How can you help your computer run more efficiently?  Information Technology is an essential part of any business and with a new year ahead of us, Robin Parkinson of Escape Business Technologies, the North-east’s leading IT provider, gives us some new year resolutions that might help your computer too.

1. ‘I promise to take my virus protection seriously’ – viruses are arguably the issue most likely to cause a major disruption to a business in Scotland.  A virus is a piece of malware (malicious software) – or direct systems can hack via the internet.  It is essential business owners and IT managers takes a serious look at their anti-virus software and use professional technology and expert help.  For a system to be secure, each layer has to be in place, configured and managed to a high standard – only then will you have peace of mind that you are protected. 

2. ‘I will consider a professionally Managed service for my businesses’ IT system’ – the new year may be the right time to consider taking on a managed service with a reputable IT company.  By outsourcing your IT, you can have a proactive service where your IT provider works with you to ensure your IT strategy meets your business goals. For example, if your business is going to expand rapidly in the next 5 years, your IT system needs to be robust enough to cope with this. 

3. ‘I promise to consider going green when my business expands’ – in an age where companies are trying to reduce their carbon foot print, virtualisation is a viable option when a business starts to expand.  VMware technology reduces energy consumption by allowing you to run your applications on fewer physical servers, which in turn reduces your power and cooling requirements.  By putting a VMware virtual infrastructure in place, your businesses demand for power, air conditioning and space will decrease, therefore allowing further IT expansion and innovation for your company. 

4. ‘I will have a better work-life balance and increase my flexibility by being able to work wherever I am’ – technology can really help individuals have the flexibility of working remotely.  The use of citrix, VPN (Virtual Private Network) and mobile technologies are available for businesses of all sizes.  For a business, the benefits that come with remote working include better staff productivity and retention rates, improved work-life balance and greater organisation resilience.  However, the emphasis on remote working should be considered carefully to ensure effective use of employees’ time while still maintaining a positive balance in their lives.

5.  ‘I will help my computer keep healthy by following some simple steps’ - give your computer a spring clean every now and then.  Get rid of things like cookies (old traces of websites), old emails in different folders such as sent items etc, and any old files, especially if they are stored on your desktop, and remember to make sure anything you do delete is removed from both deleted items within your Email or the recycle bin.  Try to ensure your computer is clutter free - removing applications you don't need or are not specific to what you use every day will help speed up your computer.