How Does Hardware Failure Happen?
The most common causes of technology breakdowns
Hardware failures are among the most devastating problems for a business. Failure to access an IT system as a result of hardware failures can result in a tremendous loss of time, effort and money. Here, we’ll explore the common reasons hardware failures occur, what steps you can potentially take to avoid these issues and how failures can impact your business:
Power Failures
Irregular electrical power supply is a major cause for hardware failures and encompasses several sources. Electrostatic discharge is a common way the electronic components within computer systems are damaged. Though a discharge often occurs when repairs are performed without adequate grounding, the problem exposes the vulnerability of these components.
Total power failures are considered hardware fails even though no repairs are typically necessary. These problems can contribute to data loss in some cases. A backup battery or generator can easily resolve most of these effects, at least temporarily. Power surges are spikes in electrical current that can increase the amount of energy flowing to the system. Surge protectors are an easy and inexpensive solution for this issue.
Overheating
Overheating is another common reason for failures. Electronic components generate significant amounts of heat as they operate. This energy must be dissipated away from the system to avoid hardware damages. Poor ventilation is a primary contributor to this problem. A computer system in a corner or under a desk is highly susceptible to overheating because the heat has limited places to go.
Computer systems have fans or cooling systems that might fail or be inadequate for the heat being generated. Obstructions to the fans or leaks can easily reduce the effectiveness of ventilation systems. An overheated room doesn’t dissipate the heat from the systems well. The solution: improve circulation and maintain lower temperatures throughout the room.
Hard Disk Failures
Hard disk failures encompass any problem where sectors on the hard disk cannot be read, making the data inaccessible to users. Failures to hard disks are often unavoidable simply because all hard disks degrade over time; however, proper maintenance and management of the system will delay the inevitable for many years. Establish and keep a routine maintenance schedule for the physical and file management aspects of your system. Routine checks will identify and often correct potential problems before affecting systems. In addition, overheating and dust can shorten the life of the physical system considerably, so keep your equipment in a clean, well-ventilated area.
Incompatibility and Human Error
Hard disk failures encompass any problem where sectors on the hard disk cannot be read, making the data inaccessible to users. Failures to hard disks are often unavoidable simply because all hard disks degrade over time; however, proper maintenance and management of the system will delay the inevitable for many years. Establish and keep a routine maintenance schedule for the physical and file management aspects of your system. Routine checks will identify and often correct potential problems before affecting systems. In addition, overheating and dust can shorten the life of the physical system considerably, so keep your equipment in a clean, well-ventilated area.
Security Breaches
Hard disk failures encompass any problem where sectors on the hard disk cannot be read, making the data inaccessible to users. Failures to hard disks are often unavoidable simply because all hard disks degrade over time; however, proper maintenance and management of the system will delay the inevitable for many years. Establish and keep a routine maintenance schedule for the physical and file management aspects of your system. Routine checks will identify and often correct potential problems before affecting systems. In addition, overheating and dust can shorten the life of the physical system considerably, so keep your equipment in a clean, well-ventilated area.
The Impact of Hardware Failures
Loss of data is the primary impact to organizations because of a hardware failure. Whether the problem is with the CPU, hard drive, mother board or input and output devices, users are unable to access the data as expected. Permanent loss of data can be prevented by regularly scheduling backups, but the organizations must invest in the resources and manpower to perform, store and retrieve these backups.
Physical damage to computer systems are costly to repair or replace, in addition to the cost of hiring or maintaining appropriately trained technicians to evaluate and correct hardware problems. As organizations use more mobile devices, the chance for physical damage to systems increase, resulting in greater costs in correcting hardware failures.
Loss of productivity results from any failure due to the loss of data and time required to retrieve the information or repair the physical hardware. Replacement parts or systems may be a suitable solution to reduce productivity concerns, but the cost of maintaining these increases dramatically, especially when a standard configuration for hardware and software has not been established.
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