No more OOPS with an UPS

When purchasing a computer most businesses think they are covered by getting the tower, monitor, and printer. In most computer users minds’, “What else would I need?”

As I’m typing this column there is an afternoon thunderstorm rolling through. This time of year, it is common to have electrical fluctuations or outages for brief periods of time.

For some of us, these power outages last for more than an hour at a time and bring our computer productivity to a stand still.

So what can you do to protect yourself during these power “blips” or outages? The answer: UPS.

UPS, or uninterruptible power supply (or source), is a simple device that keeps a constant flow of power by utilizing an alternative power source (rechargeable batteries) during electrical outage.

Any device that is plugged into the UPS will remain powered as long as the batteries last.

For instance, if a lightning strike knocks out power to the power grid near you, your computer and other peripherals will continue to stay powered while you wait out the outage or safely save your work and shutdown.

For businesses, most of the modern day UPS systems can be managed by software. One example of this is in the server room.

A UPS dedicated to server equipment will be “plugged in” to the network and accessible by a server. This server will run a program that monitors the UPS state and performs certain actions based on its’ readings (example: shutdown the operating system).

For a small fee, (under $100) you can pick up an UPS that is capable of powering your desktop computer and monitor. Many businesses see this as a nominal expense when you factor in the lost data and productivity during your average power failure.

For larger systems, check with your local technology vendor. There are many systems that can be designed with your specific network in mind and can power critical network devices for hours.

Although these larger systems can come with a heavier price tag, many companies can’t live with their technology assets in shutdown mode.

Search the Internet for UPS system pricing. You will find that the added protection provided by a UPS is well worth the investment.