Modern businesses rely on a lot of technology to stay operational, much of which can be considered hardware, or the physical computing systems that contribute to your infrastructure, like workstations, routers, switches, and servers. Unfortunately, no technology lasts forever, and this is true for hardware as well. One of the most devastating problems that a business can face is hardware failure, and no matter how well you maintain your technology, you must be ready to face down this threat at any given moment.

Imagine going about your day-to-day business when your computer starts making some new noises. You think nothing of it, and it eventually goes away or fades into the background. It becomes the new normal for you to work with a fan buzzing incessantly in your ear. Several months go by and your computer is still working just fine… until one day, it isn’t.

PCMag defines hardware failure as the following: “A malfunction within the electronic circuits or electromechanical components (disks, tapes) of a computer system. Recovery from a hardware failure requires repair or replacement of the offending part.” In other words, hardware failure happens when something within your computer is not working the way it is supposed to. Hardware failure is something that occurs naturally over time. Due to the nature of technology, the components might start to erode or degrade with repeated heavy use, like in an office environment. It is an inevitable byproduct of running a business, and one that must be planned for, even under the best circumstances.

Thankfully, there is one thing that you can do about hardware failure that we have not mentioned yet, and that is to use proactive monitoring and maintenance to stave it off for as long as possible. Hardware failure comes with warning signs that should be acted on prior to its eventual failure. Doing so can prolong the life of your technology and give you time to respond before the failure actually occurs.

The biggest benefit to this is that it reduces downtime and costs associated with it, as well as the costs associated with hardware replacement. While you might have to find an alternative to your current hardware eventually, as nothing lasts forever, remotely monitoring your systems for signs of hardware failure and addressing them as they occur will put the power back in your hands, right where it belongs.

All that said, it is critical that you also regularly back up and save any data on your infrastructure. Imagine what could happen if a server were to crash or experience a critical failure. What would you do if that data were lost completely? The thought should make you nervous.

415 IT can help your business remotely monitor and maintain its infrastructure to prevent hardware failure from throwing a wrench in your plans. Furthermore, we can help you implement and deploy a data backup and disaster recovery plan—yes, hardware failures count as disasters—to ensure that even if something does go wrong, your organization will experience minimal downtime. To learn more, reach out to us at (415) 295-4898.