4 Top Risks of Using Outdated Technology
In addition to causing frustration, outdated technology is a threat to your business.
From cybersecurity risks to decreased productivity, learn about the top four risks of using outdated technology. And when you upgrade your gear, that’s when Protec Recycling comes in. We serve all of Alabama, and Protec Recycling can help you assure that old gear does not end up in landfills, or worse, in the hands of data thieves. Call our office at 205-549-2120, or visit our Contact Us page today.
1. Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
One of the biggest problems with using old technology is that you’re much more susceptible to cybersecurity breaches. Every hour, 10,000 new malware threats are found — having the latest technology is critical to ensuring you are protected. Your cybersecurity risks increase exponentially when you use outdated business technology.
For instance, if your business is using Windows XP, your computers have 6 times the risk of malware infections than if you used Windows 10.
All operating systems (OS) reach a stage which is known as “end of life.” Once an OS is at this stage, it’s highly unlikely that a company will continue updates for that OS, especially when it comes to security.
Old technology just can’t keep up with today’s more sophisticated cyber threats.
You may think that constantly having your technology up-to-date is too pricey, but just remember that the price of damage caused by a cybersecurity attack can be exponentially higher.
2. Decreased Productivity
Using outdated technology comes with a lot of menial tasks required to keep it working. They include:
- Maintenance
- Patches
- Updates
- Helpdesk calls
This means you’ll increasingly spend both time and money on these tasks, which don’t generate revenue and are a drain on you and your employees. Microsoft has estimated that businesses that use outdated technology/older PCs will easily lose 7 days of work in a year.
If your employees are constantly bogged down by issues caused by outdated technology, they are going to become frustrated while they are working, and their productivity will decline even further as a result.
A frustrated employee who can’t easily use the technology they need to do their job won’t do as good of a job as an employee who can. Your customer experience and your ability to retain employees will decline as employees and customers become frustrated with inefficiency.
3. System Downtime and Crashes
Research done by IT Gartner found that IT downtime could cost a business an average of $5,600 per minute. Even for small businesses, the number is uncomfortably high— as much as $137 to $427 per minute.
System downtime can lead to:
- Idle employees
- Lost revenue
- Higher costs for maintenance and repairs of old technology
If your competitors have the latest technology and you don’t, it’s very likely they are going to take business from you.
4. Increased Costs
Knowing how to spend money efficiently is vital to the success of any business. If you are using a lot of your funds to maintain outdated technology, you are taking away resources that could be spent on something more important, such as getting new business or implementing new marketing strategies.
According to CNN in 2015 the United States Navy was able to pay $31 million dollars in maintenance costs for the obsolete OS Windows XP.
Since Windows XP had reached its “end of life” stage, Microsoft was no longer developing new and improved patches and security updates for it.
However, the Navy was set on continuing to use their outdated technology, allowing Microsoft to name a high price for the cost of continued maintenance.
The fact is that limited warranties and updates for outdated technology will eventually cease/expire. With certain outdated hardware, the cost to maintain and repair it could end up being more than it was purchased for.
Outdated hardware has specific components that may eventually need to be replaced. For a little while, it may be easy to find replacement components. However, as time goes on, finding replacements will only get harder.
Overall, keeping your technology up-to-date will:
- Cost you less money than maintaining old technology
- Keep your employees motivated and working more efficiently
- Ensure your clients are satisfied and have a good customer experience
Using outdated technology runs the risk of crashes and system downtimes, increased costs, decreased productivity, security risks, and more. But if you keep up with the latest tech, what do you do with the old?
Recycle Your Old Electronics with Protec
Electronic waste (e-Waste), which just means old technology that has reached the end of its lifecycle, is both dangerous to the environment if not disposed of properly and a waste of business resources.
When you upgrade your computers, laptops, tablets, and phones, Protec Recycling can keep that outmoded gear from ending up in a landfill. We also handle the peripherals, cables, and electronic accessories.
One big benefit of working with an e-Waste recycling company is that you don’t have to worry about your sensitive data. They will ensure the data is erased comply and provide a certificate of destruction attesting to the chain of custody and the proper destruction of your data.
Contact Us Today to Learn More
From one-time purges to regularly scheduled service, Protec Recycling helps you protect your data and safely recycle your e-Waste. To schedule a pickup, call our office at 205-549-2120, or visit our Contact Us page today.
