When it comes to technology, the less you have to think about it – the better it is for you. But did you know that you should be auditing your technology and IT processes on a regular basis to make sure that they’re effective? In order to avoid downtime and limit risk, there are basic reports and audits that you should be completing to ensure that your IT services are functioning properly. Here are a few suggestions for how frequently you should be auditing your IT.
WEEKLY – Backup & Security
Perhaps the most critical piece of your IT processes are your backups and security. Your IT provider or in-house IT staff should provide a weekly report for your backup and security processes in order to ensure that backups are running properly and that all security is updated, including:
- Antivirus
- Windows security updates
- Antispyware
- Antimalware
The report should indicate which updates were completed, which updates failed, any found infections, cleaned infections or other alerts. Understanding how your security is being handled gives you a good indication of where your risk lies and how your security strategy is performing.
Monthly – Security & Services Audit
Monthly you’ll want to look at how your IT support services are being performed. This includes:
- Average number of tickets
- Response times
- Resolution times
If possible, survey your users and review those surveys to determine the level of happiness that your users have with your technicians.
Annually – Full Hardware & Software Audit
You need to know that your tools and equipment are working for your users. Every year, it’s important to complete a full hardware and software audit. This includes
- Auditing workstations
- Server audit
- Peripheral audit
- Complete services and vendor audit
- Line of business application or other software audit
Things you’ll want to assess are – what is the age of my equipment? Is there a better provider or software solution that would more appropriately suit our workflows? What has changed over the last year? How is this equipment, process, vendor or program servicing my needs and how will those needs evolve into the next year?
With 2014 coming to a close, you’re going to want to look at changing some things in 2015. If all of these audits sound cumbersome or you’re worried that your team won’t be able to accommodate every report, you may want to look into a Managed Services provider that can offer these services and audits for you without being prompted. No matter what you decide, make sure that you’re constantly looking at your technology and IT services to make sure you’re getting what you need.
