How to Winterize Office Technology: Cold Weather IT Tips from Tobin Solutions

Whether you’re bracing for the bitter cold or excited for the first snowfall, winter in Milwaukee brings serious considerations for businesses—especially when it comes to IT infrastructure and office technology.

From power outages to server room temperature drops, winter weather can disrupt business operations, damage equipment, and impact employee productivity. That’s why Tobin Solutions encourages companies to prepare early and proactively winterize both their computers and their workplace technology environment.

1. Establish a Snow Day and Remote Work Policy

First things first: What’s the plan when weather conditions prevent employees from commuting? If your business doesn’t already have a snow day policy in place, now is the time to define expectations and empower remote work where possible.

Ensure employees have secure remote access to key systems and communication tools. Can your team access business applications, cloud platforms, or company phone systems from home? Is your main business line set up for call forwarding in case the office closes?

2. Prepare for Power Outages and Surges

Freezing rain and snowstorms in Wisconsin often bring power outages. A loss of power can corrupt files, damage electronics, and cause unexpected downtime.

Audit your uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), battery backups, and surge protectors. Critical devices—like firewalls, security systems, servers, and network switches—should all be protected, grounded, and configured for safe shutdown procedures.

3. Revisit Your Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plans

Winter increases the risk of facility damage—from frozen pipes to collapsed roofs. Is your disaster recovery plan ready? Do you know your recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs)?

Businesses in Milwaukee should ensure they have a solid business continuity strategy in place. That means secure backups, redundant systems, and ideally, dual internet providers to minimize the risk of complete downtime.

4. Review Insurance and Risk Coverage

While not a tech task per se, verifying insurance coverage is part of winterizing your operations. Speak with your agent about protection against events like water damage, equipment failure, or business interruptions due to weather emergencies.

5. Secure and Test Remote Access Tools

Whether your team is working from a cabin in northern Wisconsin or staying warm at home, you need to ensure secure connectivity. That means validating VPNs, testing remote desktop tools, and making sure all users are trained on remote login protocols.

Don’t forget about multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong passwords—these are essential parts of remote cybersecurity best practices.

6. Consider Moving Systems to the Cloud

If your business is still relying on local servers, winter is a great reminder of their vulnerability. Moving systems to the cloud not only enhances flexibility and accessibility, it also removes your dependence on the office building’s power and heating systems.

Tobin Solutions helps Milwaukee businesses migrate securely to cloud infrastructure that is designed to operate with high availability—no matter the season.

7. Upgrade Computers Before Year-End

Still running on outdated hardware? Year-end is the perfect time to upgrade desktops, laptops, and peripherals. Not only will your team thank you for the speed boost, but you may also benefit from tax advantages if you make the purchase before the fiscal year ends.

Plus, newer hardware tends to be more resilient against winter-related failures like battery drain and component freezing.

Don’t Let Winter Freeze Your Business

With the right preparation, you can ensure that your technology is winter-ready and your business remains resilient throughout the season. At Tobin Solutions, we help small and midsize businesses in Milwaukee winterize their IT—from disaster recovery planning to remote access solutions and IT hardware maintenance.

Need help getting your office and technology ready for winter? Contact Tobin Solutions or call 414-443-9999 to schedule a winter IT readiness consultation.