First, what is an IT Assessment? Well, an IT Assessment is usually very complex, which is why outside specialists are often brought in to assess IT systems as a unit. An effective IT Assessment will identify strengths and weaknesses, and suggest methods to boost efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

If you have had no experience working with an IT services company the process can seem very daunting. However, choosing the right Managed Service Provider to conduct the assessment is a very important component. See our Guide To Interviewing An IT Services Company for more information on how to choose the right MSP for you.

You need a partner who has experience in a variety of environments, who can communicate IT needs to you in a way that you can understand them. It is also important to make sure that the MSP can effectively evaluate the business merits of any IT investment.

Data-Tech’s custom IT Assessment methodology and reporting structure are perfect for small businesses that don’t have time to become IT experts. If you are interested in Data-Tech conducting an IT assessment, click here.

It should be a painless process, carefully designed to make sure you get exactly what you need. A thorough IT assessment will contain valuable information about your current IT environment and how to make it more efficient.

The information is only going to be useful if it is presented in a way that makes sense to both IT and non-IT people. Any good IT assessment should provide a list of priorities for changes and improvements to your IT environment. You can use this list to help your business create a strategic planning process.

A good IT Services provider will know that you are a possible novice. After all, this is why they came to you. They should be patient and treat you with respect. If they don’t, then you know that they are the wrong fit for you.

Don’t let fear stop you from improving your business. Investing in an IT assessment can help your business align its IT systems with your organization’s business strategy and goals to prepare you for the future.

Steps Of An IT Assessment

The Purpose of Performing an IT Audit

An IT Audit is defined as the examination and evaluation of an organization’s information technology infrastructure, policies, and operations. The audit evaluates the systems that are in place to guard an organization’s information.

As a part of your assessment, you will be doing an IT Audit. Oh no, not an audit! I know that word isn’t a pleasant one, is it? Nobody likes the word, and no one has ever asked Santa for one at Christmas.

Don’t let the word frighten you. IT audits do not need to be painful or intimidating. The purpose of the audit is to help improve your business functions. It gives you a chance to look at your infrastructure and make strategic improvements.

A good service provider, like Data-Tech, can help smooth out the workload of collecting evidence, remove the dreaded annual interrogation by an auditor and improve security by letting you know when control isn’t operating effectively within weeks and not once a year. Ongoing compliance tracking and real-time reviews give you and your business peace of mind.

The real purpose of an internal audit is to identify areas of concern, present them to management in a balanced way and give ownership the information it needs to make an informed decision on how to correct deficiencies moving forward. You have to be able to see the whole picture before you start to craft a solution.

What do you need to provide for IT Assessment?

So, we know the ‘why’ of an audit. Now, what information will you need to supply the Managed Service Provider? If you choose Data-Tech as your IT provider, you will need to gather the following information below for us before we can start your IT Audit.

Knowledge of Business and Industry: We need to have a clear understanding of the type of business/industry you are in to understand what you need from IT.
Regulatory Statutes: Refers to the laws, regulations, guidelines, and specifications that an organization must adhere to in its business practices. In other words, any form of compliance that your company must follow to do business, we need to know what they are. A few examples are HIPPA, NIST, and PCI to name a few.
Prior Years Audit Results: Prior audit results are a great way to quickly get a baseline understanding of your company’s IT environment.

We hope that this has helped you to understand a little more about IT Assessments and IT Audits. If you are interested in an IT Assessment or have any questions, Data-Tech is here to help!

Data-Tech is a leading Tampa Managed Service Provider helping small businesses get the most out of their IT for over 25 years.

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