As the year draws to a close, it is time to start planning your business’ 2025 IT strategy. One critical task that you will need to perform is an end-of-year IT infrastructure assessment. This step will make it easier to ensure that your IT remains aligned with your business and drives growth in the year to come.
But what is an end-of-year IT audit? And how do you perform one?
Why Conduct an End-of-Year IT Infrastructure Assessment?
Your IT infrastructure is a critical part of all business operations, from communication to security. But it should not be static. As time passes, technology continues to evolve – and this means that systems become outdated, vulnerabilities arise, and inefficiencies start to appear. The same infrastructure that suited your needs perfectly before may no longer sufficiently serve your business in 2025.
A proper IT audit will help you:
- Identify Vulnerabilities: Detect outdated software, weak points in your network, and other risks that could lead to security breaches.
- Optimise Performance: Ensure your systems are running efficiently and supporting your business needs.
- Plan for the Future: Align your IT strategy with your business’ growth plans and upcoming projects.
Step 1: Take Inventory of Your IT Assets
The first step in an IT infrastructure assessment is to compile a detailed inventory of your technology assets. This includes:
- Hardware: List servers, desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and IoT devices. Note their age, warranty status, and performance levels.
- Software: Review licenses, versions, and usage. Identify applications that are underutilised or outdated.
- Cloud Services: Assess your cloud storage and software subscriptions, to ensure they align with your needs and budget.
This inventory will help you identify areas of your IT infrastructure that may require upgrades or replacements.
Step 2: Evaluate System Security
Protecting your business against the threats of the future should be a top priority. During your end-of-year IT audit, perform a thorough evaluation of current security measures. This will help you address vulnerabilities that could be exploited by threat actors.
- Firewall and Antivirus: Ensure your firewalls and antivirus software are updated and functioning effectively.
- Access Controls: Verify that user permissions are appropriately assigned, and review accounts for inactive users that should be deactivated.
- Incident Response Plan: Review your response plan to ensure it is up-to-date and effective.
- Resistance Against New Threats: Evaluate your current security measures against new and evolving threats, to check that they will continue to provide sufficient protection.
Step 3: Analyse System Performance
Over time, inefficiencies can appear due to ageing hardware or software, or redundant systems. These can hinder your business’ long-term success by draining funds and slowing down operations.
- Network Performance: Test your network’s speed and reliability. Identify bottlenecks or connectivity issues that could disrupt operations.
- Server Health: Monitor server usage and capacity to determine if they can handle your current and future workloads.
- Software Efficiency: Evaluate whether your applications meet user needs and contribute to overall productivity.
Step 4: Assess Compliance and Regulatory Requirements
All businesses must abide by certain laws, regulations, and industry standards – particularly those in high-risk industries, such as healthcare or finance. Your IT infrastructure assessment should always include a compliance review, to ensure that it still aligns with all necessary regulations.
- Data Privacy: Verify compliance with the data protection regulations relevant to your field – an example might be HIPAA or the GDPR.
- Backup and Recovery: Confirm that backup processes align with industry best practices, and can support recovery in case of a system failure.
- Audit Trails: Ensure your systems log critical events for transparency and accountability.
Step 5: Align IT Infrastructure with Business Goals
Your IT strategy should directly support your business’ overall objectives. Take the time to ensure your technology remains aligned with both short and long-term goals, as this will prevent it from becoming dead weight.
- Scalability: Can your current IT infrastructure handle planned growth?
- Cost Efficiency: Are there underutilised resources or redundant systems that can be streamlined?
- Emerging Technologies: Consider adopting new tools, such as AI-powered analytics or advanced collaboration platforms, to drive innovation.
Step 6: Develop an Action Plan
After completing your assessment, compile your findings into a detailed action plan. This should include:
- A list of identified vulnerabilities and inefficiencies.
- Recommendations for upgrades, replacements, or new implementations.
- A timeline and budget for addressing these issues.
Share this plan with stakeholders to ensure alignment and secure buy-in for necessary investments.
Create a Strong IT Strategy for 2025
Your end-of-year IT assessment is an invaluable exercise that will help you remain secure, efficient, and prepared for the challenges ahead. Without it, issues are likely to go unaddressed, eventually damaging your business’ ability to grow and compete. A thorough evaluation of vulnerabilities, performance issues, and business-IT alignment will set your company up for success in the future.
Do you need help preparing for 2025? The experts at National IT Solutions get straight to the heart of your business, so we can develop a tailor-made strategy that takes your unique needs into account. Speak to a consultant today and begin 2025 with confidence.
