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Start out the year right for your restaurant POS system. Let’s tackle some of the most common and crucial mistakes that retail business owners make in regard to some very simple and basic configuration aspects of the computer system. Some of these mistakes can cost restaurant owners hundreds or thousands of dollars in wasted time and money. And even worse… it can frustrate your customers and employees.

Whether you’re the one who’s going to do the configuration or not, or [getting somebody else to do it for you] — you better make sure that everything is done properly for your own sake.

Don’t let me give you the wrong message. I don’t always recommend configuring your own computer system! I recommend letting a professional do it for you. But I know some of you will do it yourself no matter what I say. So this is for those that insist on doing your own computer installations and for everyone else to double check and make sure everything was done properly. This could help you avoid some major problems and save hours of precious time.

So here’s your retail POS system configuration checklist for a Windows network:

1) Using a UPS
One of the main causes of your electronic component failure is due to fluctuations in electricity (up and down). A good UPS can solve this problem by providing clean power. I recommend that you at least put a good UPS on your server. And it’s a good idea to use them on all your workstations too.

2) Plug All Your Cables Into the UPS
Make sure all cables that power your computer and network are plugged into your UPS. It’s also important to make sure cables that can carry electrical charges are plugged into a surge protector or UPS. For example, the phone line for your modem can easily heat up and fry your computer if you don’t plug it into a surge protector. So make sure your modem line, network cables, and power cords are all plugged in properly.

3) Tightening Up Security
At the very least, I suggest locking down your server with a password on all Windows accounts so your employees and hackers have more difficulty messing with your server.

4) Intalling and Configuring Security Tools Like An Antivirus Software and AntiSpyware Software
It’s also very important to configure that software to update automatically every day, so you don’t forget.

5) Limiting Employee Internet Access
Employees that surf the internet can cause more problems than anything. Anti-virus and anti-spyware software does help but if an employee unwittingly downloads the wrong program or accepts the wrong message, it can cause some serious problems to your system. You can avoid this by disabling internet browsing on your computers. Or you could password protect internet access.

For a restaurant, this is very important! In order to protect secured files from evil hands, limiting employee internet access is a must. A retail business owner has to enforce rules to protect his business as well as his profit. Otherwise, what good will a restaurant POS system do if it’s run by a misbahaved or ignorant personnel.

6) Configure Your Back Up To Run Every Night
As well proven in many situations, it’s best to configure your back up to run after hours automatically. Don’t forget you still need to remember to change your back up device (like tapes) every day.

7) Test Your Backup By Restoring Files Once A Month
I have talked to a lot of people who think they have a good back up plan for restoring damaged files. But when they try to restore they find it hasn’t been working. That’s why it is very important to test your back up at least once a month by restoring files so you would know that it your back up is working as it’s supposed to be. By the way, you should restore to an alternate file location so you don’t mess up your existing software.

Avoid having regrest by forgetting to do these simple checklist. It’s not a waste of time and it’s not just for your business, employees and customers but for your own sake as well.

With over 20 years of restaruant experience, the author and Vice President of Customer Relations at POS-for-Restaurants.com, helps you use your technology to be more efficient and more profitable.