Laptops may not be the most powerful computers, but the benefits they provide are undisputable. For one thing, they deliver a similar user experience to your huge desktop PC, but much more conveniently and affordably. But before you reap their many benefits, learn five precautionary steps you should take before using them.

Compared to organizations in other industries, healthcare practitioners are having difficulty adopting new technology. Providers are understandably hesitant about storing electronic health records (EHRs) in the cloud, but there is another option. Virtualization increases IT stability and efficiency and keeps your most sensitive information on site.

The new year doesn’t have to mean new IT hardware problems. Sure, some headaches are unavoidable, but you can start the year right by giving your computer hardware a little TLC. Let our handy hardware checklist be your guide.

✓ Clean up your computer components
Wipe your monitor with a clean, static-free fabric; remove excess dirt from your mouse’s exterior; and tidy up your keyboard with compressed air.

You might be entering credit card details on a website to purchase something online or filling in your personal information to subscribe to a service, thinking you’re safe behind the keyboard. And you probably are -- if the computer you’re using doesn’t have a keylogger installed.

A newly bought PC with a heap of unwanted pre-installed trialware is a nightmare for us all. Once it’s on your computer, it will either keep urging you to upgrade to a more expensive version or bombarding you with loads of ads, some of which could compromise security.

Finding a power socket is often the first thing you do when carrying a laptop to work in a cafe, a coworking space, or an airport, and not every time will you be lucky to find one available. You’ll be forced, then, to rely solely on your laptop battery -- if it still has any juice left.

You can easily lower your IT budget by better managing your print infrastructure. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s totally doable. Companies big and small follow inefficient printing models without even realizing it, but you can break the mold by following these tips:
Replace outdated printers
Outdated and cheap printers may be functional, but they are putting a huge dent in your IT budget.

Increased productivity and constant collaboration are two of the main reasons why businesses have integrated a mobile policy into their business. This means an increased use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets in daily operations. But as the number of mobile users continues to grow, so does the number of cyber crime.

Just a few years ago, smart appliances seemed like novelty products for rich business owners. Now, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a viable solution for putting your business ahead of the curve. But whether it’s a smart fridge or a surveillance camera that connects to your phone, IoT devices should be treated and secured just like any computer in a network.

When you have several cost-effective options like cloud computing and managed services providers, IT spending should never get out of control. And if you want to cut back even further, trade in your expensive desktops for thin and zero clients.

What are thin and zero clients?
Thin clients are stripped-down computers with minimum processing power and memory.