Arbor Day reminds us of the beauty of trees and the impact they have on our natural surroundings—both cosmetically and environmentally. Imagine you just moved into a lovely new home with a beautiful row of trees that provide beauty, privacy and security. Although not built into the home sale price, the benefit of these trees is invaluable. Through the seasons, these irreplaceable trees showcase their beauty with new growth, shade in the summer, changing colors in the fall and wind screens to protect you during those harsh, fierce winter winds. It is smart to be aware of the risks associated with nature to ensure that the line of trees continues to be healthy for many years to come.
Like your beautiful row of trees, your company’s IT network and computers need similar nurturing to ensure their growth and well-being. Here are some handy “green thumb” horticulture tips to ensure your garden (both trees and IT) continues to thrive:
Proper Planting — Did you leave room for your IT network to grow?
Most residential trees have been in place for some time, but the most basic thing when starting anew is to ensure it is properly planted. Dig deep and wide providing plenty of space for the roots to expand, remember roots often extend below far beyond the canopy. Try not to plant directly near where a lot of foot traffic will ensue—compacted soil crushes and restricts roots. Likewise, with technology, a network needs to be set up correctly as well. It is smart to work with IT professionals so that any new network is scalable for your business needs as your organization grows or changes.
Nutrients and Water — Does your network receive the proper care?
Use fertilizer and water generously, very generously in the dead of summer. Trees in the forest receive all they need naturally; but in neighborhoods where we rake leaves and remove debris quickly, trees need a little extra help. Similarly, with technology, servers, personal computers and network hardware/software need constant attention with patches and updates to be healthy and secure.
Protection — How safe is your network from threats?
Monitor shrubs and trees for the presence of pests. Varieties of beetles, borers, moths and cicadas are all common pests in the New Jersey area that can wreak havoc on your line of beauty. Another concern is invasive species, like kudzu. Be sure that plants, animals and pathogens not native to the region are kept at bay. Finally, check periodically for diseases common to the variety of trees in your yard (e.g., Oak Wilt affects many oaks, Thousand Cankers disease affects black walnuts, and Dutch Elm affects that eponymous variety). Similarly, with technology, your network needs layers of protection from the constant and growing outside influences and viruses that threaten the health of your company’s network.
Prune and Mulch — When was the last time you removed outdated software?
The ideal time to prune is during winter dormancy; do not rush to do this in the spring. However, in the spring, if you notice dead branches since that portion did not leaf out, it is time for a proper cut. A layer of mulch around the root base helps the tree to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Do not add mulch directly against the trunk as that facilitates disease. Likewise, when it comes to technology, removing from your network items such as old user profiles, files that are no longer needed, or outdated software is instrumental in keeping your operation running smoothly.
Don’t go out on a limb and take risks with the health of your IT network and computers. Take heed of these suggestions to ensure the natural beauty around your home and office.
The professionals at IT Radix pride ourselves with having green thumbs when it comes to technology and are always ready to help you examine your network needs to be sure your organization’s technology can provide you value and enhance your productivity for many years to come! Give us a call today and learn more about how we can help you and your organization!
First published in our April 2018 IT Radix Resource newsletter
