Tech-Planning for the New Year!
While it’s barely October, the leaves have begun to change colours with fall, eventually being replaced by winter snow. At this time, people are readying themselves for the shift by swapping out their tires, insulating windows, finding their snow shovels and getting their winter gear out of storage.
Similarly, during these next few months, organizations can ready themselves for 2024 by conducting a year-end technology infrastructure review, a crucial step to ensuring that your IT systems are running efficiently, securely, and in alignment with your business goals.
Some key components worth reviewing include:
Hardware Inventory
- List of all physical devices (servers, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, etc.).
- Age, specifications, and condition of each device.
- Any hardware upgrades or replacements planned for the upcoming year.
Software Inventory
- List of all software applications and licenses.
- Versions and update status for each software.
- Any upcoming software renewals or upgrades.
- Are you actually using what you paid for?
Network Architecture
- Network layout diagram, including switches, routers, firewalls, and other networking equipment.
- Any planned changes or upgrades to the network infrastructure.
Security Assessment
- Review of security protocols and policies.
- Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing results.
- Summary of any security incidents or breaches over the past year.
- Review of antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-phishing solutions.
- Analysis of employee training and awareness programs related to cybersecurity.
Data Backup & Recovery
- Assessment of backup systems and procedures.
- Confirmation that the 3-2-1 backup principle is being followed.
- Testing of backup and recovery processes.
Cloud Services & Virtualization
- Evaluation of current cloud services being used (if applicable) including providers, services used, software, and costs.
- Assessment of virtualization technologies and their impact on resource utilization.
Compliance & Regulations
- Confirmation of compliance with industry-specific regulations (i.e., GDPR, HIPAA, PCS etc.).
- Any upcoming changes in compliance requirements.
Performance Metrics
- Key performance indicators (KPIs) related to IT infrastructure performance.
- Data on uptime, response times, and system utilization.
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
- Review of disaster recovery plans and procedures (if applicable).
- Testing and validation of the continuity plans.
Future Technology Initiatives, Budget & Potential Savings
- Analysis of the IT budget for the past year.
- Comparison of actual spending against budgeted amounts.
- Recommendations for cost savings and/or investments in the upcoming year(s).
- Outline of planned technology projects or initiatives for the upcoming year(s).
- Justification for each initiative and its alignment with business objectives.
User Feedback & Issues
- Gather feedback from end-users regarding any recurring issues or pain points.
- Document any ongoing or unresolved IT-related problems.
With our simple technology check, you can identify areas for improvement, plan for upgrades or changes, and ensure that your IT environment is poised to support your organization’s goals in the coming year.
So, reach out to us for a no cost, no obligation assessment of any or all of the above topics, because there’s just no time like the present!
Carpe diem, right?
*Available until November 30, 2023.
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