How Failing Hardware Causes Business Downtime (And How To Prevent It)

Failure of technology is one of the leading causes of business downtime, often requiring IT support to arrive on-site to resolve issues and resume service. The best way to avoid downtime is to prevent the problem from arising in the first place.

In this guide, we explore what causes hardware failure and how you can safeguard against it to avoid your business grinding to a halt.

Understanding Hardware Failure in IT

Hardware failure is a term for a collection of different problems your company can face, all caused by the breakdown of physical technology required for your business operations.

A hardware failure can prevent a single person from working, such as a PC or laptop malfunction, or it can cause your whole company to be unable to work – for example, a network equipment breakdown resulting in company software being inaccessible.

Some of the most common types of IT hardware failure include:

• Hard drive crashes
• Server failures
• Network equipment malfunction
• Faulty PCs or laptops

How Failing Hardware Causes Business Downtime

1. Sudden System Crashes

A crash is a sudden event that leads to immediate disruption. When a system crashes, the usual outcome is being unable to access key systems. This results in immediate downtime for your business, with your staff unable to complete their tasks or access important data.

System crashes can be temporary and resolved by a reboot, or they can be larger issues that require the support of a specialist IT team to get your business back online. Repeated crashing is often a sign of a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

2. Gradual Performance Degradation

Unlike an instant crash, slow degradation can be a key concern for businesses that is often overlooked. As this issue is gradual, it often doesn’t occur to companies to replace hardware that is getting slower and slower until it becomes a critical issue.

The use of hardware that is beyond its lifespan, such as laptops or servers that are older than 5 years, can cause a significant reduction in business productivity over time. Businesses may make the mistake of thinking that slow hardware won’t worsen over time, leading to delays in replacement and eventual breakdowns.

3. Data Loss or Corruption

Faulty hardware can do more than just slow your business down. Where memory-storing hardware is affected, such as hard disk drives or solid-state drives, failure can directly lead to data loss or corruption. Ageing, overheating or environmental factors affecting your hardware are common causes of data-based problems.

This is particularly problematic for businesses that haven’t migrated to the cloud, where all data is held on specific hardware. This makes it vital for businesses to have proper backups for data continuity, preventing the loss of data through inaccessibility or corruption.

4. Network Failures

Network failures can result in your business being unable to access the internet or internal systems. For many companies, this can significantly affect the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks, whether it’s accessing a CRM system or using stock management software.

Most businesses now use VoIP technology, email and messaging systems for communication. This means a network failure also leaves employees unable to communicate with each other and those outside the business.

5. Security Vulnerabilities

Outdated hardware and systems no longer supported by manufacturers can be a serious security risk for your business. As cyber attacks evolve beyond the current patching and protection of your existing hardware, your business becomes increasingly vulnerable.

If a cyber attack is able to exploit gaps in your security due to outdated hardware, whether it’s a server or a PC, this could result in extended periods of downtime for your business. It may also require a costly fix, including emergency IT hardware support services, to respond to the threat.

The True Cost of Hardware-Related Downtime

Downtime is a costly problem for businesses in more ways than one. Some of the issues that can occur as a result of failed hardware can include:

• Lost productivity: Employees are unable to work, greatly reducing their productivity in their roles
• Revenue loss: If your business cannot operate, this causes a loss of income and potential delays for your customers
• Employee frustration: Poor hardware can be a significant cause of frustration for employees trying to do their jobs
• Reputational damage: Downtime due to a lack of hardware management can affect your reputation as a safe and reliable company
• Emergency repair costs: Hiring an IT company at the last minute to fix your problem can be an unexpected, unplanned cost for your business

What are The Common Causes of Hardware Failure

There are numerous common causes of hardware failure, including:

• Ageing equipment: Equipment that has reached the end of its lifespan is more prone to failure, requiring replacement
• Lack of maintenance: Not maintaining your equipment can cause faster degradation in comparison to hardware that is well-maintained
• Overheating: Lack of proper ventilation or cooling systems can easily cause permanent hardware damage, which can result in data loss
• Power issues: Power disconnection and surges can be harmful to hardware, in particular to servers, which can be irreversibly damaged
• Poor setup or infrastructure: Not using the correct wiring or compatible systems for hardware is a key cause for failure
• Human error: A person dropping, disconnecting or otherwise damaging hardware can be a classic cause of hardware failure

Signs Your Hardware May Be Failing

Spotting the signs of your hardware failing is an invaluable way to resolve issues before they become worse, allowing you to reduce downtime by acting quickly. Here are some of the red flags you’ll want to look out for:

• Slow performance: If you find it is taking longer to complete day-to-day operations due to slowing hardware, this could suggest hardware failure is on the way
• Frequent crashes: Repeated crashing is a strong indicator that something in your infrastructure is not functioning correctly, whether it’s your computer or server
• Strange noises: Clicking, grinding or buzzing noises are key signs of mechanical failure in hard drives within PCs or in servers
• Overheating: A computer or server that is continually overheating, where fans may be going extremely fast to cool the system, may be on its way to hardware failure
• Connectivity issues: Difficulty connecting to your systems could be a sign of a failure with your network or with the hardware you are using

How To Prevent Hardware Failure

1. Regular Hardware Audits

Checking your hardware on a regular schedule makes it easier to identify any ageing systems that require replacement. With careful planning around the lifetime of your hardware, you can plan your replacement schedule ahead of time to save on the cost of repairs.

2. Proactive Monitoring

Actively monitoring your hardware provides early warning if it is likely to fail. If failure occurs over the weekend or outside of working hours, proactive monitoring provides an alert so problems can be resolved with minimal downtime.

3. Scheduled Maintenance

Scheduling maintenance can help to extend the lifespan of your hardware. Cleaning consistently reduces damage caused by dust and debris, while regular patches and updates ensure your systems are up-to-date and being used optimally.

4. Upgrade Outdated Equipment

Once equipment has reached the end of its lifespan, it should be replaced to prevent hardware issues. Upgrading your outdated equipment prevents potential security risks, particularly for equipment that is no longer supported or patched by the manufacturer.

5. Implement Backup & Disaster Recovery

Having a backup process in place can prevent significant data loss in the event of the complete failure of your server. Securing your data and creating a plan for business continuity can minimise the impact in the event of any incident where hardware failure can result in data loss or corruption.

6. Work With a Managed IT Provider

A managed IT provider can support you with all of the above, taking on responsibility for your infrastructure to prevent potential failures. With expert monitoring and planning as part of an ongoing support package, you can ensure all systems are upgraded and replaced before hardware failure can occur.

Looking To Upgrade Your Hardware and Devices? Get In Touch Today

Technical Drive helps you to stay on top of your hardware, reducing system failure and maintaining your business uptime. Our skilled IT specialists can provide bespoke advice on an upgrade and replacement plan to keep your business running efficiently.

Contact our team today at 01527 880088, email us or fill out our online contact form to speak to our expert team about upgrading your hardware.