There’s a female character on the screen. She’s alone. Inexplicably, she decides to ignore the perfectly functional car parked outside. Instead, she opts to move deeper into the creepy, abandoned house (or asylum, or hospital, or cabin, or cemetery, or—you get the idea).
She simply has to know what’s causing that strange, otherworldly noise.
The music turns dark and sinister. Low tones with an eerie feel. Shadows shift in the background as she tiptoes. A board creaks. A breeze pushes her hair into her eyes. And as she tucks stray strands behind her ear . . .
If you’ve ever seen a horror movie, you know what happens next—at least in general terms. Something bad.
In the world of horror fiction, there are almost always warning signs. The audience has plenty of opportunity to tense before the killer strikes. It rarely happens out of the clear blue.
Believe it or not, the same is true when it comes to IT support.
IT Support Warning Signs
Before we get into some of the specific warning signs that your network might be in trouble, we’d like to share a disclaimer. Scare tactics are great in horror movies, but not so nice when it comes to IT support.
We’re not sharing any of these warning signs to frighten you. In fact, the warning signs below don’t necessarily represent an issue with your IT support or your network.
In other words, don’t freak out just because you’ve experienced one of these. A single hiccup doesn’t mean your server’s about to explode. On the other hand, if you routinely experience some of these symptoms, it might be time to talk to an IT support professional.
Speed Issues
If you notice a significant change in network speeds, that can be mean there’s something unusual going on within your network. We’re not talking about nanoseconds. We’re talking about noticeable changes in network access.
For example, if you routinely access files on the company’s server, and one day it starts taking three times as long to open those files, that’s a pretty clear indication of an issue. That could be a problem with your server, the network cabling or even your PC.
Spotty Connectivity
Network connectivity shouldn’t be unpredictable. There was a time when internet connections felt as fickle as Facebook’s privacy policies, but that day is long past. Once you’re connected to your company’s Wi-Fi, connection drops should be rare.
Like speed issues, a lot of factors come into play when discussing connectivity, so it can be difficult to determine what’s causing the issue. You’ll want to call your IT support.
Error Messages
Admittedly, this seems like a no-brainer. Error messages only happen when there are . . . wait for it . . . errors. And yet, you’d be surprised how many users click whatever makes that annoying little error box go away without even reading the error message.
Consistent error messages probably indicate a consistent error. (Shocking, we know.) Don’t just dismiss the errors. Get in touch with your IT support partner.
Security Lapses
Over 90% of all security breaches start with a phishing email. This tactic only works because well-meaning employees click on dangerous links, inviting malware onto the network. Talk about scary.
The single most important thing you can do to protect your network from cyber attacks is educate your employees. If you’ve experienced even minor security lapses due to phishing, we recommend talking to your IT support partner about employee education.
Sidestep IT Support Nightmares
Network issues happen. There’s little you can do to avoid them. But they don’t have to bring your business to a grinding halt.
If you spot these IT support warning signs, get on the phone with your IT support provider. A little proactive work now can save you the hassle of network downtime later.
Oh, and have a safe, happy Halloween . . . with absolutely no IT scares.