Technology Advisor Blog

Temperatures are beginning to soar as the summer months roll in for businesses in Boston and all surrounding metropolitan areas. From laptops to tablets to servers, monitors, and portable hard drives, your business essential devices are vulnerable to the extreme heat if left unattended.
As your local Ekaru team, we want to help your business celebrate securely and ensure your IT systems stay protected while you enjoy some well-earned freedom. 

Don’t Let The Heat Get to You

For companies relying on mobile devices, hybrid teams, or additional operations, ignoring the risks of device overheating can lead to unexpected downtime, data loss, and costly hardware failures. Our Ekaru team has seen firsthand how avoidable heat-related issues can spiral into larger problems for businesses of all sizes. We want to help ensure you are informed and making smart business decisions to have the right foot forward for you and your team.
Here’s what every business needs to know about protecting their tech assets from the summer heat, along with how Ekaru can ensure your business’ continuity on its devices and choices.

Why Extreme Heat is a Serious Business Risk

Most cases, your devices are usually indoors with the AC on during the warmer summer months. However, in the case where your device is left out in direct sunlight or in your vehicle, hardware failures can occur that will cost you time, money, and stress.

Your server room is also at a big risk. Majority of folks may not think too much into the server room as its closed off, a massive problem businesses will run into is an insufficiently air-conditioned server room. This server room is vital for Ekaru or your IT team to diagnose a problem and then work on a solution, if it is not protected properly against the elements, majority of your servers/devices will experience data loss and replacing entire servers in worst case scenario. Ways you and your business can monitor the server room is locate where the vents are, see how well the airflow is in the room and remove clutter as needed for better circulation. The temperature of the server room ideally should be 77 degrees or cooler to prevent overheating.

For additional safety and security, implement a temperature monitor that will notify your team if the room gets too hot to save you time, money and stress. 
When devices overheat, heat will cause your devices to fail and lead to unprecedented repair costs that you weren’t anticipating, along with productivity loss for you and your team.

Data Loss & Corruption

Devices that are left in hot cars and or exposed to direct sun can experience sudden shutdowns or in some other cases file corruption. If a business hasn’t gotten around to properly backing up their data whether it be on local or separate devices, companies are at higher risk of losing critical client information, sensitive financial data, or IP addresses. These all can lead to weaker cybersecurity that will cause distress.

 Security Gaps

Devices that overheat can behave unpredictably, causing forced shutdowns that will stall your work’s productivity. This can also open a window for data breaches, especially if the device is used without further inspection or security checks from being exposed to direct heat.

Decreased Device Lifespan & Who is At Risk?

Excessive heat can run the risk of wear and tear on your device’s lifespan. The next question is who is the most at risk?

• Employees that work in hybrid or remote settings, especially those who carry laptops, tablets, or phones with them.
• Employees that use company or their own vehicle to travel to client locations, carrying computers and other electronics alongside them.
• Organizations that don’t have the proper protection policies set in place during the scenario case of extreme weather.

Consider These Practices:

Versatile Cybersecurity Awareness Training Program

Regularly remind employees not to leave devices in cars, in direct sunlight. Include this in onboarding and seasonal IT communications.

 Provide Heat-Safe Carrying Gear

Equip your mobile workforce with thermal protective cases or bags, especially for those working in the field or traveling often. Help keep electronic devices out of direct sunlight.

Establish Clear Instructions to Team About Protecting Valuable Devices in the Warmer Months

Define heat safety protocols in your IT usage policies. Some examples to implement are:

• Turn off devices when not in use
• Avoid charging in hot environments
  
  

Only use approved cooling accessories

•  Turn off and unplug unused devices before the long weekend
•  Back up data to the cloud or secure server
•  Don’t leave devices in hot cars or exposed to sunlight
•  Use VPN and avoid public Wi-Fi when traveling
•  Watch for phishing emails with patriotic or “sale” themes
•  Alert your MSP in case of device loss or suspicious activity

Schedule Regular Backups

Ensure automatic cloud backups are running consistently. That way, if a heat event damages a device, no data is lost.
 

Monitor Office Temps

For on-premise equipment (like servers or workstations), ensure adequate ventilation and temperature monitoring systems are in place especially in older buildings or under-ventilated rooms.

Ekaru Is Your Ally For Protective Monitoring

We help businesses monitor device health, deploy system updates, and enforce smart thermal safety protocols so small problems don’t turn into major IT disruptions. What to Do If a Device Overheats

1. Turn it off immediately
2. Unplug from any power source
3. Move to a cool, shaded environment
4. Do not restart until it is fully cooled
5. Contact your MSP or IT team for inspection

A Cool Device Is a Productive Device

In the business world, unexpected downtime equals lost revenue. Summer months can make employees more lenient for their desire to be out in the sun, but the heat that may not be a threat to you but is a silent threat to many companies’ devices. From compliance risks to customer satisfaction, your organization’s tech health matters year-round.
As your trusted Cybersecurity MSP, we’re here to help you build heat-resilient IT strategies that keep your people productive, and your business protected.

Need help building a seasonal IT policy or assessing heat risks in your environment?
Contact us today for a summer-readiness tech audit or remote workforce consultation by calling us at 978-692-4200 or email us at info@ekaru.com.