Looking to increase your data privacy and ensure your company’s IT infrastructure is up to date with best practices and mandatory regulations? Many businesses fall into the trap of thinking that previously implemented software and processes are “good enough” and only take a closer look once disaster strikes. Transitioning from a reactive to a proactive approach empowers your company to stay ahead of evolving technology trends and standards, and helps to protect you from costly mistakes when it matters most.
At Solūt, we know the value of conducting regular IT technical audits, as well as partnering with an external IT provider that’s able to ensure that your team is set up with everything you need to succeed. Below, we’ll take a closer look at some of the key areas evaluated during a technical audit, as well as why they are important to conduct consistently. Read on to learn more.
Why Technical Audits Matter
As we said above, it’s a common misconception that you can ‘set it and forget it’ when it comes to IT. While it may be tempting to let things go until review becomes necessary, the reality is, you often leave yourself vulnerable to cyber attacks, fines for non-compliance, and a plethora of potential issues if you let your software and practices fall behind. Partnering with an experienced IT service provider like Solūt gives you the opportunity to take control of your situation and highlights any potential issues before they have a chance to wreak havoc.
Common areas of assessment include:
Network Infrastructure Assessment
The backbone of any IT environment is its network infrastructure. When evaluating the current setup of your network, IT professionals will assess hardware components, network topology (how devices and components are interconnected within a computer network), connectivity, bandwidth utilization, and more. Taking a closer look at the overall structure of your network can identify potential bottlenecks, weak areas of protection, and other issues that may be compromising your overall efficiency and performance.
System and Software Analysis
Technology is far from stagnant, with new products and processes hitting the market constantly. In order to make sure your systems and software are up to date and performing as needed, a thorough analysis will be conducted. IT audits will regularly evaluate the state of your patch management, software versions, licensing compliance and more. Identifying any outdated software helps to eliminate vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals, and keeping things up to date with the latest tools ensures that the rest of your systems are able to operate as intended without excessive lag or the risk of data being compromised.
Security Audit and Vulnerability Assessment
Cybercrime is on the rise, and with digital threats becoming increasingly complex, businesses must be sure that their protective measures are able to stand up to the task. Routine security audits are essential to uncovering any issues or lacking areas, as well as providing a clear picture of the effectiveness of your policies and procedures. Through techniques such as vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, businesses can identify potential weaknesses in their IT infrastructure. This includes evaluating access controls, encryption mechanisms, authentication protocols, and intrusion detection systems. Proactivity is key to stopping the threats posed by cybercrime, and to mitigating the extensive damage that can be done by cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Evaluation
Let’s be honest; we’ve all heard digital horror stories of lost data and failing technology. As much as IT and technology enhance our businesses, they are not immune from unforeseen issues. Having comprehensive backup and recovery plans in place is essential for minimizing disruptions and ensuring everyone is able to get back on track as quickly as possible following an issue. Assessing the frequency and effectiveness of backups, along with the availability of offsite backups, helps organizations recover swiftly from unexpected disruptions, and can help pave the way for stronger preventive measures.
IT Policies and Compliance Review
Finally, it is integral to routinely ensure that your IT practices and software remain compliant with evolving standards and regulations. These mandates are put in place to keep businesses and their clients safe, and failure to abide by their guidance can lead to costly fines for companies. A detailed IT audit will review all IT policies, procedures and internal compliance with relevant standards to ensure you’re on the right side of legislation, as well as utilizing policies that are best suited for optimal performance in the long term.
IT Audits and More with Solūt
IT audits serve as a valuable resource for companies looking to protect their bottom line and ensure they are prepared when it matters most. With over 20 years of industry-leading experience, Solūt is happy to partner with businesses across Edmonton and Calgary to provide comprehensive IT audits, external IT support, cloud migration services and more. Find out how we can help your business be as prepared to face the digital landscape as possible by contacting our team today!