Information technology is the rule of the day. In today’s businesses data is king. Access to information effectively can make or break business deals across all industries. That is why planning for future technology needs is so important. When creating a strong IT services plan knowing where you are today with regard to technology is important. But so is knowing where you want to be in the future and what steps need to be taken to get you there.
IT Services: How to Get Started
There are many components to putting together an impactful IT services plan. Some of the biggest considerations are listed below:
- Understand Budget Constraints
- Identify Stakeholders
- Refine Business Goals
IT Services: Understand Budget Constraints
While you can create a services plan with all kinds of improvements like upgrading servers and workstations, improving networking infrastructure, and increasing bandwidth, doing all of those things takes money. If your plan isn’t within budget constraints, then it isn’t going to do your business any good. Knowing how much money is available for your IT needs, makes it easier to make an effective plan.
Identifying Stakeholders
It is important to involve those affected by the IT services plan development. If your plan only involves management, then the needs of line staff might be overlooked.
Refine Business Goals
Information technology needs should be aligned in such a way to help achieve the overall goals of the business.
Identify the Current State of Information Technology
The adage, “You can’t know where you’re going without knowing where you are.” is true for information technology. Taking stock of information technology you are currently using will provide you with insights into what purchases need to be made.
Below are some of the things to quantify:
- Vendor Information
- Internal Data Entry Processes
- Operations and Policy Details
- Regulatory Requirements
- Third-Party Information
- Data Retention Policies
- Customer Data
- Employee Data
- Backup Systems
- Network Infrastructure
- Server Details
Knowing the current capabilities of your technology will give you a guide to decisions regarding an IT services plan.
What Will Your Business Needs be in the Future?
Knowing the future of your IT needs boils down to three things:
- Access Needed Data
- Accessing Data Procedure
- Data Sharing Procedure
- Required Technical Upgrades
While noting down the details of your future needs, you can see your IT services plan start to come together. You can note down upgrades needed for cloud-based systems, networking equipment, and workstations.
Final Thoughts
It is important to perform a cost/benefit analysis for any information technology changes. If it makes more fiscal sense to postpone certain upgrades before improving a specific segment of your technology, then make that choice. Adopt an implementation plan so your business comprehends the steps required to implement the information technology services plan.
At 911 PC Help, we provide Managed IT Services and IT Project Management Services that are both cost-effective, and highly impactful. We’ll handle the IT side of things so you can focus on doing what you do best. Reach out to us at 415-800-1130 or contact us here for a free consultation to find out how we can take your business to the next level.