Shorter days, storms and the occasional power flicker can make it harder to keep working as usual. A little preparation now can help you stay connected, keep calls moving and avoid last-minute surprises.

Here are practical winter IT tips for small businesses and home workers across Lincolnshire. No complicated checklist, just useful things you can check at your own pace.

1. Prepare your essential equipment for winter

Start by thinking about the technology you rely on every day. That might include your laptop, broadband router, phone system, payment equipment or the computer you use to access business records.

Power flickers and surges can interrupt work and affect connected equipment. Consider using suitable surge protection for valuable devices. Check that the equipment is rated for the job, and avoid overloading sockets or extension leads. If you’re unsure about your electrical setup, speak to a qualified electrician.

A laptop with a charged battery can keep you working through a brief interruption. Your router and other essential equipment may also need backup power. A suitable uninterruptible power supply, often called a UPS, can help keep key devices running during a short power cut. Check which devices it can support and for how long, and test it before you need it.

Keep chargers where you can find them, and make sure your team knows which equipment should be shut down first if power becomes unreliable. If your broadband regularly drops when storms arrive, don’t assume you have to put up with it. Make a note of when it happens and ask your provider or IT support team to investigate.

2. Give your business broadband and Wi-Fi a quick check

Your connection can feel fine on a quiet day, then struggle when several people are on video calls, using cloud software or sharing large files. A few simple checks can help you spot issues before they disrupt a busy working day.

• Check the speed you receive, Compare a speed test with the package you’re paying for. Try it at different times of day, and note whether you’re testing over Wi-Fi or a wired connection.
• Check where Wi-Fi reaches, Walk around the areas where you actually work. Pay attention to rooms used for calls, customer service, stock or meetings.
• Think about busy periods, Notice whether video calls or cloud applications become less reliable when several devices are connected.
• Know your backup option, Decide what you’ll do if your main connection goes down, such as using a mobile hotspot where coverage allows.

If your connection doesn’t meet your needs, reviewing your business broadband options could help you find a more suitable setup. EB IT Support provides broadband from £37.99 per month. We can help you talk through the choices in plain English, including connectivity for rural areas.

3. Check your phone system and call plan

If you use internet-based phones, it’s worth checking that your team knows what to do if the office loses power or broadband. Test a few everyday tasks: making and receiving calls, transferring a call, checking voicemail and using any call-forwarding arrangements you rely on.

Then ask a practical question: if your office connection stops working, where should important calls go? Make sure the people who need to know understand the plan, and check that any call routing works as expected.

A VoIP phone system for your business can make business calls more flexible. EB IT Support’s VoIP phone systems start from £24 per month. If you’re already using a system, we can help you review how it fits your working arrangements and what options may be available.

4. Make sure you can work away from the office

Snow, illness or a building issue can sometimes mean working from home at short notice. You don’t need a complicated remote-working plan, but it helps to check the basics before you need them.

Make sure the people who may need to work remotely can access the files and applications they use. Check that their laptop, charger and login details are ready, and confirm that they know how to contact colleagues if your usual tools are unavailable. If you use extra sign-in security, such as a code sent to your phone, make sure staff can access it when they’re away from the office.

It’s also useful to decide which tasks can continue remotely and which need someone on site. A short, clear plan can save time when conditions change.

If a technical problem is getting in the way, our remote IT support starts from £55 per hour. We also provide on-site support from £79.99 per hour. For businesses that would like ongoing monitoring, maintenance and help, managed IT services start from £295 per month.

5. Give your security and accounts a pre-January review

November can be a handy time to review who has access to your business systems. You don’t need to make every change in one sitting. Start with the accounts that matter most, such as email, finance tools and administrator accounts.

• Review passwords, Make sure important accounts have strong, unique passwords. A password manager can help you keep track of them.
• Turn on two-step verification, Where available, this adds another check when someone signs in.
• Remove unused access: Close old accounts and remove access that people no longer need.
• Clear out unused software: Remove programmes and subscriptions your business no longer uses, especially if they are no longer receiving updates.

The UK National Cyber Security Centre has practical guidance for small businesses preparing for and responding to cyber incidents. If you’d like help reviewing your setup, we can talk it through without jargon.

6. Check that your backups can be restored

A backup is most useful when you can recover the files you need. If your business relies on backed-up documents, customer records or other important information, check that you know how to restore them.

Try restoring a non-critical sample file first, and make sure you know who is responsible for the process. Keep a note of where the backup is stored and who can access it. If you’re not sure whether your current arrangement is working as expected, ask for help before you need to recover something important.

The NCSC’s small business advice on response and recovery includes preparing for incidents and recovery. We can also help you review your wider setup as part of an IT health check.

Meet us at Business & Bytes in Boston

If you’d like to discuss your winter technology plans in person, join us at Business & Bytes on Tuesday 3 November 2026, from 10am to 12pm.

The event is at Sack Store Ltd, Spalding Road, Boston, PE21 8EA. It’s free to attend, but spaces are limited and booking is required. Book your place through Eventbrite.

Need a hand getting ready?

You don’t have to work through every check alone. EB IT Support helps businesses and home workers across Boston and Lincolnshire with broadband, phones, remote support and wider IT needs. We’ll explain your options in plain English and help you focus on what matters to your work.

You can get free drop-in technology advice at Boston Enterprise Centre, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Please note that all office visits must be pre-booked. Call 01205 627240 or email [email protected] before travelling to arrange your visit.

Our office phone line is available for calls Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and Saturdays, 10am–1pm. During business hours, we aim to respond to enquiries within three hours. Get in touch when you’re ready, and we’ll help you work out the next step.