Summer can be a quieter time for many businesses. People take holidays, business activity slows down, and there’s more time to catch up on tasks that get pushed aside during busier periods. It’s a good time to tackle IT maintenance that you’ve been putting off.
We’ve helped businesses use summer downtime to get their IT in better shape. There are specific tasks that make sense to do now, before things get busy again in autumn. Here’s what to focus on.
Clean Up and organise
Start with the basics. Clean up old files, organise folders, delete unused software, and get rid of digital clutter. This might seem minor, but it makes everything easier to find and manage.
Go through shared drives and cloud storage. Delete old files that aren’t needed anymore. organise remaining files into logical folders. Archive old projects. This reduces storage costs and makes it easier to find what you need.
On individual computers, clean up desktops, organise documents, and remove unused programs. This improves performance and makes computers easier to use.
Also, review user accounts. Remove accounts for people who no longer work for you. Disable unused service accounts. This improves security and reduces clutter in user management systems.
Update Everything
Summer is a good time to catch up on updates. Operating systems, applications, security software, firmware. Make sure everything is current.
Check for pending updates on all devices. Computers, servers, network equipment, mobile devices. Install updates during quiet periods when they won’t disrupt business.
Also, review your update policies. Are updates happening automatically? Are they being installed? Are there systems that aren’t getting updated? Fix any problems with your update process.
And don’t forget about cloud services. Many cloud applications update automatically, but some require manual updates. Check your cloud service dashboards and apply any pending updates.
Review Security
Take time to review your security posture. Are security measures working? Are there gaps? Are employees following security policies?
Review user access. Who has access to what? Does everyone need the access they have? Remove unnecessary access. This is especially important if you’ve had staff changes.
Check security software. Is antivirus running and updated? Are firewalls configured correctly? Are security logs showing any issues? Review and address any problems.
Also, review security policies. Are they still appropriate? Do they need updating? Are employees aware of them? Consider security awareness training if it’s been a while.
And test your backups. Can you actually restore files? How long does it take? What’s the process? Make sure backups are working and that you know how to restore from them.
Plan for Growth
If you’re planning to grow, summer is a good time to prepare. Will you need more computers? More software licenses? More network capacity? More cloud storage?
Review your IT capacity. Do you have enough resources for planned growth? If not, plan upgrades now so they’re ready when needed.
Also, think about new systems or services you might need. Customer management systems, accounting software, collaboration tools. Research options and plan implementations.
And consider whether your current IT setup will scale. If you’re planning significant growth, you might need to rethink your IT infrastructure. Cloud services often scale better than on-premises systems.
optimise Performance
Summer is a good time to optimise system performance. Slow computers, sluggish networks, unresponsive applications. These are easier to fix when things are quiet.
On individual computers, check for performance issues. Slow startup, low disk space, too many programs running. Clean up, optimise, and fix problems.
For networks, check for bottlenecks. Are there slow connections? Congested areas? Outdated equipment? Identify and address performance issues.
For cloud services, review usage and optimise configurations. Are you using resources efficiently? Can you improve performance with better settings? Many cloud services have optimisation recommendations.
Review and optimise Costs
Take time to review IT spending. Are you paying for things you don’t use? Are there cheaper alternatives? Can you optimise subscriptions?
Review all software subscriptions. Are you using everything you’re paying for? Are there unused licenses? Can you downgrade plans or cancel unused services?
For cloud services, review usage and costs. Are you on the right plans? Are there unused resources? Can you optimise to reduce costs?
Also, review hardware. Do you have equipment that’s expensive to maintain? Can you replace it with more cost-effective alternatives? Plan replacements if needed.
Document Everything
Summer is a good time to update documentation. Network diagrams, system configurations, user guides, procedures. Make sure documentation is current and complete.
Document your IT infrastructure. What equipment do you have? How is it configured? What services are you using? This makes it easier to manage and troubleshoot.
Also, document procedures. How do you do common tasks? What’s the process for adding users? Handling security incidents? Restoring backups? Having procedures documented makes everything easier.
And update contact information. IT vendors, service providers, emergency contacts. Make sure you know who to call when you need help.
Train Your Team
Summer can be a good time for training. New software, security awareness, best practices. When things are quiet, people have more time to learn.
Consider training on new tools or features. Many software vendors offer training resources. Take advantage of these to get more value from your software.
Also, security awareness training is always valuable. Phishing, password security, safe browsing. Regular training helps prevent security incidents.
And don’t forget about IT staff. If you have IT support, make sure they’re trained on current systems and best practices. If you handle IT yourself, consider training to improve your skills.
Plan for the Rest of the Year
Use summer to plan for the months ahead. What IT projects do you need to complete? What upgrades are needed? What problems need solving?
Create a plan for the rest of the year. prioritise tasks, set deadlines, allocate resources. Having a plan makes it easier to stay on track when things get busy.
Also, budget for IT needs. What will you need to spend? When? Plan purchases so you’re not hit with unexpected expenses.
Making It Work
Summer IT maintenance doesn’t have to be overwhelming, so focus on the most important tasks like security, updates, backups, and optimisation rather than trying to do everything at once.
Start with quick wins that don’t take long but make a difference, then tackle bigger projects, and don’t forget to document what you do so you remember it later.
If you need help with summer IT maintenance, get in touch. We’ve helped businesses use quiet periods to improve their IT and can help you too.