Preventative Maintenance

There is a very distinct cost curve in IT systems maintenance, the sooner a problem is detected, the less expensive and less and less impactful that issue will be to resolve. In providing excellent computer repair Tulsa service, we know the best time to correct the problem is before it occurs in the first place. A good preventative maintenance program can go a long way to achieving this ultimate goal. There are several aspects to a good preventative maintenance program that need to be understood so that a small business owner can make an informed decision as to whether a particular managed service provider is covering the assistant central points.

24/7 Proactive Monitoring – Preventative maintenance begins with monitoring. Computer systems often leave clues that a problem is starting to progress before the problem reaches a critical point. By monitoring system resources, utilization, and system logs, it is often possible to detect that a problem is beginning to develop early. Proactively monitoring means going beyond the passive review of your systems. As part of our computer repair Tulsa service, Proactive monitoring means watching for particular signs that the system has potentially been compromised, with the system is developing an issue with either the hardware or software.

Server Optimization – There is a marked difference between a server that works and a server that works well. By optimizing the configuration of the server based on the role that server is working in, we can create a set up that allows the server to work efficiently, effectively and quickly. In addition to optimizing the hardware configuration of the server, and the operating system parameters, we will also review the configuration of all services that are running on that server. A database server, for example, would have a different setup than would a network file store, or a or a Web server. Regular maintenance program involving system updates, utilization review, and maintenance is an integral part of server optimization.

Desktop Optimization – As with any machine your desktop workstations and laptops require routine and periodic maintenance. Depending on the type of workstation, the configuration of the operating system and applications on that workstation may vary and are critically important to the efficient operation of a desktop. In addition, as part of our computer repair Tulsa service, we also proactively monitor disk usage as well as perform routine disk maintenance.

Spyware and Adware Protection – As part of our preventative maintenance program we will ensure that your company desktops and laptops are running up to date and well-configured security software. But part of a good security management policy includes periodic review and scanning of your company machines. We will work continuously to make sure that your virus definitions and engines are up-to-date. We will make sure that the recommended reviews are done in a timely fashion to provide additional comfort. Computer repair Tulsa, when do right, allows you to rest easy knowing that your systems are protected from malicious software.

System Patch Management – Today’s operating systems are incredibly complex, and updates happen almost every day. There is an inherent risk in automating all system updates. Part of an excellent preventative month maintenance program means that patches are reviewed and tested before they are applied to your systems. Our preventative maintenance program will make sure that critical patches are implemented as quickly as they can safely be applied. Optional patches are reviewed for any potential disruption before they are applied to your systems.

Critical Application Monitoring – Small businesses often rely on specific software to be available and to be running correctly at all times. As part of our preventative maintenance program, we will monitor these critical business applications to make sure that they are performing as expected. We will, of course, watch the operating systems on your servers, but we go a step farther to make sure that critical business applications are there when you need them. Our computer repair Tulsa service goes beyond monitoring just the machines and network, we also monitor your critical applications.

Security Software Management – Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware Protection is a necessary tool to prevent malicious software from finding its way to your systems. Making sure that your endpoint protection software is always up to date and correctly configured will significantly improve your system and data security. Remember, it is not only the loss of productivity that we must be concerned about, but it is crucial that we protect confidential business and client data. Good endpoint protection is the first step to providing this protection.

The items listed above are the building blocks of a good preventative maintenance program, such as our computer repair Tulsa service. All of these elements must be coordinated and managed correctly, and any issues found should be noted and acted on immediately. Many small business owners believe that by merely installing antivirus software, they have done all that they need to do to protect their systems. The belief that just installing antivirus is sufficient is a common misunderstanding, which can lead to very difficult problems for the small business owner. In addition to installing anti-virus software, you must keep that software up to date.

Additionally, you must monitor the logs to see if potentially dangerous programs are regularly being trapped. A pattern of increased malware activity could point to a vulnerability or a potential system exploit that should be addressed immediately. Without active monitoring or your anti-virus and anti-malware applications, valuable information regarding your system security can be lost. A similar situation can occur with operating system patches. Many small business owners, thinking that if their computer is running fine today, they don’t need to do anything more with the operating system. Modern operating systems are patched quire frequently, and these patches are often related to security and stability issues. By not actively monitoring the available and recommended patches to the operating system your systems are increasingly at risk for a security or stability failure which could lead to catastrophic losses. Another approach that is often used is to turn automatic updates for all operating system patches. This method can also lead to unexpected issues. The best approach is to carefully evaluate available and recommended patches to make certain that there are no known issues or conflicts with that patch. Only a managed approach to preventative maintenance can give you the stability and security you need.