Essential
Computer Maintenance
What Computer Network Support
and Maintenance Should You Do?
Computer network support and maintenance is as
vital as maintenance on your car - it should be
treated as an ongoing exercise.
This will allow you trouble free
computing and fast, efficient responses if you
do have problems. A well maintained computer,
laptop, network or server is easier to fix in
the event of a problem if maintenance over its
lifespan has been kept to a high level. Equipment
lasts longer and does more for you if well maintained.
Maintenance
of Your Individual Computer
A properly configured machine that is dedicated
to the tasks you require will have far fewer problems
than a machine that:
• is used for many different purposes and
• often downloads and installs programs from
the Internet.
We suggest for each machine:
• Decide exactly what you
require from your PC and keep this as streamlined
as possible
• Ensure you have fully licensed copies
of its operating system (usually MS Windows for
a PC ) and any other software you need
• Ensure correct installation procedures
and good configuration to allow you to build a
stable system
• If access to the internet is required,
your PC is vulnerable to attack in many different
forms:
1 .. Malicious software and viruses
2 .. From hackers who wish to access your PC directly.
Their main objective may be the data stored on
it but usually it is to use your PC as a relay
for numerous e-mail spam that if traced appears
to come from your computer rather than the illegal
originators.
Ensure:
1 .. Anti-Virus software is fitted
to prevent malicious programs entering the PC
(mainly via e-mails) and also to help scan the
PC from time to time for viruses
2 .. Your Anti-Virus software is kept up to date
- If not updated with the latest Virus information
then your PC is increasingly vulnerable to attack
3 .. You fit a firewall against hackers - This
can be a software version for a PC or a hardware
version for a server that is a hub for a network.
Set up a routine for on-going
maintenance of your computer:
1 .. Disk defragmenting will
help keep data together on your disk and so prevent
unnecessary slower processing speed
2 .. Deleting files & emptying your recycle
bin often will help keep your PC tidy
3 .. Regularly download updates from the internet
to keep your Anti-Virus and operating system software
up to date. (You can even set this up automatically
in many cases)
4 .. Make sure you do not run out of space on
your main C:/ drive as this will slow the system
Network and Server Support
and Maintenance
Whilst some of the issues with network and server
support and maintenance are similar to PCs, a
central problem can cripple your entire network.
A more rigorous and proactive approach is advisable
to prevent problems before they happen.
We recommend in particular:
Regular checks on disk space
as these can fill up rapidlyChecks on event logs
to foresee problemsSecurity checks to ensure ongoing
protection of your system and data
• Antivirus and software patch updates
• Internet usage checks
• Configuration of, particularly new, users
to maximise efficiency and staff time
How ITCS Can Help
We provide a comprehensive computer maintenance
service for our clients. We can help remove much
of your work and worry on keeping your IT in good
shape.
Our computer maintenance engineers are highly
trained and have seen most issues that can arise
within a small business network. We ensure they
constantly keep up with advances in new technologies,
whether hardware of software.
We can tailor a total computer
maintenance package for your individual business.
This can include anything you want it to: PC and
Server maintenance, Network maintenance, e-mail
maintenance & all IT infrastructure maintenance
can all be covered