Just like a medical checkup, a midyear IT audit can catch small issues before they become costly problems. It gives you insight into the performance, security, and reliability of your technology systems so you can make adjustments that ensure your technology remains in alignment with your business goals.
Why midyear IT audits matter
Yearly IT audits are a must for every company, but once a year is not enough anymore. Technology evolves quickly, and what worked best at the beginning of the year may already be outdated or misaligned with your new business initiatives. A midyear audit gives you the opportunity to assess what’s working, what’s not, and where improvements can be made.
If you only reassess your technology once a year, you’re stuck with potentially inefficient or even vulnerable IT that hampers your revenue and increases your risks.
Additionally, small IT issues can quietly escalate if left unchecked. Outdated antivirus software, unpatched systems, and improper user permissions often go unnoticed until there’s a breach or system failure. A midyear audit serves as an early-warning system, revealing cracks in your cybersecurity or inefficiencies in system performance. It helps you tackle these concerns head-on before they start costing you time and money.
Covering neglected components of your IT network
Some technologies and network components in your IT fly under the radar, quietly performing their function with minimal human input. But that doesn’t mean these systems are immune to problems, so they have to be periodically checked.
A midyear IT audit is a good opportunity to inspect your entire IT network and check components you otherwise wouldn’t. This way, you aren’t taking your technology for granted and aren’t blindsided by errors, incompatibilities, or poor performance.
Key components typically covered by a balanced IT audit include:
- Infrastructure review
- Device and hardware inventory
- Server and storage capacity checks
- Performance metrics
- Cybersecurity assessment
- Antivirus and firewall status
- Password policies and access controls
- Security patch updates and vulnerability scans
- Data management and recovery
- Backup schedule verification
- Disaster recovery plan evaluation
- Cloud service performance
- Compliance and licensing
- Software license tracking
- Regulatory compliance (HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc.)
- Privacy policy enforcement
Performing a complete IT audit at the midyear point ensures you always have an up-to-date snapshot of your business’s technology and expenditures.
How regular audits save time and money
IT issues cost you money, and the losses compound over time as repairs, downtime, lost productivity, and frustrated employees create additional problems that drain your revenue.
Regular audits give you a clear picture of where your tech stands and what steps are needed to prevent IT issues from snowballing. It’s far more cost-effective to catch and correct problems early than to recover from a major service outage or data breach.
Consistent audits also help you keep tabs on your long-term IT development plans. If you made some big changes since the last IT audit, you can track their progress and gauge their effectiveness, making adjustments as needed to improve efficiency.
You can also check in on the life cycle of your existing IT assets so you aren’t scrambling to replace technologies that outlived their usefulness without you noticing.
Get the best information with a professional IT audit
A midyear IT audit can save you money and help you make better decisions about your technology, but how much depends on the quality of information you gather. To ensure a meticulous IT assessment that provides you with the critical data you need, partner with SpectrumWise and get seasoned IT consultants to thoroughly audit your systems.
Contact SpectrumWise for a free consultation, and we’ll start on a plan for a comprehensive IT audit to help you make the right decisions for your business’s future.