Are you prepared for hurricane season?

Prepare For Hurricane Season, Protect Your Systems

It’s important we do what we can to prevent damage to our systems. The state of Hawaii is always busy getting supplies together before a storm. That's why we compiled a 5 minute read to help you prepare.
 
Storm damaged computer equipment is more common than most people think. Probably because a modem (or any other computer equipment) is one of the last things we think to protect in the event of bad weather. Fortunately, its not difficult to avoid the hassle of replacing your modem or, even worse, the cost of replacing your entire computer system.
 
A simple surge protector can do wonders. It'll protect your computer equipment from most thunderstorms, as well as common power fluctuations that occur with rain or wind (We Are More usually installs these for the businesses we work in).
 
Surge protectors can't always protect against heavy storms, though, so it's a good idea to unplug your computer when a storm is in the forecast. You should also unplug your peripheral equipment (printers, scanners, etc.). It's pretty simple if you have a surge protector, just unplug the surge protector from the wall (there's no need to disconnect your equipment from the computer).

Don't forget your high-speed modem router and switch that controls your VoIP WiFi and point of sale systems. If your Internet connection runs through coax (most do) unplug the coax cable. Power surges can travel through the line and fry your modem. This also goes for all audio visual equipment (amplifiers, signal processors, televisions) and security systems. 
 
If you don’t  get a chance to disconnect your computer before this or any storm and a power outage occurs, go ahead and unplug your equipment. Power spikes can occur when service is restored, so this will help prevent damage.
 
When the storm ends and the power comes back on, connect and turn on your computer first, then peripheral equipment. This will protect against power spikes that can occur as the computer starts up.
 
Preparing for a storm should only take you a couple of minutes. And trust us--that's nothing compared to the frustration we all deal with if a computer modem or router goes down. We look forward to Douglas passing and We Are More continuing business as usual! Stay dry! Aloha from We Are More!

Featured blog by Ola Shaw