January is the month we finally do the things we’ve been putting off. Doctor, dentist, even that weird noise in the car gets checked.
Your business tech deserves the same attention. If you haven’t done a full technology assessment lately, now’s the time. Book a FREE Cybersecurity Risk Assessment NOW! and find out where your systems may be vulnerable.
Why Businesses Skip Tech Checkups
Most small businesses avoid tech checkups because “everything seems fine.” Like skipping a physical, this feels safe—until it isn’t.
Hidden problems—ignored risks, aging hardware, incomplete backups, uncleaned access, and compliance gaps—can take a business offline in a single day. The next sections outline what a full tech physical looks like and the areas that matter most.
Vital Signs: Backup and Recovery
Before fixing anything else, you need to know your backup systems are healthy. If a failure happens, can your business recover?
1. Are Backups Actually Completing?
Schedules alone don’t guarantee success. Confirm that backups finish fully and can restore files when needed.
2. Test Your Restore Regularly
Have you tried restoring a file lately? Businesses often discover backups are broken during a real emergency.
3. Recovery Time
If a server dies at 9 a.m., when will you be operational? Knowing this ahead of time prevents disaster.
Heart Health: Hardware and Infrastructure
Equipment ages, support ends, and performance drifts. Old gear is one of the top hidden causes of downtime.
1. Inventory and Support
How old are your servers, firewalls, and workstations? Are any past manufacturer support?
2. Replacement Strategy
Are you replacing devices strategically, or running hardware until it fails? Planning ahead saves money and frustration.
Bloodwork: Access and Credentials
Access creep happens slowly, often unnoticed. Unchecked permissions are a leading cause of breaches.
1. Audit Access
Who has access to what? Former employees or vendors still active? Shared accounts with no clear ownership?
2. Secure Credential Management
Regularly review credentials and remove unnecessary permissions to prevent security incidents. Consider an IT Consultation & Strategy session to streamline access controls.
Cancer Screening: Disaster Readiness
Nobody wants to think about worst-case scenarios, but ransomware and system failures demand it.
1. Test Your Disaster Plan
Is it documented, tested, and realistic? “We’ll figure it out” is not a plan.
2. Compliance Check
Industry-specific rules—healthcare, PCI, or client security requirements—can cost tens of thousands in fines if neglected.
Future-Proofing: System Health and Emerging Threats
Technology evolves fast. Think Your IT Is Future-Ready? The Answer Might Surprise You. Review systems for aging software, malware vulnerabilities, and emerging threats to stay ahead.
Schedule Your Annual Tech Physical
Skipping preventive care is tempting, but the cost of downtime or breaches is far higher. Book a FREE Cybersecurity Risk Assessment NOW! to catch risks before they become emergencies. Our team will give a plain-English report on what’s working, what’s at risk, and what needs attention.
Darryl Cresswell
CEO & President
MYDWARE IT Solutions Inc.
