At Xenex Systems, our favourite way to get to know a client is by conducting an IT Systems Audit. Why do we love it so much? Yes, we geek out on discovering all the ins and outs of your set up and seeing how it’s been curated (or in some cases cobbled) together for you. But the biggest reason we love the process is what it means for our customers when we get to deploy our recommendations.
We follow IT industry audit framework to ensure we’re giving you the best possible outcome. Every business, office, industry and team will require a unique solution. The more we know about what you’re starting with, the better we can accurately remedy or optimise it, and ultimately save you costs and double handling down the line.
Let’s break down why you need each crucial step of a Xenex Systems IT Audit:
1. The overall picture of your IT systems
We start by popping the hood and having a scout around. We document each server, drive, laptop, mobile device, software system in use. Everything we find we carefully make note of and investigate how it’s used. These items are called data assets in the business and they each touch or store your valuable data. We also look at your processes with these assets, things like your backup schedule or contingency plans for outages. Plus how your team engages with everything available to them. Once we know the lay of the land we can make better recommendations for improvement.
2. Infrastructure audit
From the initial snapshot of your overall IT systems, we then review what’s working well, what’s in line with best practice already, and what doesn’t hit the mark. What may be a strength in one business could be a weakness in another, so we’re sure to detail what we think are the strengths and weaknesses for your particular situation.
3. Security audit
Cyber security is our bread and butter, and it’s our favourite part of the work we do. Because of this, we focus an entire section of our audits on it. We align our audits with the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight Approach, so we know we’ve got our eye on what’s world class in security.
4. Increased reliability recommendations
Now comes the fun part – the solutions. We start with areas where we can improve reliability. Sometimes small improvements can be made to your existing systems that will improve things, like changing your data plan or relocating equipment within your work area. Other times something more substantial might be recommended to get you on track.
5. Increased security recommendations
This is one you want to pay particular attention to. Aside from the fact you owe it to your customers and your team to keep their data secure and free from the drama of a cyber attack, insurers are also placing greater importance and parameters around cyber security. Risk assessments by insurers to determine your eligibility, cover and premiums will take into account factors such as the quality and reputation of your data assets, your network security, staff practices and programs. It literally pays to get this right!
6. Increased efficiency recommendations
Reliability feeds into this, but so does the way in which you use your different systems. Technology is constantly evolving and as such, automated processes and integrations between systems are ever improving. For the sake of your team’s productivity, as well as your maintenance and ongoing costs, making sure your systems are efficient is critical.
7. The conversation
We take pride in being the approachable IT consultants that will lay all this out in an easy to digest way. We’ll navigate what we think is best to achieve the outcomes you’re seeking. By taking stock of what you and your team would see as a win, we can deploy a solution to meet that. (Whilst also geeking out as much as possible on the solution we create!)
In an ideal world, your IT systems are absolute best practice in all aspects. From the perfect alignment of your data cables (check out our insta to see what we mean) to the induction of new staff to the business when we’re not even on site. But we also know that sometimes these things take a bit of practical common sense. Many businesses need a tiered approach to suit their budget, their schedule or their appetite for change. So we’ll always work to prioritise the most pressing concerns first, and pace the rollout to work for you.
We’re ready and waiting to get started on an audit for your business, plus – they’re free! So why not give us a bell today?