TECH TOOLBELT
MARCH 2026
Spring Clean Your Tech
March Theme: Refresh Your Digital Tools
Spring is when we clear out the shop, organize the trailer, and get equipment ready for the busy season. Your devices deserve the same attention. Phones, laptops, and tablets collect clutter over time—unused apps, outdated software, duplicate photos, and old downloads that slow performance and create security risks. March is the perfect time to clean house digitally so your tech works as hard as you do.
UPDATE YOUR DEVICES
Outdated software and security updates are more than an inconvenience—it’s a security risk:
- System Updates: Company computers have managed system updates. BUT those updates are unable to deploy, if your device is regularly “offline”. Whether powered down/off, or simply not connected to the internet. Make it a habit, if you have a company laptop, to bring it into the office with you each time. This helps prevent being locked out of your computer at a jobsite due to missing security checkpoints.
- Update apps regularly: If you see or receive a notification on Outlook or a regularly used application to “Update” and have been having issues out of the blue. The older application version is likely the issue. Updates are typically sent out to resolve known glitches or vulnerabilities.
- Restart devices after updates: Installing an update is simply not enough. Many times those updates do not fully execute unless your computer is restarted. Restarting your computer clears the “short-term” memory on the computer. Think of restarting your computer, like getting 8-hours of sleep, reaction and mental processing are better.
CLEAR OUT DIGITAL CLUTTER
Unused files take up space and slow things down:
- Ask to have old or unused applications removed: If there are applications you do not or no longer use, send in an IT request to have them removed.
- Examples include: Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft News, Microsoft Weather, Adobe Acrobat Pro XI
- Clean out downloads folder: Old PDFs, attachments, and installers pile up fast. Make it a habit to go through once a month and move files that need to be retained to their proper save location and to delete everything else.
- Empty the recycling bin/trash: Make it a habit to once a month empty your Recycling Bin on your Computer’s Desktop to completely free up computer storage space of files that are no longer needed.
Organize and secure important files
A clean system is a secure system—and that starts with saving files in the right place:
- DO NOT save files to your Desktop or Downloads Folder: These locations are considered “local storage” and quickly become easily cluttered and are not approved for long-term storage. Files saved to these locations are more likely to be lost, missed in backups, accidently deleted, or inaccessible to other team members in the event an employee is absent.
- Use and follow established server folder structure: Save all work-related documents in the designated department or project folders on the secure server—where they are properly backed up, protected, and organized so the right team members can access them without wasting time searching.
- Use clear consistent file names: Avoid vague titles or file names like “Document 1” or “Scan”. Name files clearly and concisely based on Project, Date, and Content. If a specific file or file type has an established naming protocol use it.
Quick Builder’s Spring tech Checklist
- Install all pending device and app updates
- Delete unused apps and old downloads
- Clean up old files, photos, duplicates, etc.
- Utilize appropriate folders and folder structures to save documents
Bottom line: Just like maintaining equipment on the jobsite, maintaining your devices prevents breakdowns and security problems. A little time spent cleaning up and updating now will keep your tech running efficiently through the busy season ahead.
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