Start out the year right for your restaurant POS systems. Let’s point out some of the most common and vital mistakes that retail business owners make in regard to some very basic configuration aspects of the computer system. Mistakes can severely damage a restaurant or any other retail business, not to mention the huge amount of time and money on repairs. Worse than that… it can frustrate your customers and employees.
Whether you’re the one who’s going to do the configuration or not, or [getting somebody else to do it for you] — it’s important for you to make sure everything is done properly.
Please don’t let me be guilty of giving you the wrong message. I don’t always recommend configuring your own computer system! I recommend letting a professional do the work. But I’m sure some of you will do it yourself no matter what I say. So this is for those of you that insist on doing your own computer installations and for everyone else to double check and make sure everything was done properly. This can help avoid major problems, be aware on the proper installations and save hours of your precious time.
So here are some simple retail computer system configuration checklist for a Windows network you could use as a guide:
1) Install a UPS
The main cause of electronic component failure is from fluctuations in electricity (up and down). A good UPS can solve this problem by regulating the power. I recommend that you at least put a good UPS on your server. And it’s a good idea to use them on all your workstations too.
2) Plug All Your Cables Into the UPS
All cables that powers your computer and network must be properly plugged into your UPS. It’s also important to check if cables that can carry electrical charges are plugged into a surge protector or UPS. For example, the phone line for your modem can easily fry your computer if it’s not plugged into a surge protector. So make sure your modem line, network cables, and power cords are all plugged in properly.
3) Tightening Up Security
It is advisable that you lock your server with a hard-to-break password on all Windows accounts so that no one will be able to access it especially hackers who ruthlessly damage your server].
4) Install Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware Software and Configure For Automatic Updates
It’s also very important to configure that software to update automatically every day, so you don’t forget.
5) Limiting Employee Internet Access
Employees will surft on anything they can on the internet. You mave the lastest antivirus and antispyware software installed but if an employee unintentionally downloads the wrong program or accepts the wrong message, it can bring your system down. You may limit them by disabling internet browsing on their computer stations. Or you could password protect internet access.
For a restaurant, this is very important! In order to protect secured files from evil hands, limiting employee internet access is a must. A retail business owner has to enforce rules to protect his business as well as his profit. Otherwise, what good will a restaurant POS system do if it’s run by a misbahaved or ignorant personnel.
6) Configuring Your Back Up To Run Regularly
As well proven in many situations, it’s best to configure your back up to run after work hours automatically. But you still need to remember to change your back up device (like tapes) daily.
7) Testing Your Back Up At Least Once A Month
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve chatted with restaurant owners that have hard drive failure and think they have a good back up plan to restore. When they try to restore they find it didn’t properly funciton. That’s why it is very important to test your back up at least once a month by restoring files so you would know that it your back up is working as it’s supposed to be. By the way, you should restore to an alternate file location so your existing software won’t get messed up.
So please check your computer system now. If you don’t, you might regret it later. Have a happy and successful 2009!
With over 20 years of restaruant experience, the author and Vice President of Customer Relations at POS-for-Restaurants.com, helps you use your technology to be more efficient and more profitable.
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