There are many good reasons to hire a quality managed IT service provider – but shelling out for answers to the most basic of questions is not one. A good provider will be happy to give you quick solutions to simple problems without giving you a hefty bill. In fact, here are a few we'll tell you for free right now!
1) Get Virus Protection & Use It – Before You're Hit
Viruses are unlikely to go away any time soon. As with any other threat to your business, it's best to strengthen your defences before you experience an attack. That means acquiring a good-quality anti-virus package. Make sure it's one intended for SMEs, since virus protection aimed at individuals may not be licensed for corporate use and may lack important features. Once you have the package up and running, use it and scan for problems regularly. Become familiar with the scan options and use the scheduler to minimise disruption.
2) Slow Computer? You Can Speed It Up Without Shelling Out
It's common for PCs to begin to feel sluggish after a while. That can lead you to believe that you need to upgrade your hardware – but in many cases, you can give your existing computers a new lease of life without spending a penny. For example:
- Use Disk Cleanup – Windows has a built-in Cleanup utility to help you safely get rid of files you no longer need.
- Disable startup programs – Take a look at what's loaded when you start your computer. You'll often find programs in the list that you never use. They're just taking up resources.
- Delete cookies – Cookies store small amounts of data on your computer about websites you've been to. After a while, the total amount of space they occupy can really mount up. Use your browser's cookie manager to delete them.
- Clear your cache – As with cookies, cached files such as thumbnails can build up and take up a lot of resources. They may even start to slow down hard disk access. Deleting the cache can give you a noticeable speed boost.
3) Try Turning It Off & On Again
This phrase may remind you of a line in The IT Crowd – but as with all good comedy, it has a kernel of truth. While switching the computer off and restarting shouldn't be your first solution to a problem – after all, it can be time-consuming waiting for a system to reboot – it is a good option to hold in reserve if simpler things haven't worked. For example, if your computer freezes and nothing you do will get it to respond, switching it off and then on again may well be the quickest, simplest way to resolve the problem.
Good Value IT Support From TMB
At TMB, we offer a range of tailored managed IT service packages to suit all budgets. To discuss your options or to find out more, please call 0333 900 9050 today.
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