Buying computers for an organisation: specs that matter

Buying computers one at a time, whenever someone needs one, leads to a mix of models that is harder to support and secure. A little planning goes a long way.

Define a few standard profiles

• **General office:** email, documents, browser-based systems.
• **Power users:** finance, data analysis, large spreadsheets.
• **Technical:** design, engineering or development work.
• **Field:** portable, robust, long battery life.

Specifications that matter

• **Memory** has a big effect on everyday performance with many browser tabs and applications open.
• **Solid-state storage** for speed and reliability.
• **Business-grade models** for longer availability of parts and better management features.
• **Warranty** that matches how long you plan to keep the device.

Plan the whole life

Budget for setup, security software, backups and eventual replacement. Record each device in an asset register with its user and warranty date.

Set them up consistently

A standard setup — operating system, security, applications, encryption — makes support faster and devices safer.

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