8 Areas Your 2022 It Infrastructure Roadmap Should Cover

The last two years in business have demanded changes to your technology solutions. Few companies operate the same way they once did. We all had to adapt quickly, and many have compromised long-term IT plans to facilitate speedy adaptation.In response to this change, we have left behind traditional working methods as more people expect flexible work options with high-performing technology. Your customers, too, expect flexible and 24/7 access to support and services.As your business comes up against the challenge of adopting new technologies, you will need an IT infrastructure roadmap that aligns with the current needs of your business and accommodates future changes as they arise.

Prioritise cyber security in your IT roadmap

Digital has become the norm for business. As more people work from various mobile devices and locations, cyber attacks have become more prevalent, with the 2020-21 financial year seeing cyber crime reports increase by 13 per cent from the previous year.From a security perspective, your 2022 IT roadmap should address five aspects of cyber security:

1. Regularly scheduled backups for your critical assets and systems
2. Robust protections for protecting customer data
3. A response plan in the event of a ransomware attack
4. Data stored in the cloud for an extra layer of protection and prevent on-premise vulnerabilities
5. Educating staff on recognising and preventing cyber threats

Review your Microsoft 365 software licenses

Reviewing your Microsoft 365 software licenses for 2022 ensures you get the most from your tools by highlighting whether you have more applications and services than you need. For example, you may have a licence for too many users or for a product that the business no longer leverages.User agreements for licences also change, and a review will show your compliance with any changes to the agreement. Additionally, reviewing your licensing will help you plan for future upgrades and ensure you get the most value from your software.

Include cloud readiness in your IT infrastructure roadmap

By planning for cloud readiness, you can take advantage of the opportunities that the cloud presents. Mass adoption of remote work has caused businesses to reconsider the cloud and as a result, public cloud services have experienced significant growth, which is set to continue in the coming years.A managed services provider (MSP) can help you become cloud-ready by migrating your data and applications to the cloud and assisting with the ongoing management of your cloud infrastructure so that you can focus on core business goals rather than cloud management.

Your IT roadmap should enhance your print capabilities

In the modern workplace, print still plays a significant role. Even in an age where technology has made so many advancements, print has remained a valuable tool within modern businesses.Your IT roadmap should focus on enhancing print capabilities through accessible, enterprise-grade hardware and software. For example, if employees can print documents from their smartphones or laptops, they can save time spent waiting by the office printer. When enhancing your print capabilities, your roadmap should also consider your security posture so that confidential documents do not become compromised.

Review network performance in your IT roadmap

You should review network performance when developing your IT roadmap to identify areas of improvement. If you have issues with network performance, your MSP can resolve them and improve overall network speed and efficiency. By placing network performance high on your priority list, you can quickly gain a competitive advantage by implementing new technologies.An MSP can work closely with you to plan your future needs and ensure your IT infrastructure is ready for whatever changes may come. They can do this by assessing your current setup and recommending upgrades or new solutions that facilitate business growth.

Include upgrades to workstations in your IT roadmap

As technology improves, you need to upgrade the hardware and software of your employees’ workstations. The reasons why you should include upgrades in your IT roadmap are:

1. Outdated workstations can decrease productivity and increase frustration for those using them
2. Workstation upgrades keep your company's technology infrastructure up-to-date and aligned with industry best practices
3. New software and applications are often released only for newer versions of operating systems
4. Workstation upgrades improve security as older versions of operating systems and software become vulnerable to cyber attacks

Review standard operating environments in your IT roadmap

In addition to upgrading your workstations, it is imperative that you update and maintain standard operating environments as part of your IT roadmap. Operating environments, which include operating systems and applications, are a critical part of your IT infrastructure. It is essential to review and update these environments to ensure their compatibility with your current infrastructure and business needs.Allowing your operating environments to become outdated means some components may become incompatible with other hardware or software that you leverage. Again, this can impact productivity and cause frustration for people working in these environments.

Your IT roadmap should ensure business continuity

Disasters can strike at any time and cause companies to lose money, time, and customer trust. Forty-nine per cent of IT leaders surveyed in an IBM study cited data recovery as their top challenge after unplanned downtime.When creating your IT roadmap, your MSP should ensure business continuity and mitigate the impact of such disruptions. An MSP will evaluate your infrastructure by speaking with your staff, reviewing your processes and noting your current technologies. From there, they develop a business continuity plan that ensures you can overcome issues with little disruption.

Build your 2022 IT roadmap with soma

Running a business is already a challenging endeavour without the added burden of ensuring all aspects of your business operations run like clockwork.Our IT Audit reviews your current technology, and then we implement solutions that meet your current needs and scale as your business grows. We provide all-inclusive support, maintenance and management of your IT infrastructure. As your managed service provider, soma offers a single point of contact, convenience and flexibility for all of your IT needs.