The goal of ensuring 100% uptime isn’t feasible but you can come close if you have the right equipment installed. However, you’ll encounter occasional downtime, but fortunately that some of it is easily fixable.
Inadequate downtime could cause financial loss to your company and when it’s extended it could damage your reputation with customers who are unable to find what they require.
If, for instance, you’re a hosting provider for websites and downtime affects the ability of your company to offer services to clients and they’ll look for a different host and inform clients not to utilize your services. In contrast when you’re a retailer shop that sells clothes, a the downtime of a sale could have the same impact.
While it’s unlikely the expectation of customers is for a flawless availability, and although it’s impossible to guarantee a perfect service but you can take steps to avoid downtime.
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Start using predictive maintenance
It’s impossible to know the exact time when problems will occur however you might detect a problem before it occurs with the use of predictive maintenance.
According to experts in fleet management at Cesaris, the concept of predictive maintenance utilizes sensors to measure performance to calculate future performance and plan the required work to be performed in the most efficient manner.
Although this technology is mostly utilized in the field of vehicles and industrial machinery, it can be utilized in technology devices and equipment. If you’re not currently using predictive maintenance you should consider it as it could stop downtime that could otherwise cost your business financially.
Provide employee education and training on a regular basis.
If you’re trying to avoid unavoidable errors there is no better way to do it than the process of training your employees. Through implementing a continuous process to inform the team members on your procedures and policies to avoid many human mistakes which can cause downtime. If it’s an accident, deliberate or just plain negligence, training could make a difference to many people. For instance, you could make sure that people shut machines down properly, instead of simply unplugging cables out of convenience.
Employees become lazy and begin to do things on their own. After being directed not to take quick cuts, and after being instructed about the correct procedure Most employees will modify their ways of doing things and conduct themselves in the correct way. The process of education and training will not remove every negative habit however, it can reduce the likelihood of human errors.
Keep your software current
The need for updated software is essential to making sure you don’t experience interruptions. If hackers find their way into any of your accounts or programs it could take your account offline for hours or weeks, days or even for a long time. The amount of time will depend on how serious the attack.
To avoid downtime caused by old software, you could accomplish a variety of things:
Allow auto-updates of software if it’s feasible. Software that hasn’t been upgraded to the most recent version is susceptible to hacking. Hackers monitor vulnerabilities in popular software programs and will actively search for vulnerable installations that are vulnerable to attack. If you’re running an older than four years old version of an application you’re at risk.
Maintain firmware up-to-date. Like software, firmware needs to be updated constantly.
All patches must be installed right away. Patches are crucial to install as they’re updates that address particular weaknesses. If you’re not subscribed to the newsletters of your application Contact the developer for information on ways to make aware of patches as they’re made available.
Prioritize cybersecurity
Cyberattacks are just one of the three causes of the most downtime. Security is a must and shouldn’t be overestimated. It doesn’t matter if it’s ransomware, malware, viruses as well as a successful phishing scam cyber threats are all around. It’s impossible to predict the time you’ll be hacked and you must make sure you are taking security seriously in your company. If, for instance, you’re not prepared for a ransomware-related attack, you could be offline for weeks, or not be able to recover at all.
Here are a few tips to avoid downtime by increasing the security
Set up a stringent cybersecurity strategy. Installing firewalls as well as antivirus software and automated security measures is an absolute must.
Install a threat detection system that is automated for your system. Do not leave your network insecure. It’s impossible to check it by hand. The automated threat identification takes all the hassle off of maintaining your network’s security.
Implement device-based user login. It’s not enough just to allow access to your network based on valid credentials. You must ensure that you allow only registered devices to access corporate accounts and networks.
Require multi-factor authentication. Every account should have MFA for all users who wish to gain access to company information.
Implement your cybersecurity guidelines. The policies you have in place are only effective when you implement them.
Verify and test the configurations. Incorrect configurations are among the main factors behind cyberattacks. Always test the configurations to be certain they are secure and safe.
A plan for disaster recovery will assist you in increasing your the amount of time you can use
Alongside preventive measures such as cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and employee training, you require a disaster plan. It is essential to avoid predictable downtime however, so should having a plan in place to deal with unavoidable downtime.
