How poor IT maintenance can affect your business

Nowadays, all businesses rely on extensive IT equipment, including computers, printers, storage systems, mobile devices, and tablets. However, all of this equipment requires regular maintenance to address performance issues, fix vulnerabilities, or update the operating system.

Performing poor maintenance on this IT equipment or neglecting it altogether can impact its performance or compromise its security. In today’s article, we will explore the consequences of poor IT maintenance on your company’s technological devices.

What do we mean by poor maintenance?

• Lack of software updates. Failing to update or install security patches on operating systems and applications exposes the company to potential vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit to launch cyberattacks.
  

• Nonexistent backups. Failing to regularly back up data or not testing backups to ensure they work can result in the loss of important information in the event of a system failure or a cyberattack, such as ransomware.
  
  
• Outdated and unmaintained hardware. Periodically updating servers, equipment, and devices is essential to maintain productivity and prevent them from becoming obsolete.
  
  
• Lack of system monitoring. Not monitoring the performance of the network, servers, and workstations leads to undetected issues, which can affect overall performance and cause frequent interruptions

Consequences of a bad maintenance

Apart from the technical issues that can compromise system security or performance, IT problems resulting from poor maintenance can lead to a loss of around 100 work hours per year for a company and its employees. This loss of productivity also translates into an economic loss.

Additionally, poor maintenance can make it easier for cybercriminals to identify vulnerabilities, which, once exploited, could result in a cyberattack that harms the company's reputation and revenue.

Cyberattacks resulting from a poor maintenance

• Phishing: A phishing cyberattack is a fraud technique in which attackers attempt to deceive individuals into revealing confidential information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data. Once access credentials are compromised, cybercriminals can steal sensitive company data or confidential information.
  
  
• Ransomware: A ransomware attack is a type of cyberattack in which attackers infect an organization’s or individual’s systems with malware that encrypts data, blocking access to it. They then demand a ransom in exchange for providing the decryption key needed to recover the information.
  
• Exploit Kits: Exploit kits are automated tools designed to identify and exploit potential vulnerabilities in victims’ systems. These kits can infiltrate systems through malicious links in ads or phishing emails.
  
  
• DrDoS attacks: A DrDoS (Distributed Reflection Denial of Service) attack is a type of denial-of-service attack that uses amplification and reflection techniques to overwhelm a system or network with massive traffic, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users. These attacks are particularly damaging for businesses that conduct part of their commerce online via a website.

Performing proper maintenance of a company's IT infrastructure is essential to ensure its protection. At ESED, we have a team of professionals ready to help you keep your IT infrastructure updated and secure.