Are you encountering hiccups in your processes that you know you could avoid with the right infrastructure in place? Then you are in dire need of a technology audit.
Organizations of all types and sizes depend on technology to carry out their day-to-day functions and help them meet their short- and long-term goals and objectives. But technology changes quickly, and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with the latest innovations as you’re dealing with the many other core concerns of running a successful business.
That’s where a technology audit comes in. Performing one can help you determine where there are gaps and what you need to do to fix them.
What Is a Technology Audit?
A technology audit is a critical part of your IT strategy. It involves a thorough assessment and examination of your systems, software, hardware, and additional tools and technologies. During this review, you should take a close look at:
- The current state of your technology infrastructure
- Available updates or new versions of your technologies
- Potential tech uses that could benefit your business
- Technology-related issues your employees are encountering regularly
- The reliability of your tools, networks, and systems
- Cybersecurity and vulnerabilities in your technology
- Legal risks and concerns
- Inefficiencies
- Scalability of your infrastructure
Do You Need to Perform an Audit?
How can you know if you need a technology audit or not? Here are some of the signals that indicate it’s high time to do so.
You Haven’t Taken Stock of Your Technology in a Long Time
When was the last time you took a close look at the technology you have in place at your organization? Have you ever performed a rigorous audit? Unless you’re a brand-new company, it’s absolutely critical that you perform audits regularly.
Your IT Team Is Bogged Down with Issues that Need Fixing
If your IT team is constantly dealing with problems, it’s pretty clear that you need to do something about it. After all, if they’re working around the clock to resolve these issues, then it’s not only bound to get expensive for you, but it also means they’re not able to work on implementing innovations and making your technology infrastructure better.
Employees Are Complaining
Are employees frequently dealing with the same issues over and over again — whether it’s a network that’s always down or a program that’s constantly buggy? It’s natural for them to get frustrated and expect you to resolve these issues, sooner rather than later.
Your Company Is Growing Quickly, and Your Technology Isn’t Keeping Up
As your business grows, your technology needs will inevitably change with the expansion. For example, you could well need new cloud storage or systems that accommodate additional users. Make sure all your technologies support your goals and transformation.
You’re Afraid of Using New Technologies
It’s natural to have some apprehension about using tools you’ve never encountered. You might be worried about not knowing how to maximize their potential or that they will disrupt your business. But technology is central to your organization’s success, and if you fail to embrace the latest innovations, then you could risk being left behind by competitors who are using them.
You’ve Encountered Security Threats or Breaches
This is one of the most important reasons why you need to conduct a technology audit. If you’ve already encountered cybersecurity issues, then you’ve probably suffered damages from them — and those damages can leave a lasting impact. But even if you haven’t had these problems, you should take strides to protect your technology and your entire business. And that starts with a comprehensive audit to identify gaps and vulnerabilities.
How to Conduct a Successful Audit
Determine the Scope and Objectives
Before you start conducting the audit, decide on your goals for it. Are there particular systems that you want to prioritize? Are there vulnerabilities that need addressing immediately? Are you wondering about the updates you should make? Whatever your objectives are, make sure you have them clearly defined from the beginning.
You should also clarify the scope of the audit. This is important so you know what you’re getting into, as well as how long you should expect the process to take.
Perform an Evaluation
After you’ve defined the scope and objectives, you should perform a thorough evaluation of your infrastructure. During this phase, you should collect data, including employee input, IT department concerns and advice, statistics on usage and downtime, and more.
Hire a Third Party
You and your employees could be too close to the systems you use on a regular basis to form objective opinions about them. This is why many companies elect to outsource technology auditing services to professionals outside of the organization. Not only will they be able to form an unbiased opinion, but they are specifically trained and equipped with the skills to conduct these reviews.
Ask Employees About Their Needs
Your employees are the ones who use this technology, so it’s critical to get their voice. What concerns do they have? What would they like to see? Create a survey or similar means of collecting this data so you can get a sense of what they want and need in a solid technological infrastructure.
Do It Regularly
While the frequency with which you perform a technology audit will depend on several factors, including the size of your organization, the age of your systems, and more, one thing is clear: you can’t just do it once and call it a day. Conduct routine audits to ensure that your technology is reliable and up to date. What’s working? What’s not? What could be doing even better? A technology audit will give you the answers to these and other pressing business questions and concerns.
Does your business need a comprehensive technology audit? BairesDev can help you with all your IT needs, whether you need a thorough review of your current systems or a complete overhaul. Learn more by contacting us today.
