Maintenance is Security Too
The triad of computer security are Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA).
For now, I'll skip Confidentiality and focus on Integrity, which means integrity of data. One part of attending to Integrity is keeping devices that store data maintained. And as for Availability, if a device storing data isn't well maintained, the data won't be available for as long as hoped, if at all!
So here are some maintenance tips that are key to observing the Integrity and Availability aspects of the CIA triad.
Keep the uptime rolling
Be sure to have your desktop computers connected to a UPS (uninterrupted power supply), which includes a strong surge suppressor and battery. This helps condition the power from the wall outlet and allows the computer to keep running during a power sag or outage. Also, a sudden power outage can cause data loss and/or corruption on a hard drive.
Keep them cool
Check portable devices for excessive heat. If a device is very warm or hot to the touch, turn it off for at least 5 minutes so it can cool down. If after cooling and restarting it the device is still running too warm have a professional check it out. Or you can investigate replacing it, hopefully under warranty. In some cases the problem can be isolated to a defective battery. An overheated device can damage data.
Also, keep all devices and equipment out of the sun. Don't leave phones and tablets in the car sun-exposed. And protect equipment that is sun-exposed via windows at home or offices. This can cause overheating and damage functions, and possibly lead to data damage.
Refresh is best
This tip is more for performance than security: Shut down your devices once each week. This means turn off, not just restart. Turn off your computers, phones, tablets, modems, routers, Blu-ray players, etc. This clears out all memory buffers and enables the devices to start up fresh. Before doing this on phones, tablets, and computers, I recommend closing all open programs and apps. And be sure to not just put your device to sleep - shut it all the way off.
Keep it clean
This one is not security related either but can ease your stress about not getting quality output from your printer. Run the maintenance program on your printers monthly. This can usually be found on the printer screen; otherwise, check the printer software installed on your computer for a maintenance routine. You can improve print quality by doing this, which usually includes nozzle cleaning and alignment.
Thanks for reading!
-Sam
