IT powers your business. In the modern workplace, even a small issue with your IT infrastructure can cause disruptions to routine business operations — resulting in data issues, downtime, and security vulnerabilities. A detailed IT assessment can help you identify areas of weakness in your environment. This guide includes a checklist to help you assess the following:
The checklist included here is a good starting point. But you will want to compile your own checklist based on your organization, industry, and unique needs.
An IT assessment is the formal process of analyzing all the data, systems, and procedures in your IT environment. It helps you evaluate the state of your environments today — so you can identify and prioritize critical areas to improve, such as outdated tools or missing policies.
You should assess your IT environment annually or bi-annually. Be sure to reassess after any "triggering event" — something that could potentially disrupt or compromise systems and policies. A triggering event could include:
A thorough IT assessment improves communication and transparency — by providing a baseline to share with the leadership team. An assessment helps you create goals and targets for the future.
Using a checklist ensures that you gather all of the details that the team has agreed upon. Review periods are smoother with a checklist as a guide.
Before you create your IT assessment checklist, start by defining or revisiting your strategic goals. Generally speaking, your checklist should include all of the items you need to review in order to function effectively and comply with security regulations. But when it comes to determining how to address weaknesses and the actions to prioritize, refer back to your larger strategy.
Then review prior IT assessments and documentation. Confirm issues that have been resolved and document any impending triggering events. Pay special attention to any questions or concerns that were raised in the last assessment. What items should you add to your checklist to be sure you can answer similar questions in the future?
Now you are ready to create your list. Use this sample checklist as a starting point:
IT strategy and performance
Data and cloud storage
Hardware and software capabilities
Take inventory of equipment, storage, and computing capacity as well as software applications in use across the organization. Inventory may include:
Assess the following:
Risk management and compliance
Because your IT environment can change quickly, it is essential to regularly check that you are still compliant with any certifications, terms, licenses, or other guidance. You may be subject to compliances such as HIPAA or PCI. Aha! maintains ISO 27001 certification, for example. Include these in your regular assessments or confirm that a separate audit was completed.
Workflows and other procedures
You will likely add other items to your own checklist. Once you do, set your assessment in motion and develop an action plan for addressing areas of need.
Best practices are best supported with the right tools. IT roadmapping software can help you manage projects, releases, and changes. Get started with Aha! Roadmaps — free for 30 days.