Minimize Impacts Of Network Downtime

Typically, your Information Technology (IT) networks and systems are designed and maintained to streamline business processes. It also keeps your operation running smoothly. However, when network downtime happens, it could have some adverse impacts on your organization. These can include financial losses, lost productivity, damaged reputation, data loss, and many more. On top of these consequences, downtime could cause a lot of stress to your IT department.  

In essence, a network downtime refers to a period wherein the IT system is temporarily unavailable or unable to operate. It can include phones going down, point-of-sale terminals and portals not working, and many more for most businesses.  

However, there are some ways for you to properly deal with network downtime. Read on this article to learn how you could minimize the impacts of network downtime on your business.Minimize the Business Impacts Of Network Downtime

Conduct IT Maintenance Regularly

When IT infrastructure isn’t maintained regularly, it can slow down your critical business processes and could result in network downtime. To mitigate the disruptions caused by the downtime, you need to maintain your IT equipment regularly.  You may do so by scheduling an appointment with your technicians. They could inspect and conduct maintenance checks on your system to ensure it’s running smoothly.  

With this scheduled maintenance, you can prevent equipment failures from constantly disrupting your business. Thus, it reduces unnecessary downtimes. When this happens, your organization could still support its operations by keeping your employees active and making your business reachable for your clients.  

Also, you may hire experts who could best handle your IT maintenance. In this case, it might be a good idea to outsource these IT services in Seattle from Cloudsecuretech or other reliable service providers in your area. Through these means, you can take advantage of your IT partner’s expertise, skills, and experience in maintaining your networks and systems.  

Improve Your Business’ Network Security

It’s important to note that not all downtimes are accidental. In some cases, your network downtime is caused by intentional cybersecurity attacks. When this happens, your business will have to deal with the negative consequences of the outage. However, minimizing the risk of downtime caused by a cyberattack could be possible by boosting your network security.  

For example, you may audit and map your network to find some security vulnerabilities. You could also keep your network up-to-date by ensuring passwords are changed regularly.  Also, you must review the settings of your security configuration. You could also physically secure your network against unauthorized persons. You may do this by using the cabinet and door locks and keeping your cables out of sight, and many more.  

By doing all these, you can safeguard your IT network and system against malware and cybersecurity threats and avoid unnecessary downtime.  

Perform Server And Facility Tests

Aside from IT maintenance, doing server and facility tests could also be an effective tool for minimizing the consequences of network downtime. First, you should ensure the functionality of your servers as they help process tasks with ease.  It is done by safely delivering data to other computers. 

However, when your servers don’t function properly, it can result in network downtime.  Thus, causing some financial losses to your business. To reduce the impact, make sure to conduct server tests regularly.  

Also, you should do some facility tests. This means looking for any safety threats to your network’s hardware and software. These could include temperature issues, airflow blockages, faulty wires, tripping hazards, animal activities, human errors, and many more.  

Install Several Network Access Points

Another best way to reduce the consequences of downtime is to increase network redundancy. It means having multiple network access points as an alternative in case the primary network goes down. You may also introduce various carriers and providers as part of your network redundancy and IT risk-management policy.  Therefore, even with network downtime, you could still prevent significant financial problems for your company.  

With these alternative resources, your employees could still perform their duties and responsibilities while still fixing the problem. Consequently, you can reduce the business impacts of network downtime by ensuring your employees remain productive with their jobs. 

Train Your Employees

If your business has an internal IT department, training them could be an excellent idea to reduce the impacts of network downtime. Unless you outsource your IT services to a third-party company, you need your internal team members to be prepared to handle the technical issues of your business.  

Providing them with proper training could also enhance their knowledge and skills, especially in troubleshooting strategies. In return, they’re able to address any downtime issues more efficiently and effectively.  

Bottom Line

Although network downtime can be inevitable, some measures could help you handle these issues appropriately. By keeping these tips in mind, you might reduce the impacts of downtime on your business.   These setbacks might include minimized productivity, data loss, financial drawbacks, and many more.  

Lastly, regardless of your approach to network downtime, it’s essential to work with people who specialize in IT system management.  You may do so whether it’s in-house or outsourced.