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Eight Pointers to Keep Your Computer Running Smoothly

Your company computer infrastructure represents a critical lifeline for your operations, worker productivity and overall survival. It may contain proprietary programs, unique settings and documents critical to customer satisfaction. Here are eight pointers to keep your computer system functioning without incident or interruption.  

1. Get the best anti-virus software.

Norton 360 provides the best system because it is constantly updating the virus definitions and thus stays current with the latest hacker inventions. Its Live Update feature checks for newly invented viruses every time you run a scan.

2. Use the proper accessory tools on a daily basis.  

These include a disk cleanup, defrag and anti-virus scan. When completed first thing every morning, they can extend your computer’s life by years. And the defrag procedure only takes about five minutes, instead of a few hours, when you run it this frequently.

3. Backup, backup, backup.

Every day because you don’t want to rely on someone else to do it for you. And run an off-site backup once a month in case of natural disasters. In addition, and for the same reasons, you should copy the files of your company web site as well. The idea is to become totally self-sufficient and ensure business continuity through fail-safe procedures. 

4. Install an external firewall.

This is one more line of defense against hackers and can be purchased for less than $100 at any electronics store. Often, it doubles as a router so you can run multiple computers off the same line as well. While many software protection programs provide internal firewalls, the external one is the most robust. 

5. Use a separate login for your personal settings.

You don’t want your boss or other employees snooping around your account when you are out to lunch. A system login can be easily activated to ensure your settings and sensitive materials are protected. 

6. At the end of the day, you should turn off your computer. 

A simple task, yet many just keep their system on overnight. Like any other machine, this accelerates the aging process. Turning your computer off is easy and saves on electricity, too!

7. Stay away from web sites that are untrustworthy.

Even with the best anti-virus software, there’s no sense in tempting fate. And you shouldn’t be visiting these sites on company time in any case. Keep away for your own good, in more ways than one! 

8. Don’t open or click on links from suspicious emails. 

Similar to the previous item, this common-sense step represents another layer of protection. Anti-virus spam services such as Postini can also offer protection against even receiving these unsavory messages. 

Following the items above takes just 10 or 20 minutes and will more than pay for the time lost in fast and efficient operations. There’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling as your computer starts operating more and more slowly, and you come to realize the gargantuan task ahead in transferring all your documents and programs to a new system. This feeling can be avoided for many years with just a little common sense.