We have seen some remarkable things happen this summer that are tech related, but perhaps the most notable one was the technology crash at the New York Stock Exchange. All trading had to be suspended and we all thought for awhile it was a massive cyber attack. At the end of the day, we were told it was, in fact, a router gone bad. What? A router that died? That happens to ordinary people in their ordinary homes and small businesses. But that was the story and they stuck to it. But here’s what you need to take away from this story. Hardware does die. Technological tools and gadgets are not made to last forever and even if they were the rapid advancements in technology these days would render that particular generation obsolete. So—how old is your router? Can’t say? Here’s what Aptica does for our clients. Keep a log with the purchase date and or hook up date for all your hardware. Or write it on the piece itself. Knowing how old something is can be critical in your decision to try to fix it or just replace it. It allows you to budget based on probable lifespan. For example, dishwashers have a probable lifespan of nine years. After nine years, do you spend $350 to repair one, or do you start researching for your new one? When we bring clients onboard at Aptica, we assess the age and condition of the network hardware and then we can advise on a budget timeline to replace and/or upgrade. I love to help people plan for the future. If I can help you, please call me. Jason Newburg, owner of Aptica. 260.243.5100 ext. 2001