When you invest in new technology for your business, you won’t be in a hurry to replace it any time soon. It makes sense to continue to use your technology for as long as possible, to save money. However, there’s a flip side. It might surprise you to realise that you might actually be wasting money by hanging on to older technology. Let’s look at some indicators that tell you it’s time to consider an upgrade.
When is it Time to Upgrade?
This isn’t an easy question to answer, and there are various factors to take into account. Apart from budget considerations, perhaps the most important thing is whether a new tech implementation will be disruptive for your operations. You need to be sure that any upgrade will be compatible and suited to the needs of your organization.
Is Upgrading Worth It?
You’ll know the old saying: ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it’. That may apply in some scenarios, but it might be that your older technology is actually costing you money. Hanging on to older technology can be a false economy. Here are some things to consider:
- Avoiding Downtime: All technology will fail eventually. As a rough rule, the older the technology, the more likely it is that it will fail. When your IT system malfunctions, you’ll almost certainly have some downtime. It can be brief and just a short-term nuisance, or it can be catastrophic for your business operations. Any downtime is undesirable, because every interruption has some impact.
- Technology is About People Too: Outdated technology can cause significant hassle and frustration for your employees. Staff moving on because of technology that makes their working life difficult is more common than you might think. Nobody likes wrestling with older tech, or falling behind in experience with new systems. Experience with new technology is something that employers look for in prospective staff, so it’s bad for a CV too. Upgrading your technology can make your workplace a more attractive proposition and help with staff retention.
- New Tech Needs Good Support: The support for software that is provided by developers doesn’t continue forever. Without patches and updates, your ageing software could contain vulnerabilities that can easily be exploited by hackers. The consequences can be serious.
How Often Should You Refresh Your Technology?
As a general rule, you should consider a refresh after three to five years, as this is the average period during which your software will be properly supported. This is not only in the interests of maintaining strong cybersecurity, but also because newer technologies can be significantly better at meeting your business needs. In addition, even if your technology is still working okay, the older it gets, the more likely it is to develop problems.
What Tech Should I Upgrade?
It’s not only software that may need refreshing. Your physical infrastructure, including your server, needs attention too. Even if it’s working well, older hardware may be inadequate for running newer applications.
There are now cost-effective alternatives to investing in a new server or servers. Cloud-based servers have various advantages. It’s not only that you will avoid the expense of buying a new server. Your service provider will be responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the infrastructure that hosts your applications. Service or subscription fees can be substantially less expensive than purchasing or leasing a new server.
Call On Us For Assistance
The IT experts at Quikteks are here to help you with your refresh schedule. We can also use the relationships we have with tech suppliers to help you get the right technology, without delay. We can help with all aspects of your business IT, whether you use your own servers or prefer a cloud-based service. Our aim is to ensure that your technology investments are right for you, and the best choice for your company. If you’re thinking about a technology refresh, call the Quikteks professionals at 973882-4644.