If you don’t have an IT plan in place, the start of the year is as good a time as any to get one in place.
Planning for IT allows you to remain productive and efficient, maintain vital cybersecurity and align your IT with business goals.
Hardware
Do you know how old your laptops and desktop computers are? We recommend replacing them every three years. This ensures that they can best cope with new applications, fit your business requirements, and handle the latest cybersecurity demands. Business-grade computers supplied by Net Primates also come with a three-year warranty, meaning that you have peace of mind that any repairs and replacements during this period will be carried out quickly.
Software
Is your software up to date? Does it cope with everything you need it to? Are you using it to its maximum capability? It’s worth periodically reviewing software to ensure it’s performing as you need it to.
Check if you need to update any software manually. Cloud-based software often updates automatically, but it’s worth checking. Software that isn’t up to date will not perform as well, and you may also be missing any additional security.
Have your business requirements stayed the same, or would different/additional software help? Other team members may have mentioned new software that is being used elsewhere, so exploring options could be worthwhile. You can also ask us—we can advise on the best software available to achieve your goals.
Last month we mentioned about exploring your software to make sure you’re using it to the max – just 30 minutes a week could help you make better use of what you already have.
Cybersecurity
Have you stayed on top of cybersecurity over the last year or is the worry of it keeping you up at night? Without layers of cybersecurity, alongside a well-trained team and a cyber resilience plan, you could be leaving your business open to a debilitating attack, which could have a lasting impact. Cybersecurity can seem confusing but that’s no reason to ignore it. Simple measures can be put in place to give you maximum protection and it’s not just down to you – use us to help. Not only can we put essential measures in place but we can also develop guidance to help train your team.
Budgeting
Too often IT decisions are put on hold because budget is not available. However, when IT is planned for it’s much easier to budget for. As an example, you could stagger purchases and use leasing arrangements to spread costs. By seeking our advice you may also find that there are better value options available which still fulfil business needs.
Business Changes and Challenges
Are you aware of any changes within the business that will impact IT requirements? For example, if you’re considering taking on new members of staff, plan ahead for IT provision so that they can hit the ground running using the right kit for the job. Also, is anyone leaving the business, such as a retiree? Make sure you have a plan in place for their departure so that all kit is returned and permissions revoked.
Whilst we can’t predict all the challenges that a business will face over the course of a year, we need to plan for what we do know about and keep an eye on external factors that could impact how business operates. The pandemic taught us to expect the unexpected and planning helps us be as prepared as possible.
The Future
What are your business aspirations for the coming year and beyond? Technology is having a massive impact on how businesses operate and staying ahead, as we mentioned last month, is essential for organisations that want to thrive. Whether you need to consider AI and/or Business Intelligence to drive forward, we can give you the advice and assistance you need to make it happen.
Plan for success
There is a lot to consider, but it shouldn’t be onerous. You know your core business, so why not leave us to handle your IT provision? We can advise on all of the above and help you forge ahead, whether you use us for regular IT support, one-off projects or as your Virtual Chief Technology Officer.
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