IT infrastructure is the backbone of the business, which is why optimizing for efficiency is so important. As technology rapidly improves and the business evolves, IT infrastructure can quickly become outdated.
Optimizing IT infrastructure helps you stay current with industry standards, technological advancements, and business goals. When small to medium-sized businesses optimize their IT infrastructure, they see improved performance and potentially long-term reduced costs.
Assess Your Current IT Infrastructure
The first step to optimizing IT infrastructure is to assess your current infrastructure to identify any technology gaps or security risks. Businesses are built on their IT infrastructure, so your assessments must be thorough.
Create a checklist of the IT department, including areas such as infrastructure, end-user computing, applications, and miscellaneous categories.
When assessing the infrastructure, remember that technology and hardware have an expiration date, so all servers, hardware, and storage must meet industry standards to avoid disastrous data loss.
Extend your assessment to end-user computing such as printers, laptops, and smartphones, ensuring no technology is considered obsolete. Everything should remain useful to the company. Include your application library to ensure all SaaS is up-to-date and necessary.
If any technology or applications need to be fixed, out-of-date or unnecessary, consider alternative options that will better meet your needs.
Implement Best Practices for IT Infrastructure Optimization
As you assess your IT infrastructure, consider optimization best practices,and formulate strategies to help you implement them. It is important to ask yourself which areas can be improved, which are running smoothly, and which you can feasibly change.
Identify which areas of the infrastructure require an overhaul and list possible solutions, considering budget, time, goals, and needs.
As you manage IT infrastructure, ensure your security strategies and protocol are current with industry standards. Keep these standards in mind as you make changes so you do not accidentally compromise or expose data to risks.
Upgrade Hardware and Software
Hardware and software are integral to an efficient IT department. Hardware breaking or software going out of date can cause major disruptions to workflow. Addressing these areas as soon as possible can keep the department running smoothly.
Create a strategy and prioritize which hardware and software require immediate attention. Ensure you have a fully functional backup before upgrading in case any data is lost in the process.
If looking to employ new hardware or software, test with a small batch first to ensure it meets your needs before a full-scale roll-out. You must also identify data pathways to ensure that removing certain hardware or software will not disrupt the entire digital ecosystem.
Utilize Cloud Technology
Many IT departments may find that migrating to the cloud can further optimize their workflow. The cloud has many benefits, including accessibility, security, and disaster recovery.
The cloud is comprised of a collection of off-site servers hosting software and databases. Utilizing cloud technology can help businesses free up physical space, save on investing and maintaining on-premises infrastructure costs and provide cybersecurity.
When selecting cloud technology, consider your business’s needs and thoroughly shop around to find a cloud services provider that can give you the flexibility you require at a manageable rate.
Optimizing Your IT Infrastructure
As you optimize areas throughout your IT infrastructure, keep in mind that all this work will be pointless if you don’t continue to maintain and monitor the infrastructure. As technology and your business continue to evolve, it will require proactivity to ensure both evolve together.
When optimizing your IT infrastructure for improved performance, remember your current goals, budgetary restrictions, and industry best practices to ensure you find the best solutions and they are properly implemented.
Need help with your IT systems or processes? TAG Solutions has a skilled team of managed service providers in the Albany, New York area. We are happy to help talk through your systems and offer suggestions. Contact us today!