Computer Repair

The Top 10 Tech Mistakes Small Businesses Make (And How To Avoid Them): Pt 2

Published on: February 8th, 2012

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how small business can avoid the issues and expenses caused by having Weak Tech Support  and Old, Cheap, or Inconsistent Hardware. This time we’re tackling Mistakes #3 and 4: Inadequate Power Protection and Illegal Software.

Mistake #3: Inadequate Power Protection

Power protection is an issue that receives little attention but can make a very big difference.  Small but consistent power surges (spikes) and drops (brownouts) dramatically reduce any technology device’s lifespan and affect most businesses at some point in time.  Surges and brownouts are is especially troublesome for computers, printers and other peripherals, all of which are essential basic business functions.

Making matters worse, common power strips provide no electronic surge or lightning strike protection, and surge suppressors vary widely in quality and wear out over time (often without indication).

Small businesses can avoid the damage caused by inadequate power protection with the help of a professional computer technician.  A Computer Troubleshooter will work with you to determine how best to protect your equipment and network.  Typical solutions include:

1. Deploying high-quality surge suppressors for all computer equipment, printers, fax machines and other peripherals.
2. Replacing surge suppressors every two to three years.
3. Identifying locations where uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) with line conditioning are a better match for protecting critical network equipment and computers.

Mistake #4: Illegal Software

Software licensing issues can prove perplexing for several reasons, and can also land small businesses in legal and financial distress.  It’s estimated that software piracy costs the industry more than $11 billion annually. As a result, software vendors are very aggressive in pursuing small businesses that deploy and use improperly and illegally licensed software.

What many businesses don’t realize is there’s a good chance that they do not “own” the software they use. Businesses typically buy software licenses that are limited to one computer and cannot legally be moved to another PC.  Also common is the use of “borrowed” software obtained from an employee’s home computer or a friend.

This includes countless copies of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows, the staple programs of any business, and Microsoft Office Student & Teacher Edition, which cannot be legally installed in any business.

Many software programs report their usage back to the manufacturer via the Internet, Microsoft and Intuit (Quicken, QuickBooks) programs are well known for this.  The receipt of audit notifications or breach-of-license letters is becoming an increasingly common occurrence as a result.

To protect your business from loss of time and money caused by the use of illegal software, Computer Troubleshooters recommends taking these steps:

1. Purchase software only from reputable technology partners.
2. Read license agreements carefully when installing software and ensure your organization’s intended use meets the publisher’s requirements.
3. Store product keys, certificates of authenticity, licenses and original installation media in a single, easily accessible location.

With a professional technology consultant’s assistance, small businesses can receive expert help ensuring they properly license software for each and every PC, and have adequate power protection in their workspaces.

For more expert advice on avoiding small business tech mistakes, keep your eyes open for Part 3 of this series.