Signs Your Business Technology Is Failing | WheelHouse IT

As a small business owner or manager, you will eventually come across a situation where you have to determine whether a piece of technology needs to be replaced or removed altogether. The first and probably the most critical decision you need to make is how that technology affects your specific product, service, or company. If it still promotes efficiency and productivity or is simply a benefit to the company, then the answer is clear. Unfortunately, sometimes the answer is not always that easy. Continue reading to learn about the various types of technology and the signs that they might fail.

Failing Server Hard Drives

The most common computing environments use hard disk drives (HDDs). These hard drives typically last between three to five years and will show indications that a failure is approaching. Some possible signs include the following:

• The disk drive is making strange noises, such as clicking, whirring, or humming
• Repeated crashes and software errors
• Repeated disk errors
• Strange computer behavior

If it has already reached this point, it is likely too late and may already be affecting your business operations. Fortunately, there are various monitoring utilities that give IT administrators early warnings of a possible hard drive failure, so action can be taken before the failure results in data loss or disrupts your business.

Other computing environments may use solid-state drives (SSDs). SSDs are known to last longer—between five to seven years. Unlike HDDs, solid-state drives do not always provide clear indications of failure, which is why regular monitoring is essential. Software tools are available that allow ongoing monitoring of SSD health and performance.

Besides routine monitoring, there are some signs of SSD failure to watch for: constant error messages, files that cannot be read or written, and frequent crashes during the boot phase. Upgrading the hard drive before a major failure keeps downtime and all related costs to a minimum. A managed IT services provider can implement proactive monitoring so your team is never caught off guard.

Networking Equipment

Networking problems can result in significant disruption to business operations. Loss of internet access means employees are unable to perform their job duties, negatively affecting productivity, efficiency, and overall profitability. If your company is having difficulty staying connected or receiving adequate bandwidth, you may have an issue with the router, switch, or another component of the networking system.

Network failures rarely announce themselves in advance—which is why continuous network monitoring is a critical part of any business IT strategy. Proactive detection can identify degraded hardware before it causes a full outage, minimizing the impact on your team and your clients.

What is worse than failing hardware? Not having the right hardware in place from the start. If your business needs assistance with its wireless network, mobile computing management, or any other IT system, the professionals at WheelHouse IT can help. If your IT systems seem like they are failing, we can conduct a full assessment of your company’s technology today.

Don’t Wait for a Failure to Take Action

Whether it is a server hard drive showing early warning signs or networking equipment that is struggling to keep up with demand, the cost of waiting almost always exceeds the cost of acting early. WheelHouse IT works with businesses across South Florida and New York to proactively manage and monitor their technology infrastructure—so small warning signs never become major outages.

Our team can assess your current environment, identify aging or at-risk hardware, and build a roadmap for upgrades that align with your budget and business goals. For more information or to get started, contact us today.