How to know when it’s time for a hardware upgrade

You would be hard-pressed to find a company that’s not dependent on software, networks or the cloud. All these powerful tools, though, are nothing without the hardware that runs them.

Unfortunately, even the best systems will eventually need to be replaced or improved. The problem is recognizing when it’s time for a hardware upgrade.

Luckily, there are a few surefire ways to know when your hardware needs to be upgraded.

1. Maintenance costs are becoming excessive

Recent research has shown that the majority of IT spending is related to maintaining current systems. If paying for repairs and maintenance is becoming a huge expenditure, it’s likely that you’d save money with a hardware upgrade.

Of course, some professionals think they can save money and keep things running smoothly by utilizing do-it-yourself PC maintenance. Unfortunately, this can prove costlier than simply upgrading your hardware if you don’t know what you’re doing. Make sure any maintenance is performed by a professional.

2. IT growth is falling behind organizational growth

Sudden and fast growth is certainly a good thing in any organization. Unfortunately, there are typically downsides to every positive in this life. When it comes to fast organizational growth, you could run into the problem of your hardware not being sufficient for handling your data, processes and network.

The necessity of having to boost your network security can put a strain on your system all on its own. When you add in other issues, such as data storage and large-but-necessary programs, a hardware upgrade becomes more of a necessity than a luxury.

3. Downtime is becoming an issue

One of the biggest mistakes made in business technology is the belief that downtime is a part of life. While no organization is immune from this issue, some experience it at much higher rates. If this is the case, there’s a big chance that you need a hardware upgrade.

As with most things in life, though, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. Your managed IT services provider (MPS) likely provides backup and disaster recovery solutions that can protect your data in the event of downtime or a complete network failure.

This type of protection is integral to your business plan, but it’s important not to avoid upgrading your hardware simply because your data is protected. Even when your data is safe, frequent downtime will seriously cut into your productivity.

4. Inactive warranties on systems

The average warranty on computers is around one year, but some manufacturers cover their products for up to three years. Boosting your network security can lead to networks that far outlast individual warranties, but at some point, the lack of a warranty means you should invest in a hardware upgrade.

Before going through this process, however, you should check to see if any aftermarket warranties are available for your system.

Some providers may even give you a discount if you have a disaster recovery communications plan or a mobile data security plan in place. Warranties are about risk, and if you can reduce your system’s risk, you may be able to find great deals on new warranties.

Hardware upgrades = healthy systems

Hardware upgrades are an essential component of a healthy network. While they don’t need to be frequent, there should be no delay when they become necessary.

Whether you’re trying to keep your business as efficient as possible or you simply use a ton of RAM, memory or data, periodic upgrades will ensure everything continues running smoothly.