As a small business owner, it’s easy to feel the pressure and stresses of constant work. Smaller tasks may fall through the cracks to prioritize more pressing company business. One task that may fall by the wayside is that pesky software update message, which often gets ignored because, let’s face it, downtime on your computer is not always convenient. So, we often click the “remind me later” option.
When your business relies on computers to run many operations, this can create several issues, and unfortunately, these issues are all too common. Failure to install any available update could lead to cybersecurity risks and other serious issues.
Kingston business owners know that managing updates and security patches are essential to securing business operations and maintaining smooth operations. At Response I.T., we offer a range of IT support solutions to local businesses with a rigorous software upgrade and patch policy.
In this article, we’ll outline how we streamline the software and patching upgrade process to keep Kingston area small businesses secure and operationally sound.
Here are some ways that our company has successfully deployed updates quickly and efficiently for Kingston business owners.
What is the Best Practice for Upgrading Your Software?
Upgrading your software means that your systems are running optimally, allowing you to focus on growing your business and providing excellent service.
But how can a busy small business owner ensure they stay on top of software upgrades? After all, the more IT devices you have, the more you will need to monitor.
Maintaining updates and cyber hygiene is critical to your organization. And one of the best ways to stay ahead of security threats and avoid unwanted operational downtime is to be proactive.
Here are some best practices to guide you through upgrading your software:
Compile an Inventory
Create a comprehensive list of all software and hardware within your environment to identify any vulnerabilities that might be present. This will help you determine which areas are most critical and which require patches first.
Identify Risks
Prioritize high-risk systems by identifying which systems are most vulnerable to attack. Applying patches to the wrong system is a considerable security risk. Worse, it probably won’t fix the problem, which increases your vulnerability.
Merge Software Versions
It’s always best to have the same software version throughout to avoid compatibility issues. Make sure your team is all on the most recent software version, as using different versions may slow down the functionality of your system and lead to a performance issue. This way, you won’t have to update their PCs/computers if they’re receiving updates, and it’ll save time for cleanup later. Your system is put at risk if you use multiple software versions.
Install the latest device drivers and the latest firmware and Windows update, and read release notes so you can increase your knowledge base.
Regular Patching
Hackers rely on a business’ delays in upgrading their systems with regular patching. If your computer is outdated or running a previous version of the operating system, one below the recommended security patch level, it may expose you to a risk of infection. Perform regular patch updates to keep each hard drive and storage device safe.
Perform Tests
Sometimes, updates can cause significant issues with your computer if you don’t test them out first. Testing the system after updating can help you avoid performance errors and identify any broken patches.
How Managed Services Helps with Upgrading Software and Patching
Small businesses like yours must remain up-to-date on the latest productivity and cybersecurity solutions. Failure to do so could cost your business significantly in the future through incompatibility, software and hardware malfunctions, and downtime.
By hiring a managed IT services provider, like Response I.T., your business can access the most advanced options for upgrading software.
While you don’t need advanced computer skills to upgrade software, there are still several bugs and glitches that can slow you down and make maintenance difficult. This is where a managed service provider can help.
From database security to deployment of updates, and more, using managed services is a great way to make patch management more proactive and prevent future headaches.
The following are just some of the managed services offered by Response I.T.:
- Test patches: Run your test environment without going live. Implementing a pre-release testing period is useful for ensuring the software doesn’t break specific in-production systems.
- Minimal disruptions: Response I.T. supports your business whenever you need them. Ensuring that the disruption to your business is minimal, we always enlist dedicated specialists to reduce the time taken for service.
- We deploy Patch and update maintenance when it is most convenient for you, helping you to avoid system downtime during peak hours.
- Updates on patches and vulnerabilities: Our IT experts have knowledge and experience in various fields, including cybersecurity. We stay ahead of the latest threats and fixes as soon as information comes to light. Zero-day attacks are scary, but we get information early on, warn our clients, and help prevent incidents.
Keeping Your Software Upgraded
Patch management and software upgrades are among the most important things to consider when running a business.
If not carefully managed, it can cause potential issues for your company, such as exposure to vulnerabilities and lost customers. Using a managed service provider that is reliable and up-to-date is the best way to avoid these issues. By knowing which providers are highly-rated, you can be sure that your resources are updated in case of any threats.
At Response I.T., we have several ways to help our clients stay on top of the software upgrades and patch management process. We understand how operations need to be maintained. We will work to have your systems updated and running smoothly with minimal disruptions by developing a managed plan that suits your needs.
Failing systems and data loss can snowball into some pretty big problems that could bring a business to its knees. Employees will suffer, confidential information will be at risk, and productivity will plummet.
We get to the root of the problem fast. In the unfortunate event that something disastrous happens, you’ll need to take time to restore everything properly and will be forced to prevent a further catastrophic error from happening in the future.
Our years of experience have allowed us to offer the highest quality services to Kingston area small business owners while maintaining an affordable price. Contact us to schedule a consultation and get started.