Don’t risk a blackout
We’ve all been there – working hard on your important document and the power goes out. Losing work in this way is extremely frustrating, but it can be avoided! Here are some simple tips to prepare yourself for the next black out:
- Make sure you are “auto-saving” your work
Programs like Word and Excel will auto-save your work at regular intervals. If the file is really big then this feature can slow down your computer but most of the time it is a very handy way of minimising lost work. Learn about how to set up “auto-save” here. For programs that don’t auto-save you will need to get your fingers used to regularly pressing Ctrl+S (to save your work) and be sure to back up your files often. - Laptop batteries come in handy
The battery in your laptop comes in handy during a black-out. You may not be able to access the Internet (if your server or router is off) but at least you can save your work, then keep working offline. Try to remember this next time you are deciding whether to buy a PC or laptop. - For your server, PC or network device – invest in a UPS
Think of an Uninterruptible Power Supply (“UPS”) as an external battery for your PC, server, router or switch. This device stays charged when the power is on and it sits between the power point and your computer. The UPS will kick in as soon as the power goes out and like any battery it will eventually run out but the purpose of a UPS is to give you enough time (anywhere from 5 mins to an hour) to save your work and perform a clean shut down of your system.More expensive UPS products will notify you when a blackout occurs and the UPS will shut down your server without you even having to lift a finger – ideal when you are not at work. - Power surges and brown-outs can be worse than black-outs!
Power surges and brown-outs (aka power fades) occur every day and you don’t even realise it. Over a period of time these regular occurrences will damage your computer and you might need a replacement power supply or other internal hardware (hopefully not the hard disk). Many UPS devices will stop this from happening by regulating the power and protecting your computers.
We recommend APC UPS devices for their reputation as being a very reliable product. Please contact us on 02 9386 2900 for more information!