What do I do with this thing at the end of the day

The question comes up every so often about what users should do with their desktops at the end of the day. Do we shut down or logoff? Can we still logon remotely? Well the answer is here.

First of all, leaving your computer logged on overnight is the worst choice you can make. It is a security risk leaving your computer open to anyone to use when you are not around. Secondly, over time leaving your computer logged on creates performance problems for your PC. Logging off and shutting down your PC closes out programs and releases system memory to be used by other programs. If you don't log off, that memory does not get released, causing your PC to slow down over time.

Shutting down your PC is great for performance and security. If the computer is off, then there is no security risk. Shutting down the PC closes all programs refreshing system memory for new programs the next time you startup. The downside is if you shut down, the computer is not available to use remotely. Additionally, certain processes are scheduled to run after hours (antivirus scans, performance tuneups, backups, etc..). When the machine is off, these critical processes must run during the day, slowing you down, reducing your efficiency, and increasing your frustration.

Logging off gives you the benefits of shutting down (closing processes to release memory, reducing your security risk) and leaving your computer on (the ability to access remotely, and allowing key scans to happen off hours). This is the best of both worlds and is considered the best practice.

Considering some users get confused between the difference of the shutdown and the logoff, here is a trick that can help, Restart. This shuts down the PC and prepares it for logon. Keep in mind, this will only work for computers in a server/domain environment. Standalone desktop computers need to be logged off or shutdown. At a minimum, you can try to lock your screen. This will at least keep users from accessing your computer off hours when your not available. Just hold the windows key on your keyboard (bottom left next to the space bar) and the L key. This will lock the screen and require a user name and password to access the machine.

Remember, the worst choice is to leave your computer free and available off hours. The security risk of making your computer available to anyone that walks by far outweighs any convenience of having your machine ready to go when you arrive in the morning.