SME device health in Stellenbosch: a quarterly 30-minute checklist (with ZAR time/cost)
A 30-minute quarterly device health checklist for Stellenbosch SMEs: updates, SMART checks, backups, password hygiene and asset notes—with time & costs.
· Digissential Team · 3 min read
TL;DR: Spend 30 minutes per device each quarter and you’ll avoid most outages. Do updates, check SMART/space, verify backups with a test restore, tidy passwords/MFA, and log asset notes. We can run this remotely for your team.
What you’ll need (free or built-in)
- Admin access to each device.
- Windows Update / macOS Software Update.
- Vendor tools: Dell/HP/Lenovo/ASUS updates; GPU drivers if needed.
- Disk health: CrystalDiskInfo (HDD/SSD) or NVMe vendor utility.
- Backup console (OneDrive/Google Drive/NAS) and spare space to test-restore.
- A password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, etc.) and your asset sheet.
The 30-minute checklist (with ZAR time/cost)
| Step | What you do | Time | Typical cost (ZAR) if we do it remotely |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. OS updates | Apply OS/security updates; reboot | 5–8 min | R80–R120 |
| 2. Drivers/Firmware | GPU/storage, BIOS/UEFI if recommended | 4–6 min | R60–R100 |
| 3. Disk health & space | SMART check, SSD wear, free ≥15% | 3–5 min | R50–R80 |
| 4. Backup verify | Check last run; test-restore a folder | 5–7 min | R80–R120 |
| 5. Passwords & MFA | Confirm manager use; rotate shared creds | 4–6 min | R60–R100 |
| 6. Asset notes | User, serial, warranty, changes | 2–3 min | R30–R50 |
Bundle option: Book a Quarterly Device Health Check for a remote, scripted pass with a summary report and recommendations.
Step-by-step details (quick and safe)
1) Update the OS (then reboot)
- Windows: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
- macOS: System Settings → General → Software Update.
Apply security updates first; feature upgrades can be deferred until after backups are confirmed.
2) Drivers & firmware
- Use OEM tools (Dell Command/HP Support Assistant/Lenovo Vantage).
- Apply storage, chipset and BIOS/UEFI updates if recommended; avoid beta firmware on production machines. Record versions in your asset notes.
3) Disk health & space
- HDD/SSD: read SMART (CrystalDiskInfo or vendor app). If Caution/Bad, take a backup and plan a replacement.
- Keep ≥15% free space; below that, Windows/macOS slows and updates fail.
4) Backups that actually restore
- Check last backup date/size and zero errors.
- Perform a test restore of a small folder to a different location—this catches permission or path problems early.
Need help setting this up? See Cloud backup setup.
5) Passwords, MFA & leavers
- Confirm a password manager is in use (shared vaults for shared creds).
- Enforce MFA for email/admin portals.
- Rotate or remove leaver accounts the same day.
6) Asset notes (don’t skip this)
- Record device name, user, serial, OS build, warranty date and any changes.
- A simple sheet keeps insurance/warranty and replacement planning simple.
When to escalate (so you don’t lose a day)
- SMART warnings, clicking drives, or rising reallocated sectors.
- Reboots during updates, blue screens, boot loops.
- Backups that fail repeatedly.
- Users reporting frequent freezes or network drops.
Book a Remote support session and we’ll stabilise, document and recommend next steps.
Upsell & next steps
- Quarterly pass done for you → Quarterly Device Health Check
- Robust backup plan → Cloud backup setup
- Ad-hoc fixes & tune-ups → Remote support session
- SME Care Plans → coming soon (priority updates, backup checks, monthly reporting)
Final word
A disciplined 30-minute quarterly routine prevents most “Monday morning emergencies.” If you’d like us to run it and send a clear report—with costs and upgrade paths—we can do it remotely, on a schedule, and with minimal disruption.
Ready to schedule? Call 066 425 6314 or message us via Contact.