Is your technology is set up to help reach your business’ potential? IT is used for so many different business solutions that it can be hard to find the best solution for the way your business functions.
For most businesses, IT is a crucial part of day-to-day operations. Logically you would want to understand how it functions. An IT assessment gives you a clear look at how your organization’s IT functions, and how it can be improved as you go forward. That’s why it’s important that trained technicians who know how IT is used in your business workflow conduct the assessment.
Let’s look at an IT assessment and how it can help you improve your operations.
The Assessment
First, let’s take a look at core business functions IT is used for. This would typically include:
- • Human resources
- • Financial information
- • Hardware
- • Software
- • Specific needs of your business
- • Compliance
- • Risk management
- • Network Security.
Key Terms
Next, here are two terms that you need to understand:
- • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – This accounts for the total cost of a piece of technology; the initial cost, the cost of operation, the cost of maintenance, and the cost of any downtime related to the solution.
- • Return on Investment (ROI) – This accounts for total profits associated with the technology.
These two metrics will come into play frequently during the IT assessment.
Starting the Assessment
Asset Detail Report: The Asset Detail Report inventories all computers, servers, virtualized computing platforms, printers, switches, routers, and any hardware and software that you use. Included are the ages of all hardware systems, the names, and versions of all software, installation and endpoint security dates; quantity of data stored and location, IP addresses and more.
You may want to create a site diagram to map how data flows through your network and devices. The IT technicians at Quikteks can assist you with this.
IT SWOT Analysis: This is an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats affecting your IT network.
First, technicians will identify factors that are favorable or unfavorable to the network and infrastructure health of your IT, including security.
Next, the techs will use the SWOT results to recommend network security improvements. This would include suggestions of what types of investments to make to reduce risk, promote rapid and sustainable ROI, and maintain a positive TCO.
The techs will then create an actionable plan to help you make the right technology choices.
Risk Report: Finally, the assessment will create a risk report from evaluations of:
- • Network hardware
- • Security configuration
- • Servers
- • VPN/Remote Access
- • Websites, domain names, and hosting provider
- • ISP
- • Phone System
- • Email, messaging and conferencing
- • Computers, mobile devices, tablets
- • Cabling
- • Printers
- • Software and mobile apps
- • Procedures, policies
- • Technology vendors
This report will identify domain controllers and online statuses, list users in Active Directory, a user’s last login, identify potential security issues, and provide vulnerabilities on the network. With this report, you should have a good working understanding of your organization’s IT infrastructure and networking and their relationship to your team’s productivity.
For more information about an IT assessment, or to schedule one, call Quikteks today at (973) 882-4644. We can help.