Problems With Outdated Hardware

How old is the hardware in your office? Are we talking ancient, from the Jurassic period, or just a few years past its prime? Is the mindset at your company, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Or possibly, “We don’t need all the bells and whistles of next-generation hardware. That’s just more that can break, right?”

Sure, your IT tech budget might be tight, and yeah, you probably don’t need the top-of-the-line for some hardware. But there are several common issues that are caused by outdated computer equipment. Here are a few of them.

Outdated and Unsupported Systems

Both hardware and software vendors have limits on how much support they will provide for their equipment or applications. If your hardware is several years old (3-5 years) it may not meet the supported levels, or a vendor and/or supplier may be unwilling or unable to help with troubleshooting when you are running into issues.

Doesn’t Meet Requirements for New Software

As your technology ages, (and let’s face it, the life cycle of these devices seems to be getting shorter) you may realize that your hardware does not meet the requirements for the latest version of software that has come out. This can become a critical problem since, without the latest software updates, you may have more security vulnerabilities or security patches that need to be applied. The more up to date you are on your hardware, the less frequently this will happen.

Wasted Energy

With every new generation of hardware, devices get more efficient. In order to operate at maximum performance and efficiency, your business may want to create a hardware refresh policy that lays out a time frame to replace old equipment.

Warranty and Outages

Further negatives of having older hardware include the fact that some manufacturer warranties have a time frame. Without that warranty, your hardware may become expensive to replace or repair. In addition, one of the biggest issues that tech experts hear about is the problem with outages when dealing with older equipment. Outdated hardware in your data center may cause unplanned hardware outages.

Do you need a plan for when the right time is to replace your hardware? Talk to our tech experts at Spectra Networks. Call us at 978.219.9752 or visit our website.