{"id":2674,"date":"2026-09-23T02:16:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T07:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/?p=2674"},"modified":"2026-09-21T02:30:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:30:41","slug":"how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8220;If it&#8217;s not broken, don&#8217;t fix it&#8221; is one of the most expensive pieces of advice a business can follow when it comes to technology. Unlike a piece of furniture that simply wears out slowly and predictably, IT infrastructure degrades in ways that are often invisible until something fails at the worst possible moment. A server that still boots up every morning can quietly be running well past the point where it can be patched, secured, or supported.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For businesses across Bothell and Renton, the question isn&#8217;t really whether to update infrastructure. It&#8217;s how often, and what specifically needs attention on what timeline. Waiting for something to visibly break is a reactive strategy that almost always costs more than a planned, proactive refresh cycle. This guide breaks down realistic update timelines for every major category of business technology, along with how to recognize when something has quietly become a liability.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why &#8220;If It&#8217;s Not Broken&#8221; Thinking Fails<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Technology doesn&#8217;t fail the way most people expect. It rarely stops working overnight without warning. Instead, it slowly loses support, security coverage, and compatibility with newer tools, often long before it stops functioning entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The risks of delaying updates include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Manufacturers discontinuing security patches for older hardware and software, leaving known vulnerabilities unaddressed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compatibility issues as newer applications stop supporting outdated operating systems or equipment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Slower performance that quietly erodes employee productivity without ever triggering a formal complaint<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Increased risk of catastrophic failure, since aging components are statistically more likely to break down without warning<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reviewing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/are-outdated-systems-slowing-down-your-business-productivity\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">outdated technology productivity impact<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> research shows that many businesses underestimate just how much aging systems drag down day-to-day efficiency, since the decline happens gradually enough that employees simply adapt to slower performance rather than reporting it as a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Fast Technology Actually Ages<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Different categories of technology age at very different rates. Treating every piece of infrastructure with the same replacement timeline leads to either premature spending or dangerous neglect, depending on the category.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">General aging patterns include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Workstations and laptops typically remain reliable and secure for three to five years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Servers often last longer, generally five to seven years, but require more careful monitoring as they approach end of life<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Network equipment, including routers and switches, usually needs replacement every five to seven years, though security-critical devices may need attention sooner<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Software licenses and operating systems have defined end-of-support dates set by the vendor, regardless of how well the software still appears to function<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Security tools evolve rapidly and often need meaningful updates or replacement every two to three years to keep pace with new threats<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A closer look at<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/the-true-cost-of-outdated-it-systems-for-growing-businesses-in-bothell\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cost of aging infrastructure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> shows that the financial impact of delayed updates compounds over time, since older systems require increasingly frequent repairs while simultaneously becoming less capable of running the tools a modern business actually needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Signs Your Infrastructure Needs Updating<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Beyond a general timeline, there are specific warning signs that indicate a business has already fallen behind on necessary updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Watch for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frequent, unexplained slowdowns that IT staff can no longer easily diagnose or fix<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Software vendors announcing an end-of-support date for tools the business still relies on<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Increasing frequency of help desk tickets tied to the same recurring equipment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Difficulty finding replacement parts or qualified technicians familiar with older systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New employees commenting on how outdated the technology feels compared to previous workplaces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Security tools flagging incompatibilities or reduced protection due to aging infrastructure<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recognizing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/7-hidden-it-risks-small-businesses-in-bothell-cant-afford-to-ignore\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">hidden infrastructure risks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> early allows businesses to plan upgrades on their own schedule, rather than being forced into an emergency replacement after a critical failure.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Similarly, understanding<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/10-signs-your-business-needs-better-it-support-before-its-too-late\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">signs you need support<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> beyond just aging hardware helps business owners recognize when their overall IT strategy, not just individual devices, has fallen behind.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Recommended Refresh Cycles by Category<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While every business&#8217;s specific needs vary, general industry guidelines provide a useful starting point for planning upgrades before they become urgent.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Workstations and laptops<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Replace every three to five years, or sooner for employees running resource-intensive applications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Servers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Plan for replacement or major upgrades every five to seven years, with more frequent monitoring as equipment ages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Network equipment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Refresh routers, switches, and firewalls every five to seven years, prioritizing security-critical devices for earlier review<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Software and operating systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Upgrade before official end-of-support dates, not after, to avoid running unpatched systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Security tools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Reassess every two to three years, since threat detection capabilities improve rapidly and older tools fall behind quickly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Wireless infrastructure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Evaluate every three to five years as new standards significantly improve speed, capacity, and security<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses exploring<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/wi-fi-7-and-the-future-of-business-connectivity-what-smbs-need-to-know\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">next generation wifi standards<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> often find that connectivity upgrades deliver an immediate, noticeable improvement in daily operations, particularly for businesses that have added more connected devices than their original network was designed to support.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Real Cost of Waiting Too Long<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Delaying necessary updates rarely saves money in the long run. Instead, it typically shifts costs from a predictable, planned expense into an unpredictable, often larger emergency expense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consequences of delayed updates include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emergency replacement costs, which are almost always higher than planned, budgeted upgrades<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Extended downtime while a failed system is diagnosed, replaced, and reconfigured under pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Increased security risk, since unpatched systems become attractive targets for attackers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lost productivity accumulating quietly over months or years before the true cost becomes visible<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reviewing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/the-hidden-costs-of-technology-downtime-that-many-companies-overlook\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">overlooked technology expenses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> tied to downtime shows how a single infrastructure failure can quickly cost far more than the equipment replacement would have, once lost revenue and idle labor are factored into the total.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Understanding<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-technology-downtime-is-becoming-a-bigger-threat-to-growing-businesses\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">downtime threat growth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> also highlights how the risk compounds as a business adds more systems, users, and dependencies over time without a corresponding investment in infrastructure updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Building a Technology Roadmap Instead of Reacting<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most effective way to manage infrastructure updates is through a documented, multi-year technology roadmap rather than addressing each aging system individually as problems arise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A strong roadmap should include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An inventory of all current hardware, software, and network equipment, along with age and expected end-of-life dates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A prioritized replacement schedule that spreads costs predictably across multiple budget cycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alignment between technology upgrades and broader business goals, such as planned growth or new service offerings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Regular review points to adjust the roadmap as business needs or vendor support timelines change<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A well-built<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/technology-roadmaps-that-actually-work-for-growing-smbs\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">long term technology roadmap<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> turns infrastructure updates from a source of anxiety into a predictable, manageable part of annual budgeting.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses following a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/the-smb-tech-stack-checklist-that-saves-time-and-money\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">smart tech stack decisions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> approach often find that consolidating tools during the update process reduces both complexity and ongoing costs, rather than simply replacing old systems with equally fragmented new ones.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Industry Specific Considerations<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Update timelines should also reflect the specific demands and risks associated with different industries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><b>Financial firms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> often face strict regulatory requirements around system security and data handling, making timely updates a compliance necessity rather than an optional improvement.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reviewing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-compliance-matters-protecting-your-business-from-costly-penalties\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">avoiding compliance penalties<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> shows how outdated systems can directly trigger regulatory violations if they no longer meet current security standards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><b>Healthcare practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> must balance infrastructure updates with the operational demands of continuous patient care, often requiring careful scheduling to avoid disrupting critical systems during business hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><b>Engineering and construction firms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> frequently rely on mobile and field-based technology, which tends to experience faster wear and requires more frequent replacement than office-based equipment.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Firms exploring<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/building-a-business-tech-package-that-scales-with-your-growth\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">scalable technology packages<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> often find that flexible infrastructure planning accommodates this faster turnover more effectively than a rigid, one-size-fits-all replacement schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2676\" src=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/21-1-1024x535.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/21-1-1024x535.png 1024w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/21-1-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/21-1-768x401.png 768w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/21-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Budgeting for Ongoing Technology Upgrades<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the biggest barriers to consistent infrastructure updates is treating them as an unpredictable, occasional expense rather than a planned, ongoing line item in the annual budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Practical budgeting strategies include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Setting aside a fixed percentage of annual revenue specifically for technology refresh cycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Staggering replacements across different equipment categories to avoid large, simultaneous expenses<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reviewing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/cloud-costs-are-rising-how-smart-businesses-are-regaining-control\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">controlling cloud spending<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> strategies to free up budget that can be redirected toward hardware and infrastructure upgrades<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Exploring subscription or leasing models for equipment that depreciates quickly, spreading costs predictably over time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Factoring in<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-cyber-insurance-requirements-are-changing-business-it-strategies-in-2026\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">insurance driven IT changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that may require updated infrastructure as a condition of coverage or favorable premiums<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses that adopt<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-smart-it-planning-helps-growing-businesses-avoid-expensive-problems\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">avoiding expensive IT mistakes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> practices tend to treat infrastructure spending as an investment in stability and productivity rather than a reluctant, last-resort expense triggered only by failure.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Growth Accelerates the Need for Updates<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A refresh cycle that made sense for a business with fifteen employees often breaks down entirely once that same business grows to fifty. Growth doesn&#8217;t just add more of the same load to existing systems, it frequently changes the nature of what infrastructure needs to support in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Growth-related pressures include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More simultaneous users straining network capacity and storage that was originally sized for a smaller team<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New software tools and integrations that may not run well, or at all, on older hardware<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Increased data volume that slows backup windows and stretches recovery times beyond acceptable limits<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Additional office locations or remote staff introducing new connectivity and security requirements that legacy infrastructure wasn&#8217;t built to handle<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses that revisit their infrastructure plan at key growth milestones, rather than only on a fixed calendar schedule, tend to catch these pressure points before they cause a visible problem. A team that recently doubled in size, added a second location, or shifted to a hybrid work model should treat that moment as a natural trigger to reassess infrastructure needs, regardless of where individual systems fall in their expected replacement timeline.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Common Mistakes Businesses Make<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even organizations that recognize the importance of infrastructure updates often fall into predictable patterns that undermine their own planning efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Waiting for a system to fail completely before initiating a replacement process<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Failing to track software end-of-support dates until systems are already unpatched and vulnerable<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Treating every category of technology with the same replacement timeline, regardless of actual usage or risk<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Underestimating the time required to plan, budget, and execute a major infrastructure upgrade<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Overlooking cloud-based subscriptions and licenses when auditing overall technology age and relevance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A broader look at<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-bothell-businesses-are-moving-to-cloud-storage-in-2026-and-how-to-do-it-right\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">moving to cloud storage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> adoption trends shows that businesses shifting more infrastructure to the cloud often reduce the burden of hardware refresh cycles, though this shift introduces its own ongoing update considerations around licensing, integrations, and platform changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Evaluating Vendor Support and End-of-Life Timelines<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Beyond physical wear and performance, one of the most important factors in deciding when to update infrastructure is the support timeline set by the manufacturer or software vendor, not how the equipment feels to the people using it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses should track:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Published end-of-life and end-of-support dates for every major hardware and software vendor in use<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Extended support options, which sometimes exist at additional cost for a limited window past the standard end date<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vendor announcements about upcoming changes, since these are often published well in advance and provide valuable planning time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compatibility statements for new software releases, which frequently signal when older hardware will soon struggle to keep up<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Treating vendor timelines as a planning input, rather than a surprise to react to later, gives businesses months or even years of advance notice before a system becomes a genuine liability. Many businesses discover these deadlines only after a critical patch is no longer available, at which point the decision has effectively already been made for them under far less favorable circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Getting More Value From What You Already Have<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Updating infrastructure doesn&#8217;t always mean full replacement. In many cases, businesses can extend the useful life of their technology by getting more value out of tools they already own before committing to a major upgrade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consider:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reviewing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/microsoft-365-isnt-just-email-anymore-how-smbs-are-unlocking-its-real-value\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">unlocking Microsoft 365 value<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> research to ensure existing software licenses are being used to their full potential before assuming new tools are necessary<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Auditing current software subscriptions to eliminate redundant or underused platforms before purchasing replacements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consulting with an IT partner to determine whether targeted upgrades, such as adding memory or storage, can extend the life of existing hardware<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Evaluating whether current infrastructure could support a longer lifespan with improved maintenance and monitoring practices<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This kind of value optimization complements, rather than replaces, a broader technology roadmap, helping businesses avoid unnecessary spending while still keeping critical systems current and secure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-2677\" src=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/22-1-1024x535.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"806\" height=\"421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/22-1-1024x535.png 1024w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/22-1-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/22-1-768x401.png 768w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/22-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>How a Managed IT Partner Keeps Infrastructure Current<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tracking the age, support status, and performance of every piece of business technology requires ongoing attention that many internal teams struggle to maintain consistently, particularly as the business grows and adds new systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A managed IT partner can help with:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conducting a full infrastructure audit to identify aging or unsupported systems before they become urgent problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Building and maintaining a multi-year technology roadmap aligned with business goals and budget cycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Coordinating<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/services-it-procurement\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">technology procurement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to ensure replacement equipment fits both current needs and future growth plans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Monitoring<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/network-management\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">network security infrastructure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> continuously to catch performance degradation before it causes a major failure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Supporting<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-co-managed-it-services-help-internal-it-teams-scale-faster\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">co-managed IT teams<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that need additional bandwidth to manage infrastructure planning alongside daily operational demands<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Comprehensive<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/managed-it-services\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">managed IT services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> bring infrastructure planning, procurement, and maintenance together under a single coordinated strategy, rather than leaving updates to be handled reactively by whichever team member happens to notice a problem first.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reliable<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/cloud-services\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cloud infrastructure services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and dependable<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/data-backup\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">data backup solutions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> ensure that infrastructure updates happen without putting critical business data at risk during the transition.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strong<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/compliance\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">regulatory compliance support<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and dependable<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/unified-communications\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">unified communications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> keep operations running smoothly throughout the process, while responsive<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/it-support\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IT support services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and ongoing<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/it-guidance\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">strategic IT guidance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> ensure the business stays ahead of aging infrastructure rather than constantly playing catch-up.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There is no single answer to how often infrastructure should be updated, since different categories of technology age at very different rates and carry different levels of risk. What matters most is replacing the &#8220;if it&#8217;s not broken&#8221; mindset with a proactive, documented approach that tracks age, support status, and performance across every system the business relies on. Businesses that plan updates on their own schedule consistently spend less, experience fewer disruptions, and avoid the kind of emergency replacements that always cost more than planned upgrades.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CMIT Solutions of Bothell and Renton helps local businesses build technology roadmaps that keep infrastructure current without unnecessary spending or last-minute scrambling. If it&#8217;s been more than a few years since your last full infrastructure review, now is the right time to take a closer look.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Schedule a consultation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> today to build an infrastructure update plan that keeps your business running smoothly for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%;background: #f4f8fa;padding: 60px 20px;font-family: Segoe UI,Arial,sans-serif\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;color: #000;font-size: 40px;line-height: 1.2;font-weight: 800;margin: 0 0 45px\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div style=\"width: 100%;max-width: 1100px;margin: 0 auto\">\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">1. How often should business workstations be replaced?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Most workstations and laptops should be replaced every three to five years, depending on usage intensity and the demands of the software being run.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">2. Do servers need to be replaced as often as workstations?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Servers generally last longer, often five to seven years, but require closer monitoring as they approach the end of that range.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">3. What happens if software runs past its end-of-support date?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Unsupported software no longer receives security patches, leaving known vulnerabilities unaddressed and increasing risk significantly.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">4. How often should network equipment be updated?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Routers, switches, and firewalls typically need replacement or major review every five to seven years, though security-critical devices may need earlier attention.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">5. Is cloud infrastructure exempt from update planning?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">No. While cloud infrastructure reduces hardware concerns, licensing, integrations, and platform changes still require ongoing review.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">6. What is the biggest risk of delaying infrastructure updates?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Emergency failures tend to cost significantly more than planned upgrades, both in repair costs and lost productivity during downtime.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">7. How can a business tell if its infrastructure is falling behind?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Frequent slowdowns, recurring help desk tickets, and vendor end-of-support announcements are all clear signs of aging infrastructure.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">8. Should every piece of technology follow the same replacement schedule?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">No. Different categories of technology age at different rates and should be evaluated individually rather than on a single blanket timeline.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">9. How does a technology roadmap help with budgeting?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">A roadmap spreads replacement costs predictably across multiple years, avoiding large, unplanned expenses tied to emergency failures.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">10. Can extending the life of existing equipment ever make sense?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Yes, in some cases targeted upgrades like added memory or storage can extend usable life without requiring full replacement.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">11. Does industry affect how often infrastructure should be updated?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Yes. Regulated industries like finance and healthcare often require more frequent updates to maintain compliance and security standards.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">12. How often should security tools specifically be reviewed?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Security tools should generally be reassessed every two to three years, since threat detection capabilities evolve rapidly.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">13. What role does a managed IT provider play in infrastructure planning?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">They help audit current systems, build a replacement roadmap, and manage procurement to keep upgrades predictable and cost-effective.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">14. Is leasing equipment a better option than purchasing outright?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">It depends on the business, but leasing can spread costs predictably and simplify replacement cycles for quickly depreciating equipment.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">15. How does aging infrastructure affect cyber insurance coverage?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Many insurers now expect updated, well-maintained systems as a condition of coverage, and outdated infrastructure can affect eligibility or premiums.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">16. What is the first step in building an infrastructure update plan?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Start with a complete inventory of current hardware, software, and network equipment, along with their age and expected end-of-life dates.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">17. Can infrastructure updates be scheduled around business operations?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Yes. A planned approach allows updates to be scheduled during lower-impact periods rather than disrupting critical operations.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">18. How often should wireless network infrastructure be reviewed?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Wireless infrastructure should generally be evaluated every three to five years as new standards significantly improve speed and security.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0 0 18px;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">19. Does adding employees affect how often infrastructure needs updating?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">Yes. Growing teams increase demand on existing systems, often accelerating the timeline for necessary upgrades.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"width: 100%;background: #fff;border-radius: 14px;margin: 0;padding: 0 28px;overflow: hidden\">\n<summary style=\"cursor: pointer;position: relative;padding: 24px 48px 24px 0;font-size: 19px;line-height: 1.5;font-weight: 600;color: #111\">20. What is the most cost-effective approach to infrastructure updates?<span style=\"position: absolute;right: 0;color: #f46048;font-size: 28px;line-height: 1;font-weight: bold\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding: 0 0 24px;color: #444;font-size: 16px;line-height: 1.7\">A proactive, staggered replacement schedule based on a documented roadmap is almost always more cost-effective than reactive, emergency replacements.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/contact-us\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-978\" src=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1-768x192.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;If it&#8217;s not broken, don&#8217;t fix it&#8221; is one of the most&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1041,"featured_media":2675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[62,47,45,18,27,35,30],"class_list":["post-2674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-it","tag-ai-powered-cybercrime","tag-ai-powered-it-strategy","tag-backup-and-disaster-recovery","tag-cmit-bothell-and-renton","tag-cmit-renton-communication-tech","tag-digital-employee-experience","tag-unified-tech-strategy-renton"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.2.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cmitbothelldm\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO Pro (AIOSEO) 5.0.2.1\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bothell, WA 1091 | CMIT Solutions\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-23T07:16:40+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-21T07:30:41+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"headline\":\"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure\",\"description\":\"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure&amp;quot;If it&amp;#39;s not broken, don&amp;#39;t fix it&amp;quot; is one of the most expensive pieces of advice a business can follow when it comes to ...\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Your Name\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-21\",\"wordCount\":2772,\"timeRequired\":\"PT14M\",\"keywords\":\"nbsp, infrastructure, it, often, technology, than, business, how, replacement, updates\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Local IT\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Local IT\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure\"},\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Local IT\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CMIT Solutions Bothell\",\"description\":\"CMIT Solutions\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/template\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/CMMIT-Solutions-Logo.png\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#organizationLogo\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#organizationLogo\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/#author\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/\",\"name\":\"cmitbothelldm\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#authorImage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7249b610e9825f7245fcc49f858ca6981d7783f45873408c9a2db44efba79e71?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"width\":96,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"cmitbothelldm\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell\",\"description\":\"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#website\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#breadcrumblist\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/#author\"},\"creator\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/#author\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/105\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/calendar_image-8.webp\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#mainImage\",\"width\":320,\"height\":167},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\\\/#mainImage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-23T02:16:40-05:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-21T02:30:41-05:00\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/\",\"name\":\"CMIT Solutions Bothell\",\"description\":\"CMIT Solutions\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#organization\"}}]}\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro -->\r\n\t\t<title>How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell<\/title>\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.","canonical_url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/","robots":"max-image-preview:large","keywords":"","webmasterTools":{"miscellaneous":""},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","headline":"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure","description":"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure&amp;quot;If it&amp;#39;s not broken, don&amp;#39;t fix it&amp;quot; is one of the most expensive pieces of advice a business can follow when it comes to ...","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Your Name"},"datePublished":"2026-09-21","wordCount":2772,"timeRequired":"PT14M","keywords":"nbsp, infrastructure, it, often, technology, than, business, how, replacement, updates"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#listItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/#listItem","name":"Local IT"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/#listItem","position":2,"name":"Local IT","item":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#listItem","name":"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure"},"previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#listItem","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#listItem","position":3,"name":"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure","previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/#listItem","name":"Local IT"}}]},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#organization","name":"CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"CMIT Solutions","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"http:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/template\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/CMMIT-Solutions-Logo.png","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#organizationLogo"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#organizationLogo"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/#author","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/","name":"cmitbothelldm","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#authorImage","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7249b610e9825f7245fcc49f858ca6981d7783f45873408c9a2db44efba79e71?s=96&d=mm&r=g","width":96,"height":96,"caption":"cmitbothelldm"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/","name":"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#breadcrumblist"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/#author"},"creator":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/#author"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/09\/calendar_image-8.webp","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#mainImage","width":320,"height":167},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/#mainImage"},"datePublished":"2026-09-23T02:16:40-05:00","dateModified":"2026-09-21T02:30:41-05:00"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/","name":"CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"CMIT Solutions","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#organization"}}]},"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"Bothell, WA 1091 | CMIT Solutions","og:type":"article","og:title":"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell","og:description":"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.","og:url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/","article:published_time":"2026-09-23T07:16:40+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-09-21T07:30:41+00:00","twitter:card":"summary_large_image","twitter:title":"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell","twitter:description":"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations."},"aioseo_meta_data":{"post_id":"2674","title":"How Often Should Businesses Upgrade | CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"Find out how often businesses should replace computers, servers, software, and network equipment to maintain reliable operations.","keywords":null,"keyphrases":{"focus":{"keyphrase":"","score":0,"analysis":{"keyphraseInTitle":{"score":0,"maxScore":9,"error":1}}},"additional":[]},"primary_term":null,"canonical_url":null,"og_title":null,"og_description":null,"og_object_type":"default","og_image_type":"default","og_image_url":null,"og_image_width":null,"og_image_height":null,"og_image_custom_url":null,"og_image_custom_fields":null,"og_video":"","og_custom_url":null,"og_article_section":null,"og_article_tags":null,"twitter_use_og":false,"twitter_card":"default","twitter_image_type":"default","twitter_image_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_fields":null,"twitter_title":null,"twitter_description":null,"schema":{"blockGraphs":[],"customGraphs":[{"id":"#aioseo-custom-muax2znresjj","custom":true,"graphName":"Article","schema":"{ \"@type\": \"Article\", \"headline\": \"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure\", \"description\": \"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure&amp;quot;If it&amp;#39;s not broken, don&amp;#39;t fix it&amp;quot; is one of the most expensive pieces of advice a business can follow when it comes to ...\", \"author\": { \"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Your Name\" }, \"datePublished\": \"2026-09-21\", \"wordCount\": 2772, \"timeRequired\": \"PT14M\", \"keywords\": \"nbsp, infrastructure, it, often, technology, than, business, how, replacement, updates\" }"}],"default":{"data":{"Article":[],"Course":[],"Dataset":[],"FAQPage":[],"Movie":[],"Person":[],"Product":[],"ProductReview":[],"Car":[],"Recipe":[],"Service":[],"SoftwareApplication":[],"WebPage":[]},"graphName":"BlogPosting","isEnabled":false},"graphs":[]},"schema_type":"default","schema_type_options":null,"pillar_content":false,"robots_default":true,"robots_noindex":false,"robots_noarchive":false,"robots_nosnippet":false,"robots_nofollow":false,"robots_noimageindex":false,"robots_noodp":false,"robots_notranslate":false,"robots_max_snippet":"-1","robots_max_videopreview":"-1","robots_max_imagepreview":"large","priority":null,"frequency":"default","local_seo":null,"seo_analyzer_scan_date":null,"breadcrumb_settings":null,"limit_modified_date":false,"open_ai":null,"ai":{"faqs":[],"keyPoints":[],"schemas":[],"titles":[],"descriptions":[],"socialPosts":{"email":{"subject":"","preview":"","content":""},"linkedin":[],"twitter":[],"facebook":[],"instagram":[]}},"created":"2026-09-21 07:16:40","updated":"2026-09-23 08:03:08","focus_keyword":null,"additional_keywords":null,"truseo_locale":null},"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/\" title=\"Local IT\">Local IT<\/a>\n<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\tHow Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure\n<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/"},{"label":"Local IT","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/"},{"label":"How Often Should You Really Be Updating Your IT Infrastructure","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/how-often-should-you-really-be-updating-your-it-infrastructure\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1041"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2674"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2674\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}