The end of the year is a perfect time to make sure that the applications you use every day are up to date. Updating these apps is a simple thing that is easy to forget during the craziness of the year, and doing so can make a big difference in productivity and data security. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re updated heading into the new year:

  • Update Microsoft Office applications
    • These updates are not always applied automatically. To check for updates, go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now
  • Make sure everyone on your team is using the same version of Office
    • Often times we’ll find companies that using are 3 or more versions of Office. Consolidating everyone onto the same version will help eliminate pesky issues that are related to version specific functions/features
  • Make sure all standard applications are up to date
    • This includes apps like Adobe, Adobe Reader, Flash
    • Letting your computer automatically update applications can be a bad thing. These automatic updates can interfere with other applications, causing them to stop working. The best course of action is to manually select updates and apply them as needed.
    • Another hidden downside automatic updates is that it slowly trains the user to click ‘update’ notifications as they pop up. Malicious software designers know this and will prey on users who click without thinking.

In addition to your applications, it’s also a great time to make sure all of your hardware is updated too.

  • Security patches for your Windows computers
    • Windows releases patches and security updates very regularly, but keeping up with them can be challenging. Take time at the end of the year to make sure you’re updated and ready to go for 2018
  • Make sure your networking equipment is updated with the latest software and firmware
    • This is very important and can have a massive impact on your network’s speed and security
    • Check with your network administrator to make sure your routers, switches, and access points are updated with the latest firmware/software
  • Don’t forget about printers
    • Printers often have updates that need to be applied to stop them from becoming a security risk. These often forgotten updates can be the cause of a security breach.

Looking for more info? Click here to schedule a call with an ETC team member.