Get Started Today! 217-475-0226
Our mission is to help businesses like yours increase productivity and get more out of the technology you invest in.
We specialize in solutions that safeguard and protect your data and keep operations running smoothly.
Premium IT Services
Intelligent remote monitoring, proactive maintenance, and behind-the-scenes remote support.
Network Security
Protect your business from threats like malware, viruses, phishing attacks, hackers and other threads.
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Ensure peace-of-mind in any situation with the most complete data backup solution available.
Cloud Hosting Solutions
Reduce infrastructure costs, collaborate, and get more done with our unique cloud solutions.
When you just want IT to work!
There are a lot of computer shops out there that you can call up to fix an issue or install a piece of equipment. They might be able to get you out of crisis mode, but they aren’t looking at the full picture.
At Decatur Computers Inc., we understand business. We consult. We provide solutions to solve everyday challenges. We just happen to fix computers as well.
We believe (and have proven) that if you proactively manage technology, run maintenance religiously, and monitor a business network, everyday issues and downtime will be greatly reduced.
This is what makes us different than your typical tech support company. Sure, we can fix computer issues when you have them, but our specialty is preventing them in the first place.
Are you looking for a partner you can trust your IT with? Sign up for a FREE IT Assessment to get started today.
What Our Clients Say
This past year I have been planning my wedding, and I have a ton of spreadsheets and documents on my computer pertaining to the “big day”. I saved everything on an external hard drive just in case. One day I went to get one of the documents off of the hard drive and of course there were no documents in the file. My computer is very old so I have worried about it crashing. I have no clue where to take it to find out what went wrong. I was telling my cousin Steve Turner about it and he suggested Decatur Computers. I took it in, I was only there for about 10 minutes, they had great customer service, said that they would call me in a few days to let me know what they were able to do. I got a call that week, they not only retrieved everything on the hard drive but they also increased the speed of my computer so we were able to wait a bit longer to buy a new one. I would definitely recommend anyone to Decatur computers.
"These guys do a great job! I took my computer in to be updated and they not only did that but they got rid of all the bugs and viruses and it runs much faster. Then when I got home with the upgrade my printer wouldn’t connect. I called them up and they connected to my computer from their location and within half hour they had me back in service! It was also kind of funny watching them move the mouse and different things going on the screen while I was sitting here not moving a thing. :)"
Decatur Computers has given us excellent service in our computer needs. The staff provides professional, immediate service. A telephone call to them gets immediate help with any of the needs we have had with our current system. We are most happy to have them available, and the prices have been right!
“Decatur Computers has always provided prompt, efficient and affordable computer service at our home as well as at our place of business. We have also purchased several new computer systems from them and have been very pleased with the products they recommended for purchase. The technicians are always courteous. Any technical issues or problems we have had, they have addressed quickly to ensure that we had minimal down time if any at all. I would highly recommend Decatur Computers to anyone whether it be for residential or business services.”
“I run two small companies and have relied on Decatur Computers for over 7 years. The staff is very professional. One business runs a POS system the other data management . They are fantastic with both. There has never been a problem they cannot fix, even though both systems are very different. I would strongly recommend them to anyone for whatever they need.”
“I have worked with Decatur Computers for over 10 years. I have always had great service and fair pricing. Now that I have my own home based business I am looking forward to the continued relationship. The staff is always courteous whether it is on the phone, in shop or off site. I know that I can count on them to fix my problem or answer my question.”
With today’s technology advancing so fast it is nice to know there is a one stop shop for all technology problems. I personally have gained a lot of knowledge and had the best assistance with all my computer and software issues I have encountered. I would highly recommend Decatur Computers for anyone’s personal and business needs. As I always say ‘Why try to fix your own computer when that is what Decatur Computers does'”
Decatur computer and their staff go above and beyond to serve their customers. Mathew was very friendly and informative through the repair process. I received emails through the entire process updating me on the progress of my repair. I would highly recommend Decatur computer to anyone i know for repairs or upgrades. Thanks again to Mathew his great customer service and hard work.
Latest Blogs
Businesses often provide Wi-Fi connectivity to not just their staff, but just about anyone who visits the office. This creates challenges in regards to security and reliability, however. Visitors will often take up bandwidth that would otherwise be allocated to employees, potentially slowing down their connection and getting in the way of essential processes; and that’s not even mentioning the security ramifications of opening your network to anyone who wants to use it.
There are certain methods you can use to minimize the impact of this. For example, on the security front, you might use a separate and encrypted Wi-Fi connection for your guests so that they cannot accidentally infect your network with malware or other threats. This also lets you give priority of the network to your employees to ensure that they can get their jobs done with minimal disruption.
If your router supports it, you can also set it up so that the router itself prioritizes bandwidth allocated to certain applications over others, further separating the processes of your company from those used by your guests.
One of the best ways that you can increase the speed of your Wi-Fi connection is to cut out some of the factors that slow it down. You might be tempted to hide your router in a desk cabinet or closet somewhere just to keep it out of the way and out of sight, but this can diminish its connectivity. Crowded areas and objects can also interfere with the signal. Some of the more common examples include electronic devices, appliances, building materials, and radio waves. If you position your equipment in an open, centralized space, you can minimize this interference.
The simplest solution to improve your Wi-Fi network’s connection is to increase the signal through the implementation of additional or more powerful hardware. External antennas, range extenders, and mesh networking can all be used in this fashion to increase your signal strength.
If you want some help with improving your network connection, don’t keep struggling with it; give us a call and let us help you out! To learn more, contact us at 217-475-0226.
This data leak affected users of Microsoft’s Power Apps, which is a software used by many companies and organizations to share data. Power Apps is used by big-name organizations and agencies like American Airlines, Maryland’s health department, and New York’s Metropolitan Transport Authority. This data leak was discovered by cybersecurity researchers at UpGuard. After identifying that the data leak was a potential security issue, UpGuard notified Microsoft about it.
Thankfully, the issue was promptly resolved, but while the data leak was active, sensitive information like names, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, dates of birth, vaccination records, demographic information, and more was left unsecured. While there is no indication that this information was accessed in any improper way, the fact remains that it was unsecured for an extended period of time and, therefore, vulnerable to attack.
The most unbelievable part of this whole issue is that Microsoft claims that the application was working as intended, which means that the default settings for the software were configured in such a way that this private or sensitive data were unsecured. Microsoft has adjusted the default settings so that there is greater privacy, but they have yet to comment on why it was such a problem in the first place.
You can never be too careful when it comes to your business’ sensitive information, as even the solutions that you believe are properly secured could eventually create a data leak if improperly configured. A security audit might be an effective way to identify these issues, but the fact of the matter is that nobody will find a leak they are not actively looking for, hence why this particular leak occurred and went undetected for so long. People simply had no reason to look for it at first.
Decatur Computers Inc. wants to help your business ensure that all of the tools you use are not putting your sensitive information at odds or at risk. We can monitor your network for inconsistencies and make sure your solutions are properly configured right from the implementation step.
To learn more, contact us at 217-475-0226.
You might wonder what the difference is between Windows 8 and 8.1, and the scope of these differences might surprise you. Windows 8 released in 2012 with the intention of being used on all kinds of devices, including smartphones, laptops, and desktops. Unfortunately, this design philosophy led to many users becoming confused about the interface and its features, and many users just kept to old reliable Windows 7. Microsoft eventually took the hint and released Windows 8.1, a massive update that brought back many features that had been staples of the Windows operating system for years, including the Start menu.
With 8.1’s release, Microsoft took the opportunity to “replace” Windows 8 and prematurely cut off support for Windows 8 (at least, prematurely in regards to the usual update cycle for Windows operating systems). With Windows 10’s release, Microsoft offered a free upgrade to users of Windows 8 and 8.1, so you can imagine that many users took advantage of this opportunity—so much that only about 3.5 percent of the current Windows user base still uses 8.1. This is probably why you might not be aware of 8.1’s end-of-life event, especially when you consider how small this install base is compared to previous end-of-life events for major operating systems, like Windows XP and Windows 7.
If you currently use Windows 8.1, then you should at least start to consider upgrading away from the operating system entirely, at least to Windows 10. However, if you would rather wait until Windows 11 launches, and you have the hardware to run it, that is certainly a viable option as well. Either way, the hard truth of the matter is that if you don’t take action soon, you will be putting your company at risk for no good reason, as you have had the adequate time to make the change before 8.1’s end-of-life event.
Each new version of Windows operating systems comes with modern conveniences that coincide with what businesses need, as well as modern protections against the threats that want to drag them down. If you don’t regularly update your operating system, you cannot take advantage of these features. Furthermore, you’re just putting your business at risk for no good reason, so it’s of critical importance that you work toward upgrading away from Windows 8.1 as soon as possible.
If you need help with this process, we at Decatur Computers Inc. can offer support every step of the way, whether you need assistance with installing new operating systems, upgrading away from legacy applications, or the procurement of new hardware for your new solutions. To learn more, reach out to us at 217-475-0226.
Latest Blog
Wi-Fi is a major part of any modern office, and when it is absent, people become painfully aware of just how much of a luxury it is. Let’s discuss some strategies you can implement to optimize the speed of your business’ wireless connection.
Latest News
