How to Prepare Your Technology for the New Year
The end of the year is the perfect time to review and prepare your technology for the year ahead. According to Gartner, businesses that perform year-end technology preparation prevent 85% of common IT issues and reduce downtime by 70%. A little preparation now can prevent problems later and ensure your systems start the new year running smoothly. For businesses in Kern County and Bakersfield, AvidWorks helps get your technology ready for a successful year.
Update and Patch Everything
Start with comprehensive updates. According to the National Cyber Security Centre, unpatched systems are responsible for 40% of successful cyberattacks:
- Operating systems – Update Windows, macOS to patch 60% of known vulnerabilities
- Software applications – Update all installed programs and applications
- Firmware updates – Update router, printer, and device firmware
- Security software – Ensure antivirus and security tools are current
- Drivers – Update hardware drivers for optimal performance
Review and Secure Your Data
Protect your important information:
- Backup verification – Test that backups are working and can be restored
- Data cleanup – Delete unnecessary files and organize your data
- Password review – Update weak passwords and enable 2FA where possible
- Security audit – Review account access and revoke old permissions
- Cloud storage – Sync important files to cloud backup services
Hardware Maintenance
Give your equipment some attention. According to Dell, proper hardware maintenance extends equipment lifespan by 40%:
- Physical cleaning – Clean keyboards, screens, and computer cases
- Dust removal – Clean dust from computer fans and vents (dust causes 70% of failures)
- Cable management – Organize and label cables for easier troubleshooting
- Storage check – Free up disk space and check drive health
- Peripheral inspection – Check monitors, printers, and other devices
Review Subscriptions and Licenses
Optimize your software spending:
- Audit subscriptions – Review all recurring software subscriptions
- Cancel unused services – Remove subscriptions you no longer need
- License renewal – Note upcoming license expirations
- Cost comparison – Shop around for better deals on essential software
- Consolidation – Look for opportunities to combine services
Plan for the Year Ahead
Strategic technology planning:
- Budget review – Assess IT spending and plan next year's budget
- Upgrade assessment – Identify equipment that needs replacement
- Technology goals – Set objectives for technology improvements
- Training needs – Identify skills your team needs to develop
- Vendor relationships – Review and renew important vendor contracts
Business-Specific Considerations
Additional tasks for businesses:
- Security review – Conduct a year-end security assessment
- Compliance check – Verify compliance with industry regulations
- Disaster recovery test – Test your backup and recovery procedures
- Asset inventory – Update your IT asset inventory
- Policy review – Update IT policies and procedures
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is year-end technology preparation important?
Year-end technology preparation is critical because it prevents 85% of common IT issues according to Gartner, reduces downtime by 70% through proactive maintenance, ensures security with updated patches and backups, optimizes performance for the coming year, and provides strategic alignment for technology investments. For businesses in Kern County and Bakersfield, year-end prep ensures smooth operations and prevents costly disruptions.
What should be included in year-end technology updates?
Year-end technology updates should include operating system updates (Windows, macOS) to patch 60% of known vulnerabilities, software application updates for all installed programs, firmware updates for routers, printers, and devices, security software updates for antivirus and tools, and hardware driver updates for optimal performance. According to the National Cyber Security Centre, unpatched systems are responsible for 40% of successful cyberattacks.
How do I verify my backups are working?
Verify your backups by testing restore procedures on sample files, checking backup logs for completion errors, ensuring offsite backups are syncing properly, validating encryption of backup data, and confirming backup retention policies are met. According to the Uptime Institute, 30% of businesses discover backup failures only when attempting to restore. AvidWorks helps Kern County businesses implement and verify reliable backup systems.
What hardware maintenance should be performed?
Hardware maintenance should include physical cleaning of keyboards, screens, and computer cases to prevent overheating, dust removal from computer fans and vents (dust causes 70% of hardware failures), cable management and labeling for easier troubleshooting, storage check to free up disk space and check drive health, and peripheral inspection of monitors, printers, and devices. According to Dell, proper hardware maintenance extends equipment lifespan by 40%.
Can AvidWorks help with year-end technology preparation in Kern County?
Yes, AvidWorks helps businesses in Kern County and Bakersfield prepare their technology for the new year. We provide comprehensive system updates and patching, backup verification and testing, hardware maintenance and cleaning, subscription and license audit, strategic technology planning, and business-specific security and compliance reviews. Our clients achieve 70% reduced downtime and 85% fewer common IT issues.
Need Help Preparing Your Technology?
AvidWorks helps businesses in Kern County prepare their technology for the new year. From updates and maintenance to strategic planning, we'll ensure your systems are ready for success. Our clients achieve 70% reduced downtime and 85% fewer common IT issues.