Signs a Business’s IT Network Is Not as Healthy as It Could Be

It would be nice for all businesses to have a network that is problem-free. However, there are business owners who are dealing with network issues day after day. In some situations, network problems can bring a business to a total halt. After all, downtime is a serious killer of ROI.

The Truth Related to Downtime

Network downtime will cut into profitability much faster than some people realize, and you can learn more here about this. When technology is offline, it means a business is completely dead in the water. It also means that staff members cannot work and that customers cannot receive the answers they need. Sometimes, phone service may not even be available. The bottom line is that downtime is bad and unacceptable.

Just last year, CNN reported that the average cost related to network downtime for any small business that was dealing with ransomware attacks exceeded $100K. Also, cyberattacks were just one of the factors that resulted in network downtime.

The fact is basic software and hardware maintenance is much more critical than many people believe. In many cases, a person will have proper warning that the IT network is having issues. The key is to know what the warning signs are and to understand how important it is to address these warnings.

The Problem with Ignoring Warnings

The fact is, if someone ignores warning signs of a problem, there is a good chance things could be avoided. Getting to know the most common warning signs there is an issue with a business’ IT network is essential.

Things have Started Moving Much Slower Than Usual

As an example, people in the office are using a single shared drive for handling large files, such as image files. In most cases, it is possible to access the shared drive in just a few seconds. Downloading even big files usually does not take too much longer. A problem is present if suddenly this download process is taking up to four times longer.

Changes in the network speed is a clear indication of a problem. Sometimes, the server could have an issue, or it may be necessary to take a look at the network cabling. It may even be issues with the Wi-Fi connectivity. The one thing that a business owner should never try to do is to just suffer through this. Slower than normal network speeds are usually a sign of another issue altogether.

Inconsistent Wi-Fi

If someone discovers their Wi-Fi connection is dropping regularly, there has to be an underlying issue. It is important to note that Wi-Fi technology has long surpassed the testing phase. After the wireless IT network has been completely set up and configured, it should be somewhat stable.

When it comes to a business’s network, knowing the signs of a problem is essential. If any of the issues here are seen, it is imperative that the right steps are taken to fix the issue and restore proper operation. While this may seem daunting, if a business ignores the issues, the problems are only going to get worse.