Laptops don't stop working on a set date, so many businesses keep them until they fail. That feels thrifty, but an old laptop costs more in lost time and support than it saves.
A sensible cycle
Three to five years is a reasonable life for a business laptop, depending on the quality bought and how hard it is used. Desktops often last a little longer. Plan on the lower end for people whose work depends on performance.
What ageing costs
A slow machine wastes minutes many times a day, and those minutes are paid for at the user's salary. Older devices also fail more often, and each failure costs a day of work and a rushed purchase.
The security angle
Older hardware eventually can't run a supported operating system or current security features. A device that no longer gets updates shouldn't be on the network.
Buy business grade
Business models cost more than consumer ones, but they come with longer warranties, better build quality, and parts and drivers that stay available. Match the warranty length to the planned life.
Standardise
Buying two or three standard models in place of whatever is on sale makes setup faster, spares easier and support simpler.
Stagger the replacements
Replacing a quarter or a third of the fleet each year gives a steady, predictable cost and avoids one very large bill.
The other equipment
Servers, firewalls, switches and wifi access points have lifespans too, usually five to seven years, and vendors stop issuing security fixes after a published date. Track those dates.
Retiring devices safely
Wipe every device before it leaves the business, and keep a record. Remove it from your management tools and licences, and use a recycler that provides a certificate.
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