Overseeing technology and IT services is a challenging task for businesses.
Companies want to focus on their core services, not the technology that enables it.
Managing technology often takes a back seat, unless there’s a problem.
How most companies gauge technology
✔️ We’re up and running
✔️ No alarms are going off
✔️ We have a backup
So, things are fine, right?
Well…that’s what most companies think as they’re cruising along. But, with technology, it’s often the silent bells that you have to worry about and these often go unchecked.
With the dependency on computer systems and hosted solutions, it’s not enough to think things are going well. Businesses of all sizes should have an ongoing process for verifying all aspects of their company’s technology, rather than a “set it and forget it” mindset.
Benefits of having this process in place include forecasting and budgeting in advance for IT projects and eliminating last minute expenses.
Costly technology problems that are frequently overlooked
- The data backup isn’t being tested regularly
- Businesses have no idea of what they’re getting in terms of security for what they’re investing
- No ongoing process in place when it comes to technology planning and budgeting in a proactive way.
Cost Saving Considerations When Overseeing IT Services
Along with the executive team, your IT consultant or managed IT service provider should create and implement a strategic technology plan taking into account your company’s unique business goals, ongoing operational needs and security risks.
With the exception of planned system upgrades and required hardware replacements, less planning is typically done with technology, despite the company’s dependence on it. Consider how other areas of your business are handled in terms of planning and budgeting. A strategic technology plan will help to lower technology costs for the company.
Critical Technology Questions Most Companies Don’t Know to Ask
- When was our company’s backup last verified and tested?
- When a cyberattack occurs, what are the steps needed to recover from it quickly?
- What circumstances can negate or invalidate a claim with our cyber insurance policy?
What’s Included in a Strategic Technology Roadmap
A strategic technology plan includes projects upgrades, investments in new security tools, related labor, and a 12-18 month budget focused around the continuity of the company’s business operations.
The IT plan is based on your company’s individual key performance indicators (KPI’s), risk factors and a strong set of technology and cybersecurity industry standards.
This plan doesn’t sit on a shelf or become a file never to be seen again. It is a working tool that is modified as an organization scales, changes its operations or is subject to great cyber threats.
The technology roadmap serves as a guide and can make the difference when it comes to preventing and quickly recovering from IT problems or a cyberattack. As a result, it helps save money and time.
3 Technology Planning Questions to Ask
- What does your company’s IT strategic roadmap look like?
- How often do you review and revise it?
- Who should be involved in this IT planning process?
How to Implement a Technology Review Process
Businesses must having a clear understanding of the process used by their IT consultant to prevent tech problems and identify red flags so they don’t go undetected.
This is a process not a one-time evaluation.
A specific set of industry standards along with technology best practices should be used as a guide. A technology review process evaluates your company’s current technology infrastructure and processes and aligns them with these standards and practices.
Then, the status is reported upon during scheduled meetings to provide updates to the company’s executive team.
As a result, the overall IT strategy is adjusted to allow for things like new projects based on what is found during the alignment process and new risks that are present.
Conclusion
With the ongoing reliability of technology for all businesses, it’s critical for companies to have a clear understanding of what they have and don’t have so they can make educated decisions around investing in technology and IT services for better productivity, growth and overall security. It’s best not to assume things are “fine” without having a process to verify it. Just because IT services can seem tough to manage, it doesn’t have to be if your company has a strategic IT plan and a review process in place. Companies who implement a strategic technology roadmap will have greater control over technology expenses and have a clear understanding of its investment in IT and security.
