21 Money-Saving IT Tips

1. Purchase & Support: If you plan to replace PCs, consider doing as many as possible in the same year. Computer sellers are much more flexible on prices right now, and you’ll be able to negotiate deeper discounts.
2. Look for bundles of hardware, software and support services that can save you substantial sums.
3. Energy Efficiency: New versions of Uninterrupible Power Supply (UPS) units are much more energy efficient than the old ones. Upgrading can cut energy use and save money.
4. Place in-house servers in a “cooling closet” or other enclosed area where they can be “spot cooled” rather than relying on general office air conditioning to cool this hot-running equipment.
5. Systems Management: Have your IT vendor pre-configure and asset-tag products before they are delivered. Use free tools such as Microsoft’s Software Update Services (SUS) patch management to keep systems up to date.
6. Security: Use a Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliance instead of purchasing a bunch of separate security solutions such as firewalls, antivirus software, email filters and others.
7. Desktop PCs & Notebooks: Use desktops, rather than notebooks, for office-based employees. They’ll deliver more power and value for your IT dollar. Plus, at today’s prices, you canprobably buy three desktop PCs for what it would cost to purchase two laptops.
8. In speed vs. RAM debate, RAM usually wins. Sacrificing some CPU speed while adding RAM can increase the value.
9. Consider low-cost smartphones and portable digital assistants (PDAs) for people who don’t need all the power of a notebook.
10. Monitors: Replace old CRT monitors with LCD models that use way less power (as much as 60%), and generate less heat.
11. Buy the largest LCD monitor you can. Studies show that more screen space translates into greater productivity.
12. Got multi-taskers? Consider getting them dual monitors to save time closing and reopening applications or switching between windows.
13. Always set power-management and screesaver features so your PCs and monitors power down when not used for a specified amount of time.
14. Software: Many small businesses waste money buying software for separate PCs when lower-cost liicenses are available for as few as 5 desktops.
15. Consider using more “open source” software to cut costs.
16. Networking: Stringing cables is expensive; and they get in the way. Instead, equip your business with a wireless network.
17. Install anti-spam email software to save everyone the time and trouble of having to delete unwanted emails.
18. Phone Systems: Switch to Voice over Internet Protocal (VoIP) save 40% on domestic calls; maybe 90% international.
19. Use audio, video and web conferencing as an alternative to expensive travel. When appropriate, use Skype for conference calling, especially for international calls.
20. Data Storage: Instead of file servers, use low-power, lower-cost Networked Attached Storage (NAS) appliances.
21. If you have lots of files, consider using de-duplication software to reduce space demands.