News

Power Cuts and Surges: 7 Ways to Protect Your Office IT Equipment

Power cuts, voltage dips and lightning-season surges are a normal part of running an office in many parts of Bhutan. Each one can interrupt work, corrupt files, or slowly wear out switches, servers and computers. The good news is that a few practical steps can protect your equipment and keep your network running more smoothly. Here are seven things to plan.

1. Know what must stay on

Start by listing the equipment that matters most when the power goes: your internet router, core network switch, any server or storage device, CCTV recorder, and the computers used for billing or critical work. Not everything needs backup power, so focus on what keeps your business running and your data safe.

2. Use a UPS for critical equipment

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) gives you clean power during short cuts and enough time to save work and shut down safely during longer ones. Size it for the real load of the devices connected to it, and check how many minutes of runtime it actually gives, not just its rating on paper.

3. Add proper surge protection

Surges can travel through power lines and even network or telephone cables. Use quality surge protectors for equipment that is not on a UPS, and consider protection for incoming lines and outdoor cable runs such as those feeding cameras or other buildings. A cheap multi-plug strip is not the same as a surge protector.

4. Check earthing and wiring

Good protection depends on good earthing. Loose sockets, overloaded extension boards and poor earthing reduce the value of any UPS or surge protector. Ask a qualified electrician to check the circuits that feed your network cabinet and server area, and avoid sharing them with heaters or heavy appliances.

5. Plan safe shutdowns

When a UPS battery runs low, equipment should shut down cleanly instead of crashing. Many UPS units can signal servers and storage devices to shut down automatically. Make sure this is set up and tested, and that devices restart in the right order when power returns.

6. Maintain batteries and keep equipment cool

UPS batteries wear out over time, and heat shortens their life even more. Test your UPS periodically, replace batteries when runtime drops, and keep network cabinets ventilated and free of dust. A hot, cramped cupboard is one of the most common reasons equipment fails early.

7. Protect your data as well as your hardware

Even with good power protection, sudden failures can still happen. Keep regular, tested backups of important files and systems, with at least one copy stored away from the office. That way, a bad power event becomes an inconvenience rather than a loss.

Need help protecting your office network?

eDruk Private Limited has been supporting organisations in Bhutan with networking, infrastructure and technical consultation since 2004. If you would like advice on power protection, network cabinets or backup planning for your office, school or business, we are happy to help.

Email: edruk@edruk.com.bt
Phone: +975 2 332277
Website: www.edruk.com.bt

News

Business Email and Domain Names: 7 Things to Get Right for Your Organisation

Your email address is often the first thing a customer, partner or tender committee sees from your organisation. An address on your own domain looks professional, but it only works well when the domain, mailboxes and security settings are planned and looked after. Here are seven things Bhutanese businesses, schools and offices should get right.

1. Register the domain in the organisation’s name

Domains are sometimes registered by a former staff member, a relative or a one-time web designer. When that person leaves, renewing or changing settings becomes difficult. Make sure the domain is registered to the organisation, that renewal reminders go to a shared official address, and that more than one responsible person knows where the account is managed.

2. Never let the renewal lapse

An expired domain can take down your website and your email at the same time, and messages sent to you in that period may be lost. Note the expiry date in your calendar, keep payment details current, and consider renewing for more than one year where your registrar allows it.

3. Choose a mail service that fits how you work

Options range from hosted business email services to mail included with your web hosting. Think about how many mailboxes you need, how much storage each person uses, whether staff work mostly on phones, and whether you need shared calendars or file storage. The cheapest option is not always the right one if it struggles with spam or has limited support.

4. Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records

These three DNS records help receiving mail servers confirm that messages really come from you. Without them, your quotations and invoices are more likely to land in spam folders, and it is easier for someone to send fake emails that appear to come from your domain. They should be checked again whenever you change mail providers or add a new system that sends email for you, such as a website contact form or billing software.

5. Use role-based addresses for shared work

Addresses like info@, accounts@ or support@ keep enquiries flowing even when staff change or go on leave. Route them to the right people, and avoid publishing personal addresses for functions that belong to the whole team.

6. Protect every mailbox

Email accounts are a common way into an organisation. Use strong, unique passwords, turn on two-step verification where the service supports it, and remove access promptly when someone leaves. Train staff to check the sender’s address carefully before acting on payment requests or links.

7. Keep your DNS records documented

Your domain’s DNS settings control both the website and email. Keep a simple record of what each entry does and who changed it last. This makes moving to a new host, adding a subdomain or troubleshooting delivery problems much quicker and less risky.

How eDruk can help

Since 2004, eDruk Private Limited has supported organisations in Bhutan with websites, software, networking and technical consultation. If you want help reviewing your domain, setting up business email or checking that your mail is configured correctly, we are happy to talk it through with you.

Email edruk@edruk.com.bt, call +975 2 332277, or visit www.edruk.com.bt.

News

Cameras, Gates and Smart Devices: 7 Steps to Keep Connected Equipment Secure

Security cameras, automatic gates, door controllers, network printers and smart sensors make offices, schools and hotels easier to run. But every one of these devices is a small computer connected to your network. If it is set up carelessly, it can become the easiest way for someone to reach your files, watch your premises or switch off a system you depend on. Here are seven practical steps to keep connected devices working for you, not against you.

1. Know what is connected

Start with a simple list: every camera, recorder, gate or door controller, printer, access point and sensor, with its location, model and who looks after it. Many organisations discover forgotten devices this way, such as an old recorder or a test camera still plugged in. You cannot protect what you do not know about.

2. Change default passwords on day one

Many devices leave the factory with a standard username and password that are published in manuals online. Change them before the device goes into service, use a different strong password for each device or group of devices, and store them in a secure place that more than one trusted person can reach.

3. Keep devices on their own network segment

Cameras and automation controllers rarely need to talk to staff laptops or accounting systems. Placing them on a separate VLAN or network segment, with firewall rules that allow only the traffic they need, limits the damage if one device is compromised. It also stops heavy video traffic from slowing down everyday work.

4. Be careful with remote access

Viewing cameras or opening a gate from your phone is convenient, but opening ports on your router so a device can be reached from the internet is risky. Where remote access is needed, prefer a secure VPN or the manufacturer’s properly configured service, limit it to the people who really need it, and remove access when staff leave.

5. Update firmware regularly

Manufacturers release firmware updates to fix security weaknesses and bugs. Set a routine, for example every quarter, to check for updates on recorders, cameras, controllers and network equipment. Before updating anything that controls access, such as a gate or door, plan a time when a short interruption will not cause problems.

6. Protect power, storage and recordings

A camera system is only useful if the recorder is running and the footage is there when you need it. Use surge protection and, where it makes sense, a UPS for recorders and network switches. Decide how long recordings should be kept, check storage health, and make sure only authorised people can view or export footage.

7. Check and test, not just install

Once a month, take a few minutes to confirm that every camera is recording, the time and date are correct, gates and doors respond properly, and no unknown devices have appeared on the network. Keep a short log of what you checked and any changes made. Small, regular checks catch problems long before an incident does.

Bringing it together

Connected devices should make your premises safer and your operations smoother. With a clear inventory, strong passwords, a separated network, careful remote access and regular checks, they can do exactly that without opening new doors to risk.

Talk to eDruk

eDruk Private Limited has been working in software and ICT in Bhutan since 2004, including networking, IoT and automation, and technical consultation. If you would like help reviewing how your cameras, gates and other connected devices are set up, or planning a new installation, get in touch:

• Email: edruk@edruk.com.bt
• Phone: +975 2 332277
• Website: https://www.edruk.com.bt