As the year comes to a close, most IT managers find themselves with a waiting list of tasks that need to be completed. Budgeting for the new year, updating of licenses and inventory management are all in need of attention, and there is often a deadline assigned to these IT tasks.
IT managers need a routine and organized effort to keep up with IT projects, but day-to-day situations can put them on the back burner. At the end of the year, these unfinished tasks can pile up and seem intimidating. Experts recommend that IT managers schedule time for an end-of-year review to look at important projects and see where they stand.
Remember, you don’t need to get too creative – this exercise is meant to help you finish all of the basic IT tasks by the end of the year. Your list may include security, compliance, efficiency, and planning – everything needed to keep track of your company’s relationship to technology resources.
Potential IT Tasks That Need Completion
Security Audit: Each year should kick off with a comprehensive understanding of the state of the company’s cybersecurity protection. Audits can be conducted throughout the year, but benchmarks are necessary to understand progress and know when goals are achieved. All hardware and software should be audited to ensure everything is up-to-date.
Policies and Procedures: Technology policies and procedures apply to the IT team, but companies must assess and update policies and procedures for all departments and staff. All personnel should be aware of the need to follow the IT policies and procedures. An annual year-end review is one of the most important IT tasks – it identifies procedures that need an update.
Data Backup: Data backups must occur at regular intervals, so your year-end checklist should confirm that data backup protocols are working as intended. This is a good time to review backup infrastructure as well. How old is the equipment? Do you have on-premise and cloud backups in place?
Inventory: An annual inventory of all hardware and software gives you an up-to-date list of what you actually own. By performing these IT tasks at year-end, you’ll understand what needs to be updated. It can also help to identify legacy systems that are ready for decommissioning. Make sure that any sensitive information is properly shredded or scrubbed in preparation for disposal.
Training: When company policies and procedures are updated, IT personnel can identify areas that will require training plans for the coming year. Security awareness training for staff will update their skills to reflect the latest risks and threats. Although training does not have to occur at year-end, this is a good time to schedule needed training for the coming months.
Compliance: A compliance review guarantees that the company is following all industry or regulatory requirements. Every time a policy changes or a service is added, compliance must be considered. Companies should also make it a habit to review compliance at the end of each year – regulators often update the rules throughout the year, extending grace periods until January 1. Compliance reviews often prove to be a cost-saving and important step for SMBs.
Disaster & Recovery Planning: Whether it’s a natural disaster such as recent weather events or a cybersecurity breach, companies need a strategic plan to respond quickly and effectively. An end-of-year review will confirm that the current plan is sufficient or if updates are needed.
Budget: One of the most essential IT tasks is to have a firm grasp of what was spent in the past year and what the spending plan is for the next 12 months. Although we are speaking about IT, planning is important for every part of the organization.
Plan to Work with Alliance IT in the New Year
Alliance IT works with Sarasota area SMBs to evaluate their operations, perform tech assessments, make needed changes, and plan for an evolving tech landscape. If you need someone to help with these IT tasks and more, call us today. We help small businesses to grow and thrive, no matter their size.
