Essential Guides
The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Your Business IT From Load Shedding
Published on August 13, 2025
For any South African business, load shedding has become a harsh reality. It's more than just an inconvenience; it's a direct threat to your productivity, your hardware, and your bottom line. Simply hoping for the best is not a viable strategy. This guide will walk you through the essential, practical steps to protect your business's technology and maintain continuity when the power goes out.
Understand the Risks: It's More Than Just Downtime
The immediate loss of productivity is obvious, but the hidden dangers are often more costly. Abrupt shutdowns can lead to data corruption, wiping out unsaved work or even damaging entire databases. Furthermore, the power surge when electricity returns can cause permanent damage to sensitive electronic components in your computers, servers, and routers, leading to expensive repairs and replacements.
The Non-Negotiable First Step: Get a UPS
An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is your single most important defence. It's a battery backup that instantly kicks in when the power cuts. Your absolute priority should be to connect your most critical devices to a UPS. This includes your Wi-Fi router and fibre box (to keep your internet on) and your primary computer, allowing you to save your work and shut down safely. Learn more about our professional load shedding solutions.
"In South Africa, a business continuity plan isn't a luxury; it's a load shedding plan."
Choose the Right Size UPS
Not all UPS devices are created equal. Their capacity is measured in Volt-Amps (VA). A small 650VA UPS is perfect for a Wi-Fi router and fibre box, keeping them running for hours. For a desktop PC and a monitor, you'll need a larger unit, typically 1200VA or higher, to give you enough time (10-20 minutes) to save your work and shut down properly. Trying to run a powerful PC on a small UPS will result in it shutting down immediately.
Use High-Quality Surge Protectors
A UPS protects the devices plugged into it, but what about everything else? The power surge when electricity returns (in-rush current) can be just as damaging. Ensure all your other office electronics, like printers, scanners, and phone chargers, are plugged into a high-quality surge protector power strip, not directly into the wall.
Need an Expert Assessment?
If you're unsure what your business needs, we can help. We provide professional assessments and installation of the right load shedding solutions for your specific setup.
Get a Load Shedding Quote