As an IT director, you know that managing and protecting your company’s computer systems is a critical task. But did you know that there are a number of great (free!) tools out there that can help make your job easier?
In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best free tools for IT directors. We will cover everything from malware protection to network monitoring to data backup and recovery. So, whether you are just starting out as an IT director or you have been in the role for years, be sure to check out this list!
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is a great tool for protecting your computer systems from malware. It is available in both free and paid versions. The free version may be sufficient for many users, but the paid app does offer more benefits.
While the free version runs a scan to check your drives for malware, the paid version will continuously monitor your drives in real time as well as provide URL filtering. The paid version costs $39.99 per year for one license or $79.99 per year to cover five devices.
In addition to Malwarebytes, you should also consider using a tool like Spybot Search & Destroy to scan for and remove spyware from your systems.
SolarWinds
SolarWinds is a comprehensive network monitoring tool that can be used to monitor both physical and virtual networks. SolarWindshas a free network performance monitor, but there are licensing options to fit your company’s needs.
This tiered licensing system may get costly for larger companies but their free downloads can work for smaller operations. As of this writing, it costs $19 per month, per technician, and $0.10 per device to get the most basic plan with SolarWinds.
The prices go all the way up to $89 per technician for the enterprise plan, which supports unlimited users, and $0.70 per device. SolarWinds also offers a number of other great tools, such as its Server & Application Monitor, which can be used to monitor server performance.
Acronis
Acronis is a great tool for backing up and recovering data. Acronis also offers a number of other great tools, such as its Disk Image tool, which can be used to create images of your hard drives. This tool offers a free 30-day trial for most of its features, but others, like their remote data management requires a license which can run between $49.99 to $149.99 depending on the subscription.
Clonezilla
Clonezilla is a great tool for cloning hard drives. This tool is free and open source. Clonezilla also offers a number of other great tools, such as its Partition Manager, which can be used to manage partitions on your hard drives.
Sysinternals Suite
The Sysinternals Suite is a great tool for diagnosing and repairing problems with your computer systems. Sysinternals Suite comes free with your Microsoft license. The suite includes a number of great tools, such as the Process Explorer, which can be used to monitor and manage processes running on your computer.
AccessChk
AccessChk is a great tool for checking the permissions on your files and folders. It is available free of charge from Microsoft. AccessChk can be used to check both local and network permissions, making it a great tool for IT directors.
Network Monitor
Network Monitor is a great tool for monitoring your network traffic. Network Monitor can be run on Windows systems. Network Monitor also offers a number of other great features, such as the ability to monitor multiple networks at the same time.
Autoruns
Autoruns is a great tool for managing the programs that start automatically when your computer starts. It is available free of charge from Microsoft. Autoruns can be used to disable unnecessary programs, making it a great tool for IT directors.
Task Manager
The Task Manager is a great tool for managing and monitoring your computer’s resources. It is native to your computer, so you won’t need to do anything to purchase or download it. In fact, you are likely very familiar with it already, but it’s worth a mention because it’s extremely powerful for basic IT processes. The Task Manager offers a number of other great features, such as the ability to view and kill processes, set priorities, and more.
As you can see, there are a number of excellent tools available for IT directors, plus some with upgrades that are well worth the cost. Be sure to check out all of the tools on this list to find the ones that best fit your needs. And if you know of any other great free tools for IT directors, be sure to let us know in the comments!
Need help with anything IT, cybersecurity, or communications? TAG Solutions can take that off your plate! We are an Albany, New York, managed service provider with the know-how to tackle even your most complicated business computer or phone challenges.
Contact us today or request a free network assessment to learn more about where your systems are vulnerable.