Proactive IT Explained: Making Technology Dependable

Proactive IT refers to designing and implementing technology in a carefully structured way so as to prevent or reduce problems or failures in equipment, operating systems, programs and other areas of your IT environment. We call this proactive as opposed to reactive, which means taking a preventive approach so we aren’t just reacting after a failure. This philosophy has developed over many years of experience observing where trouble begins in hardware and software, how it affects other systems and what steps can be taken to help prevent it from starting. The goal is a more stable, dependable IT environment.

JH Computer Services believes very strongly in a “foundation up” approach to IT services. All areas of IT are built in layers, like a chain. You’ve likely heard the expression, “a chain is as strong as its weakest link.” This vulnerability is very real in IT support. For example, there is always a beginning to a particular function. For home users it might be a router and a modem providing Internet services and WiFi. If these devices are not well configured, everything up the chain may be unreliable or prone to failure. Phones, TV, poor WiFi may be the result. In another example, a business network usually starts with a server, either on-site or cloud based. Every other system, from the network devices right on up to the staff workstations, depend on those first things being configured properly and efficiently. A weak link here could see workstations not able to connect to file shares, printers and other shared resources.

When you have no weak links, you will have a strong overall environment that is far less likely to break down or fail when you need it most. But not everyone is technical, and that’s where managed services can help. Even at home, this occasional service is very affordable and well worth the investment. It can contribute to keeping your equipment and software running trouble-free.

In summary, when you design and implement a well planned and properly configured set of IT layers, technology runs faster, smoother and requires less service calls and attention. You have less downtime, reduced costs and the technology you depend on is not letting you down. The results are all the proof you’ll need to see the difference between band-aid™ solutions and ongoing reliability.