# Remote working tips to help IT last longer
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-01-28
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: 5 Remote Working Tips to Help Your IT Last Longer
Meta Description: Discover expert advice to extend the lifespan of your IT equipment while remote working, from insuring your devices to prioritising cyber security.
URL: https://financedigest.com/remote-working-tips-to-help-it-last-longerhtml

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_By **Bruce Penson,** Managing Director of Pro Drive IT_

Here are 5 remote working tips to help your IT last longer, whether you’re at home or moving between sites.

If you adopt some good habits as routine, you’re more likely to have happy tech.

### Q: First things first: how long do you expect your tech to last?

A: We know we’ve added a slightly humorous picture to this article but it’s a contentious issue! It depends who you ask – the average man in the street may [well say](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-says-baker-hughes-altus-deal-may-hurt-competition-in-oil-well-services.html "UK says Baker Hughes-Altus deal may hurt competition in oil well services") that when you’ve spent a small fortune on a computer you want it to last ‘forever’. [Tech geeks might prefer to ditch](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-poised-to-ditch-plans-to-empower-tech-regulator-ft.html "UK poised to ditch plans to empower tech regulator – FT") their kit as soon as it’s superseded by the next release – or when it won’t run the latest software.

The reality, as most suppliers should tell you, is that if your computer hardware is three – four years old and getting creaky, it’s time to [save](https://www.financedigest.com/how-omnichannel-identity-servers-help-enterprises-enhance-customer-experience-unlock-cost-savings-and-accelerate-time-to-market.html "How omnichannel identity servers help enterprises enhance customer experience, unlock cost savings and accelerate time to market") yourself time, pain and money and get a replacement.

So, it’s a bit of a ‘throwaway culture’ when it comes to most IT hardware. And, since more of us are [remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/helping-employees-recover-from-remote-workings-mental-health-implications.html "Helping employees recover from remote working’s mental health implications") as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are the additional risks from moving equipment around. Even the most robust of laptops will only take so many knocks before they break – you may have found this out already!

## Here are 5 remote working tips to help you stay in business:

### 1\. Don’t leave it all to chance

Insure your equipment. If you use Warranties that’s a good start. But even if you have an extended Warranty the ‘wrong’ bit of the computer could break, so it pays to get insurance.

### 2\. Use a robust case if you’re carrying your equipment around

Don’t be tempted to shove it in a carrier bag just because you’re running late!

### 3. [Cyber security](https://www.prodriveit.co.uk/cyber-security)

[Don’t give cyber criminals a helping hand by leaving](https://www.financedigest.com/finding-it-hard-to-recruit-good-it-security-managers-dont-leave-yourself-vulnerable-to-attack.html "Finding it hard to recruit good IT security managers? Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to attack") the door to your apps and online accounts wide open. At the very least invest in reputable [cyber protection](https://www.financedigest.com/the-best-ways-to-protect-your-business-from-cyber-threats-in-2021.html "The best ways to protect your business from cyber threats in 2021") software on your home computers (hopefully your office should have this already!). You pay for what you get so don’t pick a free one (some of these are actually scams anyway – avoid!). If you want to ensure you have reasonable protection look at [leading brands](https://www.financedigest.com/tech-amigos-provides-unrivalled-aws-cloud-service-support-for-autorama-groups-leading-brand-vanarama-2.html "Tech Amigos provides unrivalled AWS cloud service support for Autorama Group’s leading brand, Vanarama"). Better still, if you’re using your computer for business you should consider more rigorous security like [Cyber Essentials](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview#:~:text=Cyber%20Essentials%20is%20a%20simple%20but%20effective%2C%20Government,in%20nature%2C%20carried%20out%20by%20relatively%20unskilled%20individuals.). Some [companies which handle sensitive data](https://www.financedigest.com/the-logo-of-french-cloud-computing-company-ovhcloud-is-seen-on-a-data-center-building-in-strasbourg-france-october-13-2021-reuters-christian-hartmann.html "The logo of French cloud computing company OVHcloud is seen on a data-center building in Strasbourg, France, October 13, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann") and financial accounts, such as law firms and accountants, should have this but ensure it’s extended for use wherever you’re working.

### 4\. Keep up with your computer updates: yes, they can be a right pain but don’t ignore software updates because they help your devices last longer

They’ll provide [fixes for some performance issues](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-france-agreed-to-fix-u-s-subsidies-issues-says-macron.html "U.S., France agreed to “fix” U.S. subsidies issues, says Macron") and possible bugs. Mostly you can opt to schedule them for when you’re not using your devices. A word of warning: be careful that it’s a real [update – there have been some cyber attackers using very convincing update messages that look like they’ve come from Microsoft](https://www.financedigest.com/how-the-latest-microsoft-365-updates-are-helping-to-empower-frontline-staff.html "How the latest Microsoft 365 updates are helping to empower frontline staff"), for example. Don’t click on links without checking they’re genuine first and don’t download [apps unless you know they’ve come](https://www.financedigest.com/why-pay-by-bank-app-will-come-into-its-own-in-2022.html "Why Pay by Bank App will come into its own in 2022 ") from a safe source.

### 5\. Be careful where you use your computers

Unfortunately, we know of several people who have smashed screens or spilt their hot drink over their laptops, rendering them useless. This is even more likely now that users are [working at home](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-maintain-physical-and-mental-health-while-working-from-home.html "How to maintain physical and mental health while working from home"). Generally, computers don’t like damp, cold or extremely hot environments either.

For further ideas, take a look at our website; we regularly update information about cyber security and [cloud services](https://www.prodriveit.co.uk/cloud-services) for example.


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