Computer and server problems come in all shapes and sizes. The cause may be software or hardware-related, and often a combination of both. Either way, when a computer or server at your company is on the blink, your business suffers from lost sales, unproductive employees, and missed opportunities. At INTRIX, we specialize in computer and server repair. We are well aware of the problems you may encounter and how to fix them.

Here's a quick look at some of the most common issues you're likely to face with your computers and servers that aren't functioning as they should. We'll also share the most important steps you can take to improve the overall health of your technology infrastructure.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of an Ailing Computer or Server

Your computer/server is slow, freezes or crashes (these are the most obvious ones)
You aren't able do something you were able to do before
You are noticing an unusual amount of pop-up windows
You have created work-a-rounds for something that's not working right
You don't know the status of your current backup situation
You don't have current Microsoft security-related updates
You don't have current virus definitions
You aren't sure if you have a firewall in place
Printing is inconsistent
Sending or receiving emails is inconsistent
It's fixed. Now what?

At this point you may have contacted a professional to get some help with these issues. Or maybe you decided you could fix it yourself and spent hours foraging for solutions on the Internet. Either way, the good news is that those nagging problems seem to be fixed for the moment.

The main question now is how you keep them from happening again? There is one important step you can take to maintain the health of your technology infrastructure:

Perform preventive maintenance on a regular basis by a company that specializes in server, workstation and network maintenance.

Ten Reasons Every Small Business Needs Regular and Proactive Server and Workstation Maintenance:

Microsoft critical security updates need to be applied at least once a month
Firewall, virus and spyware protection needs regular review and management
Daily use of servers and workstations by office staff can create random network issues
Management of backup status, data selected and data testing is critical to data recovery
Proactive server and workstation standardization minimizes problems
Management of hard drive resources prevents storage issues & server crashes
Analysis of server event logs can identify issues before they create network problems
Regular optimization of server(s) and workstations to increase speed and efficiency
Proactive maintenance provides real peace of mind that someone is regularly caring for your network
Predictable monthly budget and support minimizes financial and technical surprises

Perhaps the biggest mistake most small business make is using an IT professional in a reactive manner. Something breaks, they call in IT help to fix it, and then wait until something else breaks before they call again. A break-fix approach is not only ineffective, it's also more expensive than regular proactive support in the long-run. Often times when we start working with a company we find layers of quick fix "band aids" that need to come off to truly get to a state where the technology is working the way it is supposed to. In these situations companies have been creating work-a-rounds or have just been living with the problems without much hope of getting them resolved. They truly believe this is the way it is, when it doesn't have to be like that.

Most companies have a common misunderstanding about network maintenance. Even if a company has newer equipment, the maintenance that is performed mostly has to do with the monitoring, maintaining and optimization of data, processing power and software as opposed to the actual equipment itself. Hardware becomes a factor when it is not performing to specifications or has outlived its usefulness. In these situations regular maintenance is very helpful in determining whether this is the issue or not.

So how does a company know when they need a maintenance plan for their network? Regular server and computer maintenance should begin as soon as a computer is turned on and used by someone. The opportunity for something to go wrong begins then. Over a very short period of time many things can add up to spell disaster for a company. Most of the work INTRIX does is behind the scenes, and we keep everything going smoothly so you avoid the major crisis or network downtime that would normally require us to spend a lot of time in your office.

The Key to Long-Term Technology Health for Small Business Networks

As you can see, a regular maintenance plan is the best way to ensure proactive support for your computers, servers and entire network. INTRIX offers proactive, preventive maintenance support that is targeted specifically at local small businesses.

"CorporateMaintenance is the ongoing maintenance and immediate technical support for your computer network, systematically managed by our certified IT Professionals and support staff," explains den Dulk. "These Microsoft Certified IT Professionals not only follow a standardized maintenance check list (developed by Corporate Computer Services) through regular onsite and remote visits, but also implement and maintain the strategic technology plan for your company based on your business goals and budget, all done with a team approach. The end result of a computer network maintenance plan is an office that is happy and productive with a budget line item that is predictable.

You Don't Have to Wait Until the Next Break Fix Event to Begin Maintenance for Your Network.

Now is the time to start investing in the overall health of your computer network! Don't wait until your computers or servers break before getting help. Find out what level of maintenance is right for your office with a FREE Technology Assessment.