackers are keen to take control of PCs through the use of resource-heavy malware. Depending on the nature of the malware, such as a DDoS attack, your PCs memory can soon become overloaded and grind to a halt. Accordingly, you need to maintain good security practices to prevent the impact of malware.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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General Maintenance Tips to Keep Your PC Healthy

IT Best Practices, IT Efficiency, Ophtek, PC, PC Maintenance, PC Tips, , ,
25
Aug 2020

A healthy PC is a happy PC and one that will serve your organization well. But to keep your PC healthy you need to carry out regular maintenance.

Take the casing off a PC and you will see that it’s a complex collection of circuitry, wires, boards and fans. All of these parts combine to bring your PC to life. But, with so many different components at play, it’s very easy for one of these to fail. Even the most unassuming, basic component can play a major role in the performance of your PC, so maintaining these is crucial. A PC, as we’ve stated, contains numerous different parts. And that’s only the start. The software contained within the PC also needs maintaining to prevent system errors and hardware damage.

It may sound as though you have a mountain to climb when it comes to PC maintenance, but it’s actually very easy.

Keeping Your PC Healthy

Thankfully, there are a number of simple and quick practices you can carry out to maximize the health of your PC. These are a mixture of software and hardware tips which include:

  • Shut Down Correctly: The end of the working day often signifies a rush to leave and the process of shutting a PC down correctly often suffers. Hitting the power button may be quicker, but it risks a number of problems. Firstly, there’s the risk that unsaved work will be lost and, secondly, the shutdown process allows the disk drives and RAM to power down correctly. Modern PCs may be mostly immune to power spikes, but they’re not completely So, take your time and shut down correctly. 
  • Clean Your Keyboard: A keyboard remains an essential part of any PC and allows you to complete almost every necessary task. That’s why a failed keyboard will instantly affect your productivity. It may be that a single key doesn’t work or it may be that the entire device is damaged. Either way, it’s vital that you regularly clean the keyboard. The best way to do this is by turning the keyboard upside down and shaking it before using a can of compressed air to blast anything else out. Finally, use an alcohol-based wipe to fully clean the surface. 
  • Organize Your Cables: Even the most modern PCs require a number of cables to connect all the required components. The sheer number of cables involved can soon become jumbled. And this only becomes more complicated the more additions you make to your system. If these cables are not organized correctly then your PC will be left vulnerable to damage. Not only is there the risk of entire systems getting pulled on the floor, but there’s the risk of electrocution. Avoid this by detangling cables and using cable ties to gather them together. 
  • Always Update: It’s important that all updates and patches are installed as soon as they are available. The process may feel time consuming, but the majority of these procedures will take place in the background with minimal impact on performance. And, by installing these upgrades, you will maximize your PCs performance and protect it from any software vulnerabilities.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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The Best IT Home Checkup for Your PC

Network, Ophtek, pc checkup, Security, working from home, , , ,
21
Apr 2020

Millions of workers are now self-isolating and that means working from home for many people. But how do you make sure that your PC at home is healthy?

The luxury of working from an office is that the equipment there is regularly maintained and fairly new. However, when you have to work from home you will soon realize that your own equipment isn’t in the same shape. We’re all guilty of being a little lazy when we get home and IT maintenance certainly isn’t at the top of most people’s lists. But a little effort goes a long way when it comes to maintaining a PC.

And, best of all, you don’t need to be a fully trained IT technician to carry out a home checkup. In fact, it’s quick and easy as we’re about to show you.

 

How to Maintain Your PC with a Home Checkup

Working from home on your own PC is convenient, but it also puts you and your organization at risk. Therefore, make sure you maximize your productivity and safety by carrying out the following:

  • Install all Updates: We have a habit of ignoring PC updates at home as they get in the way of loading up Netflix. However, it’s important that complacency doesn’t creep into your IT activities at home. You need to make sure that all your software is up to date with the latest patches and firmware. Not only will this ensure that your software is secure, but it will enhance the functionality of your software. Most software will have an auto-update feature, so it’s crucial that this is activated. 
  • Check Your Router: The internet is vital when it comes to remote working. Without an internet connection you won’t be able to connect to your organization’s network. And this will leave you without any of the resources you need. So, it’s essential that your router is working and secure. A good connection is paramount, so you may need to adjust your router position to maximize the signal. And, to safeguard the security of your router, remove any default passwords and create something unique. 
  • Use Security Software: If you haven’t already got security software in place then this needs to be made a priority. It will protect your PC and, if you’re working remotely, strengthen the security of any connections to your business. There are a wide range of options when it comes to security software, so it can be daunting choosing one. It’s recommended that you stick to the industry leaders, so make a beeline to software developed by Kaspersky, McAfee and AVG. And you can rest assured that they provide plenty of free software.

Final Thoughts

The challenges of working from home are likely to be new for many employees. Thankfully, advances in technology mean that this is easier than ever. But you need to make sure that your PC at home is in excellent shape. It is, after all, your most valuable tool when it comes to working remotely. So, to guarantee a PC that is firing on all cylinders, you need to take note of the tips above.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Ways to Improve Your IT Efficiency

communication, IT Efficiency, Office IT, Ophtek, , , , ,
17
Mar 2020

Using the power of IT is one of the surest ways to enhance your productivity. But there’s a good chance that there’s still room for improvement.

It’s likely that IT already has a major presence in your organization. You may even feel as though you’re already operating at a high level. And, no doubt, you are. But technology advances at a rapid pace. And it’s plentiful. Therefore, it’s very easy to miss a new product or a new tip. However, it’s these missed opportunities which could give you a competitive edge. And that’s what every business strives for.

How to Improve Your IT Efficiency

It’s important to have a strategy in every aspect of your organization. And IT is no different. In fact, the demands of modern business make it a priority. So, to help you maximize your IT operations, we’re going to share 5 ways to improve your IT efficiency:

  1. Employee Training: As we’ve already touched upon, technology advances quickly. And it’s this progressive nature which can leave employees trailing behind. As a result, your productivity can take a major knock. But it doesn’t have to be like this. Your employees are your most valuable asset, so you need to respect this. And the best way to achieve this is with regular IT training. Work with them to identify any relevant gaps in knowledge and then arrange group training. 
  1. Improve Communication: Time is money in the world of business, so it’s critical that you make savings where possible. And IT is the master of time-saving solutions, particularly when it comes to communication. One of the simplest ways to improve IT efficiency is by adopting an internal communication platform. These platforms, which include Skype and Google Hangouts, allow employees to chat, share documents and collaborate. And all without leaving their desks. 
  1. Enhance Your Security: It’s always important to value security in the world of IT, but not enough organizations take it seriously. And this puts them at risk of significant threats such as ransomware and data breaches. This is why it’s crucial that you enhance your security. Simple steps such as increasing the strength of passwords and securing your hardware can improve your security no end. 
  1. Embrace Remote Working: The rise of remote working has been swift and has redefined the workplace. Employees who are not based in the office, such as salesman, can now connect with your IT systems from anywhere in the world. It’s one of the simplest ways to maximize your IT productivity. All your workers need is an internet connection. So, make sure that you establish a remote working policy which fits in with your existing IT systems.
  1. Keep Up to Date: Not every development in the world of IT will be of interest to your organization. But it’s important that you keep up to date with the many changes taking place. It’s possible that even a slight development in a specific area, such as data storage, could make a difference to your IT operations. Thankfully, it’s not difficult to achieve this. Just make sure that you bookmark several IT news sites and regularly check the headlines.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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